Antimicrobial Brushing and UV Coating for Produce Decontamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural products are susceptible to microbial contamination during handling and distribution, leading to cross-contamination and foodborne illnesses, with existing sanitization methods being inadequate in effectively reducing microbial load.
Innovation Solution
A treatment system incorporating a brushing mechanism with antimicrobial bristles, a heating coating device, and UV exposure to sequentially treat products, utilizing antimicrobial compounds and UV radiation to deactivate and remove microbial loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional sanitization methods (brushing and washing) are used to remove microbes, then microbial load is reduced, but cross-contamination occurs and microbial deactivation is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance (coating material containing antimicrobial agents) that mediates between the product surface and microbes. This coating material serves as a transfer medium that carries antimicrobial compounds to the product surface, enabling effective microbial deactivation without direct mechanical contact that could cause cross-contamination. The intermediary coating layer allows chemical antimicrobial action rather than mechanical removal, solving the contradiction between microbial load reduction and preventing cross-contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of microbial treatment from mechanical removal (brushing) to chemical/thermal deactivation. By applying a coating material containing antimicrobial agents and heating it to specific temperatures (e.g., 60-100°C), the patent transforms the sanitization mechanism from physical removal to chemical/thermal inactivation. This parameter change enables effective microbial deactivation while maintaining product integrity and preventing cross-contamination, as the treatment occurs in-place without mechanical contact.
2Reliability
If mechanical brushing is used to remove microbes, then some microbial load is reduced, but product surface integrity may be compromised and cross-contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical brushing system with a chemical/thermal treatment system. Instead of using physical brushes to scrape or wipe microbes from the surface, the patent applies a coating material containing antimicrobial agents that chemically inactivates microbes. The heating element then thermally deactivates any remaining microbes. This substitution eliminates mechanical contact that could compromise product surface integrity while achieving effective microbial load reduction through chemical and thermal mechanisms.
3Reliability
If heating coating material is applied to deactivate microbes, then microbial deactivation is achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-heating the coating material before application to the product surface. The coating material is heated to the required temperature (60-100°C) in advance, so that when it contacts the product, the thermal deactivation of microbes begins immediately without requiring prolonged heating during the coating process. This preliminary heating action reduces the total energy consumption while still achieving effective microbial deactivation, as the coating material acts as both the delivery vehicle for antimicrobial agents and the thermal treatment medium.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively reduces microbial load on agricultural products by removing particulates, deactivating microbes through thermal and UV treatment, and preventing cross-contamination, while extending product shelf-life and reducing freshness loss.
Implementation Method 1
The bristles agitate against the product surface removing microbes or microbe-laden particulates from the product surface
Implementation Method 2
The heated coating material neutralizes microbes that may be present in the coating mixture, and/or on the product surface, via thermal inactivation
Implementation Method 3
A UV mechanism exposes the agricultural product or coating mixture to ultraviolet radiation, de-activating and reducing the microbial load on the product surface or in the coating mixture
Data Source
AI summary
A treatment system, including a conveyor bed configured to transport a plurality of products; a brushing device located along the conveyor bed and having one or more brushes that include a first antimicrobial compound; a surface treatment device including a lamp configured to emit light of a peak wavelength directed toward a portion of the conveyor bed; and a coating device configured to deliver a coating mixture onto the plurality of products on the conveyor bed.