Patent classifications
B65G53/06
Control device, granular material supply system, control method, and program
In a granular material supply system including a tank that stores granular material, a carrier line through which the granular material flowing out of the tank is carried to a carrier destination, and a cutout line that connects the tank and the carrier line and through which the granular material flowing out of the tank is supplied to the carrier line, a control device includes a density control unit configured to control a density of the granular material on a downstream side of a junction of the cutout line and the carrier line to a set value predetermined and a flow rate control unit configured to control a flow rate of the granular material to be supplied to the carrier destination through the carrier line to a command value instructed by the carrier destination.
Control device, granular material supply system, control method, and program
In a granular material supply system including a tank that stores granular material, a carrier line through which the granular material flowing out of the tank is carried to a carrier destination, and a cutout line that connects the tank and the carrier line and through which the granular material flowing out of the tank is supplied to the carrier line, a control device includes a density control unit configured to control a density of the granular material on a downstream side of a junction of the cutout line and the carrier line to a set value predetermined and a flow rate control unit configured to control a flow rate of the granular material to be supplied to the carrier destination through the carrier line to a command value instructed by the carrier destination.
AUTOMATED PHARMACY DISPENSING MACHINE WITH AUTOCALIBRATION STATION
An automated pharmaceutical dispensing system includes: a tablet dispensing station comprising a plurality of cells for dispensing pills, each of the cells mounted in a dispensing location, each of the cells including a channel for dispensing pills into a container and an inlet configured to be adjustable so that pills in the cell are conveyed through the inlet and into the channel in single file; and an autocalibration station, the autocalibration station comprising a mechanism for automatically adjusting the inlet of a cell based on the dimensions of the pills to be contained in the cell. The autocalibration station is configured and located to also provide a dispensing location, such that a cell docked therein may function to dispense pills.
AUTOMATED PHARMACY DISPENSING MACHINE WITH AUTOCALIBRATION STATION
An automated pharmaceutical dispensing system includes: a tablet dispensing station comprising a plurality of cells for dispensing pills, each of the cells mounted in a dispensing location, each of the cells including a channel for dispensing pills into a container and an inlet configured to be adjustable so that pills in the cell are conveyed through the inlet and into the channel in single file; and an autocalibration station, the autocalibration station comprising a mechanism for automatically adjusting the inlet of a cell based on the dimensions of the pills to be contained in the cell. The autocalibration station is configured and located to also provide a dispensing location, such that a cell docked therein may function to dispense pills.
SOLIDS CONVEYING WITH MULTI-DIAMETER PIPING CIRCUIT
A mixture of gas and solid particles are conveyed through a piping circuit connected between initial and terminal points. The gas is introduced at the initial point and the particles are introduced between the initial and terminal points. A diameter of the piping circuit increases downstream of where the particles are introduced, and a velocity of the gas is at least as great as a pick-up velocity of the particles at the point where the particles are introduced into the piping circuit. In addition to the above constraints, the piping circuit is sized so that total pressure losses due to flow in the piping circuit between the initial and terminal points are within a designated amount.
SOLIDS CONVEYING WITH MULTI-DIAMETER PIPING CIRCUIT
A mixture of gas and solid particles are conveyed through a piping circuit connected between initial and terminal points. The gas is introduced at the initial point and the particles are introduced between the initial and terminal points. A diameter of the piping circuit increases downstream of where the particles are introduced, and a velocity of the gas is at least as great as a pick-up velocity of the particles at the point where the particles are introduced into the piping circuit. In addition to the above constraints, the piping circuit is sized so that total pressure losses due to flow in the piping circuit between the initial and terminal points are within a designated amount.
FILAMENT TRANSPORTATION DEVICE
A filament-transportation device has a plurality of tube elements for transporting filaments from an intake area to an outtake area via an airstream generated by underpressure or overpressure. Each tube element has an end orifice. A baffle-plate unit has a baffle plate having a through-hole, a top surface opposite to the end orifices to stop the transport of the filaments, and a bottom surface opposite to the top surface. The baffle plate includes baffle plate elements associated with the end orifices. Each of the baffle-plate elements has a top surface forming part of the top surface of the baffle plate, a bottom surface forming part of the bottom surface of the baffle plate, and a side surface extending between the top and bottom surface. There is a plurality of bridge elements, each having a top surface forming part of the top surface of the baffle plate, a bottom surface forming part of the bottom surface of the baffle plate, and a side surface extending from the top surface of the bridge element to the bottom surface of the bridge element. The through-hole is defined either by the side surfaces of at least two baffle plate elements or by the side surfaces of at least one baffle plate element and of a side surface of at least one bridge element not facing an end orifice of a tube element, which bridge element connects two spaced apart baffle plate elements from the plurality of baffle plate elements.
FILAMENT TRANSPORTATION DEVICE
A filament-transportation device has a plurality of tube elements for transporting filaments from an intake area to an outtake area via an airstream generated by underpressure or overpressure. Each tube element has an end orifice. A baffle-plate unit has a baffle plate having a through-hole, a top surface opposite to the end orifices to stop the transport of the filaments, and a bottom surface opposite to the top surface. The baffle plate includes baffle plate elements associated with the end orifices. Each of the baffle-plate elements has a top surface forming part of the top surface of the baffle plate, a bottom surface forming part of the bottom surface of the baffle plate, and a side surface extending between the top and bottom surface. There is a plurality of bridge elements, each having a top surface forming part of the top surface of the baffle plate, a bottom surface forming part of the bottom surface of the baffle plate, and a side surface extending from the top surface of the bridge element to the bottom surface of the bridge element. The through-hole is defined either by the side surfaces of at least two baffle plate elements or by the side surfaces of at least one baffle plate element and of a side surface of at least one bridge element not facing an end orifice of a tube element, which bridge element connects two spaced apart baffle plate elements from the plurality of baffle plate elements.
METHOD OF PACKAGING INCLUDING COVERING AN OPENING OF A CHUTE USING A LID
The method includes covering a first opening of at least one first chute using a lid, delivering air from a pressurized air source into the at least one first chute, and advancing at least one first plunger through a first end of the at least one first chute to transfer a product through a second end of the at least one first chute and into a first open side of at least one first box.
Systems and methods for air cart pressurization monitoring
In one embodiment, a pneumatic distribution system configured to distribute a granular product to an agricultural implement includes a first pressure sensor, a second pressure sensor, and a controller. The first pressure sensor is configured to be fluidly coupled to a storage tank configured to store the granular product and positioned upstream of the meter roller. The first pressure sensor is configured to output a first signal indicative of a first static pressure in the storage tank. The second pressure sensor is configured to be fluidly coupled to a component of the pneumatic distribution system, downstream of the meter roller. The second pressure sensor is configured to output a second signal indicative of a second static pressure downstream of the meter roller. The controller is communicatively coupled to the first pressure sensor and to the second pressure sensor. The controller is configured to determine a pressure differential, wherein the pressure differential is the difference between the first static pressure and the second static pressure. The controller may also be configured to generate a first warning when the first static pressure is below a threshold value and output the first warning to an operator interface, generate a second warning when the pressure differential is below a desired range and output the second warning to the operator interface, and generate a third warning when the pressure differential is above the desired range and output the third warning to the operator interface.