Mandrel Wheel Cooling Distribution Elements

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mandrel wheels for packaging production face challenges in efficient cooling due to mixing of fresh and used cooling mediums, leading to reduced cooling capacity and processing speed, particularly with complex structural adaptations required for multiple mandrel groups.

Innovation Solution

A mandrel wheel design featuring separate inlets and outlets for each mandrel group, connected by distribution elements that ensure all mandrels receive fresh cooling medium and discharge used medium without mixing, allowing for improved cooling efficiency and adaptable distribution elements for various configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If separate inlet and outlet lines are provided for each mandrel, then cooling capacity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling capacityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mandrels are divided into separate mandrel groups, with each group having its own dedicated inlet and outlet lines for cooling medium. This segmentation ensures that cooling medium flows through each group independently without mixing with used cooling medium from other groups, thereby maintaining high cooling capacity while organizing the complex cooling system into manageable modular units.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Distribution elements are introduced as intermediary components that connect the inlet lines to multiple mandrel groups and collect effluent from outlet lines. These distribution elements simplify the overall system architecture by providing centralized connection points, reducing the number of direct connections needed between individual mandrels and the main cooling system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If series connection of cooling medium is used, then device complexity is reduced, but cooling capacity decreases due to mixing of fresh and used cooling medium

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural complexityVSAvoidcooling capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling system is segmented into parallel circuits, with each mandrel group having its own dedicated inlet and outlet lines. This prevents the series connection problem where used cooling medium would flow back to cool other mandrels, ensuring that all mandrels receive fresh cooling medium simultaneously without thermal interference between groups.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If multiple mandrel groups are added to increase productivity, then processing speed is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional cooling medium distribution requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple mandrel groups are organized with dedicated inlet and outlet lines for each group, allowing independent cooling circuits. This segmentation enables the system to handle multiple mandrels simultaneously without thermal interference, thereby increasing productivity while maintaining manageable complexity through modular organization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The distribution elements are designed to serve multiple mandrel groups simultaneously, providing a universal connection system that can accommodate different numbers and configurations of mandrel groups. This multi-functionality allows the same basic distribution element design to be used across different system configurations, reducing overall complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 enhances cooling capacity, increases processing speed, and simplifies the structural setup by ensuring all mandrels receive fresh cooling medium, leading to more efficient and even cooling of packaging casings across multiple groups.

Implementation Method 1

each mandrel has a cavity for the cooling medium, which is connected to an inlet and an outlet separate therefrom

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3271165B1Mandrel wheel for producing packagings
Publication Date: 2021.05.26 SIG TECH AG
  • EP3271165B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3271165B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a mandrel wheel (1) for producing packagings, comprising: a mandrel wheel shaft (2) having a center axis (3), a plurality of mandrels (4) fastened to the mandrel wheel shaft (2), a feed (7) for a cooling medium, and a discharge (8) for the cooling medium, wherein the mandrels (4) form at least one mandrel group (5A), the mandrels (4) of which are arranged in a plane (6A) perpendicular to the center axis (3) of the mandrel wheel shaft (2), and wherein each mandrel (4) has a cavity (9) for the cooling medium, which cavity is connected to an inlet (10) and an outlet (11) separated from the inlet. In order to achieve improved cooling of the mandrels (4), at least one distributing element (12A) is provided, which connects all the inlets (10) of a mandrel group (5A) to the feed (7) and which connects all the outlets (11) of the same mandrel group (5A) to the discharge (8).