Depositor Apparatus Including Flow Meter

Abstract

A depositor apparatus includes a product source, a product source, a supply manifold for receiving product from the product source and a pump that pumps product from the product source to the supply manifold. Multiple deposit valves are connected to receive product from the manifold along respective flow paths. Each flow path includes a respective flow meter that measures product flowing through the flow meter. Each flow meter may include a processor that controls opening and closing of its respective deposit valve to effect deposit of a set amount of product. The flow meters may be of a mass flow meter type.

1 . A depositor apparatus for depositing discrete amounts of a flowable product, the depositor apparatus comprising:
 a product source;   a supply manifold for receiving product from the product source;   a pump that pumps product from the product source to the supply manifold;   multiple deposit valves connected to receive product from the supply manifold along respective flow paths;   each flow path including a respective flow meter that measures product flowing through the flow meter, each deposit valve is controlled based upon flow information of its respective flow meter and independent of the other deposit valves to effect deposit of a set amount of product.   
     
     
         2 . The depositor apparatus of  claim 2  wherein each flow meter includes a processor that controls opening and closing of its respective deposit valve to effect deposit of the set amount of product. 
     
     
         3 . The depositor apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the processor of each flow meter operates independent of the processors of the other flow meters in determining when the set amount of product has been deposited by its respective deposit valve. 
     
     
         4 . The depositor apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the processor of each flow meter includes logic for adjusting a shutoff point of its respective deposit valve based on a measured amount of product flowing through the flow meter. 
     
     
         5 . The depositor apparatus of  claim 4  wherein each flow meter comprises a mass flow meter. 
     
     
         6 . The depositor apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising a master controller configured to send recipe information to the processor of each flow meter. 
     
     
         7 . The depositor apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the recipe information includes an initial shutoff point, the processor of each flow meter including logic for adjusting the shutoff point of its respective deposit valve based on a measured amount of product flowing through the flow meter. 
     
     
         8 . The depositor apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the product source is a hopper or a continuous mixer, the apparatus further comprising a conveyor that conveys trays by the deposit valves, the deposit valves used to deposit discrete amounts of product on the trays. 
     
     
         9 . The depositor apparatus of  claim 2  wherein a respective recirculation path is connected with each flow path to enable product to be recirculated back toward the product source when the deposit valve is closed. 
     
     
         10 . The depositor apparatus of  claim 9  wherein each recirculation path includes a corresponding recirculation valve for controlling flow or non-flow along the recirculation path. 
     
     
         11 . The depositor apparatus of  claim 10  wherein each recirculation valve is controlled by a processor of the flow meter of its associated flow path. 
     
     
         12 . The depositor of  claim 11  wherein each flow meter effects simultaneous but opposite operation of its corresponding deposit valve and corresponding recirculation valve. 
     
     
         13 . The depositor of  claim 10  wherein each recirculation paths leads to a return manifold, a return line runs from the return manifold toward the product source, and a pressure regulation valve is located along the return line. 
     
     
         14 . The depositor of  claim 13  wherein a pressure sensor is located for detecting a supply pressure of product of the supply manifold, and the pressure regulation valve is responsively controlled to maintain a set supply pressure. 
     
     
         15 . The depositor of  claim 14  wherein the pressure regulator valve is a variable valve of the return line, the pressure sensor communicates directly with the supply manifold. 
     
     
         16 . The depositor of  claim 13  wherein the pump is operated continuously during normal operation of the depositor. 
     
     
         17 . The depositor of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a master controller;   each flow meter is connected to provide flow information to the master controller, and the master controller is connected to control each deposit valve in accordance with the flow information received from the corresponding flow meter in line with the deposit valve.   
     
     
         18 . A depositor apparatus for depositing discrete amounts of a product, the depositor apparatus comprising:
 a product source;   a pump that pumps the product from the product source to at least a first deposit valve and a second deposit valve;   a first flow meter in communication with the first deposit valve, the first flow meter measures product flowing through the first flow meter, the first flow meter including a first processor that controls the first deposit valve by closing the first deposit valve at a first valve shutoff point; and   a second flow meter in communication with the second deposit valve, the second flow meter measures product flowing through the second flow meter, the second flow meter including a second processor that controls the second deposit valve by closing the second deposit valve at a second valve shutoff point.   
     
     
         19 . The depositor apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the first valve shutoff point is different than the second valve shutoff point. 
     
     
         20 . The depositor apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the pump operates continuously during a deposit mode of the apparatus, a recirculation path is provided for flowing product back to the product source when both the first deposit valve and second deposit valve are closed, the recirculation path includes a pressure regulation valve for varying flow along the recirculation path, a pressure sensor is located for detecting a supply pressure of product being delivered to the first and second deposit valves, and the pressure regulation valve is responsively controlled to maintain a set supply pressure.