Swept Brush Assembly for Simultaneous Vessel Surface Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional submersible drinking vessel cleaners are inefficient as they are designed to clean only one vessel at a time, leading to slower throughput in restaurant settings, and users often misuse the system by holding two vessels to increase efficiency, resulting in suboptimal cleaning due to unnecessary energy waste and incomplete cleaning of exterior surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A supplemental brush device with a central base and elongated brush arms that can accommodate multiple vessels, allowing for simultaneous interior and exterior cleaning, featuring adjustable speed and torque, and being lightweight and washable for enhanced cleaning efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional submersible cleaner with multiple brushes is used to clean multiple vessels simultaneously, then throughput increases, but cleaning quality deteriorates because the arrangement is not used as intended and energy is wasted spinning brushes that do not contact the vessels
Solution Approach 1:
The brush arms are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing them to dynamically adjust their positions based on the presence and size of vessels. The brush arms can extend outward to contact vessel exteriors and retract inward when not needed, enabling the system to adapt to different cleaning scenarios and maintain optimal performance.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the cleaning device have specialized functions: the central brush is optimized for interior cleaning, while the outer brush arms are optimized for exterior cleaning. This local specialization ensures that each brush contacts the appropriate surface effectively, preventing the mismatch that occurs when using a fixed arrangement for unintended purposes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the brush arms are made elongated to reach tight interior cavities, then cleaning coverage improves, but device weight increases making it difficult to operate with one hand
Solution Approach 1:
The brush arms incorporate spring mechanisms that provide dynamic adjustment capability. The springs allow the brush arms to extend to reach into tight cavities when needed, then retract to a compact position that minimizes weight and allows easy handheld operation. This dynamic extension/retraction resolves the contradiction between reach and portability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the outer brush arms are made rigid to maintain spacing, then structural stability improves, but the device cannot accommodate vessel handles without breaking
Solution Approach 1:
The outer brush arms are designed with hinge joints and spring mechanisms that provide controlled flexibility. The hinges allow the brush arms to rotate and bend when encountering vessel handles, preventing breakage, while the springs maintain the overall spacing structure. This combination of flexibility and structural integrity resolves the contradiction between rigidity and adaptability.
4Reliability
If the device is designed for motorized operation to ensure consistent cleaning, then cleaning consistency improves, but the device becomes complex and requires maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates spring mechanisms that automatically provide the force needed for brush contact and arm movement without requiring a motor. The springs self-regulate the pressure and movement, providing consistent cleaning action while eliminating complex motorized drive systems. This mechanical self-service approach resolves the contradiction between consistent performance and simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for improving the effectiveness and throughput of the cleaning of drinking vessels, the exemplary embodiments of the device having a base member with a top surface and a spacing member which extends downward and away from the top surface. A static base may be used which contains a female threaded hole. A central brush may be used which contains a male threaded portion, sized to pass through the base member and engage with the female threads in the static base.