Vertical Cap Sterilization Device with Rotating Wheels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cap sterilization devices are large in size, leading to increased capital investment costs and consumption of chemical agents and thermal energy, necessitating a reduction in device size while maintaining effective sterilization.
Innovation Solution
A cap sterilization device with a sterilant spraying chamber and an air-rinsing chamber, where the air-rinsing chamber is vertically positioned above the sterilant spraying chamber, utilizing rotating wheels for conveying caps and incorporating a cleaning chamber, with sterilant spraying devices positioned below a protruding portion of the air-rinsing chamber to reduce overall size and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cap sterilization device is made large to ensure effective sterilization, then sterilization reliability is improved, but device size and capital investment costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a horizontal arrangement of sterilization chambers to a vertical stacked configuration. The air-rinsing chamber is positioned directly above the sterilant spraying chamber, utilizing the vertical dimension to reduce the device's footprint while maintaining all necessary sterilization functions. This dimensional change allows effective sterilization without increasing overall device size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where the sterilant spraying wheel and air-rinsing wheel are concentrically arranged around a common central axis. The air-rinsing chamber surrounds the sterilant spraying chamber in a nested configuration, with both chambers sharing the same vertical space. This nesting allows multiple sterilization functions to coexist in a compact volume, reducing capital investment costs while ensuring reliable sterilization.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional horizontal arrangement of chambers is used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but device size and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent arranges the sterilant spraying chamber and air-rinsing chamber in a vertical stacked configuration rather than horizontally. This vertical arrangement reduces the distance for cap conveyance between chambers, minimizing the volume of propulsion air required and thereby reducing thermal energy consumption for heating and moving air, while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the sterilant spraying wheel and air-rinsing wheel into a single integrated rotating assembly that shares a common central axis. This merged structure allows caps to be conveyed through both sterilization stages in a continuous rotational motion, reducing the total air volume needed for propulsion and decreasing thermal energy requirements while keeping the manufacturing process straightforward.
3Ease of operation
If conventional cap conveyance methods are used, then ease of operation is improved, but propulsion air requirements and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes pneumatic propulsion air introduced into the central cavity to convey caps through the rotating wheels. The propulsion air flows axially through the hollow central portion of both the sterilant spraying wheel and air-rinsing wheel, providing efficient cap conveyance with minimal energy consumption. This pneumatic system maintains ease of operation while significantly reducing the total volume of air required compared to conventional methods.
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 design allows for a compact cap sterilization device that reduces energy costs and capital investment by enabling efficient sterilization of caps using their own weight conveyance, minimizing the need for propulsion air and enhancing the sterilization process.
Implementation Method 1
a sterilant spraying device that supplies the sterilant to the cap
Implementation Method 2
an air-rinsing device that subjects the cap onto which the sterilant has been sprayed to air-rinsing
Implementation Method 3
A sterilant spraying wheel that conveys the cap while rotating the cap is disposed in the sterilant spraying chamber. An air-rinsing wheel that conveys the cap onto which the sterilant has been sprayed while rotating the cap
Data Source
AI summary
A cap sterilization device (50) includes a sterilant spraying chamber (52) in which a sterilant is sprayed onto a cap (33) and an air-rinsing chamber (53) in which the cap (33) onto which the sterilant has been sprayed in the sterilant spraying chamber (52) is subjected to air-rinsing. A sterilant spraying wheel (74) that conveys the cap (33) while rotating the cap (33) is disposed in the sterilant spraying chamber (52). An air-rinsing wheel (75) that conveys the cap (33) onto which the sterilant has been sprayed while rotating the cap (33) is disposed in the air-rinsing chamber (53). The air-rinsing chamber (53) is disposed vertically above the sterilant spraying chamber (52).