Multi-Zone Container Treatment Control for Energy and Time Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing container treatment machines, such as cleaning machines, face challenges in efficiently adjusting treatment parameters to achieve desired performance with minimal energy consumption and time, particularly in adapting to individual containers and immersion baths, leading to high energy use and difficulty in meeting changing treatment requirements.

Innovation Solution

A container treatment machine with multiple treatment zones and a control system that sets treatment parameters based on a model indicative of desired performance and optimization conditions, allowing for nuanced adjustments within predefined limits, and optionally using inspection results to refine parameters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If treatment parameters are adjusted for individual containers, then treatment quality is improved, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment qualityVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes treatment parameters (temperature, pressure, flow rate) based on container type and soiling degree, allowing optimized treatment for each container category without manual adjustment, thus improving quality while maintaining speed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The control system automatically adjusts treatment parameters based on sensor data about container soiling levels, eliminating the need for manual intervention and reducing time consumption while maintaining high treatment quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If immersion bath temperature is changed, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but time delay increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidtime delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The immersion bath temperature is dynamically adjusted based on real-time sensor data about container soiling levels, allowing the system to respond quickly to different treatment requirements without fixed time delays

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-heats or pre-cools the immersion bath before treatment based on predicted container soiling levels, reducing the time delay when actual treatment is needed while maintaining effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of energy

If treatment parameters are optimized for energy consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but adaptability to changing requirements deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidadaptability to changing requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts treatment parameters based on real-time sensor data about container soiling levels, allowing it to optimize energy consumption for each specific treatment requirement while maintaining adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control system changes treatment parameters (temperature, pressure, flow rate) based on container type and soiling degree, allowing optimized treatment for each container category without manual adjustment, thus improving quality while maintaining speed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4659873A1Machine for treating containers, such as bottles

Publication Date: 2025.12.10 KRONES AG

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AI summary

Container treatment machine (100) for treating containers (110), such as bottles, in a treatment process, the container treatment machine (100) comprising at least two treatment zones (120, 130) with associated treatment parameters for treating the containers (110) and a control system, wherein the control system is configured to set the treatment parameters based on a treatment performance to be achieved and at least one physical and/or chemical optimization condition using a model (310) indicative of the treatment performance.