Fluent material handling – with receiver or receiver coacting mea – With testing or weighing receiver content
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-22
2001-04-24
Douglas, Steven O. (Department: 3751)
Fluent material handling, with receiver or receiver coacting mea
With testing or weighing receiver content
C177S052000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220312
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to dispensing devices and methods for metering and dispensing materials into containers and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for providing automated dispensing of a viscous material such as honey into bottles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is frequently necessary to automatically dispense a predetermined quantity of material into a container. Scales, balance beams, or electronic load cells are commonly used to measure the weight of the container when empty, and the combined weight of the container and a quantity of material that has been dispensed into the container.
A load cell, including a plurality of strain gauges (e.g., arranged in a full bridge configuration), is often used to provide an electrical signal that is a function of beam. The electrical resistance of the strain gauges changes as the strain gauges are elongated or compressed due to a change in the weight applied to the platform. The changes in resistance are converted by an electronic processing device or other suitable means into a voltage, current, or other signal that is a function of the applied weight. This signal may be entered into a control system that can be programmed to calculate the weight applied to the platform. Unfortunately, strain gauge type load cells are quite costly, difficult to use, and are mechanically fragile. For example, the strain gauges are easily damaged when the platform is overloaded or excessively stressed, necessitating the tedious and expensive process of replacing the strain gauges.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to overcome the above deficiencies, the present invention provides an improved container filling apparatus for dispensing, weighing and automatically filling a container with a predetermined weight of material. The container filling apparatus generally includes an optical load cell for measuring the weight applied to a platform supported by a cantilever beam, a container placed on the platform for receiving and holding a quantity of material, a tank for storing a supply of the material, a solenoid actuated valve for controlling the flow of material from the tank into the container, and a computerized control system for controlling the dispensing and weighing process.
The platform is mounted to an end of a cantilever beam. When weight is applied to the platform, the platform end of the cantilever beam is deflected downward. An infrared light emitter is provided to direct a beam of light onto the surface of the cantilever beam. The intensity of the light reflecting off of the surface of the cantilever beam is measured by a light detector sensor. The light detector sensor provides an output signal that is a function of the weight supported on, or force applied to, the platform. A processor is provided to convert the output signal of the light detector sensor into a weight value.
As the weight supported by the platform increases, the downward deflection of the cantilever beam increases. This deflection reduces the intensity of the light reflecting off of the surface of the cantilever beam and detected by the light detector sensor. The decrease in light intensity is converted by the processor into a weight value.
Unlike strain gauge type load cells, the optical load cell of the present invention is robust in that it is not damaged when a large amount of weight is placed on, and supported by, the platform. Also, the infrared light emitter and light detector sensor are reasonable in cost compared to strain gauges employed by strain gauge type load cells.
For purposes of illustration, the preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a container filling system for dispensing a viscous material, such as honey, into bottles. The apparatus of the present invention, however, may be adapted to dispense and weigh other viscous materials and fluids such as ice cream, peanut butter, jams, oil and paint. Also, the apparatus of the present invention is not limited to fluids, but may be used to dispense and weigh solid materials such as sand, sugar, etc.
A solenoid actuated valve is used to control the flow of material from a storage tank into a container. In the present invention, the solenoid actuated valve includes a large area inlet port, a large area valve, and a large area outlet port in order to allow the viscous honey to rapidly flow into the container. Preferably, the opening and closing of the solenoid actuated valve is controlled by a microprocessor or other programmable system. However, the solenoid actuated valve may also be operated manually, e.g., by manually pressing an on/off switch or the like.
The microprocessor is additionally used, for example, to process the light intensity data received from the optical load cell, to control the solenoid operated valve to stop the flow of material into the container when the container is filled to a predetermined level, and to control the calibration of the container filling apparatus. Further, the microprocessor is configured to receive control inputs from an operator, and to provide output data to the operator.
In the present invention, a first test container is filled to a desired level, and data corresponding to this predetermined level is stored by the microprocessor. After the predetermined level is established, the microprocessor controls the filling process until each successive container to be filled is automatically filled to the predetermined level. Thus, the present invention provides for the rapid and accurate filling of each successive container.
Therefore, in a first embodiment of the present invention, a container filler apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises:
a platform for supporting an object to be weighed;
a cantilever beam having a fixed end attached to a rigid support and a movable end attached to the platform;
an optical load cell for measuring the deflection of the cantilever beam; and
a control system for using the measured deflection of the cantilever beam to calculate a weight of the object supported by the platform.
The present invention provides a method comprising:
providing a cantilever beam having a platform attached thereto;
applying a light to the beam;
measuring a deflection of the beam using the light; and
using the deflection to automatically fill a container positioned on the platform.
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Chen Michael M.
Hirsch Robert Sandor
Douglas Steven O.
Schmeiser Olsen & Watts
Shandor Motion Systems
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