Abstract
In multihead weighers, packaging processes seek to find the best combination of passage hoppers whose product content provides a total package weight as close as possible to its (nominal) label weight. The weighing hoppers arranged in these machines dispense the product quantity that each package contains through computer algorithms designed and executed for this purpose. For its part, in the packaging process for double-layered multihead weighers, all hoppers are arranged in two levels. The first layer comprises a group of weighing hoppers, and the second comprises a set of booster hoppers placed uprightly or diagonally to each weighing hopper based on design of the machine. In both processes, the initial machine configuration is the same; however, the hopper selection algorithm works differently. This paper proposes a new packaging process optimization algorithm for double-layer upright and diagonal machines, wherein the hopper subset combined has previously been defined, and the packaging weight is expressed as actual values. As part of its validation, product filling strategies were implemented for weighing hoppers to assess the algorithm in different scenarios. Results from the process performance metrics prove that the new algorithm improves processes by reducing variability. In addition, results reveal that some machine configurations were also able to improve their operation.
Highlights
Multihead weighers were first used in the 1970s and, since they have been used to improve industrial process performance
A bit-operation-based weighing algorithm succeeded in proving that operation times can be reduced and that the output weight from uneven hoppers is closer to the desired target weight [8]
The packaging problem was formulated as a bicriteria approximation issue for discrete weights, and a dynamic programming algorithm was proposed for its solution
Summary
Multihead weighers were first used in the 1970s and, since they have been used to improve industrial process performance. Multihead weighers play a fundamental role in the industrial process given the accuracy and speed they provide to the packaging process Once programmed, they can automatically package several food industry products, including products with heterogeneous characteristics. One of the most prominent process requirements is that package contents must match the weight printed on its label This becomes one of the main issues that must be addressed to guarantee high-quality standards in the final product, with variability being directly related to the quality of the process [3]. Quality in the packaging process may be achieved by reducing variability around the target weight (T) [5] For these purposes, processes must be streamlined trying to guarantee that package content weights are as close as possible to the weight specified on the label.
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