Powder Weighing Scoop and Scraper Control for Accurate Filling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing weight measurement apparatuses for powders face challenges in achieving high accuracy and speed while maintaining an inexpensive configuration.
Innovation Solution
A weight measurement apparatus utilizing a movable arm with a scoop and scrapers, coupled with a subdivision weight measurement instrument and controller, scoops, levels, and stores material based on measured weight to achieve high accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single arm robot configuration is used, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but measurement precision and operational reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the weighing process into distinct phases: scooping material with the arm robot, leveling it with a dedicated scraper, and weighing it with a precision instrument. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, enabling a single arm robot to achieve measurement precision previously requiring more complex multi-arm configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
A scraper is introduced as an intermediary tool between the scoop and the weighing instrument. The scraper levels the material surface, ensuring consistent and accurate weight measurement. This intermediary component compensates for the limitations of a single arm robot by providing a dedicated function for surface leveling that would otherwise compromise measurement precision.
2Productivity
If material is scooped without leveling, then operation speed is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to uneven material surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The scraper performs a preliminary leveling action on the material surface before the weighing measurement is taken. By pre-leveling the material, the system ensures that subsequent weight measurements are accurate and consistent, eliminating the need for slower, more complex leveling operations during the actual measurement process.
Solution Approach 2:
The scraper is designed to work in conjunction with the single arm robot, allowing the robot to perform both scooping and leveling functions. The system uses the arm robot's positioning capability to bring the scraper to the material surface and execute the leveling action, making the system self-sufficient without requiring additional dedicated leveling mechanisms.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple scrapers are used, then manufacturing precision and material leveling accuracy are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single scraper is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a leveling tool for the scoop and as a cutting tool for transferring material to the weighing container. This universal design eliminates the need for separate scrapers for each function, maintaining manufacturing precision while minimizing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the leveling and cutting functions into a single scraper component. By combining these functions, the system achieves the same manufacturing precision as multiple specialized scrapers would provide, while reducing the overall number of components and simplifying the device structure.
Data Source
AI summary
Powder is weighed with high accuracy by inexpensive configuration. A weight measurement apparatus for storing, in a subdivision container, material of a target weight from a raw material container includes a movable arm to which a scoop is attached, a scraper, a subdivision weight measurement instrument configured to measure the weight of material in the subdivision container, and a controller. The controller is configured to, by controlling the movable arm, scoop material up by the scoop from the raw material container, level the material off in the scoop using the scraper, and store, in the subdivision container, the material in the scoop based on the weight of the material in the subdivision container measured by the subdivision weight measurement instrument.