Assembly and method for supplying product based on weight

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12371276-B2
Application number	US-202318141518-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 1, 2023
Priority date	May 1, 2023
Publication date	Jul 29, 2025
Grant date	Jul 29, 2025

Abstract

A weighing assembly supplies a predetermined amount of food product based on weight using a weighing machine having a plurality of weigh hoppers. A circular dispersion table having a dome shape distributes pieces of the product across the table by gravity to the weigh hoppers. A diverter chute is located above the dispersion table and includes multiple gates, with each gate configured to change a flow of the pieces of product over a portion of the dispersion table. The diverter chute further comprises an actuator for each gate for opening the gate as directed by a controller. Each actuator includes a piston and a lever arm connected to the piston and connected to a respective gate. An input conveyor drops pieces of food through the diversion chute to the dispersion table.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A weighing assembly for supplying a predetermined amount of product based on weight comprising:
a weighing machine having a plurality of weigh hoppers;
a dispersion table for distributing pieces of product from across the table to the weigh hoppers;
a diverter chute located above the dispersion table and including multiple gates, with each gate configured to change a flow of the pieces of product over a portion of the dispersion table;
a sensor assembly configured to monitor positions of the pieces of product on the dispersion table; and
a controller for opening one or more of the gates, based on the positions of the pieces of product, to change the flow of pieces of product.

2. The weighing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the diverter chute further comprises an actuator for adjusting an opening of a respective said gate as directed by the controller.

3. The weighing assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the sensor assembly includes a photosensor associated with each respective said gate.

4. The weighing assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the diverter chute has four gates that are independently controlled based on an amount of food detected by each photosensor.

5. The weighing assembly according to claim 4 , wherein each actuator includes a piston and a lever arm having a first end connected to the piston and a second end connected to the respective gate.

6. The weighing assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the pieces of product are pieces of wrapped food product, and the weighing assembly is configured to weigh the wrapped food product.

7. The weighing assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the dispersion table has a top surface with a dome shape.

8. The weighing assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the dispersion table is dome shaped and circular.

9. The weighing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the hoppers are configured to operate in combination to provide the predetermined amount of food to a packaging machine.

10. The weighing assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising an input conveyor for dropping pieces of food through the diverter chute to the dispersion table.

11. A method of suppling a predetermined amount of product, based on weight, with a weighing machine having a plurality of weigh hoppers, said method comprising:
passing the product through a diverter chute having gates to a dispersion table;
distributing pieces of product in a flow across the dispersion table into the weigh hoppers;
changing the flow of the pieces of product across the dispersion table with the diverter chute;
monitoring positions of the pieces of product on the dispersion table; and
controlling the gates of the diverter chute based on the positions of the pieces of product, with a controller.

12. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:
opening each gate with a respective actuator as directed by the controller.

13. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising monitoring the positions of the pieces of product on the dispersion table is conducted with a photosensor.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the diverter chute has four gates, said method further comprising opening one or more of the four gates based on the amount of food sensed by the photosensor and the predetermined amount of product.

15. The method according to claim 14 , further comprising weighing a food product in the hoppers.

16. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising operating the hoppers in combination to provide the predetermined amount of food to a packaging machine.

17. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising supplying food pieces to the dispersion table with a conveyor.

18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein supplying food pieces includes dropping the food pieces from the conveyor through the diverter chute to the dispersion table.

Assignees

• Gen Mills Inc

Inventors

• Hart Kyle Thomas
• Hugunin Alexis
• Lutz David S

Classifications

• B65G65/36

  Devices for emptying from the top · CPC title

• G01G19/393 Primary

  using two or more weighing units · CPC title

• B65G47/19 Primary

  having means for controlling material flow, e.g. to prevent overloading · CPC title