Verification of cleaning processes with electronically readable coded coupon
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated cleaning machines lack a reliable method to verify the effectiveness of cleaning processes, particularly in ensuring that soil overlays are adequately removed, which is crucial for proper cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization of articles.
Innovation Solution
The use of verification coupons with electronically readable codes covered by soil overlays, which are processed within the cleaning machine, allowing for post-process scanning to verify the cleaning efficacy by comparing the revealed code with a reference code, and generating notifications based on the decoding results.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated cleaning machines are used to clean articles, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but there is no reliable method to verify cleaning effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The verification coupon is prepared in advance with a known reference code printed on it, and a soil overlay is applied to cover the code before insertion into the cleaning machine. This preliminary setup allows the cleaning process to be tested and verified after treatment by comparing the cleaned code appearance against the known reference.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback on cleaning effectiveness by capturing an image of the verification coupon after cleaning, decoding the visible portion of the code, and comparing it against the reference code. This feedback mechanism determines whether the cleaning process achieved the desired level of soil removal.
2Reliability
If verification coupons with soil overlays are used, then cleaning verification is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The verification coupon acts as an intermediary object that mediates between the cleaning process and the verification system. It contains the reference code and soil overlay, and after cleaning, it provides visual feedback that can be captured by an imaging device and processed by a decoding system, bridging the gap between mechanical cleaning and digital verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses an optical copy (image) of the verification coupon after cleaning rather than direct physical measurement. The imaging device captures a picture of the coupon, and software decodes the visible portion of the code from this image, simplifying the verification process compared to direct sensor-based detection.
3Measurement precision
If electronic codes are used for verification, then measurement precision is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical measurement devices with an optical imaging system and software-based code decoding. Instead of using specialized sensors or measurement instruments to detect cleaning quality, the system uses a camera or imaging device to capture an image of the verification coupon and software to decode the visible code portions, achieving precise measurement through optical and computational methods.
Data Source
AI summary
A soil-based coupon having an electronically readable verification code printed thereon is used for verification of soil removal by a cleaning process. The coupon includes a soil overlay covering the verification code. The verification code is at least partially revealed by removal of all or part of the soil overlay during the cleaning process. If the data encoded in the verification code can be correctly decoded after completion of the cleaning process, the cleaning process can be verified. The soil overlay can be designed to match the application. The coupons may be used in a cleaning process verification procedure in which one or more computing devices analyze images of the verification codes to determine whether or not cleaning processes can be verified.