Edgebanding Machine Hot Gas Recirculation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing edgebanding machines for wood panels suffer from energy waste, safety hazards, and overheating of mechanical components due to the dispersion of hot gas into the environment when not in use.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of a recirculation branch that allows hot air to be reused by redirecting it back into the system when a panel is not present, utilizing a heat exchanger or pressure adjusting devices to maintain efficiency and safety by preventing gas dispersion into the environment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If hot gas is dispersed into the external environment when panel is absent, then the system is simple to operate, but energy waste occurs and safety hazards arise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoidenergy waste
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful dispersed hot gas into a beneficial recirculating resource. The recirculation branch captures hot gas that would otherwise be wasted and redirects it back through the heating devices, transforming energy loss into useful thermal energy that maintains system efficiency and reduces operating costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of discarding hot gas into the environment, the system recovers it through the recirculation branch. The recovered hot gas is reused to preheat incoming gas or maintain thermal conditions in the chamber, eliminating energy waste while keeping the system simple to operate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Device complexity

If hot gas is dispersed into the external environment, then the system structure is simple, but safety hazards for operators occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem structureVSAvoidsafety hazards
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The recirculation system converts potentially hazardous dispersed hot gas into a controlled recirculating flow. By capturing and redirecting the hot gas through the recirculation branch back to the heating devices, the system eliminates safety hazards while adding only a simple recirculation path rather than complex safety systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Device complexity

If hot gas is dispersed into the external environment, then the outlet nozzle can be simple, but mechanical components mounted close to the outlet nozzle overheat

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoutlet nozzle structureVSAvoidcomponent temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The recirculation branch ensures continuous useful action by constantly redirecting hot gas back through the heating devices rather than allowing it to disperse. This continuous circulation prevents thermal buildup near the outlet nozzle by maintaining steady thermal conditions, protecting mechanical components from overheating while keeping the nozzle structure simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 reduces energy waste, enhances operator safety, and prevents overheating of mechanical components by recirculating hot air within the system, making the edgebanding process more efficient and cost-effective.

Implementation Method 1

utilizing a heat exchanger or pressure adjusting devices to maintain efficiency and safety by preventing gas dispersion into the environment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchanger: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

a recirculation branch (25) which extends downstream of the outlet nozzle (17) in a feeding direction (26) of the hot air along the feeding device (16) and comprises a first segment (27) having an inlet that is connected to the feeding branch (19) by means of the interposition of a shut-off valve (28), and a second segment (29) facing the outlet nozzle (17) so as to cause the hot air fed through the outlet nozzle (17) itself to recirculate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal energy recirculation: Convection

Implementation Method 3

The gas is heated up progressively by a plurality of heating devices, which are mounted in succession along the feeding device, and is directed onto the finishing edge and/or onto the lateral profile of the panel by means of an outlet nozzle provided with a shut-off valve

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectValve control: Valve

Implementation Method 4

The air under pressure fed along branch 19 is heated up progressively by a plurality of heating devices 20 (in the case in point, three heating devices 20), which are mounted in succession along branch 19 itself

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentEP2902161B1Machine for edgebanding wood panels or the like
Publication Date: 2017.08.23 BIESSE SPA
  • EP2902161B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2902161B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP2902161B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A machine for edgebanding wood panels (2) or the like is provided with an edgebanding assembly (10) to apply a finishing edge (11) along at least part of a lateral profile (4) of a panel (2), and with a feeding device (16) having a feeding branch (19) provided with at least one outlet (17), which is configured to direct a hot gas at the finishing edge (11) and/or at the lateral profile (4) of the panel (2) and a recirculation branch (25; 39) to cause the hot gas fed downstream of the outlet (17) itself to be recirculated in at least one heat exchanger (31; 38) mounted along the feeding branch (19).