초록 ▼

An improved dispensing system and dispensing routine for multiple ingredient formulas is disclosed. The system includes a controller linked to an actuator, a scale and, a means for imparting movement to a plurality of pumps or conveyors and containers for dispensing the plurality of ingredients. Aft

An improved dispensing system and dispensing routine for multiple ingredient formulas is disclosed. The system includes a controller linked to an actuator, a scale and, a means for imparting movement to a plurality of pumps or conveyors and containers for dispensing the plurality of ingredients. After a formula is selected, the controller acts to at least partially load the pump with the first of said ingredients, reads the scale to account for the weight of the receptacle, calculates the motion of the pump required to dispense the target amount of said first ingredient, and either executes a percentage or portion of the motion of the pump required to dispense the target amount of said first ingredient, leaving a remaining amount or a safety factor in the form of a previously determined <maximum overshoot> value.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method for dispensing a plurality of ingredients of a formula, the method comprising: a) selecting a formula calling for n ingredients, with each ingredient having a target amount, wherein n is an integer; b) calculating a motion of the pump required to dispense less than t

What is claimed is: 1. A method for dispensing a plurality of ingredients of a formula, the method comprising: a) selecting a formula calling for n ingredients, with each ingredient having a target amount, wherein n is an integer; b) calculating a motion of the pump required to dispense less than the target amount of said one of the n ingredients; c) executing a percentage of said motion of the pump required to dispense said less than the amount of said one of the n ingredients; d) reading a scale and determining a remaining amount of said one of the ingredients needed to meet the target; e) dividing said remaining amount by a factor to calculate a first remaining amount and calculating a motion of the pump required to dispense said first remaining amount; f) executing said motion of the pump required to dispense said first remaining amount and reading the scale to determine an actual first remaining amount dispensed; g) subtracting the actual first remaining amount dispensed from said first remaining amount to generate a difference, multiplying the difference by the factor and adding the result to said first remaining amount to calculate a second remaining amount and calculating a motion of the pump required to dispense said second remaining amount; and h) executing said motion of the pump required to dispense said second remaining amount, wherein the motions of the pump of parts (f) and (h) are executed by a stepper motor tinder the control of a controller and the calculating of the motions of the pump in parts (e) and (g) comprises using a calibration table comprising a set of data points to calculate the number of steps for the stepper motor, each data point corresponding to a number of steps of the stepper motor and an amount of said one of the ingredients, the using of the calibration table further comprising using a linear approximation of a number of steps S according to an equation S=A·V+B where A is a slope of the linear approximation and B is a y-intersect of the linear approximation, A and B are calculated from the calibration table using a least square method for the set of data points and V is first remaining amount for part (e) and the second remaining amount for part (g). 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: i) reading the scale to determine an actual amount dispensed after the dispensing of said second remaining amount. 3. The method of claim 2 further comprising: j) if the reading of the scale indicates that more of said one of the n ingredients is needed to meet the target amount, repeating parts (e) through (h). 4. The method of claim 1 further comprising: i) repeating parts (b) through (h) for each of said n ingredients. 5. The method of claim 1 wherein said less than the target amount of part (b) ranges from about 70% to about 95% of the target amount. 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the pump is a piston pump and the remaining amount of part (d) is an amount that is less than two full strokes of the piston pump. 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the pump is a metering pump and the remaining amount of part (d) is an amount less than two rotations of a screw feeder of said metering pump. 8. The method of claim 1 further comprising placing a receptacle on the scale and reading the scale and accounting for a weight of the receptacle. 9. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the n ingredients is provided in its own reservoir that is in communication with its own pump and the pumps are mounted on a rotary turntable. 10. The method of claim 1 wherein the selecting further comprises selecting the formula from a memory in which a plurality of formulas are stored. 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the selecting further comprises selecting a total weight of the formula to be dispensed in addition to the selecting of the formula. 12. The method of claim 1 wherein part (e) comprises using a calibration table to calculate the motion of the pump. 13. The method of claim 1 wherein only a portion of the data points in a vicinity of the first remaining amount is used for the least square method of calculating of A and B in part (e) and only a portion of the data points in a vicinity of the second remaining amount is used for the least square method of calculating A and B in part (g). 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the about five data points are used in the least square methods of parts (e) and (g). 15. The method of claim 1 wherein new values for S, A and B are calculated at least once for each dispense and stored in the calibration table. 16. A method of dispensing a plurality of flowable ingredients provided in individual containers and utilizing individually controlled dispense pumps that each draw one flowable ingredient from its individual container, the pumps being positionable to dispense into a common receptacle associated with a weighing device, the weighing device and pumps linked to a controller having a memory, the method comprising: operating a selected pump to move an initial assumed amount of one of the flowable ingredients that is less than a target amount for said ingredient into the container, weighing the container and determining an actual initial amount dispensed and subtracting that actual initial amount from the target amount to determine a remaining amount, dividing the remaining amount by 2 to generate a first half amount, calculating movement of the pump needed to dispense the first half amount of the flowable ingredient into the container, wherein movement of the pump is executed by a stepper motor under the control of a controller and the calculating of the movement of the pump needed to dispense the first half amount comprises using a calibration table comprising a set of data points to calculate the number of steps for the stepper motor, each data point corresponding to a number of steps of the stepper motor and an amount of said one of the flowable ingredients, the using of the calibration table further comprising using a linear approximation of a number of steps S1 for the first half amount according to an equation S1=A1·V1+B1 where A1 is a slope of the linear approximation and B1 is a y-intersect of the linear approximation, A1 and B1 are calculated from the calibration table using a least square method for the set of data points and V1 is first half amount, moving the pump to dispense the first half amount and weighing the container and determining an actual first half amount dispensed by the pump, comparing the actual first half amount to the first half amount and determining a first deviation determination, utilizing the first deviation determination to adjust the first half amount and calculate a second half amount, calculating movement of the pump needed to dispense the second half amount, the calculating of the movement of the pump needed to dispense the second half amount comprises using the calibration table by using a linear approximation of a number of steps S2 for the second half amount according to an equation S2=A2·V2+B2 where A2 is a slope of the linear approximation and B2 is a y-intersect of the linear approximation, A2 and B2 are calculated from the calibration table using a least square method for the set of data points and V2 is second half amount, moving the pump to dispense the second half amount. 17. The method of claim 16 wherein only a portion of the data points in a vicinity of the first half amount are used for the least square method of calculating of A1 and B1 and only a portion of the data points in a vicinity of the second half amount amount are used for the least square method of calculating A2 and B2. 18. The method of claim 16 wherein the calibration table is modified after determining the first deviation determination and the calculating of the movement of the selected pump needed to dispense the second half amount comprises using the modified calibration table. 19. The method of claim 18 further comprising weighing the container and determining an actual second half amount dispensed and comparing the actual second half amount to the second half amount and determining a second deviation determination and modifying the calibration table again based on the second deviation determination. 20. A flowable ingredient dispenser comprising: a scale; the scale linked to a controller, the controller comprising a memory with a plurality of formulas, each formula comprising n amounts of n ingredients, wherein n is an integer, the controller selectively linked to a plurality of pumps by an activator, each pump coupled to a separate reservoir containing one of said ingredients, the controller being linked to a user interface, the controller being programmed to receive an instruction from a user interface to execute the dispensing of one of said formulas, and upon receiving said instruction, the controller carrying out a sequence comprising a) selecting a formula calling for n ingredients, with each ingredient having a target amount, wherein n is an integer; b) calculating a motion of the pump required to dispense less than the target amount of said one of then ingredients; c) executing a percentage of said motion of the pump required to dispense said less than the amount of said one of the n ingredients; d) reading a scale and determining an additional amount of said one of the ingredients needed to meet the target; e) dividing said additional amount by 2 to calculate a first half amount and calculating a motion of the pump required to dispense said first half amount based on a calibration formula stored in the memory, wherein motion of the pump is executed by a stepper motor under the control of a controller and the calculating of the motion of the pump needed to dispense the first half amount comprises using a calibration table comprising a set of data points to calculate the number of steps for the stepper motor, each data point corresponding to a number of steps of the stepper motor and an amount of said one of the n ingredients, the using of the calibration table further comprising using a linear approximation of a number of steps S1 for the first half amount according to an equation S1=A1·V1+B1 where A1 is a slope of the linear approximation and B1 is a y-intersect of the linear approximation, A1 and B1 are calculated from the calibration table using a least square method for the set of data points and V1 is first half amount; f) executing said calculated motion of the pump required to dispense said first half amount and reading the scale to determine an actual first half amount dispensed; g) subtracting the actual first half amount from said first half amount to generate a first difference, multiplying the difference by 2 and adding the result to said first half amount to calculate a second half amount; h) calculating a motion of the pump required to dispense said second half amount, the calculating of the movement of the selected pump needed to dispense the second half amount comprises using the calibration table to calculate the number of steps for the stepper motor using a linear approximation of a number of steps 52 for the second half amount according to an equation S2=A2·V2+B2 where A2 is a slope of the linear approximation and B2, is a y-intersect of the linear approximation, A2 and B2 are calculated from the calibration table using a least square method for the set of data points and V2 is second half amount; i) executing said motion of the pump required to dispense said second half amount; j) reading the scale to determine an actual second half amount dispensed, subtracting the actual second half amount from said second half amount to generate a second difference; k) using at least one of the first or second differences or both to modify the calibration formula.