Multi-Component Drink Filling with Weight Feedback Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for filling multi-component beverages, such as fruit juice with pulp, are imprecise and difficult to clean, leading to inaccuracies in dosing and potential damage to fruit components, with prior solutions failing to provide precise control over filling quantities.
Innovation Solution
A method and device involving a first filling device for a component, followed by a second filling device, with weight measurement of the first component allowing precise determination and adjustment of filling quantities, enabling accurate dosing and logging of fruit components, and using a transport system to measure and regulate the filling process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If piston filling systems are used to dose multi-component beverages, then filling can be performed, but the systems are relatively difficult to clean and have imprecise dosing accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The filling process is divided into two separate sequential filling operations: first filling the container with the liquid component, then filling with the pulp component. This segmentation allows each filling operation to be optimized independently, improving overall precision while simplifying cleaning requirements compared to mixed-component piston systems.
Solution Approach 2:
A weight measurement device is introduced to measure the actual weight of the container after the first filling operation. This feedback information is used to calculate the actual quantity of liquid component filled, allowing for precise control and compensation of dosing variations, thereby achieving high filling quantity accuracy.
2Productivity
If piston filling systems are used, then filling can be performed, but the systems can possibly destroy the pieces of fruit to be filled
Solution Approach 1:
The filling process separates the liquid component filling from the pulp component filling into two distinct operations. The pulp component is filled separately after the liquid, avoiding mechanical stress and damage to fruit pieces that would occur in mixed-component piston systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical piston dosing systems with a gravity-based flow filling system for the liquid component, followed by a separate filling mechanism for the pulp component. This substitution eliminates the mechanical damage risk associated with piston compression of fruit pieces.
3Productivity
If pre-dosing systems such as piston fillers are used, then filling can be performed, but there is no longer any data on the composition of the product filled in the container
Solution Approach 1:
The weight measurement device provides real-time feedback on the actual quantity of liquid component filled in each container. This data is recorded and used to calculate the precise composition ratio of liquid to pulp components, maintaining complete information on product composition throughout the filling process.
Solution Approach 2:
The weight measurement device acts as an intermediary between the filling process and the composition control system. It measures the actual liquid component quantity and transmits this information to the control system, enabling precise calculation of the final product composition and allowing for adaptive adjustment of the pulp component filling.
4Productivity
If two components are mixed together before filling, then filling can be performed as a single operation, but the standard deviations of the respective components add up and accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The filling process is segmented into two separate sequential operations: first filling with the liquid component, then filling with the pulp component. This segmentation prevents the standard deviations of both components from adding up, as each component is filled and measured independently, maintaining higher overall precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The weight measurement device provides feedback on the actual liquid component quantity filled, allowing the system to compensate for variations and maintain precise control over the final composition. This feedback mechanism eliminates the cumulative error problem that would occur if both components were filled simultaneously without individual measurement.
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 ensures precise control over filling quantities, reduces standard deviations, and allows for accurate documentation and compliance with minimum fruit content guarantees, enhancing the accuracy and cleanliness of the filling process.
Implementation Method 1
The filling quantity is advantageously measured by measuring the weight
Data Source
AI summary
A method for filling containers (10) with multi-component flowable media comprising the steps of: - filling a first component into the container to be filled by means of a first filling device (2); - transporting the container filled with the first component of the liquid to a second filling device (4); - filling a second component of the liquid into the container filled with the first component by means of the second filling device (4). According to the invention, after filling the container (10) with the first component, the fill quantity of the first component is determined.