Sausage Weighing Control via Post-Storage Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sausage production systems face challenges in producing products of predetermined dimensions with high productivity due to imprecise weighing and limited conveyor length, leading to oversized or undersized sausages and restricted production capacity.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that includes a control unit to sense the weight of sausage-like products after storage, derive control signals for the clipping machine based on weight, and adjust the weight of individual sausages to predetermined values, using sensors and a robotic device to ensure accurate weighing and adaptation, while also considering additional parameters like length and diameter for precise dimensioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conveyor including a weighing device is operated at high speed to maintain high productivity, then productivity is improved, but weighing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by weighing the sausage product before it is fully conveyed through the system. The weighing device is positioned to measure the product at an early stage, allowing the control system to adjust filling parameters for subsequent products while maintaining high conveyor speed. This resolves the contradiction by performing the measurement action before the product completes its journey through the conveyor.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the conveyor length is limited to accommodate the largest sausage product, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the conveyor system adjustable in length or configuration. The conveyor can be dynamically reconfigured to accommodate different sausage sizes, allowing precise positioning for weighing and processing regardless of product dimensions. This resolves the contradiction by enabling the conveyor to adapt its length dynamically rather than being fixed for the maximum size.
3Measurement precision
If additional weighing devices are added to improve weighing precision, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by placing the weighing device at a strategic intermediate position in the conveyor system, where it can measure products without requiring multiple weighing stations. The control system processes this single measurement to adjust subsequent filling operations, eliminating the need for multiple weighing devices while maintaining precision.
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 enables reliable and precise production of sausage-like products with high productivity, reducing losses from oversized or undersized products and allowing for flexible adjustment of sausage size within predefined weight ranges, thereby enhancing the accuracy and consistency of sausage dimensions.
Implementation Method 1
a sensing device for sensing a weight of the at least one sausage-like product actually stored on the rod-like element
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a system for producing and handling sausage-like product S and a method for controlling for controlling sais system with the steps of filling a tubular casing with viscous or granular stuff, dividing the filled tubular casing into sausage-like products S and closing the sausage-like S products by closure clips in a clipping machine, feeding the sausage-like product S out of the clipping machine and storing the sausage-like product S on a rod-like element R in a hanging line 16 and gripping the rod-like element R by a robotic device and storing the rod-like element R in a storage frame 30.The method further comprises the steps of sensing the weight of the sausage-like product S after the sausage-like product S is stored on a rod-like element R, deriving a control signal for the clipping machine on the basis of the weight and controlling the clipping machine by a control unit on the basis of the control signal.