WEIGHING METHOD WITH AUTOMATIC MICRO-CALIBRATION FUNCTION

Abstract

A weighing method has an automatic micro-calibration function. In the method, an automatic adjustment is performed by a self-calibration weighing module. When the result of the adjustment does not meet a requirement, an automatic calibration is performed by the self-calibration weighing module, followed by weighing fine formulation materials. In the weighing method, the self-calibration module is used to perform the automatic calibration function to weigh the fine formulation materials. This provides a high degree of automation, and greatly reduced cost in equipment and labor for a formulating process, saving on time and labor, and with no risk of cross-contamination.

Claims

1. A weighing method with an automatic micro-calibration function, comprising the steps of: performing an automatic adjustment by a self-calibration weighing module and determining whether a result of the automatic adjustment meets a predetermined requirement, and only if the result of the automatic adjustment does not meet the predetermined requirement, performing an automatic calibration by the self-calibration weighing module, and weighing fine formulation materials.

2. The weighing method of claim 1, further comprising the following steps: installing and connecting a material tank to the self-calibration weighing module and a control system; sending an instruction, by the control system, for performing the automatic adjustment to the self-calibration weighing module; loading the material tank by the self-calibration weighing module, and displaying loaded weight data and performing the step of determining in the control system whether the result of the adjustment meets the predetermined requirement and, only if the result does not meet the predetermined requirement, instructing, by the control system, the self-calibration weighing module to perform the automatic calibration; performing the step of weighing fine formulation materials using weighing control on the fine formulation materials by a feeding system of the material tank; and switching, by the control system, back to calibrated data of the material tank, and weighing large-weight mixed solvent materials.

3. The weighing method of claim 2, wherein the control system comprises a meter or a PLC control system.

4. The weighing method of claim 3, wherein the step of sending the instruction for performing the automatic adjustment comprises the steps of: triggering an internal software control program by the meter through a mechanical meter button or by the PLC control system through a virtual key, and sending, by the software control program, a signal to an automatic loading device of the self-calibration weighing module.

5. The weighing method of claim 4, wherein the step of loading the material tank and displaying loaded weight data comprises the substeps of: using the automatic loading device to perform a loading action after receiving the signal; and after loading, using the meter or the PLC control system for displaying loaded weight data, and comparing the loaded weight data with the mass of loaded weights for the self-calibration weighing module to obtain a weight deviation value, which is the predetermined requirement.

6. The weighing method of claim 4, wherein the step of performing the automatic calibration comprises the substeps of: sending an automatic small-range calibration instruction by the meter or the PLC control system, and using the self-calibration weighing module to self-calibrate by loading weights, such that the precision meets a precision for small-range weighing.

7. The weighing method of claim 1, further comprising the following steps: installing and connecting a material tank to the self-calibration weighing module and a control system; calibrating data of the material tank by the self-calibration weighing module and weighing large-weight mixed solvents; switching, by the control system, the self-calibration weighing module to an automatic small-range calibration mode, and performing small-range calibration by the self-calibration weighing module by taking a current weight of the material tank as a zero point; sending, by the control system, an automatic adjustment instruction to the self-calibration weighing module; loading the material tank by the self-calibration weighing module, and displaying loaded weight data and performing the step of determining in the control system whether the result of the adjustment meets a predetermined requirement, and only if the result does not meet the predetermined requirement, instructing, by the control system, the self-calibration weighing module to perform automatic calibration; and performing the step of weighing fine formulation materials using weighing control on the fine formulation materials by a feeding system of the material tank.

8. The weighing method of claim 7, wherein the control system comprises a meter or a PLC control system.

9. The weighing method of claim 8, wherein the step of sending the instruction for performing the automatic adjustment comprises the steps of: triggering an internal software control program by the meter through a mechanical meter button or by the PLC control system through a virtual key, and sending, by the software control program, a signal to an automatic loading device of the self-calibration weighing module.

10. The weighing method of claim 9, wherein the step of loading the material tank and displaying loaded weight data comprises the substeps of: using the automatic loading device to perform a loading action after receiving the signal; and after loading, using the meter or the PLC control system for displaying loaded weight data, and comparing the loaded weight data with the mass of loaded weights for the self-calibration weighing module to obtain a weight deviation value, which is the predetermined requirement.

11. The weighing method of claim 9, wherein the step of performing the automatic calibration comprises the substeps of: sending an automatic small-range calibration instruction by the meter or the PLC control system, and using the self-calibration weighing module to self-calibrate by loading weights, such that the precision meets a precision for small-range weighing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] The above and other features, properties and advantages of the present invention will become clearer based on the description below in conjunction with the drawings and embodiments, and the same reference numerals in the figures always represent the same features, in which:

[0039] FIG. 1 is a flowchart of Embodiment I of a weighing method with an automatic micro-calibration function according to the present invention.

[0040] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of Embodiment II of a weighing method with an automatic micro-calibration function according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0041] To make the above objectives, features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and easier to understand, specific implementations of the present invention will be described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0042] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Reference will now be made in detail to preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals used in all the drawings denote identical or similar parts wherever possible.

[0043] Furthermore, although the terms used in the present invention are selected from well-known common terms, some of the terms mentioned in the description of the present invention may have been selected by the applicant according to his or her determination, and the detailed meaning thereof is described in the relevant section described herein.

[0044] Furthermore, the present invention must be understood, not simply by the actual terms used but also by the meanings encompassed by each term.

Embodiment I

[0045] FIG. 1 is a flowchart of Embodiment I of a weighing method with an automatic micro-calibration function according to the present invention.

[0046] The present invention discloses a weighing method with an automatic micro-calibration function, the method comprising: performing an automatic adjustment by a self-calibration weighing module, and when the result of the adjustment does not meet a requirement, performing automatic calibration by the self-calibration weighing module, and weighing fine formulation materials after the calibration is finished.

[0047] Specifically, in this embodiment, the weighing method comprises six steps.

[0048] The first step, S.sub.1, is installing and connecting a material tank to the self-calibration weighing module and a control system.

[0049] The control system preferably comprises a meter or a PLC control system. Before formulating starts, the material tank, the self-calibration weighing module and the control system (such as a meter or a PLC) have been installed, and a feeding system and a discharging system and other auxiliary systems of the material tank have been installed.

[0050] The second step, S.sub.2, is sending, by the control system, an automatic adjustment instruction to the self-calibration weighing module.

[0051] Preferably, step S.sub.2 particularly comprises: triggering an internal software control program by the meter through a mechanical meter button or by the PLC control system through a virtual key, and sending, by the software control program, a signal to an automatic loading device of the self-calibration weighing module. After the automatic loading device receives a signal from a meter or a PLC, for example, as the automatic loading device comprises an electromagnetic valve and a cylinder, the electromagnetic valve is powered on to open a compressed air passage of the cylinder, and the cylinder lifts weights upwards through a weight connecting piece to finish a loading action.

[0052] The third step, S.sub.3, is loading the material tank by the self-calibration weighing module, and displaying loaded weight data and determining whether the result of the adjustment meets a requirement, by the control system, if not, proceeding to step S.sub.4, and if yes, proceeding to step S.sub.5.

[0053] Preferably, step S.sub.3 particularly comprises substeps. Substep S.sub.31 involves performing a loading action by the automatic loading device after receiving the signal. Substep S.sub.32 involves, after loading, displaying loaded weight data by the meter or the PLC control system, comparing the loaded weight data with the mass of loaded weights for the self-calibration weighing module to obtain a weight deviation value, and if the weight deviation value does not meet a requirement, proceeding to step S.sub.4; and if the weight deviation value meets the requirement, proceeding to step S.sub.5.

[0054] The fourth step, S.sub.4, is instructing, by the control system, the self-calibration weighing module to perform automatic calibration, and proceeding to step S.sub.5 after the calibration is finished.

[0055] Preferably, step S.sub.4 particularly comprises: sending an automatic small-range calibration instruction by the meter or the PLC control system, and performing calibration by the self-calibration weighing module by loading weights, such that the precision meets a precision for small-range weighing.

[0056] In this case, it is equivalent to the case where the maximum weighing (e.g., 4-8 kg) precision of the whole material-tank weighing system meets the precision for small-range weighing, and weighing control of fine formulation materials is performed after the calibration is finished. The feeding process is: weighing control on fine formulation materials (e.g., 1 kg of material A or 2 kg of material B) is performed by a feeding system of the material tank. When the weight of the fine materials added meets a requirement, the system stops feeding.

[0057] The fifth step, S.sub.5, is performing weighing control on the fine formulation materials by a feeding system of the material tank.

[0058] When the deviation value meets the production requirements, micro-calibration of the material-tank weighing system is not required, and weighing control on the fine formulation materials (e.g., 1 kg of material A or 2 kg of material B) is directly performed by a feeding system of the material tank. When the weight of the fine materials added meets a requirement, the system stops feeding.

[0059] The sixth step, S.sub.6, is switching, by the control system, back to calibrated data of the material tank, and weighing large-weight mixed solvent materials.

[0060] Preferably, the weighing process of the large-weight mixed solvents is performed after it is switched through the meter or the PLC back to main material-tank scale data, and the weighing control on the large-weight (e.g., 3000 kg of water) mixed solvents is performed. After all materials have been fed, stirring, heating and other processes are carried out to complete the formulating process.

Embodiment II

[0061] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of Embodiment II of a weighing method with an automatic micro-calibration function according to the present invention.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 2, the present invention discloses a weighing method with an automatic micro-calibration function, the method comprising: performing an automatic adjustment by a self-calibration weighing module, and when the result of the adjustment does not meet a requirement, performing automatic calibration by the self-calibration weighing module, and weighing fine formulation materials after the calibration is finished.

[0063] Specifically, in this embodiment, the weighing method comprises seven steps.

[0064] Step S.sub.1′ involves installing and connecting a material tank to the self-calibration weighing module and a control system.

[0065] The control system preferably comprises a meter or a PLC control system. Before formulating starts, the material tank, the self-calibration weighing module and the control system (such as a meter or a PLC) have been installed, and a feeding system and a discharging system and other auxiliary systems of the material tank have been installed.

[0066] Step S.sub.2′ involves calibrating data of the material tank by the self-calibration weighing module and weighing large-weight mixed solvents.

[0067] Preferably, the weighing process of the large-weight mixed solvents is performed after the material-tank scale data is used first, and the weighing control on the large-weight (e.g., 3000 kg of water) mixed solvents is performed. When all materials have been fed, a fine material calibration mode is implemented.

[0068] Step S.sub.3′ involves switching, by the control system, the self-calibration weighing module to an automatic small-range calibration mode, and performing small-range calibration by the self-calibration weighing module by taking a current weight of the material tank as a zero point.

[0069] Step S.sub.4′ involves sending, by the control system, an automatic adjustment instruction to the self-calibration weighing module.

[0070] Preferably, step S.sub.4′ particularly comprises: triggering an internal software control program by the meter through a mechanical meter button or by the PLC control system through a virtual key, and sending, by the software control program, a signal to an automatic loading device of the self-calibration weighing module.

[0071] Step S.sub.5′ involves loading the material tank by the self-calibration weighing module, and displaying loaded weight data and determining whether the result of the adjustment meets a requirement, by the control system, if not, proceeding to step S.sub.6′, and if yes, proceeding to step S.sub.7′.

[0072] Preferably, step S.sub.5′ particularly comprises two substeps.

[0073] Substep S.sub.51′ involves performing a loading action by the automatic loading device after receiving the signal.

[0074] Substep S.sub.52′ involves, after loading, displaying loaded weight data by the meter or the PLC control system, comparing the loaded weight data with the mass of loaded weights for the self-calibration weighing module to obtain a weight deviation value, and if the weight deviation value does not meet a requirement, proceeding to step S.sub.6′; and if the weight deviation value meets the requirement, proceeding to step S.sub.7′.

[0075] Step S.sub.6′ involves instructing, by the control system, the self-calibration weighing module to perform automatic calibration, and proceeding to step S.sub.7′ after the calibration is finished.

[0076] Preferably, step S.sub.6′ particularly comprises: sending an automatic small-range calibration instruction by the meter or the PLC control system, and performing calibration by the self-calibration weighing module by loading weights, such that the precision meets a precision for small-range weighing.

[0077] In this case, it is equivalent to the case where the maximum weighing (e.g., 4-8 kg) precision of the whole material-tank weighing system meets the precision for small-range weighing, and weighing control of fine formulation materials is performed after the calibration is finished. The feeding process is: weighing control on fine formulation materials (e.g., 1 kg of material A or 2 kg of material B) is performed by a feeding system of the material tank. When the weight of the fine materials added meets a requirement, the system stops feeding.

[0078] Step S.sub.7′ involves performing weighing control on the fine formulation materials by a feeding system of the material tank.

[0079] When the deviation value meets the production requirements, micro-calibration of the material-tank weighing system is not required, and weighing control on the fine formulation materials (e.g., 1 kg of material A or 2 kg of material B) is directly performed by a feeding system of the material tank. When the weight of the fine materials added meets a requirement, the system stops feeding.

[0080] Finally, after all materials have been fed, stirring, heating and other processes are carried out to complete the formulating process.

[0081] In summary, in the weighing method with an automatic micro-calibration function according to the present invention, the self-calibration module is used to perform the automatic calibration function to weigh the fine formulation materials, having a high degree of automation, and greatly reducing cost in equipment and labor for a formulating process, saving on time and labor, and having no risk of cross-contamination.

[0082] Although specific implementations of the present invention have been described above, those skilled in the art should understand that these are merely examples, and the scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims. Various alterations or modifications to these implementations can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the principle and essence of the present invention; however, these alterations and modifications all fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.