Sterilizing Machine for Loose Products with Rotating Transfer Container
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sterilizing machines for loose products face challenges in maintaining optimal sterility during unloading and transfer, as they often require intermediate storage stations, which can lead to contamination and increase complexity, costs, and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A sterilizing machine with a rotating transfer container equipped with a helicoidal guide that maintains continuous sterility by directly transferring sterilized products from the treatment chamber to a station of use, minimizing operator intervention and eliminating the need for intermediate storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If intermediate storage stations are used to transfer sterilized products, then the sterilization process can be completed, but the risk of contamination increases and the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the intermediate storage station from the sterilization system. Instead, a direct transfer mechanism is implemented where the rotating drum discharges sterilized products directly into waiting sterile containers through sealed chutes, eliminating the contamination risk associated with intermediate storage while maintaining sterilization reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces sealed transfer chutes as an intermediary mechanism between the rotating drum and final containers. These chutes maintain sterile conditions during transfer, allowing direct movement of products without exposure to non-sterile environments, thus resolving the contradiction between completing sterilization and preventing contamination
2Reliability
If intermediate storage stations are used for product transfer, then the sterilization process can be completed, but the device complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the intermediate storage station entirely, replacing it with a direct transfer system where the rotating drum discharges products directly into waiting containers. This extraction of the unnecessary component reduces device complexity and costs while maintaining sterilization reliability through the sealed transfer mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the transfer function directly into the rotating drum system by integrating sealed discharge chutes with the drum structure. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate intermediate storage stations and transfer mechanisms, reducing overall system complexity while ensuring continuous sterile transfer
3Ease of operation
If manual unloading by operators is used, then the sterilized products can be transferred, but the sterility conditions are interrupted and contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an automated unloading system where the rotating drum self-discharges sterilized products through sealed chutes into waiting sterile containers. This eliminates the need for manual operator intervention during the transfer process, maintaining sterility conditions automatically without human contact that could cause contamination
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses sealed transfer chutes as an automated intermediary mechanism that facilitates product discharge without manual handling. The chutes maintain sterile barriers throughout the transfer process, allowing easy automated operation while preserving sterility reliability by preventing operator contact with sterilized products
4Reliability
If multiple transfer stations are used, then the sterilization process can be completed, but the processing time increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes intermediate storage stations from the process, implementing a direct transfer system where the rotating drum discharges products directly into waiting sterile containers. This elimination of unnecessary transfer steps reduces processing time and increases efficiency while maintaining sterilization completion through the sealed direct transfer mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous sterile transfer by having waiting sterile containers positioned to receive products directly as they are discharged from the rotating drum. This continuous action eliminates idle transfer time between stations, maintaining both sterilization reliability and high processing efficiency through uninterrupted product flow
Data Source
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AI summary
Sterilizing machine for loose products, comprising a treatment chamber (11) able to house the loose products (P) to be treated. The machine comprises, downstream of the treatment chamber (11), a container (20) to transfer the loose products (P) provided with a loading side (24) of the loose products (P) coming from the treatment chamber (11), an unloading side (26) of the loose products (P) and movement means (36, 38) of the loose products (P) from the loading side (24) to the unloading side (26). The container (20) is connectable, on the loading side (24) and by means of first connecting and channeling means (19, 21, 25), to the treatment chamber (11), and is connectable, on the unloading side (26) and by means of second connecting and channeling means (27, 28, 29), to a station (30) to use the loose products (P). The first (19, 21, 25) and the second (27, 28, 29) connecting and channeling means are configured to guarantee continuity in the sterilization conditions obtained in the treatment chamber (11) of the sterilizing machine (10).