Mixture Filling Apparatus with Integrated Hopper Weighing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for mixing solid and liquid materials in containers require stopping the manufacturing process for weight measurement, leading to reduced productivity, poor measurement accuracy, increased apparatus size, and maintenance difficulties.
Innovation Solution
A mixture filling apparatus comprising a solid material supply unit, a liquid material supply unit, a hopper unit with a shutter, a weighing machine, and a control unit that adjusts the liquid material supply based on weight measurements to achieve the desired ratio, allowing continuous operation and efficient mixing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If weight measurement is performed in the mixer to measure the weight of solid material, then measurement accuracy is improved, but the manufacturing process must be stopped during measurement, reducing productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the weighing function from the mixing function by introducing a dedicated hopper unit with integrated weighing machine. The hopper unit independently measures the weight of solid material before transferring it to the mixer, allowing the mixer to continue operating without interruption. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling simultaneous measurement and mixing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The hopper unit acts as an intermediary between the solid material supply and the mixer. It receives solid material, measures its weight, and then transfers the measured material to the mixer. This intermediary structure allows weight measurement to occur outside the mixing process, eliminating the need to stop production for measurement while ensuring accurate weight data is obtained.
2Measurement precision
If conventional measuring instruments are used to measure solid material weight, then measurement function is provided, but apparatus size increases and maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the weighing machine with the hopper unit structure, integrating the measurement function into an existing component of the material handling system. The hopper unit serves both as a storage/container for solid material and as a platform for weight measurement. This merging reduces overall apparatus complexity by eliminating separate measuring instruments while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The hopper unit is designed to serve multiple functions: storing solid material, measuring its weight, and transferring it to the mixer. By making the hopper unit multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for dedicated separate measuring equipment, thereby reducing apparatus size and simplifying maintenance requirements while preserving accurate weight measurement capability.
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 solution enables high-speed mixing and filling of materials at the appropriate ratio, improving productivity by allowing continuous operation and reducing measurement errors and maintenance issues.
Implementation Method 1
a weighing machine that is connected to the hopper unit and measures weight of the solid material stored in the hopper unit
Data Source
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AI summary
A mixture filling apparatus (10) and a mixture filling method which are capable of mixing a liquid material and a solid material at an appropriate ratio and performing a process of introducing a mixture into a container (100) at high speed to improve productivity are provided. A mixture filling apparatus (10) includes a solid material supply unit (12), a liquid material supply unit (14), a hopper unit (16), a weighing machine (18), a mixing tank (20), a mixture filling unit (22), and a control unit (38). The weighing machine (18) measures weight of contents stored in a hopper body (31) of the hopper unit (16). The mixing tank (20) receives the contents released from the inside of the hopper body (31) and stores a solid material from the solid material supply unit (12) and a liquid material from the liquid material supply unit (14). The control unit (38) acquires weight of the solid material supplied to the hopper body (31) based on a measurement result of the weighing machine (18). The liquid material supply unit (14) supplies the determined amount of the liquid material according to the weight of the solid material acquired by the control unit (38).