Conveyor Scale Cleaning Mode for Safe Operation by Untrained Personnel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transport scales, particularly weighing conveyors with conveyor belts, require complex and time-consuming cleaning processes that pose risks to operators and risk damage when cleaned during operation, necessitating the need for a safe and efficient cleaning method that can be performed by untrained personnel.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a control device that enables a predefined cleaning mode, allowing the transport scale to be switched to a safe cleaning state where the drive means are controlled to prevent excessive torque and incorporating intervention protection devices to manage operator interaction, ensuring safe operation and reduced risk of damage during cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the transport scale is cleaned during operation, then productivity is maintained, but operator safety deteriorates and risk of equipment damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor device dynamically adjusts its operating parameters based on the detected torque. When torque exceeds the threshold during cleaning operations, the control device automatically reduces the conveyor speed or stops movement, thereby preventing operator injury and equipment damage while allowing cleaning to proceed. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the system flexible rather than fixed in its operational state.
2Reliability
If the transport scale is stopped for cleaning, then operator safety is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to interruption of weighing operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes operational parameters (speed, torque limits) based on the cleaning state rather than completely stopping operation. By adjusting the torque threshold and conveyor speed during cleaning mode, the system maintains a reduced level of productivity while ensuring operator safety, rather than binary stop/go operation.
3Reliability
If complex cleaning procedures are used, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates requiring trained personnel
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning process is made self-regulating through automatic torque detection and control. The control device continuously monitors torque and automatically adjusts conveyor operation without requiring operator intervention or specialized knowledge. This transforms a complex procedure requiring trained personnel into a simple, automated process that any operator can initiate.
4Productivity
If the conveyor operates at high speed during cleaning, then productivity is maintained, but risk of operator injury and equipment damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses torque detection as feedback to automatically regulate conveyor operation during cleaning. When the torque sensor detects forces exceeding the predetermined threshold (indicating operator intervention or potential damage risk), the control device responds by reducing speed or stopping the conveyor, thereby eliminating the harmful effects while maintaining productivity when safe.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to in-motion scales, especially conveyor scales comprising a conveyor belt. Said scales comprise a weighing cell (9) and a conveyor unit (5) for products to be weighed, especially piece goods, for supplying the product to and withdrawing it from the weighing cell (9), and a control device (11) for controlling the functions of the in-motion scales. According to the invention, the control device (11) can be set to operate in a cleaning mode in which the functions of the in-motion scales (1) are controlled according to a predetermined cleaning mode functional pattern in such a manner that any risks for the operators and/or damages to the in-motion scales (1) are reduced or avoided.