Apparatus and process for the metering of predetermined quantities of at least one product

• US 4,669,634 A
• Filed: 08/03/1982
• Issued: 06/02/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aventis Pharma SA (Sanofi )
• Original Assignee: Roussel Uclaf
• Inventors: Leroux, Hugues
• Primary Examiner(s): ROLLA, JR., JOSEPH J
• Application Number:
  US06/404,816
• Time in Patent Office: 1,764 Days
• Field of Search: 222/77, 222/202, 222/203, 222/148, 222/52, 222/55, 222/56, 222/58, 222/71, 222/53, 222/152, 222/160, 222/161, 177/50, 177/70, 177/114
• US Class Current: 222/53
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 37/18 by weighing devices or methods for controlling the quantity of material or liquid fed or filled into a container by weighing B65B1/32, B65B3/28
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 13/022 Material feeding devices G01G13/04 - G01G13/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 13/028 by pneumatic carrying means
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/22 for apportioning materials by weighing prior to mixing them ratio regulation G05D11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/24 using a single weighing apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus and process for the metering of predetermined quantities of at least one product to be delivered to at least one mobile receiver by means of a distribution station which comprises means effecting the discharge of a product from a container, a device effecting simultaneously the preliminary storage, homogeneization and the transfer of the product to a weighing assembly comprising a metering feeder equipped with means to deliver the product to a mobile receiver, means to effect static weighings and dynamic weighings, means to conduct automatically the operations of weighing and the delivery of the product to the mobile receiver, means to effect the transfer of the product to the mobile receiver and to obturate the outlet of the weighing assembly, and the elements of the distributor station are further equipped with means to create and to maintain the impermeability of the apparatus with respect to the product involved and the elements of the environment.

Claims

1. In an apparatus for metering predetermined quantities of at least one product to be delivered to at least one mobile receiver, the apparatus comprising at least one automated distribution station forming a substantially environmentally impermeable transfer circuit with respect to the product to be transferred and wherein the improvement comprises:

I--means (3) effecting the discharge of a container (1) carrying a product to be metered, which comprises a vibrator or a pneumatic apparatus (3'"'"') capable of applying pressure to and cooperating with a potentially deformable wall of the container (1), equipped with a discharge conduit (4) connected to

II--a device (8) insuring the preliminary storage, homogenization and transfer of the product to be metered to a weighing assembly (11), comprising a stoppered feeder (8'"'"'), equipped with means (9) to homogenize and transfer the product by an extractor in the form of an endless screw to

III--a weighing assembly (11) comprising;

(a) metering feeder (12) equipped with a metering extractor (13) in the form of an endless screw situated to deliver the metered product to a mobile receiver (16);

(b) means for static and dynamic weighing of the metered product, and said assembly (III) is equipped with means to assure the transportation of the metered product into the mobile receiver (16).

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the discharge conduit (4) is tightly connected at one end thereof to the outlet of container (1) and at the other end, to the inlet of stopper feeder (8'"'"') which effects preliminary storage, said conduit (4) also containing a separating valve (5) between said ends.

3. An apparatus according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein:

the discharge conduit (4) is equipped with a device (6) capable of creating a vacuum, thereby producing an aspiration effect in said conduit (4) and a blower device (7) to clean said conduit (4) of the particles of the product to be metered.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the metering extractor (13) of metering feeder (12) is in the form of an endless screw which is controlled automatically by a computer which is responsive to weights detected by the weighing means (14).

5. An apparatus according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein

means to transfer the product to the mobile receiver (16) and to obturate the outlet of the weighing assembly (11) comprises a tight joining device (15), connecting said weighing assembly (11) and said mobile receiver (16) and equipped with two butterfly valves (17) and (17'"'"') and further connected with an aspiration device (18) and a blower device (19), said joining device further being capable of being connected with the opening of the mobile receiver (16).

6. A process for metering a predetermined amount of a product into a mobile receiver which comprises discharging bulk product into a preliminary storage device (8) from which it is transfered to a weighing assembly (11) in the following manner:

(1) the product is introduced into the weighing assembly until a first weighing, designated dynamic (I), indicates that the desired quantity of the product has been introduced into the weighing assembly (11) with the dynamic weight (I) then deactivating the introduction of the product via a programmed computer;

(2) the quantity of the product present in the weighing assembly (11) is determined by means of a second weighing, designated static (II);

(3) the product is caused to leave the weighing assembly (11) after opening a butterfly valve (17) of an inlet of a joining device (15), until a third weighing, designated dynamic (III), indicates that the desired quantity of the product has left the weighing assembly (11), whereupon the dynamic weight (III) causes the cessation of the delivery of the product via a programmed computer, the joining device (15) is cleaned and the butterfly valve (17'"'"') of the outlet of the joining device (15) is closed; and

(4) a fourth weighing, designated static (IV), is performed which determines the quantity of the product still contained in the weighing assembly (11);

(5) determining that the desired quantity of the product has been extracted from the weighing assembly (11), for transport to the mobile receiver (16), by comparing the values of the two static weights, i.e. the second static weight (II) and the fourth static weight (IV) in the computer; and

(6) if the metered amount is less than the predetermined amount, then additional product is dispensed via the computer which causes the weighing assembly (11) to deliver to the mobile receiver (16) the quantity of product which represents the difference in the amount of product desired and the amount of product originally dispensed;

the entirety of the operations of the transfer of the metered product and the weighings being effected under conditions insuring the impermeability of the circuit with respect to the metered product annd the elements of the environment.

8. A process according to one of claims 6 or 7, wherein the conditions of impermeability insure that a level of contamination not exceeding 350 particles of the product or products treated, per liter of ambient air or approximately 10,000 particles per cubic foot of the ambient air, in order to create white room working conditions.

7. A metering process, by means of at least one weighing assembly (11), for dispensing predetermined quantities of at least one product to be delivered to at least one mobile receiver (16), which comprises:

(a) introducing a product into a weighing assembly (11) until a first weight, designated dynamic weight (I), indicates that the desired quantity of the product has been introduced in said weighing assembly (11), with said dynamic weight (I) then causing, via a computer, the cessation of the further introduction of the product;

(b) the quantity of the product present in the weighing assembly (11) is determined by means of a second weighing, designated static (II);

(c) the product is caused to leave the weighing assembly (11), after opening a butterfly valve (17) of the inlet of a joining device (15) until a third weight designated dynamic (III) indicates that the desired quantity has left said weighing assembly (11), wherepon said dynamic weight (III) causes, via a computer, the cessation of the delivery of the product, and a fourth weighing, designated static (IV) is effected on the quantity of the product remaining in the weighing assembly (11);

(d) the joining device (15) is cleaned and the butterfly valve (17'"'"') of the outlet of the joining device (15) closed;

(e) determining via the computer that the desired quantity of the product has been extracted from the weighing assembly (11), to be transported to the mobile receiver (16), by comparing the values of the two static weights, i.e. the second static (II) and the fourth static (IV);

(f) if the extracted amount is less than the predetermined quantity, the predetermined quantity is achieved by causing, via the computer, the weighing assembly (11) to deliver to the mobile receiver (16) that quantity of the product required to equal the quantity of the product specified initially; and

(g) the operations of the transfer of the product to be metered to the weighing assembly (11), the weighing and the transfer of said product to the mobile receiver (16) are effected under conditions insuring the impermeability of the circuit with respect to the product involved and the elements of the environment.