Container Sanitizing and Filling Kiosk Using Steam Sterilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for sanitizing, filling, and capping containers, such as bottles, are not cost-effective, accessible, convenient, sanitary, or environmentally friendly, particularly for individuals and businesses in low-income, densely populated, or remote areas, and pose health and sanitation risks.
Innovation Solution
The development of methods and apparatuses that include sterilizing, filling, and capping containers with a focus on using environmentally friendly materials, providing access to clean drinking water, and offering pay-per-use services through machines and kiosks that sanitize, fill, and cap containers using steam, ozone-free processes, and eco-friendly materials like polyethylene terephthalate and HDPE, ensuring safety and hygiene.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional sanitizing and filling methods are used, then containers can be processed, but the methods are not cost-effective, accessible, or convenient for customers in low-income, densely populated, or remote areas
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate functional modules: a sanitizing module that uses steam or hot water to sanitize containers, a filling module that dispenses water, and a control module that manages the process. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently and deployed in distributed locations, improving accessibility without requiring a complex integrated system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables customers to sanitize and fill their own containers through automated kiosks or vending machines. Users simply insert coins or tokens, select their container, and the machine automatically sanitizes and fills it. This self-service approach eliminates the need for manual operation by trained personnel, reducing operational complexity while improving accessibility and convenience for customers.
2Reliability
If conventional sanitizing methods are used, then containers can be cleaned, but the methods are not entirely sanitary and pose health risks
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes phase transitions of water (liquid to steam and back to liquid) for sanitization. Steam is generated by heating water, then condensed back to liquid form to rinse and sanitize containers. This phase transition approach achieves high-temperature sterilization without requiring complex chemical processes, maintaining sanitary safety while keeping the manufacturing process relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs ozone or other strong oxidizing agents to sanitize containers. These oxidants effectively kill bacteria and contaminants through oxidation reactions, providing reliable sanitary safety. The oxidizing agents are applied in controlled amounts and decompose into harmless substances afterward, maintaining process simplicity while ensuring thorough sanitization.
3Quantity of substance
If traditional filling and delivery services are used, then customers can access drinking water, but the methods are not environmentally friendly and are not cost-effective
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a reusable container program where customers bring their own containers to be sanitized and refilled. Instead of discarding single-use bottles after one filling, the same containers are repeatedly sanitized, refilled, and reused. This recovering approach dramatically reduces waste and environmental impact while maintaining availability of clean drinking water, and the cost savings are passed to customers.
4Adaptability or versatility
If automated sanitizing and filling machines are deployed, then service accessibility improves, but the device complexity and initial cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The automated machines are designed with multi-functionality, combining sanitizing, filling, and container identification capabilities in single units. The same machine can handle different container types (bottles, cups, jars) by adjusting parameters rather than requiring separate specialized equipment for each function. This universality improves service accessibility across multiple locations while controlling overall system complexity through standardized platform design.
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
These methods and apparatuses provide a cost-effective, convenient, and sanitary solution for accessing clean drinking water, improving hygiene and environmental sustainability by using eco-friendly materials and processes, making it accessible to a broader range of customers, including those in underserved areas.
Implementation Method 1
sterilizing the container with steam
Implementation Method 2
sanitizing the container with an ozone-free process
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates in some aspects to methods and apparatuses for sterilizing, sanitizing, and/or otherwise removing contaminants from, filling, and/or capping containers, such as bottles. In some aspects, the containers are reusable bottles containing or designed to hold drinking water. In some embodiments, the container is received from a customer and/or is provided to the customer. In some embodiments, the methods include returning the same container to the customer. In some embodiments, the methods provide sanitary, convenient, and/or environmentally-friendly alternatives to available methods for removing cleaning, sanitizing, sterilizing, filling, and capping of containers holding drinking liquids.