Sterilization Facility Using Dual Rotating Platforms

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing radiation sterilization installations require multiple heavy and costly radiation generating devices to ensure effective sterilization, which increases operational complexity and health risks due to radiation leaks.

Innovation Solution

A sterilization installation that uses a single radiation generator by moving and rotating articles in a circular path with dual rotating platforms, allowing all surfaces to be exposed to radiation, including inversion of articles to treat both sides with a single device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple radiation-generating devices are used to ensure effective sterilization of all article surfaces, then sterilization completeness is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesterilization completenessVSAvoidnumber of radiation-generating devices
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the article support device movable instead of stationary. The support device rotates around a first axis and articles rotate around a second axis, creating dynamic motion that allows a single radiation generator to treat all surfaces of articles from multiple angles, eliminating the need for multiple fixed radiation sources

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dimensionality change by introducing rotational motion around two different axes. The support device rotates around a first axis while articles simultaneously rotate around a second axis, adding temporal and spatial dimensions to the sterilization process, allowing one generator to achieve what would otherwise require multiple generators positioned at different locations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If multiple radiation-generating devices are arranged to treat different parts of articles, then sterilization coverage is improved, but weight and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesterilization coverageVSAvoidweight of radiation-generating devices
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By implementing rotational motion of the support device and articles, the system dynamically redirects a single radiation generator to treat different parts of articles over time, eliminating the need for multiple heavy radiation-generating devices that would be required to treat all surfaces simultaneously from multiple positions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If articles are treated with a single radiation generator, then device complexity is reduced, but treated surface area is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of radiation-generating devicesVSAvoidtreated surface area
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The support device rotates around a first axis while articles rotate around a second axis, creating dynamic motion that brings different surfaces of articles into the radiation path over time. This temporal dimension allows a single generator to treat the entire surface area of articles sequentially, achieving complete coverage without requiring multiple generators

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

By adding rotational motion around two axes, the system transforms a static single-point radiation treatment into a dynamic multi-angle treatment process, effectively expanding the treated surface area over time through temporal and spatial dimensionality changes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 configuration effectively increases the treated surface area with a single radiation generator, reducing the number of devices needed and minimizing radiation exposure risks while ensuring thorough sterilization.

Implementation Method 1

sterilizing articles by radiation, particularly by electron bombardment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectron bombardment: Electron Beam

Data Source

PatentEP3307331B1Facility for sterilising items by radiation providing the movement and changes in the orientation of the items
Publication Date: 2021.02.17 SERAC GROUP SAS
  • EP3307331B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3307331B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a facility for sterilising items by radiation comprising a radiation-generating device (1) and an item-supporting device (2) arranged opposite the radiation-generating device and including means (5, 12) for moving the items in front of the radiation-generating device, wherein the item-supporting device includes means (6, 13) for changing the orientation of the items during the movement of the items in front of the radiation-generating device.