Weigh belt assembly

A weigh belt assembly comprising:

• a weigh belt including first and second spaced apart rollers each having a rotational axis, with an endless belt trained around the rollers to present a belt run configured to support particulate material;
• a belt drive operably coupled with at least one of the rollers for rotation thereof in order to move said belt run in a direction toward the second roller;
• apparatus for delivery of quantities of particulate material onto said moving belt run at a position between said first and second rollers;
• a pivot assembly including a stationary component and a shiftable component, said stationary component separate from said weigh belt, said shiftable component operably coupled with said weigh belt and engaging said stationary component in order to permit pivoting and downward deflection of the weigh belt relative to said stationary component under the load of the particulate material deposited on the belt run;
• and
• a device for measuring the load experienced by said weigh belt during said deflection thereof.

A method of determining the flow rate of a particulate material and/or the total weight of material delivered using a weigh belt comprising first and second spaced apart rollers each having a substantially horizontal rotational axis, with an endless belt trained around the rollers, said method comprising the steps of:

• delivering said particulate material onto said belt along an upright product-delivery axis and between said first and second rollers;
• causing said weigh belt to deflect downwardly about a pivot axis by virtue of the weight of said delivered particulate material,
• said pivot axis defined by a pivot assembly including a stationary component separate from said weigh belt, and a shiftable component operably coupled with said weigh belt and engaging said stationary component;
• determining the load experienced by said weigh belt during said deflection thereof;
• and
• using said determined load to calculate said flow rate and/or said total weight of material delivered.