Endless Belt Nozzle Box Suction for Uniform Heating

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In film casting devices, the existing designs lead to high flow differences and turbulence under the endless belt, causing undesirable temperature differences and product impairment due to inefficient suction of the gaseous medium, which results in uneven heating of the belt.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves improving suction by using a filter-covered suction opening arrangement, optimizing nozzle box design with a channel supply line and tubular discharge line, and establishing a closed circuit with a deflection device for energy efficiency, minimizing pressure differences and ensuring uniform airflow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If suction openings are arranged closely together under the endless belt, then extraction capacity is increased, but flow differences and turbulence increase causing temperature differences

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveextraction capacityVSAvoidtemperature uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A deflection device is introduced as an intermediary element between the suction openings and the gaseous medium flow. This deflection device redirects the flow from suction openings in a controlled manner, preventing direct impingement and turbulence while maintaining effective extraction capacity. The deflection device acts as a mediator that reconciles the conflicting requirements of high extraction capacity and flow uniformity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If high suction power is used to extract air from closely spaced nozzle boxes, then extraction efficiency is improved, but air is sucked from the upper side of the belt causing turbulence and temperature changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveextraction efficiencyVSAvoidflow turbulence
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The suction system is designed with local quality variations through selectively positioned and dimensioned suction openings at different locations. The deflection device creates localized flow control zones that direct suction effects downward rather than allowing upward suction from the belt surface. This local differentiation maintains high extraction efficiency while preventing harmful turbulence and air mixing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If nozzle boxes are arranged with small spacing, then device compactness is improved, but space volume under the belt becomes very small causing flow compression and turbulence

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice compactnessVSAvoidflow stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The deflection device introduces a new spatial dimension for flow control by redirecting气流 in a third dimension (laterally and downward) rather than allowing direct linear flow paths. This dimensional redirection creates effective flow management space without increasing the physical footprint, maintaining compactness while improving flow stability.

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

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 significantly calms the gas flow, prevents air mixing above and below the belt, and achieves uniform heating, reducing temperature variations and improving product quality.

Implementation Method 1

high flow differences and turbulence can occur on the underside of the endless belt

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTurbulence: Turbulence

Implementation Method 2

pressure differences between the underside and the top of the endless belt

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 3

heating elements are arranged on the side of a surface, i.e. an outer surface, of the endless belt on which the film is applied

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConduction (thermal): Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 4

The underside, i.e. the inside of the endless belt, on the other hand, is heated by means of a hot gaseous medium

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3169500B1Device comprising at least one endless belt
Publication Date: 2018.03.21 BERNDORF BAND GMBH
  • EP3169500B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3169500B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (1) comprising a continuous belt (2); nozzle boxes (4) that are provided with discharge ports (5) for a gaseous medium are arranged at least on a bottom side (3) of the continuous belt (2), and an inner cavity (6) of the nozzle boxes (4) is connected to at least one supply line (7) for the gaseous medium; at least one suction port (8) that is connected to at least one discharge line (9) for the gaseous medium is arranged between two neighboring nozzle boxes (4); at least one suction port (8) is arranged between one discharge port (5) and each of the discharge ports (5) located immediately next thereto.