Hollow Screw Feeder for Sterile Element Cleaning and Transport

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing movement devices for sterile elements in sterilisable environments, such as screw feeders and step screen systems, are complex, difficult to clean, and prone to contamination due to friction and complicated maintenance, which increases costs and time.

Innovation Solution

A screw feeder with a hollow conduit and controlled access points, allowing for sterile air suction and washing fluid injection, combined with a unique loop profile for contactless movement and weighing, ensuring easy cleaning and sterility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If step screen systems are used for moving vials, then the release of the movement system from vials during weighing is improved, but the cleaning and sanitising becomes difficult due to many movements and scrapings produced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverelease of movement system from vialsVSAvoidcleaning and sanitising

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful friction contact between the movement system and vials by introducing a magnetic field that enables contactless movement. The vials are moved through magnetic attraction and repulsion forces, eliminating the need for mechanical contact with screens or comb units, thereby preventing scrapings and simplifying cleaning requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical step screen system with a magnetic field-based movement system. Instead of using mechanical screens that require multiple movements and produce scrapings, the invention uses controlled magnetic fields to move, hold, and release vials without mechanical contact, eliminating the cleaning and sanitising difficulties

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If screw feeders are used for moving vials, then continuous transport is improved, but friction and particulate generation occur during movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous transportVSAvoidfriction and particulate generation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical screw feeder system with a magnetic field-based continuous transport system. Vials are continuously moved through magnetic attraction and repulsion forces between alternating poles, eliminating friction and particulate generation while maintaining continuous transport capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses magnetic fields (analogous to fluid fields in pneumatic/hydraulic systems) to create a continuous flow of vials through the system. The alternating magnetic poles create a magnetic 'flow' that continuously transports vials without mechanical contact, eliminating friction and particulate generation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Measurement precision

If vials are stopped at weighing position using mechanical systems, then positioning precision is improved, but friction and contamination risk increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidfriction and contamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical stopping mechanisms with magnetic field-based positioning. Vials are held at the weighing position through magnetic attraction to a holding pole, then released through magnetic repulsion, achieving precise positioning without friction or mechanical contact that would cause contamination

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a magnetic field as an intermediary between the movement system and the vials. This magnetic intermediary enables precise positioning and release without direct mechanical contact, eliminating friction and contamination risk while maintaining measurement precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 device simplifies cleaning and maintenance, prevents contamination, and ensures precise movement and weighing of sterile elements without friction, while being economically competitive.

Implementation Method 1

a magnet system, arranged such that, during rotation, magnetic poles alternately attract and repel each other, so as to move, hold and release the sterile elements

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic attraction and repulsion: Magnetism

Implementation Method 2

The screw feeder has a hollow conduit which is open to the outside by means of holes defined on its outer surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow through conduit:

Data Source

PatentUS20260070694A1Device for moving sterile elements

Publication Date: 2026.03.12 PHIZERO

AI summary

Described is a movement device (1) for sterile elements, immersed in a sterilisable environment, which comprises, in a load-bearing frame (2), a screw feeder (3, 3′) suitable for rotating about its central axis (30, 30′) and extending along a longitudinal direction (X). The screw feeder (3, 3′) is for feeding sterile elements (F) using motor means (91, 92, 93).A fundamental feature of the screw feeder (3, 3′) is that it has a conduit 4′) which is at least partly hollow inside it.The conduit (4, 4′) is in communication with the outside by means of holes (41, 41′) and has a controlled access point (PAC), for connection or disconnection of the conduit (4, 4′) with one user device (5, 6, 7) at a time.