Magnetic Mixing Body for Closed Foodstuff Additive Dosing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing measuring systems for foodstuffs are not suitable for adding additives without opening the product holder, leading to potential errors and increased complexity, which affects reliability and reproducibility.
Innovation Solution
A measuring system with a magnetically controllable mixing body that automatically adds additives to the product holder using a displacement device, eliminating the need for human intervention and mechanical connections, and allowing continuous measurement without opening the holder.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional weighing scales are used for each individual foodstuff, then measurement accuracy is maintained, but device complexity and space requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple weighing functions into a single scale by integrating a camera system that captures images of food items placed on the scale. The system merges the mechanical weighing function with optical identification and database lookup functions, allowing one device to perform what previously required multiple separate tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The scale is designed with universal functionality to identify and measure various types of foodstuffs including packaged foods, loose produce, and different packaging formats. The system can handle diverse items by capturing images and matching them against a database, making the single device applicable to many different measurement scenarios.
2Measurement precision
If multiple individual scales are deployed for different foodstuffs, then measurement precision is maintained, but loss of time for switching between scales increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification of the food item through image capture and database matching before the actual weighing process. By pre-identifying the item type, the system prepares the measurement parameters in advance, eliminating the time needed to switch between different scales or manually select measurement modes during the weighing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the camera and image recognition to automatically adjust measurement parameters based on the identified food item. The database provides feedback about the correct measurement unit and reference weight for the detected item, enabling automatic configuration without manual intervention or time-consuming scale switching.
3Productivity
If manual identification and weighing processes are used, then device complexity is minimized, but productivity and measurement speed decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically capturing images of the food item, identifying it through image recognition, retrieving measurement parameters from the database, and executing the weighing process without manual intervention. The scale autonomously completes the entire measurement workflow, from identification to final weight display, significantly improving productivity while maintaining manageable system complexity.
4Measurement precision
If packaged food weights are manually read from labels, then no additional equipment is needed, but measurement precision and reliability decrease due to human error
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of reading labels with an optical system. The camera captures images of the packaging, and image recognition algorithms automatically extract weight information from the label, substituting human visual inspection with an optical-digital system that eliminates reading errors and improves measurement reliability.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2A~2D
AI summary
A measuring system for automatically determining a quality of a foodstuff mixture comprises a product holder for a fluid or viscous foodstuff, a housing for receiving the product holder, a sensor device for measuring a parameter value of the foodstuff, a control device, an additive dosing device for output of an additive to the foodstuff, and a mixing device which comprises a mixing body arranged in the product holder and comprising a magnetisable or magnetic material, and a displacement device for the mixing body. The mixing device is configured to act on the additive dosing device via the mixing body to output the additive. Because the magnetically movable mixing body, arranged even before mixing, can cause the output of additive, error-susceptible human actions are avoided, without the need to open the product holder.