High speed reusable beverage container washing system with pop-up sprayer
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a system that can rapidly and sanitarily wash reusable beverage containers, particularly in retail environments, to address concerns about cleanliness and germ transmission, while existing commercial dishwashers are unsuitable due to their size, noise, and time requirements.
Innovation Solution
A beverage container washing system featuring a pop-up sprayer with multiple nozzles that rotates and moves between retracted and extended positions, including interior and lip nozzles for thorough washing, combined with hot water, high-pressure washing, and ultraviolet sanitization, to sanitize containers within a compact and efficient design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional commercial-style dishwashers are used to wash reusable beverage containers, then washing capability is provided, but the system becomes large, noisy, and requires several minutes per load
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential washing function from a full commercial dishwasher system, creating a standalone rapid-wash device that can be integrated into retail counters. This extracted system provides washing capability without the bulk, noise, and time requirements of traditional dishwashers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic elements including a rotatable holder that spins the beverage container during washing, and a pop-up sprayer that extends and retracts. These dynamic components enable thorough washing in a compact, stationary footprint, resolving the contradiction between washing effectiveness and system size.
2Productivity
If traditional commercial-style dishwashers are used, then washing capability is provided, but runtime is several minutes or more
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action through the rotatable holder that continuously spins the beverage container during the wash cycle, exposing all surfaces to the sprayer. This periodic motion enables rapid, thorough washing in under a minute compared to static traditional dishwashers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous useful action throughout the wash cycle with the holder rotating and the sprayer continuously dispensing wash fluid. This continuous action eliminates idle time and achieves rapid washing, reducing the time loss associated with traditional batch processing dishwashers.
3Ease of operation
If traditional commercial-style dishwashers are used, then washing capability is provided, but they are placed outside customer range in kitchens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a multi-functional device that serves both as a beverage dispensing station and a washing system. The rapid-wash device integrates into retail counters where customers can access it directly, eliminating the need for separate kitchen locations while maintaining washing capability.
4Reliability
If multiple nozzles are added to spray interior and lip areas, then washing thoroughness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a pop-up sprayer mechanism that extends and retracts, providing multiple nozzle positions without requiring a permanently complex structure. The dynamic extension reveals additional nozzles only when needed, maintaining simplicity when retracted while enabling thorough sanitization when extended.
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 enables rapid washing and sanitization of beverage containers in under a minute, minimizing space and noise, while ensuring effective sanitization and reducing customer and employee interaction.
Implementation Method 1
a pop-up sprayer configured to rotate about an axis of rotation and to move between retracted and extended positions along the axis of rotation, and the plurality of nozzles including an interior nozzle oriented to spray wash fluid into an interior of the beverage container
Implementation Method 2
combined with hot water, high-pressure washing, and ultraviolet sanitization, to sanitize containers within a compact and efficient design
Data Source
AI summary
A beverage container washing system may be used for rapid washing and/or sanitizing of beverage containers, e.g., for use in a retail environment to wash and/or sanitize customer-provided beverage containers prior to filling the beverage containers with purchased beverages, among other applications. The beverage container washing system may include a pop-up sprayer that includes multiple nozzles, one of which is oriented to spray wash fluid into an interior of a beverage container and another of which is oriented to spray wash fluid onto an outer lip of the beverage container.