Angled Infrared Heating for Coating Workpiece Energy Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coating devices for workpieces, such as chipboard, consume excessive energy for heating, which is ecologically undesirable without compromising the quality of the joint between the workpiece and the coating material.

Innovation Solution

The device employs a reduced number of elongate radiation elements arranged at an angle to the conveying plane, utilizing infrared radiators or LED stacks, allowing for efficient heating of workpieces with varying heights and widths, while maintaining high-quality joint connections through uniform heat distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If multiple radiation elements are arranged parallel to the conveying plane to cover different workpiece heights, then the heating coverage is improved, but the energy consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating coverageVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The radiation element is arranged at an angle (5-20 degrees) to the conveying plane, transitioning from a conventional parallel arrangement to an inclined configuration. This angular arrangement allows the radiation to effectively cover varying workpiece heights without requiring multiple parallel radiation elements, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining heating coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the geometric parameter of the radiation element arrangement by introducing an angle (α) between the radiation element and the conveying plane. This parameter change enables a single radiation element to cover the required heating zone for different workpiece heights, replacing the need for multiple elements and reducing overall energy consumption by up to 50%.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Use of energy by moving object

If the number of radiation elements is reduced to decrease energy consumption, then the energy efficiency is improved, but the heating uniformity across different workpiece heights may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidheating uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

By arranging the single radiation element at an angle to the conveying plane, the invention creates an inclined radiation path that naturally adapts to different workpiece heights. This angular configuration ensures that the radiation distributes heat uniformly across the surface regardless of height variations, maintaining heating uniformity while using fewer elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The radiation element is positioned asymmetrically at a specific angle (5-20 degrees) rather than parallel to the conveying plane. This asymmetric arrangement optimizes the radiation distribution pattern to accommodate varying workpiece heights, ensuring uniform heating across the surface while reducing the number of radiation elements required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

3Reliability

If conventional heating devices are used to heat the workpiece surface, then the joint quality is maintained, but excessive heat is introduced into the device causing unwanted heating of conveying device and coating unit

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvejoint qualityVSAvoidunwanted heat introduction
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The inclined radiation element configuration focuses the heating action locally on the workpiece surface that requires coating, rather than distributing heat broadly. This localized heating approach maintains the necessary temperature for high-quality joint formation while minimizing heat transfer to surrounding components such as the conveying device and coating unit, reducing unwanted thermal effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 configuration reduces energy consumption by up to 50% while ensuring consistent heating, maintaining the quality of the joint connection and reducing heat introduction into the device, thus achieving energy-efficient and high-quality coating processes.

Implementation Method 1

at least one elongate radiation element (32), in particular an infrared radiator and/or LED stack

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInfrared radiation: Infrared Radiation

Data Source

PatentEP3653353B1Device and method for coating a workpiece
Publication Date: 2021.07.28 HOMAG GMBH
  • EP3653353B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3653353B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3653353B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Device (1) for coating a workpiece (2), which preferably consists at least partially of wood, wood-based material, plastic or the like, comprising a coating unit (10) for applying a coating material (14) to a surface (20) of the workpiece (2) to be coated, a conveying device (4) for bringing about a relative movement between the workpiece (2) and the coating unit (10), which defines a conveying plane (F), and a heating device (30) for heating the surface (20) of the workpiece (2) to be coated, which has at least one elongated radiation element (32), characterized in that at least one elongated radiation element (32) is arranged such that its longitudinal axis (32') intersects the conveying plane at an angle (α).