Method and system for displacing a fluid from a supply container to a delivery component
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for displacing fluids from supply containers to buffer tanks in industrial settings lack effective prevention of contamination and hazardous situations due to incorrect coupling, despite efforts to standardize and simplify the process.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the identification and verification of coupling components using unique code combinations, where tags on supply containers and buffer tanks are scanned to ensure correct matching before fluid transfer occurs, utilizing a shared coupling component that can be successively coupled to multiple tanks and containers, and a control unit verifies these codes against a database to permit fluid transfer only when correct.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a shared (universal) transfer conduit is used to couple supply containers to buffer tanks, then simplicity and standardization are improved, but the risk of incorrect coupling and fluid contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification and verification of the coupling between supply container and buffer tank before allowing fluid transfer. The control unit checks whether the identified supply container and buffer tank are compatible according to pre-stored coupling rules, preventing incorrect couplings before they result in contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback by verifying the coupling correctness through identification means (such as RFID tags or barcodes) on both the supply container and buffer tank. The control unit receives identification signals, checks compatibility against database rules, and only permits transfer when verification succeeds, creating a closed-loop safety mechanism.
2Reliability
If unique coupling components are assigned to each supply container and buffer tank pair, then prevention of incorrect coupling is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a universal coupling design where a single type of coupling component can be used across multiple supply containers and buffer tanks. Identification means (such as electronic tags or codes) are attached to each container and tank to provide unique identification, allowing the control unit to verify compatibility without requiring physically unique coupling mechanisms for each pair.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary that mediates between the identification means on supply containers and buffer tanks. It processes the identification information, checks against pre-stored coupling rules in a database, and controls the transfer process accordingly, enabling reliable matching without complex physical coupling variations.
3Reliability
If identification and verification steps are added to the fluid transfer process, then safety and contamination prevention are improved, but process time and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual verification processes with automated electronic identification and verification. Identification means such as RFID tags or optical barcodes enable rapid, contactless reading of container and tank identifiers, and the control unit automatically checks compatibility against database rules, significantly reducing verification time compared to manual checking.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-verification by automatically reading identification means on the supply container and buffer tank, checking compatibility against pre-stored rules, and controlling the transfer process without requiring extensive manual intervention. The automated control unit handles the verification process, reducing operational complexity and time.
Data Source
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AI summary
System, particularly for use in industrial laundry, for displacing a first fluid (1) from a supply container (2) to a delivery component (3). A first identifiable delivery component (3.1) is configured to hold a first fluid (1.1) and a second identifiable delivery component (3.2) is configured to hold a second fluid (1.2). A coupling component (4) for mutually coupling the supply container (2) and a delivery component (3) for the purpose of displacing fluid (1) via the coupling component (4) from the supply container (2) to the coupled delivery component (3), the coupling component (4) being provided with at least one identification means (7) ccomprising a programmable identification element, - a database with a plurality of programmable cross-references, each of which being formed by an identification of a coupling component (4) and at least one value which is dependent on the identification of the supply container (2) and/or the delivery component (3), - a control unit (8) connected to the database for verifying, on the basis of the identified coupling component (4) and the cross-reference from the database related thereto, whether the fluid (1) coming from the supply container (2) is allowed to flow through the identified coupling component (4). The programmable identification element is configured to store identifying information of at least one adjacent component coupled to the coupling component (4), the adjacent component being formed by: the supply container (2) or the delivery component (3) and at least one other identified coupling component.