US4547725A — Method and apparatus for the continuous determina…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 155 words

A process for achieving measurement of the water content of moisture of a pourable food product stream moved along a production path, comprising the steps of passing the product continuously through an electric field created between conducting surfaces defining a condenser apparatus, measuring a quantity related to the capacitance of the condenser apparatus, converting the quantity to a characteristic value signal representing the product level, passing at least a part of the product through a measurement condenser with retarded motion, during which the measurement condenser is electrically charged in accordance with a predefined procedure, the amount of resultant charge stored on the condenser defining measurement values, passing the measurement values to an electronic evaluation circuit for determination of the moisture, and controlling the motion of said product to maintain said characteristic value substantially constant, whereby said condenser is filled to a predetermined level as the product passes through the measurement condenser during said moisture determination.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 155 words

A process for achieving measurement of the water content of moisture of a pourable food product stream moved along a production path, comprising the steps of passing the product continuously through an electric field created between conducting surfaces defining a condenser apparatus, measuring a quantity related to the capacitance of the condenser apparatus, converting the quantity to a characteristic value signal representing the product level, passing at least a part of the product through a measurement condenser with retarded motion, during which the measurement condenser is electrically charged in accordance with a predefined procedure, the amount of resultant charge stored on the condenser defining measurement values, passing the measurement values to an electronic evaluation circuit for determination of the moisture, and controlling the motion of said product to maintain said characteristic value substantially constant, whereby said condenser is filled to a predetermined level as the product passes through the measurement condenser during said moisture determination.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 64 words

Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the measurement condenser is charged to a particular voltage in a first phase, and in a second phase a reference condenser of known capacitance is connected to the measurement condenser, charge of the measurement condenser is transferred to the reference condenser, and the voltage is measured across the reference condenser, and passed to the evaluation circuitry.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 14 words

Process according to claim 2, characterized in that the two phases are repeated cyclically.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 17 words

Process according to claim 3, characterized in that during the first phase the reference condenser is discharged.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 19 words

Process according to claim 3, characterized in that the cycle repetition rate is determined by the power supply frequency.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 26 words

Process according to claim 2, characterized in that at the end of the second phase, the voltage across the reference condenser is passed to a memory.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 28 words

Process according to claim 6, characterized in that in the memory, a number of measurement values are averaged, and used for determination of the moisture of the product.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 18 words

Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the measurement condenser is operated in a continuous throughput process.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 56 words

Process according to claim 1 characterized in that the product is passed through the electric fields of two condenser arrangements spaced along the product flow path, a charging measurement of both condenser arrangements is obtained, and the measurement values passed as a basis characteristic to an evaluation circuit, for determination of the level of the product.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 35 words

Processes according to claim 9, characterized in that the product level in the product supply line of a milling roller carriage is determined, and controlled to a constant height range by a feed regulation gate.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 135 words

A process for generating a characteristic value signal representing the level of a pourable food product stream moved along a production path, comprising the steps of passing the product continuously through an electric field created between conducting surfaces defining a condenser apparatus, measuring a quantity related to the capacitance of the condenser apparatus, converting the quantity of the characteristic value, passing at least a part of the product through a measurement condenser with retarded motion, during which the condenser is electrically charged in accordance with a predefined procedure, the amount of resultant charge stored on the condenser defining measurement values passing the measurement values to an electronic evaluation circuit for determination of the moisture, the product being weighed while retarded in the measurement condenser, and during the measurement filling the condenser to a predetermined level.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 135 words

A process for generating a characteristic value signal representing the level of a pourable food product stream moved along a production path, comprising the steps of passing the product continuously through an electric field created between conducting surfaces defining a condenser apparatus, measuring a quantity related to the capacitance of the condenser apparatus, converting the quantity of the characteristic value, passing at least a part of the product through a measurement condenser with retarded motion, during which the condenser is electrically charged in accordance with a predefined procedure, the amount of resultant charge stored on the condenser defining measurement values passing the measurement values to an electronic evaluation circuit for determination of the moisture, the product being weighed while retarded in the measurement condenser, and during the measurement filling the condenser to a predetermined level.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 31 words

A process according to either claim 1 or 11 characterized in that the capacitance of the condenser apparatus is measured by electrically activating the condenser and directly measuring its electrical state.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 35 words

Process according to claim 11, characterized in that the measurement condenser is integral with a compartment through which the product flows, the compartment being filled essentially to its capacity with the product for the measurement.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 120 words

A process for generating a characteristic value signal representing at least one of the level and the height of a pourable food product stream moved along a proportion path, comprising the steps of passing the product continuously through an electric field created between conducting surfaces defining a condenser apparatus, measuring a quantity related to the capacitance of the condenser apparatus, and converting the quantity to the characteristic value, the capacitance being measured by electrically activating the condenser and directly measuring its electrical state, supplying the measurement condenser with a continuous product stream, and diverting a partial stream by an overflow principle into a parallel bypass path defined by a bypass channel of predetermined dimensions, and reuniting the two substreams later.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 120 words

A process for generating a characteristic value signal representing at least one of the level and the height of a pourable food product stream moved along a proportion path, comprising the steps of passing the product continuously through an electric field created between conducting surfaces defining a condenser apparatus, measuring a quantity related to the capacitance of the condenser apparatus, and converting the quantity to the characteristic value, the capacitance being measured by electrically activating the condenser and directly measuring its electrical state, supplying the measurement condenser with a continuous product stream, and diverting a partial stream by an overflow principle into a parallel bypass path defined by a bypass channel of predetermined dimensions, and reuniting the two substreams later.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 29 words

Process according to claim 14, characterized in that in the region of the reuniting of the two substreams, a backward accumulation of product to the measurement condenser is produced.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 37 words

Process according to claim 14, characterized in that the flow of product in the bypass path is controlled to attain a constant level in the bypass path, to assure a constant backward accumulation on the measurement condenser.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 96 words

Apparatus for generating a characteristic value signal representing the level of a pourable food product stream moving along a product path, comprising: condenser means constructed to have said product pass continuously therethrough, means for passing the product through said condenser means, means for measuring an electrical property of said condenser means, and converter means for converting the measured value into the characteristic value signal, the condenser means being supported on pressure measurement means for producing a weighing signal proportional to the quantity of product within the condenser means, the weighing signal going to the evaluation circuit.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 96 words

Apparatus for generating a characteristic value signal representing the level of a pourable food product stream moving along a product path, comprising: condenser means constructed to have said product pass continuously therethrough, means for passing the product through said condenser means, means for measuring an electrical property of said condenser means, and converter means for converting the measured value into the characteristic value signal, the condenser means being supported on pressure measurement means for producing a weighing signal proportional to the quantity of product within the condenser means, the weighing signal going to the evaluation circuit.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 102 words

Apparatus for generating a characteristic value signal representing the level of a pourable food product stream moving along a product path, comprising condenser means in the form of a measurement container constructed to have said product pass continuously therethrough, means for passing the product through said condenser means, means for measuring an electrical property of said condenser means, and converter means for converting the measured value into the characteristic value signal, further comprising a bypass channel of predetermined dimensions adjacent the measurement container and control means for controlling the movement of the product in the measurement container and in the bypass channel.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 102 words

Apparatus for generating a characteristic value signal representing the level of a pourable food product stream moving along a product path, comprising condenser means in the form of a measurement container constructed to have said product pass continuously therethrough, means for passing the product through said condenser means, means for measuring an electrical property of said condenser means, and converter means for converting the measured value into the characteristic value signal, further comprising a bypass channel of predetermined dimensions adjacent the measurement container and control means for controlling the movement of the product in the measurement container and in the bypass channel.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 45 words

Apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the condenser means has a product inlet and product outlet for passage of the product the product inlet being positioned substantially vertically above the measurement container, said apparatus further comprising a transfer channel to the bypass channel.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 18 words

Apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the measurement container takes the form of a pass-through container.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 28 words

Apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the container includes a wall defining a condenser plate, and a second condenser plate is placed within the measurement container.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 15 words

Apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that it has a pourable product temperature sensor.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 21 words

Apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the condenser arrangement includes one of: a plate, stray field, or cylinder condenser.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 26 words

Apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that it has two condenser means each one positioned at a different height for measurement of the product level.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 33 words

Apparatus according to claim 19, characterized in that it has a throughput control gate at the product outlet, and a level detector placed in the bypass channel are coupled to control said gate.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 28 words

Apparatus according to claim 25, characterized in that the level detector comprises a membrane placed laterailly in the bypass channel, which is connected with the throughput control gate.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 20 words

Apparatus according to claims 25 or 26, further comprising manual actuating mechanisms for opening and closing the throughput control gate.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 16 words

Apparatus according to claim 18 further comprising throughput volume metering means which measures the instantaneous throughput.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 38 words

Apparatus according to claim 18 further comprising a throughput control gate, and throughput volume metering means and desired value regulator means in an evaluation circuit connected to control at least one of said gate and said metering means.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 36 words

Apparatus according to claim 29, in combination with a storage container and placed directly below said storage container in such a way that the outlet volume from the storage container can be controlled by the apparatus.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 21 words

Apparatus according to claim 30, characterized in that the evaluation circuit includes a second computer for control of a subsequent processor.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1988-10-14	1989-04-15	1989-10-15	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1992-10-14	1993-04-15	1993-10-15	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1996-10-14	1997-04-15	1997-10-15	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for the continuous determination of moisture pourable food

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