Apparatus and control method for feeder system for flowable material

Abstract

An apparatus for precisely controlling the feed rate of a feeder comprises: a motor operatively connected to the feeder to cause dispensing of the feeder when the motor is driven; a control circuit for supplying, when actuated, an AC voltage supply to the motor for driving of the motor; a counter disposed in communication with the control circuit for actuation thereof when an overflow signal is generated by the counter; a latch controller disposed in communication with the counter for enablement and disablement of the counter, the latch controller disabling the counter when the overflow signal is generated by the counter; a detector connected to the AC voltage supply for detecting when the AC voltage crosses over a median voltage thereof, the detector further disposed in communication with the latch controller for enablement of the counter when the median voltage is detected; and a fuzzy logic controller disposed in communication with the counter for generating an output to the counter that loads a determined count into the counter such that the counter generates an overflow signal within a time interval equal to a determined percentage of the half period of the AC voltage. The control circuit includes a pair of silicon control rectifiers disposed in parallel but reversed to one another resulting in each silicon control rectifier being able to supply the AC voltage to the motor during opposite half periods of a time period of the AC voltage if continuously actuated.