CONTROL SYSTEM FOR MULTIPLE INGREDIENT DISPENSING APPARATUS

• US 3,670,923 A
• Filed: 05/04/1970
• Issued: 06/20/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Milton P. Daniel, Roland J. Hawes Jr
• Original Assignee: Milton P. Daniel, Roland J. Hawes Jr
• Inventors: Hawes, Roland J. Jr., Daniel, Milton P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tollberg, Stanley H.
• Application Number:
  US05/034,335
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 222/142,2,52,76,132,138 119/51.13 259/154
• US Class Current: 222/2
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 5/0216 for the distribution of liquid fodder A01K9/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 7/02 Automatic devices ; Medication dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 11/136 by sensing the viscosity
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 366/601 Motor control

Abstract

A dispensing apparatus meters a plurality of different microingredient feed additive supplements for livestock or poultry simultaneously into a fluent carrier material which conveys the various supplements to a feedmill, a drinking water supply or any other desired point. Each different supplement is stored and metered separately and independently of the others through an electric motor-driven metering device. Control and monitoring of the machine operations takes place at a remote control panel and box. Decisions as to what combination of supplements to feed and in what amounts are preprogrammed using prepunched plates inserted over a bank of microswitch plungers at the control box which determine which motors at the machine operate and at what speed.

Claims

1. In a multiple ingredient dispensing apparatus including plural ingredient supply means, an electric motoR-driven metering means for metering ingredients from each supply means, and control means for controlling the operation of said metering means and thereby controlling the formulation of ingredients dispensed comprising:

remote control means connected in an electrical circuit to the various motors of said motor-driven metering means, said remote control means including multiple selector switch means including at least one for each said motor, a said selector switch means being operable to energize one of said motors independently of the other said motors, said multiple selector switch means including switch actuators arranged in a common bank, and multiple interchangeable pre-programmed plate-type formulating members selectively positionable over said common bank of actuators and including means cooperable with selected ones of said actuators to determine the actuation of preselected ones of said selector switch means and thereby operating certain ones of said motors to dispense a preselected formulation of said plural ingredients as determined by said plate-type formulating members.

2. A dispensing apparatus according to claim 1 including motor speed control means in said circuit for selectively operating at least certain ones of said motors at a plurality of different constant speeds to vary the proportions of ingredients dispensed, at least some of said multiple selector switch means being operable to select the speed of operation of said certain ones of said motor so that said plate-type formulating means controls the proportions of ingredients dispensed as well as the kinds of ingredients dispensed.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each said selector switch means includes a plunger actuator means, said plunger means for all said selector switches projecting from a common bank of said switches and being in prearranged positions at said remote control means, each said preprogrammed formulating member including a rigid plate adapted to overlie said plunger means, said plate having openings therethrough at preselected positions corresponding to the positions of at least some of said plunger means, said openings being larger than their corresponding said plunger means, and plate-retaining means for maintaining said program plate in position overlying said plunger means under sufficient pressure to actuate preselected ones of said plunger means while others of said plunger means are in registration with said openings in said plate so as to remain in their unactuated extended positions.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said remote control means comprises a box-like housing having a front face containing a master switch means, said common bank lying along a wall of said housing with said plunger means protruding therefrom, said plate-retaining means including a cover plate hinged to said housing and including clamping means for clamping said cover plate to said housing in overlying relationship to said plunger means.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a magnetically operated electrical switch means in said circuit is associated with at least one of said metering means, means movable with operation of said one metering means periodically into operating association with said magnetically operated switch means in a manner so as periodically to either interrupt or move a magnetic field to operate said switch means, and wink light means at said remote control means operatively connected to said magnetically operated switch means in said circuit for monitoring the operation of said metering means, the period of operation of said magnetically operated switch means corresponding to the speed of operation of said metering means.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein at least one of said metering means meters a liquid ingredient, said liquid-metering means including a pump means, an intake line leading from a liquid supply to said pump means, and a discharge line leading from said pump means, said magnetically operated switch Means being mounted adjacent a section of said discharge line, said movable means comprising a magnet mounted within said section, said section having a greater length than said magnet and a greater diameter than the maximum width dimension of said magnet so as to permit periodic movement of said magnet past said magnetic switch means and flow of liquid through said section upon pulsing of said pump means, said section being constricted at the opposite ends thereof to limit movement of said magnet.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said discharge line is of generally circular cross section and said magnet is of generally noncircular cross section to promote the flow of liquid through said section past said magnet.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said metering means meters a dry ingredient and includes a generally cylindrical metering rod rotatable about its longitudinal axis, monitoring means for monitoring the operation of said metering rod including monitor switch means positioned adjacent said rod, switch actuator means, and means on said rod for moving said actuator means to a position for actuating said switch at least once during each revolution of said rod, light means on said remote control means connected to said monitor switch means so that rotation of said rod effects a periodic winking of said light means with said period corresponding to the speed of rotation of said metering rod.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said metering means meters a dry ingredient and includes a rotary metering means rotatable about its longitudinal axis, monitoring means for monitoring the operation of said rotary metering means including monitor switch means positioned adjacent said rotary metering means, switch actuator means, and means on said rotary metering means for moving said actuator means to a position for actuating said switch means at least once during each revolution of said rotary metering means, light means on said remote control means connected to said monitor switch means so that rotation of said rotary metering means effects a periodic winking of said light means with said period corresponding to the speed of rotation of said rotary metering means.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein there is at least one said metering means for metering a liquid ingredient, said liquid-metering means including a dispensing line and a pump means in said line, said line leading from a source of supply to a dispensing point, and viscosity control means for maintaining said liquid ingredient at a predetermined viscosity just upstream from said pump means so that operation of said pump means at a preselected speed meters and dispenses a predictable volume of said liquid.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said viscosity control means includes a liquid-retaining receptacle, means for maintaining the liquid within said receptacle at a substantially constant temperature, and a section of said dispensing line passing through the liquid within said receptacle.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said section comprises a coiled length of metal tubing having a high coefficient of heat transfer.

13. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said remote control means includes variable timer means selectively operable to time the interval of operation of said metering motors selected by said formulating member and thereby determine the length of a metering cycle.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said remote control means includes a bank of lights each representing a different metering function of said apparatus controlled by said selector switches and being illuminated selectively as determined by the activated ones of said selector switches.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said remote control means includes a second bank of lights representing the same metering functions of said apparatus as said first-mentioned bank, the lights of said second bank being wink ligHts illuminated only periodically during an operating cycle as determined by the activated ones of said selector switches and by the actual operation of the metering function represented by a light of said second bank.

16. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said control means includes master switch means for selectively conditioning said electrical circuit either for a timed operating cycle as determined by said timer means or for continuous operation.

17. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said control means includes master switch means for selectively conditioning said electrical circuit either for a timed operating cycle as determined by said timer means or for continuous operation.

18. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said control means includes speed control means in said circuit for operating at least certain ones of said metering motors at a plurality of different preselected constant speeds to vary selectively the metering rate of at least some of said metering means independently of the metering rate of others of said metering means, at least some of said selector switches being operably connected to said speed control means in a manner so as to select the speed of operation of a metering motor as well as to select the metering motor to be operated.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein at least one of said metering motors is operably connected to one of said speed control means, said one speed control means being selectively operable to operate said one metering motor at at least two different constant speeds, at least two different ones of said selector switches being operably connected to said one metering motor and to said one speed control means in a manner so that one of said two switches is operable when activated to operate said one motor at a first constant speed and so that the other of said two switches is operable when activated to operate said one motor at a second constant speed.

20. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said remote control means includes in addition to said selector switch means:

a variable timer means for determining the length of an operating cycle of the metering means selected for operation by said selector switches and cooperative formulating member, first monitoring means including a first series of lights in said circuit operable upon activation of selected ones of said selector switch means to indicate the ones of said metering means selected for operation, second monitoring means including a second series of lights operable upon the actual operation of said selected metering means to indicate by a periodic winking to indicate the actual operation of said selected metering means and the speed of operation thereof, third monitoring means including a third series of lights operable to indicate the condition of various other operating components of said apparatus, and master switch means selectively operable to condition said electrical circuit for operating said selected metering means either continuously or through a timed operating cycle as determined by said variable timer means.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said plural ingredient supply means includes both liquid ingredient supply means and dry ingredient supply means and said metering means includes dry metering means for metering dry ingredients from said dry ingredient supply means and pump means for metering liquid ingredients from said liquid supply means, said apparatus having means including a liquid conduit with a liquid inlet section, an ingredient-receiving section downstream of said inlet section and a liquid outlet section and means for inducing a flow of liquid carrier through said conduit to carry dry and liquid ingredients metered into said flow to a point of use, said third series of lights of said third monitoring means including a first light operably connected to means at said inlet section to monitor flow of said liquid carrier through said inlet section, a second light operabLy connected to means at said receiving section to monitor flow of liquid carrier through said receiving section, a third light operably connected to means at said outlet section to monitor flow through said outlet section, and a fourth light operably connected to means at said dry ingredient supply means for monitoring the level of dry ingredients in said supply means.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said third monitoring means includes a fifth light for monitoring a metering segment of an operating cycle and a sixth light for monitoring a flush segment of an operating cycle wherein liquid carrier flows through said conduit following discontinuance of metering.

23. In a machine for metering and dispensing multiple micro-ingredient concentrates into a liquid carrier for use in the formulation of livestock or poultry feed in a feed mill, multiple container for storing separately quantities of different micro-ingredient concentrates, a separate metering means for metering concentrates from each said container including a separate metering motor for each said metering means, a conduit for receiving concentrates dispensed by said metering means, flow-inducing means for inducing a flow of liquid carrier through said conduit to carry said concentrates to said feed mill, and control means for controlling the operation of said machine comprising:

multiple selector switch means operable when selectively actuated to determine the operation of said metering means and thus the formulation of micro-ingredients dispensed, variable timer means operable to determine the length of an operating cycle of said metering means selected by said selector switch means, and means automatically operable at the end of an operating cycle to provide a flush cycle through continued operation of said flow-inducing means for a predetermined length of time following discontinuance of metering.

24. A machine according to claim 23 wherein said control means includes means operable to de-energize the selected ones of said metering motors when said variable timer has timed out.

25. A machine according to claim 23 wherein said control means includes means for resetting said variable timer means to a starting condition upon completion of an operating cycle.