Sterilization Device with Optical Feedback for Beverage Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The mouth of beverage containers is less susceptible to sterilization due to the narrow diameter and high consumption of sterilizing agents during the sterilization process, leading to uneven sterilization and increased costs from excess agent use.
Innovation Solution
A sterilization device equipped with a sterilizing agent detecting system using a light source and optical sensor to measure the agent's adherence on the shoulder of the container, and a control mechanism to adjust the sterilizing agent supply based on detection results, ensuring appropriate adherence to the mouth and reducing excess agent usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If excess sterilizing agent is injected to ensure sterilization of the mouth, then sterilization reliability is improved, but cost increases and excess agent accumulates at the bottom
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses an optical sensor to detect the amount of sterilizing agent adhering to the container shoulder in real-time, and the control unit adjusts the sterilizing agent supply based on this feedback. This closed-loop control ensures the mouth receives adequate sterilization without excessive agent accumulation at the bottom.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the sterilizing agent supply parameters (flow rate, duration) based on detected adhesion levels. When adhesion is sufficient, supply is reduced or stopped; when adhesion is insufficient, supply is increased. This parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between ensuring sterilization and avoiding excess agent use.
2Loss of substance
If sterilizing agent supply is reduced to minimize cost, then loss of substance decreases, but sterilization reliability deteriorates especially at the mouth
Solution Approach 1:
The optical detection system provides real-time feedback on sterilizing agent distribution, enabling the control unit to optimize supply levels. This ensures minimal agent consumption while maintaining adequate sterilization at the mouth by adjusting supply based on actual adhesion conditions rather than using fixed excessive amounts.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows the sterilizing agent to self-regulate its distribution pattern by detecting where it adheres most effectively (primarily at the shoulder and mouth areas). The control unit monitors this self-distribution and adjusts supply to match actual needs, reducing waste while ensuring critical areas are adequately sterilized.
3Productivity
If the sterilizing agent supply pipe is inserted deep into the container, then agent delivery efficiency improves, but agent consumption increases due to adhesion to inner walls before reaching the mouth
Solution Approach 1:
The optical sensor detects how much sterilizing agent is adhering to the container walls during the sterilization process. Based on this feedback, the control unit adjusts the supply rate to ensure sufficient agent reaches the mouth without excessive consumption. This enables efficient deep insertion delivery while monitoring and controlling total agent usage.
4Reliability
If the mouth diameter is increased to improve sterilizing agent adhesion, then sterilization reliability improves, but container design flexibility decreases and may affect beverage capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The optical detection system monitors sterilizing agent adhesion at the mouth regardless of its diameter. The control unit adjusts supply parameters based on this feedback, enabling adequate sterilization of narrow-mouthed containers without modifying their design. This maintains container design flexibility while ensuring sterilization reliability through adaptive control.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of changing the physical parameter of mouth diameter, the system changes the operational parameters (sterilizing agent supply rate, detection timing) to achieve adequate sterilization. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining container design flexibility while ensuring sterilization effectiveness through parameter optimization.
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 approach ensures effective sterilization of the container with the right amount of sterilizing agent, minimizing excess supply and cost, while maintaining optimal sterilization levels.
Implementation Method 1
an optical sensor (45) having a light receiving element to detect a level of the sterilizing agent adhering to the shoulder (102) of the container (100) by irradiating the shoulder (102) with inspection light
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
To provide a sterilization device for adhering an appropriate amount of a sterilizing agent to a portion that is less susceptible to adhesion of the sterilizing agent in a container, such as a beverage container, with a minimum supply amount. A sterilization device (12) for container is provided, wherein the sterilization device (12) includes a sterilizing agent supply part (30) for supplying a sterilizing agent into a container (100) having a mouth (103) and a shoulder (102) continuous with the mouth (103) through the mouth, a sterilizing agent measuring device (sterilizing agent detecting means) (41) for detecting a level of the sterilizing agent adhering to the shoulder of the container, to which the sterilizing agent is supplied, by irradiating the shoulder with inspection light, and control means (18) for determining an amount of the sterilizing agent to be supplied to the container in the sterilizing agent supply means based on the result of the detection by the sterilizing agent detecting means.