Vision-Guided Dynamic Weighing for Fruit Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fruit and vegetable processing systems, particularly those handling pears, face challenges in precise weighing due to the unpredictable size, shape, and arrangement of pears, leading to unreliable weight measurements as pears oscillate or rotate, causing uneven weight distribution across containment units.
Innovation Solution
An assembly with a vision element along the conveyance line to detect the actual number of containment units each product rests on, activating either a first or second predefined number of consecutive weighing devices based on the detected number, ensuring accurate weighing regardless of size or shape, using an electronic control and management unit to select the appropriate weighing device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single load cell is used to weigh each cup in sequence, then the weighing operation is simple and fast, but the measurement precision deteriorates because the pear's random arrangement causes unpredictable weight distribution across cups
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the weighing operation into multiple segments by providing multiple load cells (first load cell, second load cell, etc.) that can independently weigh different numbers of cups. This segmentation allows the system to adaptively select the appropriate weighing configuration based on the actual number of cups carrying the product, thereby maintaining both speed and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the weighing configuration by selectively activating different load cells based on the detected number of cups. The electronic control unit enables or disables specific load cells in real-time according to the product's actual arrangement, making the weighing system flexible and adaptive to varying conditions while maintaining measurement accuracy.
2Quantity of substance
If load cells are designed to act on pairs or groups of contiguous cups, then more cups are covered, but the measurement precision remains unreliable because the random nature of pear arrangement makes it impossible to predict which cups will be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a vision device that provides real-time feedback on the actual number of cups carrying each product. This feedback information is used by the electronic control unit to selectively activate the appropriate load cells, ensuring that the weighing operation always targets the correct number of cups based on the product's actual arrangement, thereby maintaining high measurement reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the conventional mechanical approach of fixed load cell positioning with an intelligent control system that uses vision-based detection and electronic switching. Instead of relying on predetermined mechanical configurations, the system uses sensors and control logic to dynamically determine which load cells should be activated, achieving more reliable measurements.
3Reliability
If multiple load cells are always activated to cover all possible cup arrangements, then measurement coverage is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic activation of load cells based on real-time detection of the number of cups carrying the product. Instead of having all load cells continuously active, the electronic control unit selectively enables only the necessary load cells for each weighing operation, reducing unnecessary complexity while maintaining comprehensive coverage for all possible arrangements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the load cells dynamically - specifically, which load cells are active and how many cups each should weigh - based on the detected product arrangement. This parameter adjustment allows the system to maintain reliability across different scenarios without requiring a permanently complex configuration.
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 solution enables precise and reliable weighing of fruit and vegetable products by adjusting the number of units weighed in real-time, ensuring accurate weight determination and high operational reliability, independent of product size or shape, and can be implemented with readily available elements at a low cost.
Implementation Method 1
at least one vision element, arranged along said line and intended at least to check the actual number of said containment units on which each product lies
Implementation Method 2
The load cell is therefore designed to weigh each cup and, with it, the pear conveyed thereby
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
An assembly for processing fruit and vegetable products, which comprises a plurality of units (2) for containing fruit and vegetable products (A), which can move in sequence along a conveyance line (3); the assembly comprising at least one vision element (4), arranged along the line (3) and intended at least to check the actual number (N) of containment units (2) on which each product (A) lies and is conveyed along the line (3), with such actual number (N) being able to depend randomly or otherwise on the size, shape, arrangement and/or method of loading on the line (3) of the respective product (A); downstream of the element (4) there are at least one first device (5a) for weighing a first predefined number (n ) of consecutive containment units (2) and at least one second device (5b) for weighing a second predefined number (n 2 ) of consecutive containment units (2), which is different from the first number (n ); for each fruit and vegetable product (A) conveyed along the line (3) the first weighing device (5a) and the second weighing device (5b) are activatable selectively by an electronic control and management unit, as a function of the respective actual number (N) detected by the vision element (4), so as to weigh the predefined number (n, n 2, n 3 ) of consecutive containment units (2) that corresponds to the actual number (N) of containment units (2) on which each fruit and vegetable product (A) is conveyed.