With accelerometer for detecting extraneous disturbances weigh feeder
AssigneeAcrison, Inc.
InventorsJohn Laidlaw, Ronald J. Ricciardi, Stephen D. Kahn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is a loss-in-weight feeding system including an accelerometer for detecting extraneous disturbances impinging on the system and preventing the disturbance from adversely affecting the feed rate. A split-beam weighing assembly senses the weight of the material in the container and produces a first signal to control the feed rate. The accelerometer is mounted on the split beam assembly and produces an acceleration signal. The acceleration signal is compared with a predetermined limit, and if the comparison shows a difference beyond a predetermined size, the action of the first signal is inhibited.
Claims4
A weigh feeding system comprising:
- (a) a container for holding a quantity of a substance to be fed;
- (b) means for discharging the substance from the container at a controllable feed rate;
- (c) means for sensing the weight of at least the substance in the container and for producing a first signal responsive to the weight;
- (d) means for generating a control signal in response to the first signal;
- (e) means for controlling the discharging means in response to the control signal to thereby maintain the feed of the substance from the container at a desired feed rate;
- (f) acceleration detection means for producing an acceleration signal separate from the first signal in response to an acceleration of at least the weight sensing means;
- (g) means for comparing the acceleration signal with a predetermined limit;
- and
- (h) means for inhibiting the action of the control signal on the control means when the comparison shows a difference beyond a predetermined size.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.