Combination Weigher Feeder Control for Even Article Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing combination weighing apparatuses face issues with uneven distribution and supply of articles into vibrational supply troughs, leading to potential jamming and inefficiencies when one trough is not driven, resulting in disproportionate article distribution.
Innovation Solution
A combination weighing apparatus with a first article feeder that vibrates and distributes articles to multiple second feeders, a controller that selects optimal combinations of feeders to ensure even distribution, and drives corresponding feeders to resupply emptied hoppers, prioritizing groups with multiple active feeders to prevent uneven supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If articles are divided into two vibrational supply troughs along one inclined chute without vibration, then the structure is simple, but the articles may not be adequately dispersed and become unevenly distributed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vibrational delivery trough that vibrates articles before they enter the inclined chute, and vibrational supply troughs that vibrate articles during supply. This mechanical vibration ensures adequate dispersion and uniform distribution of articles, preventing them from becoming unevenly distributed while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Productivity
If one vibrational supply trough is not driven, then the device operates with fewer components, but article distribution becomes even more uneven and disproportionate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a control unit that monitors the operational status of vibrational supply troughs and adjusts the driving status of the vibrational delivery trough accordingly. When one supply trough is not driven, the control unit detects this condition and modulates the delivery trough's vibration to maintain balanced article distribution, preventing disproportion even when operating with fewer active components.
3Use of energy by moving object
If articles are simply transported downward along the inclined chute without vibration, then energy consumption is reduced, but articles fail to be adequately dispersed before dropping into supply troughs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanical vibration at strategic points (delivery trough and supply troughs) to achieve adequate article dispersion with minimal additional energy consumption. The vibration is applied only where necessary to ensure proper distribution, rather than continuously along the entire transport path, thus maintaining energy efficiency while improving dispersion quality.
4Productivity
If the vibrational delivery trough continuously supplies articles to multiple supply troughs, then productivity is maintained, but disproportionate supply occurs when supply troughs are selectively driven
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors which supply troughs are driven and adjusts the vibrational delivery trough's operation in real-time. When certain supply troughs are selectively driven, the feedback mechanism modifies the delivery trough's vibration characteristics to ensure proportional article supply to active troughs only, maintaining both high productivity and supply proportionality.
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
The solution ensures even distribution of articles among feeders, preventing jamming and oversupply, thereby enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of the weighing process.
Implementation Method 1
a first article feeder that vibrationally transports articles to be weighed
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of second article feeders that vibrationally transport the received articles
Data Source
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AI summary
When a first article feeder is driven to feed articles to be weighed into two or more second article feeders in order to resupply the articles into a combinational hopper(s) selected for an optimal combination after the combinational hopper discharges the articles and is emptied, an optimal combination candidate in which two or more second article feeders are both driven, instead of one second article feeder, is preferentially selected. The articles are thus unlikely to become uneven between the second article feeders. Thus, such an unfavorable event may be avoidable that the oversupplied articles are jammed or fall off the second article feeder(s).