Solid Granule Container for On-Demand Cleaning Solution Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cleaning solutions for beverage machines, such as coffee machines, are either too costly due to frequent replacement of liquid cleaning agents in cartridges or require manual intervention with solid agents, and pose logistical and safety challenges with hazardous chemicals.
Innovation Solution
A container system that uses a water-soluble substance, such as granulated or powdered cleaning agents, which dissolves in water to produce a liquid cleaning solution, allowing for a larger capacity, safer handling, and autonomous operation without manual intervention, with adjustable concentration and safe disposal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If liquid cleaning agents are stored in cartridges with limited capacity, then the cleaning agent is ready to use and safe, but the cartridges need frequent replacement and logistics are complex
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning agent is segmented into solid granules that can be stored in large containers without the need for frequent replacements. The solid form allows for stable storage and on-demand dissolution, eliminating the need for frequent cartridge changes while maintaining safety through controlled dissolution in the cleaning device
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning agent changes phase from liquid to solid granules. This parameter change allows for much larger storage capacity in the same volume, reduces transportation hazards, and enables long-term stable storage without frequent replacements while maintaining the effectiveness of the cleaning agent
2Productivity
If highly concentrated liquid cleaning agents are used for professional cleaning, then cleaning effectiveness is high, but workplace safety requirements and transportation regulations are more stringent
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning agent is transformed from highly concentrated liquid form to solid granule form. This parameter change significantly reduces the hazard potential during storage and transportation while maintaining the ability to produce highly concentrated cleaning solutions when dissolved in the cleaning device, thus preserving cleaning effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
Water acts as an intermediary medium. The solid granules are dissolved in water within the cleaning device to produce the active cleaning solution. This intermediary approach allows safe storage and transportation of solid granules while still achieving the desired concentrated cleaning effect when needed
3Ease of manufacture
If solid cleaning agents in tablet form are inserted manually into the feed chute, then cleaning agent can be provided for cleaning cycle, but manual intervention is required and automatic operation is impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed to automatically dispense the required amount of solid granules into the water stream without manual intervention. The granules are fed automatically from the container through a feed mechanism that controls the dosage, enabling fully automatic operation while maintaining simplicity in the delivery mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
A water stream is used to transport the solid granules from the container through the feed chute. The hydraulic flow automatically carries the granules to the dissolution chamber, eliminating the need for manual insertion and enabling automatic operation of the cleaning agent delivery system
4Productivity
If large containers with hazardous liquid chemicals are used for high throughput machines, then cleaning needs are met cost-effectively, but logistics and disposal are more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning agent is converted from liquid to solid granule form, which allows for much larger storage containers without the same transportation and handling restrictions. Solid granules can be stored in large bulk containers, reducing the frequency of container replacements and simplifying logistics while maintaining cost-effectiveness for high throughput operations
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses disposable containers of solid granules that can be easily replaced. The containers are designed for simple installation and removal, and the solid granules can be completely utilized until exhaustion. This approach simplifies disposal compared to hazardous liquid containers, as the empty containers contain minimal residues and can be disposed of as general waste rather than hazardous material
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
The system provides a cost-effective, safe, and efficient means of producing a cleaning solution with adjustable concentration, reducing the need for frequent replacements and minimizing manual intervention, while ensuring safe handling and disposal.
Implementation Method 1
A certain amount of a water-soluble substance for producing a liquid cleaning agent, in particular an aqueous cleaning solution, is present in the inner space (12) of the container (1)
Data Source
AI summary
A container for providing a liquid cleaning agent, in particular an aqueous cleaning solution for coffee machines. The container includes a container wall which defines an inner space of the container. One or more conduits open towards the inner space of the container. At least one connecting element is provided for connecting the one or more conduits to at least one external fluid conduit in a fluid-tight manner.