Patent ID: 8768632

Claim:
A method of filling a target container with a predetermined target mass of a free-flowing substance from a reservoir using a dosage-dispensing device to fill the target container with measured doses of the substance, the dosage-dispensing device comprising a valve which allows the mass flow rate of the substance from the reservoir into the target container to be varied, a time-keeping device, a balance, and a controller unit to control the valve, the controller unit including an adjustment module in which a desired mass flow rate and a delay interval are stored; the method comprising the steps of: selecting the desired mass flow rate by performing the steps of: selecting a mass tolerance for the predetermined target mass; and selecting a desired mass flow rate that is directly proportional to the mass tolerance and inversely proportional to the delay interval; beginning a filling process by starting to measure elapsed time using the associated time-keeping device, starting to measure the mass of the substance present in the target container using the balance, and opening the valve, the balance transmitting a weighing signal to the controller unit; and adjusting the flow of the substance, at a predetermined elapsed time, by performing in the adjustment module, the substeps of: determining the mass flow rate; calculating a difference, if any, between the determined mass flow rate and the desired mass flow rate; calculating a mass flow adjustment, defined as a difference between the desired mass flow rate and the mass flow rate, and adjusting the mass flow rate based on the calculated difference, by increasing the mass flow rate by a mass flow rate adjustment if the determined mass flow rate is less than the desired mass flow rate and by decreasing the mass flow rate by the flow rate adjustment if the determined mass flow rate is greater than the desired mass flow rate.