Odor Adsorbent Kit for Rapid Facility Source Identification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods fail to completely prevent odor components from binding to commodities during production, transportation, and storage, making it difficult to rapidly identify the facility where odor binding occurred, which can lead to quality issues in food products.

Innovation Solution

An odor testing method using an odor detection kit with odor adsorbent materials like polyethylene films and activated carbon, which are deployed in facilities to adsorb odor components, allowing for rapid identification of odor sources by comparing exposed and unexposed adsorbent materials.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If packaging materials and deodorization devices are used to prevent odor penetration, then odor protection is improved, but complete prevention of odor binding to commodities cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveodor penetrationVSAvoidcomplete odor prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention places odor adsorbent materials in facilities before commodities are stored or transported, so that odor components are adsorbed from the air and environment before they can bind to the commodities. This preliminary action prevents odor contamination at the source rather than attempting to block it afterward.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The odor adsorbent material acts as an intermediary substance that intercepts odor components in the air and on surfaces, preventing direct contact between odor sources and commodities. The adsorbent material mediates the interaction by binding odor molecules through adsorption, thereby protecting the commodities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If odor tests and commodity sampling tests are performed to identify odor binding, then quality control is improved, but rapid identification of the specific facility where binding occurred cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveodor detection accuracyVSAvoidtime to identify odor source facility
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the distribution route into multiple facilities (production facilities, storage facilities, transportation facilities), and places separate odor adsorbent materials in each facility. When odor binding is detected in commodities, the segmented adsorbent materials allow identification of the specific facility where odor components were adsorbed, enabling rapid localization of the problem source.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The odor adsorbent materials provide feedback information about odor exposure at each facility. By analyzing which adsorbent materials have adsorbed odor components, the system provides feedback that identifies the specific facility responsible for odor binding, enabling rapid response and corrective action.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If multiple facilities are monitored for odor binding, then comprehensive quality control is improved, but the complexity of monitoring and identifying odor sources increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality control coverageVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses simple, inexpensive odor adsorbent materials that can be easily deployed and replaced in each facility. These disposable-like adsorbent materials eliminate the need for complex continuous monitoring equipment, reducing system complexity while maintaining comprehensive quality control coverage across multiple facilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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

Enables rapid identification of facilities where odor binding occurred, helping to prevent quality issues by effectively adsorbing and comparing odor components, thereby facilitating prompt response measures.

Implementation Method 1

an odor adsorbent material which has an ability to adsorb an odor component

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

binding of an odor component to the odor adsorbent material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBinding: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentEP2806269B1Method for odor detection in a facility for production or distribution of commodities
Publication Date: 2019.09.04 SUNTORY HLDG LTD
  • EP2806269B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~1(b)
  • EP2806269B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2806269B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided are an odor adsorbent material, an odor detection kit, and a method for using the same for rapidly identifying a facility where binding of an odor component had occurred among facilities used in a distribution route of a commodity. The odor adsorption kit includes at least two pieces of an odor adsorbent material, a package section that includes at least two storage sections and is configured to store the odor adsorbent material, and a sheet section. The odor adsorption kit is installed in a facility. At least one of the pieces of the odor adsorbent material is exposed to open space in the facility, recovered therefrom, and sealed and stored. At the time of testing, occurrence of odor emission in the facility is determined by comparing odor components adsorbed by each of the pieces of the odor adsorbent material.