Rolling Cleaning Tablet Shape for Precise Nozzle Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cleaning agents for commercial cooking appliances, particularly those using highly alkaline powders or granules, pose risks of splashing and skin contact, requiring protective gear and manual positioning challenges for cleaning tablets in water or steam-based devices.

Innovation Solution

A rolling cleaning agent shaped body with a tapering end section that automatically tilts onto its rolling surface, allowing it to position itself at the outlet nozzle of the appliance, ensuring precise placement and minimizing contact risks, and is housed in a sealed bag for easy handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If highly alkaline cleaning agents in powder or granular form are used, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the risk of splashing and skin contact increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidrisk of splashing and skin contact
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning agent is encapsulated in a sealed pouch with a tear-open element, creating a flexible barrier that contains the highly alkaline substance during handling and transport. This prevents splashing and skin contact while allowing controlled release during the cleaning cycle when the pouch is torn open by the product mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Manufacturing precision

If cleaning tablets are placed in a defined location near water/steam inlet, then dissolution consistency is improved, but the user must wear gloves to avoid contact increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidhandling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The pouch is designed with a tear-open element that allows the cleaning agent to be automatically positioned and released without manual handling. The user simply inserts the sealed pouch into the holder, and the mechanism automatically tears it open and positions the cleaning agent near the water/steam inlet, eliminating the need for gloves and manual positioning

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The sealed pouch acts as an intermediary between the user and the cleaning agent. It allows the user to handle and position the cleaning agent without direct contact, while still enabling precise positioning through the holder mechanism that tears open the pouch and places the agent in the correct location

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If cleaning agents are released during the cleaning process through built-in holders, then user safety is improved, but precise positioning at the outlet becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser safetyVSAvoidpositioning precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The pouch with the tear-open element is designed to work with the built-in holder to automatically position the cleaning agent at the outlet. When the holder tears open the pouch, the cleaning agent is released precisely at the outlet location without requiring manual intervention, thus maintaining both user safety and positioning precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

Enables safe, precise, and efficient dosing of cleaning agents without manual handling, ensuring consistent cleaning results and reducing the risk of skin contact with alkaline substances.

Implementation Method 1

the cleaning and/or rinsing agent molded body tilts onto the rolling surface when it comes into contact with or is placed on a sufficiently firm surface with the end face in question

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

the cleaning and/or rinsing agent molded body has at least one of its two end faces a pointed or tapered end section, which is designed such that the cleaning and/or rinsing agent molded body tilts onto the rolling surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 3

A cleaning program is then initiated, during which water and/or steam is introduced, causing the tablet to dissolve

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolvation: Solvation

Data Source

PatentEP3464535A1Cleaning and/or wetting agent molded article
Publication Date: 2019.04.10 BUDICH INT

AI summary

The present invention relates to a cleaning and/or wetting agent molded article (1, 1', 1") which is formed as a roller with a roll-off surface (2) and comprises two end faces (3, 4) connected by the roll-off surface (2). The cleaning and/or wetting agent molded article (1, 1', 1") comprises an end face portion (5, 6) on at least one of the two end faces (3, 4), which is designed so that the cleaning and/or wetting agent molded article (1, 1', 1") tilts sideways onto the roll-off surface (2) if the cleaning and/or wetting agent molded article (1, 1', 1") impacts or is placed against a solid surface with the relevant end face (3, 4). A cleaning product comprising a pouch, in which a cleaning and/or wetting agent molded article of this type is located. A cleaning product (10) is also described, comprising a sealed pouch (11) in which a cleaning or wetting agent molded article (1, 1', 1") of this type is located. Also described is the use of a cleaning and/or wetting agent molded article (1, 1', 1") of this type for cleaning the interior of an appliance and a method for cleaning the interior of an appliance, more particularly an industrial cooking appliance (100) using the cleaning and/or wetting agent molded article (1, 1', 1"). Finally described are a method and a device for the production of a cleaning and/or wetting agent molded article (1, 1', 1") of this type.