Treatment machine for objects, in particular for washing, thermally disinfecting and/or sterilizing objects

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional treatment machines, particularly sterilization machines, require manual movement of object-holder containers during extraction, which can be hazardous and inefficient, and existing attachment devices lack stability and remote operation capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A treatment machine with a mobile attachment device outside the treatment chamber, equipped with multiple attachment elements and an actuator system that allows for remote operation, enabling stable and automatic attachment and detachment of object-holder containers without direct operator contact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual movement of object-holder containers is used during extraction, then operational simplicity is maintained, but operator safety and efficiency deteriorate due to hazardous manual handling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational simplicityVSAvoidoperator safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A robotic manipulator system acts as an intermediary between the treatment chamber and the external environment, automatically grasping and extracting object-holder containers. This eliminates direct operator contact with hot or hazardous environments while maintaining operational control, thus improving safety without compromising operational simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service operation where the robotic manipulator autonomously performs container extraction without requiring manual intervention. The automated system handles the hazardous task independently, improving operator safety while maintaining ease of operation through automated control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If a mobile attachment device with multiple attachment elements is used, then container extraction stability and automation are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer extraction stabilityVSAvoidattachment device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment device is segmented into multiple independent attachment elements that can selectively engage with different parts of the object-holder container. This segmentation allows stable grasping of containers of various sizes and shapes while keeping each individual attachment element relatively simple in structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment device incorporates movable and adjustable components that can adapt their configuration based on the container being handled. This dynamic capability enables stable attachment across different container types without requiring a completely complex fixed structure for each scenario

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3415168B1Treatment machine for objects, in particular for washing, thermally disinfecting and/or sterilizing objects
Publication Date: 2020.08.19 STEELCO
  • EP3415168B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3415168B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3415168B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Treatment machine, in particular for washing, thermally disinfecting and/or sterilizing objects, comprising at least a treatment chamber (11) configured to house at least one object-holding container (12). The machine comprises at least a mobile attachment device (20), positioned outside the treatment chamber (11) and provided with one or more attachment elements (29) able to be selectively activated to associate the attachment device (20) in releasable mode with at least an element or part (14') of the object-holding container (12), so as to move the object-holding container (12), by means of the attachment device (20), at least in an extraction step from the treatment chamber (11).