Integrated CIP Dosing Branch for Beverage Filling

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional CIP systems in beverage bottling plants are inefficient due to long pipe systems leading to media mixing, high energy consumption, complex control systems, and separate equipment requirements, which result in increased costs, longer cleaning times, and potential delays in cleaning processes.

Innovation Solution

Integration of a CIP device into the filling device, allowing for on-site production of the CIP medium by metering CIP concentrates directly into the main component flow, reducing the need for separate equipment and enabling centralized control and monitoring, thus enhancing efficiency and reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a separate CIP system with long piping is used, then the cleaning medium can be prepared and transported, but media mixing occurs and cleaning time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning agent consumptionVSAvoidcleaning time

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the CIP system directly into the filling machine by incorporating a CIP station within the filling machine housing. The CIP medium is prepared and applied at the same location where filling occurs, eliminating the need for separate CIP system infrastructure and long piping. This merging of functions resolves the contradiction by eliminating media mixing in long pipes while maintaining cleaning capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Device complexity

If the CIP system is located far from the equipment being cleaned, then the CIP system can be separate and independent, but the piping system becomes long and complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepiping system complexityVSAvoidCIP system location flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The CIP station is integrated within the filling machine housing, combining the cleaning function with the filling function in a single compact unit. This eliminates the need for extensive piping systems and reduces overall system complexity while maintaining the ability to perform CIP cleaning of the filling elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If a separate CIP system with its own control is used, then the CIP process can be independently controlled, but the control system becomes complex and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol coordinationVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The CIP station is controlled by the filling machine's existing control unit, merging the control functions. The control unit receives signals from sensors in the CIP station and automatically controls the cleaning process, eliminating the need for a separate complex control system while maintaining independent CIP capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Quantity of substance

If inline dosing is used to prepare CIP medium, then the cleaning medium can be prepared on-demand, but a large expansion vessel is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning medium preparation efficiencyVSAvoidexpansion vessel size

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The CIP medium is prepared directly in the CIP station's dosing chamber by mixing cleaning agents with water on-demand. The compact dosing system integrates the mixing function within the filling machine housing, eliminating the need for a large separate expansion vessel while maintaining the ability to prepare sufficient cleaning medium for the cleaning cycle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This integration reduces cleaning time, minimizes energy consumption, and simplifies the operation by ensuring immediate availability of CIP medium, reducing the need for extensive piping and separate control systems, resulting in a more compact and efficient cleaning process.

Implementation Method 1

a CIP dosing branch (210) for dosing a CIP concentrate into the CIP main component, thereby producing a CIP medium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMixing:

Data Source

PatentEP3834954A1Apparatus for filling a container with cip-cleaning

Publication Date: 2021.06.16 KRONES AG

Figure 1
Figure 2

AI summary

Device (1) for filling a container (100) with a filling product, preferably in a beverage bottling plant, and method for cleaning and/or sterilizing such a device, wherein the device (1) comprises: a main component supply (2) for supplying a main component, preferably water, of the filling product; at least one filling element (6) in fluid communication with the main component supply (2) for filling the container (100) to be filled with the filling product;and a CIP device (200) for cleaning and/or sterilizing components of the device (1) that come into contact with the filling product by means of a CIP medium, wherein the CIP device (200) has a CIP inlet (201) for supplying a CIP main component, preferably water, of the CIP medium and a CIP outlet (202) for dispensing the CIP medium, characterized in that the CIP device (200) further comprises a CIP dosing branch (210, 210') which is configured to dose a CIP concentrate into the CIP main component between the main component supply (2) and the filling element (6) or the CIP outlet (202), thereby producing the CIP medium.