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US 6,220,312 B1Granted
Apparatus and method for container filling
AssigneeShandor Motion Systems
InventorsRobert Sandor Hirsch, Michael M. Chen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A container filling apparatus for dispensing, weighing and automatically filling a container with a predetermined weight of material. The container filling apparatus includes an optical load cell for measuring the weight of an object. A microprocessor controls the dispensing, weighing and automatic filling of the container.
Claims16
A container filling apparatus comprising:
- a platform for supporting an object to be weighed;
- a cantilever beam having a fixed end attached to a rigid support and a movable end attached to the platform, wherein the cantilever beam includes a surface located between the fixed end and the movable end;
- an optical load cell for measuring the deflection of the cantilever beam, wherein the optical load cell includes a light emitter projecting a light beam onto the surface of the cantilever beam and a reflected light detector receiving a reflected light from the surface of the cantilever beam;
- and
- a control system for using the measured deflection of the cantilever beam to calculate a weight of the object supported by the platform.
2 more elements
A method for filling a container, the method comprising:
- providing a platform for supporting an object to be weighed;
- providing a cantilever beam having a fixed end attached to a rigid support and a movable end attached to the platform, wherein the cantilever beam includes a surface located between the fixed end and the movable end;
- providing an optical load cell for measuring the deflection of the cantilever beam, wherein the optical load cell includes a light emitter projecting a light beam unto the surface of the cantilever beam and a reflected light detector receiving a reflected light from the surface of the cantilever beam;
- and
- providing a control system for using the measured deflection of the cantilever beam to calculate a weight of the object supported by the platform.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- providing a cantilever beam having a platform attached thereto and a surface located between a fixed end of the cantilever beam and a moveable end of the cantilever beam;
- applying a light to the surface of the beam;
- measuring a deflection of the surface of the beam using the light;
- and
- using the deflection to automatically fill a container positioned on the platform.
2 more elements
A method for filling a container, the method comprising:
- providing a container for filling;
- providing a filling apparatus having a platform, a cantilever beam having a first end attached to a rigid support and a second end attached to the platform, wherein the cantilever beam includes a surface located between the first end and the second end;
- an optical load cell for measuring a deflection of the surface of the cantilever beam, wherein the optical load cell includes a light emitter projecting a light beam onto the surface of the cantilever beam and a reflected light detector receiving a reflected light from the surface of the cantilever beam, a control system for using the measured deflection of the surface of the cantilever beam to calculate a weight of the object supported by the platform, a tank for storing a material, and a valve for controlling the flow of the material from the tank to the container.
A method for filling a container, comprising:
- placing an empty container on a platform attached to a movable end of a cantilever beam;
- weighing the empty container using an optical load cell for determining a deflection of the cantilever beam;
- filling the container to a predetermined level, wherein the level is determined using the optical load cell;
- placing a control system in an automatic mode;
- removing the full container;
- placing an empty container on the platform;
- placing the control system in an automatic fill mode for automatically filling the empty container to the predetermined level;
- and
- pressing down and releasing the platform to place the control system in the automatic filling mode.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.