Automated Container Guide Adjustment for Food Industry Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current container cleaning devices require manual adjustment of box guides for different container dimensions, leading to inefficiencies, potential damage from excessive force, and increased operator requirements, with malfunctions only detectable after they occur.
Innovation Solution
A device with automatically adjustable container guides and a storage system for container-specific settings, allowing for quick adaptation to varying dimensions, and a rotating mechanism to optimize cleaning access, along with torque monitoring and maintenance features to prevent damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual adjustment of crate guides is used, then the device can be operated with simple structure, but the adjustment time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automatic adjustment mechanisms that dynamically adapt the crate guide positions based on detected container dimensions. The system transitions from static manual positioning to dynamic automated adjustment, enabling rapid reconfiguration when changing container types while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment system performs self-adjustment by automatically detecting container dimensions and repositioning guides without operator intervention. The device serves itself by integrating sensors and actuators that autonomously configure the cleaning line for different container specifications, eliminating the need for manual measurement and adjustment.
2Productivity
If simultaneous adjustment of multiple crate guides is implemented, then adjustment time is reduced, but the risk of excessive force and damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms through torque sensors and force monitoring on each adjustment actuator. When adjusting multiple guides simultaneously, the system continuously monitors the force applied and provides feedback to the control unit, which can adjust the adjustment speed or stop the process if excessive force is detected, preventing damage while maintaining rapid adjustment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment mechanism uses dynamic control where the speed and force of simultaneous guide adjustments are automatically modulated based on real-time conditions. The system can accelerate adjustments when resistance is low and decelerate or stop when excessive force is encountered, enabling fast yet safe multi-guide adjustment.
3Reliability
If manual monitoring of crate transport is used, then the device structure remains simple, but malfunction detection is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system continuously receives feedback from sensors positioned along the crate transport path, detecting malfunctions such as blocked guides, abnormal container positions, or transport interruptions. This real-time feedback enables immediate detection and alerting, significantly improving reliability compared to manual monitoring while maintaining reasonable system complexity through standardized sensor integration.
Solution Approach 2:
Sensors and detectors act as intermediaries between the physical crate transport system and the control unit. These intermediary devices translate physical conditions (container position, guide alignment, transport flow) into electrical signals that the control system can process, enabling automated monitoring without requiring direct human observation of all system components.
4Ease of operation
If individual manual adjustment of each container guide is performed, then the adjustment mechanism remains simple, but the operator workload increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-adjustment by automatically detecting container dimensions and repositioning guides without operator intervention. The device serves itself by integrating sensors and actuators that autonomously configure the cleaning line for different container specifications, eliminating the need for manual measurement and adjustment while maintaining ease of operation through a user-friendly interface for initiating adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment system is designed to universally handle multiple container types and dimensions through a single automated mechanism. Rather than requiring different adjustment procedures for different container sizes, the system uses sensors to detect container specifications and automatically configures all guides appropriately, reducing operator workload while improving adjustment efficiency across diverse container types.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) for cleaning containers, such as boxes or crates from the food industry or containers, with a conveyor section along which the containers are movable and at least partially cleanable, wherein at least one container guide (12, 42, 46, 50, 53, 54, 55, 60, 65, 67, 68) is provided along the conveyor section, wherein the at least one container guide is configured to guide the containers according to a dimension of the containers and wherein the at least one container guide includes an associated adjustment device (35, 43, 47, 49, 52, 57, 59, 62, 70) which is configured to be automatically adjusted according to the dimension of the containers. The invention further relates to a method for operating the device.