US 12,276,539 B2
Method and device for diagnosing weighing system
Jianqiang Yang, Changzhou (CN); Lifeng Cai, Changzhou (CN); and Jianwei Wu, Changzhou (CN)
Assigned to Mettler-Toledo (Changzhou) Precision Instruments Ltd, Changzhou (CN); Mettler Toledo (Changzhou) Measurement Technology Ltd., Changzhou (CN); and Mettler-Toledo International Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Shanghai (CN)
Filed by Mettler-Toledo (Changzhou) Precision Instruments Ltd, Changzhou (CN); Mettler-Toledo (Changzhou) Measurement Technology Ltd., Changzhou (CN); and Mettler-Toledo International Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Shanghai (CN)
Filed on Jun. 2, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/303,579.
Claims priority of application No. 202010518537.2 (CN), filed on Jun. 9, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0381881 A1, Dec. 9, 2021
Int. Cl. G01G 23/01 (2006.01); G05B 23/02 (2006.01)
CPC G01G 23/01 (2013.01) [G05B 23/0235 (2013.01); G05B 23/027 (2013.01); G05B 23/0283 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for diagnosing a weighing system, the method comprising the steps of:
acquiring, at a processing unit by way of electronic collection from the weighing system:
weigh sensor data, at least one status parameter, and at least one operating parameter of each of a plurality of components of the weighing system, said components including at least one weighing sensor, at least one transmitter, a programmable logic controller (“PLC”), a weighing platform, and at least one peripheral sensor;
environment parameters of an application for which the weighing system is being used; and
communication data and interaction data among all the components; and
determining, using the processing unit, a status of each of the components from the weigh sensor data, status parameters, and the operating parameters of all the components;
obtaining, using the processing unit, a service life status of each of the components from evaluation of the weigh sensor data, status parameters, the operating parameters, and the communication data and interaction data for indications of non-standard use of the weighing system evaluated through table lookup of, and comparison against, non-standard use data parameters, and calculation of the service status life such that, increased indications of non-standard use of the weighing system result in a decrease of the service life status;
calculating and determining, using the processing unit, a system performance status from evaluation of the weigh sensor data, status parameters and operating parameters of each of the components, the communication data and interaction data among all the components, and the environment parameters of the weighing system application using signal analysis of zero drift and, where zero drift exceeding one or more predetermined parameters is detected, a comparison against respective, acceptable parameters;
sending, by way of the processing unit to a device, a first-level prompt comprising fault information when the status of any one of the components is abnormal, such that the system stops operating;
sending, by way of the processing unit to the device, a second-level prompt comprising predicted life time limits which are obtained from the service life status of each of the components through calculation and/or table lookup and comparison when the status of each of the components is normal and the service life status of at least one of the components reaches a preset threshold;
sending, by way of the processing unit to the device, a third-level prompt comprising guidance information of abnormality elimination obtained by means of table lookup or comparison or matching with the system performance abnormality event when the status of each of the components is normal and a system performance abnormality event is identified for the performance status of the system; and
sending, by way of the processing unit to the device, a fourth-level prompt comprising service life status information of each of the components or comprises service life status information of each of the components and the predicted life time limits when the status of each of the components is normal.