High speed precision weighing and filling method and apparatus
AssigneeHierath & Andrews Corp.
InventorJames S. Andrews
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Precision weighing and filling of comminuted materials is carried out at high speeds by advancing the material to be weighed into a rotatable pan, applying an unbalanced electromagnetic force to the pan so as to cause it to rotate through a predetermined angle to dump the contents into a tiltable discharge funnel and selectively locking the pan in a predetermined rotational position in preparation for refilling and the next dumping operation, all in rapid succession.
Claims23
In a precision weighing system for weighing out in rapid succession predetermined amounts of a comminuted material in which a source of material supply includes means for feeding and discharging the material under the control of a weigh sensor which is operative to sense the weight of material discharged from said material source into a receptacle, the improvement comprising:
- a weigh pan including a receptacle portion disposed to receive material from said material source, and rotating means associated with said weigh pan;
- activating means responsive to a signal generated by said weigh sensor when a predetermined amount of material is discharged into said receptacle to energize said rotating means over a predetermined time interval whereby said rotating means is operative to impart a rotational force to said weigh pan thereby causing said weigh pan to dump the contents of material discharged into said receptacle;
- means for retaining said weigh pan in a predetermined rotational position after dumping the contents from said receptacle;
- and
- a discharge funnel disposed beneath said weigh pan to receive the contents of material dumped by said weigh pan, a fill funnel and reject funnel in juxtaposed relation to one another beneath each discharge funnel, and tilting control means operative to selectively tilt said discharge funnel into alignment with one of said fill and reject funnels in response to the weight of material discharged from said material source into said weigh pan.
In a weighing apparatus for weighing out in rapid succession equal amounts of a comminuted material in which a source of material supply includes means for feeding and discharging the material under the control of a weigh sensor which is operative to sense the weight of material discharged from said material source into a receptacle, the improvement comprising:
- a weigh pan mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis including a receptacle portion disposed to receive material from said material source, and at least one magnetic member mounted in offset relation to the horizontal axis of said weigh pan;
- activating means responsive to a signal generated by said weigh sensor when a predetermined amount of material is discharged into said receptacle to apply an energizing signal to said magnetic member whereby to generate unbalanced magnetic forces causing said weigh pan to rotate and dump the contents of material discharged into said receptacle;
- and
- means for retaining said weigh pan in a predetermined rotational position after dumping the material from said receptacle.
In a weighing apparatus, a dump pan mounted for rotation about a central axis including a pair of permanent magnets of reversed polarity disposed in spaced parallel relation to said control axis, support means at opposite ends of said dump pan supporting said dump pan for rotation including a solenoid at one end of said dump pan having means operative when energized to apply an unbalanced magnetic force to said permanent magnets whereby to rotate said dump pan about its central axis.
A method of successively weighing equal amounts of a comminuted material and advancing each amount weighed selectively to a fill funnel or reject funnel comprising the steps of:
- providing a material supply source;
- feeding the material from said material supply source into a receptacle;
- sensing the weight of material delivered into said receptacle and interrupting the supply of material to said receptacle when a predetermined weight limit is sensed;
- applying an unbalancing magnetic force to said receptacle whereby to tip said receptacle to dump the material contained in said receptacle;
- advancing the material dumped through a discharge chute normally aligned with one of said fill funnels and reject funnels;
- and
- altering the direction of advancement of the material through said discharge chute to deliver said material into one of said fill funnels and reject funnels in accordance with the weight of material sensed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.