Adjustable Focusing Device for Plastic Preform Heating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing heating devices for plastic preforms in the beverage industry face challenges in ensuring consistent heating across all areas, particularly below support rings, leading to variability in the stretching process and increased downtime due to manual adjustments required for different preforms.

Innovation Solution

A device with a transport path and stationary heating elements, equipped with a focusing device that can be adjusted automatically to direct radiation precisely onto specific areas of the preform, including the use of infrared radiation and shielding devices to prevent overheating of non-target areas, and a motorized drive system for precise positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual adjustment of the focusing device is used for different plastic preforms, then the heating process can be adapted to specific preform types, but the adjustment time increases and repeatability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating process adaptationVSAvoidadjustment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment of the focusing device with an automated drive mechanism. The drive device mechanically moves the focusing device along the transport path to predetermined positions based on preform type, eliminating manual intervention and ensuring consistent, repeatable positioning for different preform geometries.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the position parameter of the focusing device automatically based on the type of plastic preform being processed. By pre-defining optimal positions for different preform types and using automated control to select and execute these position changes, the system achieves both adaptability to different preforms and consistency in positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual adjustment of the focusing device is performed, then the device can be configured for different preforms, but the downtime increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepreform type configurationVSAvoidmachine downtime

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-defining and storing the optimal positions of the focusing device for different plastic preform types. When a preform type change is required, the system automatically retrieves and executes the pre-programmed position settings, eliminating the need for manual reconfiguration and significantly reducing changeover downtime.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment operations with an automated drive mechanism that rapidly repositions the focusing device. This mechanical automation eliminates the time-consuming manual adjustment process while maintaining the ability to configure the device for different preform types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If the focusing device position is fixed, then the device structure is simpler, but the heating cannot be adapted to different preform areas

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefocusing device structureVSAvoidheating area adaptation

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the focusing device from a static, fixed-position component to a dynamic, movable component. The drive device enables the focusing device to change its position along the transport path, allowing the heating area to be dynamically adapted to different preform geometries while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

This solution enables rapid, reproducible, and precise heating adjustments, reducing downtime and ensuring consistent quality by automatically adapting to different preforms, improving ergonomics and maintaining high project quality.

Implementation Method 1

the heating element is an infrared radiator. The radiation mentioned here is therefore specifically infrared radiation, which is used to heat the plastic preforms

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfrared radiation: Infrared Radiation

Implementation Method 2

a focusing device that focuses and/or directs the radiation emitted by a heating element onto predetermined areas of the plastic preforms to be heated

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFocusing: Focusing

Data Source

PatentEP3928954B1Method and device for heating plastic pre-forms with adjustable focussing device

Publication Date: 2023.03.29 KRONES AG

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AI summary

Device (1) for heating plastic preforms (10) with a transport device (2) which is suitable and intended to transport the plastic preforms along a predetermined transport path (P), with at least one stationary heating device (4) which heats the plastic preforms transported along the transport path (P), wherein the heating device has at least one heating element (42) which emits radiation heating the plastic preforms (10) and at least one focusing device (44) which focuses the radiation emitted by the heating element onto predetermined areas of the plastic preforms to be heated, characterized in that the position of this focusing device is changeable.