Insulating Support Frame Layout for Compact Film Sealing Units

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Solution Overview

Problem

Continuous sealing machines face challenges with high heat buildup due to heating units, affecting the lifespan and reliability of temperature-sensitive control units, necessitating costly active cooling and compromising control accuracy, especially in small devices used in medical settings.

Innovation Solution

A thermally insulating support frame that separates the housing into front and rear areas, using materials with low thermal conductivity to minimize heat transfer, allowing the heating unit in the front and control unit in the rear, reducing the need for expensive high-temperature components and active cooling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the housing surface area and volume are reduced to minimize device dimensions, then the device becomes more compact and suitable for small reprocessing rooms, but heat buildup increases and electronic components are exposed to higher temperatures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing volumeVSAvoidheat buildup inside housing
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The housing interior is divided into a front area and a rear area using a support frame. The support frame acts as a thermal barrier that segments the hot zone (front, containing heating unit) from the sensitive zone (rear, containing control unit), preventing heat spread while maintaining compact overall dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support frame serves as an intermediary element between the heating unit and the control unit. It provides mechanical support and simultaneously functions as a thermal insulation barrier, mediating the thermal interaction between the heat source and temperature-sensitive components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If active cooling is implemented to protect control units from heat, then component lifespan is extended, but device complexity increases and control accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol unit lifespanVSAvoidcooling system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit is extracted from the hot zone and relocated to the rear area of the housing, separated from the heating unit by the support frame. This spatial extraction eliminates the need for active cooling systems, simplifying the device while protecting components from thermal damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Volume of moving object

If the control unit is placed in close proximity to the heating unit to reduce device dimensions, then the device becomes more compact, but the control accuracy of the heating unit deteriorates due to heat interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice dimensionsVSAvoidheating control accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The support frame segments the housing interior into distinct thermal zones, allowing the control unit to be positioned close to the heating unit for compactness while the frame itself acts as a thermal barrier that prevents heat interference with control accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of manufacture

If metallic components are used for the housing to ensure hygiene, then the housing is easy to clean and maintain, but heat dissipation is enhanced leading to higher internal temperatures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing hygieneVSAvoidinternal housing temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The housing maintains metallic construction for hygiene reasons, but the support frame introduces a thermally insulating material specifically in the region where heat isolation is needed (between heating unit and control unit), creating local quality differentiation without compromising overall housing properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

Maintains control accuracy and extends device lifespan while keeping dimensions small, eliminating the need for costly high-temperature components and reducing heat-related issues, thus ensuring safe and cost-effective operation.

Implementation Method 1

the support frame is a thermally insulating support frame. Specifically, the support frame has a thermally insulating material on its surface... the support frame reduces or prevents heat transfer from the front area to the rear area

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP4650152A1Support frame for a sealing device, sealing device and method for producing a support frame
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 MELAG MEDIZINTECHN GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4650152A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4650152A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4650152A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Support frame for a sealing device for sealing plastic films, wherein the support frame has a main plane with a front and a back, which, when installed in a sealing device, divides a housing interior into a front area containing the front and a rear area containing the back, wherein the support frame has at least one mounting element for attaching a functional component of a sealing device, characterized in that the support frame is a thermally insulating support frame.