Injection Device Central Rod Cleaning Position Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing injection devices for forming containers face challenges in ensuring hygiene and efficient cleaning, particularly around fixed sealing means, which complicates the cleaning process and leaves parts inaccessible without disassembly.
Innovation Solution
The injection device allows the central and control rods to move into a cleaning position, placing the duct in fluidic communication with the chamber, enabling a single-step cleaning process using cleaning products without disassembly, ensuring all components are accessible and hygienically cleaned.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fixed sealing means are used to isolate the chamber from the housing, then the stretch rod is protected from exterior contamination, but the cleaning process becomes complicated and requires separate cleaning paths for the chamber and housing
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing means is made movable instead of fixed, allowing it to switch between sealing the chamber during operation and opening to allow unified cleaning. The sealing element can move axially to create fluid communication between the chamber and housing during cleaning cycles, resolving the contradiction between maintaining isolation and enabling simplified cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing means alternates between two states: during normal operation it seals the chamber to protect from contamination, and during cleaning cycles it opens to allow cleaning fluid to access both chamber and housing through a single path. This periodic switching enables both contamination protection and simplified cleaning.
2Reliability
If fixed sealing means are used to isolate the chamber, then contamination is prevented, but parts of the injection device remain difficult to clean without disassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The movable sealing element allows cleaning fluid to access previously isolated areas. When the seal moves to the open position, the cleaning fluid can flow through the housing and reach the stretch rod and chamber interior through the same fluid path, making all parts accessible for cleaning without disassembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable sealing element acts as an intermediary that temporarily opens the isolation barrier during cleaning. It allows the cleaning fluid to pass through the housing and reach internal components, then returns to its sealing position to restore isolation, enabling cleaning accessibility without compromising hygiene maintenance.
3Reliability
If separate cleaning paths are used for the chamber and housing, then each component can be cleaned independently, but the cleaning process requires more time and steps
Solution Approach 1:
The movable sealing element merges the previously separate cleaning paths into a single unified path. When the seal opens, cleaning fluid flows through both the housing and chamber sequentially through the same inlet and outlet, allowing thorough cleaning of all components in one continuous process rather than requiring separate cleaning operations.
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
This solution simplifies and accelerates the cleaning process, ensuring all components of the injection device are properly cleaned in a single step, reducing contamination risks and maintaining the device's functionality without disassembly, thereby enhancing hygiene and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the fluid flowing in the chamber via the inlet is able to flow inside the duct and around the central rod
Data Source
AI summary
An injection device having an inlet for receiving a fluid, an outlet for injecting the fluid and a chamber therebetween. A control rod is provided in the chamber and includes a duct extending through said control rod. A central rod extends in the duct and is movable between a retracted position and an active position. The central rod and the duct being arranged to prevent fluidic communication between the duct and the chamber when the central rod moves between its retracted and active positions. The central rod and the control rod are further movable relative to each other into a cleaning position, in which the duct is placed in fluidic communication with the chamber.