Conveyor Cleaning Apparatus With Load-Based Nozzle Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial dishwashing machines face inefficiencies in resource usage and operator control when conveyor belts are incompletely occupied, leading to unnecessary water usage and loss of operator dominance over the cleaning process.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning apparatus with a sensor system that detects the loading of the conveyor belt and adjusts the operation mode, including nozzle activation and conveying speed, to optimize resource usage without compromising cleaning effectiveness, allowing the operator to maintain control by proposing and confirming the optimal operating mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If the cleaning apparatus operates with a fixed number of nozzles activated regardless of loading, then the spray pattern coverage is maintained, but water consumption increases unnecessarily during partial loads
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning apparatus dynamically adjusts the number of activated nozzles based on the detected loading of the conveyor belt. The control unit receives signals from sensors about article presence and selectively activates only those nozzles that correspond to occupied positions, transforming the static nozzle activation system into a dynamic one that adapts to varying load conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
Different nozzles are activated selectively based on local conditions - specifically, whether articles are present at corresponding positions on the conveyor belt. The system applies cleaning fluid locally only where needed, rather than uniformly across all nozzle positions, optimizing water usage according to the actual distribution of articles.
2Loss of substance
If automatic adjustment of operating parameters is implemented, then resource efficiency improves, but operator control and dominance over the cleaning process is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by using sensors to detect article presence on the conveyor belt and transmitting this information to the control unit. The control unit then adjusts nozzle activation and conveying speed based on this feedback, creating a closed-loop control system that automatically optimizes resource efficiency while maintaining operator oversight through the control interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning apparatus performs self-adjustment of its operating parameters (nozzle activation and conveying speed) based on sensor input about loading conditions. The system serves itself by automatically modifying its operation to match actual needs, reducing resource consumption without requiring constant manual intervention from the operator.
3Manufacturing precision
If all nozzles are activated during operation, then uniform cleaning across the conveyor width is achieved, but energy consumption and water usage increase during partial loads
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of activating all nozzles unnecessarily during partial loads, the system applies partial action by activating only the subset of nozzles that correspond to positions where articles are actually present. This avoids excessive water and energy consumption while maintaining sufficient cleaning coverage for the loaded portions of the conveyor.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle system is segmented into multiple independently controllable units corresponding to different positions on the conveyor belt. This segmentation allows the control unit to selectively activate only the relevant nozzle segments that align with occupied positions, rather than operating the entire nozzle system as a single unit.
4Loss of substance
If the conveying speed is reduced to match partial loading, then water consumption decreases, but cleaning effectiveness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The conveying speed is dynamically adjusted based on the detected loading conditions. The control unit receives sensor signals about article presence and modifies the conveying speed accordingly, allowing the system to operate at optimal speeds that match the actual workload, thereby reducing water consumption during partial loads while maintaining adequate cleaning effectiveness.
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning apparatus for cleaning articles to be cleaned includes at least one cleaning chamber; at least one conveying device configured to convey the articles to be cleaned in a conveying direction through the cleaning chamber, the at least one conveying device comprising a plurality of tracks arranged side by side; at least one nozzle system configured to act upon the articles to be cleaned with at least one cleaning fluid; at least one sensor configured to detect a loading of the conveying device with articles to be cleaned; and at least one control means programmed to select at least one operating mode of the cleaning apparatus corresponding to the loading of the conveying device detected by the sensor, and to propose the selected operating mode to a user of the cleaning apparatus by providing a visual indicator on one or several tracks of the conveying device.