Elastically Deformable Film Guide for Blow-Molded Tube Calibration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing calibration devices for film tubes produced by blown film devices are limited in their ability to adapt to varying diameters, leading to incomplete guidance and inadequate cooling, with complex and expensive designs that are not suitable for large diameters.

Innovation Solution

A calibration device with elastically deformable film guide elements that can be adjusted by introducing a fluid, such as water, between the guide element and the film tube, allowing for deformation to fit larger diameters and providing a liquid cushion for reduced friction and improved cooling, along with a force supply device to control the element's size and shape.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If mechanically adjustable calibration devices with finite-size film guide elements are used, then the device can be adapted to different film tube diameters, but large areas of the outer surface of the film tube remain unguided and the design becomes complex and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different film tube diametersVSAvoiddesign complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs an elastically deformable film guide element that can flexibly adapt to different film tube diameters. The element is made of elastic material allowing it to deform and conform to the curved surface of film tubes with varying diameters, providing complete surface guidance without requiring complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms or multiple discrete components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state of the film guide element by introducing a fluid (liquid or gas) between the element and the film tube. This fluid pressure causes the elastically deformable element to expand or contract, allowing it to adapt to different film tube diameters dynamically without mechanical adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If elastically deformable film guide elements are used to enclose larger diameter film tubes, then complete circumferential guidance is achieved, but satisfactory cooling of the film tube cannot be provided

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomplete enclosure of film tubeVSAvoidcooling effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a fluid (liquid or gas) as an intermediary substance between the elastically deformable film guide element and the film tube. This fluid layer serves dual purposes: it allows the element to conform to the film tube surface for complete guidance while simultaneously enabling effective heat transfer from the film tube to the fluid, thus providing satisfactory cooling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes hydraulic or pneumatic principles by introducing a fluid between the film guide element and the film tube. The fluid can be pressurized to maintain the elastic element's deformation and also serves as a cooling medium that efficiently removes heat from the film tube surface through convection and conduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Manufacturing precision

If the film guide element surface is curved to conform to the film tube outer circumference, then complete guidance is achieved for a single diameter, but the element cannot adapt to other diameters and the design becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface conformityVSAvoidadaptability to different diameters
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the static, fixed-curvature film guide element into a dynamic, adaptively deformable one. The elastically deformable element can change its curvature and shape in response to fluid pressure, allowing it to conform to the outer circumference of film tubes with different diameters while maintaining complete surface guidance for each specific diameter.

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

The solution enables complete enclosure of the film tube with minimal damage and effective cooling, maintaining consistent radial distance from the central axis, simplifying the device structure and reducing costs while accommodating a wide range of diameters.

Implementation Method 1

the elastically deformable element can be deformed by introducing a fluid (in particular a liquid or a gas) between the guide element and the film tube

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

A particularly significant advantage of the liquid cushion is its ability to effectively cool the film tube

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLubrication: Lubrication

Implementation Method 3

A particularly significant advantage of the liquid cushion is its ability to effectively cool the film tube

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 4

a liquid column can be formed between the elastically deformable element and the outer surface of the film tube

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3045290B1Calibration device for a blow-molded tube film
Publication Date: 2019.03.27 WINDMOELLER & HOELSCHER GMBH
  • EP3045290B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3045290B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3045290B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention describes a calibration device (1) for calibrating a film tube produced by means of a blown film device, with which (1) the film tube can be brought to a desired diameter, wherein the calibration device comprises at least one film guide element with which the film tube can be guided. The film guide element comprises at least one elastically deformable element.