Soil Dispersion Measurement Using Light Obscuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods lack the ability to consistently quantify the soil removal capacity of cleaning products and their components, particularly under real conditions such as those found in automatic dishwashing machines, which hinders the optimization of cleaning product design.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the creation of a solution with the cleaning product or component, addition of soil to form a mixture, and measurement of light blocked by the mixture using techniques like turbidity or laser diffraction, specifically using obscuration measurements to assess the soil dispersion capacity under simulated real-life conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional cleaning product testing methods are used, then product development can proceed, but the ability to consistently quantify soil removal capacity is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical/visual soil removal assessment methods with optical measurement techniques. Specifically, it uses light scattering/optical properties to quantify soil dispersion capacity, substituting the need for complex mechanical testing procedures with a simpler optical measurement system that provides consistent quantification data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces light as an intermediary measurement parameter to assess soil removal capacity. Instead of directly measuring soil removal through complex mechanical means, the method uses light scattering properties as an intermediary indicator that correlates with and quantifies the cleaning product's soil dispersion capacity, providing consistent and reproducible data.
2Reliability
If cleaning products are tested under real conditions (e.g., automatic dishwashing), then product performance can be accurately assessed, but the complexity of simulation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by varying conditions such as temperature, time, and agitation during the measurement process to simulate real-world cleaning scenarios. By systematically changing these parameters, the method can assess product performance under different operational conditions without requiring complex physical simulation equipment, thus maintaining reliability while managing complexity.
3Measurement precision
If multiple testing stages are implemented to ensure accurate quantification, then measurement reliability improves, but the time required for product development increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces time-consuming traditional testing procedures with rapid optical measurements. By using light scattering techniques, the method provides quick and reliable quantification of soil dispersion capacity, significantly reducing the time required for product development while maintaining measurement precision through consistent and reproducible optical data collection.
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
This method effectively quantifies the soil dispersion capacity of cleaning products and components, enabling more efficient product design and optimization, particularly for automatic dishwashing detergents by simulating operational conditions like temperature variations.
Implementation Method 1
When the soil is added to the solution of the cleaning product or component thereof, a dispersion is formed, the dispersion comprises cleaning product or cleaning component/soil in particulate form
Implementation Method 2
measuring the light blocked by the mixture
Implementation Method 3
The measurements can be performed using any known technique, such as turbidity, absorbance, transmission, laser diffraction, etc.
Implementation Method 4
Preferably the light blocked by the mixture is quantified by measuring obscuration preferably using a particle size analyser based on laser diffraction
Data Source
AI summary
A method for quantifying the soil dispersion capacity of a cleaning product or component thereof where the method comprises the following steps:a) making a solution comprising the cleaning product or component thereof;b) adding the soil to the cleaning product or component thereof solution to form a mixture; andc) measuring the light blocked by the mixture.