Moving Nozzle Sterilization for Continuous Conveyor Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sterilization systems face challenges in ensuring sufficient sterilization of objects conveyed continuously due to insufficient application of sterilizing agents, particularly when using hydrogen peroxide, which can lead to residual agents and thermal contraction issues.
Innovation Solution
A sterilization system with a nozzle that moves in synchronization with the conveyed objects, using reactive oxidizing species (ROS) generated by plasma and water vapor, eliminating the need for high-temperature application and ensuring complete sterilization without residual agents, and a rotatable outlet section to extend the spraying period.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If sterilization objects are conveyed continuously to the sterilizing device, then productivity is improved, but the sterilization effect deteriorates due to insufficient spraying time
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is made movable along the conveying path to dynamically track and follow the sterilization objects. This allows the nozzle to maintain optimal positioning relative to moving objects, ensuring sufficient spraying duration even at high conveyance speeds, thus resolving the contradiction between continuous conveyance and adequate sterilization time
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses detection means to monitor the position of sterilization objects on the conveying unit and feeds this information back to control the nozzle's movement. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures the nozzle accurately follows each object's position and timing, maintaining effective sterilization throughout continuous operation
2Reliability
If hydrogen peroxide is used as sterilizing agent, then sterilization capability is improved, but harmful factors increase due to residual agent and thermal contraction
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the physical state and application parameters of the sterilizing agent by using plasma activation and controlled spraying. This transforms hydrogen peroxide from a liquid chemical agent into an activated plasma state that decomposes more completely, reducing residuals while maintaining sterilization effectiveness, and allows lower temperature application to prevent thermal contraction
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
Ensures thorough sterilization of objects without residual agents or thermal contraction, allowing for continuous operation and increased efficiency by extending the spraying period and optimizing the device configuration.
Implementation Method 1
the nozzle includes a plasma generating section for generating plasma, an outlet section for spraying the sterilizing agent, and a relaying section for feeding the plasma generated by the plasma generating section to the outlet section
Implementation Method 2
the outlet section sprays, as the sterilizing agent, the plasma fed from the plasma generating section and ROS (Reactive Oxidizing Species) generated through a reaction between the plasma and the water vapor fed from the water vapor feeding section
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5(a)~6(b)
AI summary
A sterilization system includes a sterilizing device having a nozzle (10) to spray sterilizing agent (70) onto a sterilization object (80) and a conveying unit (90) conveying a plurality of sterilization objects (80) one after another continuously to the sterilizing device. The nozzle (10) is capable of moving a reaching position of the sterilizing agent (70) sprayed therefrom to the conveying unit (90) along a conveying path (91) of the sterilization objects (80). A controlling unit is provided for executing a following control which causes the reaching position to follow each sterilization object (80) as being conveyed by synchronizing a moving speed of the reaching position of the sterilizing agent (70) with a conveying speed of the sterilization object (80).