Blow Molding Device for Antimicrobial Agent Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blow molding methods leave antimicrobial agents on the surface of bottles, which can compromise food hygiene as these agents are not completely removed after the sterilization process.
Innovation Solution
A blow molding device that includes heating means to sterilize the preform, antimicrobial agent-spraying means to apply agents generating active oxygen or hydroxyl radicals, hot forming means for stretch blow molding, and an irradiation device using electromagnetic waves like microwaves and UV to degrade and dry the antimicrobial agents, ensuring no residual agents remain on the bottle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sterilization is performed by exposing preform to antimicrobial agent, then sterilization effect is improved, but antimicrobial agent remains on container surface causing food hygiene issues
Solution Approach 1:
The sterilization process is divided into multiple independent stages: (1) heating preform to molding temperature, (2) spraying antimicrobial agent, (3) heating to sterilize and dry, (4) blow molding, and (5) post-irradiation with electromagnetic waves. Each stage performs a specific function, allowing complete removal of antimicrobial agent residues while maintaining sterilization effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The sterilization and drying actions continue throughout the entire process from preform heating through blow molding to post-processing irradiation. The heating means continuously heats the preform, the hot forming means continuously dries the antimicrobial agent during blow molding, and the irradiation device continuously degrades remaining residues, ensuring complete elimination of harmful residues.
2Loss of substance
If heating is performed to dry antimicrobial agent, then drying effect is improved, but complete removal of antimicrobial agent cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
Electromagnetic waves (microwaves, UV waves, or ultrasonic waves) are introduced as an intermediary substance to degrade and remove antimicrobial agent residues that heating alone cannot eliminate. This intermediary mechanism complements the thermal drying process, ensuring complete removal of residues while maintaining the sterilization effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The process utilizes changes in physical and chemical parameters at different stages: heating temperature for sterilization, electromagnetic wave frequency and intensity for degradation and removal of residues. By adjusting these parameters appropriately at each stage, the process achieves both complete sterilization and complete removal of antimicrobial agent residues.
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 device achieves complete sterilization of the bottle surface, eliminating antimicrobial agents and enabling aseptic filling that is safer for food hygiene.
Implementation Method 1
heating means for heating a preform to a temperature appropriate for molding
Implementation Method 2
the hot forming means additionally dries the antimicrobial agent retained on the preform in the hot state
Implementation Method 3
an irradiation device irradiating the molded bottle with electromagnetic waves such as microwaves and UV waves
Implementation Method 4
the irradiation device emits the electromagnetic waves such as the microwaves and the UV waves or the ultrasonic waves to degrade the anti-microbial agent remaining on the molded bottle and further promote the drying of the antimicrobial agent
Data Source
AI summary
The blow molding device (1) is provided with a heating means (4) for heating a preform (P) to a temperature appropriate for molding, an antimicrobial agent-spraying means (50) for spraying an antimicrobial agent on the preform (P), a hot forming means for stretch blow molding the preform into a bottle (B), and an irradiation device (7) irradiating electromagnetic waves or ultrasonic waves on the bottle. After the heating means (4) has heated the preform (P), the anti-microbial agent-spraying means (50) sprays the anti-microbial agent and sterilizes the preform (P) with hot antimicrobial agent. During subsequent stretch blow molding of the preform (P), the hot forming means performs additional drying of antimicrobial agent retained on the preform (P) in the hot state and additional sterilization. The irradiation device (7) irradiates electromagnetic waves or ultrasonic waves to degrade the anti-microbial agent remaining on the molded bottle (B) and further promote antimicrobial agent drying and sterilization.