Gravimetric device for automated process monitoring with dynamic time control and tamper protection

Abstract

Device for automated process monitoring, comprising: • a sensor system for the continuous detection of weight load (weighing sensor), • an electronic control unit (microcontroller), • an output unit for signaling (optical, acoustic or digital), characterized in that the control unit is configured to automatically start an internal process timer upon detection of a weight load above a defined threshold and to continuously monitor the status of the object, wherein premature removal of the load before the end of the target time triggers an error routine or an alarm.

Description

1. Technical field

[0001] The innovation concerns a device for monitoring and controlling time-dependent processes in physical objects, comprising a weighing device for measuring mass, an output unit for signaling, and an electronic control unit. Its applications range from laboratory use and the catering industry to semi- or fully automated kitchen appliances (e.g., multicookers) and baking processes. 2. Problem statement (state of the art)

[0002] In laboratories, the catering industry, when using kitchen machines, and in industrial manufacturing processes (e.g., adhesive technology), adherence to exact resting, reaction, heating, or cooling times is critical for the quality of the final product.

[0003] Conventional solutions separate mass measurement (scales) from time measurement (timer) or use static time settings. In practice, this leads to the following disadvantages: 1. Human error: The timer is forgotten to start after placing the object or adding an ingredient. 2. Lack of thermodynamic dynamics: Process times (e.g., cooking times, fermentation times, cooling phases) are often specified as a general rule and not adapted to the actual mass of the object. This leads to quality losses when quantities differ (e.g., overcooking with small quantities, incomplete reaction with large quantities). 3. Lack of process safety: Processes can be manipulated or accidentally disrupted by temporarily removing and replacing objects without the control system registering or validating this (so-called "FastPass" problem).

[0004] The innovation is based on the task of providing a system that inextricably links time monitoring to the physical presence and mass of the object, triggers automatically, takes thermodynamic dependencies into account, and intelligently detects attempts at manipulation.

Claims

[1] Device for automated process monitoring, comprising: • a sensor system for the continuous detection of weight load (weighing sensor), • an electronic control unit (microcontroller), • an output unit for signaling (optical, acoustic or digital), characterized by , that the control unit is configured to automatically start an internal process timer upon detection of a weight load above a defined threshold and to continuously monitor the status of the object, whereby premature removal of the load before the end of the target time triggers an error routine or an alarm. [2] Device according to claim 1 (tamper protection / Anti-FastPass), characterized byThe control unit includes a recovery logic that initiates a tolerance time window if the weight load is interrupted during the running target time. If the load is restored within this window, the process continues; if the window is exceeded, the process is considered invalid. This prevents circumvention of the process time by briefly lifting and lowering the object (e.g., during fermentation processes or resting phases). [3] Device according to one of the preceding claims (Dynamic Time Control / DRT), characterized byThe control unit does not use the duration of the target time T (timer runtime) to be monitored statically, but rather calculates it dynamically based on the initially measured mass m of the object using a correlation rule stored in the control unit (e.g., T=f(m)). This enables the automatic adjustment of process times to mass-dependent physical properties, in particular to compensate for thermal inertia during heating and cooling processes or to adjust for reaction kinetic volume effects. [4] Device according to one of the preceding claims (feedback system), characterized by that the output unit includes a visual feedback system (e.g. LED ring or display) which represents the current process state (e.g. "Do not touch", "Ready for removal", "Critical state") depending on the timer status and the current weight load, using color or symbol coding. [5] Device according to one of the preceding claims (networking), characterized by that the control unit has a wireless interface which is set up to transmit process data (weight, timer status, manipulation attempts) in real time to corresponding receiving units (e.g. kitchen machines, ovens, servers) using a low-latency direct communication protocol (peer-to-peer), without necessarily requiring a central network infrastructure.