Web Material Disinfection Device With Movable Guide for Roll Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing disinfection/sterilization devices for web materials in package production face challenges in efficiently switching between rolls due to the difficulty in handling web material with flexible seals, leading to increased downtime and potential hygiene issues.
Innovation Solution
A moveable web guide element within the disinfection device that can shift between guiding and non-guiding positions, allowing unobstructed access for disinfection/sterilization agents while facilitating smooth web material transition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If flexing seals are used to engage web material in disinfection devices, then hygiene and closed-space disinfection are improved, but web material switching and roll changes become difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The seal element is designed to be movable between a first position where it engages the web material to create a closed space for disinfection, and a second position where it retracts to allow easy access for roll switching and web material changes. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction by allowing the seal to adapt its state based on the operational requirement.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal element is divided into a sealing portion that engages the web material and a free portion that can be manually manipulated. This segmentation allows the sealing function to be maintained during disinfection while the free portion enables easy access for maintenance and roll switching without compromising the closed-space hygiene environment.
2Productivity
If web material is continuously fed through disinfection devices, then production efficiency is improved, but complete disinfection of the web material surface is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The moveable seal element can be positioned to create a closed space that completely encloses the web material during disinfection operations. This dynamic sealing allows the disinfection agents to fully contact all surfaces of the web material, ensuring complete disinfection while maintaining continuous production capability.
3Productivity
If disinfection devices are designed for high-volume automated production, then productivity is improved, but maintenance and service operations become more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The moveable seal element with its free portion provides easy access points for maintenance operations. Technicians can manually manipulate the free portion to open the sealed space for cleaning and maintenance, then reposition it to restore the closed-space disinfection environment. This dynamic mechanism simplifies maintenance while preserving high-volume production capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The moveable seal element is designed to be easily manipulated by operators without requiring complex tools or procedures. The free portion can be manually positioned to either seal or open the access point, enabling operators to perform maintenance and service operations independently while maintaining the automated production environment.
Data Source
Figure 1A~3B
Figure 3C~3H
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
A device (20) for reducing presence of microorganisms on a web material (12), for example in a system for manufacture of packages, comprises a housing (21) that defines an interior space (22), and a microorganism mitigation arrangement (25) in the interior space. Elongated inlet and outlet ports (23, 24) on the housing have a respective seal (24') for flexing engagement with the web material and allow the web material to move along a travel path (TP) through the interior space. A moveable element (26) with a support surface (26') is arranged within the housing for movement into a first position (I), in which the support surface is arranged along the travel path so as to direct a leading end (12A) of the web material from the inlet port towards the outlet port, and a second position (II), in which the support surface is spaced from the travel path.