Dual-Roller Scale for Elastic Material Weight Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing scales for weighing strand-shaped and flexible materials, such as dough or minced meat, face inaccuracies due to force shunts caused by the elasticity of the goods during measurement, leading to measurement errors.
Innovation Solution
A scale design featuring two spaced-apart rollers with different heights, where a second roller imposes a defined deformation to account for elasticity, and an evaluation device compares the measurements from both rollers to calculate corrections, also determining consistency and homogeneity, and adjusts the weight measurement using integrators and differentiators to improve accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single roller weight sensor is used to weigh strand-shaped goods, then the device complexity is low, but measurement precision deteriorates due to force shunt effects from material elasticity
Solution Approach 1:
The weight sensor is segmented into two spatially separated rollers instead of a single measurement point. This segmentation allows the system to capture weight information at different positions along the strand, enabling calculation and compensation of force shunt effects through comparison of the two measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The second roller acts as an intermediary measurement point that indirectly provides information about material elasticity and force distribution. By measuring weight at this intermediate position and comparing it with the first roller's measurement, the system can calculate correction factors to improve overall measurement accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If two spaced rollers with different heights are used to compensate for elasticity, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a single-point measurement to a two-point measurement in space, adding a spatial dimension to the measurement process. The vertical height difference between rollers creates distinct measurement planes, allowing the system to capture variations in material properties and compensate for elasticity effects through spatial comparison.
3Measurement precision
If multiple measurement points are used to detect inhomogeneities, then measurement precision improves, but loss of time increases due to additional processing
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary comparison and evaluation of measurements from the two rollers in real-time during the weighing process. By immediately calculating differences and applying correction factors as the material passes through, the system minimizes processing delays while still achieving comprehensive analysis of material properties.
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
This approach significantly enhances measurement accuracy by compensating for force shunts and elasticity effects, allowing precise weight determination and detection of material consistency and inhomogeneities, thereby improving the quality and dimensional accuracy of the weighed products.
Implementation Method 1
a first weight signal from a first roller (41a) of the weight pickup (4) and a second weight signal from a second roller (41b) of the weight pickup (4)
Implementation Method 2
The second roller imprints a defined deformation on the item to be weighed, which represents a measure of the elasticity or consistency of the item to be weighed
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The machine (1) has a driven supply belt (2) for transporting weighing goods to a weight retainer (4), where the retainer has two rollers (41a, 41b) arranged at a distance to each other in a transporting direction. The rollers are arranged in different heights in comparison to surfaces of the supply belt, where the rollers are connected with measuring chambers (42a, 42b), respectively, and the measuring chambers are formed as weighing cells. A conveyor belt (25) is arranged between the rollers, where surfaces of the conveyor belt are aligned with the surfaces of the supply belt.