Programmable modular system providing controlled flows of granular materials

A programmable modular system for delivering individually controlled and correlated flows of a plurality of separately contained granular materials, comprising:

• a plurality of cooperating units, each unit including a container means for containing a replenishable quantity of a corresponding granular material, a sealing support means for sealing to and supporting said container means with said corresponding granular material contained therein, weighing means cooperating with said sealing support means only for continually weighing a total weight of said sealing support means with said container means and contents thereof supported thereon, and delivery means cooperating with said container means for receiving therefrom said corresponding granular material and delivering the same to a selected delivery location;
• and
• programmable control means communicating with and controlling said plurality of units, for receiving, storing and processing data and instructions from a user relating to said flows of respective granular materials from said units, and for separately controlling flows of respective granular materials from the container means of each of said plurality of units through corresponding delivery means for delivery of said respective granular materials to said selected delivery location,
• whereby each of the container means is supported solely by resting on a respective sealing support means.

A method of programmably supplying a flow of a granular material to a selected changeable location, comprising the steps of:

• containing a quantity of said granular material in container means having an inlet opening and an outlet opening;
• supporting said container means solely by resting the same on a support means having an annular flexible element so as to permit controlled opening of said outlet opening to obtain an outflow of said granular material through said outlet opening while sealing with the annular flexible element against and around the outlet opening of the container means to prevent emission of dust to the ambient atmosphere during the outflow;
• continually weighing said support means, with said container means and contents thereof supported by said support means, whereby a weight of said outflow of granular material can be determined;
• and
• controllably transferring said outflow of granular material, in accordance with a predetermined supply program, to a selected changeable location.

A method of programmably supplying individually controlled flows of a plurality of granular materials, comprising the steps of:

• containing said plurality of granular materials in a respective plurality of container means each having an inlet opening and an outlet opening;
• supporting said plurality of container means solely by resting each on respective support means so as to permit controlled opening of respective outlet openings of the container means to obtain corresponding outflows of the respective granular materials contained therein;
• continually weighing each of said plurality of container means and granular materials respectively contained therein, with each of the container means resting on and supported solely by corresponding support means located underneath, whereby respective weights of said respective outflows of said granular materials from said containers can be continually determined and controlled;
• and
• controllably obtaining and transferring said outflows of granular materials from said plurality of container means in accordance with a predetermined supply program to a selected changeable location.