Integrated Air Knife Manifold for Balanced Container Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dryer systems for containers on a factory line are inefficient in removing excess water, particularly for containers like cans and bottles, which is necessary for applying labels and printing graphics, and often require individual adjustments of components for balanced air delivery.
Innovation Solution
A dryer system with integrated air knives and nozzles that form a unified air manifold, allowing for balanced air delivery without the need for individual adjustments, effectively drying the exterior and interior surfaces of containers as they move through a tunnel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional dryer systems use separate air delivery components, then air delivery can be achieved, but individual adjustments are required for balanced air delivery and the system is difficult to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple air delivery components (air knives and nozzles) into a single integrated air manifold assembly. This merging eliminates the need for individual adjustments of separate components while maintaining balanced air delivery capability, directly resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated air manifold serves multiple functions simultaneously: it distributes air to multiple nozzles and air knives, provides balanced air delivery across different locations, and eliminates the need for separate adjustment mechanisms. This multi-functionality reduces operational complexity while maintaining system performance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional dryer systems require individual component adjustments, then air delivery can be controlled, but the system is time-consuming to set up and adapt to various packaging lines
Solution Approach 1:
By merging all air delivery functions into a single integrated manifold, the system achieves adaptability to various packaging lines without requiring time-consuming individual component adjustments. The unified design allows for quick reconfiguration as a whole unit rather than adjusting multiple separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated air manifold is pre-configured with multiple air delivery pathways and nozzles positioned to handle different container types. This preliminary arrangement of air delivery components enables rapid adaptation to various packaging lines without requiring time-consuming setup adjustments during operation.
3Productivity
If conventional dryer systems use multiple separate air delivery devices, then air can be delivered to containers, but the system is inefficient in removing excess water
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of multiple air delivery devices into a unified manifold system improves water removal efficiency by coordinating air flow more effectively. The combined system delivers air in a more optimized pattern that enhances evaporation and removal of excess water from containers, directly improving productivity while reducing energy waste from uncoordinated air delivery.
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 system efficiently removes water from containers, ensuring they are dry enough for labeling and printing, while being adaptable to various packaging lines with minimal setup adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
a dryer system for removing water from containers
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a device for drying objects that are, for example, moving on a conveyor belt or assembly line. The objects may be containers such as, for example, empty or filled cans, empty or filled bottles, or non-container objects. The device comprising a plenum configured to receive air from an air source, a first air knife structure coupled to the plenum and a second air knife structure coupled to the plenum, the first and second knife structures coupled respectively to a first and a second wall of the plenum, the first wall can be opposite the second wall.