Patent Document ID: 9976881
Application ID: 14560747
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A method for measuring a flow rate from a metering device, comprising: feeding a flowable particulate material into the metering device; rotating a meter roller of the metering device at a predetermined speed such that the flowable particulate material is dispensed from the metering device along a path, the meter roller having an operating meter speed and a number of flutes circumferentially spaced thereabout; positioning a camera on a first side of the path, the camera having a minimum frame rate, a maximum frame rate and a lens directed at the flowable particulate material dispensed from the metering device; calculating a minimum frame-per-flute ratio in response to the minimum frame rate of the camera, a number of flutes about the meter roller and a minimum operating meter speed of the meter roller; calculating a maximum frame-per-flute ratio in response to the maximum frame rate of the camera, the number of flutes about on the meter roller and a maximum operating meter speed of the meter roller; operating the camera at a frame rate greater than or equal to the minimum frame per flute ratio and less than or equal to the maximum frame-per-flute ratio so as to take a series of images of the flowable particulate material dispensed from the metering device with the camera such that each particle of material of the flowable particulate material dispensed from the metering device and passing through a line of sight of the lens is captured in at least one image of the series of images; backlighting the path of the flowable particulate material dispensed from the metering device to enhance the series of images taken; measuring a parameter of the flowable particulate material for each image; comparing the measurement of the parameter of the flowable particulate material for each image with the measurement of the parameter of the flowable material in all images to determine a statistical parameter indicative of flow rate discontinuity; and using a scale to continuously measure a mass of the flowable particulate material dispensed from the metering device.