Food Injection Needle Cleaning via High-Pressure Fluid Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for cleaning and sanitizing food injector needles are inefficient and ineffective, particularly due to the inability to provide high-pressure, rapid cleaning and disinfecting capabilities, especially for needles used in commercial food processing lines.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a fluid tank, high-pressure pump, and high-pressure chamber configured to securely seal food injection needles, using cleaning fluids like citric acid or NaOH to dislodge debris and sanitize the needles through high-pressure fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual cleaning methods are used for injector needles, then the cleaning process is simple to operate, but the cleaning effectiveness and speed are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a high-pressure pump to deliver cleaning solution through a flexible hose directly into the injector needle at high pressure, utilizing hydraulic action to forcefully remove debris and contaminants from the needle interior, thereby achieving rapid and effective cleaning without complex manual procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows the cleaning solution to flow through the needle's own fluid path, using the needle's existing structure to guide the cleaning agent through its entire length, enabling the needle to be cleaned through its own bore without requiring disassembly or external tools
2Reliability
If high-pressure cleaning is applied to dislodge debris, then cleaning effectiveness improves, but the risk of damaging the needle increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes changes in fluid pressure parameters, delivering high-pressure cleaning solution only during the cleaning cycle, then returning to normal low-pressure operation, thereby achieving effective debris removal while allowing the needle to return to its original state without sustained stress that could cause damage
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning solution acts as an intermediary medium between the high-pressure pump and the needle, transferring the cleaning action through the fluid rather than direct mechanical contact, which reduces the risk of physical damage to the needle while maintaining cleaning effectiveness
3Productivity
If cleaning solution flows through the needle at high pressure, then debris is effectively dislodged, but fluid consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes debris and contaminants from the needle by flushing them out through the high-pressure cleaning solution, which carries the dislodged particles away from the needle and into the waste collection system, thereby achieving effective cleaning while managing fluid usage
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
The system effectively cleans and sanitizes food injection needles by dislodging debris and eliminating contaminants, improving efficiency and reducing the time required for the process compared to existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
A system comprising a fluid tank, high-pressure pump, and high-pressure chamber configured to securely seal food injection needles, using cleaning fluids like citric acid or NaOH to dislodge debris and sanitize the needles through high-pressure fluid flow
Implementation Method 2
using cleaning fluids like citric acid or NaOH to dislodge debris and sanitize the needles
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is a food injection needle cleaning system and method. The food injection needle cleaning system comprises a cleaning fluid tank coupled to high-pressure pump configured to pump cleaning fluid through at least one inlet, a channel, and at least one outlet of a food injection needle to dislodge and remove debris as well as sanitize the needle. The present disclosure comprises a high-pressure chamber configured to secure the food injection needle and seal around the needle such that fluid enters the needle through an inlet of the high-pressure chamber and exits the needle through a waste line.