Flexible-Wall Cleaning Chamber for Kitchen Robot Hygiene Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Kitchen robots in the catering sector face challenges in cleaning due to their weight and complex shapes, making them unsuitable for standard dishwashers and difficult to clean with cloths efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A flexible wall-based cleaning system that isolates the robot arm within a dedicated cleaning space, using a cleaning hose or deformable tarpaulin to contain a cleaning medium, which can be introduced via a discharge nozzle to effectively clean the robot and its components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If kitchen robots are cleaned in standard dishwashers, then cleaning is simplified, but robots are too heavy and complex-shaped to fit
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the cleaning process from standard dishwashers by creating a dedicated cleaning station with a cleaning bath that can accommodate the robot's specific geometry and weight requirements, separating the cleaning function from conventional dishwashing equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The robot is divided into separable components (robot arm, gripper, tools) that can be individually removed and cleaned in the cleaning bath, allowing each part to be cleaned independently according to its specific requirements
2Ease of manufacture
If kitchen robots are cleaned with cloths, then cleaning is possible, but the complex external shapes make thorough cleaning time-consuming and difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a hydraulic cleaning system with a cleaning bath and circulation pump that delivers cleaning solution under pressure to all surfaces of the robot components, including complex geometries, eliminating the need for manual cloth cleaning and significantly reducing cleaning time
Solution Approach 2:
A cleaning solution intermediary substance is introduced that effectively removes contaminants from complex surfaces, facilitating thorough cleaning without requiring extensive manual effort or time
3Reliability
If cleaning media are introduced into the kitchen environment, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but health-problematic media may escape and contaminate the kitchen
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible wall or curtain is used to enclose the cleaning station, creating a physical barrier that contains cleaning media within the cleaning area while allowing the structure to adapt to the cleaning process, preventing harmful media from escaping into the kitchen environment
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning station creates an isolated environment where potentially harmful cleaning media can be used without risk of contamination to the kitchen, effectively establishing a contained zone that protects the surrounding area
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
Facilitates quick, efficient, and cost-effective cleaning of kitchen robots by isolating the cleaning area, allowing for the use of fat-dissolving and antibacterial cleaning media, and ensuring effective dirt removal from complex surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
The cleaning medium is intended to be introduced into the cleaning space formed or closed by the wall that is flexible in shape in order to be deposited on the robot arm or its parts and/or to detach dirt from here due to the liquid pressure
Implementation Method 2
The cleaning medium is usually a liquid which, in particular, can dissolve the soiling through a fat-dissolving component
Implementation Method 3
The cleaning medium is usually a liquid which, in particular, can dissolve the soiling through a fat-dissolving component and which can additionally or alternatively prevent bacterial growth through an antibacterial effect
Data Source
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AI summary
Proposed is a cleaning system (20) for a kitchen robot (100) used in the catering industry, as well as a kitchen robot system incorporating such a cleaning system (20). The cleaning system (20) forms a cleaning chamber (22) for at least partially accommodating the kitchen robot (100). This chamber is delimited, at least partially, by a flexible wall (30) of the cleaning system (20). For cleaning purposes, the cleaning system (20) includes a dispensing system (60) for a cleaning medium (62), which has at least one dispensing nozzle (66) by means of which the cleaning medium (62) can be introduced into the cleaning chamber (22). The cleaning system (20) enables the cleaning of robots in the catering industry with comparatively low cleaning effort and with very good cleaning results.