Solid Cleaning Composition Production via Chemical Binding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for producing solid cleaning compositions, such as those using tablet presses, require high energy and advanced equipment, and often damage desirable ingredients or produce smaller products, limiting the size and efficiency of solid block production.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the gentle pressing and vibrating of a flowable solid using a concrete block machine or turntable press to form stable solid cleaning compositions without the need for high-pressure compression or melting, utilizing binding agents like E-Form to maintain the composition's stability and structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If conventional tablet presses are used to produce solid cleaning compositions, then high pressure compression can form tablets, but the equipment is expensive, energy-consuming, and limited to small tablet or puck sizes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesize of solid cleaning compositionVSAvoidequipment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the binding mechanism from mechanical compression to chemical binding. The flowable solid contains binding agents that chemically bind particles together when exposed to water or moisture, eliminating the need for high-pressure compression equipment and enabling production of large-sized solid cleaning compositions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the mechanical compression system with a chemical binding system. Instead of using mechanical force to compact particles into tablets, the invention uses chemical binding agents that react with water to form strong bonds between particles, allowing production without expensive tablet pressing equipment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Volume of moving object

If casting method is used to produce solid cleaning compositions, then large solid blocks can be formed, but melting the composition consumes energy and can destroy desirable ingredients

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesize of solid cleaning compositionVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the thermal melting process with a chemical binding process. Instead of melting and casting the composition, the invention uses binding agents that chemically bind particles together at ambient or low temperatures when exposed to water, eliminating the need for energy-intensive melting while preserving heat-sensitive ingredients

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the phase transition from melting to chemical binding. The flowable solid contains binding agents that undergo chemical reactions with water to form strong bonds, replacing the thermal phase change of melting with a chemical process that occurs at lower temperatures and preserves ingredient integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If conventional tablet presses are used, then tablets can be formed, but the high pressure can damage desirable ingredients in the cleaning composition

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegrity of ingredientsVSAvoidmanufacturing process simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces mechanical compression with chemical binding to protect ingredients from damage. The binding agents chemically bond particles together without subjecting them to high-pressure compression, preserving the integrity of desirable ingredients while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through the flowable solid formulation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Volume of moving object

If extrusion method is used to produce solid cleaning compositions, then solid blocks can be formed, but expensive equipment and advanced technical know-how are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesize of solid cleaning compositionVSAvoidequipment and technical requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces extrusion with chemical binding. The flowable solid contains binding agents that chemically bind particles together when exposed to water, eliminating the need for expensive extrusion equipment and advanced technical know-how while enabling production of large solid cleaning compositions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the binding mechanism from mechanical extrusion to chemical binding. The binding agents undergo chemical reactions with water to form strong bonds between particles, replacing the mechanical extrusion process with a chemical process that requires simpler equipment and less technical expertise

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 allows for the production of larger, dimensionally stable solid cleaning compositions with reduced energy consumption and equipment costs, maintaining the integrity of ingredients while enabling the creation of blocks that are as hard as rock, thus overcoming the limitations of conventional techniques.

Implementation Method 1

a binding agent effective for binding particles together when exposed to water or moisture

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical bonding: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

vibrating the flowable solid to produce the uncured solid cleaning composition

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP2206767B2Solid cleaning compositions
Publication Date: 2021.08.25 ECOLAB INC
  • EP2206767B2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2206767B2 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2206767B2 patent drawing

AI summary

The present invention relates to a solid cleaning composition including particles bound together by a binding agent.