Heatable Piston Premelter Segmentation for Hot Melt Adhesive Drums

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing apparatuses for melting and conveying meltable media, such as hot melt adhesives, often leave residual amounts in containers due to inefficient melting and displacement techniques, posing environmental and economic concerns.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus employs a heatable piston with a premelter element and a displacement element, where the premelter is movably mounted relative to the displacement element, allowing for uniform melting and displacement, including hard-to-reach areas like the container bottom, using recesses and protrusions to ensure nearly complete melting and displacement, and a discharge channel for efficient medium conveyance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a heatable piston with flow channels is used to melt and convey the medium, then the medium can be melted and transported from the container, but residual amounts of meltable medium remain in the container

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconveying efficiencyVSAvoidresidual medium amount
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The piston is divided into two functional elements: a premelter element with flow channels for melting the medium, and a displacement element for pushing the melted medium out. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function optimally, with the displacement element able to access and displace medium in hard-to-reach areas that a single integrated piston cannot reach

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The premelter element performs preliminary melting of the medium before the displacement element acts on it. By pre-melting the medium in the container bottom area, the displacement element can then efficiently push the liquefied medium out, ensuring complete evacuation without leaving residuals

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the piston is moved towards the bottom of the container to convey the medium, then the molten material can be transported out, but medium in hard-to-reach areas like the container bottom cannot be effectively melted and displaced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplacement efficiencyVSAvoidresidual medium in container bottom
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The piston is divided into two functional elements: a premelter element with flow channels for melting the medium, and a displacement element for pushing the melted medium out. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function optimally, with the displacement element able to access and displace medium in hard-to-reach areas that a single integrated piston cannot reach

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The premelter element is specifically designed with flow channels that direct melting action to the container bottom area where medium accumulation occurs. The displacement element is configured to specifically target and displace medium in these hard-to-reach areas, providing localized quality improvement where it is most needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If a single piston design is used, then the structure is simple, but uniform melting and displacement of the medium cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepiston structureVSAvoiduniformity of melting and displacement
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The piston is divided into two functional elements: a premelter element with flow channels for melting the medium, and a displacement element for pushing the melted medium out. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function optimally, achieving uniform melting and displacement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The premelter element is movably mounted relative to the displacement element, allowing dynamic adjustment of the melting and displacement process. This mobility enables the system to adapt to varying medium properties and container geometries, maintaining uniformity in melting and displacement across different operating conditions

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

This solution significantly reduces residual meltable medium in the container and apparatus, ensuring nearly complete melting and displacement, improving operational efficiency and reducing material waste.

Implementation Method 1

The medium is melted by means of a heatable piston in the apparatus

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

The medium is melted by means of a heatable piston in the apparatus

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3705721B1Apparatus for melting and conveying a meltable medium received in a container
Publication Date: 2022.05.04 NORDSON CORP
  • EP3705721B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3705721B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3705721B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to an apparatus for melting and conveying a meltable medium received in a container, in particular a hot melt adhesive received in a drum, comprising a heatable piston for melting and displacing the meltable medium, which piston can be introduced into the container and moved, in particular towards the bottom of the container, wherein the piston has a premelter element for melting the meltable medium, and a displacement element for displacing the meltable medium. The premelter element is also movably mounted relative to the displacement element. The invention also relates to a method for melting and conveying a meltable medium in a container, in particular a hotmelt adhesive contained in a drum, said method comprising the steps of: introducing a heatable piston into a container, and moving the piston in the direction of the bottom of the container, melting the meltable medium by means of a premelter element; displacing the meltable medium by means of a displacement element; moving the premelter element relative to the displacement element, in particular in the direction of the displacement element; moving the displacement element towards the bottom of the container and conveying the molten medium.