Beverage Filling Adjustment Device Cleaning Recesses

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional adjustment devices in beverage bottling plants face challenges in achieving hygienic and aseptic cleaning due to the complexity and cost of sealing mechanisms, such as bellows, which are sensitive and require extensive effort for connection and sterilization.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a rotation element and translation element with integrated cleaning recesses allows for complete rinsing, cleaning, drying, and sterilization of the contact area between the elements, eliminating the need for bellows by using a threaded spindle and nut design with a radially outward open groove or helical recesses that enable thorough treatment of internal surfaces during rotation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If bellows are used to seal the adjustment device, then sealing and protection are improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesealingVSAvoidstructure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the bellows component entirely from the adjustment device. Instead of sealing the threaded spindle with bellows, the patent uses a open design where the threaded spindle rotates freely without any sealing mechanism, thereby eliminating the complexity and cost associated with bellows while maintaining functionality through a different cleaning approach

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of trying to seal and protect the adjustment device from contamination, the invention inverts the approach by designing the device to be openly accessible for cleaning. The threaded spindle and nut are designed with cleaning recesses that allow cleaning agents to reach all surfaces, making sealing unnecessary

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If bellows are used for sealing, then protection is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to extensive connection effort

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesealingVSAvoidconnection
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The bellows component and its complex connection requirements are completely removed from the system. The adjustment device uses a simple open design where the threaded spindle and nut can be easily connected and disconnected without the extensive effort required for bellows installation and sealing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Device complexity

If conventional adjustment devices are used, then structure is simplified, but cleaning reliability deteriorates due to inaccessible contact areas

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestructureVSAvoidcleaning
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by adding cleaning recesses specifically to the areas that need cleaning - the threaded spindle and nut contact surfaces. These recesses are strategically positioned to allow cleaning agents to reach all critical surfaces, making the simple structure cleanable without adding overall complexity to the device

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning recesses create a new dimension for cleaning agent access. By incorporating grooves and recesses into the threaded surfaces, the invention allows cleaning agents to penetrate into the contact areas between the spindle and nut, transforming the cleaning process from external surface only to internal surface accessible

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Reliability

If voluminous sealing components are used, then sealing is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to simplified cleaning process

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesealingVSAvoidcleaning
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The voluminous sealing components (bellows) are removed, and in their place, simple cleaning recesses are added to the threaded surfaces. This extraction of complex sealing and replacement with simple cleaning features dramatically improves cleaning productivity while maintaining adequate protection through the cleaning capability itself

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2700613B2Beverage filling system comprising an adjusting device and method for cleaninga beverage filling system
Publication Date: 2019.05.29 KRONES AG
  • EP2700613B2 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2700613B2 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2700613B2 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The present invention relates to an adjustment device (1) for a beverage filling plant, comprising a rotating element (2) and a translational element (3) which is movable translationally by rotation of the rotating element (2) relative to it, wherein the rotating element (2) and/or the translational element (3) has a cleaning recess (4) for cleaning a contact area between the translational element (3) and the rotating element (2).