Plastic Container Washing Agitator for Label Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machines for washing recyclable plastic containers, particularly PET bottles, face challenges with removing contaminants and labels, especially shrink-wrap plastic sheaths, which adhere more tightly when heated, leading to misclassification during automatic selection processes.
Innovation Solution
A machine with a fixed washing chamber and a rotating agitator equipped with agitation blades and tearing means, using cold water and high friction to detach contaminants and labels without excessive heating, allowing for continuous operation and compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If heated washing fluid is used to remove contaminants and labels, then the washing effectiveness is improved, but the energy consumption increases and shrink-wrap sheaths adhere more closely to the bottle surface
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the temperature parameter of the washing fluid from hot (conventional) to cold (innovative), thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining washing effectiveness through mechanical action. The cold washing fluid combined with high-speed mechanical agitation achieves label removal without the energy costs and adverse shrink-wrap adhesion effects of heated fluids.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the thermal mechanism (heated washing fluid) with a mechanical mechanism (high-speed rotating agitator with tearing means). The mechanical agitation and tearing action effectively removes contaminants and labels without requiring thermal energy, thus resolving the contradiction between washing effectiveness and energy consumption.
2Reliability
If heated washing fluid is used to remove contaminants and labels, then the washing effectiveness is improved, but the shrink-wrap sheaths adhere more closely to the bottle surface
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the temperature parameter from hot to cold, the invention eliminates the thermal contraction effect that causes shrink-wrap adhesion. Cold washing fluid does not trigger the shrink-wrap material to contract and adhere to the bottle surface, while still achieving effective contaminant and label removal through mechanical action.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces thermal action with mechanical action to remove contaminants and labels. The mechanical tearing means physically detach shrink-wrap and labels without relying on thermal softening, thereby avoiding the harmful shrink-wrap adhesion effect that occurs with heated fluids.
3Reliability
If high temperature washing is used to remove labels, then the label removal effectiveness is improved, but the washing time increases and machine dimensions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces slow thermal label removal with fast mechanical label removal. The high-speed rotating agitator with tearing means physically detaches labels and contaminants in a short time, eliminating the prolonged heating time required by conventional thermal methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs periodic high-speed mechanical agitation cycles that rapidly and effectively remove labels and contaminants. This periodic mechanical action achieves superior label removal effectiveness in reduced time compared to continuous thermal processing.
4Reliability
If high temperature washing is used to remove labels, then the label removal effectiveness is improved, but the machine dimensions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces extensive thermal processing systems with a compact mechanical agitation system. The high-speed rotating agitator with tearing means achieves effective label removal in a compact washing chamber, reducing the overall machine volume compared to large thermal processing equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing from thermal to mechanical action, the invention reduces the space requirements for heating elements, insulation, and large washing chambers. The mechanical system operates efficiently in a more compact configuration while maintaining or improving label removal effectiveness.
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 enables effective removal of contaminants and labels using cold water, reducing energy consumption and washing time, allowing for more compact machine designs and preventing shrink-wrap labels from adhering to bottles, thus improving the efficiency and accuracy of recyclable material selection.
Implementation Method 1
at least one fixed washing chamber (10) having at least one inlet (12) and one outlet (14) for the containers (40); at least one agitator (20) rotating inside the chamber (10) and having a plurality of agitation blades (22)
Implementation Method 2
The machine advantageously comprises tearing means suitable for acting on the contaminants and labels adhering to the surface of the containers during their transit inside the chamber to facilitate detachment of the contaminants and labels from the surface of the containers
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
A machine and a method are described for washing and removal, in a continuous manner, of contaminants and labels from plastic containers made of recyclable material. During washing, the containers pass inside a washing chamber and are subject to a high level of friction caused by an agitator rotating at high speed. Tearing means are also provided to facilitate detachment of the contaminants from the surface of the containers.