US 5,787,687 AGranted

Servo-controlled container filling and weighing system

OwnerMartin J. Mueller, Michael A. Weigandtinventors

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Abstract

A filling system of a container filling apparatus is configured for selectively, vertically moving an associated container positioned on a conveyor. The apparatus includes a food pump, and a container support platform operatively associated with the conveyor. The support platform is adapted to engage and support the container. A servo-controlled drive motor is configured to move each container positioned on the conveyor, in a controlled, generally vertical direction, perpendicular to the conveying path, toward and away from the food pump. A control system is operatively connected to the motor for providing controlled, programmable movement of the drive motor. Upon commencement of filling of the container with food product, the control means generates and transmits a signal to the motor to selectively position the container in proximity to the food pump and to move the container away from the food pump during filling, in a controlled manner, perpendicular to the conveying path. The servo-controlled drive motor and associated controls can be configured to provide a feedback signal, whereby they function as a load cell for accurate container filling. A servo-controlled drive motor is also preferably employed for effecting indexed movement of the container conveyor in coordination with the vertical movement of each container during filling.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A system for selectively, vertically moving an associated container positioned on a conveyor and being conveyed in and filled by an associated container conveying and filling apparatus, the conveyor moving the container in a relatively horizontal, planar conveying path, the apparatus including a food pump having an outlet positionable in operative association with the conveyor, the food pump adapted to receive food product therein and to produce a continuous flow stream of food product therefrom to move the food product into the container, the system comprising:

a container support platform operatively associated with the conveyor and adapted to engage and support the container;
a servo-controlled drive motor configured to move the container platform and the container positioned thereon, in a controlled, generally vertical direction, perpendicular to said conveying path, toward and away from said food pump;
and
control means operatively connected to said servo-controlled drive motor for providing controlled movement of the servo-controlled drive motor and for operating said servo-controlled drive motor to effectively weigh said container and said food product therein,
wherein upon commencement of filling of the container with food product, said control means generates and transmits a signal to said servo-controlled drive motor to selectively position the container in proximity to said food pump and to move the container away from said food pump during filling, in a controlled manner, perpendicular to the conveying path, said control means operating said servo-controlled drive motor to effectively weigh said container and the food product therein and to move said container away from said food pump responsively to the weight of said container and the food product therein to create sufficient resistance to the flow of food product into said container to assure complete filling of the container.

2 more elements

A container filling apparatus comprising:

a food product pump for providing a continuous flow stream of food product;
a container conveyor for receiving associated containers and serially conveying the containers relative to said food product pump for filling,
a servo-controlled drive motor connected to said conveyor for driving said conveyor for indexed, intermittent movement relative to said food pump;
a container support platform positioned in operative association with said conveyor and said food pump for vertically positioning at least one container relative to said food pump during filling of the container with food product from said flow stream;
another servo-controlled drive motor operatively connected to said container platform whereby the vertical movement of said container platform can be selectively controlled during filling of said container to facilitate accurate filling thereof;
and
control means operatively connected to said servo-controlled drive motors for controlling indexed, intermittent movement of said conveyor, and coordinated vertical movement of said containers during filling of food product from said food product pump, said control means including means for operating the servo-controlled drive motor connected to said container platform in a torque mode to effectively weigh said container and the food product therein to move said container away from said food product pump responsively to the weight of said container and the food product therein to assure complete filling of the container,
wherein upon commencement of filling of the container with food product, said control means generates and transmits a signal to said servo-controlled drive motor to selectively position the container in proximity to said food pump and to move the container away from said food pump during filling.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/955,575Filed 22 Oct 1997 · continuation
Priority: 1 May 1996
Granted: 4 Aug 1998
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

B65B 1/32
Devices or methods for controlling or determining the quantity or quality or the material fed or filled: by weighing
B65B 43/58
Movable stepwise to position container or receptacle for the reception of successive increments of contents: vertically movable
B65B 57/145
And operating to control, or stop, the feed of articles or material to be packaged: for fluent material
B65B
Machines, apparatus or devices for, or methods of, packaging articles or materials