Tray-and-tableware flipping device and dishwashing system using same

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional automatic dishwashing systems often deform or break tableware and trays due to collisions during transportation and separation, requiring significant labor for pre-washing and flipping.

Innovation Solution

A tray-and-tableware flipping device with a rotating unit and rotary blades that automatically flips trays and tableware, utilizing a shock-absorbing unit to prevent damage and reduce labor by merging pre-washing and post-washing processes, and simplifying the dishwashing system structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a conveyer belt is tilted to drop trays and tableware for separation, then sorting efficiency is improved, but tableware and trays are likely to be deformed or broken due to collisions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesorting efficiencyVSAvoidtableware integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A cushioning member is introduced as an intermediary element between the tableware and the conveyer belt surface. This cushioning member absorbs impact energy during the tilting and dropping process, preventing direct collision between the tableware and the hard belt surface, thereby resolving the contradiction between sorting efficiency and tableware integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The cushioning member is positioned in advance on the conveyer belt before the tableware is dropped. This pre-positioned cushioning layer prepares the impact absorption mechanism beforehand, ensuring that when the tableware is tilted and dropped for separation, the cushioning is already in place to prevent deformation or breakage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Manufacturing precision

If manual pre-washing and flipping of tableware is performed, then cleaning quality is improved, but labor requirements increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning qualityVSAvoidlabor requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by allowing tableware to be automatically flipped and positioned on the conveyer belt without manual intervention. The cushioning member facilitates this self-positioning process, enabling the tableware to orient itself correctly during the tilting process, thereby eliminating the need for manual flipping while maintaining cleaning quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The cushioning member performs preliminary action by preparing the impact absorption surface in advance, which enables the automatic flipping process to occur smoothly without manual intervention. This preliminary preparation allows the system to achieve automatic tableware orientation and positioning, reducing labor requirements while maintaining cleaning effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If multiple conveyor tracks are used for separate washing of trays and tableware, then washing effectiveness is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewashing effectivenessVSAvoidsystem structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functions of multiple conveyor tracks into a single integrated conveyer belt system. By using one conveyer belt with a cushioning member that can handle both trays and tableware simultaneously, the system maintains separate washing capabilities while reducing the number of conveyor components needed, thereby simplifying the overall system structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The solution effectively prevents deformation and breakage of tableware and trays, reduces labor needed for dishwashing, and simplifies the dishwashing system by eliminating two conveyor tracks, resulting in a more efficient and cost-effective operation.

Implementation Method 1

a cushioning member for cushioning an impact of the tableware or the tray on the conveyer belt

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShock absorption: Damping

Implementation Method 2

The rotating unit receives the trays or the tableware one after another from an external feed unit disposed at one side of the rotating unit, accommodates the trays or the tableware in the tray accommodation spaces, and rotates in conjunction with rotation of the rotary shaft so that the tableware or the trays are turned upside down during rotation of the rotating unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRotation:

Data Source

PatentUS10633192B2Tray-and-tableware flipping device and dishwashing system using same

Publication Date: 2020.04.28 PRIME CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed is a tray-and-tableware flipping device being capable of flipping and sorting trays and tableware including dishes and bowls without causing damage to the tableware attributable to collisions. The flipping device also reduces the labor needed for dishwashing by automatically flipping the trays and tableware. Further disclosed is a dishwashing system including a first conveyer transportation unit, the tray-and-tableware flipping device, a flipping device driving unit, a tray transportation conveyer belt, a tableware transportation conveyer belt, and a monitoring or detection sensor.