Cover Hood for Load Cell Housings
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Solution Overview
Problem
The arrangement of closely adjacent load cell housings in multi-lane weighing systems complicates cleaning, as small gaps between them are difficult to clean, necessitating system shutdowns to maintain high product throughput and cleanliness, especially in pharmaceutical and food production.
Innovation Solution
A cover hood that jointly covers at least two load cell housings, securing the narrow intermediate space against dirt and contamination, with passage openings for load introduction bolts and using labyrinth rings for sealing and fastening, allowing for easy installation without disrupting the load cells' position or calibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If load cell housings are arranged closely adjacent to achieve higher product throughput, then installation space is reduced and productivity increases, but cleaning becomes difficult due to small gaps between housings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple load cell housings under a single common cover hood, merging the protective function across adjacent housings. This allows the intermediate spaces between housings to be sealed and protected as a unified structure, making cleaning feasible through the load introduction bolts while maintaining compact arrangement for high throughput
2Area of stationary object
If load cell housings are arranged closely adjacent to reduce installation space, then space utilization improves, but thorough cleaning requires housing removal which shuts down the system
Solution Approach 1:
The common cover hood acts as an intermediary protective structure that enables cleaning operations through the load introduction bolts without requiring housing removal. This mediator structure maintains the compact installation arrangement while preventing contamination in intermediate spaces, allowing cleaning to proceed during normal operation without system shutdown
3Ease of operation
If individual load cell housings are cleaned separately, then thorough cleaning is possible, but the weighing system must be shut down temporarily
Solution Approach 1:
The common cover hood provides universal protection and cleaning access for multiple load cell housings through a unified structure. The load introduction bolts serve dual functions: as load transmission elements and as cleaning access points, enabling thorough cleaning of intermediate spaces while maintaining continuous operation and high product throughput
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
AI summary
Cover for covering several load cell housings together, wherein a load introduction bolt protrudes from each load cell housing through a housing opening, and wherein a separate through-hole is provided in an upper part of the cover for each load introduction bolt, and wherein the cover can be connected to the individual load cell housings.