Segmented Weighing Containers for Parallel Material Dosing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plastics processing machines face challenges in increasing throughput while maintaining accuracy, requiring significant constructive efforts and time-consuming weighing procedures, and often necessitate larger weighing containers and complex movable parts.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus features two funnel-shaped weighing containers that can be filled and weighed simultaneously, allowing independent discharge into a mixing container, enabling high performance with minimal space and constructive effort, using the same feeding devices and weighing device as conventional systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the throughput of feeding devices is increased to enhance performance, then productivity improves, but device complexity and constructive efforts increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The single weighing container is segmented into multiple weighing containers (first and second weighing containers). Each container can be filled and weighed independently and simultaneously, allowing the system to process multiple material components in parallel without increasing feeding device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple weighing operations are merged into a single integrated system where the first and second weighing containers share common feeding devices and discharge into a single mixing container. This combines the functionality of multiple separate weighing stations into one compact apparatus
2Measurement precision
If weighing procedures are performed for each material component sequentially, then measurement precision is maintained, but loss of time increases due to frequent suspensions
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple weighing containers are prepared and filled in advance during the operation of other containers. While one weighing container is being weighed, another can be filled with the next material component, eliminating idle time between sequential weighing operations
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous useful action by allowing parallel filling and weighing operations across multiple containers. The weighing process never stops as containers are continuously cycled through filling, weighing, and discharge phases
3Productivity
If a larger weighing container is used to reduce weighing frequency, then productivity improves, but device complexity increases due to larger weighing devices required
Solution Approach 1:
The total weighing capacity is segmented across multiple smaller containers rather than using one large container. Each container maintains a manageable size suitable for standard weighing devices, while the collective capacity of multiple containers achieves the required total throughput
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 configuration significantly reduces filling and weighing times, achieves high mixing accuracy, and increases overall performance with efficient dosing, allowing for a substantial increase in throughput with only slight increases in constructive efforts.
Implementation Method 1
weighing container (12) arranged thereabove, wherein each weighing container (12) is supported by a weighing device (28)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
Apparatus for dosed mixing of pourable material components, comprising: - a mixing container (10), - two weighing containers (12), wherein each of the weighing containers (12) comprises a closable discharge opening for discharging the weighing container (12) into the mixing container (10); and a weighing device (28) for weighing the content of the weighing container (12), and - several storage containers (34) for respective material components, wherein each storage container (34) comprises a feeding device (36) for feeding material from the storage container (34) to an assigned weighing container (12), wherein the mixing container (10) is arranged below the weighing containers (12) such that the weighing containers (12) are simultaneously dischargeable through the discharge openings into the mixing container (10).