Antimicrobial Vessel Control Using Workpiece Dwell Time Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current antimicrobial systems for foodstuff disinfection lack the ability to measure critical application parameters and automate control, leading to suboptimal performance in reducing bacterial contamination while maintaining product quality.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a vessel with a working fluid, counting sensors for tracking workpieces, and a controller that calculates dwell time or density to modulate system conditions, ensuring effective antimicrobial treatment and data collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If automated adjustments are made to control application parameters, then antimicrobial performance is improved, but measurement capability is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback control by using sensors to monitor workpiece density and dwell time, then automatically adjusting delivery and removal rates to maintain optimal antimicrobial treatment conditions. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables automated adjustments based on real-time measurements, resolving the contradiction between improving reliability through automation and the lack of measurement capability.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple application parameters are monitored and controlled, then product quality is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multi-functional sensors that simultaneously measure multiple parameters including workpiece density, dwell time, and positional information. The controller integrates these measurements to coordinate delivery and removal trains, enabling single system components to perform multiple functions. This reduces overall system complexity while maintaining the ability to monitor and control multiple application parameters for improved product quality.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If workpiece density and dwell time are controlled, then bacterial reduction is improved, but automation extent is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service automation by using sensors to automatically detect workpiece density and dwell time conditions, then autonomously adjusting delivery and removal rates without human intervention. The controller processes sensor data and automatically modulates system operation to maintain optimal treatment conditions, achieving high extent of automation that effectively reduces bacterial load through controlled density and dwell time parameters.
Data Source
AI summary
The systems and methods can include calculating a dwell time or density of workpieces in a vessel; and modulating the one or more conditions of the system based on the dwell time or density of workpieces in the vessel. In an example, the system includes a vessel configured to carry a working fluid and a plurality of workpieces at least partially submerged in the working fluid; a delivery train configured to introduce workpieces into the vessel; a first counting sensor configured to generate an entrance signal based upon a workpiece introduced into the vessel; a transport train configured to transport workpieces introduced into the vessel to an exit of the vessel; a removal train configured to remove workpieces from the vessel through the exit; and a second counting sensor configured to generate an exit signal based upon a workpiece removed from the vessel through the exit.