Pulley Train Washing Head System for Pharmaceutical Bin Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the pharmaceutical industry, existing bin washing systems face challenges in efficiently moving a washing head to reach all internal regions of tall bins during the washing process, particularly in automatic Cleaning Out of Place (COP) systems, which require significant installation heights and may contaminate products due to mechanical systems or external lubrication.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a pulley train with a flexible tube and idle wheels, controlled by an electronic controller, allows the washing head to be vertically positioned within the washing chamber, minimizing installation space and avoiding contamination by using a self-draining design with no external lubrication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If telescopic systems or systems requiring room above the machine are employed to achieve the required travel within the chamber, then the washing head can reach all internal regions of tall bins, but the installation height exceeds 4 metres which is incompatible with installation locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a vertical telescopic system to a horizontal pulley system. The washing head is moved vertically within the chamber by winding the flexible tube onto a pulley that rotates horizontally above the chamber. This dimensional change allows the washing head to achieve the required vertical travel (exceeding 2 metres) without requiring proportional vertical space for the mechanism itself, thus reducing installation height below 4 metres while maintaining full accessibility to tall bins
2Ease of operation
If mechanical systems with interspaces or external lubrication are used to move the washing head, then the washing head can be positioned at different levels, but mechanical systems may contaminate the product
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the lubrication function from the mechanical system by eliminating traditional mechanical contacts. Instead of using mechanical systems with interspaces that require lubrication, the invention uses a flexible tube that winds on pulleys without mechanical contact requiring lubrication. This removes the contamination source while preserving the ability to position the washing head at different levels through the winding mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible tube system is self-draining and requires no external lubrication. The system automatically manages its own operation through the winding and unwinding of the tube on the pulleys, with no external mechanical systems that could introduce contaminants. The design inherently prevents contamination by eliminating the need for lubricants in the positioning mechanism
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 reduces installation dimensions, ensures compatibility with industry requirements, and maintains a contamination-free environment by enabling precise vertical movement of the washing head, thus addressing the height constraints and contamination risks in bin washing applications.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible tube, to one end of which said washing/rinsing head is connected, said flexible tube being adapted to carry washing/rinsing liquid, fed through a fixed second end of the tube, towards said washing/rinsing head
Implementation Method 2
a first idle wheel, positioned vertically above said washing/rinsing head, and adapted to cause a first deviation of said flexible tube towards a second idle wheel; said second idle wheel, positioned laterally relative to said first idle wheel, adapted to cause a second deviation of said flexible tube
Implementation Method 3
an electronic controller adapted to cause the pin of said second idle wheel to slide within said horizontal axis, so as to control the vertical position of said washing/rinsing head in the washing/rinsing chamber through the sliding of said flexible tube on said first and second idle wheels
Data Source
AI summary
System for moving a washing/rinsing head in a bin washing/rinsing apparatus for the pharmaceutical industry, the apparatus being equipped with a washing/rinsing chamber adapted to house one of the bins and the washing/rinsing head, the bin being provided with an opening adapted to allow the head to be introduced therein, the system being positioned over the washing/rinsing chamber and comprising: —a flexible tube, to one end of which the washing/rinsing head is connected, the flexible tube being adapted to carry washing/rinsing liquid, fed through a fixed second end of the tube, towards the washing/rinsing head; —a first idle wheel, positioned vertically above the washing/rinsing head, and adapted to cause a first deviation of the flexible tube towards a second idle wheel; —the second idle wheel, positioned laterally relative to the first idle wheel, adapted to cause a second deviation of the flexible tube in a direction substantially opposite to the first deviation; —a horizontal electric axis adapted to slidably house the pin of the second idle wheel; —the first and second idle wheels being adapted to deviate the flexible tube so that it runs along essentially horizontal sections towards the fixed second end; —an electronic controller adapted to cause the pin of the second idle wheel to slide within the horizontal axis, so as to control the vertical position of the washing/rinsing head in the washing/rinsing chamber through the sliding of the flexible tube on the first and second idle wheels.