Heated Embossing Roll Groove Recesses Temperature Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing heatable rollers for processing web-like materials face challenges in temperature controllability, with significant temperature fluctuations and inefficiencies in heat transfer, leading to inconsistent embossing results and reduced service life.

Innovation Solution

A heatable roller design featuring a hollow-cylindrical roller body with groove-shaped recesses for electrical heating elements, where each heating element is in thermally conductive contact with the roller body, and heating zones are arranged axially with offset connections, allowing for precise temperature control and uniform heating without the need for convection fluids.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If ceramic heating elements are applied to the roller shell by tensioning straps, then the roller can be heated, but temperature constancy is poor with fluctuations of 15 K at start and stop

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature constancyVSAvoidtemperature stability
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The roller shell is divided into multiple heating zones along the axial direction, with each zone having its own heating element. This segmentation allows independent temperature control of different zones, improving overall temperature constancy and enabling compensation for temperature gradients that occur during start and stop operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different heating zones can have different heating powers and temperature settings according to local requirements. The groove-shaped recesses are distributed at different positions with different depths, allowing localized optimization of heat transfer and temperature control for each zone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Use of energy by stationary object

If heating elements are arranged in the interior of the hollow roller parallel to the axis, then the roller can be heated, but heat transfer efficiency is low requiring convection fluids

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidheating system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heating elements are extracted from the interior of the hollow roller and placed in groove-shaped recesses on the outer surface of the roller shell. This eliminates the need for convection fluids inside the roller while improving heat transfer efficiency, as the heating elements are directly exposed to the material being processed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The groove-shaped recesses act as intermediaries between the heating elements and the roller shell. They provide direct thermal contact between the heating elements and the roller surface, enabling efficient heat transfer without requiring convection fluids as a mediator.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Use of energy by stationary object

If heating elements are placed in groove-shaped recesses in the inner wall, then heat transfer to the roller body is improved, but mechanical and electrical installation costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidinstallation cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of placing heating elements in the inner wall of the hollow roller, the invention inverts the arrangement by placing them in groove-shaped recesses on the outer surface of the roller shell. This inversion simplifies installation and maintenance while achieving the same heat transfer effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The groove-shaped recesses are designed to automatically guide and secure the heating elements during assembly. The complementary shapes of the grooves and heating element mounting portions enable self-alignment and secure fixation without requiring additional mounting aids or complex installation procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If heating elements are securely fixed in the roller body, then reliability is improved, but ease of mounting and replacement is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating element securityVSAvoidmounting ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The heating elements are mounted on the outer surface of the roller shell rather than being embedded in the inner wall. This inversion allows secure fixation through the groove-shaped recesses while enabling easy access for mounting and replacement without disassembling the roller structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The groove-shaped recesses are designed to automatically guide and secure the heating elements during assembly. The complementary shapes enable self-alignment and secure fixation without requiring additional mounting aids, making the process both reliable and easy to perform.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 design achieves improved temperature constancy, reduced overheating, and increased service life, with enhanced embossing results and energy efficiency, as well as the ability to create specific temperature profiles for various materials.

Implementation Method 1

the heating element being in thermally conductive contact with the roller body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

the heating elements being electrical heating elements

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentEP2274475B1Heated embossing roll
Publication Date: 2011.09.21 LEONHARD KURZ STIFTUNG & CO KG
  • EP2274475B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2274475B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2274475B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A heatable roll is described, in particular for processing web-like materials, having a hollow-cylindrical roll body. In the inner wall, the roll body (10) has a groove-shaped recess (13n) for receiving at least one heating element (13), wherein the heating element (13) is in thermally conducting contact with the roll body (10).