Method and apparatus for weighing divided portions
AssigneeBakery Systems, Inc.
InventorPaul Hebenstreit
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for automatically weighing portions of semi-solid matter using a weigh station having a rotating receptacle which receives the portion so that an accurate weight indication of the portion can be taken, and propels the portion from the weigh station to a further conveyor or processing system, a drive motor which powers the weigh station through a disengageable motor drive connection, and a weight signal processor which converts and stores the weight indications as weight data and transmits appropriate control signals to the drive motor, whereby variations in the weight of each portion are measured and evaluated to control the further processing of each portion, according to whether the portion weight is within predetermined parameters.
Claims21
A method of weighing a plurality of portions of semi-solid matter comprising the steps of:
- providing a receptacle for receiving individual portions;
- rotatably mounting said receptacle to a load cell for producing electrical indications according to an applied load;
- providing a motor which operates in response to a control signal;
- connecting the motor to the receptacle with a disengageable connection which drives the receptacle in rotary motion when engaged, and provides a complete physical separation between the load cell and the motor when disengaged;
- sending a control signal to the motor to disengage the connection after a portion is received;
- and
- determining the weight of the portion from load cell indications after the connection is disengaged.
The method of clam 1 further comprising the step of determining from the load cell electrical indications when the portion is received in the receptacle, and sending a control signal to the motor to disengage the connection after the portion is received.
A method of weighing a plurality of portions of semi-solid matter comprising the steps of:
- providing a receptacle for receiving individual portions;
- rotatably mounting said receptacle to a load cell for producing electrical indications according to an applied load;
- providing a motor which operates in response to a control signal;
- connecting the motor to the receptacle with a disengageable connection which drives the receptacle when engaged, and provides a complete physical separation between the load cell and the motor when disengaged and which operates in response to a control signal;
- sending a control signal to the connection to disengage after a portion is received;
- and
- determining the weight of the portion from load cell indications after the connection is disengaged.
An apparatus for weighing a plurality of portions of semi-solid matter comprising:
- a load cell for producing electrical indications according to an applied load;
- a receptacle rotatably mounted to said load cell for receiving individual portions;
- a motor which operates in response to a control signal for driving the receptacle in rotary motion;
- a disengageable connection between the motor and the receptacle which drives the receptacle when engaged, and provides a complete physical separation between the load cell and the motor when disengaged;
- and
- a processor in electrical communication with the load cell and the motor, the processor programmed to receive electrical indications from the load cell for determining a portion weight and to send a control signal to the motor to disengage the connection.
The apparatus of clam 13 wherein the processor is programmed to send a control signal to the motor to rotate the receptacle to discharge the portion.
The apparatus of clam 13 wherein the processor is programmed to send a control signal to the motor to position the receptacle to receive a next portion.
The apparatus of clam 13 wherein the processor is programmed to receive electrical indications from the load cell for determining a portion weight after the connection is disengaged.
The apparatus of clam 13 wherein the processor is programmed to receive electrical indications from the load cell for determining when a portion is received in the receptacle, and to send a control signal to the motor to disengage the connection after the portion is received.
The apparatus of clam 13 wherein the processor is programmed to determine from the load cell electrical indications when a portion is received in the receptacle, and to send a control signal to the motor to disengage the connection after the portion is received.
The apparatus of clam 13 wherein the processor is programmed to determine whether the portion weight falls within predetermined limits, and to send a control signal to the motor to rotate the receptacle to propel the portion based upon said determination.
The apparatus of clam 13 further comprising an analog/digital converter.
The apparatus of clam 13 wherein the load cell further comprises a dampening device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.