Inventors:
John M. Cochran - Greenville SC
Ronald N. Cleveland - Greenville SC
Assignee:
Frontier Electronics, Inc. - Greenville SC
International Classification:
G01G 1952, G01G 2314, G01G 2318
Abstract:
An apparatus for selecting between a mechanical or electrical mode for controlling the flow of fibers by motor driven feed lift aprons from a plurality of hoppers to a plurality of weigh pans for producing a predetermined blend of fibers. The mechanical mode utilizes a balance arm assembly which can be set to feed a predetermined amount of fibers into a weigh pan. The electrical mode utilizes thumbwheel switches which can be set for regulating the amount of fibers to be fed into each weigh pan. The electrical mode system also utilizes a comparator for comparing a signal representing the actual weight of fibers in the weigh pan that is produced by a load cell with a signal representing the desired weight of fibers produced by the thumbwheel switches and generates a control signal responsive thereto. The control signal is used for operating a motor driven feed lift apron associated with the hopper.
Circuits are provided for monitoring the tag weight of fibers, the tolerances of the drops of fibers, and whether the doors of the weigh pans are closed prior to filling of the weigh pans.