|Publication number||US4129189 A|
|Application number||US 05/684,255|
|Publication date||Dec 12, 1978|
|Filing date||May 7, 1976|
|Priority date||May 7, 1976|
|Publication number||05684255, 684255, US 4129189 A, US 4129189A, US-A-4129189, US4129189 A, US4129189A|
|Inventors||Steve C. Maglecic, Larry W. Oberholtzer|
|Original Assignee||Steve C. Maglecic|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Patent Citations (8), Referenced by (17), Classifications (27), Legal Events (1)|
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet|
This invention relates to systems for controlling the weights of individual charges of product or material including, but not limited to, powered or granular materials, liquids, slurrys, general solid material in divided form, and like food products, such as french fries, potato chips, shoestring potatoes, etc., for packaging into individual packages; however, the invention, in its broadest form, is suited for usage in other applications or environments, or in connection with the packaging of other types of materials than those specifically mentioned herein.
Weight control systems of this type basically adopt one of two approaches to control charge weight: one approach, often termed the "adjustable feed rate" approach, adjusts the feed rate at which material is accumulated; the other so-called "bulk-dribble" approach utilizes two feeders which operate at substantially constant feed rates, one feeder (termed the "bulk" feeder) operating at a high flow rate for rapidly bringing the charge almost to desired charge or "set" weight, the second feeder (termed the "dribble" feeder) operating at a low flow rate for accurately bringing the charge up to a set weight. In most practical applications, approximately 20-30 charges are formed and packaged per minute, charge rate depending upon charge material and the packaging and feeding apparatus employed. At these rates, however, present control systems, whether of the "adjustable feed rate" or "bulk-dribble" type, as the case may be, tend to drift, or lose accuracy for various reasons so that all charge weights obtained do not in fact correspond to a set weight but tend to fluctuate above and below set weight. Consequently, in order to maintain a given precentage of charges at weights in excess of a minimum acceptable weight (i.e., to prevent excessive numbers of underweight charges) set weight must exceed minimum acceptable weight by an amount sufficient to ensure that only a certain number of underweight charges will be produced, depending upon the shape of the distribution curve. Inasmuch as the typical distribution curve of percentage charges versus actual charge weights obtained with these systems is of low amplitude and wide band width with respect to set weight, however, they must be operated at set weights well above minimum acceptable weight. This technique results in substantial numbers of overweight charges and, hence, uneconomical product give-away.
It is desirable, therefore, to provide a weight control system which exhibits a more economical distribution curve and which, therefore, can be operated at set weights at or just above minimum acceptable weight with little or no product give-away. The "bulk-dribble" type of prior weight control system is more likely to exhibit such a distribution curve than the "adjustable feed rate" system because it maintains substantially constant feed rates in the bulk and dribble feeders and, for this reason, permits effective determination and control of undesirable effects which might go undetected, or be amplified by deliberate feed rate adjustment. Inasmuch as the bulk and dribble feeders operate at substantially constant feed rates, however, prior "bulk-dribble" systems yield charge accumulation times which may vary depending upon material flow conditions and other factors, with resultant uneconomical decline in accuracy of the charge weights obtained or idling of the packaging machine. Prior weight control systems of both the aforementioned types are uneconomical for still other reasons. Most are basically electromechanical in nature and typically employ servos for controlling charge weight in combination with external calibration weights for establishing set weight. In practical applications involving the charge accumulation rates mentioned previously, however, the servos cannot respond quickly enough to weight fluctuation, or tend to coast past set weight, while set weight, once established, cannot be adjusted readily for different charge weights, nor can it be calibrated with respect to actual system conditions. Prior weight control systems further are adversely affected by vibrational forces transmitted from vibrating material feeders, packaging machines etc., or by impact forces produced by material as it is dumped onto a scale or weigh cell, or by variations in material flow conditions.
This invention successfully overcomes these and other problems of prior weight control systems and yields an economical distribution curve of optimum amplitude and band width so that, using this invention, set weight now may be established at or just above minimum acceptable weight with little or no product give-away. The system maintains highly accurate change weights within a narrow weight range throughout repeated material accumulation cycles by establishing a set weight corresponding to the desired weight of successively accumulated charges, and then controlling charge weight during selected charge accumulations with respect to set weight on the basis of the present and at least one other charge accumulation, preferably the preceding charge accumulation.
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention especially suited for use with a so-called "bulk-dribble" weight control system, the control system of this invention compensates for the effects of vibrational forces and flow rate during each charge accumulation and further, upon termination of each charge accumulation, adjusts the bulk weight to be accumulated subsequently, preferably for the next charge, in relation to the time period required to accumulate the dribble weight, and adjusts the dribble weight to be accumulated subsequently, again preferably for the next charge, in relation to final or combined bulk and dribble static weight. A linear voltage differential transformer (LVDT) is operatively associated with and senses the position of each bucket and produces two alternating current output signals 180° out of phase which are converted into weight and reference signals. These signals are combined in ratio format at a set position of the LVDT corresponding to set weight while the reference signal or signals are further used to maintain system calibration.
Thus, it will be appreciated from the foregoing summary that the weight control system of this invention provides and maintains highly accurate control of the weights of successively accumulated individual material charges. The weight of each charge is controlled with respect to an electronically established set weight, without need for external calibration weights, both during and upon termination of charge accumulation. During charge accumulation, the system compensates against the effects of both vibration and flow rate, thereby accurately predicting the rate at which material is flowing into the bucket or material hopper in order to minimize or eliminate product overrun. For application to "bulk-dribble" systems, the weight control system of this invention further obtains optimum dribble feed times through appropriate adjustment of bulk weight while eliminating dynamic weighing errors by effecting final (e.g. combined bulk and dribble) weight correction under static loading conditions with the bucket or material hopper stationary. The weight control system further, when employed in combination with one or more LVDT's for sensing and indicating position, eliminates or minimizes systematic error and drift.
In most practical packaging applications, therefore, the weight control system of this invention will yield substantial economies by reducing product give-away. For example, in one specific application to controlling the weights of individual charges of french fries, the weight control system of this invention may be operated ecconomically at a set weight well below that of a corresponding adjustable feed rate control system and, hence, offers a substantial cost savings in terms of reduced product giveaway.
These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the detailed description and claims to follow taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a packaging system in combination with the weight control system of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the FIG. 1 weight control system in additional detail;
FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a weigh cell suited for usage in the FIG. 1 weight control system;
FIG. 4 is a section taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a distribution curve depicting operation of the FIG. 1 system and two prior art weight control systems.
The weight control system of FIGS. 1 and 2 controls the weights of individual charges of product or material including but not limited to, powdered or granular materials, liquids, slurrys, general solid material in divided form, and like food products, such as french fries, potato chips, shoestring potatoes, etc. and is particularly suited for use in the successive accumulation of accurately weighted charges of such free flowing material for packaging into individual packages.
The FIG. 1 system provides an accurately weighted charge of free flowing material through the so-called "bulk-dribble" method, according to which nearly all (e.g. 80%) of the material is accumulated at a substantially constant maximum "bulk" flow rate, followed by continued material accumulation at a substantially constant minimum "dribble" rate until a pre-established set weight is obtained. (In the example, set weight corresponds to the desired weight of each charge.) In this way, it is possible to obtain economical charge accumulation times, as well as accurate charge weight. In the example of FIG. 1, further economical reduction in charge accumulation time is obtained by filling two buckets simultaneously, a bulk bucket 10 for receiving material from a relatively high flow rate bulk feeder 12 and a dribble bucket 14 for receiving material from a relatively low flow rate dribble feeder 16. (Material flow is depicted in broken lines and electrical signals are depicted in solid lines in FIG. 1). In the FIG. 1 system, the bulk bucket, when filled to desired bulk weight, discharges or dumps into the dribble bucket. While the now partially accumulated charge thus received in the dribble bucket is being brought up to set weight, the bulk bucket is simultaneously refilled with bulk weight for the next material charge. The dribble bucket, upon accumulation of set weight, then dumps or discharges the now formed charge to a cyclically operable packaging machine 18 for packaging into an individually packaged charge. While preferably the present invention is utilized with two feeders operated at different feed rates to obtain the above-described "bulk-dribble" material delivery to respectively associated bulk and dribble buckets, the invention could be utilized with a generally similar dual feeder system which delivers material to a single bucket or material hopper, or with a single feeder system which delivers material at one or multiple successively reduced feed rates to a single bucket or material hopper, or with a system in which a plurality of feeders, each operating at a different feed rate, deliver material to one or more buckets or material hoppers.
The weight control system of this invention controls charge weight with respect to the pre-established set weight during and upon termination of selected charge accumulations, preferably during and upon termination of each charge accumulation. The set weight is established electronically, without need for external calibration weights. During each charge accumulation, the system compensates against the effects of vibrational forces and variations in product flow rate simultaneously. That is, the weight control system of this invention provides both vibration and flow rate compensation during each charge accumulation. Vibration compensation substantially minimizes or eliminates vibratory or generally similar high frequency excitation influences, for example, vibrational forces produced by the surrounding environment, bucket oscillation, or material impact, as sources of charge weight error. As will be described presently with specific reference to FIG. 2, this invention implements vibration compensation electronically. Flow rate compensation substantially minimizes or eliminates product overrun or bucket overfill. More specifically, even though the bulk or dribble feeders are operated at substantially constant feed rates, material flow rate and, hence, the amount of material delivered to the bulk or dribble bucket, especially the bulk bucket, during each charge accumulation may vary, depending upon material flow conditions upstream of and in the feeders. Such variation in flow rate could cause the bulk or dribble buckets to fill non-uniformly or, most importantly, to overfill. It is possible, however, by determining flow rate, to compensate for the effects of flow rate by accurately predicting the amount of product which tends to coast past the feeders at shut off and, in this way, to cause the feeders to be shut off at an appropriate time before the bucket is filled to the desired weight, the weight of material still travelling to the intended bucket at feeder shut off being sufficient to complete the fill to the desired weight. Flow rate compensation also is implemented electronically.
This invention further provides weight control upon termination of selected charge accumulations, preferably each charge accumulation, so that the weights of charges to be accumulated subsequently are further controlled with respect to the pre-established set weight. In applications with the above described "bulk-dribble" feeding system for delivering material at substantially constant bulk and dribble flow rates to one or more buckets, the weight control system of this invention provides bulk weight correction to obtain optimum dribble feed time, and final weight correction to eliminate dynamic weighing errors. More specifically, the system adjusts the bulk weight to be accumulated subsequently, preferably in the next charge accumulation, in relation to the time period required to accumulate dribble weight in the immediately preceding or just formed charge and, in this way, controls dribble time. The system is, therefore, capable of maintaining a desired dribble time during repeated charge accumulations. In the FIG. 1 example, desired dribble time is selected and controlled in accordance with the packaging machine cycle time. In such applications, dribble time selected should be as long as possible to allow dribble flow to be relatively light; yet short enough that one charge accumulation is completed within each packaging cycle. Consequently, the dribble flow obtained provides an accurate final charge weight without allowing the packaging machine to idle due to lack of an available charge. Final weight correction is accomplished by adjusting dribble weight to be accumulated subsequently, again preferably in the next charge accumulation, in relation to the combined bulk and dribble weight (e.g. final weight) of the immediately preceding or just formed charge. The latter correction is accomplished under static loading conditions while the bucket is stationary and, in this way, dynamic weighing errors caused, for example, by residual bucket motion, or by mechanical or electrical lag time, are eliminated.
Referring now to FIG. 1 in particular, bulk and dribble weigh cells 20 and 22 respectively sense and produce electrical signals indicative of the position of buckets 10 and 14. The weigh cells 20 and 22 include bucket supporting spring means (see FIGS. 3 and 4) of known spring constant; therefore bucket position signals obtained indicate charge weight. These signals are delivered by respective bulk and dribble interface circuits 24 and 26 to bulk and dribble control circuits 28 and 30. A set weight control circuit 32 electronically establishes a set weight corresponding to desired charge weight and delivers a set weight signal to circuit 30 which in turn delivers the set weight signal to circuit 28. Upon accumulation of desired weight of material in the bulk, and then in the dribble buckets, circuit 28, and then circuit 30, deliver bulk and dribble feed control signals to feeder 12 and then to feeder 16, respectively, and thus cause them to shut off. As indicated, the packaging machine also receives the bulk and dribble feed control signals, in response to which it delivers a bulk dump signal and then a dribble dump signal to the bulk and dribble buckets, respectively. These signals cause the buckets to be dumped or discharged in the desired sequence and at the proper time in the packaging machine cycle. At the same time, the bulk and dribble dump signals are routed back to circuits 28 and 30, respectively, as part of controlling the weight of each charge upon termination of charge accumulation. As indicated parenthetically in the bulk and dribble interface and control circuit block representations of FIG. 1, the bulk interface circuit provides both vibration and flow rate compensation; the bulk control circuit provides dribble time correction; the dribble interface circuit provides vibration compensation only; and the dribble control circuit provides final weight correction.
Referring now in particular to FIG. 2, the bulk and dribble weigh cells, bulk and dribble interface circuits, bulk and dribble control circuits, and set weight control circuit of FIG. 1 are illustrated in additional detail in schematic block diagram form, and are again referenced generally by the same reference numerals. Further details of the bulk and dribble weight cells are illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 to be described presently.
Referring first to the dribble weigh cell and interface circuit (generally referenced by numerals 22 and 26), the weigh cell 22 includes a linear voltage differential transformer (LVDT) made up of an excitation coil 34, two sensing coils 36 and 38, and a core 40 which is movable conjointly with the dribble bucket 14. An alternating current electrical power source 41 delivers alternating electrical current to coil 34 via lines 42. One side of each coil 36 and 38 is connected to a common ground 44. The other side of coil 36 is connected by line 46 to an addition circuit 48 and by branch line 50 to a subtraction circuit 52. Likewise, the other side of coil 38 is connected by line 54 to the subtraction circuit 52 and by branch line 56 to the addition circuit 48. Consequently, as the dribble bucket moves downward with increasing applied load during each charge accumulation, the core 40 will be moved correspondingly and, hence, the flux coupling between coil 34 and coils 36 and 38 will be altered such that the alternating current signal induced in coil 38 will increase while simultaneously therewith the alternating current signal induced in coil 36 will decrease -- the two coil signals being 180° out of phase. The alternating current signals, therefore, which are presented to addition circuit 48 along lines 46 and 56 are 180° out of phase as are the signals presented to subtraction circuit 52 along lines 50 and 54. Consequently, the alternating current signal which appears at the output of add circuit 48 effectively constitutes a difference signal, whereas the alternating current signal which appears at the output of the subtraction circuit 52 effectively constitutes a sum signal. These signals are then delivered to and are converted into direct current by two demodulators, 58 and 60, respectively. The output of demodulator 58, therefore, constitutes a direct current weight signal, the amplitude of which varies in accordance with the position of core 40, whereas the direct current signal which appears at the output of demodulator 60 constitutes a reference signal, the amplitude of which remains substantially constant despite variation in position of core 40. Preferably, both demodulators are synchronized in phase with the LVDT output signals respectively present on lines 46 and 54, as depicted by the broken lines therebetween.
The direct current reference signal which appears at the output of the demodulator 60 is now transformed into positive and negative reference signals to provide a direct current set weight signal, depending upon the input setting by the set weight control circuit. (The positive and negative reference signals obtained also are utilized to maintain adjustment of the dribble control circuit, as will be described presently.) The reference signal is converted into positive and negative reference signals and thence into a direct current set weight signal by first routing it along parallel lines 62 and 64 which respectively terminate at opposite ends of a potentiometer 66. The reference signal which appears on line 62 constitutes the positive reference signal, whereas the reference signal which appears on line 64 is passed through an inverter 68 and, hence, constitutes the negative reference signal upon presentation at potentiometer 66. The set weight control input from set weight control circuit 32 establishes a potentiometer set point which represents a LVDT core position at which it is desired to obtain a comparison between set weight and accumulated charge weight, in the case of the dribble interface circuit, accumulated charge weight corresponding to final weight. More specifically, the set point of potentiometer 66 as determined by the set weight control circuit 32 represents a certain position of the dribble LVDT above, below, or at its null (center) position. Thus, since LVDT position is proportional to bucket position as determined by applied load, the set weight signal which appears on line 70 is proportional to bucket position. It will be recognized, of course, that the illustrated system permits the selection of a set point at any position along bidirectional travel of the LVDT, either above or below its null position, and that the negative reference signal could be eliminated if it were desired to define a set point over only one-half of total LVDT travel with respect to its null position.
The direct current signal which appears at the output of demodulator 58 constitutes a weight signal. The weight signal is delivered to a filter 72, the output of which constitutes a filtered weight signal and appears on line 74. Preferably, the filter time constant selected is longer than the time constant of the bucket and weigh cell so that bucket oscillation and bouncing, and material impact forces will be filtered out by filter 72 along with environmental, vibratory or like high frequency excitations.
The filtered weight and set weight signals thus obtained then are delivered to and summed by a summing circuit 76. The combined filtered and set weight signal produced by circuit 76 is then routed by line 78 to a comparator 80 in which the combined signal is compared to zero. As will be appreciated, the filtered and set weight signals are of opposite polarity. Consequently, their sum will approach zero as the dribble LVDT approaches the set position defined by potentiometer 66 and set weight control 32, as described previously. The comparator 80 will, therefore, produce an output signal which corresponds to the aforementioned dribble feed control signal when the set weight signal cancels out the filtered weight signal at the set position of the dribble LVDT. As will be appreciated, the aforementioned summation and comparison of the filtered and set weight signals effectively results in the combination of these signals in ratio format at the set position of dribble LVDT. Consequently, LVDT error factors such as temperature variation, material property changes, variation in excitation amplitude, variation in excitation frequency etc. are, in effect, cancelled out so that the only factor entering into the translation of bucket position into an electrical position signal indicative of charge weight is the electromechanical gain factor of the LVDT which, of course, is a fixed constant for any given LVDT, depending upon the physical characteristics thereof, and will change only if the LVDT is physically deformed. The end result is that the dribble interface circuit of FIG. 2 substantially minimizes or eliminates drift of other error factors which otherwise could originate in the dribble LVDT. In practical applications, the dribble interface circuitry depicted in FIG. 2, when interfaced with an industry standard LVDT, achieves better than 0.1% linearity in converting mechanical position to an electrical position signal. The drift of the set point defined by the set weight control also is so small as to be almost negligible. Therefore, the FIG. 2 dribble interface circuit exhibits prolonged high accuracy operation, with little or no maintainence or adjustment required.
The bulk interface circuit 24 of FIG. 2 is generally similar to the dribble interface circuit, except that the bulk interface circuit further provides flow rate compensation and does not include a potentiometer for independent set point definition of the bulk LVDT set point. Parts corresponding to those already illustrated and described with respect to dribble interface are, therefore, not further described herein and are designated by the same reference numerals, primed.
The bulk interface includes a differentiator 82 which receives and differentiates the filtered weight signal which appears at the output of the filter 72'. The signal which appears on line 84 at the output of the differentiator thus constitutes a rate signal indicative of the rate at which the position of the bulk bucket is changing with respect to time and thus, in most practical cases, the rate of flow of incoming material. The rate and filtered weight signals are delivered by lines 84 and 74' to a summing circuit 86, together with a set weight signal delivered by line 88 from the set weight control circuit 32 via the dribble interface potentiometer 66. The output of the summing circuit 86 is routed by line 90 to a comparator 92 which effects a comparison thereof with respect to zero. Again, the set weight signal which appears on line 88 at the input to the summing circuit is of opposite polarity to the rate and filtered weight signals and represents a set point along the course of travel of, in this case, the bulk LVDT at which it is desired to effect an electrical comparison between the filtered and set weight signals. The rate signal, however, modifies the point at which this comparison is effected because the rate signal is of the same polarity as the filtered weight signal. Consequently, as the bulk bucket is subjected to increasing incoming bulk material flow rates, the summing circuit will produce a zero output signal more quickly (or after a smaller bulk bucket displacement) and vice versa. The output of comparator 92 corresponds to the aforementioned bulk feed control signal and effectively combines the filtered weight signal, as modified by the rate signal, with the set weight signal in ratio format, as was the case of the dribble control comparator 80 described previosuly. To provide fine adjustment of rate signal with respect to the actual bulk feed rate of the bulk feeder, a variable resistor 94 may be included in line 84 for adjusting the rate signal prior to presentation thereof to the summing circuit 86.
Although the bulk interface circuit does not include a potentimoter; but instead obtains the set weight input signal via the dribble interface potentiometer, the bulk interface circuit could include a separate potentiometer located between lines 62' and 64' for effecting independent definition of a bulk LVDT set point. Likewise, the set points of the bulk and dribble LVDTs need not be identical and the set point of one or the other may represent a different physical position of the associated bucket. Referring again to the illustrated dribble interface circuit of FIG. 2, it also will now be apparent that it does not include a differentiator. The reason for this is that, in most practical applications of the weight control system to so-called "bulk-dribble" feeding systems, the dribble feed rate is so low that dribble flow rate fluctuations are of such small magnitude that they have little or no effect upon charge weight and, therefore, need not be compensated for. Furthermore, the final weight correction provided by the dribble control circuit, as will be described presently, effectively compensates for variations in dribble flow rate. In other applications involving higher dribble feed rates, of course, an appropriate differentiator circuit could be included in the dribble interface circuit.
Referring in particular to the bulk control circuit 28 of FIG. 2, a dribble timer 96, in combination with an up/down counter 98 and a digital-analog converter 100 constitute dribble time correction means operative upon initiation of dribble flow or in response to the bulk dump signal for adjusting bulk weight to be accumulated for the next material charge (i.e. the charge next to begin accumulation in the bulk bucket) in relation to the time period required to accumulate dribble weight of the charge now being completed in the dribble bucket (i.e. the charge just dumped into the dribble bucket from the bulk bucket). More specifically, the timer 96 is started upon receipt of the returning bulk dump signal which indicates that dribble flow has or is about to begin. The returning bulk dump signal also resets comparator 92. After a predetermined time period corresponding to desired dribble time, timer 96 delivers a clock pulse to the counter 98. The counter then determines whether or not a dribble feed control signal is then present at the output of the comparator 80 via line 102. If the dribble feeder is still running upon expiration of the desired dribble time as indicated by the absence of a dribble feed control signal, the counter counts up to increase bulk weight (i.e. decrease dribble time); if not, it counts down to decrease bulk weight (i.e. increase dribble time). The output of the counter thus constitutes an incremented or decremented correction signal which is delivered via converter 100 to a fourth input of the summing circuit 86. The correction signal will, therefore, serve to further modify the combination of the rate, filtered weight and set weight signals as described previously to effectively adjust the bulk weight of the next to be accumulated charge up or down, as the case may be.
In most practical cases, the counter 98 will count up one count, or down one count, upon termination of each filling cycle in which a dribble time correction is indicated. Each count represents an appropriate bulk weight increment, for example one ounce; however, the range of adjustment of the counter should be limited so that if the counter for some reason attempts to make a series of successive bulk weight corrections of excessive magnitude, it will reach the end of its operational counting range before disrupting the system. The magnitude of each incremented or decremented correction step also is selected so that the counter will increase or decrease the bulk weight to the desired level within a minimum number of filling cycles. Consequently, in the event of a dribble starving condition or failure of the dribble feeder, for example, the counter could be capable of adjusting bulk weight upward sufficiently until bulk weight equals set weight, thus not requiring any dribble flow at all. Appropriate indicators (not shown) may be provided to indicate the present condition of the counter to the operator or to a service technician. Additional controls (also not shown) may be provided to initially adjust, or readjust, the counter so that it operates about at the middle of its counting range. Further, the timer 96 could be started by other means responsive to initiation of dribble feeding.
In the example of FIG. 2, the set weight signal which is delivered by line 88 to the summing circuit 86 corresponds to a desired final weight (i.e. combined bulk and dribble weights). In this case, the bulk control counter 98 automatically offsets or compensates for the set weight signal so that the summing and comparator circuits 86 and 92 will produce the desired bulk feed control signal upon accumulation of bulk weight alone. That is, the counter effectively offsets a portion of the incoming set weight signal so that it appears to the summing and comparator circuits as indicating bulk weight.
Referring in particular to the dribble control circuit 30 of FIG. 2, the dribble control circuit includes a check weight timer 104, an up/down counter 106, a second comparator 108, and a digital-analog converter 110, all constituting final weight correction means, operative upon termination of dribble feeding or in response to the dribble feed control signal (refer again to FIG. 1), for adjusting dribble weight and, hence, final charge weight for the next material charge under static load conditions. Final charge weight is thus adjusted and controlled with respect to set weight without dynamic weighing errors or other weight measurement uncertainties. The check weight timer is initiated by a start signal which is routed by line 112 from comparator 80 and which corresponds to the dribble feed control signal. Thus, the dribble feed control signal indicates that dribble feeding to the dribble bucket has terminated. The timer 104 thereafter delivers a clock pulse to the counter 106 upon expiration of a time period sufficiently long that all dribble bucket motion has terminated. At this time, the second comparator 108 compares filtered weight, in this case corresponding to final charge weight, with set weight as represented by the signals respectively present in lines 74 and 70 and delivers a comparison signal to counter 106. The counter 106 counts up to increase dribble weight (i.e. increase final weight) if filtered weight is less than set weight, counts down to decrease dribble weight (i.e. decrease final weight) if filtered weight is greater than set weight, and does not count if filtered weight is equal to set weight. The incremented or decremented dribble correction signal which is thus presented at the third input of the summing circuit modifies the filtered and set weight signal inputs in a manner generally similar to that of the bulk control correction signal and summing circuit described previously. The counter 106 and convertor 110 also are generally similar to the bulk control counter and convertor, except that the counter 106, in most practical packaging applications, effects smaller incremental weight adjustments, for example in 1/4-ounce increments. Further, timer 104 could be started by other means responsive to the termination of dribble feeding.
As indicated in FIG. 2, the dribble control circuit also receives a return dribble dump signal from the packaging machine (see also FIG. 1). This signal serves as a reset signal for the comparator 80, as well as an inhibit signal for the check weight timer in case the dribble bucket dumps before the check weight timer is initiated.
Referring now in particular to the bulk interface and control circuits of FIG. 2, the positive and negative reference signals generated by the bulk interface circuit are delivered along lines 62' and 64' to the bulk control convertor 100. These signals maintain calibration and adjustment of the convertor, and may be used to maintain calibration and adjustment of other elements of the bulk control circuit not shown. Likewise, the positive and negative reference signals produced by the dribble interface circuit are delivered by means not shown to the dribble control converter 110 and like components of the dribble control circuit to perform similar functions.
The FIG. 2 weigh cell, and interface and control circuits for both the bulk and dribble feeders, of course, could be adapted for use with a single bucket feed system. In this case, only one weigh cell and one interface are employed with two control circuits, one for each feeder. The interface circuit operates with both the bulk and dribble control circuits and the dribble timer 96 is started when bulk weight is accumulated (not at bulk dump). Likewise, the FIG. 2 circuitry could be adapted to a feed system including different numbers and arrangements of feeders.
One weigh cell suited for usage with this invention is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The weigh cell includes a spring supported scale platform in combination with a LVDT for sensing and providing electrical signals indicative of the position of the platform. The platform includes a stationary or fixed support plate 120 of generally square outline and a movable platform assembly 121 adapted for load bearing connection and conjoint movement with a bucket or material hopper. The platform assembly is supported from the base plate by two opposed pairs of upper and lower leaf springs 122 and 124, each pair mounted in parallel coplanar alignment at one end of the plate 120. The upper spring pair is mounted at one end (left end as illustrated) of the plate 120, as shown (FIG. 3). The lower spring pair is mounted by a vertical support 128 which depends from the underside of the plate 120 in vertical alignment with the point of attachment of the upper spring pair. The other ends of the springs respectively mount upper and lower generally horizontal platform members 130 and 132 of generally rectangular outlines, the upper member being adapted for load bearing connection with a bucket or material hopper. Two vertical side members 134 and 136 extend through slots not shown in plate 120 and interconnect the ends of members 130 and 132. The LVDT core 140 is mounted by the lower member 132 for vertical movement with respect to the LVDT sensing coils which are contained within a housing 142 mounted by the plate 120, as shown (FIG. 4). An electrical connector 144 (FIG. 3) is supported by the support 128 and is connected electrically with the LVDT by an appropriate electrical lead 146.
When subjected to a downward directed force, the platform assembly thus moves downward with respect to the stationary plate for a distance determined by the spring constant of the springs 122 and 124. The LVDT core will, therefore, move correspondingly in a downward direction with respect to the LVDT sensing coils to produce the above-mentioned output signals indicative of platform and, hence, bucket position. To further minimize vibration, one or more dashpots 148 may be mounted between plate 120 and member 130, or to supplement the force of springs 122 and 124, one or more extension springs 130 may be mounted between plate 120 and member 132, as shown. In retrofit or other applications, of course, the weight control system of this invention may be adapted for usage with existing weigh cell equipment and/or LVDT or equivalent position sensors, and in these applications, the FIGS. 3 and 4 weigh cell construction need not be utilized.
As will now be appreciated from the foregoing, the preferred embodiment of this invention which is illustrated and described herein provides highly accurate charge weights throughout repeated charge accumulations with minimal product give-away, as depicted graphically by curve 152 in FIG. 5. Note particularly that curve 152 is of narrow band width and peaks with respect to set weight at or closely adjacent minimum acceptable weight, whereas prior art "adjustable feed rate" weight control systems of the servo-adjusted (curve 154) or manual (curve 156) type produce undesirable weight fluctuations and, therefore, must be set at weights substantially above minimum acceptable weights. Furthermore, the accuracy of the servor-adjusted system tends to deteriorate after repeated packaging cycles as the servos fall out of adjustment. Therefore, in many practical cases, without continual uneconomical manual adjustment, the servo-adjusted system soon begins to drift, and hence curve 154 soon approaches the shape of curve 156 with resultant increase in uneconomical product give-away.
The invention successfully overcomes these and other problems by controlling charge weight with respect to an electronically established set weight on the basis of the present and at least one other charge accumulation, preferably the preceding charge accumulation. That is, this invention continuously controls charge weight during each charge accumulation by compensating against the effects of vibrational forces and flow rate, and further periodically controls or updates charge weight upon termination of each charge accumulation by adjusting bulk and dribble weight for the next charge so as to respectively correct dribble time and final weight. It will be understood, of course, that although the bulk weight adjustment is effected upon termination of bulk weight accumulation in the bulk bucket and the dribble weight adjustment is effected upon termination of dribble weight accumulation in the dribble bucket in the system illustrated and described herein, these weight adjustments could be effected at other appropriate times prior to beginning the next charge accumulation. It will be further understood that, in those applications in which charge weight is controlled during each charge accumulation, the charge weight of the first formed charge is controlled, in part, on the basis of the initial settings of the bulk and dribble counters. These settings, of course, constitute arbitrary, midrange, or nominal corrections not derived from a preceding charge accumulation.
While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, it should be understood that variations will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiment illustrated and described herein, and the true scope and spirit of the invention are to be determined by referrence to the appended claims.
|Cited Patent||Filing date||Publication date||Applicant||Title|
|US3175632 *||Jan 14, 1963||Mar 30, 1965||Trayvou Sa||Weighing system|
|US3477529 *||Jul 5, 1967||Nov 11, 1969||Australian Iron Steel Pty Ltd||Simplified automatic charging system for blast furnaces|
|US3498395 *||Mar 17, 1967||Mar 3, 1970||Woodman Co||Automatic feed control for high speed weighing|
|US3670833 *||Aug 25, 1970||Jun 20, 1972||Yawata Iron & Steel Co||Method for measuring a weighing load rapidly|
|US3837415 *||Jun 18, 1973||Sep 24, 1974||Triangle Package Machinery Co||Bulk weight servo control for packaging machines|
|US3856097 *||Dec 28, 1973||Dec 24, 1974||Bartlo J||Automatic scale control system and methods|
|US3938601 *||Jul 17, 1974||Feb 17, 1976||Hobart Engineering Limited||Weighing method and apparatus|
|US3968850 *||Oct 31, 1974||Jul 13, 1976||International Electronics Limited||Electromagnet weighing balance|
|Citing Patent||Filing date||Publication date||Applicant||Title|
|US4177621 *||May 11, 1978||Dec 11, 1979||Powell Machinery, Inc.||Automatic fruit bagging|
|US4534428 *||Aug 11, 1983||Aug 13, 1985||Package Machinery Co.||Vibratory feeder control for a weighing system|
|US4749008 *||Oct 30, 1986||Jun 7, 1988||Kraft, Inc.||Methods and apparatus for container filling|
|US6305573 *||Oct 14, 1998||Oct 23, 2001||Ram Center, Inc.||Dispenser for frangible frozen food articles|
|US6481602||Jul 21, 2000||Nov 19, 2002||Ram Center, Inc.||Dispenser for frangible frozen food articles|
|US7253366||Dec 10, 2004||Aug 7, 2007||Hill-Rom Services, Inc.||Exit alarm for a hospital bed triggered by individual load cell weight readings exceeding a predetermined threshold|
|US7437787||Aug 3, 2007||Oct 21, 2008||Hill-Rom Services, Inc.||Load-cell based hospital bed control|
|US8278779||Feb 7, 2011||Oct 2, 2012||General Electric Company||System and method for providing redundant power to a device|
|US8558408||Sep 29, 2010||Oct 15, 2013||General Electric Company||System and method for providing redundant power to a device|
|US8717181||Jan 31, 2011||May 6, 2014||Hill-Rom Services, Inc.||Bed exit alert silence with automatic re-enable|
|US20070228052 *||Jun 8, 2007||Oct 4, 2007||Hayes Thomas J||Base for food containers|
|US20100258471 *||Apr 8, 2009||Oct 14, 2010||PWPI Industries||Rotisserie chicken tray|
|US20110079448 *||Oct 4, 2010||Apr 7, 2011||Almberg Stephen N||Automatic Weight Scale Machine with Unalterd Primary Product Feed Rates and Diverter System|
|CN103292938A *||Feb 1, 2013||Sep 11, 2013||王录民||Pressure sensor|
|DE3100577A1 *||Jan 10, 1981||Jul 29, 1982||Haver & Boecker||Automatic metering-monitoring device for an electromechanical balance|
|EP0080826A2 *||Nov 17, 1982||Jun 8, 1983||F.L. Smidth & Co. A/S||Method and machine for filling sacks with pulverulent material|
|EP0080826A3 *||Nov 17, 1982||Apr 4, 1984||F.L. Smidth & Co. A/S||Method and machine for filling sacks with pulverulent material|
|U.S. Classification||177/123, 177/1, 177/210.0EM|
|International Classification||G01G3/04, G01G13/24, G01G15/00, G01G13/29, G01G7/02, G01D5/22, G01G13/295, G01G3/08|
|Cooperative Classification||G01G13/2951, G01G13/2912, G01G13/241, G01G7/02, G01D5/2291, G01G3/04, G01G15/006, G01G3/08|
|European Classification||G01G15/00C, G01G13/24B, G01G13/29B2, G01D5/22D, G01G3/04, G01G3/08, G01G13/295B, G01G7/02|
|Jul 11, 1986||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: PACKAGING TECHNOLOGIES, INC., 4252 SOUTH EAGLESON
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:MAGLECIC, STEVEN C.;REEL/FRAME:004573/0393
Effective date: 19860708


text:
The new environment friendly design for the US Embassy in London
The US Embassy in London will be one of the greenest and most environment friendly buildings around. Thanks to Philadelphia-based architects Kieran Timberlake who won the competition to design build a new US Embassy in London, the building will be constructed near Nine Elms on the southern bank of the Thames and will use a whole load of energy saving and efficient concepts. The building will use a glass cube sheathed in a stretched, sculptural membrane embedded with gossamer-fine photovoltaic cells. This will shade the interior and also help grab energy from the sun. The building is protected by a semi-circular pool on the river facing side with a road passing between the embassy and the river Thames.
The building is also elevated atop a mound to prevent terror attacks. The building will cost about $500m (€369m, £324m) which will be financed by he sale of the Eero Saarinen-designed 1960 Grosvenor Square building.
An icon of the strength of the US-UK relationship, this building will spread its glory to its surroundings too when built.

domain: design


Smokers face discrimination and persecution, says report
Monday 4th July 2011
Smokers are increasingly discriminated against and persecuted, says a new report.
According to the report by Simon Davies of Privacy International, legislation introduced for the protection of public health is being exploited to create a range of measures that was never intended, even by the most ardent supporters of tobacco regulation.
Encroachment into the home and family life of smokers has in some cases become blatant and intrusive, with local authorities, health bodies and housing associations adopting policies that restrict the right of people to act freely in their own home or vehicle.
The surveillance of smokers has increased sharply with the use of tracking and surveillance equipment to monitor their activities and movements.
Employers are routinely and unfairly discriminating against staff who smoke and are adopting tactics that are based not on education but on harassment and intimidation.
Evidence-based policy that nurtures fairness and equality has been sacrificed in many aspects of tobacco policy. Tolerance is being replaced by a zeal for recrimination.
The report highlights seven key areas of concern:
1. An increase in non-statutory penalties and controls
2. An extensive widening of the scope for restrictions
3. A shift toward “people’s policing” of smoking
4. A shift from an evidence-based approach to a morality-based approach
5. An increase in the surveillance of smokers
6. A sharp increase in cases of discrimination
7. A drift from public health protection to the demonisation of smokers
“Without care,” writes Davies, “the future for many smokers will be characterised by discrimination and persecution, even when their actions have the minimum impact on the lives of other people.
“This report provides clear evidence that a trend is emerging toward discriminatory action being taken not only by national government but also by individuals, family, employers, businesses and local authorities.
“It is not inconceivable that within a decade anyone suspected of being a smoker may be routinely subjected to polygraph testing, psychometric examination or third-party investigation. The right to employment has already been compromised, as has smoking in some home environments.
“In future smokers may face a choice between secrecy and social exclusion. Social organisations, landlords, service providers and employers may themselves be deemed irresponsible if they fail to pursue an exclusion policy.”
Welcoming the report, Simon Clark, direct of the smokers’ group Forest, said, “We acknowledge the serious health risks associated with smoking, and we accept that government has a role to play educating people, children especially, about those risks.
“Tobacco however is a legal product and there is no justification for many of the tobacco control measures currently under consideration. Prohibiting the display of tobacco in shops, banning smoking in outdoor areas, outlawing smoking in private vehicles and even, in some cases, the home, is unnecessarily restrictive and a gross invasion of privacy and civil liberties.
“Thanks to the tobacco control policies of successive governments, Britain has become an increasingly intolerant and illiberal place to work and socialise. We welcome this report and hope that it will be read by ministers and civil servants as a warning of what lies ahead if the war on tobacco continues in its present direction.”
For further comment
Simon Clark 07774 781840
Civil Liberties: Up In Smoke has been prepared by Privacy International, a leading privacy advocacy group, at the request of Forest, the UK smokers’ rights organisation. Forest has also contributed to the research costs. Simon Davies, author of the report, is founder and director of Privacy International.
Civil Liberties: Up In Smoke can be downloaded here.


text:
Sharh Kitab Adab al-Mashi ila as-Salat (Ibn Abdelwahhab) - Al-Fawzan
شرح كتاب آداب المشي إلى الصلاة ـ الشيخ الفوزان
Explanation of the Book Adab al-Mashi ila as-Salat of Shaykh Muhammad ibn Abdelwahhab, by Shaykh Salih al-Fawzan.
Beautiful Kuwaiti edition, very high quality, with Harakats on the Matn and Hadiths.
- شرح كتاب آداب المشي إلى الصلاة
- الشيخ صالح الفوزان
- مكتبة الإمام الذهبي
- Checking and preparation
- سلمان جابر عثمان السويلم
- In Part
Frequently purchased together€55.00 (tax incl.)The three fundamentals explained by a great scholar of the last century the Shaykh Muhammad Amaan al-Jaami. Beautiful authorized Saudi edition.€12.50 (tax incl.)The excellent explanation of Shaykh al-Islam al-Imam al-Mujaddid, Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz to the book "The Conditions of prayer, its pillars and obligations" of Sheikh al-Islam al-Imam al-Mujaddid Muhammad ibn Abd...€159.00 (tax incl.)This is the complete Tafseer by ibn Katheer, among the most known and appreciated, that every Muslim must possess. Shaykh al-Uthaymeen has said "This is a very useful book in the field of commentary on the...€14.00 (tax incl.)Features of this book, the Mukhtasar fi Tafsir: - Clarity and simplicity of phrase, away from any verbiage and verbal complexity. - Interpreting the verses and clarifying their meanings only, without going through...€29.90 (tax incl.)“Zaad al-Ma’ad fi Hadiy Khair al-‘Ibad” is a precious book, by Imam Ibn al-Qayyim, that is rarely matched. Rather, it is unique in its field. The author, indeed, has made it a collection if all that is related to the...€20.00 (tax incl.)1- Usul as-Sunnah of Imam Ahmad according to his pupil 'Abdus al-'Attar2- Kitab al-I'tiqad of Muwafiq ad-Din ibn Qudamah3- Nasihah lil-Ikhwan fi Ithbat as-Sifat wal-Fawqiyah wal-'Uluw, wal-Harf was-Sawt, of 'Imad...€115.00 (tax incl.)One of the best contemporary Sharh of Ibn Qudamah al-Maqdissi's famous collection of Hadith Fiqhi, Umdah al-Ahkam. It is one of the best written explanations, as it is written in an academic and pedagogical manner....€7.00 (tax incl.)Explanation 2 risala of Imam Muhammad ibn Abdelwahhab, by Shaykh al-'Uthaymeen. Official authorized edition.
Others titles from the same author€85.00 (tax incl.)The explanation of the famous work of ibn Taymiyah, Iqtidaae as-Siraat al-Mustaqim Mukhaalafat AsHaab al-Jaheem. The explanation of Sheikh Salih al-Fawzan is presented in this beautiful edition authorized in 5...€47.92 (tax incl.) €59.90Reduced price-20%Very good condition: Book in perfect condition with the exception of a slight defect such as: stained page edges (fingerprints or slight moisture stains), superficial defect on the cover (less than 1cm), sticker or...€75.00 (tax incl.)Duroos at-Tafseer fil-Masjid al-Haraam : Tafseer Surah al-Fatiha, Surah al-Baqarah, Surah Aal 'Imraan.As the name suggests this is Tafsir courses that gave His Eminence Shaikh Salih al-Fawzan in Masjid al-Haram in...€3.00 (tax incl.)Explanation of famous hadith of Hudhayfa ibn al-Yemen who asked the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, on the future of the Ummah. Followed by questions and answers beneficial.€3.00 (tax incl.)Explanation of some profits from Sura al-Faatihah. Written by Imam Muhammad ibn Abdel Wahhaab and explained by Shaykh al-Fawzaan. Saudi edition, excellent print quality.€85.00 (tax incl.)Simplified Explanation of Matn Zad al-Mustaqni' in Hanbali Fiqh, by Sheikh Salih al-Fawzan. Very nice edition in 4 volumes.€48.30 (tax incl.) €69.00Reduced price-30%Good condition: Book in good condition with one or more defects : stained page edges (fingerprints or light moisture stains), superficial defect on the cover (less than 1cm), sticker or trace of sticker, a few creased...

domain: library


text:
2007 Ride & Tie World Championship
Originally the Leviís Ride & Tie, this is the annual signature race of the Ride and Tie Association.
Drawing the largest crowd of competitors from across the nation and sometimes even from around the globe, this event is open to all who wish to tackle the sportís pinnacle event.
Historically scheduled for Fatherís Day weekend, with the intention of making attendance easy for families with school aged children, you might schedule your summer vacation event around this race. As plans for the next Championship are announced, specifics will be posted here. Depending on location, the camp is usually open for a full week before the race.
The World Championship race is not tied to one specific location: the race may be held in a different location each year, or may rest at one location for several years before moving to a new, fresh location.
The World Championship course will be designed to challenge. The mileage is altered from year to year in light of course ruggedness, elevation gain/loss, altitude and other factors that may affect course difficulty. The trail boss is tasked each year to design a course that can be won in 4 hours. Each successful team completing the full course, regardless of time, is awarded a pair of custom designed commemorative belt buckles. A short course is generally offered, concurrent to the World Championship, for those not prepared for the full challenge.
Championship to be held at the Cuneo Creek Horse Camp Humboldt Redwood State Park California
2007 Ride & Tie World Championship official site
San Diego woman Rufus Schneider, and partner Tom Johnson, repeated a feat accomplished only once before in the history of Ride & Tie when Schneider became the second woman ever to win the Ride & Tie World Championship since the sportís inception in 1

domain: hobby


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The EPA withdrew its interim approval of glyphosate, the most widely used weedkiller in the world, while insisting that the herbicide is safe to use and does not cause cancer. In a court filing, the EPA said it would concentrate on completing the periodic review of glyphosate required by law, most likely in 2026.
For the second time in a week, the Supreme Court rejected Bayer's attempts to shield itself from lawsuits alleging that its Roundup weedkiller is carcinogenic. Bayer said it "is not surprised" by the decision on Monday and pointed to the possibility of a change in the legal environment in its favor.
The Supreme Court disposed of one Roundup appeal by Bayer on Tuesday but it will not be the final word in Bayer's attempts to shield itself from lawsuits alleging its weedkiller causes cancer. Another Bayer appeal was pending before the Supreme Court and the company suggested a case being heard by an appeals court in Atlanta could be the third.
In a ruling hailed as a victory for farmworkers and monarch butterflies, the U.S. appellate court in San Francisco ruled the EPA lacked the evidence in 2020 to conclude that glyphosate, the most widely used weedkiller in the world, does not cause cancer and ordered the agency to take a new look at the risks to humans. The three-judge panel also said the EPA violated federal law by failing to consult with wildlife agencies on how to limit the impact of the herbicide on threatened and endangered species.
As it promised last month, Bayer, the world's largest seed and agricultural chemicals company, asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday to overturn the $25-million award to Edwin Hardeman, a California man who blamed Roundup herbicide for giving him cancer. The appeal is a key element in Bayer's plan to resolve billions of dollars of claims against Roundup and its active ingredient, glyphosate, the most widely used weedkiller in the world.
Health and chemical giant Bayer said it would pursue a five-point plan to mitigate its future litigation risks over Roundup herbicide, including a discussion of whether to remain in the lawn-and-garden market and a continued pursuit of settlements of lawsuits that allege the weedkiller causes cancer.
In its second proposal to settle future lawsuits that allege its Roundup weedkiller is carcinogenic, seed and ag-chemical giant Bayer said on Wednesday that it would pay up to $200 million to individual claimants and a maximum of $2 billion overall to cover lawsuits filed in the next four years.
Two weeks after agreeing to pay up to $9.6 billion to resolve thousands of cancer lawsuits against glyphosate, seed and ag-chemical giant Bayer is still looking for a way to handle future litigation against the weedkiller. A proposal to appoint a panel of experts to decide if glyphosate is carcinogenic — a pivotal question for cases filed in coming years — died on Wednesday following criticism from the federal judge handling the lawsuits.
Under the terms of an agreement announced Wednesday, seed and agribusiness giant Bayer will pay up to $10.9 billion to resolve lawsuits that accuse its Roundup herbicide of causing cancer, and an additional $400 million to settle litigation claiming crop damage caused by its dicamba weedkiller from 2015 to 2020.
Glyphosate, the most widely used herbicide in the world, poses no threat to human health when used as directed and is unlikely to cause cancer, said the EPA in an interim decision on Thursday. Environmental groups denounced the decision as faulty.
Chiding California regulators for "misleading labeling requirements," the EPA told herbicide makers to remove cancer warnings from containers of glyphosate, the most widely used weedkiller in the world, in a step that would benefit seed and ag chemical giant Bayer. Meanwhile, a court-appointed mediator dismissed as "pure fiction" a report that the German company offered $8 billion to settle all U.S. lawsuits against Roundup, Bayer's glyphosate-based herbicide.
The GMO wheat discovered growing wild in a Washington State field this spring actually sprouted from two different strains developed by Monsanto, the USDA announced over the weekend. Genetically engineered wheat is not approved for cultivation anywhere in the world, yet "volunteer" herbicide-resistant plants have been confirmed four times in the U.S. Northwest more than a decade after field trials ended.
The USDA has never approved cultivation of genetically engineered wheat, yet for the fourth time since April 2013 a wheat strain resistant to the weedkiller glyphosate was found growing wild in the northwestern United States. The discovery could disrupt wheat exports and it raises questions about USDA's ability to police agricultural biotechnology.
Farmers have been using the weed killer glyphosate – a key ingredient of the product Roundup – at soaring levels even as glyphosate has become increasingly less effective and as health concerns and lawsuits mount. Nationwide, the use of glyphosate on crops increased from 13.9 million pounds in 1992 to 287 million pounds in 2016, according to estimates by the U.S. Geological Survey. (No paywall)
In a bellwether trial, a federal jury found Monsanto liable for causing blood cancer in a man who used its Roundup weedkiller, and awarded the man, Edwin Hardeman, more than $80 million in damages, said The Recorder.
In a trial that could serve as a bellwether for other cases, a federal court jury decided unanimously that a Monsanto herbicide was a substantial factor in causing cancer in Edwin Hardeman, of Santa Rosa, Calif, reported the Guardian. In the next phase of the trial, the jury will weigh liability and whether to award damages against Monsanto.
Last week’s $289-million verdict against Monsanto was a stunner. How might it affect the more than 4,000 other plaintiffs facing off against the agrichemical giant on charges that the company’s popular herbicide Roundup causes non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a common cancer that will likely kill nearly 20,000 people in the U.S. this year? (No paywall)
Popular oat cereals, granola bars, and oatmeal contain significant levels of glyphosate, the chemical in Monsanto’s popular weedkiller Roundup, according to new testing done by the Environmental Working Group. EWG’s study found that dozens of oat and cereal products contain levels of glyphosate …


Atletico Madrid have confirmed that both Mario Mandzukic and Raul Garcia picked up injuries in Tuesday's UEFA Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen.
Diego Simeone's men beat Leverkusen 1-0 in the second leg to level the last-16 tie at 1-1 on aggregate before progressing to the quarter-finals on penalties.
Garcia came on in the 46th minute for Cani, but the club revealed the midfielder suffered a cracked elbow bone, sustained when Omer Toprak fell on him.
Meanwhile, striker Mario Mandzukic - who came off in the 83rd minute at the Vicente Calderon - has been diagnosed with a Grade I sprain in his right ankle following scans.
It has not been confirmed how long the respective injuries will keep the duo on the sidelines.


text:
Pawpaw fruit cut open. (By: Manuel.conde)
(NOTE: If you are not interested in growing Paw-Paw trees, but just finding the fruit and using it, try going to the Nature's Restaurant Online site Paw-Paw page.)
Paw-Paw (Asimina triloba).
I've seen the name spelled: Pawpaw, PawPaw, Paw Paw & Paw-Paw.
Some people love the taste of this fruit, and some find it awful. Turns out, it is a highly variable fruit in taste. There seems to be a consensus that the further north it is found in its range, the less tasty it is. At one time, back in the 1800's, it was a common fruit available in markets when in season. The ripe fruit does not last long, and that doesn't work with the modern grocery store system. If you live in an area where they are common, you may be able to find them at farmer's markets when in season.
I have found the trees in Southern Ontario, though they are not common. I guess a better description in most cases is large Shrub. The tree/shrub and leaves have a look that is easy to spot at a distance. The way the big leaves hang from the tree give a visual pattern sort of like a layered pattern of scales on a fish or shingles on a roof. Honestly, the way it always strikes me is; it's like the visual equivalent of a humming sound. They form clonal colonies by spreading from the roots, so usually there is a patch of them. You just expect flowers to smell nice - this one smells likes rotting meat, but the smell is weak, it's not overpowering when you come up to the flowering tree in spring. Makes sense when you realize it uses flies and beetles to pollinate the flowers instead of bees.
Whether planting by seed or buying them, make sure the ones you buy or plant were grown in your area - there are many varieties of Paw Paw that are adapted to local climates and conditions (and this explains the different taste in different regions). The shrubs will start to produce fruit when 5-6 years old assuming they are healthy and in the right conditions. You need at least two for pollination. There are three ways to get them. One is by growing from seed. Two is by buying a 1 year old seedling. Three is by buying a 2 year old grafted shrub in a pot. If done by purchasing a seedling or starting by seed, be aware the fruit of the new tree will not be exactly the same as the one it came from - it could be better or not as good. If you buy a grafted shrub, the fruit taste will be known to be good, so this is the way to go if you can find them this way and don't mind spending a bit more up front.
Seeds: Starting by seed is a bit complicated, but you can do it. First, you need to stratify the seed - but NOT in the freezer as is most often the case. You stratify them in the fridge in with lightly moist (not wet) peat moss in a jar, baggies or plastic container. You need to do this as soon as you take it out of the fruit. If you let the seed dry out, it will die. After sitting in the fridge for the winter put them in loose soil of the right pH (5.5 to 5.7) about 2.5 cm (1 inch) deep. This needs to be in a warm spot 25-30 degrees Celsius (75-85 Fahrenheit). Keep moist, but make sure it is not soaking wet. If you do start them in a pot, make sure it is tall - at least 30 cm (10 inches), as these trees do form taproots. You can try planting the seed in the fall right after removing from the fruit - it might work. I would advise putting a quite deep mulch over it for the winter, and removing most of it in the spring after any chance of frost.
Transplanting: Don't bother trying to transplant one - even a small one, they just tend to die as the root system is so breakable. Also, they form taproots, and trees that form taproots are notoriously difficult to transplant.
Soil & Site: You need to be in a climate zone 5 to 8 to grow them. It will grow in a wide range of conditions, but if you want it to set fruit, you need to be where the soil is moist, well drained, slightly acidic to neutral (ideal is 5.5 to 5.7 pH), in full sun (see paragraph below), and where there is a fair amount of rainfall in the spring and early summer. Also, don't plant this one right by where you want to sit out on the deck and eat since it attracts beetles and flies to pollinate the flowers.
As I said above, this one needs full sun to produce the most fruit, however this is not the full story: when young, this shrub needs shade, as full sun will kill it. There are different ways of dealing with this, such as starting in a large pot in a lightly shaded area, and transplanting to full sun when the plant is a couple of years old, or building a simple shade system over it where it is to be planted. It could be as simple as an old umbrella poked into the ground where it is planted. I've seen ragged old ones that are the screen type that let 50% of the sun through in the garbage many times, and one of those would be ideal.
Maintenance: When planting ones purchased in pots - whether a seeding or graft, make sure they never dry out after planting. Also, mulch around them to keep the soil moisture in and spread a little bit of 10-10-10 fertilizer around them a couple of times early in the season.
As you may have guessed by now, these are not plant-and-forget trees/shrubs. There is one more thing you need to do. You need to be the pollinator most of the time. They are renowned for not being able to pollinate without help. Use a cotton swab or small paint brush and rub some of the yellow pollen from the anther of one shrub's flowers to the stigma of the other shrub's flowers. If you find you get a lot of fruit per shrub, thin them out to let the ones remaining get larger.
Harvesting: Usually ripe later September to mid October. The fruit turns from green to yellow or light orange. The fruit goes from being hard to soft - like a peach or pear does when ripe. Don't keep for too long, as they go off fairly quickly. Best to eat within two days of picking, though they can last up to two weeks in a fridge if picked at the beginning of ripeness. Don't pick green and expect it to turn ripe, they have a habit of going from green and hard to rotten, bypassing the ripe stage. When the fruit is ripe, the inside flesh can be white, yellow or light orange depending on the variety.
Using: Eat fresh or can be used in recipes that call for Bananas. For instance, instead of making Banana bread, use a Banana bread recipe and substitute Paw Paw.
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone: 5-8 (More information on hardiness zones).
- Soil pH: 5.2-7.2
- Plant Size: Normally a small tree or large Shrub around 6 meters (20 feet) high, though it has been known to reach double that in some circumstances
- Duration: Though a Perennial, individual Paw Paw trees don't live a long time, however since they form clonal colonies by spreading from the roots, they can occupy an area for long periods of time
- Leaf Shape: Obovate
- Leaf Phyllotaxis (Arrangement) on branch: Alternate
- Leaf Size: 25–30 cm (10 to 12 inches) long, 10–13 cm (4 to 5 inches ) wide
- Leaf Margin: Entire (smooth edged)
- Leaf Notes: The way the leaves hang from the tree create a regular visual pattern that is easy to recognize once you know it
- Flowers: 3–5 cm (1 to 2 inches). An inner set of three petals, and an outer set of three petals, often folded back somewhat, a greenish yellow center. The petal color is a purplish to reddish brown with a not too powerful foul odour. Flowers in spring with or before leaves.
- Fruit: Very large - 5–16 cm (2 to 6 inches) long and 3–7 cm (1 to 3 inches) wide, weighing from (20–500 g) (3/4 to 18 oz) berry that is yellow-green, with few to many brown seeds 15–25 mm (1/2 to 1 inch) diameter. First they are green, then ripen to a yellow green to brown in September or October. Color of flesh of fruit ranges from the color of banana flesh to a peach flesh color. Ripe Paw Paw flesh has a ripe banana texture.
- Bark: Silvery grey, often spotty
- Habitat: Well drained areas with good sun, plenty of rainfall and rich deep soil that is acidic to neutral
- Recipe search on the web here (Google search) and here (Bing search).
- Pictures of the Paw-Paw on the web here (Google images) and here (Bing images).
- Interactive USDA distribution map and plant profile here.
- The Biota of North America Program (BONAP) distribution map here. BONAP map color key here.
Paw-Paw (Asimina triloba) range. Distribution map courtesy of the USGS Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, originally from "Atlas of United States Trees" by Elbert L. Little, Jr. .
Paw-Paw tree. (By: Pufacz)
Fall colors. (By: Jebulon Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication)
Flower - not great smelling and attracts flies. For this reason don't plant this tree near a deck. (By: Phyzome GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2)
Bark. (By: Celerylady CC BY-SA 3.0)
Unripe fruit on tree. (By: Scott Bauer, USDA)
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AHS Jazz Cabaret
May 17, 2017 @ 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm EDT
Arlington High School Jazz Cabaret is on Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at 7:00 PM. Tickets are $8.00 – food and beverage will be available for purchase. The Jazz Cabaret is an event like no other at AHS. We turn Cafe C/D into a jazz nightclub, our jazz ensembles provide entertainment and waiters deliver food to your table.
The AHS Jazz Cabaret features their award winning Jazz Machine, who this year took the bronze award (out of 16 other Jazz bands) at the Berklee School of Music High School Jazz Festival.

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Probably it is the fabulous combination of both. While I await the arrival of my Happy Days collection pack, I used a ton of Country Drive on several projects--enough that I may have to get another pack just to HAVE. Sick, but true.
For some reason, I am not usually a fan of making birthday cards. Maybe because they are so required I find them tedious, but this little number came together in a snap because I combined a Country Drive sentiment (popped up with Therm O Web Foam Squares), fun patterned paper and the cutest little beetle car ever. I loved adding the mini flower stickers to the headlights.
Next, I did a layout with a ton of embroidery stitching, which I felt was perfect for the "country" aspect of this collection:
Ok, so the cardstock and thread were from my stash, but everything else on this layout is from the 12x12 collection kit, including the patterned paper, stickers and journaling tag--love having everything all included.
And finally, my favorite layout in a LONG time...
Truth be told, no one really gives me a hard time about Little Man and his craftiness, although I do get the occasional eye roll from Scott about how he is my little scrapbook buddy lol.
Notice my typewriter is getting plenty of action?
Wanna know my new favorite way to adhere ribbon? Therm O Web Sticky Lines. They seriously ROCK and make ribbon adhering easy and lasting.
You can find them HERE.
Ok, that is enough for tonight. Be sure to stop by tomorrow. Best Creation Inc. is having a blog hop including stitched projects and my blog will be one stop on the way--there will be PRIZES!


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In this video, Luke Rudkowski of We Are Change is joined by Josh Sigurdson of World Alternative Media to talk about the latest weekly news in the bitcoin and cryptocurrency world.
You can watch this video on DTube here.
There’s no shortage of news this week. Everything from the so-called South Korean cryptocurrency ban, the new taxes on crypto trading in the U.S, to the attempt to create a global centrally planned cashless society, the differences between centralized cashless and decentralized cashless and of course we can’t go without talking about the incredible opportunities that Steemit provides!
Do you want to see a weekly cryptocurrency wrap up every Saturday? Let us know below and don’t forget to share!
Find Josh Sigurdson on YouTube:

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There is always the possibility that a workers’ compensation claim will be denied by your employers’ insurance provider. We understand just how stressful of a situation this can be. Here you are attempting to recover from a work-related injury when you’re faced with the harrowing question of: What do I do now? The good news is that a denial does not necessarily mean a final verdict. There are ways to appeal this decision and overturn the judgement.
At Jones Legal, we handle all aspects of workers’ compensation, including appeals. We have experience dealing with everything from filing the initial claim to appealing them if and when they are denied. To ensure you have the best chance at appealing your denied workers’ compensation claim, contact Riverside attorney Jennifer Jones as soon as possible.
Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board
When an employee seeks to appeal a denial of workers’ compensation in California, they must go through the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB). The WCAB is a judicial body that reviews petitions for the reconsideration of the decision made by the workers’ comp administrative law judges. In addition, they are responsible for regulating the judgement process by way of adopting rules of practice and procedure.
The WCAB consists of seven members, all appointed by the Governor and approved by the Senate. At least five of the seven WCAB members must be attorneys administered to practice law in that specific state. Each state possesses its own regulations regarding workers’ compensation matters. The California Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board bases most of their judgements off the statutes found in sections 110-138.2 of the Labor Code.
Workers’ Compensation Appeals Process
Before your case sees the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, it must go before a workers’ compensation judge. The workers’ compensation judge, or WCJ, may either approve or deny your claim. If it is denied, you possess the right to appeal that decision. Only then will your case be brought before the WCAB.
The WCAB will render a decision in your case. There are a few potential outcomes. These include a final denial, a petition dismissal, reconsideration with a decision, approval of the appeal, or reconsideration with future proceedings.
If the WCAB does not believe your appeal has any validity, they may simply deny it. You are able to file an additional appeal, but it is less likely to be approved. Meanwhile, if the board dismisses your appeal, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are denying it. Rather, they are removing the appeal from consideration at the time. This may be done for a variety of reasons. Your attorney can better explain to you why your petition might’ve been dismissed.
If the appeals board renders reconsideration with a decision, they have made a final decision based on the information they were provided. This may mean they approved the appeal and your workers’ compensation claim, or they may decide your case requires additional hearings with a different WCJ.
If more evidence comes to light, meaning you’ve gathered more in-depth medical information or your injuries have progressively gotten worse, the WCAB may decide on reconsideration with future proceedings. This essentially means that your claim will go through proceedings and hearings once again.
How Long Does a Workers’ Compensation Appeal Take?
If your initial workers’ comp claim was denied, going through the appeal process may take some time. There are many factors that determine how long you can expect for your appeal to be heard. Some of these factors include but are not limited to:
- The complexity of your case
- The efficiency of your attorney
- When you receive medical evaluations
- If witnesses are contacted in a timely manner
- The availability of the WCAB
With all things considered, it may take anywhere from a few weeks to several months before your appeal makes it to a hearing in front of the board. It is important that you remain patient during this time. Your attorney will make sure everything is moving as quickly as possible on your end, but the rest is up to the WCAB. Take the time to work with your lawyer to gather as much evidence as you can to support your case.
Contact Jones Legal – Experienced Riverside Workers’ Compensation Appeals Attorneys
To give your appeal the best chance of being approved, you’ll need to make sure you have enough evidence to back up your claim. This may include medical records, witness statements, photographs of the site of the accident and/or your injuries, and anything else that might help prove your work-related injury. Leave it to us at Jones Legal to collect this evidence and more to ensure you have the best chance of successfully overturning your denied workers’ comp claim. We will aggressively fight for your right to compensation for the injuries you sustained on the job. Contact us today to see what we can do for you and your case.

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He said Pope John Paul II, who appointed him to the post of papal preacher in 1980, stressed "exchanging gifts among the churches, not exchanging accusations." That's something Cantalamessa said he wants to encourage.
"What unites us is much more important," he said. "The Lord put love in my heart for the fellow Christians."
He said the issues that created the division between the Catholic Church and other denominations centuries ago "have lost most of their importance."
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Fr. Cantalamessa (Papal Preacher) in Central Kentucky
From the Lexington Herald:

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text: During a survey in 2003, safflower plants (Carthamus tinctorius) with phyllody symptoms were observed in production fields in several districts of Fars and Yazd provinces in Iran. Affected plants showed floral virescence, phyllody, proliferation of axillary buds, and little leaf symptoms. Incidence of the disease was less than 10%. Direct and nested PCR assays were used to verify association of phytoplasma with the disease. Total DNA was extracted from fresh, fine roots of eight phyllody-affected safflower plants and one symptomless plant. With phytoplasma universal primer pair P1/P7 (5′-AAGAGTTTGATCCTGGCTCAGGATT-3′/5′-CGTCCTTCATCGGCTCTT-3′), target DNA fragments of approximately 1.8 kb were amplified by direct PCR from phyllody-affected plants and Iranian cabbage yellows (ICY) phytoplasma used as a positive control. Reamplification of P1/P7 products with 16S rRNA gene primer pair R16F2n/R16R2 (5′-GAAACGACTGCTAAGACTGG-3′/5′-TGACGGGCGGTGTGTACAAACCCCG-3′) yielded fragments of the expected size (1.2 kb) from all eight diseased plants and the ICY-positive control. No products were amplified from the symptomless plant by either assay. R16F2n/R16R2 products were subjected to restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis by separate digestion with AluI, HaeIII, HhaI, HinfI, HpaII, MseI, RsaI, Sau3AI, or TaqI endonuclease. Comparison of resulting RFLP patterns with published patterns of other phytoplasmas (2) tentatively identified safflower phyllody (SP) phytoplasma as a member of clover proliferation group 16SrVI, subgroup C. HhaI digests also differentiated SP from ICY phytoplasma, a previously reported subgroup 16SrVI-A strain (3). After sequencing of the 16S rDNA fragment (GenBank Accession No. DQ88948), a BLAST search determined that SP phytoplasma shared closest homology with 16SrVI group members (‘Candidatus Phytoplasma trifolii’) and related strains (4). Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA sequences revealed SP phytoplasma to be most similar (99.7%) to brinjal little leaf (BLL) phytoplasma (GenBank Accession No. X83431). Analysis of putative restriction sites in 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that SP and BLL shared identical restriction profiles and that both differed from the ‘Ca. Phytoplasma trifolii’ reference strain (GenBank Accession No. AY390261) because of the absence of a single HhaI site and the presence of an additional MseI site. Although safflower phyllody disease has been previously reported in Israel, the associated phytoplasma was classified as a strain of the aster yellows subgroup 16SrI-B (1). To our knowledge, this is the first report of safflower as a host of a ‘Ca. Phytoplasma trifolii’-related strain. References: (1) M. Klein. Plant Dis. Rep. 54:735, 1970. (2) I.-M. Lee et al. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 54:1037, 2004. (3) M. Salehi et al. Plant Dis. 91:625, 2007. (4) K. Wang and C. Hiruki, Phytopathology 91:546, 2001.

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Re-blogged from the WRHA. The guys at Whitrope were very busy with work on the crossover; a project that has been ongoing for many years and now approaching completion. First steps are also underway to provide Whitrope with its first mechanical signals too – something I’m very much looking forward to!
The Friday saw a number of volunteers on site with the main focus being the ground-frame and surrounding area. A number of sleepers were laid along part of the stock siding to improve the sleeper spacing in this area. Further work was carried out on the rodding run, with work concentrated on the facing point lock run. The crank was position and lined up and awaited drilling.
The foundation timber were set in place for the ground-frame, with large holes dug and the timbers concreted into position.
A number of deliveries of aggregate materials were also made during the course to provide materials for various jobs planned for the up coming works week.
All photographs by Jim Dick


Talking to the radio Žinių Radijas on Wednesday, the politician disagreed with comments from her office that the dismissal of all “blacklisted” deputy ministers is a mutual victory.
According to Sysas, the Government controls the situation and the Cabinet should continue to exist without mass dismissals.
“I am not sure if this is good. I do not think this contributes to cooperation between the ruling institutions as once again the dictate of one side is enforced. I think it is much more beneficial to Lithuania and its people when the politicians agree instead of hearing statements from spokespersons that it is a mutual victory. There is no victory, let us be fair, it is an attempt to trick one another. Someone has created the rules of the game which are not included in our legislation or the Constitution, and others made this false gesture of firing everyone so that they can return later,” said the deputy speaker.
As reported, Virginija Būdienė, Senior Adviser to the President on Education, Science, Culture and Non-Governmental Organisations, said that there are no winners or losers in the deputy ministers’ “blacklist” story. She welcomed the resolve of the Coalition to cleanse itself.
On Tuesday, six deputy ministers of environment and communications resigned. Earlier, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Rytis Šatkauskas and Deputy Minister of Justice Saulius Stripeika resigned.
According to the media, the “blacklist” drafted by the Special Investigation Service (STT) includes the names of nine deputy ministers.
Last month, President Grybauskaitė issued a statement saying that she would not approve ministers with blacklisted deputies. The president said the ruling majority would be “criminal” if it did not take steps to purge itself of suspect officials.
Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius said that once the new Government is approved after Grybauskaitė’s second-term inauguration on 12 July, all deputy ministers will be dismissed.


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Checks on goods entering Northern Ireland will be drastically reduced under new ‘green’ and ‘red’ lanes designed to scrap bureaucracy and ease trade.
There will be no customs checks, but simply “commercial checks” on goods arriving in Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK Mr Sunak said.
During the negotiations, one of the main concerns among the Democratic Unionist Party and Conservative European Research Group was the role of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Northern Ireland.
What is the Stormont brake?
While there will continue to be a small role for the court, the UK and EU agreed on a mechanism called the ‘Stormont brake’, which allows the Northern Ireland assembly to flag concerns about the application of new EU laws on goods.
It must be requested by a third of Stormont MLAs and can only be used “in the most exceptional circumstances”, the EU and Britain agreed on Monday.
Mr Sunak said it is a “very powerful mechanism” for Stormont to use when it has concerns over EU law and gives them more than “just a say”.
He said the brake should provide “reassurance to everyone in Northern Ireland that they are in control of their destiny”.
If the brake is pulled, Mr Sunak said the UK government would have the power of veto, but it is not clear how this would work in practice.
Ms von der Leyen said the ECJ would be the “sole and ultimate arbiter of EU law” in Northern Ireland and will have the “final say” on single market decisions.
She described the Stormont brake as something that would be an emergency mechanism that would hopefully not be needed.
Mr Sunak added: “Indeed, the European Court of Justice is the sole and ultimate arbiter of EU law – that’s natural because it’s prescribed by the EU order. So the ECJ will have the final say in EU law and single market decisions.”
The nationalist SDLP and non-sectarian Alliance Party urged Mr Sunak to prevent the “vexatious use” of the Stormont brake and called on him to continue supporting efforts to restore power-sharing in Northern Ireland.
The new deal has won broad support across the House of Commons, although the DUP has yet to give the agreement its backing, saying it will take time to read the legal text of the agreement before coming to a decision.
Ian Paisley Jr and Sammy Wilson, hardliners in the DUP, are thought to be leading opposition to securing agreement within their party.
Mr Paisley, on Monday night said his “gut instinct” was that the deal “didn’t cut the mustard” despite admitting that he hadn’t yet read the legal text.
Foreign secretary James Cleverly has said it will be "hugely disappointing" if the Democratic Unionist Party does not return to the Stormont powersharing executive following Rishi Sunak’s deal with Brussels.
Mr Cleverly said the government had been "very, very focused" on the party’s concerns in their negotiations with the EU on post-Brexit trading arrangements.
"They are quite understandably going to want to look at the detail of this. I really hope that once they look at the detail of this they will see we have taken their concerns very, very seriously," he told Sky News on Tuesday morning.
"I think they will know that I have been very, very focused on the concerns they have expressed on behalf of their community. They will have real authority when it comes to the Stormont brake.
"If they don’t re-enter the powersharing executive, that will be hugely disappointing. It won’t be good news for the people of Northern Ireland."