Automatic Apparatus for High Speed Precision Portioning of Granules By Weight

• US 20150246769A1
• Filed: 08/20/2014
• Published: 09/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adr International Limited
• Original Assignee: Adr International Limited
• Inventors: Pearlson, Daniel David
• Granted Patent: US 9,599,442 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 15/44 for impelling the loads
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 33/14 comprising a screw or screws enclosed in a tubular housing
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/44 Arrangements or applications of hoppers or chutes
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/846 Star-shaped wheels or wheels equipped with article-engaging elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 65/40 Devices for emptying otherwise than from the top
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 33/02 Filling cartridges, missiles, or fuzes; Inserting propellant or explosive charges F42B33/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 33/0207 Processes for loading or filling propulsive or explosive charges in containers
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 33/0264 by using screw-type feeders F42B33/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 33/0285 Measuring explosive-charge levels in containers or cartridge cases; Methods or devices for controlling the quantity of material fed or filled F42B33/004 takes precedence; controlling the quantity of material fed in packaging B65B3/26
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 33/0292 by volumetric measurement, i.e. the volume of the material being determined before filling
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/16 characterised by composition or physical dimensions or form of propellant charge, with or without projectile, or powder chemical composition C06B; F42B5/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 13/04 involving dribble-feed means controlled by the weighing mechanism to top up the receptacle to the target weight
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 13/16 Means for automatically discharging weigh receptacles under control of the weighing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 13/247 Checking quantity of material in the feeding arrangement, e.g. discharge material only if a predetermined quantity is present
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 17/00 Apparatus for or methods of weighing material of special form or property determining weight by measuring volume G01F

Abstract

An automated granule portioning system includes at least one volumetric measuring chamber capable of adjusting the volume of the chamber automatically to a programmed target volume and arranged to receive a first portion of granules into the chamber to fill the target volume. A transport system automatically delivers the target volume of granules from the chamber to a weighing device. A granule metering device dispenses granules and, depending on a signal from the weighing device that the first portion of granules is below a programmed target weight, dispenses granules to the first portion to increase the weight to achieve a second portion having the target weight.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

24. (canceled)

25. (canceled)

26. (canceled)

27. (canceled)

28. (canceled)

29. (canceled)

30. (canceled)

31. (canceled)

32. (canceled)

33. (canceled)

34. (canceled)

35. (canceled)

36. (canceled)

37. (canceled)

38. (canceled)

39. (canceled)

40. (canceled)

41. (canceled)

42. (canceled)

43. (canceled)

44. (canceled)

45. An automated granule portioning system comprising:

at least one volumetric measuring chamber capable of adjusting the volume of the chamber automatically to a programmed target volume and arranged to receive a first portion of granules into the chamber to fill the target volume;

a transport system capable of automatically delivering the target volume of granules from the measuring chamber to a weighing device; and

a granule metering device that dispenses granules and depending on a signal from the weighing device that the first portion of granules is below a programmed target weight, dispenses granules to the first portion to increase the weight to achieve a second portion of granules having the target weight.

46. The granule portioning system according to claim 45, wherein said volumetric measuring chamber is automatically calibrated such that the first portion of granules is programmed to be closely approximate the programmed target weight without exceeding said target weight.

47. The granule portioning system according to claim 45, wherein the granule metering device incorporates a slowly incrementing horizontal conveyor that feeds granules to a faster incrementing inclined conveyor that dispenses granules to the first portion.

48. The granule portioning system according to claim 47, wherein the granule metering device incorporates a V-shaped trough, vibrated by means of an electric motor to guide granules onto the inclined conveyor as they fall from the horizontal conveyor.

49. The granule portioning system according to claim 48, wherein the inclined conveyor incorporates compartments, cups, indentations, or depressions capable of holding only one individual granule so granules are released one at a time from the device.

50. The granule portioning system according to claim 48, wherein the granule metering device incorporates a photo sensor to verify the presence of granules held at an apex of the inclined conveyor.

51. The granule portioning system according to claim 47, wherein the granule metering device is computer controlled.

52. The granule portioning system according to claim 45, wherein the granule metering device incorporates a photo sensor to verify the release of individual granules to the first portion of granules.

53. The granule portioning system according to claim 45, wherein a solenoid controlled gate prohibits the release of any granules at any time other than when an individual granule is required to be released to match or approach the programmed target weight of the second portion of granules on the scale.

54. The granule portioning system according to claim 45, comprising a plurality of the volumetric measuring chamber which are fed granules from a single hopper.

55. The granule portioning system according to claim 45, comprising a plurality of said granule metering devices that automatically add individual granules to first portions being weighed so as to conform the weight of second portions to a programmed target weight, which are fed granules from a single hopper.

56. The granule portioning system according to claim 45, comprising a plurality of granule metering devices that automatically add individual granules to first portions being weighed, and a plurality of volumetric measuring devices, and all are fed granules from a common hopper.

57. The granule portioning system according to claim 45, wherein the volumetric measure of portions of granules is automatically calibrated such that transition between non-identical lots of granules of the same type such that the weight of each portion is automatically made to be consistently equal to or slightly less that the programmed target weight.

58. The granule portioning system according to claim 45, wherein a plurality of said systems consolidates rejected overweight granule portions such that said rejected portions are retained in a single container so that they may be easily reprocessed.

59. The granule portioning system according to claim 45, wherein excessively underweight granule portions are rejected and retained such that said rejected portions are retained so that they may be reprocessed.

60. The granule portioning system according to claim 45, wherein a plurality of said systems consolidates rejected excessively underweight granule portions such that said rejected portions are retained in a single container so that they may be easily reprocessed.

61. The granule portioning system according to claim 45, comprising:

a hopper holding granules;

wherein the at least one volumetric measuring chamber comprises a plurality of measuring chambers, the measuring chambers capable of adjusting their respective volumes automatically to a program target volume, and each measuring chamber arranged to receive a the first portion of granules into the respective measuring chamber to fill the target volume;

the transport system comprising a first rotatable plate that holds the measuring chambers rotationally spaced apart and which rotates to place chambers one at a time to receive the first portion of granules from the hopper to fill each measuring chamber; and

to position filled chambers one at a time over a fill station;

a plurality of weighing containers carried rotationally spaced apart on a second rotatable plate, located beneath the first rotatable plate, wherein rotation of the second rotatable plate positions a weighing container in the fill station to receive the first portion of granules from a measuring chamber, and further rotatable to position a filled weighing container onto a weighing scale where further granules are added to increase the first portion to a second portion, and further rotatable to position the filled weighing container into a delivery station to deliver the second portion of granules out of the weighing container for further processing.

62. The granule portioning system according to claim 61, wherein the second rotatable plate is also rotatable to position a weighing container into a dumping station to dump granules from the filled weighing container into a recycle bin.

63. The granule positioning system according to claim 61, further comprising a granule metering station wherein a dispensing device dispenses granules into the filled weighing container while the filled weighing container is on the weighing scale, the dispensing device being in signal communication with the weighing scale to add a correct number of granules to meet the target weight.