Movable Heating Bell Oven for Mold Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ovens for cleaning plastic material molds and nozzles face issues such as obstructed mold loading/unloading due to the heating bell, frequent gasket replacement, risk of spontaneous combustion, carbonaceous deposit formation, and harmful gas generation, requiring extractor hoods and filtering devices in enclosed environments.
Innovation Solution
The oven design features a movable heating bell with infrared heating, nitrogen generation for an inert environment, and a catalyst for gas neutralization, allowing for easy mold handling, reduced fume generation, and eliminating the need for extractor hoods or filters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a heating bell is arranged above the basket to heat molds, then heating function is provided, but mold loading/unloading is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The heating bell is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to be positioned above the basket for heating operations and moved away to enable mold loading/unloading. The bell can slide along rails and be positioned at different locations, transforming a static obstructive structure into a dynamic tool that serves its heating function only when needed.
2Reliability
If sealing gaskets are arranged between the bell and basket in the hottest region, then sealing function is provided, but gaskets are subject to wear and need frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing gaskets are extracted from the hottest region where they would be damaged. Instead of placing gaskets between the bell and basket in the high-temperature zone, the sealing function is relocated to the base frame in a cooler region, removing the gaskets from the environment that causes their rapid deterioration.
3Productivity
If molds are heated to remove plastic residues, then cleaning function is provided, but spontaneous combustion and carbonaceous deposits may form
Solution Approach 1:
The heating bell is filled with an inert gas atmosphere (such as nitrogen) to replace oxygen, preventing combustion reactions. This inert environment eliminates the risk of spontaneous combustion of plastic residues and prevents the formation of carbonaceous deposits while still allowing the molds to be heated for cleaning purposes.
4Productivity
If polymer is heated and collected underneath the basket, then residue collection is achieved, but harmful gases are generated requiring extractor hoods
Solution Approach 1:
The inert gas atmosphere fills the heating bell and prevents harmful gases from being generated during the heating and decomposition of plastic polymer. By replacing oxygen with inert gas, the chemical reactions that produce harmful fumes are suppressed, allowing residue collection without requiring external ventilation systems.
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
Facilitates efficient and energy-saving mold cleaning with reduced harmful gas production, enabling safe operation in enclosed spaces without additional ventilation systems.
Implementation Method 1
at least one heating device arranged on the inner surface of the bell and emitting electromagnetic waves with an emissivity frequency in the infrared range
Implementation Method 2
a catalyst arranged in the basket and in communication with the polymer
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An oven (1) for cleaning molds, die nozzles and components for apparatuses for processing plastic materials in general, which comprises a basket (3) adapted to contain the molds to be cleaned, and a heating bell (7) adapted to heat the molds contained in the basket (3), the bell (7) can be moved away and upward with respect to the die-carrying basket (3) in order to facilitate access to the die-carrying basket (3).