Container Cleaning Machine Dynamic Loading Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Container treatment plants experience reduced throughput and increased treatment times for larger container formats, leading to potential damage from excessive exposure to caustic or acid baths.
Innovation Solution
A container treatment line with a control unit that adjusts the loading of carrier units in the cleaning machine based on container throughput, ensuring a consistent transport speed and minimizing treatment time variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the container treatment plant processes large container formats, then the container treatment capacity is maintained, but the container throughput decreases and treatment time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the transport speed of the cleaning machine adjustable and variable. The control unit dynamically adapts the transport speed based on the detected container format, allowing the system to optimize between throughput and treatment time for different container sizes rather than operating at a fixed speed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of transport speed based on container format detection. The control unit modifies the operational parameters of the cleaning machine (specifically transport speed) according to the container characteristics, enabling optimal processing conditions for each container format
2Productivity
If the transport speed of the cleaning machine is reduced to match lower container throughput, then the container treatment plant can process containers, but the treatment time increases and container damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts transport speed based on container format rather than uniformly reducing speed for all containers. This prevents excessive treatment time and associated damage while still accommodating variations in container processing requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit detects container format and uses this feedback information to adjust the transport speed of the cleaning machine. This closed-loop control prevents the system from operating at speeds that would cause excessive treatment time and container damage
3Productivity
If the cleaning machine operates at maximum container throughput, then cleaning efficiency is optimized, but treatment time varies and exceeds limits for certain container formats
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning machine operates dynamically with variable transport speed rather than at a fixed maximum speed. The control unit continuously adjusts the transport speed to maintain consistent treatment time across different container formats while preserving cleaning efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The operational parameters of the cleaning machine, specifically transport speed, are changed based on container format detection. This enables the system to maintain consistent treatment time across different container types while preserving overall cleaning efficiency
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a container treatment line (1a-1d) having: a cleaning machine (2) for cleaning containers (17); a container treatment system (3) downstream of the cleaning machine (2) comprising at least one container treatment machine (22); a conveying device (23) for conveying the containers (17) to the cleaning machine (2); and a control unit (14), the cleaning machine (2) comprising the following: - a container inflow (4), having a plurality of lanes (10), and a container outflow (5), - an inner transport device (6) for transporting the containers (17) from the container inflow (4) to the container outflow (5), said transport device comprising a plurality of carrier units (8) arranged one after another in the transport direction (7) of the transport device (6) and each having a plurality of container receptacles (9) arranged transversely to the transport direction (7) for retaining the containers (17) while they are being transported from the container inflow (4) to the container outflow (5), and - a loading device (12) for loading at least some of the container receptacles (9) with the containers (17), and the container treatment line (1a-1d) comprising a control unit (14). According to the invention, the control unit (14) is designed to process data concerning the container throughput of the container system (3) and/or concerning the container throughput of the at least one container treatment machine (22) and to control the loading device (12) such that, for an operating duration, one of the carrier units (8) and/or a plurality of the carrier units (8) is either loaded with containers (12) by the loading device (12) or left empty depending on the container throughput of the container treatment system (3) and/or on the container throughput of the at least one container treatment machine (22).