Dough Portion Weighing Feedback Control Before Proofing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial dough production faces challenges in maintaining consistent dough portion weights at high production rates without human intervention, necessitating a system for continuous monitoring and automatic weight adjustment.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a production mechanism, dough feed mechanism, dividing mechanism, weighing mechanism, and processor that continuously monitors dough portion weights and adjusts the feed rate to maintain consistent weights by sending corrective signals to the dough feed mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If continuous monitoring and automatic adjustment systems are implemented, then manufacturing precision of dough portion weights is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors dough portion weights using weighing mechanisms and automatically adjusts the feed mechanism based on measured deviations from target weight. This closed-loop feedback control maintains manufacturing precision by continuously correcting weight variations without requiring complex manual intervention systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-adjustment through automated control mechanisms that monitor and correct their own performance. The weighing and control systems automatically regulate the feed rate based on real-time weight measurements, eliminating the need for external human intervention and reducing operational complexity while maintaining precision.
2Productivity
If high production rates are maintained, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision of dough portion weights deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous monitoring and adjustment operations throughout the high-speed production process. The weighing mechanisms continuously measure dough portion weights, and the control system continuously adjusts the feed mechanism, ensuring that manufacturing precision is maintained even at elevated production rates without interruption or degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
Real-time feedback from weighing mechanisms allows the control system to make instantaneous adjustments to the feed rate, compensating for variations that occur during high-speed operation. This enables the system to maintain both high productivity and precise weight control by continuously adapting to changing conditions during rapid production.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures precise and consistent dough portion weights by automatically adjusting the feed rate, minimizing variations and optimizing proofing time.
Implementation Method 1
providing a load cell to support the weigh bucket that provides an indication of the weight of the empty weigh bucket and the weight of the dough portions inside the weigh bucket
Implementation Method 2
providing a weigh bucket that is supported by a load cell
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for automatically weighing dough pieces from the rounding conveyor, dynamically weighing the dough pieces. The weight information is analyzed by a weighing mechanism which can include a weigh conveyor or other means for weighing to determine whether it represents the weight of pieces or the empty weight, and may be used to provide a signal proportional to the weight of a dough portion, or group of dough portions in order to automatically adjust the rate at which dough is fed to the dividing mechanism, thereby increasing or decreasing the dough piece weights to maintain the desired amount of dough per piece.