Combination Weigher Alignment via Speed Differential and V-Shaped Conveyor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional combination weighers often damage objects with elongated shapes due to impact when discharged onto a belt conveyor, as their lengthwise directions cannot conform, leading to unsalable products.
Innovation Solution
A combination weigher configuration where objects are fed to weighing conveyors with their lengthwise directions aligned, then transferred to a collecting conveyor with a V-shaped cross-section, allowing smooth direction change and preventing rolling, while the conveying speed of the collecting conveyor exceeds that of the weighing conveyor to ensure proper alignment and reduce impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If objects are discharged from hoppers onto a belt conveyor, then the objects can be conveyed and discharged to the subsequent-stage apparatus, but the objects with elongated shapes cannot have their lengthwise directions conform to each other
Solution Approach 1:
A direction-changing conveyor is introduced as an intermediary device between the hoppers and the belt conveyor. This mediator conveyor receives objects from multiple hoppers and changes their direction so that their lengthwise directions conform to the conveying direction, before transferring them to the belt conveyor for final discharge.
Solution Approach 2:
The direction-changing conveyor operates in a different spatial dimension or orientation compared to the direct vertical discharge from hoppers. By using a conveyor that moves objects in a direction perpendicular or at an angle to the hopper discharge direction, the system achieves alignment of lengthwise directions without requiring the hoppers to be positioned at different heights.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If hoppers are placed at a much higher location than the belt conveyor to prevent objects from contacting hoppers, then objects can be discharged without contact, but a great impact is generated when objects are dropped
Solution Approach 1:
The direction-changing conveyor is positioned at substantially the same height as the hoppers, creating an equipotential arrangement. This eliminates the need to place hoppers at a much higher location, thereby preventing the generation of great impact when objects are dropped while still avoiding contact between objects and hoppers.
Solution Approach 2:
The direction-changing conveyor acts as an intermediary that receives objects from hoppers at the same height level and transfers them to the belt conveyor. This mediator prevents direct dropping from height while maintaining object integrity and avoiding hopper contact.
3Extent of automation
If objects are conveyed by a belt conveyor in the direction of hopper alignment, then objects can be discharged automatically, but the lengthwise directions of elongated objects cannot conform to each other
Solution Approach 1:
The direction-changing conveyor serves as an intermediary device that maintains automatic discharge functionality while correcting the directional alignment of objects. It receives objects automatically from hoppers, reorients them to conform their lengthwise directions, and transfers them to the belt conveyor for automatic discharge to the subsequent-stage apparatus.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveying system is segmented into distinct functional sections: the direction-changing conveyor section for alignment and the belt conveyor section for discharge. This segmentation allows each section to perform its specific function optimally - the direction-changing conveyor focuses on alignment while the belt conveyor focuses on automatic discharge.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Provided is a combination weigher capable of discharging objects in a state in which their lengthwise directions conform to each other. A combination weighed according to an aspect of the present invention comprises a collecting conveyor apparatus (3) which conveys objects in a direction and discharge the objects; a plurality of weighing conveyors (1) arranged along a conveying direction of the collecting conveyor apparatus (3), the weighing conveyors being configured to convey the objects fed thereto and discharge the objects, to feed the objects to the collecting conveyor apparatus (3); a plurality of weight sensors (2) for measuring weights of the objects held on the weighing conveyors (1); and a control section (5) which finds a discharge combination (including a combination of the weighing conveyors (1) holding the objects in which a total weight thereof falls within a target weight range, based on the measured weight values of the weight sensors 2 and activates the weighing conveyors (1) selected to make up the discharge combination to convey the objects on the weighing conveyors (1) and discharge the objects, wherein a conveying speed of the collecting conveyor apparatus (3) is set higher than a conveying speed of the weighing conveyors (1).