Offset Pocket Checkweigher Motor Inversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing intermittent motion checkweighers face challenges with overhead drive motor configurations that obscure product visibility, complicate maintenance, and require conveyor modifications for installation, limiting their flexibility and accuracy in handling different product sizes and sizes.

Innovation Solution

A checkweigher design with a drive motor mounted below the rotating product transport wheel, featuring offset product retention pockets that allow for increased rigidity, improved visibility, and flexible conveyor alignment, enabling accurate weighing of products without modifying existing conveyors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the drive motor is mounted overhead above the rotating product transport wheel, then the structure can be simplified, but the product visibility is lost and maintenance becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidproduct visibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The drive motor is inverted from its conventional overhead position to a below-wheel position. This inversion resolves the contradiction by moving the motor to a location that does not obstruct the viewing path of products passing over the weighpan, thereby maintaining product visibility while still providing the necessary rotational force to the product transport wheel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The motor mounting position is shifted from the vertical overhead dimension to a horizontal below-wheel dimension. This dimensional change allows the motor to be positioned out of the way of the product flow path and weighing area, eliminating the obstruction to product visibility while maintaining mechanical functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If the drive motor is mounted overhead above the rotating product transport wheel, then the structure can be simplified, but maintenance accessibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidmaintenance accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The drive motor is inverted from its conventional overhead position to a below-wheel position. This inversion makes the motor easily accessible for maintenance and repair operations, as technicians can reach the motor directly from below the wheel assembly without having to disassemble overhead structures or use specialized equipment to access upper-mounted components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Device complexity

If the checkweigher is designed to mount over an existing conveyor with diametrically opposed in-feed and discharge locations, then the installation can be compact, but the conveyor must be cut and integration of filler devices becomes impractical

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation compactnessVSAvoidconveyor integration flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The in-feed and discharge locations of the product transport wheel are positioned asymmetrically rather than diametrically opposed. The in-feed location is positioned to receive products from the upstream conveyor, while the discharge location is positioned to deliver products to the downstream conveyor, allowing the checkweigher to be installed without cutting the existing conveyor and enabling flexible integration with filler devices and other packaging equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The system is designed with flexible positioning capabilities that allow adaptation to different conveyor configurations. The asymmetric placement of in-feed and discharge locations enables the checkweigher to integrate with various downstream packaging equipment and filler devices without requiring modification of the existing conveyor system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Weight of moving object

If the frame strength and rigidity are increased to handle heavier products, then the load capacity increases, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct load capacityVSAvoidframe structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The frame design incorporates counterbalancing structural elements that compensate for the weight of heavier products. By strategically positioning support beams, reinforcement elements, and mounting structures, the frame can handle increased load capacity without requiring a complete redesign of the entire structural system, thus managing complexity while improving load capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Data Source

PatentEP2513616B1Intermittent motion checkweigher with offset product pockets

Publication Date: 2018.06.20 METTLER-TOLEDO LLC

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AI summary

An intermittent motion device for weighing products includes a transport wheel having a plurality of product retention pockets, each of which retains one or more of the products throughout the weighing operation. Products are loaded into a retention pocket by an in-feed conveyor or similar device, after which the transport wheel is indexed to advance the products in the retention pocket toward one or more weighing devices to be weighed while still located in the retention pocket. After weighing, the products are advanced to a discharge conveyor by further indexing of the transport wheel.