Modular Washing Plant With Parallel Washers to Cut Waiting Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing plants face bottlenecks in productivity due to longer waiting times between pre-treatment and washing/heat-disinfection operations, leading to inefficiencies in the overall processing of medical and pharmaceutical instruments.
Innovation Solution
A modular washing plant design featuring multiple pre-treatment and washing stations with a trolley system that selectively moves objects between machines, allowing for parallel operation of washer machines and reducing waiting times, along with a separate drying station to enhance productivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If objects are conveyed sequentially through pre-treatment and washing stations, then hygiene isolation between sectors is maintained, but waiting times increase and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The washing plant is divided into functionally independent modules (pre-treatment station, washing station, drying station) that can operate in parallel. Each module is self-contained with its own processing capacity, allowing simultaneous operation of multiple washing machines while maintaining hygiene sector isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from sequential single-line processing to a multi-dimensional parallel architecture where multiple washing machines operate simultaneously. The trolley system provides selective routing in a multi-dimensional space, enabling objects to be distributed to different washing machines based on availability, thus reducing waiting times while preserving sector isolation.
2Device complexity
If pre-treatment and washing operations are performed in sequence with single machines, then device complexity is reduced, but waiting times between operations increase
Solution Approach 1:
Objects undergo pre-treatment operations (pre-washing, ultrasound treatment) in advance to prepare them for the main washing cycle. This preliminary preparation reduces the complexity of the subsequent washing operation and enables parallel processing, as multiple objects can be pre-treated while waiting for washing machine availability.
Solution Approach 2:
A trolley system acts as an intermediary between pre-treatment and washing stations, providing flexible selective routing. The trolley can transport objects to any available washing machine, eliminating idle waiting time while maintaining a relatively simple device structure through modular design.
3Productivity
If washing machines operate in parallel with selective feeding, then productivity increases and waiting times reduce, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple washing machines perform the same washing and heat-disinfection function, providing universal capability across parallel units. This allows any washing machine to process any object type, simplifying the control logic compared to specialized machines while maximizing productivity through parallel operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic selective routing where the trolley directs objects to washing machines based on real-time availability and operational status. This dynamic adaptation optimizes productivity by continuously utilizing available capacity while maintaining manageable device complexity through standardized modular components.
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 design significantly reduces waiting times and increases overall productivity by ensuring continuous operation of both pre-treatment and washing stations, eliminating bottlenecks and allowing for efficient handling of instruments through independent, modular operations.
Implementation Method 1
at least a pre-treatment machine, comprising at least two pre-treatment machines able to perform said pre-treatment step on said objects; at least a washing station, comprising at least two washer machines disposed in parallel with respect to each other and able to perform at least said washing and heat-disinfection step on said objects
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A washing plant (10) is able to perform at least a washing cycle for objects, which comprises at least a pre-treatment step and a washing and heat-disinfection step. The washing plant (10) comprises at least a pre-treatment station (13), comprising at least a pre-treatment machine (11, 12) able to perform the pre-treatment operation on the objects, at least a washing station (14), comprising at least two washer machines (16, 17, 18, 19, 20) disposed in parallel with each other and able to perform at least the step of washing and heat-disinfection on the objects, and at least a trolley (22, 125) able to selectively move the objects from the pre-treatment machine (11, 12) to the washer machines (16, 17, 18, 19, 20), to feed them alternately, one at a time.