Can Lid Feed Wheel Sterilization to Prevent Re-Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing arrangements for disinfecting and closing can lids require sterile lids to be transported through a potentially contaminated environment, risking re-contamination and necessitating clean room conditions, as well as requiring buffer systems to manage different working cycles and output rates.
Innovation Solution
An arrangement featuring a transport star wheel with integrated sterilization devices, allowing for individual and precise sterilization of can lids directly before closure, minimizing transport distance and eliminating the need for additional conveyor paths and clean room conditions, using UV emitters or other sterilization methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate sterilization and closing units are used with transport in between, then sterilization can be performed, but the risk of re-contamination increases due to transport through non-sterile environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sterilization device and feed device into a single integrated unit. The sterilization device is arranged directly in the conveyor region of the feed device, eliminating separate transport paths between sterilization and closing units. This integration ensures that sterilized can lids are immediately fed to the closing unit without exposure to non-sterile environments, thereby maintaining sterility and preventing re-contamination.
2Reliability
If enclosed transport path with sterile gas supply is provided, then sterility can be maintained during transport, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex enclosed transport path with sterile gas supply by integrating sterilization directly into the feed device. Instead of maintaining sterility during transport through complex enclosures and gas systems, the invention performs sterilization immediately before feeding to the closing unit, removing the need for intermediate protected transport infrastructure.
3Productivity
If buffer system is added to balance working cycles, then production synchronization is improved, but risk of re-contamination increases with longer residence time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sterilization device with the feed device, eliminating the need for separate buffer storage systems. By integrating sterilization directly into the feeding mechanism, the invention achieves both working cycle synchronization and immediate delivery to the closing unit, preventing re-contamination that would occur during prolonged buffer storage.
4Reliability
If clean room conditions are required, then sterility can be ensured, but manufacturing cost and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary sterilization action directly at the point of use by integrating the sterilization device into the feed device. This preliminary treatment ensures sterility is achieved immediately before can lids are fed to the closing unit, eliminating the need for maintaining clean room conditions throughout the entire production area and reducing manufacturing and operational complexity.
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
Ensures effective sterility of can lids before closure, reduces re-contamination risk, and synchronizes working cycles with the can closure unit, eliminating the need for buffer storage and clean room conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The sterilization device (18, 20) is arranged on a peripheral section of the transport star wheel (12) and contains at least one UV emitter for sterilizing the can lid
Data Source
AI summary
An arrangement for disinfecting can lids (32) and for closing cans includes a feed device (12) which feeds a can closing unit (24). Receiving portions (30) for individual can lids (32) are arranged in the feed device (12). The feed device (12) is situated in the feed region of the can closing unit (24). At least one sterilization device (18, 20), for can lids (32) received individually in the feed device (12), is arranged in a conveying region of the feed device.