Conveyor Apparatus for Combined Weighing Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional combined weighing apparatuses struggle to accurately control the supply amount of articles to weighing means, leading to suboptimal weighing accuracy due to reliance on simple feed power adjustments based on supply increase or decrease predictions.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor apparatus that includes detecting units to measure article heights, a drive unit to adjust feed power, and a deriving part to establish a relation between article height, supply amount, and feed power, allowing for optimal feed power control to achieve target supply amounts, even with unknown products, and an updating mechanism to adapt to changing conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional combined weighing apparatus controls feed power only on the basis of supply amount increase or decrease prediction, then the control system remains simple, but the supply amount control accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by detecting actual article heights on the conveying unit, comparing them with target heights, and adjusting feed power accordingly. The control unit continuously monitors supply amount and modifies feed power based on the difference between actual and target supply amounts, creating a closed-loop control system that significantly improves supply amount control accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control parameter from binary (increase/decrease prediction) to continuous (actual article height measurement). By measuring the precise height of articles on the conveying unit and using this continuous parameter for control, the system achieves much finer control over supply amount, transforming the control mechanism from coarse adjustments to precise regulation.
2Productivity
If conventional combined weighing apparatus uses simple feed power control based on supply prediction, then the operating rate remains moderate, but the weighing accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback mechanism allows the system to maintain optimal supply amounts consistently, improving weighing accuracy without requiring reduced operating speeds. The real-time adjustment of feed power based on actual article heights ensures that target supply amounts are achieved regardless of production rate variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts feed power based on real-time detection of article heights and supply amounts. This dynamic control enables the system to adapt to changing conditions during operation, maintaining high weighing accuracy while operating at optimal speeds for maximum productivity.
3Measurement precision
If conveyor apparatus detects article heights and derives relations among height, supply amount, and feed power, then the supply amount control accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit automatically performs the derivation of relations among article height, supply amount, and feed power without requiring external intervention. The system self-calibrates by detecting article heights, calculating supply amounts, and establishing the mathematical relationship with feed power automatically, reducing the need for manual setup while improving control accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary derivation of the height-supply amount-feed power relationship during initial operation or calibration phases. This pre-established relationship is then used for subsequent control operations, reducing the computational burden during normal operation while maintaining high supply amount control accuracy.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a conveyor apparatus in which weighing accuracy in a combined weighing apparatus can be improved. In this conveyor apparatus in which a radial feeder (30) controls the operation of a trough (31) such that a article supplied from the trough becomes a target supply amount, the apparatus incldes: a ranging sensor (32) for detecting a height (S) of the article on the trough; a drive unit (33) for driving a trough unit with predetermined feed power (P); a supply amount acquiring part (93) for acquiring a supply amount (W) supplied from the trough (31); and a deriving part (94) for deriving a relation among the height of the article, the supply amount of the trough, and the feed power of the trough by changing the feed power from the drive unit multiple times to convey the article to the trough.