Sterilization Apparatus for Receptacle Closures with Multi-Rail Guide System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sterilization apparatuses for receptacle closures require complex and time-consuming adjustments to accommodate different formats and suffer from instability in the sterilization agent cloud due to sensitive control of exhaust extraction, limiting their versatility and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A sterilization apparatus with multiple guide rails and injection devices that can handle various types and formats of receptacle closures, featuring a cloud-stabilizing deflector system and adjustable exhaust hoods to maintain sterilization quality and efficiency across different formats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single guide rail is used for sterilization, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate different formats of receptacle closures
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rail system is divided into multiple independent guide rails (first guide rail, second guide rail, etc.), each capable of handling different formats of receptacle closures. This segmentation allows the system to accommodate various closure types without requiring complete reconfiguration, resolving the contradiction between versatility and structural simplicity.
2Reliability
If exhaust extraction is strongly controlled to maintain sterilization agent cloud stability, then sterilization quality is improved, but the system becomes sensitive and difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
A deflector is introduced as an intermediary element between the exhaust extraction system and the sterilization agent cloud. The deflector stabilizes the cloud by physically intervening in the airflow dynamics, reducing the sensitivity of the system to exhaust extraction control variations and making the system easier to operate while maintaining reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If format changes are accommodated by adjusting existing equipment, then versatility is improved, but the adjustment process becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple guide rails are pre-configured to handle different formats of receptacle closures. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for time-consuming adjustments during format changes, as the system can simply switch between pre-configured rails. The multi-layered structure provides ready-to-use configurations for various closure types.
4Productivity
If multiple injection devices are used to maintain sterilization agent cloud, then sterilization efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple injection devices are merged into a coordinated system where they work together to maintain the sterilization agent cloud. The deflector serves as a common element that integrates the output of multiple injection devices, allowing them to function as a unified system rather than separate complex components, thus improving productivity while managing complexity.
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
Enables quick format changes and maintains a stable sterilization agent cloud, reducing the need for extensive adjustments and improving the efficiency of the sterilization process by using multiple guide rails and injection devices, along with deflector and air shielding mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
injection of the heated and vaporized sterilization agent
Implementation Method 2
heated and vaporized sterilization agent
Implementation Method 3
capture by means of a draught effect, in use, exhaust molecules from the treatment chamber
Implementation Method 4
direct heat air to the receptacle closures in the vicinity of the outlet station for drying off sterilization agent residues
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~7
Figure 3
AI summary
There is described a sterilization apparatus (1) for sterilizing receptacle closures (2) comprising a treatment chamber (4); feeding means for feeding receptacle closures (2) to the treatment chamber (4); guide rails (22) for guiding the receptacle closures (2) through the treatment chamber (4) and the feeding means feed the receptacle closures (2) to one active guide rail (22); sterilization agent injection means (9) having injection devices (32), each associated to one guide rail (22); and control means (50) for selectively actuating the injection devices (32) according to a first and second operative mode; in the first operative mode, the control means (50) actuate the injection device (32) associated to the active guide rail (22); and in the second operative mode, the control means (50) actuate the injection device (32) associated to the active guide rail (22) and to one or more guide rails (22) adjacent to the active guide rail (22).