A flow rate measurement device improves the flow rate measurement accuracy without increasing the size of the metering tank. The flow rate measurement device includes a metering tank having a supply port at its upper portion and a discharge port at its lower portion, an on-off valve that opens and closes a flow channel inside the metering tank, a weight measurement unit that measures a weight of the metering tank, and flow rate computing unit that supplies powders and/or grains continuously from the supply port to the metering tank, computes a flow rate of the powders and/or grains multiple times in a temporally-overlapped state on the basis of the weight of the metering tank measured by the weight measurement unit in a state where the on-off valve is closed, and computes an average flow rate of the powders and/or grains on the basis of the flow rate computed multiple times.

A weighing device includes a conveyance unit which conveys an article, a hopper which receives the article conveyed by the conveyance unit, temporarily holds the article, and then discharges the article downstream, a detection unit which detects the article between a conveyance end of the conveyance unit and the hopper, and a control unit which controls driving of the conveyance unit. When the detection unit does not detect the article at a start of driving of the conveyance unit, the control unit drives the conveyance unit for a first period. When the detection unit detects the article at a start of driving of the conveyance unit, the control unit drives the conveyance unit for a second period longer than the first period.

An apparatus for metering a substance into a target container includes a gripping tool, with which a metering tool can be picked up and released, and a scales. The metering tool is configured as an adhesive body which is wetted by a substance so that a small amount of substance measurable by the scales remains adhering to the metering tool. Once the desired amount of substance has been picked up with the metering tool, the latter, including the substance adhering thereto, is released into the target container. A controller controls the scales and the gripping tool and decides whether the amount of substance picked up by the metering tool is usable or whether more substance should be picked up or whether the metering tool should be discarded and somewhat less substance picked up with a fresh metering tool.

A weighing device includes a conveyance unit which conveys an article, a hopper which receives the article conveyed by the conveyance unit, temporarily holds the article, and then discharges the article downstream, a detection unit which detects the article between a conveyance end of the conveyance unit and the hopper, and a control unit which controls driving of the conveyance unit. When the detection unit does not detect the article at a start of driving of the conveyance unit, the control unit drives the conveyance unit for a first period. When the detection unit detects the article at a start of driving of the conveyance unit, the control unit drives the conveyance unit for a second period longer than the first period.

A flow rate measurement device improves the flow rate measurement accuracy without increasing the size of the metering tank. The flow rate measurement device includes a metering tank having a supply port at its upper portion and a discharge port at its lower portion, an on-off valve that opens and closes a flow channel inside the metering tank, a weight measurement unit that measures a weight of the metering tank, and flow rate computing unit that supplies powders and/or grains continuously from the supply port to the metering tank, computes a flow rate of the powders and/or grains multiple times in a temporally-overlapped state on the basis of the weight of the metering tank measured by the weight measurement unit in a state where the on-off valve is closed, and computes an average flow rate of the powders and/or grains on the basis of the flow rate computed multiple times.

A product output device for a product supply system, in which a first product supply device and a second product supply device provide product amounts in a first collecting container and a second collecting container. Both collecting containers are provided with respective first closure flaps and second closure flaps. As soon as the collecting containers are positioned above the product receiving device, the closure flaps can open in order to drop the product into the product receiving device. The collecting container, comprising the first collecting container and the second collecting container, can be pivoted to an output position of the first collecting container, or to a output position of the second collecting container. Herein, the pivoting movement to the respectively different output positions begins before the first closure flaps have closed.

A product dispenser, preferably for frozen food product, having a storage hopper, a rotatable drum having paddles on a periphery thereof located at a bottom of the storage hopper, and a drive motor connected to the rotatable drum. Rotation of the drum causes the product to be delivered to a weighing/dispensing assembly having a load cell and one or more dump doors on which product to be dispensed accumulates. A controller is configured to actuate the drive motor to rotate the rotatable drum in a first rotational direction at a start of a dispensing cycle, and to then actuate the drive motor to rotate the rotatable drum in a second rotational direction, opposite to the first rotational direction in a next dispensing cycle. Within a dispensing cycle, the controller can also monitor a drive motor current draw, and reverse the drive motor if a current limit is exceeded.

An automated hopper and belt conveyor apparatus that can be used to feed bulk material into a mixer in order to create a feed mixture for farm animals. The automated hopper and belt conveyor apparatus includes a support frame that supports a hopper and an inclined belt conveyor that operate under control of a controller to accurately feed a desired quantity (in weight) of a bulk material item from the hopper to the mixer by forward-direction operation of the inclined belt conveyor. Excess bulk material that has been loaded into the hopper (bulk material over the desired quantity in weight) is reclaimed by the controller controlling opening a rear gate of the hopper and reverse-direction operation of the inclined belt conveyor.

An automated granule portioning system includes at least one volumetric measuring chamber capable of adjusting the volume of the chamber automatically to a programmed target volume and arranged to receive a first portion of granules into the chamber to fill the target volume. A transport system automatically delivers the target volume of granules from the chamber to a weighing device. A granule metering device dispenses granules and, depending on a signal from the weighing device that the first portion of granules is below a programmed target weight, dispenses granules to the first portion to increase the weight to achieve a second portion having the target weight.

An apparatus for metering a substance into a target container includes a gripping tool, with which a metering tool can be picked up and released, and a scales. The metering tool is configured as an adhesive body which is wetted by a substance so that a small amount of substance measurable by the scales remains adhering to the metering tool. Once the desired amount of substance has been picked up with the metering tool, the latter, including the substance adhering thereto, is released into the target container. A controller controls the scales and the gripping tool and decides whether the amount of substance picked up by the metering tool is usable or whether more substance should be picked up or whether the metering tool should be discarded and somewhat less substance picked up with a fresh metering tool.