Conveyor Scale Cleaning Mode for Safe Belt Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The cleaning of in-motion scales, particularly conveyor scales with a conveyor belt, is challenging due to the risk of injury to personnel and damage to the equipment, especially when untrained personnel attempt to clean complex machines, and existing methods require trained personnel and are time-intensive.
Innovation Solution
An in-motion scale with a control device that switches to a cleaning mode, allowing for controlled operation of the conveyor belt with specified torque, speed, and direction to ensure safety and prevent damage, using torque sensors and protective devices to manage the cleaning process, and disconnecting unnecessary assemblies to prevent damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the conveyor scale is covered to increase measurement accuracy and user safety, then measurement accuracy and safety are improved, but cleaning becomes more difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically transitions to a cleaning mode and stops the conveyor belt before cleaning operations begin. This preliminary action of stopping the belt and switching modes enables safe and easy cleaning of the covered conveyor scale without requiring personnel to access moving parts, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining coverage for safety/accuracy and enabling cleaning accessibility
2Productivity
If cleaning is performed during operation to reduce downtime, then productivity is improved, but the risk of injury to personnel and damage to equipment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor scale dynamically changes its operating state based on the cleaning requirement. The control device automatically switches to cleaning mode and stops the conveyor belt, creating a safe state for cleaning operations. This dynamic state change allows the system to maintain high productivity by quickly transitioning between operational modes while eliminating safety risks during cleaning
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a control device that receives signals about the cleaning requirement and automatically responds by switching to cleaning mode and stopping the conveyor belt. This feedback mechanism ensures that cleaning operations only occur when it is safe to do so, preventing injuries and equipment damage while maintaining efficient cleaning processes
3Ease of operation
If untrained personnel are allowed to clean the scale to reduce dependency on trained staff, then ease of operation is improved, but the risk of equipment damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor scale performs self-protection during cleaning operations by automatically stopping the conveyor belt and switching to cleaning mode when cleaning is required. This self-service mechanism protects the equipment from damage that untrained personnel might cause, while still allowing them to perform cleaning tasks safely without requiring specialized training
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an in-motion scale, in particular, to a conveyor scale with a conveyor belt, with a load cell (9) and a conveying device (5) for goods to be weighed, in particular, packaged goods, for feeding the goods to and leading them away and from the load cell (9), and with a control device (11) for controlling the functions of the in-motion scale. According to the invention, the control device (11) can be changed over to a cleaning mode in which the functions of the in-motion scale (1) are controlled according to a specified cleaning-mode functional model so that danger to operating personnel and/or damage to the in-motion scale (1) is reduced or eliminated.