Keg Fitting Cleaning for Liquid Container Purity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for producing plastic bulk receptacles filled with liquids often introduce contaminants and oxygen into the containers, compromising the purity and shelf life of the contents, especially in kegs used for beverages.

Innovation Solution

A method where the keg fitting is cleaned and connected to the container through a relative movement, allowing for the removal of contaminants and oxygen moieties before or during the connection process, using techniques such as flushing with a gaseous medium like CO2, and optionally sterilizing or disinfecting the keg fitting during this process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the container is closed with a keg fitting before filling, then the fitting can be connected securely, but contaminants and oxygen may be introduced into the container during handling and connection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidcontamination and oxygen introduction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The keg fitting is cleaned and flushed with inert gas before being connected to the filled container. This preliminary cleaning action removes contaminants and oxygen from the fitting's internal channels and sealing surfaces, preventing contamination of the beverage during the connection process while maintaining reliable sealing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The fitting is flushed with an inert gas (such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide) through the fitting pipe before connection. This creates an inert atmosphere inside the fitting, displacing oxygen and preventing oxidation or contamination of the beverage when the fitting is connected to the container.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the keg fitting is cleaned before connection, then purity is improved, but the process time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontaminant removalVSAvoidcleaning process time

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning, flushing, and connection operations are merged into a single integrated process. The fitting is cleaned and flushed with inert gas immediately before connection in a continuous sequence, eliminating separate cleaning steps and minimizing additional process time while ensuring purity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

A pneumatic flushing system uses compressed inert gas to rapidly clean the fitting's internal channels. This hydraulic/pneumatic cleaning method is faster and more efficient than manual cleaning, reducing process time while effectively removing contaminants and oxygen.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Ease of manufacture

If the fitting pipe is kept open during filling, then filling is simplified, but oxygen and contaminants can enter the container

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefilling process simplicityVSAvoidoxygen and contaminant ingress

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The fitting pipe is flushed with inert gas before connection to displace oxygen. During connection, the inert atmosphere is maintained in the fitting, preventing oxygen and contaminants from entering the container through the opening fitting pipe, while still allowing the filling process to proceed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

Solution Approach 2:

The fitting pipe is pre-flushed with inert gas and cleaned before the container is connected for filling. This preliminary preparation ensures the fitting interior is free of contaminants and oxygen, and the inert atmosphere is established before any potential ingress can occur during the filling operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 approach enhances the purity and quality of the packaging by minimizing oxygen introduction and preventing contamination, thereby improving the shelf life and handling of the contents.

Implementation Method 1

a flushing of the above-mentioned fitting pipe may be carried out in order to ensure that no additional oxygen is introduced into the container to be closed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlushing with gaseous medium:

Implementation Method 2

sterilizing or disinfecting the keg fitting during this process

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSterilization:

Data Source

PatentUS10106389B2Apparatus for producing pet bulk receptacles

Publication Date: 2018.10.23 KRONES AG

AI summary

An apparatus for producing plastic containers filled with liquids, wherein the plastic containers are closed with a keg fitting and filled with liquid, includes a connection device for connecting a plastic container with a keg fitting. The connection device is configured to move the plastic container relative to the keg fitting. The apparatus includes at least one cleaning device configured to clean at least an area of the keg fitting during at least one of relative movement of the keg fitting with regard to the plastic container and connection of the keg fitting with the plastic container. The cleaning device is configured to supply a cleaning medium to the keg fitting.