Weighing system and weighing method

A method for weighing particulate materials, said method including:

• providing a weighing system having a weighing device, a transfer receptacle having an opening, a robotic arm arranged to move the transfer receptacle, a vibrator unit, and a control system arranged to control the robotic arm and the vibrator unit;
• inserting a quantity of particulate material into the transfer receptacle;
• moving the transfer receptacle adjacent the weighing device;
• the control system adjusting an angle of inclination of the transfer receptacle to a dispensing angle of inclination to commence dispensing of the particulate material from the transfer receptacle;
• the control system actuating the vibrator unit to vibrate the transfer receptacle thereby dispensing the particulate material from the transfer receptacle into a container located on the weighing device;
• the control system monitoring an output signal from the weighing device during a weighing operation, which is indicative of a measured weight of particulate material dispensed onto the weighing device, in order to achieve a target weight of dispensed particulate material;
• and
• the control system, in response to signals received from the weighing device, adjusting an angle of inclination of the transfer receptacle in order to adjust the flow rate of material dispensed from the transfer receptacle.

A weighing system for weighing particulate materials, said weighing system including:

• a weighing device;
• a vibrator unit;
• a transfer receptacle having an opening, wherein the transfer receptacle is arranged to receive a quantity of the particulate material through the opening;
• a robotic arm arranged to move the transfer receptacle;
• and
• a control system arranged to control the robotic arm and the vibrator unit;
• wherein the control system is arranged to:
• actuate the robotic arm to move the transfer receptacle adjacent the weighing device;
• adjust an angle of inclination of the transfer receptacle to a dispensing angle of inclination to commence dispensing of the particulate material from the transfer receptacle;
• actuate the vibrator unit to vibrate the transfer receptacle thereby causing particulate material located in the transfer receptacle to dispense from the transfer receptacle onto the weighing device;
• monitor an output signal from the weighing device during a weighing operation, which is indicative of a measured weight of particulate material dispensed onto the weighing device, in order to achieve a target weight of dispensed particulate material;
• and
• determine a condition wherein the measured weight is equal to a first predetermined fraction of the target weight, and in response to detecting the condition wherein the measured weight is equal to the first predetermined fraction of the target weight, the control system is arranged to adjust the angle of inclination of the transfer receptacle from a first inclination angle which causes particulate material to dispense from the receptacle at a first flow rate to a second inclination angle which causes particulate material to dispense from the transfer receptacle at a second flow rate.