Weigh-in-Motion Scale System and Method for Linear Synchronous Motor Conveyor

• US 20180073912A1
• Filed: 09/08/2017
• Published: 03/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Lyman, Christopher Robert, Granitz, Michael, Royce, Daniel Richard
• Granted Patent: US 10,710,757 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 2210/02 Plurality of alternative input or output lines or plurality of alternative packaging units on the same packaging line for improving machine flexibility
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 2210/04 Customised on demand packaging by determining a specific characteristic, e.g. shape or height, of articles or material to be packaged and selecting, creating or adapting a packaging accordingly, e.g. making a carton starting from web material
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/04 Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 43/52 using roller-ways or endless conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 59/00 Arrangements to enable machines to handle articles of different sizes, to produce packages of different sizes, to vary the contents of packages , to handle different types of packaging material, or to give access for cleaning or maintenance purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 59/001 Arrangements to enable adjustments related to the product to be packaged
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 59/003 Arrangements to enable adjustments related to the packaging material
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 65/003 Packaging lines, e.g. general layout
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 65/006 Multiple parallel packaging lines
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/00 Closing containers or receptacles after filling
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/0235 Containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 23/23 of electric linear motors
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 35/06 comprising a load-carrier moving along a path, e.g. a closed path, and adapted to be engaged by any one of a series of traction elements spaced along the path effecting drive at two or more points spaced along the length of an endless conveyor B65G23/32
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/642 in a horizontal plane
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 54/02 electrostatic, electric, or magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 11/00 Apparatus for weighing a continuous stream of material during flow; Conveyor belt weighers
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/03 for weighing during motion G01G19/04, G01G19/07 take precedence check weighing of materials dispensed into removable containers G01G15/00; weighing a continuous stream of material during flow G01G11/00; G01G19/02, e.g. G01G19/022, G01G19/045 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41865 characterised by job scheduling, process planning, material flow
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/42337 Tracking control
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 : Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 : Processing of requisition or of purchase orders

Abstract

A weigh-in-motion scale system for a linear synchronous motor conveyor and a method for weighing objects on a linear synchronous motor conveyor are described herein. In one embodiment, the weigh-in-motion scale system includes a support structure for supporting the following: a weigh cell, a section of a linear synchronous motor conveyor track, a vehicle for transporting an object, and an object; and a weigh cell on the support structure on which a section of a linear synchronous motor conveyor track rests directly or indirectly. In one embodiment, the method includes transporting a vehicle with an object thereon along a section of a linear synchronous motor conveyor track; and at a weighing station while the vehicle with the object thereon is being transported, weighing the section of a linear synchronous motor conveyor track, vehicle, and object to determine the weight of the object.

Claims

1. A weigh-in-motion system for weighing objects on a linear synchronous motor conveyor, wherein the linear synchronous motor conveyor includes:

sections of a linear synchronous motor which motor sections include propulsion coils;

a cable through which power and communication can be provided to the propulsion coils;

sections of track on which a vehicle can transport an object; and

at least one vehicle, said system comprising;

a. a support structure for supporting the following;

a weigh cell, a section of a linear synchronous motor conveyor track, a vehicle for transporting an object, and an object; and

b. a weigh cell on said support structure on which a section of a linear synchronous motor conveyor track rests directly or indirectly, wherein said weigh cell is configured to weigh vehicles and objects while in motion.

2. The weigh-in-motion system of claim 1 wherein the section of linear synchronous motor conveyor track supported by said support structure does not include a section of the linear synchronous motor.

3. The weigh-in-motion system of claim 1 wherein the support structure is configured to also support at least one section of the linear synchronous motor.

4. The weigh-in-motion system of claim 3 wherein the linear synchronous motor sections are positioned adjacent to one another, and the support structure is configured to support a section of the linear synchronous motor without supporting one or more adjacent sections of the linear synchronous motor.

5. The weigh-in-motion system of claim 4 wherein the support structure is configured to support two sections linear synchronous motor and one section of linear synchronous motor conveyor track, and the section of the linear synchronous motor track supported by the support structure spans at least portions of the two sections linear synchronous motor.

6. The weigh-in-motion system of claim 4 wherein the section of linear synchronous motor conveyor track and the section of the linear synchronous motor supported by the support structure are coextensive.

7. The weigh-in-motion system of claim 4 wherein the section of linear synchronous motor conveyor track and the section of the linear synchronous motor supported by the support structure each have ends that are not coextensive, wherein the section of track is shorter than the section of linear synchronous motor, wherein at least one end of said section of track terminates short of at least one end of said section of the linear synchronous motor, and a portion at the end of at least one adjacent section of track is cantilevered over the section of linear synchronous motor supported by said support structure.

8. The weigh-in-motion system of claim 1 wherein the weigh cell is an electromagnetic force restoration (EMFR) weigh cell.

9. A method for weighing objects on a linear synchronous motor conveyor, said method comprising:

a. providing a weigh-in-motion system comprising;

i. a support structure for supporting the following;

a weigh cell, a section of a linear synchronous motor conveyor track, a vehicle for transporting an object, and an object; and

ii. a weigh cell on said support structure on which a section of a linear synchronous motor conveyor track rests;

b. transporting a vehicle with an object thereon along said section of a linear synchronous motor conveyor track; and

c. at a weighing station while said vehicle with an object thereon is being transported, weighing said section of a linear synchronous motor conveyor track, vehicle, and object to determine the weight of said object.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said steps (b) and (c) is carried out on objects being transported at speeds in a range from greater than or equal to about 0.2 m/s to less than or equal to about 20 m/s.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein there are multiple vehicles, wherein each vehicle has a tare weight, and said method further comprises:

(1) assigning an identification designation to each vehicle; and

(2) step (c) further comprises identifying which vehicle is carrying an object being weighed and subtracting the identified vehicle'"'"'s tare weight from the reading on the weigh cell.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein step (c) comprises weighing multiple objects, wherein each object has a different weight, and one object has a lowest weight and another object has a highest weight, wherein the highest object weight is in a range that is between greater than or equal to about 1.1 up to less than or equal to about 1,500 times the lowest object weight.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the vehicles have spaced apart wheels wherein the vehicles travel along said track with said wheels contacting said track, and said vehicles have a wheel base with a length between greater than 40 mm and less than or equal to about 300 mm.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising occasionally transporting said vehicles to said weigh station to check the tare weight of said vehicles.

15. The method of claim 14 where one or more of the vehicles are moved to a designated position other than on the checkweigher if the tare weight of the one or more of the vehicles is identified to be outside of a specified range.

16. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

providing a calibration vehicle with a known weight; and

periodically transporting said calibration vehicle to said weigh station to check the calibration of said weigh cell.