Shaped Cleaning Chamber for Anti-Splash Filling Components
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning units for packaging machines are not effective enough in cleaning the complex geometry of components like anti-splash members in filling systems, leading to potential contamination between different production cycles of pourable products.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning unit with a guide insert and shaped flow channel that replicates the geometry of the anti-splash members, ensuring the cleaning medium effectively reaches and cleans the convoluted surfaces, combined with a poka-yoke system to prevent incorrect assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional cleaning unit is used to clean the filling system components, then the cleaning process can be performed automatically, but the cleaning effectiveness is insufficient, especially for complex geometries like anti-splash members
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the copying principle by creating a guide insert that replicates the reverse geometry of the anti-splash members. The guide insert contains channels and surfaces that mirror the convoluted external geometry of the anti-splash members, allowing the cleaning medium to follow the same paths and reach all surfaces including recesses and corners that would otherwise be difficult to clean.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide insert acts as an intermediary element between the cleaning medium and the anti-splash members. It channels and directs the cleaning medium along specific paths, ensuring that the cleaning fluid reaches all critical surfaces of the anti-splash members through its strategically designed channels and contact surfaces.
2Manufacturing precision
If the cleaning medium is directed directly at the anti-splash members, then the cleaning process is simple, but the cleaning medium cannot effectively reach the convoluted surfaces and recesses
Solution Approach 1:
The guide insert replicates the reverse geometry of the anti-splash members, creating channels and surfaces that mirror the convoluted external shape. This allows the cleaning medium to follow the same complex paths through the guide insert, ensuring thorough cleaning of all surfaces including recesses and corners without requiring a overly complex cleaning system.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide insert introduces a new spatial dimension to the cleaning process by creating a three-dimensional channel structure that matches the convoluted geometry of the anti-splash members. This allows the cleaning medium to access surfaces from multiple angles and dimensions, improving cleaning thoroughness without significantly increasing overall system complexity.
3Productivity
If existing cleaning units are used, then the packaging machine can operate continuously, but residues from previous products may contaminate subsequent products
Solution Approach 1:
The guide insert creates a precise geometric replica of the anti-splash members' reverse geometry, ensuring that the cleaning medium can access and clean all surfaces that could potentially harbor residues. This thorough cleaning capability prevents cross-contamination between different pourable products while allowing the packaging machine to maintain continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning unit is designed to automatically clean the filling system components without requiring manual intervention or stopping production for extended periods. The guide insert enables the cleaning medium to self-direct along the appropriate paths, achieving effective cleaning during brief maintenance cycles and maintaining overall production continuity.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is described a cleaning unit (8) for a packaging machine (1) configured to produce sealed packages (2) containing a pourable product, the cleaning unit (8) being configured to clean at least one component (12) of the packaging machine (1), the cleaning unit (8) comprising a housing (15) internally defining a cleaning chamber (16) adapted to receive a cleaning medium and the component (12), or part of the component (12), to be cleaned; the cleaning unit (8) includes a shaped profile (19) within the housing (15), the shaped profile (19) being configured to guide the cleaning medium within the cleaning chamber (16) so as to follow an external surface (12a) of said component (12) or part of the component (12).