Patent ID: 8546704

Claim:
A system for automatically delivering to a storage container plastic items that are molded in a molding machine that molds up to a batch of such items at a time, where the weight of an item is known and where the quantity of items to be delivered to the storage container is predetermined, the system comprising: i) an item accumulating and weighing unit that is constructed and arranged to: a) receive and accumulate a plurality of molded items, up to a predetermined set point quantity of molded items; b) weigh the received and accumulated molded items; c) based on the known item weight, convert the weight to a quantity of accumulated items; and d) deliver the accumulated items out of the accumulating and weighing unit; ii) a first conveyor system that receives items from the molding machine and delivers them to the accumulating and weighing unit; iii) a second conveyor system that receives the accumulated items from the accumulating and weighing unit and delivers them into the storage container; and iv) a controller that is adapted to: a) track the quantity of items that have been delivered out of the accumulating and weighing unit; b) compare the tracked quantity to the predetermined quantity of items to be delivered to the storage container; c) determine the remaining quantity of items needed to meet the predetermined quantity of items to be delivered to the storage container; d) when the remaining quantity is equal to or greater than the set point quantity, operate the first conveyor such that up to the set point quantity of items is delivered to the accumulating and weighing unit; and e) when the remaining quantity is less than the set point quantity, operate the first conveyor such that only the remaining quantity of items is delivered to the accumulating and weighing unit.