Drying and Cleansing Apparatus for Narrow-Neck Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods fail to effectively dry and sterilize objects with narrow necks or mouths, leading to moisture retention and potential contamination, often resulting in the premature discarding of reusable items like bottles and other hygiene-critical objects.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising a UV-resistant housing with a mechanism for directing conditioned air and ultraviolet radiation, including an air heater, fan, and controller, which ensures thorough drying and sterilization of objects by regulating air temperature and flow, and utilizing UV sources like LEDs to sanitize surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional drying methods are used on bottles with narrow necks, then the drying process is simple, but moisture retention occurs inside the bottle
Solution Approach 1:
The drying system segments the air delivery by providing multiple nozzles positioned at different locations and angles within the housing, allowing conditioned air to reach different areas of the bottle interior effectively
Solution Approach 2:
A support structure acts as an intermediary element that holds the bottle in a suspended inverted position, enabling the bottle neck to be properly positioned within the housing for effective drying without complex manual positioning mechanisms
2Reliability
If UV radiation is used for sterilization, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but safety risks increase if housing is not UV-resistant
Solution Approach 1:
The housing material's UV resistance, which might seem like a limitation for transparency, is converted into a safety feature that blocks harmful UV radiation while allowing the UV sterilization function to operate effectively inside the enclosed space
Solution Approach 2:
The UV-resistant housing acts as an intermediary barrier that allows UV radiation to be used for sterilization while protecting the user from harmful exposure, enabling the beneficial effect while eliminating the harmful aspect
3Productivity
If heated air is directed into the bottle, then drying speed increases, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller automates the drying process by continuously directing heated air through the nozzles for a predetermined time period, ensuring complete drying without excessive energy consumption from prolonged operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the temperature parameter of the air by heating it before delivery, which increases the drying speed and effectiveness while the controlled duration limits overall energy consumption
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple treatment functions are combined in one apparatus, then versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus merges multiple treatment functions (heating, UV sterilization, drying) into a single integrated unit with a unified housing and control system, providing versatility while maintaining relatively simple structure through functional integration
Solution Approach 2:
The housing and support structure are designed as universal components that accommodate different bottle sizes and types, while the same apparatus provides multiple treatment functions (heating, UV sterilization, drying) without requiring separate dedicated structures for each function
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 apparatus effectively dries and sterilizes objects of various sizes, preventing moisture retention and contamination, thereby extending the lifespan of reusable items and ensuring hygienic conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The mechanism may include an air heater, an air fan, and a controller for regulating operation of the air heater and the air fan thereby to produce said stream of conditioned air at a predetermined air temperature
Implementation Method 2
The mechanism may include an air heater, an air fan, and a controller for regulating operation of the air heater and the air fan thereby to produce said stream of conditioned air
Implementation Method 3
The ultraviolet source, which is operable by the controller, may be located at said outlet from the passage... Typically the source comprises one or more light-emitting diodes which function at a desired frequency
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus for treating an object which has a housing into which hot air and ultraviolet radiation are directed to impinge on the object which is located inside the housing, if the object is a container, inside the housing, the hot air and UV radiation are directed into an interior of the container.