Bidirectional Feeding Hoppers for Combination Weigher Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing combination weighers with two weighing hoppers per feeding hopper face reduced quantitative precision and weighing speed due to restrictions on selecting both hoppers concurrently and increased standby time from doubled feeding operations.
Innovation Solution
A combination weigher with a feeder, feeding hoppers that can discharge objects in either direction, and weighing hoppers that allow concurrent discharge to both hoppers, controlled by a controller to increase the amount of objects in the feeding hopper when both hoppers are selected, enabling efficient distribution and reducing standby time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If both weighing hoppers are selected in combination calculation, then quantitative precision is improved, but conventional systems prohibit this selection causing reduction in number of possible combinations
Solution Approach 1:
The feeding hopper's discharge direction is made dynamic and selectable. The control unit can selectively discharge objects to be weighed in a first direction to a first weighing hopper or in a second direction to a second weighing hopper based on which hopper is selected by the combination calculator, enabling both hoppers to be utilized concurrently when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The feeding hopper is divided into two independent discharge paths with separate gates (first gate and second gate). This segmentation allows objects to be weighed to be directed to different weighing hoppers independently, enabling flexible combination selection including concurrent use of both hoppers.
2Productivity
If objects are fed to both weighing hoppers concurrently, then weighing speed is improved, but the amount of objects in each hopper is reduced by half causing reduction in number of possible combinations
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the discharge amount to each weighing hopper based on selection. When one hopper is selected, the entire amount is discharged to that hopper; when both are selected, the control unit distributes objects to maintain sufficient quantity in each hopper for combination calculation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If feeding operation is performed sequentially to both hoppers, then number of possible combinations is maintained, but gate opening and closing operations are doubled increasing standby time and reducing weighing speed
Solution Approach 1:
The feeding operations to both weighing hoppers are merged into a single concurrent operation. The control unit opens both gates simultaneously and discharges objects to be weighed to both hoppers at the same time, reducing the number of discrete feeding cycles and gate operations required.
Data Source
AI summary
When a combination calculator has selected both a first weighing hopper and a second weighing hopper corresponding to one feeding hopper, a controller drives a feeder so as to increase an amount of objects to be weighed that are held in the one feeding hopper, and then causes the one feeding hopper to discharge the objects to be weighed in both a first direction and a second direction concurrently to distribute the objects to be weighed to the first weighing hopper and the second weighing hopper that have been emptied.