Speed checking attachment for use with vibratory conveyors

An apparatus for dispensing product using a vibratory or weighing conveying system, comprising:

• a product capable of being conveyed by vibration;
• a metering station;
• a weighing station in connection with the metering station to receive flow of the product therefrom;
• a sampling station, the sampling station comprising a sample pan, wherein the sample pan is proximate to the flow of the product and mounted to capture the flow of the product between the metering station and the weighing station,
• the sampling station further comprising an accumulating position and a discharge position;
• a detection station for reading the product on the sample pan of the sampling station, the detection station comprising a pair of proximity sensors, wherein a first sensor within the pair is positioned at a fixed distance from a second sensor within the pair and each sensor within the pair is capable of independently reading the product;
• and,
• a control station operatively arranged to measure speed and weight of the product and control the flow of the product.

A method for dispensing product using a vibratory weighing system, comprising:

• (a) initiating a speed check of a sample from a product flow;
• (b) loading the sample on a sample pan;
• (c) reading a sampling product within the sample on the sample pan via a first sensor;
• (d) vibrating to cause traversal of the sampling product from an accumulating end to a discharge end of the sample pan;
• (e) reading the sampling product within the sample on the sample pan via a second sensor, wherein the second sensor is placed separately at a predetermined distance from the first sensor;
• (f) measuring the speed of the sampling product;
• (g) monitoring the weight and speed of the dispensing product to determine throughput;
• and,
• (h) repeating steps (a) through (g) until the dispensing is complete.