Title of Invention

METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN AMOUNT OF METERIAL DELIVERED DURING A MATERIAL TRANSFER

Abstract This invention relates to a method for simultaneously delivery of at least one independently measured material with a delivery of a main material during ;a material transfer process to a target location, wherein the main material is solely measured to the target location and not measured at a source location.
Full Text CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a non-provisional filing of our earlier provisional application,
U.S. Serial No. 60/167,401, filed November 24,1999.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to weighing and delivery systems and more
particularly to an improved method for controlling an amount of material delivered
during a material transfer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In many batch weighing/mixing systems, materials are fed into a mix tank in a
sequence and according to amounts determined by a recipe, or formula. The materials are
often fed into the mix tank at varying feed rates. In some systems, the feed rate varies
from less than one pound per second to more than three hundred pounds per second.
Regardless of the feed rates, it is desired to feed the exact amount of material into the
batch in the shortest possible time. This means feeding at maximum feed rates for as long
as possible and then, as the feed amount approaches a target amount, stopping the feed to
achieve the exact desired amount of material without reducing the product feed rate.
During the feeding of the material, the scale reading at any moment is different
from the actual amount of material fed or the final weight that would result if feed were
stopped, or cut off, at that exact moment. The difference between the final batch weight
and scale reading at cutoff is called Spill. For this reason, it is not possible to feed the
material at maximum flow and then stop the feed when the scale reading reaches the
target weight to achieve the exact desired amount of material.
One traditional approach to this problem uses a two-stage feed which switches to
a slow, dribble feed as the scale reading reaches a set percentage (typically 80-90%) of
the target. Variations on this approach use multi-stage feeds or throttling valves, but all
have the effect of lengthening feed time. Accuracy can be improved by lowering the
dribble rate, at the expense of feed time. Agitators in the process cause significant scale
noise, which can only be reduced or eliminated mechanical or electronic filtering,
increasing the tradeoff between accuracy and feed time.
What is needed is a method to quantify and predict what the Spill will be during
the material feed. Furthermore, a method is needed to better control the amount of
material delivered during a material transfer according to a desired amount.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THe DRAWINGS
While the specification concludes with claims which particularly point out and
distinctly claim the present invention, it is believed that the present invention will be
better understood from the following description of preferred embodiments, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify
like elements and wherein:
Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of apparatus for controlling an amount of
material delivered during a material transfer;
Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram of control logic for determining the cut-off
point of a material being delivered, this control logic may be incorporated into a scale
controller;
Figure 3 is a flow chart showing a method for controlling an amount of material
delivered during a material transfer;
Figure 4 is a flow chart showing a method for controlling the amounts and timing
of multiple material feeds using an overlapping feed technique;
Figure 5 is an example of a method for determining whether at least one previous
predictive model-based algorithm parameter should be replaced with at least one new
predictive model-based algorithm parameter in order to adapt a predictive model-based
algorithm;
Figure 6 is an example process configuration for a batch weighing/mixing system;
Figure 7 is a diagram showing a traditional sequencing of multiple material feeds
without the use of an overlapping feed technique as found in the prior art;
Figure 8 is a diagram showing a new sequencing of multiple material feeds using
of an overlapping feed technique as described by the present invention; and
Figure 9 is a diagram showing the calculations for the overlapping feed technique.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for controlling an amount of material
delivered during a material transfer. This method includes the steps of inputting a target
amount for a material to be delivered from a source location to a target location, updating
the target amount during the delivery of the material using a predictive model-based

algorithm., and updating the predictive model-based algorithm based on process
performance data using a recursive least-squares procedure. The present invention also
relates to an adaptive selection algorithm which is used to determine whether at least one
previous predictive model-based algorithm parameter should be replaced with at least
one new predictive model-based algorithm parameter in order to adapt the predictive
model-based algorithm in response to a process change. The present invention also
relates to a method for overlapping a delivery of at least one independently measured
material with a delivery of a main material during a material transfer process.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 depicts a preferred embodiment of a system 10 in accordance with the
present invention. System 10 is illustrated as having a mix tank 11 and a preweigh tank
12. Any number of mix tanks and/or preweigh tanks may be used. Materials, such as but
not limited to liquids, powders, granules, may be used. These materials may be fed and
measured into either tank 11, 12 through valves, such as valves 13-15. Any type of valve,
such as but not limited a butterfly valve, may be used. The amount of material contained
within either tank 11, 12 may be measured by use of load cells 16. Any type of load cell,
such as but not limited those sold by Mettler Toledo, may be used. System 10 also
incorporates a scale controller 17 which is connected to a programmable logic controller
(PLC) 18. Scale controller transmits material delivery information such as material
weight 19, material feed rate 20 and a cutoff flag 21 to PLC 18. Scale controller 17 and
PLC 18 work together with valve output controller 22 to determine the appropriate time
to close the valves which permit material feed in order to achieve the desired amount of
material to be delivered. While a load cell scale and scale controller are described, one
skilled in the art would appreciate the use of alternate measuring systems and/or
controllers including, but not limited to, preweigh scale systems, flowmeters, weighbelt
feeders and/or combinations thereof. Operator interface 23 allows a technician to access
system 10 in order to create reports or perform other system related functions.
Referring to FIG. 2, a schematic block diagram of control logic for determining
the cut-off point of a material being delivered is illustrated. This control logic may be
incorporated into scale controller 17. The input from load cell 16 may be filtered by filter
30 in order to reduce noise, such as noise caused by agitators within mix tank 11. Using
the filtered input, weight 19 and material feed rate 20 is transmitted to PLC 18, as
illustrated in FIG. 1. A control target amount 33, input from PLC 18, is compared to
weight 19 within decision block 34 in order to determine the cutoff point for closing the

material feed valves. Logic parameters are used in block 35 to facilitate the indication of
when to close the valves, although other logic control methods may be employed.
Referring to FIG. 3, a flow chart showing a method for controlling an amount of
material delivered during a material transfer is used. Standard flow chart symbols are
used in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, with rectangular blocks representing execution of a step such
as starting of feeding or reading the weight of a material and the diamond blocks
represent a decision made by system 10 and/or component. A circled letter to the right of
the flow chart represents an exit point which re-enters the chart at the same circled letter
on the left of the flow chart. This method begins at start block 40. The starting scale
weight (SW) is measured in block 42. In block 44, the target weight (TW) is set to equal
the SW + the formula weight (FW), wherein FW is the desired weight of the material to
be delivered. Valve 13 is opened to permit the feeding of the main material in block 46.
The current scale weight is read and then filtered, as depicted in FIG. 2, and set to filter
scale weight (W) in block 48. The flow rate (Q) of the material is calculated as Q = (W -
Wlast) / (t — tlast), wherein t is the duration of time during delivery and Wv and tlast are
similar values for the previous readings. This step is performed in block 50. The
predicted spill (PS) is defined and calculated in block 52 by the following predictive
model PS = K1 * Q + K.2 * Q2, wherein K1 and K2 are parameters of the predictive
model and are independent of the material flow rate, and Q is the measured or calculated
flow rate of the material mentioned above. The predicted final weight (PFW) is defined
and calculated as PFW = W + PS in block 54. In decision block 56, if PFW is less than
TW, then the method exits from the circled letter "A" on the right and re-enters the flow
chart at circled letter "A" on the left, else the method continues through to block 58.
Valve 13, and the like, are closed or shutoff in order to stop the delivery of the material in
block 58. A sufficient period of time (e.g. 1 to 3 seconds) is permitted to pass in order for
the scale to settle in block 60. The final weight (FW) of the material is measured in block
62. A feed error (E) is defined and calculated in block 64 as E = FW - TW. An actual
spill (S) is defined and calculated in block 66 as S = predicted spill at cutoff point (PSC) +
E. In block 68, the predictive model parameters, K1 and K2, are updated with the new
data point (Q, S), wherein Q is equal to the material flow rate at cutoff point and S is the
actual spill. This method ends at end block 70.
Predicted Spill and Predictive Model
The theory of the aforementioned predicted spill formula recognizes the effects of
the following four components (a-d) which contribute to a discrepancy between the scale
reading at any given moment and the final scale weight which would result if the feed
was stopped at that moment - that is, the valve was given a command to close at that
exact moment, termed the "cutoff moment:
a. Material in Suspension - a portion of the material which has passed through the
valve can still be in "free-fall" and has not yet reached the mix.
b. Deceleration Force - Force is required to stop the material which is falling into
the mix. This dynamic force adds to the scale reading until the material flow has
stopped.
c. Scale/Filter Lag - During feed, the scale reading at any moment can "lag" the
actual weight on the scale when filtering is applied to dampen vibration due to
agitators or other process components. Regardless of the type of filtering -
mechanical, electronic or digital - the scale weight discrepancy, or lag, will
increase as the feed flow rate increases. Greater filtering to increase smoothing
also increases the lag.
d. Valve "Let-through" - Valves cannot be closed instantaneously. Some material
passes through the valve whrle it is closing.
This discrepancy between the measured weight reading at the point of cutoff and the final
weight of the material in the mix tank after the process "settles" is called spill, which is
precisely defined as: Spill = final batch weight - scale reading at cutoff. Using this
principle, a practical application was derived into a predictive model of PS = Ki * Q + K2
* Q2 , wherein Q is the measured or calculated flow rate of the material and K1, K2 are
parameters of the predictive model which are independent of material flow rate Q.
Referring to the aforementioned predictive model of PS = K1 * Q + K2 * Q2, when
the initial downward velocity of the material being fed is either equal to zero or
independent of flow rate, then the following values are used:
K1 = Tf + KV-v0/32.2
K2 = 0
where,
Tf is a filter composite time constant,
Ky is a valve let-through factor equal to ?0tc f[xv(t)] dt, and
v0 is the initial downward velocity of the material

When the initial downward velocity of the material is proportional to flow rate, then the
following values are used:
K1 = Tf+Ky,
Tf is a filter composite time constant,
KV is a valve let-through factor equal to ?0tc f[xv(t)] dt,
and
K2 = - 1 / (32.2 * p * AV),
p is a density of the material, and
Ay is a cross-sectional area of a valve or other conduit through
which the material moves from the source location to the target
location.
Referring to FIG. 4, a flow chart showing a method for controlling the amounts
and timing of multiple material feeds using an overlapping feed technique is used. This
method begins at start block 80. The starting scale weight (SW) is measured in block 42.
In block 84, the target weight (TW) is set to equal the SW + the formula weight (FW),
wherein FW is the desired weight of the material to be delivered. The weight of each
overlapping preweigh feed or dump is added to TW in block 86. Delay time, Tdt ,is
calculated in block 88 for the delaying of the feeding of the main material, also referred to
as main feed start. All overlapping preweigh feeds or dump are started in block 90.
Delay time, Tdt, is waited upon to expire in block 92 before the starting of the main
material feed in block 94. In block 96, this method waits for all the overlapping preweigh
feeds or dumps to complete. Target weight (TW) is adjusted by any weight errors in
overlapping prewigh dumps or feeds. The method then progresses into block 98 where
then the current scale weight is measured, filtered, and set to value (W). In block 100, the
flow rate (Q) of the material is calculated as Q = (W — Wlast) / (t — tlast), wherein t is the
duration of time during delivery and Wlast and tlast are similar values for the previous
readings. The predicted spill (PS) is defined and calculated in block 102 by the
following predictive model PS = K1 * Q + K2 * Q2, wherein K1 and K2 are parameters
of the predictive model and are independent of the material flow rate, and Q is the
measured or calculated flow rate of the material mentioned above. The predicted final
weight (PFW) is defined and calculated as PFW = W + PS in block 104. In decision
block 106, if PFW is less than TW, then the method exits from the circled letter "B" on
the right and re-enters the flow chart at circled letter "B" on the left, else the method
continues through to block 108. Valve 13, and the like, are closed or shutoff in order to
stop the delivery of the material in block 108. A sufficient period of time (e.g. 1 to 3
seconds) is permitted to pass in order for the scale to settle in block 110. The final weight
(FW) of the material is measured in block 112. A feed error (E) is defined and calculated
in block 114 as E = FW - TW. An actual spill (S) is defined and calculated in block 116
as S = predicted spill at cutoff point (PSC) + E. In block 118, the predictive model
parameters, K1 and K.2, are updated with the new data point (Q, S), wherein Q is equal to
the material flow rate at cutoff point and S is the actual spill. This method ends at end
block 120.
Adaptive Updating of the Predictive Model
The predictive model parameters K1 and K2 are independent of flowrate Q but
can change slowly due to process or material characteristic changes, such as makeup in
valves or other process phenomena. After each feed of the material, the following routine
and strategy is used to determine whether a new point (e.g. cutoff flow, actual spill) is
valid for updating the predictive model. Referring to FIG. 5, a coordinate system 130 is
defined to display values of a dependent variable versus values of at least one
independent variable. The dependent variable is related to the independent variable by a
mathematical function which is defined by a predictive model, as previously discussed.
Next, a closed reference box 132 is defined on coordinate system 130. Closed reference
box 132 has a fixed center point 140 located at values of the dependent and independent
variables based on predetermined acceptable material delivery data values, wherein the
dimensions of the closed reference box are initially set based on predetermined
acceptable material delivery data values. These dimensions and center point 140 are
subject to a rule-based adjustment using process performance data. Next, a finite number
of successively smaller closed selection boxes 134, 136 (two boxes are used for the
example in FIG. 5, however, any number of boxes may be used) are defined on
coordinate system 130. Closed selection boxes 134, 136 each have a center point 138
located at values of the dependent and independent variables based on current averaged
values of the dependent and independent variables as calculated from process
performance data. The dimensions of closed selection boxes 134, 136 are defined by

successively smaller fractional multiples of the closed reference box dimensions. Next, at
least one decision rule is defined by which a specific new data point (as exampled 141,
142, 143, and 144 in FIG. 5) having values of the dependent and independent variables
derived from process performance data can be used to select a specific rule by which the
predictive model will be modified. The selection depends on which of the boxes 132,
134, 136 contain the data point. If the new data point 141 is contained within both of the
smallest of the selection boxes 136 and closed reference box 132, then at least one
predictive model parameter is updated. Else if the new data point 142 is contained within
both the larger of the selection boxes 134 and closed reference box 132 but not within the
smaller selection box 136, then at least one predictive model parameter is reset. Else if
the new data point 143 is contained within closed reference box 132 but not within either
of said selection boxes 134, 136, then on first occurrence within this region no change is
made to any predictive model parameter. Else if the new data point 144 is outside closed
reference box 132, then make no change to any predictive model parameter.
This routine or method is self-starting in that initial values of the predictive
model-based algorithm parameters are automatically set from data, of a first material
delivery. Furthermore, this routine or method is self-correcting in that the predictive
model-based algorithm parameters are reset when changed process or material
characteristics meeting specified criteria are detected.
Update and Reset Equations
Separate predictive model parameters K1 and K2 are used and maintained for
each different material in the batch sequence. The predictive model parameters K1 and
K2 are updated or reset after each feed of the material according to the selection
procedure described above. The equations used to perform this update or reset are
derived using a conventional mathematical approach called "recursive least squares",
which, for a sequence of data points, minimizes the sum of the square of the deviation
between the actual data point and the estimate of the point provided by the predictive
model. Each data point consists of cutoff flow Q as the independent variable and actual
spill S as the dependent variable. After the material feed is completed, the new data point
(Q, S) is used in the following equations to update or reset the predictive model
parameters K1 and K2 and additional parameters, defined below, which are used in the
predictive model.

Let (Q i, S i ), where Q , = Cutoff Flow and S i = Actual Spill, represent the new data
point.
Call an initial data point (i.e., from the first feed of the material), or one that is to be used
to reset the predictive model, (Q 0, S 0 ).
Define five additional parameters needed for the model as follows:

In the above equations, ß is a weighting factor having a value between 0 and 1.
Smaller values of p provide more weighting to previous data points. A value of ß=0.17,
which weights the 25th most recent data point by 0.01 and the 50th most recent point by
0.0001, has been used effectively in several applications of this method.
Overlawine Feed Technique
There is a multitude of process designs for batch manufacturing systems, all
having their own unique benefits. One of the simplest systems consists of a multiple tank
architecture. The tanks are sized to deliver materials at the necessary accuracy. This also
allows parallel operations to increase throughput. These tanks are mounted on Load-Cell
weighing devices and material movement is controlled by monitoring the change in
weight. In general, this mandates only a single material movement at a time in any one
tank.
Referring to FIG. 6, this example process configuration 160 of a batch
weighing/mixing has two preweigh tanks 162, 164 that support a main tank 166 in which
a final product is made. This configuration allows intermediate materials to be processed
in the upper tiered preweigh tanks 162, 164 and delivered to the lower tiered main tank
166 when required. While FIG. 6 depicts a system having two preweigh tanks, one
skilled in the art would appreciate the use of alternate measuring systems and/or
controllers including, but not limited to, flowmeters, weighbelt feeders and/or
combinations thereof.
Traditional Operations:
During the manufacturing of a product, each tank goes through its recipe cycle and
interacts with the other tanks as shown in the traditional activity diagram in FIG. 7. In
this example, the materials A, B & C are delivered to the preweigh tanks in parallel with
the activities that are occurring in the main tank. When the main tank is ready to receive
the pre-weighed intermediate materials, they are transferred to the main tank, with all
other activity in the main tank suspended. This approach to batch manufacturing delivers
quality product at an effective rate. As the need for additional product increases, however,
adding additional manufacturing systems or increasing the number of manufacturing
hours through overtime or more shifts are typical options.
Overlapping Preweigh Dumps and Material Feeds:
To reduce the batch cycle time, and thereby increase production, the present
invention delivers a material using a load cell system at the same time that an
intermediate material is transferred from a preweigh. This approach significantly
increases the production of an existing process without making physical modifications.
The decrease in cycle time is dependent upon several factors, each system must be
evaluated to determine it"s potential. As shown in the overlapping feed activity diagram
in FIG. 8, the preweigh dumps are coordinated with a material feed so that both are being
added to the main tank at the same time. For this to work and still accurately deliver the
main material, the preweigh finishes its delivery before the material finishes its feed.
This overlapping feed technique works by maintaining information on the
performance of most aspects of the process. This information, including material flow
rates, tank sizes and drain times, is constantly being updated as the process is used. The
information is then used to make the predictions necessary to perform the overlap feed as
described in the timing diagram of FIG. 9. Referring to FIG. 9, the following definitions
are provided:
Tdb This is a "Dead-Band" time that the preweighs may intrude into without
causing a problem with the material feed. This time is configurable by
an engineer and is generally set to 5 seconds.
Tdt This is the calculated time that the main material will be delayed while
the preweigh feeds so that the required (Tma + Tdb ) is met.
Tma This is the time that the material feed must feed alone, without any
preweigh material coming into the main tank. If any preweigh feed will
interfere with this feed alone time the material feed will be suspended.

This time is configurable by an engineer and is generally set to 15
seconds.
mf This is the time that the material feed into the main tank is expected to
take.
Tovl This is the overlap time that the preweigh and material will both be
feeding into the main tank.
TpWl This is the greatest time that any selected preweigh(s) are expected to
take to deliver the contents to the main tank.
Additional descriptions:
Mact This is the actual flow rate at which the material is being delivered to the
receiving tank. This is live data and is updated every second.
Mavg This is the materials average feed rate. This is updated at the end of
every usage of that material.
Metc. This is the number of seconds that the material is expected to take to
finish its delivery. When the transfer is in progress, this is developed
using live process data.
MSp This is the amount of material that is to be added during the overlap
operation.
PWact This is the actual flow rate at which the preweigh is delivering its
material to the receiving tank. This is live data and is updated every
second.
PWavg This is the historical average flow rate at which a preweigh will deliver
its material to the receiving tank. This is updated at the end of every
preweigh transfer.

PWetc This is the number of seconds that the preweigh is expected to take to
deliver its material. When the transfer is in progress, this is developed
using live process data.
PWma This is the mass that the preweigh is expecting to deliver to the receiving
tank. It is determined at the time the receiving tank requests the
preweigh to deliver its material.
During the overlap feed there are many process checks made to reduce the possibility of
any process upset. Following are the steps and the sequence in which they occur when
performing an overlap feed:
1. The system waits until all requested preweighs have finished all activity and are
ready to transfer their material to the main tank.
2. The preweighs are evaluated to determine which will have the greatest, Tpwl , by
the formula: PWma / PWavg
3. The material feed time is calculated by the formula: mf= sp / avg
4 The total amount of material expected in the main tank is determined by combining
all the expected preweighs" amounts, ma , and the material feeds setpoint, sp ,
for a total.
T
5. The time to delay the start of the material feed is calculated using the greatest, Tpwl
, as: dt ~ ( Tpwl - Tmf +Tdb +Tma ) with dt never being less than zero.
6. All requested preweighs are instructed to begin their transfer.
7. When all preweighs have started their transfer and the, Tdt, has been satisfied, the
material feed is started.
8. The feed alone time, Tma , is monitored to make sure that no preweigh"s transfer
will violate the materials, Tma, using the following method:
Tma>Metc.-PWetc.
Based on the results of this comparison one of two things will happen.
a. If the feed alone time is not violated, the preweighs will finish transferring.
The material will finish its feed and at the end of which all system data,
including but not limited to information from the independently measured
feeds, will be updated to reflect the current operation of the process.
b. If the feed alone time is violated then the following occurs:

1. The feed is stopped.
2. The preweighs finish their transfer and update their process data.
3. The underweight of the material feed is determined and the operator is
informed of the shortfall so that corrective action can be taken.
4. The next usage of the material in an overlap feed is inhibited so that
accurate system data can be collected.
5. Normal overlap activity resumes after accurate data is collected.
The present invention may be implemented, for example, by operating a computer
system to execute a sequence of machine-readable instructions. These instructions may
reside in various types of signal bearing media, such hard disk drive and main memory.
In this respect, another aspect of the present invention concerns a program product,
comprising signal bearing media embodying a program of machine-readable instructions,
executable by a digital data processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU), to perform
method steps. The machine-readable instructions may comprise any one of a number of
programming languages known in the art (e.g., Visual Basic, C, C++, etc.).
It should be understood that the present invention may be implemented on any
type of computer system. One acceptable type of computer system comprises a main or
central processing unit (CPU) which is connected to a main memory (e.g., random access
memory (RAM)), a display adapter, an auxiliary storage adapter, and a network adapter.
These system components may be interconnected through the use of a system bus.
The CPU may be, for example, a Pentium Processor made by Intel Corporation.
However, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to any one
make of processor and the invention may be practiced using some other type of a
processor such as a co-processor or an auxiliary processor. An auxiliary storage adapter
may be used to connect mass storage devices (such as a hard disk drive) to a computer
system. The program need not necessarily all simultaneously reside on the computer
system. Indeed, this latter scenario would likely be the case if computer system were a
network computer, and therefore, be dependent upon an on-demand shipping mechanism
for access to mechanisms or portions of mechanisms that resided on a server. A display
adapter may be used to directly connect a display device to the computer system. A
network adapter may be used to connect the computer system to other computer systems.
It is important to note that while the present invention has been described in the
context of a fully functional computer system, those skilled in the art will appreciate that
the mechanisms of the present invention are capable of being distributed as a program

product in a variety of forms, and that the present invention applies equally regardless of
the particular type of signal bearing media used to actually carry out the distribution.
Examples of signal bearing media include: recordable type media, such as floppy disks,
hard disk drives, and CD ROMs and transmission type media, such as digital and analog
communications links and wireless.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and
described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention,
and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications that are within
the scope of the invention.
WE CLAIM
1. A method for simultaneous delivery of at least one independently
measured material with a delivery of a main material during a material
transfer process to a target location, wherein the main material is solely
measured to the target location and not measured at a source location.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a final target batch weight is
defined as the sum of a target amount for said main material and an
aggregate sum of target amounts for said independently measured
materials to be delivered, and said final target batch weight is updated
after the delivery of each independently measured material, while main
material is still being delivered, to reflect any delivery variation from the
original independently measured material target amounts.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main material delivery is
started at a time Tdt after independently measured feeds begin, calculated
by the following equations:
If (Tpwl - Tmf + Tma + Tdb) is greater than zero, then Tdt = (Tpwl - Tmf +
Tma + Tdb), else T at = 0.
where,

Tab Is a dead-band time that the independently measured material
delivery may intrude into without causing a problem with the main
material delivery,
Tdt Is a calculated time that the main material delivery will be delayed
while the independently measured material is delivered so that the
required (Tma + Tdb) is met,
Tma Is the time material must be delivered alone without any
independent measured material being delivered,
Tmf Is the time that the main material must be delivered alone, without
any independently measured material being delivered,
Tmf Is the expected time to complete the main material delivery, and
TpW| Is the largest time that any particular independently measured
material is expected to be dispensed.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said steps are contained within
a computer - readable medium.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said steps are contained within
a digital control device.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said steps are contained with a
computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave.

7. A method for controlling an amount of material delivered during a material
transfer comprising the steps of :
inputting a target amount for a material to be delivered from a source
location to a target location;
updating the target amount during the delivery of the material using a
predictive model based algorithm; and
updating said predictive model-based algorithm based on process
performance data.
This invention relates to a method for simultaneously delivery of at least one
independently measured material with a delivery of a main material during a
material transfer process to a target location, wherein the main material is solely
measured to the target location and not measured at a source location.

Documents:

IN-PCT-2002-531-KOL-FORM-27.pdf

in-pct-2002-531-kol-granted-abstract.pdf

in-pct-2002-531-kol-granted-claims.pdf

in-pct-2002-531-kol-granted-correspondence.pdf

in-pct-2002-531-kol-granted-description (complete).pdf

in-pct-2002-531-kol-granted-drawings.pdf

in-pct-2002-531-kol-granted-examination report.pdf

in-pct-2002-531-kol-granted-form 1.pdf

in-pct-2002-531-kol-granted-form 18.pdf

in-pct-2002-531-kol-granted-form 2.pdf

in-pct-2002-531-kol-granted-form 3.pdf

in-pct-2002-531-kol-granted-form 5.pdf

in-pct-2002-531-kol-granted-gpa.pdf

in-pct-2002-531-kol-granted-letter patent.pdf

in-pct-2002-531-kol-granted-reply to examination report.pdf

in-pct-2002-531-kol-granted-specification.pdf


Patent Number 214285
Indian Patent Application Number IN/PCT/2002/531/KOL
PG Journal Number 06/2008
Publication Date 08-Feb-2008
Grant Date 07-Feb-2008
Date of Filing 26-Apr-2002
Name of Patentee THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY
Applicant Address ONE PROCTER & GAMBLE PLAZA, CINCINNATI, OH 45202
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 ASS, RAYMOND, HOUSTON WOODLANDS WAY, CINCINNATI, OH 45241
2 CHAPPELL, DAVID, ARTHUR 8190 PADDINGTON COURT, WEST CHESTER, OH 45069
3 IVERY, LARA, JEANNE APT. 323, 11755 NORBOURNE DRIVE, CINCINNATI, OH 45240
PCT International Classification Number G 01 G 13/12
PCT International Application Number PCT/US00/32202
PCT International Filing date 2000-11-22
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 60/167,401 1999-11-24 U.S.A.