Filling Device Control Curve Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing filling devices require complex closed-loop control systems to manage the position of valve elements, increasing mechanical complexity and cost, while struggling to maintain precision and accuracy across multiple filling operations.

Innovation Solution

A method that eliminates the need for closed-loop position control by using a preliminary curve and control curve to adjust flow rates, allowing for adaptive control without a position sensor, and reinitializes the control curve at each filling operation to improve precision and accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If closed-loop position control is implemented to maintain filling precision, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional position sensors and control systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilling precisionVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the position sensor component from the control system. Instead of using closed-loop position control with position sensors, the invention uses flow rate measurement as the sole feedback parameter, removing the complex position sensing and control infrastructure while maintaining filling precision through flow-based adaptation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical position sensing system with a flow rate measurement system. By substituting position-based control with flow rate-based control, the invention eliminates mechanical position sensors and their associated complexity while achieving the same precision goal through a different physical measurement approach

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If position sensors are added to enable closed-loop control, then reliability of flow rate control is improved, but mechanical complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflow rate control reliabilityVSAvoidmechanical complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback control using flow rate measurement instead of position measurement. The flowmeter provides continuous feedback on actual flow rate, which is used to adaptively adjust the control signal to the actuator, ensuring reliable flow rate control without requiring position sensors or complex mechanical feedback systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a flowmeter as an intermediary measurement device that directly measures the flow rate parameter of interest. This intermediary provides accurate flow rate data for control purposes without requiring intermediate position measurements, simplifying the control architecture while improving reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 reduces mechanical complexity, enhances precision and accuracy in filling operations, and adapts to changing conditions like temperature and pressure, ensuring efficient and precise filling without the need for position sensors, thereby improving the overall performance and reliability of the filling device.

Implementation Method 1

The filling device comprises an electromagnetic or magnetic actuator for controlling said position by means of an electrical quantity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic actuation: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3995439B1Method for controlling a filling device during a filling operation and filling device for filling receptacles with a pourable product
Publication Date: 2023.05.17 SIDEL PARTICIPATIONS SAS
  • EP3995439B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3995439B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3995439B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

It is described a method for filling a plurality of containers by means of a filling device (1) and during a sequence of respective filling operations, which method allows the filling device (1) to have a reduction of the mechanical complexity and to have the ability of improving the precision and/or the accuracy of the automatic control of subsequent filling operations carried out by the same device (1).