Container Interior Drying via Gas Ejector and Suction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for drying the interior of containers with coating agents, such as using high-temperature ovens or dry gas circulation, are inefficient, require significant space and investment, and can cause container deformation due to temperature sensitivity or inadequate gas circulation.
Innovation Solution
A container-interior drying method involving a gas ejector nozzle and a suction mechanism that inserts into the container to circulate and discharge gas, allowing for efficient drying without deformation and reducing equipment complexity and space requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-temperature oven is used to dry the container interior, then the drying efficiency is improved, but the container may deform due to heat and large equipment space is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal drying system (oven) with a pneumatic drying system using compressed gas. The gas ejector nozzle delivers high-velocity gas directly to the container interior, and the suction mechanism removes the vapor, achieving rapid drying without thermal deformation. This substitutes mechanical energy (gas flow) for thermal energy (heat).
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the drying function from the large-scale oven system and implements it locally at the container level using a compact gas ejector nozzle and suction mechanism. This allows drying to occur in-place during the filling line process, eliminating the need for separate large drying equipment.
2Device complexity
If dry gas is ejected at the container opening to volatilize solvent, then equipment complexity is reduced, but gas circulation is insufficient due to small opening size, prolonging drying time
Solution Approach 1:
The gas ejector nozzle is inserted into the container interior through the opening, and the suction mechanism is positioned to face the opening from the exterior. This nested arrangement allows the ejection and suction operations to be coordinated in a compact configuration, maximizing gas circulation efficiency within the constrained space.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction mechanism acts as an intermediary that enhances the gas circulation process. By actively removing gas from the container interior through the opening, it creates a flow that draws fresh gas in, significantly improving circulation efficiency compared to passive ejection alone, while still using simple pneumatic components.
3Productivity
If large-scale oven is installed to improve filling line efficiency, then drying capacity is increased, but investment cost and installation space increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The drying function is extracted from the large-scale oven and implemented at the container level using compact pneumatic components. This allows the drying operation to be integrated into the existing filling line footprint without requiring additional large equipment spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses pneumatic systems (compressed gas supply) to achieve rapid drying in a compact manner. The gas ejector nozzle and suction mechanism can be supplied from central gas lines, eliminating the need for large dedicated drying equipment and reducing installation space requirements.
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 method significantly shortens drying time, improves line efficiency, and prevents container deformation by ensuring effective gas circulation and eliminating the need for large equipment like vacuum apparatuses.
Implementation Method 1
ejecting gas from the gas ejector nozzle into the interior of the container... to volatilize and dry the solvent
Implementation Method 2
sucking out gas through the opening of the container by a suction mechanism positioned so as to face the opening of the container... to allow gas within the container to fully circulate
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are a container-interior drying device and a container-interior drying method capable of shortening drying time and improving the efficiency in an entire filling line without causing container deformation, the device having a simple configuration and requiring little space for installation. The device includes a gas ejector nozzle (110) capable of being inserted into an interior of a container through an opening of the container, a suction mechanism (120) capable of facing the opening of the container, and a gas supply unit (130) configured to supply the gas ejector nozzle (110) with gas, wherein gas is ejected into the interior of the container from the gas ejector nozzle (110), and the suction mechanism (120) positioned so as to face the opening of the container sucks out gas through the opening of the container.