Weighing Scale Column with Integrated Console Walls

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing weighing devices face challenges in efficiently distributing and minimizing transverse forces, leading to suboptimal production processes and accuracy in weight measurements, particularly when using flat materials like sheet metal.

Innovation Solution

The design connects console walls directly to side walls, allowing forces to be introduced in a plane manner with minimal transverse offset, enabling the use of flat materials for the column and bracket while optimizing force introduction and dissipation, resulting in high stability and ease of manufacturing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If traditional weighing device structures are used, then manufacturing complexity increases, but manufacturing simplicity is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The column is segmented into distinct functional parts: a hollow body section and console support sections with console walls extending therefrom. This segmentation allows each part to be manufactured separately using simple sheet metal fabrication and then assembled, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining structural integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The console walls are merged directly with the column structure, forming an integrated assembly where the console walls extend from the hollow body. This merging eliminates the need for separate brackets or mounting structures, simplifying both manufacturing and assembly processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Measurement precision

If forces are not properly distributed, then measurement accuracy decreases, but force distribution optimization is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweight measurement accuracyVSAvoidstructural stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The console walls are designed with specific local properties: they extend from the hollow body at defined distances (first console wall from first side wall, second console wall from second side wall) and are positioned to optimize force distribution. This local optimization ensures that forces from the weighing device are properly distributed to the column structure, maintaining both measurement accuracy and structural stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If thick materials are used, then structural strength increases, but material usage and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidmaterial quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The column incorporates a hollow body structure with curved or rounded features rather than purely flat sheet metal construction. This curved geometry provides enhanced structural strength and torsional rigidity while using less material compared to solid flat structures, optimizing the strength-to-material-ratio

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The column structure combines different geometric forms (hollow body sections with extending console walls) to create a composite structural system that achieves high strength with minimal material usage, rather than relying on thick uniform sections throughout

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP2041533B1Weighing scales
Publication Date: 2018.02.28 BIZERBA GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2041533B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2041533B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2041533B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to weighing scales comprising a weighing unit (16), a conveyor belt unit (14), via which items to be weighed are supplied to the weighing unit (16), a column (12) in the form of a hollow body (18), having interspaced first (20) and second lateral walls (22) and a support (28) comprising a first support wall (70) and a second support wall (72). The aim of the invention is to provide scales that are simple to produce. To achieve this, the first support wall (70) is connected to the first lateral wall (20), the second support wall (72) is connected to the second lateral wall (22) and the conveyor belt unit (14) and the weighing unit (16) sit on the support (28).