Dual-Conveyor Article Washing to Prevent Cross-Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automated washing processes for high volumes of consumer items like dishes and cutlery face inefficiencies in water use and cross-contamination, as conveyors and reusable baskets can carry food particles, posing a health risk.
Innovation Solution
A device with a pre-wash section for particle removal and a separate wash section for residue removal, using a pre-wash conveyor and a wash conveyor to physically separate the carriers, ensuring all food particles are removed before the washing process, thereby eliminating cross-contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If articles are washed using conventional automated conveyor systems with reusable baskets, then labor intensity is reduced and water consumption is controlled, but cross-contamination occurs as conveyors and baskets carry food particles from previous batches
Solution Approach 1:
The washing system is divided into two separate conveyor systems: a pre-wash conveyor for initial particle removal and a wash conveyor for subsequent washing. This segmentation prevents cross-contamination by isolating the pre-wash process from the main washing process, ensuring that food particles are removed before articles enter the reusable basket system.
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-wash conveyor is extracted as a separate system from the main wash conveyor. By taking out the pre-wash function and implementing it on a dedicated conveyor that terminates at the commencement of the wash conveyor, the source of cross-contamination is eliminated while maintaining automation benefits.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If hand washing processes are used for high volumes of articles, then cross-contamination can be controlled, but labor intensity becomes extremely high and water consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
A pre-wash process is performed before the main washing process to remove food particles from articles. This preliminary action reduces the burden on the subsequent wash section, enabling automated processing while maintaining cleanliness standards that would otherwise require manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-wash conveyor acts as an intermediary system between manual handling and the main automated wash conveyor. It performs initial particle removal in a controlled manner, facilitating the transition from manual to automated processing while preventing cross-contamination.
3Device complexity
If a single conveyor system is used for both pre-wash and wash processes, then device complexity is reduced, but cross-contamination cannot be eliminated as the same conveyor carries particles from both processes
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system is segmented into two separate conveyors: pre-wash conveyor and wash conveyor. Each conveyor is dedicated to a specific function, preventing cross-contamination while maintaining manageable system complexity through clear functional separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-wash conveyor is extracted as a separate system that terminates at the commencement of the wash conveyor. This extraction eliminates the cross-contamination pathway while keeping the overall device complexity acceptable through modular design.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for washing articles includes a pre-wash section for the removal of particles from the articles, a wash section for the removal of residue from the articles, a pre-wash conveyor for conveying the articles in the pre-wash section, and a wash conveyor for conveying articles in the wash section. The pre-wash conveyor and the wash conveyors are separate with the pre-wash conveyor terminating at the commencement of the wash conveyor, and the articles are transferred from the pre-wash conveyor to the wash conveyor.