Automatic batch weigher

Claim 2

A weighing system comprising A weighing receptacle, first means providing for the successive delivery of at least first and second materials to said receptacle to make up a batch of said materials in said receptacle, second means responsive to the accumulated weight of material delivered to said receptacle for producing a first signal that is representative of the accumulated weight of material delivered to said receptacle, weight selection means for developing second and third signals that are pre-set to respectively represent the desired weights of said first and second materials to be delivered to said receptacle, third means for memorizing said first signal at least after the delivery of said first material and before delivery of said second material, and fourth means responsive (a) to at least said first and second signals to control the delivery of said first material to said receptacle and (b) to at least said first signal, said third signal and said memorized signal to control the delivery of said second material to said receptacle, said weight selection means and said memorizing means being operatively connected to said fourth means independently of each other, whereby the memorized signal and each signal developed by said weight selection means are applied to said fourth means independently of each other.

Claim 3

A weighing system comprising a weighing receptacle, first means providing for the successive delivery of at least first and second materials to said receptacle to make up a batch of said materials in said receptacle, second means responsive to the accumulated weight of material delivered to said receptacle for producing a first electrical signal that is representative of the accumulated weight of material delivered to said receptacle, weight selection means for developing second and third electrical signals that are pre-set to respectively represent the desired weight of said first and second materials to be delivered to said receptacle, third means for memorizing said first signal before the delivery of said first material and after the delivery of said first material but before the delivery of said second material whereby the memorized signal represents the weight of any material in the receptacle prior to the delivery of each of said materials, and fourth means responsive (a) at least to said first signal, said second signal, and the signal that was memorized before the delivery of said first material to said receptacle to control the delivery of said first material to said receptacle and (b) to said first signal, said third signal and the signal that was memorized after the delivery of said first material to control the delivery of said second material to said receptacle, said weight selection means and said memorizing means being operatively connected to said fourth means independently of each other, whereby the memorized signal and each signal developed by said weight selection means are applied to said fourth means independently of each other.

Claim 4

A weighing system comprising a weighing receptacle, first means providing for the successive delivery of at least first and second materials to said receptacle to make up a batch of said materials in said receptacle, second means responsive to the accumulated weight of material delivered to said receptacle for producing a first electrical signal that is representative of the accumulated weight of material delivered to said receptacle, weight selection means for developing second and third electrical signals that are pre-set to respectively represent the desired weight of said first and second materials to be delivered to said receptacle, third means for memorizing said first signal before the delivery of said first material and after the delivery of said first material but before the delivery of said second material whereby the memorized signal represents the weight of any material in the receptacle prior to the delivery of each of said materials, and fourth means responsive (a) at least to said first signal, said second signal, and the signal that was memorized before the delivery of said first material to said receptacle to control the delivery of said first material to said receptacle and (b) to said first signal, said third signal and the signal that was memorized after the delivery of said first material to control the delivery of said second material to said receptacle, said weight selection means and said memorizing means being operatively connected to said fourth means independently of each other, whereby the memorized signal and each signal developed by said weight selection means are applied to said fourth means independently of each other.

Claim 5

A weighing system comprising a weighing receptacle, first means providing for the successive delivery of at least first and second materials to said receptacle to make up a batch of said materials in said receptacle, second means responsive to the accumulated weight of material delivered to said receptacle for producing a first electrical signal that is representative of the accumulated weight of material in said receptacle, weight selection means for developing second and third electrical signals that respectively represent the desired weights of said first and second materials to be delivered to said receptacle, third means, said weight selection means being operatively connected to said third means to successively apply said second and third signals to said third means in a correlated relation with the delivery of said first and second materials, and fourth means operatively connected to said second means independently of said third means for memorizing said first signal at least after the delivery of said first material and before deliveRy of said second material, said fourth means being operatively connected to said third means to apply the memorized signal to said third means during delivery of said second material, and said third means being responsive (a) to at least said first and second signals to control the delivery of said first material to said receptacle and (b) to at least said first, third and memorized signals to control the delivery of said second material to said receptacle.

Claim 6

A weighing system comprising a weighing receptacle, first means providing for the successive delivery of at least first and second materials to said receptacle to make up a batch of said materials in said receptacle, second means responsive to the accumulated weight of material delivered to said receptacle for producing a first electrical signal that is representative of the accumulated weight of material in said receptacle, weight selection means for developing second and third electrical signals that respectively represent the desired weights of said first and second materials to be delivered to said receptacle, third means, said weight selection means being operatively connected to said third means to successively apply said second and third signals to said third means in a correlated relation with the delivery of said first and second materials, and fourth means operatively connected to said second means independently of said third means for memorizing said first signal at least after the delivery of said first material and before deliveRy of said second material, said fourth means being operatively connected to said third means to apply the memorized signal to said third means during delivery of said second material, and said third means being responsive (a) to at least said first and second signals to control the delivery of said first material to said receptacle and (b) to at least said first, third and memorized signals to control the delivery of said second material to said receptacle.

Claim 7

A weighing system comprising a weighing receptacle, means providing for the successive delivery of a plurality of materials to said receptacle, means responsive to the accumulated weight of material delivered to said receptacle for developing a first voltage signal representative of the weight of material delivered to said receptacle, means memorizing said first signal each time before each of the plurality of materials is delivered for developing a second substantially constant voltage signal representative of the weight of any material already in said receptacle prior to the delivery of each of said plurality of materials, weight selection means for developing a pre-set voltage signal for representing the desired weight of each of said plurality of materials delivered to said receptacle, signal comparing means independently and concomitantly connected along separate current paths respectively to said first signal developing means, said weight selection means, and said second signal developing means for comparing said pre-set signal with the difference between the magnitudes of said first and second signals during the delivery of each of said materials, and signal utilization means controlled by said comparison.

Claim 8

A weighing system comprising a weighing receptacle, means providing for the successive delivery of a plurality of materials to said receptacle, means responsive to the accumulated weight of material delivered to said receptacle for developing a first voltage signal representative of the weight of material delivered to said receptacle, means memorizing said first signal each time before each of the plurality of materials is delivered for developing a second substantially constant voltage signal representative of the weight of any material already in said receptacle prior to the delivery of each of said plurality of materials, weight selection means for developing a pre-set voltage signal for representing the desired weight of each of said plurality of materials delivered to said receptacle, signal comparing means independently and concomitantly connected along separate current paths respectively to said first signal developing means, said weight selection means, and said second signal developing means for comparing said pre-set signal with the difference between the magnitudes of said first and second signals during the delivery of each of said materials, and signal utilization means controlled by said comparison.

Claim 9

The weighing system defined in claim 4, wherein said signal utilization means is responsive to said comparison for controlling the delivery of each material to said receptacle.

Claim 10

A weighing system comprising a weighing receptacle, means providing for the successive delivery of a plurality of materials to said receptacle, transducer means responsive to the accumulated weight of material delivered to said receptacle for developing a first voltage signal representative of the accumulated weight of material delivered to said receptacle, weight selection means for developing a pre-set voltage signal for representing the desired weight of each of the plurality of materials to be delivered, voltage signal memorizing means having signal input terminal means and signal output terminal means, signal responsive means, signal-transmitting means for connecting said output terminal means, said transducer means and said weight selection means to said signal responsive means, means for connecting said input terminal means to said transducer means independently of said signal responsive means during each interval between delivery of successive ones of said materials to memorize the magnitude of said first signal during each interval and for applying the memorized signal to said output terminal means for transmittal to said signal responsive means during the delivery of each material to said receptacle, and signal utilization means operatively connected to said signal responsive means, said signal responsive means being responsive to the alegbraic summation of at least said first, pre-set and memorized signals during material delivery to control said signal utilization means, with the polarities of said pre-set and memorized signal being opposite to that of said first signal.

Claim 11

A weighing system comprising a weighing receptacle, means providing for the successive delivery of a plurality of materials to said receptacle, transducer means responsive to the accumulated weight of material delivered to said receptacle for developing a first voltage signal representative of the accumulated weight of material delivered to said receptacle, weight selection means for developing a pre-set voltage signal for representing the desired weight of each of the plurality of materials to be delivered, voltage signal memorizing means having signal input terminal means and signal output terminal means, signal responsive means, signal-transmitting means for connecting said output terminal means, said transducer means and said weight selection means to said signal responsive means, means for connecting said input terminal means to said transducer means independently of said signal responsive means during each interval between delivery of successive ones of said materials to memorize the magnitude of said first signal during each interval and for applying the memorized signal to said output terminal means for transmittal to said signal responsive means during the delivery of each material to said receptacle, and signal utilization means operatively connected to said signal responsive means, said signal responsive means being responsive to the alegbraic summation of at least said first, pre-set and memorized signals during material delivery to control said signal utilization means, with the polarities of said pre-set and memorized signal being opposite to that of said first signal.

Claim 12

The weighing system defined in claim 6, wherein said signal utilization means is operative under the control of said signal responsive means to control the delivery of each material to said receptacle.

Claim 13

A weighing system comprising a receptacle, means providing for the successive delivery of at least first and second materials to said receptacle to make up a batch of said materials in said receptacle, means for developing a first electrical signal representative of the accumulated weight of material delivered to said receptacle, meAns memorizing said first signal at least during the interval between delivery of said materials for developing a second substantially constant electrical signal representative of the weight of the material already in said receptacle prior to the delivery of said second material to said receptacle, weight selection means for developing a pre-set electrical signal for representing the desired weight of each material to be delivered to said receptacle, means responsive to at least said first and pre-set signals for controlling the delivery of said first material to said receptacle and to at least said first, second and pre-set signals for controlling the delivery of said second material to said receptacle, and means coacting with said pre-set signal and said second signal for providing an indication whenever the selected weight of one material to be delivered, when added to the weight of material already in said receptacle, exceeds a predetermined amount.

Claim 14

A weighing system comprising a receptacle, means providing for the successive delivery of at least first and second materials to said receptacle to make up a batch of said materials in said receptacle, means for developing a first electrical signal representative of the accumulated weight of material delivered to said receptacle, meAns memorizing said first signal at least during the interval between delivery of said materials for developing a second substantially constant electrical signal representative of the weight of the material already in said receptacle prior to the delivery of said second material to said receptacle, weight selection means for developing a pre-set electrical signal for representing the desired weight of each material to be delivered to said receptacle, means responsive to at least said first and pre-set signals for controlling the delivery of said first material to said receptacle and to at least said first, second and pre-set signals for controlling the delivery of said second material to said receptacle, and means coacting with said pre-set signal and said second signal for providing an indication whenever the selected weight of one material to be delivered, when added to the weight of material already in said receptacle, exceeds a predetermined amount.

Claim 15

The weighing system defined in claim 8, wherein said means coacting with said second and pre-set signals comprises means for developing a third voltage signal representative of said predetermined amount, signal comparing means for comparing said third signal with the sum of said second and pre-set signals, and indicator means controlled by said comparison.

Claim 16

A weighing system comprising a weighing receptacle, means providing for the successive delivery of at least first and second materials to said receptacle to make up a batch of said materials in said receptacle, means responsive to the accumulated weight of material delivered to said receptacle for producing a first D.C. signal that is a function of the accumulated weight of material delivered to said receptacle, weight selection means for producing second and third D.C. signals that have pre-selected values to respectively represent the desired weights of said first and second materials to be delivered to said receptacle, a storage capacitor, switch means electrically connected to said capacitor and being actuatable to complete a charging circuit to store a charge on said capacitor that has an absolute value proportional to that of said first signal after the delivery of said first material and before delivery of said second material, and means responsive (a) to at least said first and second signals to control the delivery of said first material to said receptacle and (b) to at least said first signal, said third signal and the charge on said capacitor to control the delivery of said second material to said receptacle.

Claim 17

A weighing system comprising a weighing receptacle, means providing for the successive delivery of at least first and second materials to said receptacle to make up a batch of said materials in said receptacle, means responsive to the accumulated weight of material delivered to said receptacle for producing a first D.C. signal that is a function of the accumulated weight of material delivered to said receptacle, weight selection means for producing second and third D.C. signals that have pre-selected values to respectively represent the desired weights of said first and second materials to be delivered to said receptacle, a storage capacitor, switch means electrically connected to said capacitor and being actuatable to complete a charging circuit to store a charge on said capacitor that has an absolute value proportional to that of said first signal after the delivery of said first material and before delivery of said second material, and means responsive (a) to at least said first and second signals to control the delivery of said first material to said receptacle and (b) to at least said first signal, said third signal and the charge on said capacitor to control the delivery of said second material to said receptacle.

Claim 18

The weighing system defined in claim 10 wherein said switch means is electrically connected between said capacitor and said first signal producing means.

Claim 19

A weighing system comprising a weighing receptacle, first means providing for the successive delivery of at least first and second materials to said receptacle to make up a batch of said materials in said receptacle, second means responsive to the accumulated weight of material delivered to said receptacle for producing a first electrical signal that is representative of the accumulated weight of material delivered to said receptacle, weight selection means for developing second and third electrical signals that respectively represent the desired weights of said first and second materials to be delivered to said receptacle, third means operatively connected to said weight selection means and to said second means and being responsive (a) to the alegbraic sum of at least said first and second signals for controlling the delivery of said first material and (b) to the alegbraic sum of at least said first and third signals for controlling the delivery of said second material, and a sample and hold circuit (a) for sampling said first signal at least during the period after delivery of said first material and prior to delivery of said second material and (b) for supplying a memorization of the sampled signal to tare said first signal during delivery of said second material, said circuit having siGnal sampling input terminal means operatively connected to said second means independently of said third means for receiving the signal to be sampled.

Claim 20

A weighing system comprising a weighing receptacle, first means providing for the successive delivery of at least first and second materials to said receptacle to make up a batch of said materials in said receptacle, second means responsive to the accumulated weight of material delivered to said receptacle for producing a first electrical signal that is representative of the accumulated weight of material delivered to said receptacle, weight selection means for developing second and third electrical signals that respectively represent the desired weights of said first and second materials to be delivered to said receptacle, third means operatively connected to said weight selection means and to said second means and being responsive (a) to the alegbraic sum of at least said first and second signals for controlling the delivery of said first material and (b) to the alegbraic sum of at least said first and third signals for controlling the delivery of said second material, and a sample and hold circuit (a) for sampling said first signal at least during the period after delivery of said first material and prior to delivery of said second material and (b) for supplying a memorization of the sampled signal to tare said first signal during delivery of said second material, said circuit having siGnal sampling input terminal means operatively connected to said second means independently of said third means for receiving the signal to be sampled.

Claim 21

The weighing system defined in claim 12 wherein said weight selection means and said circuit are operatively connected to said third means independently each other.

Claim 22

The weighing system defined in claim 12, wherein said sample and hold circuit further includes output terminal means operatively connected to said third means for applying the memorization of the sampled signal thereto, and capacitance means connected between said input and output terminal means for storing and thereby memorizing the sampled signal.

Claim 23

The weighing system defined in claim 14 wherein said third means comprises an operational amplifier circuit having an input summing junction, and wherein said first signal, each signal developed by said weight selection means and the memorization of the sampled signal are all applied to said summing junction, and means controlled by the output of said amplifier circuit for interrupting the delivery of each of said materials when the algebraic summation of signals at said junction reaches a predetermined level.

Claim 24

A weighing system comprising a load-receiving structure for receiving at least two successively applied loads, at least the second one of said loads following application of the first of said successively applied loads being a flowable material, means providing for the delivery of said material, means responsive to the weight of the load or loads applied to said structure for producing a first D.C. signal that is a function of the total weight of the load or loads applied to said structure, capacitor means, means actuatable to complete a charging circuit for charging said capacitor means to a value that is proportional to the value that said first signal has after said first load is applied to said structure but before delivery of said material is initiated, weight selection means for producing a second D.C. signal having a pre-selected value that is representative of the desired weight of said material to be delivered, and means responsive to at least said first signal, said second signal and said charge for controlling the delivery of said material.

Claim 25

A weighing system comprising a load-receiving structure for receiving at least two successively applied loads, at least the second one of said loads following application of the first of said successively applied loads being a flowable material, means providing for the delivery of said material, means responsive to the weight of the load or loads applied to said structure for producing a first D.C. signal that is a function of the total weight of the load or loads applied to said structure, capacitor means, means actuatable to complete a charging circuit for charging said capacitor means to a value that is proportional to the value that said first signal has after said first load is applied to said structure but before delivery of said material is initiated, weight selection means for producing a second D.C. signal having a pre-selected value that is representative of the desired weight of said material to be delivered, and means responsive to at least said first signal, said second signal and said charge for controlling the delivery of said material.

Claim 26

The weighing system defined in claim 16 wherein said means controlling the delivery of said material comprises operational amplifier circuit means electrically connected to said first signal producing means, said capacitor means, and said weight selection means, wherein the charge on said capacitor and said second signal have like polarities that are opposite to the polarity of said first signal, said operational amplifier circuit means being operative to produce an output signal that is controlled by the algebraic summation of at least said first signal, said second signal and said charge during delivery of said material, and means under the control of said output signal for stopping the delivery of said material when the amount of delivered material reaches a value corresponding to said pre-selected value.

Claim 27

The weighing system defined in claim 16 wherein said means for completing said charging circuit comprises switch means electrically connected to said capacitor means.

Claim 28

The weighing system defined in claim 18 wherein said switch means is electrically connected between said first signal producing means and said capacitor.