Container Washing Tank Label Extraction With Ultrasonic Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing machines are inefficient in removing labels from containers during the cleaning process, leading to high energy consumption and longer cleaning times.
Innovation Solution
The washing machine incorporates a pair of extraction devices positioned at the bottom section of the cleaning tank to detach and remove labels using high-pressure removing fluid, combined with ultrasonic waves for enhanced cleaning efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If containers are treated through cleaning zones for a relatively long time at relatively high temperatures to effectively remove encrusted dirt, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases and cleaning time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies ultrasonic waves to the cleaning process to create mechanical vibrations that enhance the removal of encrusted dirt. The ultrasonic vibrations agitate the cleaning solution and create cavitation effects that dislodge stubborn contaminants from container surfaces, allowing for more effective cleaning at lower temperatures and shorter durations, thus reducing energy consumption while maintaining cleaning effectiveness
2Productivity
If suction apparatuses are arranged at the bottom of the tank to remove labels, then label removal is achieved, but the efficacy of label removal is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the label removal function into multiple extraction devices positioned at different locations within the cleaning tank. Instead of relying on a single suction apparatus at the bottom, multiple extraction devices are distributed throughout the tank to capture labels at various stages and locations, significantly improving the overall efficacy and efficiency of label removal
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a removing fluid as an intermediary substance that facilitates label detachment. This fluid is introduced into the cleaning tank to work in conjunction with the extraction devices, enhancing the chemical and physical mechanisms that cause labels to detach from containers and be removed more effectively
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 solution ensures thorough label removal with reduced energy consumption and time, while maintaining a compact and ergonomic design for easy maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
The use of ultrasonic waves has been proposed, such as in WO-A-2020119958 in the name of the same Applicant, for aiding the cleaning process, in order to reduce energy consumption and/or cleaning time. Briefly, the ultrasonic waves propagate in water and, more in general, in a medium with a relative periodic motion with respect to the medium itself, such that local micro-zones within the medium pass periodically from a depressurized to a pressurized state.
Implementation Method 2
During the depressurized state, air dissolved within the medium tends to form many microbubbles, which implode when pressure increases so as to release energy. Such energy may be useful to disaggregate the aforementioned encrusted dirt mounds
Implementation Method 3
a pair of extraction devices (12a, 12b) arranged in the cleaning tank (7) at the bottom section thereof, and configured for detaching/removing labels (not shown) from the containers (2) advanced, in use, in the cleaning tank (7) and for receiving the detached/removed labels
Data Source
AI summary
There is described a washing machine configured to wash empty containers adapted to be filled with a pourable product, the washing machine includes: a conveyor device configured to convey a plurality of containers along a washing path in an advancement direction; at least one tank for holding a cleaning medium, the washing path extending within and along the tank; and a hollow passage which extends through the tank and which is fluidly isolated from the tank. The washing machine further includes a pair of extraction devices arranged in fluid communication with the tank, fluidly isolated from the hollow passage, and configured for detaching/removing labels from the containers advanced in the tank and for receiving the detached/removed labels, thereby extracting such labels from the tank.