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Intelligent system and process for automated monitoring of microingredient inventory used in the manufacture of medicated feed rations

  • US 5,487,603 A
  • Filed: 02/28/1994
  • Issued: 01/30/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A programmable microingredient dispensing and mixing machine, comprising:

  • a housing of rugged construction;

    programmed control means for controlling the operation of various components of said machine in accordance with a control program;

    an information storage and processing means for storing and processing information relating to the measured weight of microingredients in said machine;

    a plurality of dispensing bins disposed in said housing, each said dispensing bins includingmeans for storing a supply of a preassigned type of microingredient, andmeans for dispensing a specified amount of said preassigned type of microingredient from said dispensing bin for weight measurement under the control of said programmed control means;

    first weight measuring means for independently measuring the weight of microingredient stored in each one of said dispensing bins under the control of said programmed control means, and producing first weight information for storage in said programmed information storage and processing means, said first transmitted weight information being representative of the measured weight of the microingredients stored in each one of said dispensing bins;

    a weigh hopper, disposed within said housing, and for temporarily storing an amount of microingredient dispensed from one of said dispensing bins, into said weigh hopper, said weigh hopper including means for discharging said measured amount of microingredient under the control of said.programmed control means;

    second weight measuring means, disposed in said housing, for measuring the amount of microingredient stored in said weigh hopper and producing second weight information for storage in said information storage and processing means, said second weight information being representative of the weight of said measured amount of microingredient stored in said weigh hopper; and

    a mixing tank for containing one or more types of microingredient discharged from said weigh hopper under the control of said programmed control means, said mixing tank includingmeans for mixing said discharged microingredients with a specified amount of consumptive fluid carrier, such as water, to form a microingredient slurry mixture, andmeans for transporting said microingredient slurry mixture away from said mixing tank under the control of said programmed control means, for subsequent usage.

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