Technical data:

• What was needed: An automatic cleaning machine that disinfects reusable cups in just a few seconds with 140°C steam
• Requirements: Absolutely no lubrication or maintenance, suitability for small installation spaces, robustness, reliability, low-friction dry operation, wear resistance, quiet operation
• Products used: drylin® SLW-1040 with an integrated dryspin® high helix lead screw made of stainless steel, drylin® guide rail, and matching DC motor
• Success for the customer: The automatic machine is located directly next to the coffee machine in staff break rooms. In order to design a compact machine, the engineers had to miniaturise all components – including the linear guides and bearings for the cleaning dome, which is lowered over the cup before cleaning. The components also had to be robust, reliable, and low-maintenance and require no grease. igus® linear guides and polymer plain bearings are therefore being used. They allow low-friction dry operation without any external lubricants and are quiet in operation and wear-resistant. This makes them ideal candidates for the disinfecting machine.

Problem

It's a common problem in offices: dirty coffee mugs piling up in the sink. But staff don't like washing dishes and instead use disposable cups. The damage to the environment is great. In France, about five billion disposable cups are still used every year. 

The up-and-down movement is the best way to open and close the cleaning dome. Usage is central to the overall user experience. A non-contact solution with optimal linear guidance was needed. The automatic side allows hygienic non-contact opening to meet high hygiene requirements and reduce user interaction. Alternative plain bearings and guide rails were out of the question because of their limited service life and very complicated maintenance. 

Solution

The user places the cup in the machine, and the dome automatically lowers and completely encloses it. The steam then disinfects the cup, and a stream of air dries it. Once this step is complete, the cleaning dome rises again, and the user can pick up his cup. The device is quick and easy to use. The machine itself is compact and elegant. It can be set up in company break areas. All technological machine components had to be miniaturised so that the whole system could be integrated into a 50cm x 50cm x 20cm machine.

The drylin® SLW guide solved the problem of raising and lowering our cleaning dome. The plain bearings ensure smooth cup rotation. The bearings had to be sufficiently robust and reliable and require minimal maintenance. It could also not use any grease, and it did not.

(video in french)

drylin® SLW lead screw linear module

dryspin® high helix lead screw

drylin® guide rail

drylin® DC motors

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