US 10,850,964 B2Granted

System and method for filling containers with a precise amount of fluid

AssigneeAccenture Global Solutions Limited

InventorsDokiparti Vudaya Bhaskar, Ashish Bhatia, Prashant Sanghvi, Priyank Bajpai

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Abstract

A system and method for filling containers with a precise amount of fluid is disclosed. The system and method use artificial neural network logic to sense conditions and to control the two-valve dispensing unit based on the sensed conditions to fill containers with a precise amount of fluid. Using neural network logic combined with sensors and controllers for equipment eliminates the significant human effort and human errors associated with manually filling containers with fluid. Furthermore, the neural network can log data quicker and with more accuracy than a human manually logging data. The system and method use a two-valve dispensing unit to precisely fill and to prevent and clear clogs caused by fluid solidifying within the dispensing unit.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of filling containers with a precise amount of fluid, comprising:

performing a first filling cycle including:
weighing an empty container on a scale to obtain a container weight;
automatically dispensing fluid from an outlet at a first flow rate by opening a first valve to a first position in which the first valve is fully open and opening a second valve downstream of the first valve to a second position in which the second valve is fully open;
continuously monitoring a weight of the fluid received by the container as the fluid is dispensed into the container;
automatically determining when a first threshold is reached;
automatically dispensing fluid from the outlet at a second flow rate by throttling the first valve to a third position in which the first valve is partially open based on reaching the first threshold;
automatically determining when a second threshold is reached;
automatically closing the first valve to a fully closed position when the second threshold is reached;
automatically storing the final measured weight of fluid filling the container once the first valve is in a fully closed position;
automatically determining and storing a difference in weight between the final measured weight and a target weight for the fluid filling the container;
performing a second filling cycle including:
using the difference in weight to modify the first threshold.

9 more elements

A system for filling containers with a precise amount of fluid, comprising:

a dispensing unit configured to be mechanically connected to a vessel containing a fluid, wherein the dispensing unit includes an inlet, a first valve disposed adjacent the inlet, a second valve downstream of the first valve, and an outlet downstream of the second valve;
a scale configured to receive a container in a position beneath the outlet;
a device processor in electrical communication with both the scale and the dispensing unit;
and
a non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that are executable by the device processor to:
perform a first filling cycle including:
receiving the weight of an empty container;
automatically controlling dispensing of fluid from an outlet at a first flow rate by causing the first valve to open to a first position in which the first valve is fully open and by causing the second valve to open to a second position in which the second valve is fully open;
continuously monitoring the weight of the fluid received by the container as the fluid is dispensed into the container;
determining when a first threshold has been reached;
automatically controlling dispensing fluid from the outlet at a second flow rate when the first threshold has been reached;
determining when a second threshold has been reached;
causing both the first valve and the second valve to close to a fully closed position when the second threshold has been reached;
and
storing the final measured weight of fluid filling the container, along with a time stamp, once the first valve is in a fully closed position;
and
perform a second filling cycle including:
using the difference in weight between the final measured weight and the target weight for the fluid filling the container to modify the first threshold.

15 more elements

A system for filling containers with a precise amount of fluid, comprising:

a dispensing unit configured to be mechanically connected to a vessel containing a fluid, wherein the dispensing unit includes an inlet, a first valve disposed adjacent the inlet, a second valve downstream of the first valve, and an outlet downstream of the second valve;
a scale configured to receive a container in a position beneath the outlet;
a device processor in electrical communication with both the scale and the dispensing unit;
and
a non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that are executable by the device processor to:
perform a first filling cycle including:
receiving the weight of an empty container;
automatically controlling dispensing of fluid from an outlet at a first flow rate by causing the first valve to open to a first position in which the first valve is fully open and by causing the second valve to open to a second position in which the second valve is fully open;
continuously monitoring the weight of the fluid received by the container as the fluid is dispensed into the container;
determining when a first threshold has been reached;
automatically controlling dispensing fluid from the outlet at a second flow rate by causing the first valve to throttle to a third position in which the first valve is partially open when the first threshold has been reached;
determining when a second threshold has been reached;
causing the first valve to close to a fully closed position when the second threshold has been reached;
storing the final measured weight of fluid filling the container once the first valve is in a fully closed position;
determining and storing a difference in weight between the final measured weight and a target weight for the fluid filling the container;
perform a second filling cycle including:
using the difference in weight to modify the first threshold.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/361,723Filed 22 Mar 2019
Published: US 2020/0299120 A124 Sep 2020
Granted: 1 Dec 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

B67C 3/202
With provision for metering the liquids to be introduced, e.g. when adding syrups: by weighing
G01F 23/20
Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm: by…
B65B 3/28
Methods or devices for controlling the quantity of the material fed or filled: by weighing
B67C 3/007
Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels…