36results about "Testing/calibration for volume metering" patented technology

This present disclosure provides reliable methods and apparatus for delivering microdroplets containing an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) to underlying substrates. A control system is provided to ensure that the API dosage is both accurate and repeatable.

A method for ascertaining at least one configuration of a metering device for buik goods to be metered. A method for obtaining a recommendation for a configuration of a metering device for buik goods to be metered, and devices for processing data are also provided.

Method for monitoring a state in a device (1) for metering and / or transferring material (53), wherein the device (1) has a stationary housing (3) with an inlet side (4) for supplying the material (53) and an outlet side (5) for dispensing metered quantities of the material (53), and a metering unit (7) with a metering chamber (12), and the method comprises the following steps: i) transferring the metering chamber (12) into a state temporarily closed with respect to the inlet side (4) and the outlet side (5), wherein the metering chamber (12) is bounded by at least one wall element (11) of the metering unit (7); ii) introducing a fluid, in particular a gas, into the metering chamber (12) in the closed state by means of a pressure generation unit (16) in order to increase the pressure (P) in the metering chamber (12); iii) Measuring the pressure (P) in the dosing chamber (12) with a pressure measuring unit (17);and iv) Determining the state of the device based on the measured pressure (P), in particular based on a pressure profile (27a, 27b).;

A system configured to determine the presence of an anomaly associated with a dispensing system component, a fluid supply, and / or a tool of a dispenser includes: a fluid supply for containing a fluid; the tool is used for supporting the part; one or more sensors configured to sense a characteristic of the dispensing system component, fluid supply, and / or tool; and a controller configured to actuate the one or more sensors to capture initial data associated with the dispensing system component, fluid supply, and / or tool at a first time, processing the initial data in a trained neural network to determine the presence of anomalies associated with the dispensing system components, fluid supplies and / or tools, recording the presence of anomalies, generating and sending an alert indicative of the presence of anomalies to a human-machine interface, the one or more sensors are actuated to capture subsequent data associated with the dispensing system component, fluid supply, and / or tool at a second time after the first time, and the subsequent data are processed to determine whether the anomaly has been corrected.

Method (100) for classifying coatings (230) in a measuring tube (200), comprising: determining (110) a damping value D for at least one vibration mode of an oscillator with at least one measuring tube (200) of a Coriolis mass flow sensor for guiding a medium (220); determining (120) a modal stiffness value k for at least one vibration mode; and classifying (150) the coating (230) as a function of the damping value D and the stiffness value k.

A metering bank for an air cart. The metering bank includes metering bank frame and a plurality of meter modules disposed laterally adjacent to one another in the metering bank frame. Each of the plurality of meter modules is independently removable from the metering bank in a direction generally parallel with the forward direction of travel of the air cart. Each of the plurality of meter module includes a metering mechanism.

An air cart having a modular metering system. The modular metering system includes a plurality of meter modules disposed laterally adjacent to one another in a metering bank. Each of the meter modules is independently removable from the metering bank. Each meter module includes a metering mechanism rotatable about a longitudinal axis disposed generally parallel with a forward direction of travel of the air cart. The metering mechanism is in communication with a supply of product held within a tank. As the metering mechanisms rotates about its longitudinal axis, the product is metered by the metering mechanism into an air tube associated with each of the plurality of meter modules. An air stream provided by at least one fan carries the metered product through the air tubes.

A method is for producing individual dosing quantities of a powdered product via a drum dosing device. A dosing drum has a dosing opening on its circumference. In an ejection position, an ejection process is effected, the dosing opening being subjected to a positive pressure and the dosing quantity being thereby ejected from the opening, and an associated ejection reference time-point being determined. The individual mass of an ejected dosing quantity and an associated measurement reference time-point are determined via the measuring device. An actual time period is ascertained from the difference between the measurement reference time-point and the ejection reference time-point and compared with a specified time period. In dependence on the comparison, an adaptation of the positive pressure for a subsequent ejection process is performed such that the level of the positive pressure is increased if the actual time period is too great.

The invention relates to a method for ascertaining at least one configuration of a metering device for bulk goods to be metered, to a method for obtaining a recommendation for a configuration of a metering device for bulk goods to be metered, and to devices for processing data.

An example container for collecting bulk material dispensed from a meter during a calibration operation may include a canister comprising an open end to receive bulk material, a coupler configured to releasably couple to a meter, and at least one weight sensor extending between the enclosure and the coupler. The weight sensor may be configured to detect weight of the bulk material deposited into the enclosure via the open end.

Assembly (1) comprising a distributor (2) for distributing pressurised fluid and a simulator (3) of a tank to be filled from the distributor (2), the simulator (3) comprising a transfer line connected to the distributor (2) and comprising a pressure controller (PCV1), the pressure controller (PCV1) being configured to regulate a pressure and / or a flow rate of a fluid flow passing through the pressure controller (PCV1), so as to simulate a pressure rise in the tank to be filled, the distributor (2) and the simulator (3) respectively comprising a main flow meter (FEO) and a secondary flow meter (FE2), the main flow meter (FEO) being configured to estimate a first quantity of a fluid flow supplied to the pressure controller (PCV1) and therefore to the tank simulated by the pressure controller (PCV1), the secondary flow meter (FE2) being arranged on the transfer line, downstream of the pressure controller (PCV1), and configured to measure a second quantity of the fluid flow supplied to the pressure controller (PCV1) and therefore to the tank simulated by the pressure controller (PCV1), characterized in that the simulator (3) also comprises a programmable electronic control member (PEC) configured to compare the second quantity of the fluid flow with the first quantity of the fluid flow, so as to verify the reliability of the first quantity of the fluid flow.

In a method for selecting a metering device (1) and determining operating parameters for metering a bulk material (2) with unknown flow properties using said metering device (1), an optical image of a specified quantity of the bulk material (2) is recorded in a reference environment (4). Geometric parameters of the bulk material (2) are determined on the basis of the optical image. A user is guided by a dialogue with an input module of an electronic data processing device. A characteristic variable for the flow properties of the bulk material (2) is determined using a machine learning method and on the basis of the determined geometric parameters and the responses of the user. The user inputs a desired conveying rate for the bulk material (2) via the input module and receives a suggestion for a suitable metering device (1) and for suitable operating parameters for metering the bulk material (2), the operating parameters being based on the determined characteristic variable for the flow properties and the desired conveying rate.

A method for calibrating a filling system is disclosed. In a first calibration step, a calibration of a calibration variable of a first flow or level measuring device is performed at a first calibration point. In a first deviation determination step, the first control and evaluation unit of the measuring device determines an average deviation of the calibration variable from a desired value. In a first correction step, the first control and evaluation unit corrects a calibration parameter taking into account the determined deviation. In a first transmission step, the first control and evaluation unit transmits the determined deviation and / or the corrected calibration parameter to the second control and evaluation unit. In a first adaptation step, the second control and evaluation unit corrects a calibration parameter at a first calibration point, taking into account the deviation transmitted by the first control and evaluation unit or the transmitted calibration parameter.

The invention relates to a method for testing spray jets (10, 12) for a component of a sprayer, comprising the following method steps: positioning the component to be tested in a receiving unit of a testing device and connecting the component to a liquid reservoir; clamping the component to be tested and at this time drawing a determined volume of test fluid from the liquid reservoir; operating the component to be tested so as to produce a spray jet (10, 12); the spray jets (10, 12) darken the light band or beam of the grating; measuring the darkening of the light strip or beam by means of a sensor unit and recording and evaluating the measured values (14) in a time-dependent manner; a start (t3) of the spray jet (10) and / or an end (t4) of the spray jet (12) and / or a duration (24) of the spray jet (10, 12) are / is calculated on the basis of the obtained measurements (14).

This application relates to a flow measurement method, apparatus, computer equipment, storage medium, and computer program product. The method includes: when the error of the flow measurement result exceeds the allowable error range, adjusting the flow measurement pipeline to a first state where it is filled with liquid and the liquid is stationary; performing zero-point calibration on the flow measurement parameters based on the first state to obtain zero-point calibration parameters, so that the flow velocity measurement result obtained based on the zero-point calibration parameters in the first state is zero; adjusting the flow pipeline to a second state where it is filled with liquid and the liquid is flowing, and obtaining the instantaneous flow velocity measurement result in the second state; obtaining the full-scale coefficient in the flow measurement parameters, and obtaining a corrected full-scale coefficient based on the instantaneous flow velocity measurement result and the cumulative flow of the liquid during the sampling period; and measuring the flow rate of the liquid in the pipeline based on the corrected full-scale coefficient and the zero-point calibration parameters to obtain the measurement result. This method can achieve accurate measurement of the flow rate of fluid in a pipeline.

Automatic syringe quality control systems, apparatus and methods are provided. The automatic syringe quality control systems, apparatus and methods may determine a plunger depth within a syringe that has been pre-filled with a medication. The plunger depth may be based on digital image data.

In a method for measuring the volume of dispensed liquid droplets, the aim is to provide a method that is convenient, quick, and easy to use even with small amounts of liquid. [Solution] A method for determining the volume of a liquid droplet dispensed from a liquid dispensing device, comprising the steps of: (a) depositing a liquid of an assumed volume measured on a calibration reference surface from the liquid dispensing device as a droplet, the calibration reference surface providing a known contact angle with the droplet under the deposition conditions used; (b) establishing a known angle with the droplet selected from the group consisting of an advancing contact angle, a receding contact angle, and an intermediate contact angle; (c) measuring the dimensions of the droplet, the measured dimensions being selected from the group consisting of the maximum height of the droplet, the diameter of the contact patch, the radius of curvature, and the cross-sectional area; and (d) calculating the actual volume of the droplet from the relationship between the measured dimensions and the known contact angle, wherein the advancing contact angle, receding contact angle, and intermediate contact angle are established by changing the kinetic energy given to the deposited droplet.

A method (100) for calibrating a filling plant (1) is presented and described, in which, in a first calibration step (101), a calibration of a calibration parameter of the first flow or level measuring device (4) is carried out under process conditions at a first calibration point, in a first deviation determination step (102), the first control and evaluation unit (5) of the first flow or level measuring device (4) determines an average deviation of the calibration parameter measured by the first flow or level measuring device (4) from a target value of this calibration parameter at the first calibration point, and in a first correction step (103), the first control and evaluation unit (5) corrects at least one calibration parameter taking into account the determined deviation.In a first transmission step (104), the first control and evaluation unit (5) transmits the determined deviation in the first calibration point and / or the at least one corrected calibration parameter via the communication channel (8) to the second control and evaluation unit (7), and in a first adjustment step (105), the second control and evaluation unit (7) corrects at least one calibration parameter in a first calibration point, taking into account the deviation or calibration parameter transmitted by the first control and evaluation unit (5).

A method of calibrating a metering system having a plurality of meter modules. Each of the meter modules includes an auger in communication with a product, the auger is driven by an electric motor. The method includes loading the auger with the product, discharging a metered quantity of the product from the auger by actuating the electric motor to drive the auger at a predetermined rotational speed for a predetermined number of auger revolutions. The discharged metered quantity of the product is captured with the capture structure. A load cell generates a signal magnitude correlating a known mass to obtain a derived mass value. A controller calculates a mass per auger revolution (MPR) value. The MPR values of each of the plurality of meter modules is summed and stored in memory. A derived application rate is calculated and compared to the derived application rate.

A method and apparatus for measuring the volume of liquid contained in a syringe (100) having a barrel (110) with a barrel flange (112) and a barrel bottom surface (116) and plunger (120) with a plunger flange (122). An image of the syringe is captured and processed to determine a length dimension of the syringe that is characteristic of its model. The length dimension determined from the image processing is then used to look up the syringe model in a dataset that stores the relevant length dimension for each syringe model. The dataset also stores, for each syringe model, calibration values representing the volume of liquid contained in the syringe at each of at least two plunger positions. The volume of liquid held in the syringe can then be determined from the plunger position obtained by processing the image, more specifically from the distance (LM1) between the barrel flange and plunger flange or the distance (LM2) between the barrel bottom surface and plunger flange.

Method for operating a dosing device (10) for dosing liquid and / or pasty products, in particular foodstuffs, which has at least one dosing unit (12) with at least one dosing pump (14) and with at least one switching valve (16) for switching between suction and discharge, and at least one computing unit (18) for controlling and / or regulating the dosing unit (12), characterized in that in at least one measuring step (20) the dosing unit (12) is controlled by means of the computing unit (18) to determine the consistency of the product, wherein in at least one dosing initialization step (22) a parameter set for controlling the switching valve (16) and / or the dosing pump (14) during dosing of the product by means of the computing unit (18) is loaded or generated depending on the data of the measuring step (20).

The methods and systems of this disclosure generally relate to the process of filling a container with a liquid and checking compliance with the filling volume. Checking compliance with the filling volume includes measuring the flow rate during the filling time interval using a flow sensor (e.g., an ultrasonic sensor). In some exemplary implementations, multiple flow sensors may be used. Furthermore, this disclosure describes various calibration techniques for ensuring accurate filling volume measurement using numerical integration of the flow rate. Furthermore, this disclosure describes generating and displaying alerts indicating non-compliance and / or various failure modes.

Systems and methods for compounding pharmaceuticals, for example for intravenous delivery. The devices include an infrared camera and an infrared light source, and can backlight and photograph items such as syringes in infrared light for enhanced clarity. A visible light camera may also be provided, for example a color digital camera, for documenting other parts of the compounding process. The device may have other sensors, for example a bar code scanner and a weight sensor, for collecting other data about the compounding process. In one example implementation, the device is a compounding assistance device that leads a user of the device through a compounding task using instructions shown on a display. In other implementations, the device may be robotic.

Method for calibrating at least one conveying device (1) for conveying liquid (9) and / or air (7) of a metering device (32) for metering a liquid (9) from at least one inlet (28) to at least one outlet (29), in particular from at least one container (3) to at least one induction distributor (46) and / or at least one target device (45), by means of the at least one conveying device (1), wherein a detection area (14) of at least one detector (15) for distinguishing between liquid (9) and air (7) is arranged between the at least one inlet (28) and the at least one outlet (29), comprising the following method steps: - Connecting at least one, in particular interchangeable, container (3) to the at least one inlet (28) by means of at least one docking unit (2) for coupling to the at least one container (3) and / or by means of a suction lance for introducing into the at least one container (2),wherein the detection area (14) of the at least one detector (15) is arranged in the docking unit (2) and / or in or on the suction lance, - starting the conveying of liquid (9) and / or air (7) by the at least one conveying device (1) responding to a start counting point (33), - detection of a change from liquid (9) to air (7) in the detection area (14) by the at least one detector (15) to an air detection counting point (39), - using the interval between the start counting point (33) and the air detection counting point (39) as a calibration counting span (42) for calibrating the at least one conveying device (1), and / or with the following process steps: - connecting at least one, in particular interchangeable, container (3) to the at least one inlet (28), - starting the conveying of liquid (9) and / or air (7) by the at least one conveying device (1) responding to a start counting point (33)- Detection of a change from air (7) to liquid (9) in the detection range (14) by the at least one detector (15) to a liquid detection counting point (34), - Detection of a change from liquid (9) to air (7) in the detection range (14) by the at least one detector (15) to an air detection counting point (39), - Use of the interval between the liquid detection counting point (34) and the air detection counting point (39) as a calibration counting span (42).,

A method for testing the spray jet of an assembly for spray applicators, includes the following method steps: The assembly to be tested is positioned in a receiving unit of a testing device and connected to a liquid reservoir. The assembly to be tested is tensioned and sucks in a specific volume of the test fluid from the liquid reservoir. The assembly to be tested is actuated, so that a spray jet is produced. The spray jet darkens a strip of light or a light beam of a light barrier. The darkening of the strip of light or the light beam is measured by means of a sensor unit and the measured values are registered as a function of time and evaluated. Based on the measured values determined, the start of the spray jet and / or the end of the spray jet and / or the duration of the spray jet is calculated.

An air cart (10) having a modular metering system. The modular metering system includes a plurality of meter modules (200) disposed laterally adjacent to one another in a metering bank (110). Each of the meter modules (200) is independently removable from the metering bank (110). Each meter module (200A, 200B, 200C, 200) includes a metering mechanism (210) rotatable about a longitudinal axis (211) disposed generally parallel with a forward direction of travel (11) of the air cart (10). The metering mechanism (210) is in communication with a supply of product held within a tank (40). As the metering mechanisms rotates about its longitudinal axis (211), the product is metered by the metering mechanism (210) into an air tube (64) associated with each of the plurality of meter modules (200). An air stream provided by at least one fan (62) carries the metered product through the air tubes (64).

In a method for selecting a dosing device (1) and determining operating parameters for dosing a bulk material (2) with unknown flow properties using this dosing device (1), an optical image of a predetermined quantity of the bulk material (2) is acquired in a reference environment (4). Based on the optical image, geometric parameters of the bulk material (2) are determined using a geometry evaluation module of an electronic data processing device. A user is guided through a dialogue with an input module of an electronic data processing device, answering a number of questions by means of a binary decision.Using a machine learning method and based on the determined geometric parameters and the user's responses, a characteristic value for the flow properties of the bulk material (2) is determined with a characteristic value evaluation module of an electronic data processing device. The user enters a desired conveying rate for the bulk material (2) via the input module and receives a suggestion for a suitable dosing device (1) as well as for suitable operating parameters for dosing the bulk material (2), which are based on the determined characteristic value for the flow properties and the desired conveying rate.

A method of calibrating a metering system having a plurality of meter modules (200). Each of the meter modules (200) includes an auger (210) in communication with a product, the auger (210) is driven by an electric motor (216). The method includes loading the auger (210) with the product, discharging a metered quantity of the product from the auger (210) by actuating the electric motor (216) to drive the auger (210) at a predetermined rotational speed for a predetermined number of auger (210) revolutions. The discharged metered quantity of the product is captured with the capture structure (266). A load cell (274, 276) generates a signal magnitude correlating a known mass to obtain a derived mass value. A controller (510) calculates a mass per auger (210) revolution (MPR) value. The MPR values of each of the plurality of meter modules (200) is summed and stored in memory (114, 514, 526, 534). A derived application rate is calculated and compared to the derived application rate.

A diagnostics system comprising a controller for controlling operations of a mass flow controller. The controller is communicable coupled to at least one sensor and to a valve and tuned to control the valve based on a predetermined set point value and communication from the at least one sensor. The controller determines at least one predetermined value associated with a reverse flow of a fluid and either cause the controller to enter a hard fault or a safe state. The predetermined value of the flow is either a percentage of total flow or a percentage of total flow over a time period. The controller can log the date, time, and a device identifier in response to determining the at least one predetermined value. In addition, the diagnostics system can include a centralized controller configured to receive diagnostics data from a plurality of controllers and control operation of the controllers.

A method of calibrating a meter module wherein the meter module comprises: an opening; a bottom opening; a metering mechanism disposed in the meter module; a bottom plate to selectively open and close the bottom opening; and a load cell for measuring a mass of material in the meter module, the method comprising: starting the metering mechanism to flow material through the meter module; at any time before counting, closing the bottom opening with the bottom plate; during a counting time, counting a number of metering units of the metering mechanism and measuring an amount of material with the load cell; and calculating an amount of mass per metering unit.