Patent ID: 8591098

Claim:
A method for automated blending of a plurality of ingredient materials, including at least a first ingredient material and a second ingredient material, to produce a single heterogeneous material, the method comprising the steps of: receiving or accessing, with a control system, at least one value corresponding to at least one of a desired weight ratio of the first ingredient material and a desired weight ratio of the second ingredient material to be blended; pneumatically conveying the first ingredient material to a blending apparatus at a substantially constant rate via an air or gas pressure source fluidly coupled with a first pneumatic accelerator or first venturi device configured for pulling the first ingredient material into a first conduit fluidly coupled with the blending apparatus; sending a signal to a servo valve commanding the servo valve to oscillate at a rate corresponding to the desired weight ratio of the second ingredient, wherein the servo valve is fluidly coupled with the air or gas pressure source and a second pneumatic accelerator or second venturi device configured for puling the second ingredient material into a second conduit fluidly coupled with the blending apparatus; and pneumatically conveying the second ingredient material to the blending apparatus while oscillating a pneumatic gas or air flow therein by oscillating the servo valve at the rate corresponding to the desired weight ratio of the second ingredient.