Heated Robot Sealing Arrangement for Hygienic Sterilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
In industrial robots operating in hygienic environments, such as those handling food or pharmaceuticals, there is a risk of pathogenic microorganisms remaining in the interfaces between parts despite thorough cleaning, necessitating a more effective sealing arrangement to prevent microbial growth and ensure hygiene.
Innovation Solution
A sealing arrangement featuring a sealing element that can withstand temperatures of at least 100 °C, equipped with a heating element to heat the sealing material to at least 70 °C, providing enhanced disinfection and a sanitary seal, which can be integrated or externally arranged, using electric heating or ultraviolet light sources, to prevent microbial growth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional cleaning procedures (high pressure washing, strong detergents) are used, then cleaning capability is improved, but pathogenic microorganisms can still remain in interfaces between parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of temperature by introducing a heating element that raises the sealing element temperature to at least 70°C, transforming the cleaning mechanism from mechanical/chemical to thermal, thereby achieving effective disinfection in previously inaccessible interfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical cleaning (high pressure washing) and chemical cleaning (strong detergents) with a thermal field (heating element), substituting the cleaning mechanism to achieve disinfection through temperature elevation rather than mechanical or chemical means
2Reliability
If a heating element is integrated into the sealing element, then sterilization effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heating element directly with the sealing element, integrating two previously separate functions (sealing and heating) into a single unified component, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining sterilization effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing element is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides both the sealing function and houses the heating element for sterilization, making it a multi-functional component that reduces the need for separate cleaning/sterilization systems
3Reliability
If sealing material is heated to high temperatures (at least 70°C), then microbial growth prevention is improved, but risk of thermal damage to the sealing material increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter by selecting sealing materials with appropriate thermal resistance properties, enabling the material to withstand the required sterilization temperature of at least 70°C without degradation, thus allowing effective disinfection while maintaining material integrity
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 solution effectively sterilizes the sealing elements, ensuring a sanitary seal by killing harmful bacteria and preventing fluid ingress, thus enhancing the hygiene and durability of the sealing arrangement while maintaining a smooth exterior profile.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element arranged to heat the sealing material to at least 70 °C
Implementation Method 2
a sealing element in which no, or substantially no, thermal cracks are generated at this temperature
Data Source
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AI summary
Sealing arrangement (48) comprising a sealing element (50) arranged to seal a gap between a proximal member (28, 36) and a distal member (32, 40), the sealing element (50) comprising a sealing material configured to withstand a temperature of at least 100 °C; and a heating element (58, 74, 78) arranged to heat the sealing material to at least 70 °C. An industrial robot (10) comprising at least one sealing arrangement (48) and a method for sterilizing a sealing element (50) are also provided.