Perforated Plate Hole Geometry to Prevent Bacterial Buildup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing perforated sheets used in industrial applications, particularly in the food and pharmaceutical industries, face hygiene issues due to the accumulation of bacteria and organic/inorganic substances at the inner edges and corners of the holes, leading to encrustation and contamination problems.
Innovation Solution
A method involving drilling angled holes with defined angles (30° to 60°) and making continuous cuts between them, followed by bending the adjacent sheet metal sections to create holes with optimized flow paths, preventing substance accumulation at edges and corners.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional punching methods are used to create holes in sheet metal, then the manufacturing process is simple and fast, but bacteria and substances accumulate at the inner edges and corners of the holes
Solution Approach 1:
The hole formation process is divided into multiple steps: first creating two spaced holes, then making a continuous cut between them, and finally bending the sheet metal section to form the complete hole. This segmentation allows precise control over the hole geometry to eliminate accumulation zones
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from conventional 2D planar holes to 3D conical or frustoconical holes by bending the sheet metal section. This dimensional change creates sloped inner surfaces that prevent substance accumulation by eliminating horizontal ledges where bacteria and organic/inorganic substances would collect
2Ease of manufacture
If holes are drilled vertically through the sheet, then the drilling process is straightforward, but the flow through the holes is insufficient and promotes accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the drilling angle parameter from vertical (90°) to angled (30°-60° relative to horizontal), creating conical or frustoconical holes. This parameter modification optimizes fluid flow characteristics and prevents accumulation by creating sloped surfaces that facilitate complete drainage and reduce dead zones
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the sheet metal section is bent to form conical or frustoconical holes, then the flow through the hole is optimized and accumulation is prevented, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The sheet metal section is prepared in advance by creating two spaced holes and a continuous cut between them before the bending operation. This preliminary preparation ensures that when bending occurs, the material flows correctly to form the desired conical or frustoconical shape with proper surface geometry for preventing accumulation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces complex multi-step machining operations with a combination of drilling, cutting, and a single bending operation. This substitution simplifies the overall manufacturing process while achieving the complex conical or frustoconical hole geometry needed to prevent substance accumulation
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 solution enhances airflow through the holes, preventing bacterial and substance accumulation, ensuring optimal flow and reducing maintenance needs, suitable for use in hygiene-sensitive industries.
Implementation Method 1
the flow through and/or around this surface is increased, thus preventing the accumulation of bacteria, inorganic and/or organic substances
Implementation Method 2
bending a sheet metal section adjacent to the continuous cut in such a way that a hole is formed
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for producing a perforated sheet (101), wherein the produced perforated sheet has at least one hole (115), comprising the following steps: - making two spaced-apart bores (107, 109) in a sheet (103), wherein the bores are formed through a thickness (105) of the sheet, - making a continuous cut (113) between the two spaced-apart bores in the sheet, and - bending open a sheet section (127) adjacent to the continuous cut such that a hole is formed. The invention further relates to a perforated sheet (101), a molded part and a processing device.