Fluent material weighing system

Claim 2

A fluent material weighing system comprising: A. a supporting member; B. weight sensing means supported by said supporting member and adapted to weigh an applied load and for producing, alternately, first and second electrical outputs as, periodically, a predetermined suspended weight is sensed; C. a hopper assembly connected to said weight sensing means as said applied load and comprising: 1. first and second weighing chambers, each being adapted to receive material through a top opening, 2. inlet valve means positioned at the top of said hopper assembly for receiving a continuous flow of material and directing flow, selectively, to said first and second chambers, 3. a first gatE valve positioned at the bottom of said first chamber for selectively opening and closing the bottom of said first chamber, and 4. a second gate valve positioned at the bottom of said second chamber for selectively opening and closing the bottom of said second chamber, whereby said first and second weighing chambers, said inlet valve and said first and second gate valves are weighed together; D. control means connected to said inlet valve means and said first and second gate valves and being responsive to a said first electrical output of said weight sensing means for operating said inlet valve means to direct flow into said first chamber, for operating said first gate valve closed and for operating said second gate valve open, and responsive to a said second electrical output of said weight sensing means for operating said inlet valve means to direct flow into said second chamber, for operating said second gate valve closed and for operating said first gate valve open.

Claim 3

inlet valve means positioned at the top of said hopper assembly for receiving a continuous flow of material and directing flow, selectively, to said first and second chambers,

Claim 4

inlet valve means positioned at the top of said hopper assembly for receiving a continuous flow of material and directing flow, selectively, to said first and second chambers,

Claim 5

inlet valve means positioned at the top of said hopper assembly for receiving a continuous flow of material and directing flow, selectively to said first and second recepticles; and D. control means connected to said inlet valve means and responsive to said first electrical output of said weight sensing means for operating said inlet valve means to direct flow into said first recepticle and responsive to a said second electrical output of said weight sensing means for operating said inlet valve means to direct flow into said second recepticle, whereby said hopper assembly, said first and second receptacles and said inlet valve means are weighed together.

Claim 6

inlet valve means positioned at the top of said hopper assembly for receiving a continuous flow of material and directing flow, selectively to said first and second recepticles; and D. control means connected to said inlet valve means and responsive to said first electrical output of said weight sensing means for operating said inlet valve means to direct flow into said first recepticle and responsive to a said second electrical output of said weight sensing means for operating said inlet valve means to direct flow into said second recepticle, whereby said hopper assembly, said first and second receptacles and said inlet valve means are weighed together.

Claim 7

A fluent material weighing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said weight sensing means includes: A. a source of electrical power; B. a normally open electrical switch connected to said source of electrical power for providing an electrical output when a said predetermined suspended weight is sensed; C. first and second relays, each having a relay coil, a set of normally open contacts and a set of normally closed contacts; D. first and second normally closed switches positioned to be alternately opened when engaged by said inlet valve means as said inlet valve means is operated to permit flow to said first chamber and then to said second chamber. E. a first electrical circuit coupling an output of said normally open switch through said first normally closed switch to said coil of said first relay and to a normally open contact of said first relay and through the normally closed contacts of said second relay to provide said first electrical output; F. a second electrical circuit from the output of said normally open switch through said second normally closed switch to said coil of said second relay and to a normally open contact of said second relay and through said normally closed contacts of said first relay to provide said second electrical output; and G. a third electrical circuit from the output of said normally opened switch to the otherwise unconnected contact of said normally open contacts of said first and second relays, whereby upon the closing of said normally opened switch a said relay coil is held energized after its associated normally open contact has been closed, holding power on said last named relay coil until said normally opened switch is next opened.

Claim 8

a balancing arm coupled to said platform for balancing weight applied to said platform; B. said hopper assembly is suspended from said platform and positioned to receive flow through said frame; and C. electrical switching means responsive to sequential operation of said balancing arm to a balanced position to provide alternately, in sequence, said first and second electrical outputs to said control means.

Claim 9

a balancing arm coupled to said platform for balancing weight applied to said platform; B. said hopper assembly is suspended from said platform and positioned to receive flow through said frame; and C. electrical switching means responsive to sequential operation of said balancing arm to a balanced position to provide alternately, in sequence, said first and second electrical outputs to said control means.

Claim 10

A balancing arm coupled to said platform for balancing weight applied to said platform; B. said hopper assembly is suspended from said platform and positioned to receive flow through said frame; and C. electrical switching means responsive to sequential operation of said balancing arm to a balanced position to provide alternately, in sequence, said first and second electrical outputs to said control means.

Claim 11

A balancing arm coupled to said platform for balancing weight applied to said platform; B. said hopper assembly is suspended from said platform and positioned to receive flow through said frame; and C. electrical switching means responsive to sequential operation of said balancing arm to a balanced position to provide alternately, in sequence, said first and second electrical outputs to said control means.

Claim 12

A weighing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control means comprises: A. a source of air; B. an electrically operated four-way air valve for providing first and second output conditions; C. a first cylinder supplied air through said four-way air valve, said first cylinder being connected to operate said inlet valve means and said first gate valve and adapted to operate said inlet valve means to open flow to said first chamber and close said first gate valve when said electrically operated four-way valve is supplied with a said first electrical output and adapted to operate said inlet valve means to open flow to said second chamber and open said first gate valve when said electrically operated four-way valve is supplied with a said second electrical output; and D. a second cylinder supplied air through said electrically operated four-way valve, said second cylinder being connected to said second gate valve and adapted to close said second gate valve when said four-way electrically operated valve is supplied a said second electrical output and adapted to open said second gate valve when said electrically operated four-way valve is supplied a said first electrical signal.

Claim 13

a first gatE valve positioned at the bottom of said first chamber for selectively opening and closing the bottom of said first chamber, and

Claim 14

a first gatE valve positioned at the bottom of said first chamber for selectively opening and closing the bottom of said first chamber, and

Claim 15

a second gate valve positioned at the bottom of said second chamber for selectively opening and closing the bottom of said second chamber, whereby said first and second weighing chambers, said inlet valve and said first and second gate valves are weighed together; D. control means connected to said inlet valve means and said first and second gate valves and being responsive to a said first electrical output of said weight sensing means for operating said inlet valve means to direct flow into said first chamber, for operating said first gate valve closed and for operating said second gate valve open, and responsive to a said second electrical output of said weight sensing means for operating said inlet valve means to direct flow into said second chamber, for operating said second gate valve closed and for operating said first gate valve open.

Claim 16

a second gate valve positioned at the bottom of said second chamber for selectively opening and closing the bottom of said second chamber, whereby said first and second weighing chambers, said inlet valve and said first and second gate valves are weighed together; D. control means connected to said inlet valve means and said first and second gate valves and being responsive to a said first electrical output of said weight sensing means for operating said inlet valve means to direct flow into said first chamber, for operating said first gate valve closed and for operating said second gate valve open, and responsive to a said second electrical output of said weight sensing means for operating said inlet valve means to direct flow into said second chamber, for operating said second gate valve closed and for operating said first gate valve open.

Claim 17

A weighing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein: A. said weight sensing means comprises platform scales comprising:

Claim 18

A weighing system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said electrical switching means comprises: A. a source of electrical power; B. a normally open electrical switch in engagement with said weight balancing arm and connected to said power source for providing electrical output when said balancing arm reaches a balanced position; C. first and second relays, each having a relay coil, a set of normally open contacts and a set of normally closed contacts; D. first and second normally closed switches positioned to be alternately opened when engaged by said inlet valve means as laterantely operated to permit flow to said first chamber, and then to said second chamber; E. a first electrical circuit coupling an output of said normally open switch through said first normally closed switch to said coil of said first relay and to a normally open contact of said first relay and through the normally closed contacts of said second relay to provide said first electrical output; F. a second electrical circuit from the output of said normally open switch through said second normally closed switch to said coil of said second relay and to a normally open contact of said second relay and through said normally closed contacts of said first relay to provide said second electrical output; and G. a third electrical circuit from the output of said normally open switch to the otherwise unconnected contact of said normally open contacts of said first and second relays, whereby upon the closing of said normally opened switch a said relay coil is held energized after its associated normally open contact has been closed, holding power on said last named relay coil until said normally opened switch is next opened.

Claim 19

A weighing system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising supply means positioned to apply fluent material to said hopper assembly through said inlet valve means.

Claim 20

A weighing system as set forth in claim 6 wherein said supply means includes count-down switching means responsive to a preselected number of operations of said weight sensing means for cutting off flow of fluent material from said supply means to said hopper assembly, whereby a selected total weight of material may be weighed.

Claim 21

A weighing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said weight sensing means comprises: A. at least one load cell for receiving the weight of said hopper assembly and for providing an electrically indicated weight signal proportional to the weight of said hopper assembly; B. weight selector means responsive to an input signal for providing a switching output signal when said input signal indicates a predetermined value; C. circuit means responsive to said weight signal for providing said input signal to said weight selector means; and D. switching means responsive to said switching output signal and the operating position of said inlet valve means for providing, alternately, said first and second electrical outputs.

Claim 22

A weighing system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said circuit means comprises: A. flow rate means responsive to said weight signal for providing a rate signal, being a signal which is a function of the rate of change of said weight signal and thus a function of the rate of flow of material into said hopper assembly; and B. summing means responsive to said weight signal and said rate signal for providing a compensated input signal to said weight selector means.

Claim 23

A weighing system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said circuit means further comprises timing means for providing a timing signal which is a function of the period required for the operation of said inlet valve means; and said summing means comprises means responsive to said weight signal, said rate signal, and said timing signal for providing a compensated input signal to said weight selector means.

Claim 24

A fluent material weighing system comprising: A. a supporting member; B. weight sensing means supported by said supporting member and adapted to weigh a suspended load and for producing, alternately, first and second electrical outputs, as periodically, a predetermined suspended weight is sensed; C. a hopper assembly connected to said weight sensing means as a said suspended load comprising:

Claim 25

A fluent material weighing system comprising: A. a supporting member; B. weight sensing means supported by said supporting member and adapted to weigh a suspended load and for producing, alternately, first and second electrical outputs, as periodically, a predetermined suspended weight is sensed; C. a hopper assembly connected to said weight sensing means as a said suspended load comprising:

Claim 26

A weighing system as set forth in claim 11 further comprising supply means to apply fluent material to said hopper assembly through said inlet valve means.

Claim 27

A weighing system as set forth in claim 11 wherein each said recepticle is a removable container.

Claim 28

A weighing system as set forth in claim 12 wherein: A. said weight sending means comprises platform scales comprising: