Computerized method and system for measuring an amount of a food ingredient

• US 20050107980A1
• Filed: 08/26/2004
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rainer Sandmann, Ugo Cocchis
• Original Assignee: Rainer Sandmann, Ugo Cocchis
• Inventors: Cocchis, Ugo, Sandmann, Rainer
• Application Number:
  US10/928,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20050107980A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/174
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 13/16 Means for automatically discharging weigh receptacles under control of the weighing mechanism

Abstract

Various embodiments are related to a computerized method and system for measuring an amount of a food ingredient. In one embodiment, the computerized method comprises i) transferring a food ingredient into a tank under the control of a microprocessor, ii) measuring the weight of the tank with the use of a load cell, wherein the load cell is in data communication with the microprocessor, iii) generating data indicative of a value of the transferred food ingredient based on the measured weight by the microprocessor, and iv) providing the generated data.

Claims

1. A computerized method of measuring an amount of a food ingredient, the method comprising:

transferring a food ingredient from an external delivery source into a tank, located at a food processing facility, under the control of a computing device;

measuring the weight of the tank with the use of a load cell, wherein the load cell is in data communication with the computing device;

generating data indicative of a value of the transferred food ingredient based on the measured weight by the computing device; and

providing the generated data from the computing device to a handheld computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the food ingredient is flour.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device is a microprocessor.

4. A computerized method of measuring an amount of a food ingredient, the method comprising:

delivering flour to a bakery;

transferring the flour into a silo;

measuring the weight of the silo with the use of a load cell, wherein the load cell is in data communication with a microprocessor;

generating data indicative of a value of the delivered flour based on the weight of the silo; and

printing the generated data for use by the bakery.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

delivering flour to a plurality of bakeries; and

generating data indicative of a value for each bakery based on the weight of a respective silo at each bakery.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the transferring is performed under the control of a microprocessor.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the generating is performed by a microprocessor.

8. A computerized control system for measuring an amount of a food ingredient, the system comprising:

a silo configured to receive flour;

at least one sensor configured to measure the weight of the silo; and

a computing device configured to generate data indicative of a value of the received flour based on the weight of the silo and its contents.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the computing device is a microprocessor.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the system is located in a bakery.

20. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to weigh the received flour by subtracting from the total weight of the flour present in the silo.

21. The system of claim 8, wherein the computing device is configured to print the generated data.

11. A computerized method of measuring an amount of a food ingredient, the method comprising:

transferring flour from a truck into a silo;

measuring the weight of the silo with the use of a load cell, wherein the load cell is in data communication with a microprocessor; and

generating data indicative of a value of the transferred flour based on the measured weight.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the transferring is performed under the control of a microprocessor.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the generating is performed by a microprocessor.

14. A computerized method of measuring an amount of a food ingredient, the method comprising:

monitoring the weight of a silo at a bakery so as to determine an amount of flour transferred into the silo; and

generating data to be used for calculating a value of the transferred flour based on the monitored weight with the use of a microprocessor.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the data is transmitted to a remote location for issuing an invoice based on the value.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the data is transferred to the remote location automatically, upon completion of a filling operation.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the amount of flour is monitored by weighing the silo as the flour is input to and output from the silo.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the data includes historical consumption data, which is utilized to determine delivery of further flour

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising delivering the flour for transferal into the silo.