Container Filling Conveyor with Flexible Weight-Based Placement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing food item placement systems adhere to a First In First Out principle, limiting flexibility and throughput due to the sequence and properties of food items, often requiring compromise on target weights or blocking upstream containers.

Innovation Solution

A system with a conveyor belt, handling devices, and robotic picker arm system that allows simultaneous operation of the conveyor system and the food processing system such that the conveyor system and the food processing system places multiple food items into the conveyor system and the food processing system and the conveyor system and the conveyor system, allowing flexible placement of food items into containers based on individual criteria.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the First In First Out principle is used to transport containers through the system, then the system structure is simple and easy to operate, but the flexibility to fill containers is limited and throughput is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility to fill containersVSAvoidsystem structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the container handling into separate functional segments: the conveyor system maintains simple FIFO transport, while handling devices at different locations provide flexible container selection and repositioning. This segmentation allows the transport backbone to remain simple while adding flexibility through modular handling stations that can selectively remove and reposition containers based on filling requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Handling devices act as intermediaries between the simple FIFO conveyor system and the complex filling requirements. These intermediaries can temporarily remove containers from the conveyor, hold them at food processing positions, and reinsert them later, thereby decoupling the simple transport sequence from the flexible filling sequence without requiring complete system redesign.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If containers are filled according to the sequence they enter the system, then the control system is simple, but the target weight criteria cannot be met and containers may become underweight or overweight

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetarget weight accuracyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by having handling devices pre-position containers at food processing positions before the actual filling occurs. The control system can predict which containers will need to be held for weight criteria fulfillment and prepares them in advance, allowing precise weight control without requiring complex real-time adjustments during filling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control system uses feedback from weight measurements and container position tracking to dynamically adjust the handling device operations. When a container approaches a food processing position, the system monitors its weight criteria status and provides feedback signals to the handling devices to either hold or release the container, ensuring precise weight accuracy through closed-loop control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Manufacturing precision

If a container is held at a food processing position to fulfill weight criteria, then the weight accuracy is improved, but the container blocks upstream containers and reduces system throughput

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight criteria fulfillmentVSAvoidsystem throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system resolves the blocking problem by utilizing the vertical dimension - containers are lifted to elevated food processing positions above the conveyor belt level. This dimensional change allows containers to be held for weight criteria fulfillment without occupying horizontal space on the conveyor, thereby preventing blockages of upstream containers and maintaining system throughput while achieving precise weight control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the system uses multiple handling devices at different locations, then the flexibility to process different container criteria is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing flexibility for different criteriaVSAvoidnumber of handling devices

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The handling devices are designed with universal, multi-functional capabilities that allow them to perform multiple operations: removing containers from the conveyor, holding them at food processing positions, repositioning them along the conveyor, and coordinating with different filling operations. This multi-functionality reduces the need for specialized devices for each operation, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining high processing flexibility for different container criteria.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12515840B2Method and an apparatus for filling containers with food items

Publication Date: 2026.01.06 MAREL ICELAND EHF

AI summary

A system is provided for placing food items into containers such that the containers fulfil at least one criterion. The system has handling devices arranged along a conveyor belt of a conveyor system and a control unit connected to a position tracker for controlling the handling devices using position data from the position tracker.