Apparatus for weighing and method thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to a metering device and a method thereof. A metering device according to one embodiment identifies a first target discharge amount of a material to be metered and a second target discharge amount greater than the first target discharge amount, determines a metering value for the weight of the material discharged through a load cell that measures the weight of the material, outputs a first relay signal to control the discharge device so that the material is discharged at a first discharge rate until the metering value reaches the first target discharge amount, outputs a second relay signal to control the discharge device so that the material is discharged at a second discharge rate based on the determination that the metering value has reached the first target discharge amount, and outputs a third relay signal to control the discharge device so that the discharge of the material is stopped based on the determination that the metering value has reached the second target discharge amount.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a weighing device and a method thereof, and more specifically, to a technology for reducing weighing errors. Background Technology

[0002] In general, in fields such as construction, food, and chemicals, devices for discharging and weighing various materials in a precise quantity are widely used. These weighing devices use load cells to measure the weight of the discharged material and control the discharge device to reach the target discharge amount, thereby preventing over- or under-discharge of the material.

[0003] However, conventional metering devices operate by discharging materials at a single speed or simply stopping discharge when a target value is predicted to be reached, which leads to a problem where the error (error discharge) between the target value and the actual discharge amount is relatively large. In particular, when the discharge speed is fast, over-discharge frequently occurs due to the time difference between the relay control point and the actual discharge stop.

[0004] Furthermore, in metering systems designed to improve the accuracy of emission control, error correction technology that considers various factors such as relay signal output delay time and device operation response time is insufficient; consequently, there is a problem of reduced reliability in industrial sites requiring precise metering.

[0005] Accordingly, there is a need to develop sophisticated metering devices capable of controlling emission rates to reach target emissions more precisely and minimizing emission errors. The problem to be solved

[0006] Embodiments of the present invention aim to provide a metering device and a method capable of reducing metering errors and measuring precisely by controlling the discharge speed according to the discharge amount.

[0007] Embodiments of the present invention aim to provide a metering device and a method capable of reducing discharge error by minimizing the time required to output a relay signal.

[0008] Embodiments of the present invention aim to provide a weighing device and a method capable of rapidly determining the point at which to switch the discharge speed or stop the discharge by performing a weighing function (weight measurement) and a control function (discharge control) through a single device.

[0009] Embodiments of the present invention aim to provide a metering device and a method thereof that can simplify the overall system configuration, reduce installation space, and lower hardware and maintenance costs by performing the functions of a summing box, a cell failure detection function, and a zero point calibration function within a single device.

[0010] The technical problems of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned technical problems will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below. means of solving the problem

[0011] A weighing device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a memory for storing program instructions; and a processor configured to execute said program instructions. The processor identifies a first target discharge amount of a material to be weighed and a second target discharge amount greater than the first target discharge amount, determines a weighing value for the weight of the material discharged through a load cell that measures the weight of the material, outputs a first relay signal to control a discharge device so that the material is discharged at a first discharge rate until the weighing value reaches the first target discharge amount, outputs a second relay signal to control a discharge device so that the material is discharged at a second discharge rate based on the determination that the weighing value has reached the first target discharge amount, and outputs a third relay signal to control a discharge device so that the discharge of the material is stopped based on the determination that the weighing value has reached the second target discharge amount, and the first discharge rate may be faster than the second discharge rate.

[0012] In one embodiment, the processor outputs the first relay signal within a preset time from the point in time when it is determined that the metering value has reached the first target emission amount, or outputs the second relay signal within the preset time from the point in time when it is determined that the metering value has reached the second target emission amount, and the preset time may be set as the minimum time required to output the relay signal from the point in time when it is determined that the target emission amount has reached.

[0013] In one embodiment, the processor can control the discharge device so that at least one of the error discharge of the first target discharge, the error discharge of the second target discharge, or any combination thereof is minimized.

[0014] In one embodiment, the processor may calculate an error discharge amount of the first target discharge amount based on at least one of the first discharge rate, the time required to output the second relay signal from the time it is determined that the first target discharge amount has been reached, the time required for the discharge device to operate at the second discharge rate from the time it is determined that the second relay signal has been output, or any combination thereof; or calculate an error discharge amount of the second target discharge amount based on at least one of the second discharge rate, the time required to output the third relay signal from the time it is determined that the second target discharge amount has been reached, the time required for the discharge device to operate to stop discharge from the time it is determined that the third relay signal has been output, or any combination thereof.

[0015] In one embodiment, the processor can control the discharge device such that the error discharge of the first target discharge is smaller than the difference between the first target discharge and the second target discharge.

[0016] In one embodiment, the processor can control the discharge speed by adjusting the size of the discharge port of the discharge device.

[0017] In one embodiment, the processor may determine at least one of the first target discharge amount, the second target discharge amount, the first discharge rate, the second discharge rate, or any combination thereof, depending on the type of material to be metered.

[0018] In one embodiment, the processor can determine the metering value by merging and correcting electrical signals output from a plurality of load cells.

[0019] In one embodiment, the processor can determine whether the load cell is faulty by checking for abnormalities in the electrical signal received from the load cell.

[0020] In one embodiment, the processor can correct the zero point of the meter value so that the meter value becomes 0 in the initial state.

[0021] A metering method according to one embodiment of the present invention may include: an operation in which a processor identifies a first target discharge amount of a material to be metered and a second target discharge amount greater than the first target discharge amount; an operation in which the processor determines a metering value for the weight of the material discharged through a load cell that measures the weight of the material; an operation in which the processor outputs a first relay signal to control a discharge device so that the material is discharged at a first discharge rate until the metering value reaches the first target discharge amount; an operation in which the processor outputs a second relay signal to control the discharge device so that the material is discharged at a second discharge rate based on the determination that the metering value has reached the first target discharge amount; and an operation in which the processor outputs a third relay signal to control the discharge device so that the discharge of the material is stopped based on the determination that the metering value has reached the second target discharge amount.

[0022] In a metering method according to one embodiment, the operation of the processor outputting a first relay signal to control the discharge device so that the material is discharged at a first discharge rate until the metering value reaches the first target discharge rate includes the operation of outputting the first relay signal within a preset time from the point in time when the processor determines that the metering value has reached the first target discharge rate, and the operation of the processor outputting a second relay signal to control the discharge device so that the material is discharged at a second discharge rate based on the determination that the metering value has reached the first target discharge rate includes the operation of outputting the second relay signal within the preset time from the point in time when the metering value is determined to have reached the second target discharge rate, and the preset time may be set as the minimum time required to output the relay signal from the point in time when it is determined that the target discharge rate has been reached.

[0023] A metering method according to one embodiment may further include an operation in which the processor controls the discharge device such that at least one of the error discharge of the first target discharge, the error discharge of the second target discharge, or any combination thereof is minimized.

[0024] In a metering method according to one embodiment, the operation of the processor controlling the discharge device such that at least one of the error discharge amount of the first target discharge amount, the error discharge amount of the second target discharge amount, or any combination thereof is minimized may include: the operation of the processor calculating the error discharge amount of the first target discharge amount based on at least one of the first discharge speed, the time required to output the first relay signal from the time it is determined that the first target discharge amount has been reached, the time required for the discharge device to operate at the first discharge speed from the time it is determined that the first relay signal has been output, or any combination thereof; or the operation of the processor calculating the error discharge amount of the second target discharge amount based on at least one of the second discharge speed, the time required to output the second relay signal from the time it is determined that the second target discharge amount has been reached, the time required for the discharge device to operate at the second discharge speed from the time it is determined that the second relay signal has been output, or any combination thereof.

[0025] In a metering method according to one embodiment, the operation of the processor controlling the discharge device such that at least one of the error discharge of the first target discharge, the error discharge of the second target discharge, or any combination thereof is minimized may include the operation of the processor controlling the discharge device such that the error discharge of the first target discharge is smaller than the difference between the first target discharge and the second target discharge.

[0026] A metering method according to one embodiment may further include an operation in which the processor controls the discharge speed by adjusting the size of the discharge port of the discharge device.

[0027] A metering method according to one embodiment may further include an operation in which the processor determines at least one of the first target discharge amount, the second target discharge amount, the first discharge rate, the second discharge rate, or any combination thereof, depending on the type of material to be metered.

[0028] A metering method according to one embodiment may further include an operation in which the processor determines the metering value by merging and correcting electrical signals output from a plurality of load cells.

[0029] A metering method according to one embodiment may further include an operation in which the processor determines whether the load cell is faulty through whether there is an abnormality in the electrical signal received from the load cell.

[0030] A metering method according to one embodiment may further include an operation in which the processor corrects the zero point of the metering value so that the metering value becomes 0 in an initial state. Effects of the invention

[0031] This technology can reduce metering errors and enable precise metering by controlling the emission speed according to the emission amount.

[0032] In addition, this technology can reduce discharge errors by minimizing the time required to output a relay signal.

[0033] In addition, this technology performs weighing functions (weight measurement) and control functions (discharge control) through a single device, thereby enabling rapid determination of the point at which to switch discharge speeds or stop discharge.

[0034] In addition, by performing the functions of a summing box, cell failure detection, and zero calibration within a single device, this technology simplifies the overall system configuration, reduces installation space, and lowers hardware and maintenance costs.

[0035] In addition, various effects that can be identified directly or indirectly through this document may be provided. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0036] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a metering device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration and operation flow of a conventional metering system. FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating an example of the configuration and operation flow of a metering system including a metering device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a measuring device or a measuring method according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a drawing showing a computing system related to a metering device or metering method according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0037] Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to exemplary drawings. It should be noted that in assigning reference numerals to the components of each drawing, the same components are given the same reference numeral whenever possible, even if they are shown in different drawings. Furthermore, in describing the embodiments of the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of related known components or functions would hinder understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, such detailed description is omitted.

[0038] In describing the components of an embodiment of the present invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc., may be used. These terms are intended merely to distinguish the component from other components, and the essence, order, or sequence of the component is not limited by these terms. Furthermore, the expression "at least one of A, B, C, or any combination thereof" may include all of "A, or B, or C, or combinations thereof such as AB, or BC, or AC, or ABC."

[0039] Furthermore, unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as generally understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant technology, and should not be interpreted in an ideal or overly formal sense unless explicitly defined in this application.

[0040] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

[0041] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a metering device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] According to one embodiment, the metering device (100) may include a processor (110) and a memory (120). The configuration of the metering device (100) illustrated in FIG. 1 is exemplary and the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. For example, the metering device (100) may further include components not illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0043] According to one embodiment, the metering device (100) may include a device that performs the function of an indicator.

[0044] According to one embodiment, the memory (120) may store instructions or data. For example, the memory (120) may store one instruction or two or more instructions that cause the metering device (100) to perform various operations when executed by the processor (110).

[0045] According to one embodiment, the memory (120) can be implemented as a single chipset with the processor (110) and can store various information associated with the metering device (100). For example, the memory (120) can store information regarding the operation history of the processor (110).

[0046] According to one embodiment, the memory (120) may include non-volatile memory (Read Only Memory; ROM) and volatile memory (Random Access Memory; RAM). For example, discharge rate, target discharge rate, etc. may be stored in the memory (120).

[0047] According to one embodiment, the processor (110) can identify a target discharge amount of a material to be metered. Here, the target discharge amount may include a value that is directly entered by a user or a value that is automatically determined by the system based on preset operating conditions (e.g., mixing ratio, production volume, etc.).

[0048] For example, target emissions may be provided by including emission indicator values ​​received from a central control system (HMI: Human-Machine Interface or SCADA: Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) or recipe-based formulation data.

[0049] According to one embodiment, the processor (110) can identify a first target emission and a second target emission that is greater than the first target emission.

[0050] According to one embodiment, the first target emission amount may be set as an intermediate target value corresponding to the point at which the emission rate is switched during the emission process, and the second target emission amount may be set as a final target value at which the emission must be completed.

[0051] For example, the processor (110) can simultaneously achieve improved precision of the total discharge and minimized discharge error by controlling the discharge to discharge material at a high speed at the beginning of discharge, switch to a slow speed when it is determined that the metering value has reached the first target discharge amount, and stop discharge when it is determined that the second target discharge amount has been reached.

[0052] According to one embodiment, the processor (110) sets the minimum standard weight (lower limit value) to be measured according to KS standards as the second target emission amount, and sets the value corresponding to the range between 1% and 99% of the second target emission amount as the first target emission amount, so that it can be emitted quickly until the first target is reached and then measured precisely thereafter.

[0053] According to one embodiment, the processor (110) can determine a weighing value for the weight of the material discharged through a load cell that measures the weight of the material.

[0054] For example, the load cell converts weight information into an electrical signal and outputs it, and the signal can be transmitted to the processor (110) through an analog-to-digital conversion or merging process. The processor (110) can determine a weighing value for the weight of the material discharged through the signal. Through this, the processor (110) can continuously calculate the cumulative discharge amount or the instantaneous discharge amount of the material.

[0055] According to one embodiment, the processor (110) can output a relay signal that controls the discharge device based on a metering value determined through a load cell.

[0056] According to one embodiment, the discharge device may include a device that performs the function of discharging material to be metered from a storage space (e.g., storage bin, intermediate storage bin, etc.) to the outside.

[0057] For example, the discharge device may include a rotary valve capable of discharging a precise amount of material through rotational motion. The rotary valve is structured to discharge a fixed amount of material contained in a cell space formed within an internal rotor while rotating it; this enables precise quantitative discharge and is suitable for the transport of powders, pellets, and particulate materials.

[0058] As another example, the discharge device may include a butterfly gate capable of controlling the discharge flow through opening and closing movements. The butterfly gate operates by rotating a circular or elliptical disc to open and close the passage, and has the advantage of rapidly discharging a large volume of material with a simple structure.

[0059] The discharge device can be implemented in various forms, such as slide gates, tipping valves, feeders, and vacuum discharge valves, and can be adopted in an appropriate form depending on the properties of the material used (e.g., viscosity, density, fluidity, etc.) and the precision requirements for metering.

[0060] According to one embodiment, the discharge device may be controlled to automatically perform opening / closing or rotational operations according to a relay signal output from a processor (110), and various driving mechanisms such as electric drive, pneumatic drive, and hydraulic drive may be applied.

[0061] According to one embodiment, the processor (110) can output a first relay signal to control the discharge device so that the material is discharged at a first discharge rate until the metering value reaches a first target discharge amount.

[0062] The first relay signal may include a control signal that initiates the operation of the discharge device or sets the device to operate at a preset first discharge speed. The first relay signal may be output in the form of an electrical signal and may be used to control a drive (e.g., motor, actuator, etc.) connected to the discharge device, or to be transmitted to a control circuit or inverter device connected to the discharge device to adjust the discharge speed.

[0063] The first discharge speed may include the discharge speed during the initial section of the material discharge process and may be set to a relatively fast speed considering the efficiency of the operation.

[0064] The processor (110) can determine the cumulative meter value of the material discharged so far based on the meter value received in real time from a load cell or a metering sensor that performs a function similar to a load cell. The processor (110) can control the discharge device to maintain the first discharge rate by continuously maintaining the first relay signal while it is determined that the meter value has not reached the first target discharge amount.

[0065] According to one embodiment, the processor (110) may output a second relay signal to control the discharge device so that the material is discharged at a second discharge rate based on the determination that the metering value has reached a first target discharge amount.

[0066] For example, the first target emission may be set as an intermediate target value prior to approaching the total target emission (e.g., the second target emission), and the first target emission may serve as a criterion for determining the point at which to switch the emission rate.

[0067] The processor (110) can determine whether the accumulated meter value has reached the first target emission amount by comparing and determining the meter value received in real time from a load cell or a metering sensor that performs a function similar to a load cell.

[0068] When the processor (110) determines that the first target emission amount has been reached, it may stop the existing first relay signal output and output a second relay signal.

[0069] The second relay signal is transmitted to the discharge device and can act as a control command to reduce the discharge speed.

[0070] According to one embodiment, the second discharge speed may be set to a lower speed than the first discharge speed. That is, the first discharge speed may be faster than the second discharge speed.

[0071] This aims to prevent excessive emissions in the 구간 (section) requiring precise metering control as emissions approach the final target. In other words, since minute amounts of emission can significantly impact the overall metering error in the section immediately preceding the final target, the speed is reduced to improve the precision of the control.

[0072] The second relay signal may include a control signal that sets the discharge device to operate at a second discharge speed. The second relay signal may be output in the form of an electrical signal and may be used to control a driver (e.g., motor, actuator, etc.) connected to the discharge device, or to be transmitted to a control circuit or inverter device connected to the discharge device to switch the discharge speed to the second discharge speed.

[0073] According to one embodiment, the first relay signal or the second relay signal can be transmitted to a driver or inverter circuit of the discharge device to control the discharge speed by adjusting the driving speed, rotational speed, opening angle, etc. For example, the first relay signal or the second relay signal may include a signal for adjusting the rotational speed of a rotary valve or adjusting the opening angle of a butterfly gate.

[0074] According to one embodiment, the first discharge rate or the second discharge rate may be set to a fixed value, or in some cases, may be dynamically adjusted by taking into account the previous discharge state, remaining target discharge rate, time delay correction factor, etc.

[0075] According to one embodiment, the processor (110) may output a third relay signal to control the discharge device so that the discharge of material is stopped based on the determination that the metering value has reached a second target discharge amount.

[0076] The second target emission amount may include the final target emission amount to be completed. The processor (110) can determine whether the accumulated meter value has reached the second target emission amount by comparing and determining the meter value received in real time from a load cell or a metering sensor that performs a function similar to a load cell.

[0077] When the processor (110) determines that the second target emission amount has been reached, it can stop the operation of the emission device or switch it to a closed state by outputting a third relay signal.

[0078] The third relay signal can be output in the form of an electrical signal and can be used to stop a driver connected to the discharge device, or to transmit to a control circuit or inverter device connected to the discharge device to control the discharge of material.

[0079] For example, the processor (110) can stop the rotation of the rotary valve or switch the butterfly gate to a completely closed state through a third relay signal. This prevents the occurrence of overflow.

[0080] In addition, the third relay signal is a control command distinct from the previously output second relay signal, playing a crucial role in ensuring control stability and maintaining system consistency at the point of discharge termination. Beyond simple opening and closing operations, this signal can also be utilized as a task completion signal to link with subsequent processes (e.g., the next mixing operation, mixer operation, etc.).

[0081] As a result, the processor (110) can control the discharge process at two speeds, thereby ensuring a balance between improved metering accuracy and total working time, and can perform discharge control with high quantitative accuracy and reliability even in a high-speed production environment.

[0082] According to one embodiment, the processor (110) can output a first relay signal within a preset time from the point in time when it is determined that the metering value has reached a first target emission amount.

[0083] According to one embodiment, the processor (110) can output a second relay signal within a preset time from the point in time when it is determined that the metering value has reached a second target emission amount.

[0084] Here, the preset time can be set as the minimum time required to output a relay signal from the point in time when it is determined that the target emission amount has been reached, and the target emission amount may include a first target emission amount and a second target emission amount.

[0085] For example, the preset time may be set based on the processing delay time that inevitably occurs within the system until a relay signal is output based on a judgment regarding the meter value. As a specific example, the preset time may include the time for data collection and conversion, the time for computation and judgment by the processor (110), and the response time of the relay circuit.

[0086] According to one embodiment, the processor (110) can minimize the measurement error caused by the time difference between the time of determination and the time of outputting the relay signal by outputting the corresponding relay signal (first relay signal or second relay signal) within a preset time from the time when the measurement value is determined to have reached a first target emission amount or a second target emission amount.

[0087] For example, even if the processor (110) decides to immediately output a first relay signal when the first target emission amount is reached, if there is a system response delay of 100ms until the first relay signal is output, the first relay signal may be set to be output within 100ms from the time of the decision, taking this time into account. Through this, excessive or insufficient emission can be prevented at the time when the emission speed is switched or at the time when emission is stopped.

[0088] According to one embodiment, the processor (110) can control the discharge device so that at least one of the error discharge of the first target discharge, the error discharge of the second target discharge, or any combination thereof is minimized.

[0089] Error emissions may include the difference between the set target emissions and the actual emissions. For example, the error emissions of the first target emissions may include errors arising from emissions continuing even after the point in time when the metered value is determined to reach the first target emissions, or from the emission rate being switched even though the actual metered value has not reached the first target emissions. As another example, the error emissions of the second target emissions may include errors arising from the actual emissions not matching the second target emissions at the time emissions are completed.

[0090] The processor (110) can increase the accuracy of the control by precisely adjusting the output timing of the relay signal, the discharge speed, the timing for switching the discharge speed, and the timing for stopping the discharge, taking into account the error discharge amount.

[0091] According to one embodiment, the processor (110) can calculate an error discharge of the first target discharge based on at least one of a first discharge speed, a time taken to output a second relay signal from the time it is determined that the first target discharge has been reached, a time taken for the discharge device to operate at the second discharge speed from the time the second relay signal is output, or any combination thereof.

[0092] For example, the processor (110) can calculate the error emission of the first target emission by considering one or more of the following factors.

[0093] The processor (110) can calculate the error emission amount of the first target emission amount by taking into account the first emission rate.

[0094] The processor (110) can calculate the error emission amount of the first target emission amount by taking into account the time required from the point in time when the metering value is determined to have reached the first target emission amount until the second relay signal is output. This may include computation processing time and internal signal delay, and the processor (110) can calculate the error emission amount by taking into account that an over-emission may occur due to the time difference between the determination and the output of the control command.

[0095] The processor (110) can calculate the error emission of the first target emission by taking into account the time required from the point when the second relay signal is output until the emission device actually operates at the second emission speed. This includes the response delay of the relay circuit or the driver, and the processor (110) can calculate the error emission by taking into account that additional emission may occur due to the physical control response speed.

[0096] According to one embodiment, the processor (110) can calculate an error emission of the second target emission based on at least one of a second emission rate, a time taken to output a third relay signal from the time it is determined that the second target emission has been reached, a time taken for the emission device to stop emitting from the time it outputs the third relay signal, or any combination thereof.

[0097] For example, the processor (110) can calculate the error emission of the second target emission by considering one or more of the following factors.

[0098] The processor (110) can calculate the error emission amount of the second target emission amount by taking into account the second emission rate.

[0099] The processor (110) can calculate the error emission amount of the second target emission amount by taking into account the time required from the point in time when the meter value is determined to have reached the second target emission amount until the third relay signal is output. This may include computation processing time and internal signal delay, and the processor (110) can calculate the error emission amount by taking into account that an over-emission may occur due to the time difference between the determination and the output of the control command.

[0100] The processor (110) can calculate the error emission amount of the second target emission amount by taking into account the time required for the emission device to stop emitting from the time the third relay signal is output. This may include the response delay of the relay circuit, controller, or driver, and the processor (110) can calculate the error emission amount by taking into account that an excess of the target emission amount may occur depending on the physical control response time.

[0101] According to one embodiment, the processor (110) can calculate the error emission amount through the following [Equation 1].

[0102] [Mathematical Formula 1]

[0103]

[0104] According to one embodiment, can mean error emissions. may mean discharge rate or discharge rate per hour (kg / s). This may refer to the time required to output a relay signal from the point at which it is determined that the target emissions have been reached. This may refer to the time required for the discharge device to operate according to the relay signal from the moment the relay signal is output.

[0105] for example, It may include the time required to output a second relay signal from the point in time when it is determined that the first target emission amount has been reached, or the time required to output a third relay signal from the point in time when it is determined that the second target emission amount has been reached.

[0106] also, It may include the time required for the discharge device to operate at a second discharge speed from the time the second relay signal is output, or the time required for the discharge device to stop discharging from the time the third relay signal is output.

[0107] According to one embodiment, To minimize [this], the following control methods may be applied depending on the characteristics of the material to be metered.

[0108] For example, in the case of powder materials, an instantaneous brake motor is applied to the rotary feeder to quickly control the stopping point of operation, and the brake signal can be configured to operate directly by the operation signal of an indicator rather than by inverter control.

[0109] In addition, the valve response speed can be maximized by applying a high-speed exhaust valve and an exhaust pipe with an expanded diameter to the butterfly valve.

[0110] As another example, in the case of aggregate materials, a double-acting cylinder is applied to reduce the action reaction time and shorten the effective stroke of the cylinder; similar to powder materials, a high-speed exhaust valve and an expanded-diameter exhaust pipe are used to ensure the fastest possible response speed.

[0111] so If this is minimized, the maximum value of the error discharge that may occur during weighing can be reduced, and if the amount of error is kept smaller than the difference between the lower limit of the specification (KS standard lower limit) and a lower setting value (e.g., first target discharge), this weighing system can become a 'dropless weighing system' that does not result in under-weighing or over-weighing.

[0112] As a result, this system can secure stable weighing results within the allowable range of specifications without the manual correction work required in conventional gravity-based weighing methods, and can effectively overcome the inefficiency and precision limitations of existing systems.

[0113] According to one embodiment, the processor (110) can control the discharge device such that the error discharge of the first target discharge is smaller than the difference between the first target discharge and the second target discharge.

[0114] For example, if the error emission amount becomes larger than the difference between the first target emission amount and the second target emission amount, the precision of the emission process may decrease, so the processor (110) can establish a control strategy such that the error emission amount of the first target emission amount is smaller than the difference between the first target emission amount and the second target emission amount.

[0115] According to one embodiment, the processor (110) can control the discharge speed by adjusting the size of the discharge port of the discharge device.

[0116] The discharge speed of the material can be directly affected by the degree of opening of the cross-section of the discharge port. For example, the discharge speed may increase as the effective area of ​​the discharge port increases, and decrease as it decreases as it decreases. Accordingly, the processor (110) can implement an appropriate discharge speed for quantitative discharge by controlling an actuator that controls the degree of opening of the discharge port.

[0117] For example, the processor (110) can adjust the size of the discharge port by adjusting the opening angle by rotating a disc-shaped opening / closing plate, such as a butterfly gate, by adjusting the opening area by moving a plate-shaped structure in a straight direction, such as a slide gate, or by adjusting the discharge timing and opening interval of each rotating cell in a rotary valve.

[0118] The processor (110) can adjust the size of the exhaust port in real time or in steps to correspond to a set exhaust speed (e.g., a first exhaust speed, a second exhaust speed, etc.). For example, before reaching a first target exhaust speed, the exhaust port can be opened to the maximum extent to discharge quickly, and then the degree of opening can be reduced to discharge at a precise speed.

[0119] Control for adjusting the size of the discharge port can be performed in conjunction with a relay signal output, and a preset mapping table or opening profile can be referenced so that the actuator is adjusted to a specific opening angle according to the relay signal. This enables the automation of speed switching for each discharge section and improves discharge precision.

[0120] According to one embodiment, metering control can be divided into a method of controlling the discharge speed and a method of controlling the size of the discharge port.

[0121] For example, the discharge speed control method may include a method of adjusting the discharge rotation speed in steps using a rotary valve controlled by an inverter. In this case, the discharge can be discharged at a high speed (30-100 rpm) in the approximately 70-90% range of the total metering amount, and the discharge speed can be lowered to a low speed (1-30 rpm) in the 70-100% range to ensure precise control.

[0122] For example, the valve opening control method may include a method of controlling the opening stage of the discharge port using a two-stage cylinder valve. In this case, the discharge port is opened to the second stage (discharge port size 1-90%) to discharge the liquid in the approximately 70-100% range of the total metering volume, and then the discharge port is opened to the first stage (discharge port size 1-90%) to discharge the liquid in the subsequent 70-100% range, thereby enabling precise metering.

[0123] According to one embodiment, the processor (110) can determine at least one of a first target discharge amount, a second target discharge amount, a first discharge rate, a second discharge rate, or any combination thereof, depending on the type of material to be metered.

[0124] The optimal conditions for discharge operations may vary depending on the physical properties of the material (e.g., density, viscosity, particle size, fluidity, dustiness, etc.). For instance, materials with low viscosity and good fluidity allow for precise control even when discharged at high speeds, whereas materials with high viscosity or powders must be discharged slowly at low speeds to accurately reach the target discharge amount.

[0125] Accordingly, the processor (110) can determine the discharge conditions suitable for the material based on predefined material classification information or material identification information based on user input.

[0126] These settings can be processed automatically through table-based mapping methods, algorithm-based inference methods, or learning-based databases, and users can optimize weighing without complex parameter settings simply by selecting the type of material.

[0127] In addition, the processor (110) can adjust or update the set values ​​for each material in real time by taking into account previous emission history, environmental changes (e.g., temperature, humidity), equipment status, etc.

[0128] According to one embodiment, the processor (110) can determine a metering value by merging and correcting electrical signals output from a plurality of load cells.

[0129] Multiple load cells are generally installed at multiple points in a material storage tank, storage bin, or discharge structure to measure the load distributed across the entire structure, and individual load cells may differ in output sensitivity, initial deviation, noise level, etc. depending on the location and installation conditions.

[0130] If the outputs of these multiple load cells are simply averaged or merged as is, a problem may arise where it becomes difficult to calculate accurate measurement values.

[0131] Conventionally, to solve this problem, it was common practice to merge the signals from each load cell using a separate device called a summing box, correct for deviations, and output them as a single signal.

[0132] A metering device (100) according to one embodiment can directly merge and correct signals of multiple load cells without an external summing device by having a processor (110) internally perform the function of a summing box.

[0133] According to one embodiment, the processor (110) can determine whether the load cell is faulty by checking for abnormalities in the electrical signal received from the load cell.

[0134] Load cells may experience various abnormal phenomena, such as output imbalance, increased noise, and signal interruption, due to prolonged use, external shock, moisture, or power instability.

[0135] For example, the processor (110) may determine that there is a problem with the load cell if the fixed output value persists abnormally. Specifically, the processor (110) may determine that the internal circuit is disconnected or unresponsive if the output of the load cell does not change despite a change in load.

[0136] For example, the processor (110) may determine that there is a problem with the load cell if the output range is exceeded or fluctuates rapidly. Specifically, the processor (110) may determine that there is a possibility of failure if the normal operating range of the load cell (e.g., 0 to 20 mV / V) is exceeded or if noise of abnormal amplitude is detected.

[0137] For example, the processor (110) may determine that there is an abnormality in the load cell if there is an output imbalance between multiple load cells. Specifically, the processor (110) may detect an abnormality in the load cell if multiple load cells output different values ​​under the same load conditions or if the deviation of a specific load cell is excessive.

[0138] By the processor (110) detecting and determining load cell abnormalities in real time, the reliability, safety, and maintenance convenience of the weighing system can all be improved, and it can also contribute to securing accurate weighing results and ensuring production quality stability.

[0139] According to one embodiment, the processor (110) can correct the zero point of the meter value so that the meter value becomes 0 in the initial state.

[0140] Generally, weighing sensors such as load cells measure load through electrical signals, but the initial output value of the sensor may experience minute deviations due to external environmental factors, mounting location, equipment aging, temperature changes, etc. These deviations cause zero drift or offset error, where a non-zero value is measured even when no actual load is present, which affects the overall weighing accuracy.

[0141] Accordingly, the processor (110) can measure the initial output of the load cell in a no-load state before weighing begins, that is, before the material is loaded, and perform a zero-point calibration operation to correct the weighing value to 0 based on this.

[0142] For example, the processor (110) can correct the zero point by storing the output signal of the no-load state as a reference value and then subtracting that value as an offset from all subsequent weighing values, by setting the zero point correction to be performed automatically at a certain period or when the device power is turned on through an automatic zero point correction function, or by a manual trigger method through a user or control system (HMI, etc.).

[0143] By having the processor (110) perform zero point calibration before starting weighing, the accuracy, repeatability, and reliability of the entire weighing system can be ensured, and the accumulation of errors can be prevented and contribute to quality control and production efficiency improvement in industrial sites.

[0144] Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration and operation flow of a conventional metering system.

[0145] Referring to FIG. 2, in a conventional weighing system (200), the indicator (210) can only collect weight information, and judgment regarding the weight information can be made through a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) (220).

[0146] Specifically, when the indicator (210) collects weight information, it can transmit the weight information to the PLC (220). The PLC (220) determines the weight information and can send a control signal according to the weight information to the indicator (210). The signal sent to the indicator (210) can be understood as a first control signal. The first control signal may include a signal for a command to output a signal to control the discharge device (230). The indicator (210) can transmit a second control signal to the discharge device (230) to control the discharge device (230). Here, the discharge device (230) may include a rotary valve (231) and a butterfly gate (232). The discharge device (230) can operate the rotary valve (231) or the butterfly gate (232) according to the second control signal.

[0147] As such, the conventional weighing system (200) had a structural limitation in that the signal processing process was complex and the real-time control response speed could be reduced because the collection of weight information, judgment, and generation of control signals were performed in separate components.

[0148] That is, since the collection of weight information is performed by the indicator (210), the generation of judgment and control commands is performed by the PLC (220), and the actual discharge control is performed by being distributed to the indicator (210) and the discharge device (230), there was a problem in that precise discharge control was difficult due to the accumulation of signal transmission delay, computation processing delay, relay output delay, etc.

[0149] In addition, as weight judgment and control judgment were implemented separately, there was a problem in that the complexity of the system configuration increased, and installation costs and maintenance burdens also increased.

[0150] FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating an example of the configuration and operation flow of a metering system including a metering device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0151] Referring to FIG. 3, the weighing system (300) can have a weighing device (310) directly output a control signal according to weight information. For example, the weighing device (310) can receive weight information from a load cell and directly transmit a control signal according to the weight information to a discharge device (330). The discharge device (330) can operate a rotary valve (331) or a butterfly gate (332) according to the control signal. In addition, the weighing device (310) can transmit weight information to a PLC (320) so that a user can check the weight information in real time via a PC or HMI (Human Machine Interface).

[0152] In this way, the weighing device (310) performs the reception, judgment, and output of control signals in an integrated manner, thereby enabling direct discharge control without going through a separate PLC, unlike in the past, and through the reduction of the signal processing step, effects such as improved response speed, simplified system configuration, and improved weighing precision can be expected.

[0153] In addition, the PLC (320) can be used as an auxiliary component to provide weight information to a user interface (HMI, PC, etc.), which can greatly improve the structural efficiency and operational convenience of the entire weighing system.

[0154] FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a measuring device or a measuring method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0155] In the following, the metering device (100) of FIG. 1 may perform the process of FIG. 4. Also, in the description of FIG. 4, the operation described as being performed by the metering device may be understood as being controlled by the processor (110) of the metering device (100).

[0156] According to one embodiment, the processor of the metering device may perform an operation to identify a first target discharge amount of the material to be metered and a second target discharge amount greater than the first target discharge amount (S410).

[0157] According to one embodiment, the processor of the weighing device can perform an operation of determining a weighing value for the weight of the material discharged through a load cell that measures the weight of the material (S420).

[0158] According to one embodiment, the processor of the metering device may perform the operation of outputting a first relay signal to control the discharge device so that the material is discharged at a first discharge rate until the metering value reaches a first target discharge value (S430).

[0159] According to one embodiment, the processor of the metering device may perform the operation of outputting a second relay signal to control the discharge device so that the material is discharged at a second discharge rate based on the determination that the metering value has reached a first target discharge amount (S440).

[0160] According to one embodiment, the processor of the metering device may perform an operation of outputting a third relay signal to control the discharge device so that the discharge of material is stopped based on the determination that the metering value has reached a second target discharge amount (S450).

[0161] FIG. 5 illustrates a computing system related to a metering device or metering method according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0162] Referring to FIG. 5, the computing system (1000) may include at least one processor (1100), memory (1300), user interface input device (1400), user interface output device (1500), storage (1600), and network interface (1700) connected via a bus (1200).

[0163] The processor (1100) may be a semiconductor device that executes processing on instructions stored in a central processing unit (CPU) or in memory (1300) and / or storage (1600). The memory (1300) and storage (1600) may include various types of volatile or non-volatile storage media. For example, the memory (1300) may include ROM (Read Only Memory) (1310) and RAM (Random Access Memory) (1320).

[0164] Accordingly, the steps of the method or algorithm described in connection with the embodiments disclosed in this specification may be directly implemented in hardware, software modules, or a combination of both, executed by the processor (1100). The software modules may reside in storage media such as RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disks, removable disks, CD-ROMs (i.e., memory (1300) and / or storage (1600)).

[0165] An exemplary storage medium is coupled to a processor (1100), and the processor (1100) can read information from the storage medium and write information to the storage medium. Alternatively, the storage medium may be integrated with the processor (1100). The processor and the storage medium may reside within an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The ASIC may reside within a user terminal. Alternatively, the processor and the storage medium may reside as separate components within the user terminal.

[0166] The above description is merely an illustrative explanation of the technical concept of the present invention, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will be able to make various modifications and variations within the scope of the essential characteristics of the present invention.

[0167] Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed in this invention are intended to illustrate, not limit, the technical concept of the invention, and the scope of the technical concept of the invention is not limited by these embodiments. The scope of protection of this invention shall be interpreted by the claims below, and all technical concepts within an equivalent scope shall be interpreted as being included within the scope of rights of this invention.

Claims

Claim 1 Memory for storing program instructions; and a processor configured to execute the above program instructions; wherein the processor identifies a first target discharge amount of a material to be measured and a second target discharge amount greater than the first target discharge amount, determines a measured value for the weight of the material discharged through a load cell that measures the weight of the material, outputs a first relay signal to control a discharge device so that the material is discharged at a first discharge rate until the measured value reaches the first target discharge amount, outputs a second relay signal to control a discharge device so that the material is discharged at a second discharge rate based on the determination that the measured value has reached the first target discharge amount, outputs a third relay signal to control a discharge device so that the discharge of the material is stopped based on the determination that the measured value has reached the second target discharge amount, and the first discharge rate is faster than the second discharge rate, and the processor includes the first discharge rate, the time required to output the second relay signal from the time it is determined that the first target discharge amount has been reached, the time required for the discharge device to operate at the second discharge rate from the time the second relay signal is output, or the thereof Calculate the error emission of the first target emission based on at least one of any combination, and calculate the error emission of the second target emission based on at least one of the second emission speed, the time required to output the third relay signal from the point in time when it is determined that the second target emission has been reached, the time required for the emission device to operate to stop emission from the point in time when the third relay signal is output, or any combination thereof, and calculate the error emission of the second target emission based on at least one of the error emission of the first target emission, the error emission of the second target emission, or any combination thereof, such that the output time of the second relay signal, the output time of the third relay signal, and the first emission speed are minimized.A metering device characterized by controlling the second discharge speed, the timing for switching the discharge speed, and the timing for stopping the discharge of the material. Claim 2 A metering device according to claim 1, wherein the processor outputs the first relay signal within a preset time from the point in time when it is determined that the metering value has reached the first target emission amount, or outputs the second relay signal within the preset time from the point in time when it is determined that the metering value has reached the second target emission amount, and the preset time is set as the minimum time required to output the relay signal from the point in time when it is determined that the target emission amount has been reached. Claim 3 delete Claim 4 delete Claim 5 A metering device according to claim 1, wherein the processor controls the discharge device such that the error discharge of the first target discharge is smaller than the difference between the first target discharge and the second target discharge. Claim 6 A metering device according to claim 1, wherein the processor controls the discharge speed by adjusting the size of the discharge port of the discharge device. Claim 7 A metering device according to claim 1, wherein the processor determines at least one of the first target discharge amount, the second target discharge amount, the first discharge rate, the second discharge rate, or any combination thereof, depending on the type of material to be metered. Claim 8 A metering device according to claim 1, wherein the processor determines the metering value by merging and correcting electrical signals output from a plurality of load cells. Claim 9 A metering device according to claim 1, wherein the processor determines whether the load cell is faulty through the presence or absence of an abnormality in an electrical signal received from the load cell. Claim 10 A measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the processor corrects the zero point of the measuring value so that the measuring value becomes 0 in an initial state. Claim 11 The processor performs the operation of identifying a first target discharge amount of a material to be measured and a second target discharge amount greater than the first target discharge amount; the processor performs the operation of determining a measured value for the weight of the material discharged through a load cell that measures the weight of the material; the processor performs the operation of outputting a first relay signal to control the discharge device so that the material is discharged at a first discharge rate until the measured value reaches the first target discharge amount; the processor performs the operation of outputting a second relay signal to control the discharge device so that the material is discharged at a second discharge rate based on the determination that the measured value has reached the first target discharge amount; and the processor performs the operation of outputting a third relay signal to control the discharge device so that the discharge of the material is stopped based on the determination that the measured value has reached the second target discharge amount, wherein the first discharge rate is faster than the second discharge rate, and the processor performs the operation of controlling the discharge device so that at least one of the error discharge amount of the first target discharge amount, the error discharge amount of the second target discharge amount, or any combination thereof is minimized, wherein the processor performs the operation of the first discharge rate, An operation to calculate an error emission amount of the first target emission amount based on at least one of the time required to output the first relay signal from the point in time when it is determined that the first target emission amount has been reached, the time required for the emission device to operate at the first emission speed from the point in time when the first relay signal is output, or any combination thereof;A metering method characterized by comprising: an operation in which the processor calculates an error discharge amount of the second target discharge amount based on at least one of the second discharge rate, the time required to output the second relay signal from the time it is determined that the second target discharge amount has been reached, the time required for the discharge device to operate at the second discharge rate from the time the second relay signal is output, or any combination thereof; and further comprising an operation in which the processor controls the time of outputting the second relay signal, the time of outputting the third relay signal, the first discharge rate, the second discharge rate, the timing for switching the discharge rate, and the timing for stopping the discharge of the material so as to minimize at least one of the error discharge amount of the first target discharge amount, the error discharge amount of the second target discharge amount, or any combination thereof. Claim 12 A metering method according to claim 11, wherein the operation of the processor outputting a first relay signal to control the discharge device so that the material is discharged at a first discharge rate until the metering value reaches the first target discharge rate includes the operation of outputting the first relay signal within a preset time from the point in time when the processor determines that the metering value has reached the first target discharge rate, and the operation of the processor outputting a second relay signal to control the discharge device so that the material is discharged at a second discharge rate based on the determination that the metering value has reached the first target discharge rate includes the operation of outputting the second relay signal within the preset time from the point in time when the metering value is determined to have reached the second target discharge rate, wherein the preset time is set as the minimum time required to output the relay signal from the point in time when it is determined that the target discharge rate has been reached. Claim 13 delete Claim 14 delete Claim 15 A metering method according to claim 11, wherein the operation of the processor to control the discharge device such that at least one of the error discharge of the first target discharge, the error discharge of the second target discharge, or any combination thereof is minimized comprises the operation of the processor to control the discharge device such that the error discharge of the first target discharge is smaller than the difference between the first target discharge and the second target discharge. Claim 16 A metering method according to claim 11, characterized in that the processor further includes an operation of controlling the discharge speed by adjusting the size of the discharge port of the discharge device. Claim 17 A metering method according to claim 11, wherein the processor further comprises an operation of determining at least one of the first target discharge amount, the second target discharge amount, the first discharge rate, the second discharge rate, or any combination thereof, depending on the type of material to be metered. Claim 18 A metering method according to claim 11, characterized in that the processor further includes an operation of merging and correcting electrical signals output from a plurality of load cells to determine the metering value. Claim 19 A metering method according to claim 11, characterized in that the processor further includes an operation of determining whether the load cell is faulty through whether there is an abnormality in the electrical signal received from the load cell. Claim 20 A measuring method according to claim 11, characterized in that the processor further includes an operation of correcting the zero point of the measuring value so that the measuring value becomes 0 in an initial state.

Images