Bottle Cleaning Machine Interior Disinfection via Recycled Process Liquids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Previous bottle or container cleaning machine interior cleaning and disinfection systems require high fresh water consumption and associated costs due to the need for draining and discarding process fluids before initiating machine cleaning mode.
Innovation Solution
The method involves reusing process liquids from the container cleaning process as cleaning media during machine interior cleaning and disinfection, utilizing the least contaminated process liquids from preceding treatment zones to minimize water usage and costs, with a system of collecting troughs, sieves, filters, and controlled spray nozzles for efficient distribution and filtration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fresh water is used for interior cleaning and disinfection, then hygiene standards are met, but fresh water consumption and costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers and reuses process liquids from treatment zones 7-11 as cleaning media for interior cleaning. Instead of discarding the used process liquids after the container cleaning process, the system collects them in collecting troughs and redirects them through spray nozzles to clean the machine interior, thereby recovering valuable water resources and reducing fresh water consumption while maintaining effective cleaning capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the process liquids generated during normal container cleaning operations to serve the dual purpose of cleaning the machine interior. The process liquids, which are already alkaline and contain cleaning agents, are redirected to clean the treatment zones and machine components, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the need for separate fresh water consumption for interior cleaning
2Quantity of substance
If process liquids are reused for interior cleaning, then fresh water consumption is reduced, but nozzle clogging may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces filtering devices as intermediary components between the process liquid storage and the spray nozzles. These filters remove suspended solids, debris, and contaminants from the process liquids before they reach the spray nozzles, preventing clogging while allowing the reused process liquids to maintain their cleaning effectiveness. The filtering system acts as a mediator that protects the nozzles from direct contact with contaminants
3Reliability
If process liquids from all treatment zones are used for cleaning, then cleaning effectiveness is maximized, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cleaning process by treatment zone, with each zone having its own collecting trough and dedicated spray nozzles for interior cleaning. Treatment zones 7-11 each have separate collection and cleaning pathways, allowing the system to reuse process liquids from each zone for cleaning that specific zone and adjacent areas. This segmentation enables targeted cleaning while managing system complexity through modular, zone-by-zone implementation
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
Significantly reduces fresh water consumption and costs by utilizing recycled process liquids for internal cleaning and disinfection, maintaining optimal hygiene through controlled alkalinity and filtration, preventing nozzle clogging, and ensuring efficient cleaning of all machine areas.
Implementation Method 1
a large number of cleaning and spray nozzles through which the liquid cleaning and/or disinfection media used in the machine cleaning mode can be applied, for example as sharp jets, to all areas of the machine interior
Implementation Method 2
In front of the pump, a sieve and filter unit (23, 24) is provided, specifically for filtering out solid components, in particular also solid protective components and/or labels from the via these lines recycled process liquid
Implementation Method 3
a pump (27) is provided, the process liquid from the sieve and filter unit (24) or from the container or the chamber of this filter unit for internal cleaning of the cleaning machine (1) under pressure
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for the internal cleaning of bottle-cleaning or container-cleaning machines comprising several treatment zones designed in an interior of the machines. The containers to be cleaned move through said treatment zones during the operation of the cleaning machine or during the container-cleaning process and are treated with different cleaning or processing fluids. The internal cleaning occurs in a machine cleaning mode following the container cleaning process.