Control apparatus and method for automatic filling machine

• US 4,582,097 A
• Filed: 10/05/1983
• Issued: 04/15/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Governor and Company of The Bank of England
• Original Assignee: Mateer-Burt Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Izzi, Anthony J., Nakajima, Yoshio, Parker, William B., McDonald, John J., Famous, Robert K.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/539,194
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 73/3, 141/1, 141/196, 198/504, 222/14, 222/643, 221/1
• US Class Current: 141/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 1/12 of screw type
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 1/32 by weighing check-weighing of filled containers or receptacles B65B1/46

Abstract

A control apparatus for a filling machine of the type employing a hopper and rotary feed auger determines the exact number of auger revolutions required to deliver a preselected weight of material to be dispensed by weighing the volume of material delivered by a given number of auger revolutions and computing the ratio of the number of auger revolutions to the weight of the volume delivered. The ratio is then divided into the desired weight to determine the actual number of auger revolutions required to deliver the desired weight. The control apparatus also measures the amount of rotation of the rotary auger after the auger is braked at the end of each fill cycle and increments or decrements a preselected set point number of auger revolutions, depending upon whether the actual number of auger revolutions is greater than or less than the set point, to compensate for auger rotation after braking.

Claims

1. A filler for volumetrically dispensing a desired weight of material into containers to be filled by weight, comprising:

(a) a hopper means for storing the material to be dispensed by the filler;

(b) rotary feed means operatively associated with the hopper means for dispensing controlled volumes of material from a discharge opening in the hopper means into the containers to be filled, said volumes being directly proportional to the number of revolutions of the rotary feed means;

(c) means for sensing the number of revolutions of the rotary feed means and generating a signal indicative of the number of revolutions,

(d) control means for selectably controlling the number of revolutions of the rotary feed means to either a preselected fixed number or a calculated number of revolutions, the control means further having means for entering a first weight value indicative of the weight of a volume of material delivered by the preselected fixed number of revolutions of the rotary feed means, means for entering a second weight value indicative of a desired weight of material to be dispensed by the filler, said desired weight value being independent of volume, means for deriving the ratio of the first weight value to the preselected fixed number of revolutions of the rotary feed means, and means for dividing the second weight value by said ratio to derive the calculated number of revolutions, the calculated number being indicative of the number of revolutions required to dispense the second weight value; and

(e) cyclically engagable drive means operatively associated with the rotary feed means and responsive to the control means for rotating the rotary feed means by either the preselected fixed number or the calculated number of revolutions as selected by the control means.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the rotary feed means comprises a screw auger.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the rotary feed means comprises a rotary pump.

4. Apparatus as in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the means for sensing the number of revolutions of the rotary feed means comprises a shaft encoder.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4, wherein the shaft encoder comprises a light chopper fixed to the rotary feed means for rotation therewith and a photodetector for detecting the light chopped by the light chopper and converting the detected light into electrical signals.

6. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the control means includes a microprocessor.

7. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the means for entering the first and second weight values is an operator-actuable keyboard.

8. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the drive means comprises a motor and a clutch-brake coupled to said motor.

9. Apparaus as in claim 8, wherein the motor is an electric motor.

10. A filler for volumetrically dispensing a desired weight of material into containers to be filled by weight, comprising:

(a) a hopper means for storing the material to be dispensed by the filler;

(b) rotary feed means operatively associated with the hopper means for dispensing controlled volumes of material from a discharge opening in the hopper means into the containers to be filled, said volumes being directly proportional to the time of revolution of the rotary feed means;

(c) means for measuring the amount of time the rotary feed means revolves and generating a signal indicative of the time;

(d) control means for selectably controlling the time the rotary feed means revolves to either a preselected fixed time or a calculated time, the control means further having means for entering a first weight value indicative of the weight of a volume of material delivered by the preselected fixed time of revolution of the rotary feed means, means for entering a second weight value indicative of a desired weight of material to be dispensed by the filler, said desired weight value being independent of volume, means for deriving the ratio of the first weight value to the preselected fixed time of revolution of the rotary feed means, and means for dividing the second weight value by said ratio to derive the calculated time of revolution, the calculated time being indicative of the time required to dispense the second weight value; and

(e) cyclically engagable drive means operatively associated with the rotary feed means and responsive to the control means for rotating the rotary feed means by either the preselected fixed time or the calculated time of revolution as selected by the control means.

11. Apparatus as in claim 10, wherein the rotary feed means comprises a screw auger.

12. Apparatus as in claim 10, wherein the rotary feed means comprises a rotary pump.

13. Apparatus as in claim 10, 11 or 12 wherein the means for measuring the amount of time the rotary feed means revolves comprises a shaft encoder and clock means operatively associated with the shaft encoder.

14. Apparatus as in claim 13, wherein the shaft encoder comprises a light chopper fixed to the rotary feed means for rotation therewith and a photodetector for detecting the light chopped by the light chopper and converting the detected light into electrical signals.

15. Apparatus as in claim 10, wherein the control means includes a microprocessor.

16. Apparatus as in claim 10, wherein the means for entering the first and second weight values is an operator-actuable keyboard.

17. Apparatus as in claim 10, wherein the drive means comprises a motor and a clutch-brake coupled to said motor.

18. Apparatus as in claim 17, wherein the motor is an electric motor.

19. A filler for volumetrically dispensing a desired weight of material into containers to be filled by weight, comprising:

(a) hopper means for storing the material to be dispensed by the filler;

(b) rotary feed means operatively associated with the hopper means for dispensing controlled volumes of material from a discharge opening in the hopper means into the containers to be filled, said volumes being directly proportional to the number of revolutions of the rotary feed means;

(c) cyclically engagable drive means for rotating the rotary feed means;

(d) brake means for causing the rotation of the rotary feed means to stop after a desired number of revolutions;

(e) means for sensing the actual number of revolutions of the rotary feed means from the time the drive means is engaged until the rotary feed means comes to a complete stop and generating a signal indicative of the actual number of revolutions;

(f) comparison means for comparing the actual number of revolutions of the rotary feed means to said desired number of revolutions; and

(g) control means responsive to said comparison means for actuating said brake means after the rotary feed means has rotated a predetermined number of revolutions and for incrementing said predetermined number by a preselected amount when the actual number of revolutions is less than said desired number and decrementing said predetermined number by said preselected amount when the actual number of revolutions is greater than said desired number.

20. Apparatus as in claim 19, wherein the rotary feed means comprises a screw auger.

21. Apparatus as in claim 19, wherein the rotary feed means comprises a rotary pump.

22. Apparatus as in claim 19, wherein said drive means comprises a motor.

23. Apparatus as in claim 22, wherein said motor is an electric motor.

24. Apparatus as in claim 19 wherein said means for sensing the actual number of revolutions of said feed means comprises a shaft encoder.

25. Apparatus as in claim 24, wherein the shaft encoder comprises a light chopper fixed to the rotary feed means for rotation therewith and a photodetector for detecting the light chopped by the light chopper and converting the detected light into electrical signals.

26. Apparatus as in claim 19, wherein said control means includes a microprocessor.

27. A filler for volumetrically dispensing a desired weight of material into containers to be filled by weight, comprising:

(a) a hopper means for storing the material to be dispensed by the filler;

(b) rotary feed means operatively associated with the hopper means for dispensing controlled volumes of material from a discharge opening in the hopper means into the containers to be filled, said volumes being directly proportional to the number of revolutions of the rotary feed means;

(c) cyclically engagable drive means for rotating the rotary feed means;

(d) brake means for causing the rotation of the rotary feed means to stop after a desired number of revolutions;

(e) means for sensing the actual number of revolutions of the rotary feed means from the time the drive means is engaged until the rotary feed means comes to a complete stop and generating a signal indicative of the actual number of revolutions;

(f) control means for generating said desired number, said desired number being either a preselected fixed number or a calculated number, the control means having as an input the signal indicative of the actual number of revolutions, the control means further having means for entering a first weight value indicative of the weight of a volume of material delivered by the preselected fixed number of revolutions of the rotary feed means, means for entering a second weight value indicative of a desired weight of material to be dispensed by the filler, means for deriving the ratio of the first weight value to the preselected fixed number of revolutions of the rotary feed means, means for dividing the second weight value by said ratio to derive the calculated number, the calculated number being indicative of the number of revolutions required to dispense the second weight value, means for comparing the actual number of revolutions of the rotary feed means to said desired number of revolutions, and means for actuating said brake means after the rotary feed means has rotated a predetermined number of revolutions and for incrementing said predetermined number by a preselected amount when the actual number of revolutions is less than said desired number and decrementing said predetermined number by said preselected amount when the actual number of revolutions is greater than said desired number, the control means being operatively associated with the drive means to rotate the rotary feed means by said predetermined number.

28. Apparatus as in claim 27, wherein the rotary feed means comprises a screw auger.

29. Apparatus as in claim 27, wherein the drive means comprises a motor.

30. Apparatus as in claim 29, wherein the motor is an electric motor.

31. Apparatus as in claim 27, wherein the means for sensing the actual number of revolutions of the rotary feed means comprises a shaft encoder.

32. Apparatus as in claim 31, wherein the shaft encoder comprises a light chopper fixed to the rotary feed means for rotation therewith and a photodetector for detecting the light chopped by the light chopper and converting the detected light into electrical signals.

33. Apparatus as in claim 27, wherein the control means includes a microprocessor.

34. A filler for volumetrically dispensing a desired weight of material into containers to be filled by weight, comprising:

(a) a hopper means for storing the material to be dispensed by the filler;

(b) rotary feed means operatively associated with the hopper means for dispensing controlled volumes of material from a discharge opening in the hopper means into the containers to be filled, said volumes being directly proportional to the time of revolution of the rotary feed means;

(c) cyclically engagable drive means for rotating the rotary feed means;

(d) brake means for causing the rotation of the rotary feed means to stop after a desired time of revolution;

(e) means for sensing the actual time of revolution of the rotary feed means from the time the drive means is engaged until the rotary feed means comes to a complete stop and generating a signal indicative of the actual time of revolution;

(f) control means for generating said desired time of revolution, said desired time of revolution being either a preselected fixed time or a calculated time, the control means having as an input the signal indicative of the actual time of revolution, the control means further having means for entering a first weight value indicative of the weight of a volume of material delivered by the preselected fixed time of revolution of the rotary feed means, means for entering a second weight value indicative of a desired weight of material to be dispensed by the filler, means for deriving the ratio of the first weight value to the preselected fixed time of revolution of the rotary feed means, means for dividing the second weight value by said ratio to derive the calculated time, the calculated time being indicative of the time of revolution required to dispense the second weight value, means for comparing the actual time of revolution of the rotary feed means to said desired time of revolution, and means for actuating said brake means after the rotary feed means has rotated a predetermined time and for incrementing said predetermined time by a preselected amount when the actual time of revolution is less than said desired time and decrementing said predetermined time by said preselected amount when the actual time of revolution is greater than said desired time, the control means being operatively associated with the drive means to rotate the rotary feed means for said predetermined time.

35. Apparatus as in claim 34, wherein the rotary feed means comprises a screw auger.

36. Apparatus as in claim 34, wherein the drive means comprises a motor.

37. Aparatus as in claim 36, wherein the motor is an electric motor.

38. Apparatus as in claim 34, wherein the means for sensing the actual number of revolutions of the rotary feed means comprises a shaft encoder.

39. Apparatus as in claim 38, wherein the shaft encoder comprises a light chopper fixed to the rotary feed means for rotation therewith and a photodetector for detecting the light chopped by the light chopper and converting the detected light into electrical signals.

40. Apparatus as in claim 34, wherein the control means includes a microprocessor.

41. Method of determining the number of revolutions required of a rotary feed means in a filling machine of the type employing a rotary feed means and a hopper to volumetrically deliver a desired weight of material into containers being filled, comprising the steps of:

(a) rotating the rotary feed means through a preselected fixed number of revolutions to thereby dispense a volume of material directly proportional to the preselected fixed number of revolutions;

(b) collecting the dispensed volume of material in a container;

(c) weighing the container and material and determining the weight of the dispensed volume of material;

(d) determining the ratio of the preselected fixed number of revolutions to said weight;

(e) determining the product of said ratio multiplied by the desired weight of material; and

(f) rotating the rotary feed means through a number of revolutions equal to said product to dispense said desired weight.

42. Method of compensating for continued rotation after braking of a rotating shaft which is caused to rotate and then braked after rotating through a predetermined number of revolutions in order to have the shaft come to a complete stop after a desired number of revolutions, comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring the actual number of revolutions of the shaft from the time it is first caused to rotate until it comes to a complete stop after braking;

(b) comparing the actual number of revolutions to the desired number of revolutions; and

(c) incrementing said predetermined number of revolutions of a preselected amount when the actual number of revolutions is less than said desired number and decrementing said predetermined number by said preselected amount when the actual number of revolutions is greater than said desired number.

43. Method of determining the number of revolutions required of a rotary feed means in a filling machine of the type employing a rotary feed means and a hopper to volumetrically deliver a desired weight of material into containers being filled and of compensating for continued rotation of said rotary feed means after a braking signal is applied to said rotary feed means when said rotary feed means has rotated through said number of revolutions in order to have said rotary feed means come to a complete stop after a desired number of revolutions, comprising the steps of:

(a) rotating the rotary feed means through a preselected fixed number of revolutions to thereby dispense a volume of material directly proportional to the preselected fixed number of revolutions;

(b) collecting the dispensed volume of material in a container;

(c) weighing the container and material and determining the weight of the dispensed volume of material;

(d) determining the ratio of the preselected fixed number of revolutions to said weight;

(e) determining the product of said ratio multiplied by the desired weight of material;

(f) rotating the rotary feed means through a number of revolutions equal to said product to dispense said desired number;

(g) measuring the actual number of revolutions of the shaft from the time it is first caused to rotate until it comes to a complete stop after braking;

(h) comparing the actual number of revolutions to said product; and

(i) incrementing said product by a preselected amount when the actual number of revolutions is less than said desired number and decrementing said product by said preselected amount when the actual number of revolutions is greater than said desired number.

44. Method of determining the time of revolution required of a rotary feed means in a filling machine of the type employing a rotary feed means and a hopper to deliver a desired weight of material into containers being filled, comprising the steps of:

(a) rotating the rotary feed means for a preselected fixed time to thereby dispense a volume of material directly proportional to the preselected fixed time of revolution;

(b) collecting the dispensed volume of material in a container;

(c) weighing the container and material and determining the weight of the dispensed volume of material;

(d) determining the ratio of the preselected fixed time of revolution to said weight;

(e) determining the product of said ratio multiplied by the desired weight of material; and

(f) rotating the rotary feed means for a time of revolution equal to said product to dispense said desired weight.

45. Method of compensating for continued rotation after braking of a rotating shaft which is caused to rotate and then braked after rotating for a predetermined time in order to have the shaft come to a complete stop after a desired time, comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring the actual time of revolution of the shaft from the time it is first caused to rotate until it comes to a complete stop after braking;

(b) comparing the actual time of revolution to the predetermined time of revolution; and

(c) incrementing said predetermined time of revolution by a preselected amount when the actual time of revolution is less than said predetermined time and decrementing said predetermined time of said preselected amount when the actual time of revolution is greater than said predetermined time.

46. Method of determining the time of revolution required of a rotary feed means in a filling machine of the type employing a rotary feed means and a hopper to volumetrically deliver a desired weight of material into containers being filled and of compensating for continued rotation of said rotary feed means after a braking signal is applied to said rotary feed means when said rotary feed means has rotated for said time in order to have said rotary feed means come to a complete stop after a desired time of revolution, comprising the steps of:

(a) rotating the rotary feed means for a preselected fixed time to thereby dispense a volume of material directly proportional to the preselected fixed time;

(b) collecting the dispensed volume of material in a container;

(c) weighing the container and material and determining the weight of the dispensed volume of material;

(d) determining the ratio of the preselected fixed time of revolution to said weight;

(e) determining the product of said ratio multiplied by the desired weight of material;

(f) rotating the rotary feed means for a time of revolution equal to said product to dispense said desired weight;

(g) measuring the actual time of revolution of the shaft from the time it is first caused to rotate until it comes to a complete stop after braking;

(h) comparing the actual time of revolution to said product; and

(i) incrementing said product by a preselected amount when the actual time of revolution is less than said desired time and decrementing said product by said preselected amount when the actual time of revolution is greater than said desired time.

47. A filler for volumetrically dispensing a desired weight of material into containers to be filled by weight, comprising:

(a) a hopper means for storing the material to be dispensed by the filler;

(b) rotary feed means operatively associated with the hopper means for dispensing controlled volumes of material from a discharge opening in the hopper means into the containers to be filled, said volumes being directly proportional to the time of revolution of the rotary feed means;

(c) cyclically engagable drive means for rotating the rotary feed means;

(d) brake means for causing the rotation of the rotary feed means to stop after a desired time of revolution;

(e) means for sensing the actual time of revolution of the rotary feed means from the time the drive means is engaged until the rotary feed means comes to a complete stop and generating a signal indicative of the actual time of revolution;

(f) comparison means for comparing the actual time of revolution of the rotary feed means to said desired time of revolution; and

(g) control means responsive to said comparison means for actuating said brake means after the rotary feed means has rotated a predetermined time and for incrementing said predetermined time by a preselected amount when the actual time of revolution is less than said desired time of revolution and decrementing said predetermined time by said preselected amount when the actual time of revolution is greater than said desired time of revolution.

48. Apparatus as in claim 47, wherein the rotary feed means comprises a screw auger.

49. Apparatus as in claim 47, wherein the rotary feed means comprises a rotary pump.

50. Apparatus as in claim 47, wherein said drive means comprises a motor.

51. Apparatus as in claim 50, wherein said motor is an electric motor.

52. Apparatus as in claim 47, wherein said means for sensing the actual time of revolution of said feed means comprises a shaft encoder.

53. Apparatus as in claim 52, wherein the shaft encoder comprises a light chopper fixed to the rotary feed means for rotation therewith and a photodetector for detecting the light chopped by the light chopper and converting the detected light into electrical signals.

54. Apparatus as in claim 47, wherein said control means includes a microprocessor.