Weighing Hopper Discharge for In-Line Checker Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods require manual intervention to check the functioning of checking apparatuses, necessitating temporary stoppage of the production line and wasteful expenditure of time and energy.
Innovation Solution
An item measurement and discharge apparatus with a retention unit, measurement unit, and control unit that selectively discharges items based on predetermined conditions, allowing for automated verification of checking apparatus functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual feeding of nonconforming items is performed to check the checking apparatus, then the checking apparatus functionality can be verified, but the production line must be temporarily stopped and operator time and energy are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary preparation by retaining both conforming and nonconforming items in separate retention units before the check is needed. When the checking apparatus requires verification, nonconforming items are already available for immediate discharge, eliminating the need to stop the production line to manually feed test items.
Solution Approach 2:
The system serves itself by automatically discharging nonconforming items through the control unit when a check signal is received. The checking apparatus can verify its functionality using items discharged from the retention unit without external manual intervention, making the verification process self-contained and continuous.
2Reliability
If manual feeding of nonconforming items is performed to check the checking apparatus, then the checking apparatus functionality can be verified, but operator energy expenditure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-verification by automatically discharging nonconforming items from the retention unit when a check signal is received. The control unit manages the discharge process without operator intervention, and the checking apparatus verifies its functionality using these discharged items, eliminating operator energy expenditure entirely.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention unit acts as an intermediary that stores nonconforming items and releases them automatically when needed. This intermediary mechanism bridges the gap between item measurement/discharge and checking apparatus verification, eliminating the need for direct operator handling and energy expenditure.
3Reliability
If nonconforming items are manually fed to the checking apparatus, then the checking apparatus can be verified, but the production process efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Nonconforming items are preliminarily separated and retained in the retention unit during normal production operations. When verification is needed, these pre-prepared items can be discharged immediately without interrupting the production flow, maintaining high productivity while enabling checking apparatus verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous operation by allowing checking apparatus verification to occur without stopping the production line. The control unit can discharge nonconforming items from the retention unit at appropriate times, enabling continuous verification alongside continuous production, thus maintaining overall system productivity.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is a need to reduce wasteful time and energy for checking the proper functioning of a checking apparatus. A weighing apparatus 1 includes hoppers that retain items, load cells that measure the weights of the items, a control unit 80, and a communication unit 85 that receives signals from outside. The control unit 80 causes the items to be discharged from the hoppers when the weights of the items satisfy a proper weight discharge condition. When the communication unit 85 receives an improper weight item request signal relating to a check of the items discharged from the hoppers, the control unit causes the items whose weight is a weight deviating from the proper weight discharge condition to be discharged from the hoppers.