Cleanroom Seal Overflow Control With Inlet-Line Level Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices fail to prevent contamination of cleanrooms by sealing fluid due to overflow or spillage from the receiving chamber, which can occur during high peripheral speeds of the rotating transport carrier, leading to potential contamination of the sterile environment.
Innovation Solution
A device with an overflow container and a sensor system that maintains a constant liquid level, directing excess liquid away from the cleanroom by discharging it through an overflow device when a predetermined fill level is exceeded, and ensuring the liquid level remains unaffected by the rotation of the transport carrier.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the peripheral speed of the rotating transport carrier is increased to improve productivity, then the production efficiency is improved, but the sealing liquid may spill from the receiving chamber causing contamination
Solution Approach 1:
An overflow container is introduced as an intermediary component between the receiving chamber and the cleanroom environment. This overflow container captures spilled sealing liquid that results from high-speed rotation, preventing it from entering the cleanroom and causing contamination, thus allowing high productivity to be maintained without the harmful effect of contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The potential harmful effect of liquid spillage due to high peripheral speed is converted into a beneficial outcome. The overflow container is designed to intentionally receive and channel the spilled liquid in a controlled manner, transforming what would be uncontrolled contamination into a managed flow that protects the cleanroom environment.
2Reliability
If the liquid level in the receiving chamber is increased to improve sealing effect, then the sealing reliability is improved, but the liquid may overflow uncontrollably into the cleanroom
Solution Approach 1:
The overflow container serves as a mediator between the receiving chamber and the cleanroom. It allows the liquid level in the receiving chamber to be maintained at a high level for effective sealing, while any excess liquid that overflows is captured by the overflow container rather than entering the cleanroom uncontrollably.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the natural overflow behavior of liquid to serve the sealing function. By allowing the liquid to naturally overflow into the overflow container when the level is too high, the system automatically regulates itself without requiring external control mechanisms, maintaining both high sealing reliability and preventing uncontrolled contamination.
3Measurement precision
If a sensor device is arranged directly on the sealing device to monitor liquid level, then the measurement capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor device is merged with the overflow container structure rather than being separately mounted on the sealing device. This integration allows liquid level monitoring while reducing overall device complexity by combining multiple functions into a single structural element.
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
Prevents uncontrollable overflow and spillage of sealing fluid into the cleanroom, maintaining a sterile environment by effectively managing the liquid level and directing excess liquid away from the cleanroom.
Implementation Method 1
the liquid level within the overflow container remains relatively constant and is not affected by the rotation of the transport carrier. Furthermore, if the liquid level rises within the overflow container, it can be directed away from the container, preventing it from flowing uncontrollably into the cleanroom.
Data Source
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Figure 3
AI summary
A device (1) for treating containers (15) with a transport device (2) which transports the containers (15) to be treated along a predetermined transport path, wherein this transport device (2) has a rotatable transport carrier (22) on which a plurality of treatment stations (4) for treating the containers (15) are arranged, wherein the device (1) has a cleanroom (8) within which the containers (15) are treated in a predetermined manner, and with a sealing device (40) which seals this cleanroom (8) against an environment, wherein this sealing device (40) has a reservoir (42) that can be filled with a liquid medium and with a sensor device (50) for at least indirectly measuring a fill level of this liquid medium. According to the invention, the sensor device (50) is arranged in an inlet line (55) that can be brought into flow communication with the reservoir (42).