Combination Weighing Device Oversupplied Article Retainer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing combination weighing devices face issues with oversupplied articles being accidentally dropped or requiring temporary shutdown when the collection container is moved or replaced, leading to production inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A combination weighing device equipped with an oversupplied article retainer, which temporarily retains excess articles on the discharge path, allowing for safe collection without shutdown, featuring a blocking shutter that can open and close the discharge path to manage oversupplied articles and a movable collection container for efficient handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the collection container is moved from the set position for replacement or removal, then the container can be emptied and reused, but the articles may accidentally drop or the device must be temporarily suspended

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous operation capabilityVSAvoidarticle collection reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The oversupplied article retainer is prepared in advance to temporarily hold articles before they are discharged to the collection container. This preliminary retention mechanism ensures that articles are securely held during container replacement operations, preventing accidental drops while allowing continuous operation without device suspension.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the collection container is moved from the set position, then articles can be removed or container replaced, but articles may drop to anywhere around the set position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer replacement easeVSAvoidarticle misplacement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The oversupplied article retainer acts as an intermediary between the discharge path and the collection container. It provides a controlled transition point where articles are temporarily held before being discharged to the container, ensuring articles are properly received and preventing misplacement during container replacement operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the device is temporarily suspended during container replacement, then articles will not be discharged and lost, but working ratio decreases and production shortfalls occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearticle collection reliabilityVSAvoidworking ratio

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The oversupplied article retainer enables continuous operation by maintaining the article flow path active during container replacement. Articles continue to be discharged to the retainer and held there temporarily, allowing container replacement without interrupting the overall weighing and sorting process, thus maintaining high working ratio while ensuring no article loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS11913824B2Combination weighing device

Publication Date: 2024.02.27 YAMATO SCALE CO LTD

AI summary

A combination weighing device is provided that discharges, from a hopper, an article oversupplied into and received by the hopper and that collects the article using the collection container. The combination weighing device includes an oversupplied article retainer disposed at a position on a discharge path for the article to be discharged from the hopper and collected by the collection container. The oversupplied article retainer has a collection chute and a blocking shutters and temporarily retains the article guided to flow downward using the collection chute and the blocking shutter.