Multi-product dispensing system for granular materials
AssigneeE. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
InventorLawrence Doka Gaultney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dispensing system for granular materials, in particular agricultural products, capable of dispensing multiple products that comprises a control means for entering a product formula, hoppers that contain material for formulating the product each having a dispensing means controlled by the control means, material is fed from each hopper through a tube and fed into a housing having a rotatable structure that allows the material to be dispensed into a receptacle connected to a weighing means and weighed and feedback means connected to the weighing means and to the control means feeds weight information to the control means which adjusts the dispensing of the material from each of the hoppers as necessary to accurately formulate a product.
Claims21
A system for dispensing a granular product, comprising:
- means for controlling the system;
- means for containing at least two granular materials in a separate arrangement;
- means for dispensing each granular material from the containing means in electrical communication with the control means and capable of holding and releasing the granular material;
- means for directing the granular material comprising a housing, a rotatable structure having an opening therein and means for rotating the structure;
- means for receiving the granular material in axial alignment with the opening in the rotatable structure;
- means for transferring the granular material from the containing means to the receiving means, said transferring means comprising a tube having two open ends, one open end attached to the dispensing means and the opposite open end capable of close alignment with the opening in the rotatable structure;
- means for holding the receiving means;
- and
- means for weighing the receiving means in contact with the holding means and in electrical communication with the control means;
- whereby the granular product to be prepared is selected by supplying information to the control means, granular material is dispensed from the containing means by the dispensing means as directed by the control means according to a formula for the selected product, the granular material flows through the transferring means, the rotating means moves the rotatable structure to align the opening in the rotatable structure with the open end of the tube capable of close alignment with the opening in the rotatable structure thereby allowing a discharge of the granular material into the receiving means through the opening in the rotatable structure, the weighing means weighs the amount of granular material dispensed into the receiving means and feeds the weight data to the control means and the control means directs the dispensing means to dispense additional granular material when required;
- the above being repeated for each granular material in the containing means required by the formula for the selected product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.