Patent ID: 6446836
Filing Date: 2002-09-10
Classification: B29B,G01G

Abstract:
A method for continuously feeding a particulate material to an external process, comprising:filling, with separate portions of the particulate material, both a first replenishment bin and a weighing feed bin in communication with the first replenishment bin; flowing the particulate material through the first replenishment bin and the weighing feed bin to the external process using a continuous flow without voids contained in said continuous flow; summing a loss-in-weight of the first replenishment bin and a loss-in-weight of the weighing feed bin to determine a control signal based upon a combined loss-in-weight of the particulate matter due to the flow of particulate matter to the external process; controlling a flow rate of the particulate material based upon the control signal; filling a second replenishment bin with another portion of particulate material; simultaneously stopping communication between the first replenishment bin and the weighing feed bin, commencing communication between the second replenishment bin and the weighing feed bin, and maintaining the continuous flow from the weighing bin to the external process.