Platform Scale Frame with Bent Sheet Metal Struts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing platform scales require a high amount of material and weight to maintain rigidity, which is inefficient and difficult to produce, as they often use massive support plates and stiffening struts to prevent deformation and ensure accurate weight measurement.

Innovation Solution

A platform scale design utilizing a frame structure with stiffening struts formed from bent metal sheet profiles, allowing for reduced material usage and weight while maintaining rigidity, achieved through the use of edge profiles with complex geometries and modular construction for various dimensions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If massive support plates and stiffening struts are used to maintain platform rigidity, then the platform stability is improved, but the material usage and weight increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplatform rigidityVSAvoidmaterial usage
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the stiffening struts by using complex bent sheet profiles with multiple bends instead of simple solid beams. This parameter change allows achieving the same rigidity with less material by optimizing the distribution of material in the cross-section to maximize moment of inertia while minimizing material volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite structure by combining thin sheet metal with a complex bent profile geometry, effectively creating a lightweight composite beam that combines the advantages of thin material usage with high rigidity through geometric configuration, rather than using solid homogeneous material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If massive support plates and stiffening struts are used to maintain platform rigidity, then the platform stability is improved, but the weight of the platform scale becomes very high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplatform rigidityVSAvoidplatform scale weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the stiffening struts by using complex bent sheet profiles with multiple bends instead of simple solid beams. This parameter change allows achieving the same rigidity with less material by optimizing the distribution of material in the cross-section to maximize moment of inertia while minimizing material volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses thin sheet metal profiles with complex bending geometries instead of thick solid sections. The thin film approach, when configured with appropriate bends and profiles, provides sufficient rigidity while dramatically reducing weight compared to massive solid construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Quantity of substance

If complex bent sheet profiles are used for stiffening struts, then material usage is reduced, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial usageVSAvoidproduction simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the manufacturing process into distinct steps: cutting the sheet metal to shape, bending it into the profile configuration, and assembling the struts into the platform structure. This segmentation allows each operation to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall manufacturing process despite the complex final geometry.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-cutting and pre-bending the sheet metal profiles before final assembly. The complex geometries are prepared in advance through laser cutting and bending operations, allowing for efficient batch production and simplifying the final assembly process where pre-fabricated components are simply put together.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3521780B1Weighing apparatus with a platform
Publication Date: 2023.11.01 JANNER SIEGFRIED
  • EP3521780B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3521780B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3521780B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The present invention relates to a platform scale with a platform (2, 100) having a receiving surface for receiving the goods to be weighed, wherein the longitudinal and lateral extent of the platform is a multiple of the thickness of the platform and the receiving surface lies in a receiving plane spanned by the longitudinal and lateral extent of the receiving surface, and with at least one, preferably a plurality of load cells (7, 8, 9, 10) for determining the weight of the goods to be weighed, wherein the platform has a frame structure (30) for stiffening the platform, and wherein the frame structure has at least one, preferably several, stiffening struts (31, 32, 33, 80) extending parallel to the receiving plane and transversely across the receiving surface or along the side of the receiving surface, and wherein the stiffening strut is an edge profile produced by multiple bending of a sheet metal, and a corresponding manufacturing method.