Combination Weigher Conveying Unit Mode Transition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing combination weighing devices face challenges in immediately adjusting the control of the conveying unit to a normal state when changes occur, such as replacement of components, leading to an abnormal conveying amount due to reliance on automatically set control parameters.

Innovation Solution

The device incorporates a controller with two operation modes: a first mode with automatically set control parameters and a second mode where parameters can be manually adjusted via an interface, allowing for immediate transition to normal operation by switching to the second mode when abnormalities are detected.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the conveying unit is controlled using automatically set parameters, then the device can operate continuously without manual intervention, but the control becomes abnormal when device components are replaced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous operationVSAvoidcontrol abnormality after replacement
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary learning to automatically set control parameters before actual operation begins. This preliminary parameter setting ensures that when the device operates continuously, it has pre-optimized parameters ready, preventing control abnormalities that would otherwise occur after component replacements by establishing a baseline learned state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes control parameters based on learned information from accumulated operational data. When components are replaced, the parameter learning function updates the control parameters to match the new component characteristics, allowing the system to adapt to parameter changes rather than relying on fixed automatic parameters that become obsolete after replacements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If manual parameter adjustment is implemented when abnormalities occur, then the conveying unit can be adjusted to normal state, but it requires suspending automatic control and takes time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenormal state adjustmentVSAvoidadjustment time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary learning to automatically set control parameters before actual operation begins. This preliminary parameter setting ensures that when the device operates continuously, it has pre-optimized parameters ready, preventing control abnormalities that would otherwise occur after component replacements by establishing a baseline learned state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system accumulates operational information and uses this feedback to continuously improve parameter settings. The learning function processes accumulated data to automatically update control parameters, creating a closed-loop system where past operational experiences inform future parameter adjustments, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual intervention after abnormalities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If learning parameters are used for automatic control, then the system can adapt to accumulated information, but the control becomes abnormal immediately after device changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic adaptationVSAvoidcontrol stability after change
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from static automatic parameters to dynamic learned parameters that can adapt to device changes. The learning function continuously updates control parameters based on accumulated operational information, allowing the system to dynamically adjust to component replacements and other changes while maintaining reliable control through adaptive parameter optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11566933B2Combination weighing device for controlling a conveying unit
Publication Date: 2023.01.31 ISHIDA CO LTD
  • US11566933B2 patent drawing
  • US11566933B2 patent drawing
  • US11566933B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A combination weighing device includes a conveying unit configured to convey articles, a controller configured to perform combination weighing of the articles, and an interface configured to receive an input of information from an operator. The controller has a first operation mode including a first control parameter that defines a conveying operation of the conveying unit and is automatically set in the device, and a second operation mode including a second control parameter that defines the conveying operation of the conveying unit and is set based on the information input from the interface, and when the interface receives an input of the information during an operation of the conveying unit in the first operation mode, the controller makes a transition from the first operation mode to the second operation mode, and controls the operation of the conveying unit using the second control parameter.