Compact Cleaning and Drying Apparatus with Integrated Turntable
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cleaning apparatuses lack versatility and compactness, often requiring separate conveyers between cleaning and drying devices, which increases space requirements and susceptibility to contamination.
Innovation Solution
A compact cell-type cleaning and drying device that uses a vertical articulated or orthogonal axis robot to handle objects of different types simultaneously, with a turntable and centrifugal dehydration system, allowing for direct loading and unloading without intermediate conveyers, and employing inner and outer fixed nozzles for efficient cleaning and drying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate conveyers are used between cleaning and drying devices, then object transfer is reliable, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning device and drying device are merged into a single integrated apparatus sharing a common chamber, turntable, and gripping device. The cleaning device includes a cleaning unit with nozzles, while the drying device includes a drying unit with air blowers, both operating within the same chamber to eliminate the need for separate conveyers between them.
Solution Approach 2:
The turntable serves multiple functions: it positions objects for cleaning by the cleaning unit, then repositions them for drying by the drying unit, and finally dispenses dried objects. The single gripping device performs object loading, holding during cleaning, and dispensing operations, reducing the need for multiple specialized conveyers.
2Reliability
If intermediate conveyers are used, then object transfer is possible, but contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
By combining cleaning and drying operations within a single sealed chamber, the invention eliminates intermediate transfer stages where objects could be exposed to contamination. The object remains held by the gripping device throughout the entire process from cleaning to drying without being released or transferred to external conveyers.
Solution Approach 2:
The turntable acts as an internal intermediary mechanism within the sealed chamber, enabling smooth transition of objects between cleaning and drying zones without exposing them to the external environment. All transfer operations occur through controlled internal movements rather than external conveyer systems.
3Area of stationary object
If a compact cell-type design is used, then space requirements are reduced, but versatility for handling different object types decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The turntable provides dynamic repositioning capability, allowing the gripping device to place objects in optimal positions for different cleaning and drying operations. The turntable can rotate to present objects to different zones within the chamber, enabling the compact apparatus to handle various object types and orientations without requiring additional space.
Solution Approach 2:
The single chamber accommodates multiple functional units (cleaning nozzles, drying blowers, turntable, gripping device) that can collectively handle different object types. The system's versatility comes from the coordinated operation of these multi-functional components rather than dedicated stations for each object type.
4Manufacturing precision
If cleaning and drying are performed in separate devices, then each device can be optimized, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning and drying operations proceed continuously within the same chamber without interruption or object transfer between devices. The gripping device holds the object throughout both operations, and the turntable continuously repositions the object as needed, eliminating idle transfer time and maximizing productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
By merging cleaning and drying functions into a single integrated apparatus with shared components (chamber, turntable, gripping device), the system achieves both device optimization and high productivity. The coordinated operation of cleaning nozzles and drying blowers within the same space allows simultaneous or sequential processing without the delays inherent in separate devices.
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 solution enables high versatility and compactness, allowing for simultaneous cleaning and drying of multiple object types without intermediate conveyers, reducing contamination risks and space requirements while maintaining efficient cleaning and drying processes.
Implementation Method 1
a turntable and centrifugal dehydration system
Implementation Method 2
The cleaning liquid jetted from the cleaning nozzle collides with the cleaning points
Implementation Method 3
employing inner and outer fixed nozzles for efficient cleaning and drying
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A compact versatile cell-type cleaning device and cell-type drying device is provided. A cleaning apparatus 10 includes: a cover 11 having a loading port 19 formed on a wall surface of a cleaning chamber 15, and an unloading port 23 formed on a wall surface of a drying chamber 17; a partition plate 13 having an intermediate transfer port 21 for dividing into the cleaning chamber 15 and the drying chamber 17; an intermediate door 22 that opens and closes the intermediate transfer port 21; a turntable 41 disposed inside the drying chamber 17 and having a first gripping device 43 that grips an object 1, and a moving device 25 having a gripping device 27 that grips the object through a loading port 19, cleans the object 1 inside the cleaning chamber 15 while gripping the object 1, and moves the object 1 to the turntable 41.