Continuous processing system with accumulator model for product flow control
US4729105A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 20, 1986 |
| Grant date | Mar 1, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 20, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G2203/042
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A continuous processing system for performing production operations on a plurality of unit products using at least two discrete processing machines including: an upstream processing machine; a downstream processing machine; an accumulator for transferring unit products between the upstream machine and the downstream machine and for accumulating unit products in tightly packed continuously touching relationship in a variable length area starting at a position adjacent the downstream machine and extending toward the upstream machine, the number of unit products in the tightly packed continuously touching relationship defining a continuous-fill-accumulation; a count-in sensor for sensing each unit product entering the accumulator; a count-out sensor for sensing each unit product exiting from the accumulator; a computer software accumulator model for operating on data derived from the sensor signals and from physical characteristics of the accumulator for continuously predicting the continuous-fill-accmulation; and machine speed control apparatus for continuously variably controlling the speed of the upstream machine and/or the downstream machine based on the predicted continuous-fill-…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.