Crimping Tool with Localized Heating for Packaging Tube Heads
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for producing packaging tubes require high initial temperatures for pre-forming, leading to energy-intensive processes, potential material degradation, and prolonged cooling times, which increase cycle times and result in unwanted material properties.
Innovation Solution
A multi-part forming tool with a heating device integrated into the outer shoulder part allows for section-based heating of the tube body, enabling a lower initial temperature for pre-forming and faster cooling, while maintaining effective connection formation through controlled heating and cooling of the pre-forming material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If high initial temperatures are used for preform heating to ensure reliable curing and strong bond, then bonding strength is improved, but energy consumption increases and material degradation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the forming tool into multiple temperature zones: a heated inner part (die/mandrel) that contacts the preform to maintain high temperature for bonding, and cooled outer parts that remove heat from the formed tube head. This segmentation allows different regions to serve different thermal functions simultaneously, enabling strong bonding without overall high-temperature energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies heating locally to the inner part of the forming tool where the preform contacts during forming, while applying cooling to the outer parts. This local quality approach ensures high temperature is maintained only where needed for bonding (at the preform-die interface), while other areas are cooled to reduce overall energy consumption and accelerate cycle time.
2Strength
If high initial temperatures are used for preform heating to ensure reliable curing, then bonding strength is improved, but material degradation occurs due to temperature fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-heats the inner part of the forming tool (die or mandrel) before the preform is inserted. This preliminary heating ensures that when the preform contacts the die, the bonding surface is already at the required temperature, eliminating the need to heat the entire preform to very high temperatures that could cause degradation. The localized pre-heating of the die provides sufficient heat for bonding without excessive thermal exposure to the preform material.
3Strength
If high initial temperatures are used for preform heating, then bonding strength is improved, but cooling time increases and cycle time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The forming tool is segmented into heated inner parts and cooled outer parts. The cooled outer parts actively remove heat from the formed tube head during the forming process, parallel to the bonding operation. This simultaneous cooling reduces the post-forming cooling time required to reach demolding temperature, thereby reducing cycle time while maintaining strong bonding through the heated inner part.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous cooling of the outer forming tool parts during the entire forming process, rather than waiting until after forming is complete. This continuous useful action of heat removal occurs simultaneously with the bonding process, maximizing efficiency and minimizing the total cycle time while ensuring adequate bond strength is achieved.
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 approach reduces energy consumption, prevents material degradation, and shortens the cooling time to achieve sufficient strength, thereby enhancing the efficiency and quality of the tube head connection process.
Implementation Method 1
the outer shoulder part has a heating device or is designed in such a way that it can be heated, so that the axial end section of the tube body is heated when approaching the outer shoulder part and/or when in contact with the outer shoulder part
Implementation Method 2
the use of conformal cooling devices to cool the multi-part molding tool... to allow the heated or heated preform, preferably made of molten polymer material or a polymer melt, to be easily deformed initially, while simultaneously achieving the fastest possible hardening
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a device and method for forming a tube head by compressing a preform (4) and joining the tube head to a tube body (5) for the production of a packaging tube, comprising a multi-part forming tool (1) forming a first processing station, in particular comprising a male die (3) and a multi-part female die (2), into which a preform (4) and a tube body (5) can be inserted in an open state and which, upon transition to a closed state, forms the tube head from the preform (4) and establishes the connection with the tube body (5), wherein the forming tool has cooling devices (6) with which parts of the forming tool (1) can be cooled, wherein the forming tool (1) further comprises an outer shoulder part (7) which, in the closed state, is arranged, preferably radially outside, adjacent to an axial end section (23) of the tube body (5).wherein the outer shoulder part (7) has a heating device (9, 12, 13) which is arranged and designed such that the axial end section (23) of the tube body (5) is heated when approaching the outer shoulder part (7) and/or when in contact with the outer shoulder part (7).