Liquid Filling Control via Density-Temperature Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filling devices for liquid products in the food and beverage industry face challenges in achieving accurate volume and mass filling due to temperature-related and product-specific density fluctuations, leading to overfilling, waste, and increased rejection rates.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that measure the temperature and density of liquid products during filling, using relationships between density and temperature to calculate and control the filling quantity, ensuring accurate filling by compensating for fluctuations, thereby improving filling accuracy and reducing product loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If simple mass or volume-based measuring principles are used during filling, then the filling process is simple and fast, but filling accuracy deteriorates under unfavorable or changing ambient conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by measuring the actual density of the liquid product during filling and using this information to adjust the filling quantity. The system continuously monitors density variations and compensates for them by modifying the filling amount, ensuring accurate filling even when ambient conditions change. This closed-loop feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by maintaining precision without sacrificing filling speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter being measured from simple volume or mass to density, which accounts for temperature and composition variations. By measuring density (mass per unit volume) and using it to calculate the actual volume or mass to be filled, the system adapts to changing ambient conditions. This parameter change enables accurate filling while maintaining efficient operation.
2Device complexity
If density fluctuations due to temperature changes are not compensated, then the filling process remains simple, but product loss increases due to overfilling or underfilling
Solution Approach 1:
The system measures actual density during filling and uses this feedback to adjust filling quantities, preventing overfilling and underfilling. This real-time compensation reduces product loss by ensuring each container receives the precise amount needed, while the automated nature of the feedback loop keeps the added complexity minimal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces simple mechanical volume-based filling with a system that uses density measurement and calculation to determine filling quantity. This substitution of the measuring principle allows the system to account for temperature-induced density changes automatically, reducing product loss without requiring complex mechanical adjustments.
3Ease of operation
If temperature-related density variations are ignored, then filling operation remains straightforward, but filling accuracy deteriorates leading to increased rejection rates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-correction by automatically measuring density and adjusting filling quantities without operator intervention. The automated density compensation mechanism handles temperature variations independently, maintaining filling accuracy while keeping the operation simple. The system serves itself by detecting and correcting its own deviations from target fill quantities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements automatic feedback control where density measurements are continuously used to adjust filling operations. This self-regulating system maintains high filling accuracy despite temperature fluctuations, while the automation preserves operational simplicity by eliminating the need for manual corrections or complex operator decisions.
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
The method and device significantly enhance filling accuracy, minimize product loss, and reduce production interruptions by accounting for temperature-related and product-specific density changes, ensuring compliance with fill quantity requirements.
Implementation Method 1
measuring the temperature of the liquid product to be filled during the filling process, e.g. measuring the filling temperature
Implementation Method 2
measuring the density of the liquid product to be filled during the filling process
Implementation Method 3
calculating the quantity of the liquid product to be filled based on the measured temperature of the liquid product to be filled during the filling process and taking into account the specific relationship between the density of the liquid product to be filled as a function of the temperature
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for filling liquid products into a container, in particular liquid products in the food and beverage industry, comprising: determining a relationship between the density of a liquid product (102) to be filled as a function of the temperature of the liquid product (102) to be filled, controlling a filling system (1) for filling the liquid product (102) into a container based on the determined relationship between the density of the liquid product (102) to be filled as a function of the temperature of the liquid product (102) to be filled, comprising: measuring the temperature of the liquid product (102) to be filled during the filling process,Calculation of the quantity of liquid product (102) to be filled into the container based on the measured temperature of the liquid product (102) during the filling process and taking into account the specific relationship between the density of the liquid product (102) as a function of its temperature, and filling the container with the calculated quantity of liquid product (102). Furthermore, the invention relates to a device (100, 200) for filling liquid products into a container, in particular liquid products in the food and beverage industry, comprising: at least one filling system (1) with at least one product holding tank (101) and at least one filling element (2), and at least one measuring sensor (10), wherein the measuring sensor (10) is configured toto measure the temperature of the liquid product (102) to be filled during the filling process, for example, the temperature of the liquid product (102) to be filled in the product holding tank (101) and/or in the filling device (2), at least one electronic control unit (6) in communication with the at least one measuring sensor (10), wherein the electronic control unit (6) is configured to control the filling system for filling the liquid product (102) into a container based on a specific relationship between the density of the liquid product (102) to be filled and the temperature of the liquid product (102) to be filled as measured by the measuring sensor (10), and wherein the electronic control unit (6) is configured toto perform a calculation of the quantity of liquid product (102) to be filled into the container based on the measured temperature of the liquid product (102) during the filling process and taking into account the determined relationship between the density of the liquid product (102) and its temperature, and wherein the electronic control (6) is further configured to control the filling of the liquid product (102) into the container with the calculated quantity of liquid product (102). (Fig. 1)