Automated Bin Washing Plant with Optical Dirt Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automatic bin-washing plants for agricultural containers are inefficient as they treat all bins uniformly, regardless of their cleanliness level, leading to unnecessary resource usage and increased costs due to the need for extensive washing of both dirty and clean bins.
Innovation Solution
An automated system that uses optical devices to assess the degree of dirtiness of each bin, adjusting the washing treatment intensity based on the measured level, and includes additional checking stations to ensure thorough cleaning and bypass options for already clean bins, thereby optimizing resource usage and reducing unnecessary washing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all bins are washed uniformly regardless of cleanliness level, then sanitation reliability is ensured, but resource consumption and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different washing intensities to different bins based on their actual cleanliness level. Optical sensors detect the degree of dirtiness and trigger washing only when necessary, creating a localized quality approach where not all bins receive the same treatment. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining sanitation reliability for dirty bins while reducing resource consumption for clean bins.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the washing parameters (intensity, duration, water flow) based on the detected cleanliness level of each bin. By dynamically adjusting these parameters rather than using a fixed uniform protocol, the system maintains adequate sanitation for contaminated bins while minimizing resource usage for clean bins, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and resource consumption.
2Reliability
If all bins undergo complete washing treatment, then cleaning effectiveness is ensured, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements localized washing quality matching the actual need of each bin. Instead of applying maximum washing intensity to all bins, the system applies appropriate washing intensity based on detected dirtiness levels. This reduces processing time for clean bins while maintaining cleaning effectiveness for dirty bins, resolving the contradiction between effectiveness and time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial washing action only when necessary. By using optical detection to identify bins that actually require washing, the system avoids excessive washing of clean bins, thereby reducing overall processing time while maintaining cleaning effectiveness for those bins that do need it.
3Reliability
If uniform washing is applied to all bins, then sanitation standards are met, but operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by tailoring washing treatment to individual bin conditions. Optical sensors assess each bin's cleanliness and the system adjusts washing intensity accordingly. This maintains sanitation standards for contaminated bins while improving operational efficiency by avoiding unnecessary washing of clean bins, thus resolving the contradiction between sanitation reliability and operational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses optical sensors to detect bin cleanliness levels and provides feedback to the washing control system. This feedback mechanism enables the system to adjust washing intensity dynamically, maintaining sanitation standards where needed while reducing operational costs and improving efficiency by avoiding unnecessary washing operations.
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 tailors washing treatments to the specific dirtiness of each bin, reducing operational costs and improving efficiency by minimizing unnecessary resource consumption and ensuring thorough sanitation of only dirty bins.
Implementation Method 1
un known optical device (10) suitable to measure the degree of dirtiness present on the internal surfaces of the bins
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a plant for washing the bins (2) used in agriculture to harvest and carry vegetable products. Since said bins (2) have a degree of dirt that is generally different from bin to bin, it is suitable and an advantage to also carry out a differentiated and graduated washing according to the different degree of dirt. Thus, according to the invention the bin cleaning plant includes a bin destacking (3) and overturning station (4), a plurality of bin washing stations (5A, 5B, 5C), the whole being connected to a suitable conveyor (8) that transfers the bins (2) in an orderly, continuous and sequential manner through said stations; said plant also includes measuring and control means (12) that sense and measure the level of dirt present in each of said bins (2) and that modify the washing process selectively for each of said bins according to the level of dirtiness detected.