Patent ID: 11994423

Abstract:
A weigh belt assembly includes a weigh belt that has first and second spaced apart rollers and an endless belt trained around the rollers to present a belt run configured to support particulate material. The rollers each have a rotational axis. The assembly also includes a belt drive operably coupled with at least one of the rollers for rotation thereof in order to move the belt run in a direction toward the second roller. The assembly also includes apparatus for delivery of quantities of particulate material onto the moving belt run at a position between the first and second rollers. The assembly further comprises a pivot assembly including a shiftable component operably coupled with the weigh belt in order to permit pivoting and downward deflection of the weigh belt under the load of the particulate material deposited on the belt run. A device for measuring the load experienced by the weigh belt during the deflection thereof is provided. A method of determining the flow rate of a particulate material and/or the total weight of material delivered using a weigh belt is also disclosed.