Container Cleaning Machine Injector Nozzle Venturi Flow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing container cleaning machines are inefficient in removing aggressive dirt and labels with high energy and construction effort.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of injector nozzles operating on the Venturi principle within the cleaning bath, which increase the flow of cleaning fluid to enhance dirt and label removal, combined with a suction system to remove contaminants, and a transport device that ensures a tangential flow around the containers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If greater energy and material consumption is used to remove heavy soiling or labels, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption and material consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs hydraulic principles through the injector nozzle to generate high-velocity cleaning fluid flow. The nozzle converts pressure energy into kinetic energy, creating a focused jet that impacts contaminants with sufficient force to remove heavy soiling and labels without requiring excessive overall system energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the flow parameters of the cleaning medium by using an injector nozzle to transform the cleaning fluid into a high-velocity jet. This parameter change (from low-velocity bulk flow to high-velocity directed jet) increases the cleaning effectiveness on stubborn contaminants while maintaining reasonable energy input levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If more aggressive cleaning methods are used to remove stubborn dirt and labels, then cleaning results are improved, but device complexity and construction effort increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning resultsVSAvoidconstruction effort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the cleaning function from complex mechanical systems and concentrates it into a simple hydraulic jet generated by the injector nozzle. This extraction of the core cleaning mechanism into a single focused flow source simplifies the overall device structure while maintaining effective cleaning capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

By relying on hydraulic flow dynamics rather than mechanical contact (such as brushes or impactors), the invention achieves aggressive cleaning action with minimal mechanical complexity. The injector nozzle and fluid dynamics system replace what would otherwise require complex mechanical cleaning mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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

This configuration improves the cleaning result by increasing the impact of cleaning fluid on stubborn dirt and labels while minimizing energy expenditure and construction effort, with the ability to recycle cleaning fluid for reuse.

Implementation Method 1

The injector nozzle can preferably operate according to the Venturi principle, thus delivering more cleaning fluid from an outlet opening of the injector nozzle in the outflow direction than was supplied to the injector nozzle via a pump

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVenturi principle: Venturi Effect

Data Source

PatentEP4338857A1Container cleaning machine and method for cleaning containers
Publication Date: 2024.03.20 KRONES AG
  • EP4338857A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4338857A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4338857A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Container cleaning machine (100) for cleaning containers, such as bottles (130), comprising a cleaning bath (101) and a transport device (102) for transporting containers through the cleaning bath, wherein the cleaning bath comprises at least one injector nozzle (111, 112, 113) for causing a flow of a cleaning fluid in the cleaning bath along an outflow direction (271, 272, 273) from the injector nozzle in the direction of a container transported through the cleaning bath.