Container Packaging Cleaner with Covering Member and Suction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional container packaging apparatuses face issues with deposits on the flange portion of containers being blown off and potentially contaminating the contents or scattering to the surroundings, leading to sealing failures and bacterial propagation, especially when handling food.

Innovation Solution

A container packaging apparatus featuring a retainer, supplier, filler, and cleaner with a covering member, lifting device, ejector, and suction device that uses a gas jet to remove deposits from the flange portion while containing the cleaning process within a covering member to prevent contamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If air is sprayed toward the flange portion to remove deposits, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but deposits may enter the container or scatter to the surroundings causing contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidcontamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A covering member (hood) is introduced as an intermediary structure between the ejector and the container. This hood captures the gas flow and deposited matter within its internal space, preventing direct contact between the cleaning jet and the container contents while still allowing effective removal of deposits from the flange portion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The covering member forms a flexible enclosure that can be positioned to cover the container opening during cleaning operations. This shell-like structure contains the gas jet and scattered deposits within its boundaries, directing them toward the suction device while protecting the container interior from contamination

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Productivity

If gas is ejected at high force to blow off deposits, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but scattered matter may lead to bacterial propagation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidbacterial propagation risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The high-force gas ejection that initially appears harmful (scattering deposits) is converted into a beneficial process by containing it within the covering member. The same powerful jet that effectively removes deposits now does so safely, with the hood capturing and redirecting the scattered matter to the suction device rather than allowing it to contaminate the environment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The covering member serves as a mediator that allows aggressive cleaning to proceed while protecting against its harmful effects. It captures the forceful gas jet and deposited matter, channeling them through the suction device rather than allowing uncontrolled scattering that could lead to bacterial propagation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a covering member is added to contain the cleaning process, then contamination is prevented, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontamination preventionVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The covering member and suction device are merged into an integrated cleaning assembly. The hood serves dual purposes: containing the gas jet and providing a pathway for the suction device to capture deposited matter. This combination reduces the need for separate containment and suction systems, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Effectively removes deposits from the flange portion without contaminating the container contents or scattering them, improving sealing integrity and sanitation by containing the cleaning process, thus preventing bacterial propagation and enhancing cleaning efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

an ejector for ejecting gas toward the flange portion of the container to blow off deposited matter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas flow:

Implementation Method 2

a suction device for removing the deposited matter from inside the covering member after being blown off by the ejector

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentUS11312521B2Container packaging apparatus

Publication Date: 2022.04.26 SHIBUYA PACKAGING SYST CORP

AI summary

A container packaging apparatus includes a retainer for retaining the container; a container supplier for supplying a container to the retainer; a filler for filling contents into the container; and a cleaner for removing deposits on a flange portion of the container filled with the contents from the filler. The cleaner includes a covering member for covering an outer periphery of the flange portion of the container; a lifting device for relatively moving the covering member up and down with respect to the container so that the covering member covers the outer periphery of the flange portion of the container; an ejector for ejecting gas toward the flange portion of the container to blow off deposited matter; and a suction device for removing the deposited matter from inside the covering member after being blown off by the ejector.