Targeted Dish Cleaner Using Vision-Guided Nozzle Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dishwashers prioritize average cleanliness over individual dish cleanliness, leading to inefficient use of resources and prolonged washing cycles, and lack the ability to focus on dirty regions of dishes, resulting in incomplete cleaning and significant wastage of time, energy, and water.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a light source, camera, and nozzles to inspect and target dirty regions on each dish, allowing for precise spraying of cleaning fluids with adjustable distribution and orientation to ensure thorough cleaning, conserving resources and reducing washing time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If batch dishwashing is used to clean multiple dishes simultaneously, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision (cleanliness of each individual dish) deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The batch of dishes is segmented into individual cleaning zones, with each dish receiving dedicated attention through independently controllable nozzles that can be precisely positioned and oriented to target specific dirty regions on each dish surface
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning system applies local quality by directing cleaning resources specifically to dirty regions of each dish rather than uniformly treating all surfaces. The nozzles are reoriented and relocated to concentrate fluid spray on identified contaminated areas, ensuring thorough cleaning where needed while conserving resources on already clean areas
2Device complexity
If conventional dishwashers use turbidity detectors to monitor water cleanliness, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision (ability to detect individual dish cleanliness) deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical turbidity detection system is replaced with an optical inspection system using cameras and image processing algorithms. This substitution enables precise visual assessment of each individual dish's cleanliness state, allowing the system to identify specific dirty regions on each dish with high measurement precision while maintaining relatively simple device architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates visual copies (images) of each dish's surface to assess cleanliness. By capturing and analyzing images of individual dishes, the system can evaluate the cleanliness state of each dish without physical contact, enabling precise measurement while keeping the inspection mechanism simple and non-intrusive
3Manufacturing precision
If batch dishwashing cycles are extended to ensure thorough cleaning, then manufacturing precision (cleanliness of each dish) is improved, but loss of time (washing duration) increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary inspection of each dish before the cleaning cycle begins, identifying dirty regions in advance. This preliminary action allows the cleaning process to be precisely targeted from the start, eliminating the need for extended washing times while ensuring thorough cleaning of identified contaminated areas
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning system applies local quality by concentrating cleaning efforts on identified dirty regions of each dish rather than uniformly treating all surfaces throughout an extended cycle. This targeted approach achieves thorough cleaning of necessary areas much faster than conventional batch washing
4Ease of operation
If conventional dishwashers spray fluid uniformly across all dishes, then ease of operation is improved, but loss of substance (water and energy consumption) increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid distribution system applies local quality by directing cleaning fluid specifically to dirty regions of each dish rather than uniformly spraying all surfaces. The nozzles are reoriented and relocated to concentrate fluid spray on identified contaminated areas, significantly reducing water and energy consumption while maintaining effective cleaning
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial action by spraying cleaning fluid only on the necessary dirty regions of each dish rather than uniformly treating all surfaces. This selective approach consumes significantly less water and energy while achieving the same or better cleaning results
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
Ensures each dish is thoroughly cleaned efficiently, conserves energy and water, and rivals the speed of hand washing by focusing on dirty regions, eliminating the tradeoff between cleanliness and resource usage.
Implementation Method 1
a light source for illuminating said dish
Implementation Method 2
a camera for capturing an image of said dish
Implementation Method 3
a first nozzle for spraying a fluid on said dish
Implementation Method 4
spraying a fluid with a first nozzle on said dish with a predetermined spray distribution
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for cleaning a dish, comprising: illuminating said dish with a light source; capturing an image of said dish with a camera; inspecting said image to determine if said dish is clean; and estimating locations of dirty regions on said dish; spraying a fluid with a first nozzle on said dish with a predetermined spray distribution, wherein said first nozzle can reorient or relocate to spray said fluid on any region of said dish visible in said image; and spraying a fluid with a second nozzle on said dish with a spray distribution having a smaller coverage than that of said first nozzle, wherein said second nozzle is relocated or reoriented such that the fluid reaches said dirty regions at said locations on said dish; whereby dirty regions of said dish are targeted for a fast and efficient cleaning of said dish.