This is one of the largest projects I have done. The fastest explanation is by video:

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This is the automated system for cleaning tissue-culture growing vessels.

The system begins with placing uncapped soiled jars on the rotary accumulation table. From there, jars queue for the vacuum station. One at a time, the contents are removed by the pneumatic vacuum. The contents are deposited in the waste drum for later disposal. It works with both used growing media and plant debris.

The vacuum creates a negative pressure in the drum with a pneumatic conveyor pointed outwards. The vacuum nozzle will lift with greater force to overcome the the vacuum. The system will automatically pause if the drum is full of waste or there is no more room for jars downstream.

Currently, operators put the emptied jars into washing racks for use with a commercial dishwasher. This step is in the process of being automated.

The system averages 14 jars per minute. It requires 2 operators if the jars are capped, or only 1 if already uncapped.

Performance metrics, including system speed and labour, are measured by the PLC. They are reported via MQTT and stored in an on-site database.

*Note: this will be rolled into the cleaning system video once deployed.

After the cleaning system removes the bulk contents of the jar, it continues to the jar-inversion tunnel. It passively flips the jars upside-down. There are cutouts for ease of cleaning. Once inverted, the jars move along a narrow rail. An air-jet forcibly removes any remaining debris, which is caught by a drip tray below. There is a slot to eject any prone jars.

Jars are then staggered and spaced by a spiral drive. Jars only advance one at a time. The start of the spiral is perpendicular to the jar motion, preventing the conveyor backpressure from applying torque on the spiral's motor.

When all of the 5 spiral positions are occupied, a gantry picks up the batch. It uses suction cups with a vacuum ejector to grip the jars. The gantry moves and places the jars into a washing rack. This process repeats until the washing rack is full and the system pauses.

An operator then puts the full washing into a dishwasher and replaces the rack with an empty one.