Thermal System for Packaging Tool Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Packaging machines, particularly thermoforming machines, face challenges in maintaining consistent temperature control to prevent overheating or overcooling of tool components, which can lead to reduced packaging quality and increased health risks for operators due to cold working conditions.
Innovation Solution
A packaging system with a thermal system that conveys a heatable fluid for both cooling and heating, allowing for efficient energy use by coupling cooling of tool components with heating of side panel components, reducing the need for external energy sources and improving working conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the packaging machine operates in a refrigerated environment to maintain food product temperature, then the cold chain of food products is preserved, but the operating personnel are exposed to increased health risks due to hypothermia
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging machine is divided into thermally isolated zones: the working environment remains refrigerated for food safety, while the operator interface area is thermally decoupled and maintained at comfortable temperature, allowing personnel to work without direct exposure to cold temperatures
Solution Approach 2:
A thermal barrier or insulated partition is introduced between the refrigerated working space and the operator area, acting as an intermediary that allows the cold chain to function while protecting personnel from harmful cold exposure
2Manufacturing precision
If tool components are actively cooled to prevent overheating and maintain packaging quality, then consistent packaging quality is achieved, but additional cooling energy is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The waste heat generated by the tool components during operation is captured and redirected to pre-cool the incoming formed film or to cool other thermal-sensitive components, converting what would be wasted energy into a useful cooling resource and reducing the need for additional active cooling
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling functions for different components (tool components, formed film, ambient air) are merged into a single integrated thermal management system that shares cooling resources and optimizes overall energy utilization
3Ease of operation
If external energy sources are used to heat the side panel component for operator comfort, then working conditions are improved, but energy costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The waste heat from tool components is captured and redirected to heat the side panel component, converting wasted thermal energy into a useful resource for improving operator comfort without requiring additional external energy input
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal management system becomes self-sufficient by internally recycling waste heat to meet heating demands, eliminating the need for separate external heating energy sources
4Reliability
If the cooling capacity is increased to prevent tool component overheating, then tool components do not overheat, but the risk of injury to operating personnel increases
Solution Approach 1:
The machine is segmented into thermally isolated zones where high cooling capacity can be applied to tool components without exposing personnel to cold temperatures, as the operator interface is thermally decoupled from the cooling system
Solution Approach 2:
Different thermal conditions are applied to different parts of the machine: aggressive cooling is localized to tool components that generate heat, while the operator area maintains comfortable temperatures, allowing high cooling capacity without increasing personnel injury risk
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 system ensures optimal temperature control, reducing health risks for operators, enhancing packaging quality, and providing an environmentally friendly and cost-effective solution by utilizing stored thermal energy for heating, thus maintaining a consistent ambient temperature for packaged food products.
Implementation Method 1
a heating section that conveys the heatable fluid to the side panel component, which is at least partially connected to Side panel component is coupled to heat them
Implementation Method 2
a cooling section that conveys the heatable fluid to the tool component in order to cool it
Implementation Method 3
efficiently couple the cooling of the tool component to the heating of the side panel component, so that the packaging system according to the invention can be used in a particularly environmentally friendly and cost-conscious manner from an energetic point of view
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a packaging system (1) comprising a workstation with a tool component, an insertion station (8) with a side panel component (15), and a thermal system conveying a heatable fluid (F), wherein the thermal system comprises a cooling section (24) conveying the heatable fluid (F) to the tool component (W), which has an actuator (28) configured to control the flow rate of the heatable fluid (F) to the tool component (W), and/or wherein the thermal system (23) comprises a heating section (29) conveying the heatable fluid (F) to the side panel component (15), which is coupled at least sectionally to the side panel component (15) in order to heat it.