Weighing Apparatus Automatic Digital Filter Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing weighing apparatuses face challenges in accurately measuring weights due to the difficulty in setting suitable digital filters, leading to reduced work efficiency and weighing performance, especially when operated by non-experts or under changing conditions such as varying conveyance speeds and environmental vibrations.

Innovation Solution

A weighing apparatus that automatically selects a suitable digital filter based on the standard deviation of signal waveforms during idle operation, allowing for accurate weight measurement without expert intervention, and includes a processing unit to store and display conveyance speed information and accuracy data, enabling automatic filter selection and optimal weighing performance across different conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a digital filter is set by a designer or expert, then weighing accuracy is improved, but work efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweighing accuracyVSAvoidwork efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The weighing apparatus automatically selects the optimal digital filter by evaluating multiple candidate filters against the actual weighing signal characteristics during idle operation. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for expert manual configuration while maintaining optimal weighing accuracy, thereby resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and work efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If a standard digital filter is used without customization, then work efficiency is improved, but weighing performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvework efficiencyVSAvoidweighing performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically selects from multiple pre-set digital filters with different characteristics based on the actual weighing conditions and signal characteristics. Rather than using a fixed standard filter, the apparatus adapts the filter selection to match the specific operational context, thereby maintaining both high work efficiency and optimal weighing performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple digital filters are set in advance, then weighing performance under various conditions is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweighing performance under various conditionsVSAvoidfilter configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates an automatic evaluation mechanism that tests each candidate digital filter against the actual weighing signal during idle operation. By using feedback from the signal characteristics (such as standard deviation analysis), the system automatically determines the optimal filter without requiring complex manual configuration, thus achieving high adaptability while keeping the user interface simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Productivity

If filter selection is automated, then work efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvework efficiencyVSAvoidprocessing unit complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple digital filters with different characteristics are pre-configured in the system before operation. During idle operation, the processing unit automatically evaluates these pre-prepared filters against the actual weighing signal characteristics and selects the optimal one. This preliminary preparation enables automated filter selection that improves work efficiency without requiring excessive processing complexity during actual weighing operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3882582B1Weighing apparatus
Publication Date: 2023.01.04 ISHIDA CO LTD
  • EP3882582B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3882582B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3882582B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A weighing apparatus includes: a conveyance unit configured to convey an article; a weighing unit configured to weigh the article on the conveyance unit; and a processing unit including a plurality of digital filters set in advance and configured to process an original signal that is output from the weighing unit. The processing unit is configured to select one digital filter among the plurality of digital filters, based on a result of applying each of the plurality of digital filters to the original signal, when the conveyance unit is in operation and the article is not conveyed by the conveyance unit.