Vessel Sterilizer Swing Gripper for High-Speed Gas Exposure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vessel sterilizers face insufficient sterilization when the rotation speed of the conveying wheel is increased, resulting in reduced exposure time and a decreased amount of sterilizing gas supplied to the vessel, leading to inadequate sterilization.
Innovation Solution
A vessel sterilizer design featuring a gripper that swings the vessel's opening to maintain it under the nozzle for a longer period, ensuring consistent exposure to sterilizing gas, even at higher conveying speeds, utilizing an endless conveyor and a swing mechanism to adjust the gripper's position relative to the nozzle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the rotation speed of the rotating wheel is increased to increase process capacity, then productivity is improved, but the time for the vessel to pass below the nozzle is shortened resulting in insufficient sterilization
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper is designed to swing dynamically in the conveyance direction based on its position relative to the nozzle. When approaching the nozzle, the gripper swings forward to position the vessel opening directly below the nozzle. When moving away, it swings rearward. This dynamic adjustment ensures maximum exposure time to sterilizing gas even at high rotation speeds, resolving the contradiction between productivity and sterilization effectiveness.
2Productivity
If the rotation speed of the rotating wheel is increased, then productivity is improved, but the amount of sterilizing gas supplied to the vessel is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By dynamically swinging the gripper forward when approaching the nozzle and rearward when moving away, the vessel opening maintains optimal positioning under the nozzle for a longer duration. This dynamic positioning ensures consistent and sufficient supply of sterilizing gas to the vessel even at increased rotation speeds, preventing reduction in the quantity of sterilizing gas supplied.
3Productivity
If the rotation speed of the rotating wheel is increased, then productivity is improved, but sterilization effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The swing mechanism ensures that the vessel opening is positioned directly below the nozzle during the critical sterilization phase, maintaining optimal exposure conditions. This dynamic adjustment compensates for the reduced exposure time at high speeds, ensuring that sterilization effectiveness is maintained regardless of rotation speed, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A vessel sterilizer includes a gripper which is configured to hold a vessel having an opening facing upward, the endless conveyor being configured to move the gripper in a conveyance direction along a conveyance rout; a nozzle provided on the conveyance rout and configured to inject sterilizing gas from a spout provided at a bottom end of the nozzle toward the opening of the vessel to supply the sterilizing gas into the vessel; and a swing mechanism configured to horizontally swing the gripper forward in the conveyance direction when the vessel held by the gripper approaches the nozzle along the conveyance rout and configured to horizontally swing the gripper rearward in the conveyance direction when the vessel held by the gripper moves away from the nozzle.