Batching Systems, Inc.

Other

Diamond Machine Werks, Inc.

Diamond Machine Works, Inc.

Donald R Wooldridge

Mark Richard

John L Ditman

Scott B Yoder

A system is provided for feeding a stream of material. The system includes a feeder, a material density portion, a detector, a weight calculator and an indicator. The feeder can output a portion of the stream of the material from a first position to a second position. The material density portion can generate a density signal based on the density of the material. The detector can detect a volume of the portion of the stream of the material without contacting the portion of the stream of the material and can generate a volume signal based on the detected volume. The weight calculator can calculate a weight based on the density signal and the volume signal and can generate a weight signal. The indicator can provide an indication signal based on the weight signal.

System and method for determining weight

An aspect of the present invention provides a system for transferring a plurality of non-oriented items. The system includes a feeding area, a conveyor and a rail. The feeding area can accept the plurality of non-oriented items. The conveyor has a first end, a second end, a conveyor length disposed between the first end and the second end, a conveyor first side, a conveyor second side, a conveyor width disposed between the conveyor first side and the conveyor second side, and a conveyor ledge along the second side. The rail is disposed above the conveyor and from the conveyor ledge at a distance equal to one of the item height, the item width and the item length. A first portion of the plurality of non-oriented items will convey along the conveyor path. A second portion of the plurality of non-oriented items will fall off the conveyor ledge.

System and method for singulating and separating a plurality of non-oriented items

An aspect of the present invention provides a system for transferring a plurality of non-oriented items. The system includes a feeding area, a conveyor and a rail. The conveyor has a first end, a second end, a conveyor length disposed between the first end and the second end, a conveyor first side, a conveyor second side, a conveyor width disposed between the conveyor first side and the conveyor second side, and a conveyor ledge along the second side. The rail is disposed above the conveyor and from the conveyor ledge at a distance equal to one of the item height, the item width and the item length. A first portion of the plurality of non-oriented items will convey along the conveyor path. A second portion of the plurality of non-oriented items will fall off the conveyor ledge. ledge.

A method for detecting and discriminating articles that are within a predetermined range of a specification into lots feeds a plurality of articles into an article portioning system having a counting head assembly that includes an article detecting unit located above and cooperatively controlling through generated signals an upper diverting gate and lower outlet gate which control the passage and/or accumulation of articles in adjacent channels to permit filling of article containers with predetermined article portions as containers are placed beneath, and removed from, the assembly outlet. The method for portioning discrete articles by feeding the articles and generating signals controlling the gates is suited for a combined plurality of such assemblies to provide high speed continuous container filling operations for simultaneous filling of groups of containers.

Method of article portioning

A system and an apparatus and method for detecting and discriminating articles that are within a predetermined range of a specification into lots. A counting head assembly includes at least an article detecting unit located above diverting gates which control the passage and/or accumulation of articles in adjacent channels to permit filling of article containers with predetermined article portions as containers are placed beneath, and removed from, the assembly outlet. A plurality of such assemblies may be combined to provide high speed continuous container filling operations, for example by location of a plurality of counting head assemblies about the periphery of a rotating carousel or on a linear platform which moves containers beneath the assemblies for simultaneous filling of groups of containers.

Article portioning head system

An improved method for counting irregular or unsymmetrical shaped articles that allows greater precision and provides enhanced features over current counting devices and methods. The method improves upon current devices and methods by providing a more precise volume for each article by using actual cross sectional areas of articles. The improved method also allows the user to count broken or incomplete articles as &ldquo;partial&rdquo; volumes. These partial volumes may be added to one another to give a precise total batch volume. The actual cross sectional areas may also be used to allow the user to display three dimensional adaptations of each article counted. Because this information is stored, the articles may be displayed at any time after the articles are scanned. The improved method also allows a user to determine the distance between articles, by using the counting device, and, using this information, adjust the feed rate of the device to an optimum feed rate.

Method and apparatus for detecting and counting articles

A counting and portioning system which counts discrete articles that conform to predetermined specifications into lots having a predetermined number of articles or a target volume. The system includes at least one portioning bin positioned to receive articles from a conveyor. The at least one bin has at least first and second outlet gates for emptying articles into separate respective first and second locations. A scanner detects and maintains a count of articles that are received in the at least one portioning bin and fall within the predetermined specification. The detector unit generates an out-of-specification signal when an article or group of articles received in the at least one portioning bin falls outside the predetermined specification. A control unit causes the first outlet gate to open when the count or volume of articles is equal to the predetermined number and causes the second outlet gate to open in response to receipt of an out-of-specification signal. The profile/volume signature for every part scanned and delivered from the infeed to the scanner is stored.

Multi-head portioning system

A counter unit counts discrete articles that are within a predetermined size range into lots having a predetermined number of articles. The counter unit includes (1) a first conveyor that delivers a flow of articles separated at discrete intervals; and (2) at least one bin positioned to receive articles from the conveyor. The at least one bin has at least first and second outlet gates for emptying articles into separate respective first and second locations. A detector unit detects and maintains a count of articles that are received in the at least one bin and fall within said predetermined size range. The detector unit generates an out-of-size signal when an article received in the at least one bin falls outside said predetermined size range. A control unit causes the first outlet gate to open when the count of articles is equal to said predetermined number and causes the second outlet gate to open in response to receipt of an out-of-size signal.

Multi-head counting system with size discrimination

A feeding, singulating, or orienting device which includes a vibratory feeder bowl having a central receiving section and at least two tracks radiating outwardly from the receiving section. The feeder bowl can be convex, concave, or flat in vertical cross-section depending on the articles to be separated or oriented.

Feeding and sorting apparatus

A method and apparatus for separating and accelerating adjacent objects on a conveyor, which does not interpose fingers, fixtures, escapements, or the like, between the objects. The apparatus uses two adjacent sideflexing conveyors traveling, at least in part, in a curved path. Separation and acceleration of the objects is accomplished by taking advantage of the increase in velocity at the margin of the conveyor in relation to the pitch line speed where the conveyor travels in a curved path. The objects are transferred from the higher speed margin of one conveyor to the low speed margin of the other, faster, conveyor, at the curve.

Apparatus and method for separating adjacent objects on a conveyor

Apparatus and a method for aggregating a desired number of articles without individually counting out each article to achieve the desired number. A stream of the articles is discharged into a weigh hopper until substantially a predetermined weight of articles is in the hopper. The number of articles in the hopper is determined from the total weight of the hopper and the weight of a single article. Additional articles are caused to enter the hopper one-by-one until the desired total number of articles is contained in the hopper. The contents of the hopper are then packaged for distribution.

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Dunkirk, MD, United States of America

Donald R Wooldridge