Combination Scale Conveyor Control for Weight-Change Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Semiautomatic combination scales suffer from weighing errors when operators accidentally add or remove items during the discharge process, leading to incorrect item combinations being transported together, which can result in packaging errors.
Innovation Solution
The combination scale includes weighing conveyers with sensors, a collection conveyer, and a controller that executes combinatorial computations to select and adjust conveyer combinations based on weight measurements, discontinuing or reversing conveyer operation to prevent weight changes during standby and transport-active states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the combination scale uses semiautomatic operation with manual item supply, then it can handle difficult-to-automate items, but weighing errors occur when operators accidentally add or remove items during discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with an automated conveyer system controlled by a controller. Items are automatically supplied to weighing conveyers, weighed, and discharged through automated control, eliminating operator intervention that causes weighing errors while maintaining the ability to handle various item types
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous weight monitoring during the discharge process. The controller receives weight information from weighing conveyers and compares it against the target weight range, automatically detecting when items are accidentally added or removed and responding by controlling the discharge process accordingly
2Reliability
If the scale repeatedly calculates summed weight until discharge to prevent errors, then weighing accuracy improves, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs weight monitoring continuously during the entire discharge process rather than only at discrete intervals. The controller continuously receives weight information from weighing conveyers and maintains supervision throughout item discharge, ensuring accurate weight control without repeated stopping and recalculating
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary combinatorial computations to determine the optimal combination of weighing conveyers that will achieve the target weight range before discharge begins. This preliminary planning allows the system to proceed with continuous monitoring rather than repeated calculations during discharge
3Reliability
If the scale monitors weight changes during standby state, then weighing errors are prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the weighing conveyers serve multiple functions: they act as both transport conveyers for moving items and as weighing devices for measuring item weights. The same conveyer structure performs dual roles, eliminating the need for separate weighing equipment and reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the weighing function with the transport function by integrating weight sensors into the conveyer system. The controller combines weight monitoring with discharge control in a single integrated system, reducing the number of separate components and simplifying the overall device architecture
4Manufacturing precision
If the scale uses automated discharge control based on weight monitoring, then weighing precision is maintained, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service operation where the system automatically performs combinatorial computations to determine optimal conveyer combinations, automatically monitors weight changes during discharge, and automatically responds to weight deviations without requiring operator intervention. The system serves itself by autonomously maintaining weight precision
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively prevents weighing errors by ensuring only items within a predetermined weight range are transported, reducing the risk of incorrect packaging by reselecting or reversing conveyer operations when weight changes occur.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of weight sensors disposed correspondingly to the plurality of weighing conveyers to measure weights of the items in the plurality of weighing conveyers
Data Source
AI summary
For any weight change of items in a combination of discharge-target weighing conveyers selected by combinatorial computations during a standby state before the conveyers start to be driven, the combinatorial computations are executed again to select a new combination of discharge-target weighing conveyers, so that the items on the selected weighing conveyers that changed in weight are not transported to a collection conveyer without being possibly reselected into the new combination of conveyers. For any weight change of the items in the combination of discharge-target weighing conveyers during a transport-active state after the conveyers start to be driven, at least one of the collection conveyer or the weighing conveyer subject to the weight change is no longer driven or driven in an opposite transport direction, so that the items on the selected weighing conveyers that changed in weight are not transported into a packaging machine subsequent to the collection conveyer.