Refillable Container Weighing Using Biometric Tare Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Weighing systems for refillable containers face challenges in accurately accounting for the weight of empty containers, leading to the need for multiple labels, which causes waste and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A control system that uses biometric data, such as facial recognition, to identify users and associate their container weights, allowing for the calculation of corrected product weights without the need for multiple labels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the weighing apparatus prints a label indicating empty container weight for each customer visit, then the container weight can be recorded, but additional label waste occurs because the label is not resilient to washing and must be replaced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical labels with a digital copy of the container weight information stored in a database. The weighing apparatus captures biometric data (facial recognition) to identify the customer and retrieves the stored container weight from the database, eliminating the need to print physical labels while maintaining reliable record-keeping.
2Measurement precision
If two labels are printed per container visit (one for empty container weight, one for filled container), then accurate product weight can be determined, but manufacturing cost and waste increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system stores container weight information as digital data in a database associated with the customer's biometric identifier. When the customer returns to weigh the filled container, the system retrieves the stored container weight digitally and subtracts it from the total weight to determine the product weight, eliminating the need to print multiple physical labels while maintaining measurement precision.
3Loss of information
If the weighing apparatus requires customers to scan a label at the point of sale, then the empty container weight can be provided, but the process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically identifies the customer through biometric capture (facial recognition) and autonomously retrieves the container weight from the database without requiring the customer to manually scan or input any information. This self-service approach eliminates the need for customers to interact with labels or scanning devices, reducing both process complexity and time.
Data Source
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Figure 2B
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AI summary
Aspects of the disclosure relate to a weighing system and method for refillable containers. The control system comprises one or more processors and at least one memory configured to store user data associated with a user, the user data comprising biometric data indicative of a biometric identifier of the user and container data indicative of an empty container weight. The control system is configured to: receive a request to weigh a product in a container; receive captured data indicative of the biometric identifier of the user from a biometric capture device associated with the weighing apparatus; output a control signal to control a scale associated with the weighing apparatus to weigh the product in the container; receive, from the scale, weight data indicative of the weight measured by the scale; identify the container data associated with the user by comparing the captured data to the biometric data stored in the memory; and determine a corrected weight of the product in dependence on the weight data and the container data.