US5287896A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for measuring out by weight
Assignee: Serac Group SAS
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Filing: 1992-07-08
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Granted: 1994-02-22
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Expires: 2012-07-08
Abstract
Abstract The method comprises the following steps: inserting a substance into a receptacle with at least one filling stage of fixed duration during which filling is performed at a servo-controlled flow rate using a servo-control loop including a weighing member, a weighing processor unit, and a flow rate control member; measuring the weight of substance contained in the receptacle after filling; comparing the weight of substance contained in the receptacle with a reference weight; and adjusting the servo-control relationship as a function of a difference between the weight of substance contained in the receptacle and the reference weight. An apparatus is provided to accomplish the above functions.
Inventors
- 👤 Andre Graffin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 00:59
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B3/00; B65B3/26; B65B3/28; B67; B67C; B67C3/00; B67C3/02; B67C3/20; B67C3/202; G; G01; G01G; G01G13/00; G01G13/24; G01G13/28; G01G13/285; G01G13/2851
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for filling a receptacle with a predetermined weight of a substance in at least one filling stage, comprising, for each of said at least one filling stage: (1) inserting the substance into a receptacle for a fixed time period; (2) measuring the flow rate of the substance into the receptacle at time intervals during said fixed time period; (3) determining the difference between the measured flow rate and a predetermined reference flow rate; and (4) adjusting the flow rate of the substance into the receptacle as a function of said difference.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for filling a receptacle with a predetermined weight of a substance in at least one filling stage, comprising, for each of said at least one filling stage: (1) inserting the substance into a receptacle for a fixed time period; (2) measuring the flow rate of the substance into the receptacle at time intervals during said fixed time period; (3) determining the difference between the measured flow rate and a predetermined reference flow rate; and (4) adjusting the flow rate of the substance into the receptacle as a function of said difference.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein there are at least two filling stages at different reference flow rates, and at least one of the reference flow rates is adjusted as a function of said difference between the measured weight and the reference weight.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the flow rate is adjusted by adjusting a flow rate control member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the weight of the substance in the receptacle is measured after the filling thereof, the difference between the measured weight and a reference weight is determined and the reference flow rate is adjusted as a function of the difference.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
106 words
An apparatus for filling a receptacle with a predetermined weight of a substance in at least one filling stage, comprising: (1) insertion means for inserting the substance into a receptacle for a fixed time period during each of said at least one filling stage; (2) measuring means for measuring the flow rate of the substance filled into the receptacle at time intervals during said fixed time period; (3) processor means for determining the difference between the measured flow rate and a predetermined reference flow rate; and (4) servo-control means for adjusting the flow rate of the substance into the receptacle as a function of said difference.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
106 words
An apparatus for filling a receptacle with a predetermined weight of a substance in at least one filling stage, comprising: (1) insertion means for inserting the substance into a receptacle for a fixed time period during each of said at least one filling stage; (2) measuring means for measuring the flow rate of the substance filled into the receptacle at time intervals during said fixed time period; (3) processor means for determining the difference between the measured flow rate and a predetermined reference flow rate; and (4) servo-control means for adjusting the flow rate of the substance into the receptacle as a function of said difference.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the insertion means comprises at least one feed member connected to a filler nozzle via a flow rate control member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the receptacle is supported by the weighting means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the processor means is operable connected to the flow rate control member and to the weighing means so as to form a servo-control loop such that a setting may be applied to the flow rate control member, wherein the flow rate of the substance through the filler nozzle is maintained at the reference flow rate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein a parameter of the servo-control loop is adjusted to adjust the flow rate.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
160 words
A method for filling a receptacle with a predetermined weight of a substance in at least one filling stage, comprising, for each of said at least one filling stage: (1) inserting the substance into a receptacle for a fixed time period; (2) measuring the flow rate of the substance into the receptacle at time intervals during said fixed time period; (3) determining the difference between the measured flow rate and a predetermined reference flow rate for each of said at least one filling stage; (4) adjusting the flow rate control member during each of said at least one filling stage as a function of said flow rate difference according to a predetermined flow control relationship; (5) measuring after filling the weight of the substance in the receptacle; (6) determining the weight difference between the measured weight and said predetermined weight; and (7) adjusting said reference flow rate for at least one filling stage as a function of said weight difference.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
160 words
A method for filling a receptacle with a predetermined weight of a substance in at least one filling stage, comprising, for each of said at least one filling stage: (1) inserting the substance into a receptacle for a fixed time period; (2) measuring the flow rate of the substance into the receptacle at time intervals during said fixed time period; (3) determining the difference between the measured flow rate and a predetermined reference flow rate for each of said at least one filling stage; (4) adjusting the flow rate control member during each of said at least one filling stage as a function of said flow rate difference according to a predetermined flow control relationship; (5) measuring after filling the weight of the substance in the receptacle; (6) determining the weight difference between the measured weight and said predetermined weight; and (7) adjusting said reference flow rate for at least one filling stage as a function of said weight difference.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for filling a receptacle with a predetermined weight of substance in at least one filling stage comprising: (1) inserting the substance from a feed member via a flow rate control member into a receptacle for a fixed time during each of said at least one filling stage; (2) measuring the flow rate of the substance into the receptacle at time intervals during said fixed time period; (3) determining the difference between the measured flow rate and a predetermined reference flow rate for each of said at least one filling stage; (4) adjusting the flow rate control member during each of said at least one filling stage as a function of said flow rate difference according to a predetermined flow control relationship; (5) measuring after filling the weight of the substance in the receptacle; (6) determining the weight difference between the measured weight and said predetermined weight; and (7) adjusting said flow control relationship as a function of said weight difference.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for filling a receptacle with a predetermined weight of substance in at least one filling stage comprising: (1) inserting the substance from a feed member via a flow rate control member into a receptacle for a fixed time during each of said at least one filling stage; (2) measuring the flow rate of the substance into the receptacle at time intervals during said fixed time period; (3) determining the difference between the measured flow rate and a predetermined reference flow rate for each of said at least one filling stage; (4) adjusting the flow rate control member during each of said at least one filling stage as a function of said flow rate difference according to a predetermined flow control relationship; (5) measuring after filling the weight of the substance in the receptacle; (6) determining the weight difference between the measured weight and said predetermined weight; and (7) adjusting said flow control relationship as a function of said weight difference.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein there are at least two filling stages during which the flow rate control member is adjusted according to different flow control relationships, and at least one of said flow control relationship is adjusted as a function of said weight difference.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-02-21 | 1997-08-23 | 1998-02-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-02-21 | 2001-08-23 | 2002-02-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-02-21 | 2005-08-23 | 2006-02-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |