Staggered Zero Correction for Article Discharge Weighers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing article discharge system requires simultaneous zero correction on all weighers, leading to reduced efficiency in discharging articles due to the need for simultaneous gripper operation.
Innovation Solution
The system includes plural grippers and weight acquisition units with a control unit that performs zero correction on weighers after releasing articles, allowing for efficient discharge operations by staggering the correction process based on gripper usage or elapsed time since the last correction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If all grippers simultaneously grip the articles to ensure proper weighing, then weighing accuracy is maintained, but the zero correction process must also be performed simultaneously on all weighers, reducing discharge efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the timing of zero correction operations based on the operational state of each gripper. Instead of performing zero correction simultaneously on all weighers, the control unit schedules zero correction only for weighers whose grippers are not currently gripping articles, creating a dynamic, adaptive correction schedule that maintains accuracy while improving efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs zero correction in advance during periods when grippers are not in use, specifically during the period after grippers release articles and before they grip new articles. This preliminary action ensures weighers are corrected before the next weighing operation, maintaining accuracy without interrupting the discharge workflow
2Measurement precision
If zero correction is performed on all weighers simultaneously, then weighing accuracy is ensured, but the discharge operation must be interrupted, increasing operation time
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous discharge operations by performing zero correction on weighers during idle periods between gripping cycles. The control unit monitors the operational state of each gripper and schedules zero correction to occur during natural pauses in the workflow, ensuring that weighing accuracy is maintained without interrupting the overall discharge operation
Solution Approach 2:
Zero correction is performed periodically on each weigher based on its usage pattern, specifically during the period after the gripper releases articles and before it grips new articles. This periodic correction schedule ensures that each weigher is calibrated at appropriate intervals while maintaining continuous operational flow
Data Source
AI summary
The article discharge system includes plural grippers, weight acquisition units, and a control unit. The grippers grip the articles. The weight acquisition units acquire weight values of the articles that each of the plural grippers grips. The control unit causes the plural grippers to grip the some articles from the article group disposed in the placement unit and, based on the result of a combination calculation using the weight values of the articles that each of the plural grippers grips, causes a predetermined combination of the grippers to release and discharge the articles. During the period after the control unit has caused the grippers to release the articles and before the control unit next causes the grippers to grip the articles, the control unit implements a zero correction process on the weight acquisition units corresponding to the grippers that were caused to release the articles.