Induction Heating Body for Confectionery Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging methods for confectionery items like lollipops face challenges in heat-sealing, particularly with the use of water-cooled induction means, which can be disadvantageous due to the risk of water contact with sweets.
Innovation Solution
A device employing induction means for heat-sealing that operates without cooling, using natural convection at most, and features a control system to manage heating bodies with varying resistances, ensuring efficient energy use and precise temperature control for each heating body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If water-cooled induction means are used for heat-sealing, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the risk of water contact with sweets increases
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful cooling water is extracted and removed from the system entirely. The patent replaces water-cooled induction means with air-cooled or uncooled induction means, eliminating the water cooling system and its associated risks of water contact with sweets while maintaining effective heat-sealing operation
Solution Approach 2:
Air is introduced as an intermediary cooling medium instead of water. The patent uses air cooling for induction means, where air serves as the heat transfer medium without the harmful properties of water, thus cooling the induction means effectively while preventing any liquid contact with the sweets
2Object-affected harmful factors
If induction means are operated without cooling, then the risk of water contact is eliminated, but heating efficiency may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The induction means are designed to operate without external cooling systems. The patent implements self-cooling through natural convection and radiation, where the induction means dissipate heat on their own without requiring water cooling infrastructure, thereby eliminating water contact risks while maintaining sufficient heating efficiency for heat-sealing
Solution Approach 2:
The operating parameters of the induction means are optimized for uncooled operation. The patent adjusts induction power, duty cycle, and heating duration parameters to compensate for the lack of active cooling, ensuring that heating efficiency remains sufficient for effective heat-sealing while operating without water cooling
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple heating bodies with varying resistances are used, then adaptability to different items is improved, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system incorporates feedback mechanisms to monitor and adjust heating parameters for each heating body. The patent uses temperature sensors and control circuits that detect the actual heating conditions and automatically adjust power delivery to compensate for varying electrical resistances, enabling adaptable heating control without requiring complex manual configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically adapts to different heating bodies during operation. The patent implements real-time parameter adjustment where the control system modifies heating power, duration, and distribution based on the detected resistance characteristics of each heating body, providing versatility while keeping control logic relatively simple through adaptive algorithms
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 allows for cost-efficient heat-sealing of packaging without the risk of water contact, ensuring effective and precise heating control for each item, optimizing energy usage and maintaining high operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the induction means comprise induction means for heating the heating body by means of induction
Implementation Method 2
whereas the induction means are cooled at most by natural convection
Data Source
AI summary
The invention deals with a device for packaging items, in particular confectionery, such as for example lollipops, comprising a packaging conveyor having a series of holders rotating along a movement path for holding each item and its associated packaging sheet securely during conveying, a feed station for feeding the items and the packaging sheets to the packaging conveyor and a discharge station for discharging the items packaged on the conveyor, the packaging conveyor being provided with means for closing the packaging sheet on the respective item and with a series of heat-sealing means co-rotating with the holders for heat-sealing the closed packaging by supplying heat, each of the heat-sealing means comprising a sheet gripper which is provided with a heating body, the device furthermore comprising means for heating each heating body, the induction means comprise induction means for heating the heating body by means of induction, whereas the induction means are cooled at most by natural convection.