Container Closure Treatment Circulation System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing container closure treatment systems in beverage bottling plants are limited in treatment quality due to the direction and coverage of gas flow, which restricts the optimization of disinfection efficiency and resource consumption.

Innovation Solution

A device with a circulating flow system that uses a blower and pipework to recirculate the treatment medium, creating turbulence and optimizing its distribution within the treatment area, allowing for effective disinfection of container closures with reduced resource usage and compact design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If gas flow from nozzles is used to treat container closures, then sterilization is achieved, but treatment coverage and optimization are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesterilization effectivenessVSAvoidtreatment coverage optimization
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a circulation fan that creates dynamic airflow patterns within the treatment chamber, allowing the treatment medium to move and redistribute continuously. This dynamic approach enables adjustable and adaptable treatment coverage across different closure positions, resolving the limitation of fixed nozzle-based gas flow directions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If treatment medium is introduced through inlet nozzles, then disinfection occurs, but resource consumption is not optimized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisinfection qualityVSAvoidtreatment medium consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The circulation fan recirculates the treatment medium throughout the chamber, allowing it to be reused multiple times rather than being discharged after a single pass. This recovery and reuse mechanism reduces the overall consumption of treatment medium while maintaining consistent disinfection quality across all closures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Reliability

If upward gas flow from nozzles is used, then closures are sterilized from below, but flow direction and coverage are predetermined

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesterilization from belowVSAvoidflow direction flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The circulation fan creates multi-directional and adjustable airflow patterns that can reach closures from various angles and positions. This dynamic airflow system provides operational flexibility to optimize treatment coverage without being constrained to fixed upward flow directions from nozzles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 circulating flow system enhances the disinfection efficiency of container closures by ensuring even treatment medium distribution and application, reducing the amount of treatment medium needed while maintaining or improving treatment quality, thus optimizing resource usage and system compactness.

Implementation Method 1

a circulation unit (9) configured to create turbulence and/or a flow, preferably a circulating flow, of the treatment medium within the treatment area

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTurbulence: Turbulence

Data Source

PatentEP4190741A1Method and device for treating container closures
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 KRONES AG
  • EP4190741A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4190741A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4190741A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Device (1) and method for treating container closures with a treatment medium, preferably in a beverage filling plant, wherein the device (1) comprises: a housing (5) with a treatment area (11) located therein, through which the container closures can be transported for application of the treatment medium; at least one inlet (80) for introducing the treatment medium into the treatment area (11) and at least one outlet (81) for discharging the treatment medium from the treatment area (11); and a circulation device (9) which is configured to cause turbulence and/or a circulating flow of the treatment medium in the treatment area (11).