Closure Element Spray Orifice for Container Cleaning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Container treatment machines face challenges in efficiently cleaning and removing cleaning agent residues from complex nozzle systems, especially in isolators, which are difficult to maintain and require extensive space and resources.
Innovation Solution
A device with a closure element having spray openings that deflect cleaning medium from the media discharge opening to surrounding system areas, allowing for controlled CIP cleaning of internal channels and simultaneous external cleaning of isolator walls, using a valve to switch between conventional CIP and additional cleaning modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex nozzle systems are used to clean all surfaces within the container treatment machine, then cleaning coverage is improved, but device complexity and maintenance difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines the closure element with integrated spray openings directly at the filling valve outlet with the CIP cleaning system. This merging eliminates the need for separate complex nozzle systems distributed throughout the isolator, as the closure element itself becomes the cleaning device, spraying cleaning medium onto surrounding surfaces including isolator walls.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure element serves multiple functions: it closes the filling valve outlet during CIP cleaning, generates spray patterns for cleaning surrounding areas, and can be positioned to clean different surfaces. This multi-functionality replaces multiple specialized cleaning components with a single versatile device.
2Reliability
If nozzle systems are distributed in the isolator to clean inside walls, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but space requirements and maintenance effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the cleaning function from distributed nozzle systems and concentrates it at the filling valve outlet location. The closure element with its spray openings performs all necessary cleaning tasks from a single location, eliminating the need for multiple nozzles distributed throughout the isolator space.
Solution Approach 2:
The CIP cleaning system uses its own cleaning medium to clean both the internal channels and the surrounding surfaces including isolator walls. The cleaning medium flows through the product channels, exits at the closing element, and sprays onto surrounding areas, allowing the system to clean itself without requiring separate cleaning infrastructure.
3Productivity
If the filling valve outlet is left open during CIP cleaning, then productivity is maintained, but cleaning medium escapes and contaminates surrounding areas requiring additional cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the valve closure function with the cleaning medium distribution function in the closure element. The same component that closes the outlet also contains the spray openings that direct cleaning medium onto surrounding surfaces, preventing uncontrolled escape while enabling controlled cleaning.
4Adaptability or versatility
If spray openings are added to the closure element, then external cleaning capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closure element is designed to perform multiple functions: closing the filling valve outlet, directing cleaning medium through spray openings onto surrounding surfaces, and potentially positioning itself to clean different areas. This multi-functionality is achieved by integrating these capabilities into a single component rather than adding 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
Enables efficient and controlled cleaning of both internal product-carrying channels and external system areas, reducing the complexity and maintenance needs of nozzle systems while minimizing space requirements.
Implementation Method 1
the closure element has at least one spray opening for deflecting cleaning medium present at the media discharge opening to surrounding areas of the system
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The device (1) has a container treatment machine (100) comprising a closure element (2) that is sealably applied on a media discharge opening (110). The closure element comprises a spray orifice (3) for deflecting a cleaning medium on surrounding contact regions, where the cleaning medium is applied on the discharge opening. The spray orifice is arranged under an angle of outflow direction (X) of a treatment medium from the discharge opening and arranged in different angles. The closure element includes a contact region (20) for sealingly application of the discharge opening. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a container treatment machine (2) a method for cleaning a media discharge opening.