Adjustable Weighing Platform for Checkweigher Throughput
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Solution Overview
Problem
Checkweighers with belt conveyors face inefficiencies in throughput due to fixed platform lengths, which are inadequate for shorter goods, leading to unnecessary length and reduced productivity, and are prone to dirt and cleaning issues in food processing environments.
Innovation Solution
The weighing platform is adjustable in length, allowing it to be pulled apart and pushed together, with coupled adjustments to maintain a constant overall system length, enabling optimal alignment with goods of varying lengths and reducing the delivery distance for higher throughput without requiring adjustments to connected conveyor positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the weighing platform is designed to be long to accommodate goods with great lengths, then measurement accuracy for long goods is improved, but throughput for goods with smaller lengths deteriorates due to unnecessary platform length
Solution Approach 1:
The weighing platform is made dynamically adjustable in length by dividing it into multiple sections that can be moved relative to each other. This allows the platform length to be adapted to different goods lengths, providing sufficient length for accurate measurement of long goods while reducing length for short goods to increase throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The weighing platform is segmented into multiple movable sections that can be independently adjusted. This segmentation enables the platform to be pulled apart to increase length for long goods or pushed together to reduce length for short goods, resolving the contradiction between measurement accuracy and throughput.
2Length of moving object
If the weighing platform length is increased for long goods, then measurement capability is improved, but the delivery distance between goods increases reducing throughput
Solution Approach 1:
The platform length is made dynamic rather than fixed, allowing it to be adjusted based on the length of goods being weighed. This eliminates unnecessary delivery distance for short goods while maintaining sufficient length for long goods, reducing time loss.
3Productivity
If belt conveyors are used in food processing, then continuous conveying is achieved, but cleaning and maintenance become difficult due to dirt accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The belt conveyor system is segmented into multiple sections corresponding to the adjustable platform sections. This segmentation allows individual sections to be easily accessed, removed, or cleaned independently, reducing maintenance difficulty while maintaining continuous conveying capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The device has a weighing platform (13), and a supply-or conveying platform (15) attached to the weighing platform. The two platforms comprise length that is extended in a conveyor direction (33). The weighing platform is formed in a longitudinally adjustable, extended and pushed manner. Outer and inner parts (25, 27) of the weighing platform and inner and outer parts (29, 31) of the supply-or conveying platform are relatively moved together in the conveyor direction. The inner and outer parts of the platforms are gripped together in adjusting positions of the platforms.