A weighing machine for products in a packaging assembly comprising a vibrating convex disc; a plurality of vibrating trays, a plurality of feeding hoppers, a plurality of weighing hoppers, and a plurality of chutes arranged in a circular pattern; each of the plurality of feeding hoppers comprising a cantilevered flap configured to rotate around a horizontal pivot axis, a counterweight member extending opposite the cantilevered flap, the counterweight member including a plate member configured to slide along at least one groove in relation to the horizontal pivot axis to adjust an effective weight of the counterweight member; a pair of alternating horizontal sliding conveyors; and a pair of transport conveyors positioned under the pair of alternating horizontal sliding conveyors.

A weighing machine for products in a packaging assembly comprising a vibrating convex disc; a plurality of vibrating trays, a plurality of feeding hoppers, a plurality of weighing hoppers, and a plurality of chutes arranged in a circular pattern; each of the plurality of feeding hoppers comprising a cantilevered flap configured to rotate around a horizontal pivot axis, a counterweight member extending opposite the cantilevered flap, the counterweight member including a plate member configured to slide along at least one groove in relation to the horizontal pivot axis to adjust an effective weight of the counterweight member; a pair of alternating horizontal sliding conveyors; and a pair of transport conveyors positioned under the pair of alternating horizontal sliding conveyors.

A virtual weight value is set, and a dummy run mode is set and activated. Then, a zero point, reference value used to calculate the weight value of articles to be weighed in each weighing hopper, is corrected based on the virtual weight value. This enables a dummy run of a combination scale to be performed with the actually empty weighing hopper being assumed to contain the articles equivalent to the virtual weight value.

A virtual weight value is set, and a dummy run mode is set and activated. Then, a zero point, reference value used to calculate the weight value of articles to be weighed in each weighing hopper, is corrected based on the virtual weight value. This enables a dummy run of a combination scale to be performed with the actually empty weighing hopper being assumed to contain the articles equivalent to the virtual weight value.

Systems and methods are provided for dispensing medication in a predetermined amount. An exemplary system and method may include operations and/or instructions comprising dispensing medicine from a first medicine container to a transfer device; dispensing medicine from the transfer device to a second medicine container, monitoring a medicine distribution relative to the first medicine container, the second medicine container, and the transfer device by way of at least one monitoring device, and automatically adjusting the medicine distribution among the first medicine container, the second medicine container, and the transfer device.

A particulate material supplying apparatus includes a hopper that stores a particulate material, a discharge gutter that dispenses the particulate material, a feeder that transports the particulate material to a weighing scale, the weighing scale that weighs the particulate material, a supply shutter that feeds the particulate material to a machine in the next process step at a predetermined timing, and a controller that controls the operations of these devices. The discharge gutter includes an inclined gutter portion having an opening in an upper surface thereof and a substantially U-shaped cross section. The controller controls the discharge gutter so that the particulate material in the hopper is dispensed to the feeder by causing the discharge gutter to perform a swinging motion in which a forward rotation and a backward rotation each to a predetermined angle are repeated while the opening in the inclined gutter portion faces upward.

A particulate material supplying apparatus includes a hopper that stores a particulate material, a discharge gutter that dispenses the particulate material, a feeder that transports the particulate material to a weighing scale, the weighing scale that weighs the particulate material, a supply shutter that feeds the particulate material to a machine in the next process step at a predetermined timing, and a controller that controls the operations of these devices. The discharge gutter includes an inclined gutter portion having an opening in an upper surface thereof and a substantially U-shaped cross section. The controller controls the discharge gutter so that the particulate material in the hopper is dispensed to the feeder by causing the discharge gutter to perform a swinging motion in which a forward rotation and a backward rotation each to a predetermined angle are repeated while the opening in the inclined gutter portion faces upward.

The invention relates to a discharge control device, comprising a hopper (1) receiving a metered product amount where it is deposited, discharge control elements (3) movable between a closed position and an open position by driving means, and a fill tube (2) connecting the discharge control device with a fill nozzle of the form-fill-seal machine whereby a bag is filled with product, wherein the driving means of the discharge control elements (3) comprise a motor (7) driving the movement of one of the discharge control elements (3), and a synchronizing connecting rod (9) synchronizing the movement of the discharge control element (3) driven by the motor (7) with the other discharge control element (3).

The invention allows filling bags reliably and more quickly.

The invention relates to a discharge control device, comprising a hopper (1) receiving a metered product amount where it is deposited, discharge control elements (3) movable between a closed position and an open position by driving means, and a fill tube (2) connecting the discharge control device with a fill nozzle of the form-fill-seal machine whereby a bag is filled with product, wherein the driving means of the discharge control elements (3) comprise a motor (7) driving the movement of one of the discharge control elements (3), and a synchronizing connecting rod (9) synchronizing the movement of the discharge control element (3) driven by the motor (7) with the other discharge control element (3).

The invention allows filling bags reliably and more quickly.

The present technology is generally directed to methods and systems for automated food packaging. The method and system includes singulating a plurality of elongate food products into a plurality of individual product pieces, conveying the plurality of individual product pieces along a moving surface, depositing a portion of the individual product pieces into a bucket, where the products are deposited such that a length of greater than about 90% of the individual product pieces are generally aligned parallel with the first side or second side of the bucket. Methods and systems include measuring a height between a top surface of the deposited portion of produce pieces and a top side of the moving surface, vertically lowering the bucket if the measured height is less than a threshold amount, and depositing a second portion of individual product pieces into the vertically lowered bucket.