Atomizing Liquid Ejection for Food Container Surface Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for systems and methods to eliminate or reduce microbial contamination on the interior surfaces of food transport containers to prevent cross-contamination and ensure effective surface treatment between uses.
Innovation Solution
The systems include atomizing spray nozzles intermittently arranged to dispense antimicrobial solutions onto container surfaces, utilizing ducts and liquid ejectors activated by electrical conduits or pressurized gas, with components like duct connectors and computer processors to manage treatment status and ensure thorough surface coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual cleaning methods are used, then device complexity is reduced, but microbial elimination effectiveness is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical cleaning with an automated liquid ejection system that uses electrical conduits and pressurized gas to activate nozzles, substituting human labor with electromechanical automation to achieve more reliable microbial elimination
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs pressurized gas delivered through hoses to activate nozzles and eject liquid onto surfaces, utilizing pneumatic principles to automate the cleaning process and improve consistency of microbial elimination
2Reliability
If thorough surface treatment is applied, then microbial contamination is reduced, but treatment time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses intermittently arranged nozzles that activate in sequence rather than continuously, applying liquid treatment in periodic pulses that achieve thorough coverage while reducing overall treatment time compared to continuous application
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment system is divided into multiple segmented nozzles distributed throughout the container, allowing simultaneous treatment of different surface areas and reducing total treatment time while maintaining thorough coverage
3Reliability
If treatment status tracking is implemented, then cross-contamination risk is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates treatment status tracking that provides feedback on whether surfaces have been treated, allowing users to verify contamination prevention status without adding complex monitoring hardware throughout the container
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 systems effectively eliminate or reduce microbial contamination, ensuring safe and hygienic conditions for food transport by providing thorough surface treatment and maintaining treatment records, thereby reducing the risk of cross-contamination.
Implementation Method 1
a hose configured to retain a pressurized gas... the nozzle is configured to eject the liquid onto at least a portion of the one or more surfaces in response to... a pressure provided by the pressurized gas
Implementation Method 2
atomizing spray nozzles intermittently arranged in the systems for the purpose of dispending a liquid
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and kits for treating one or more surfaces with a liquid. The one or more surfaces may be those of a container, such as a container used to ship food. The systems may include one or more ducts, one or more liquid ejectors, and one or more duct connectors, which may be connected, in any sequence, to form a system.