Radiation Deflection for Preform Temperature Profiling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing temperature measurement systems for plastic preforms in the beverage manufacturing industry are either too expensive and computationally intensive (infrared cameras) or lack sufficient resolution (pyrometers), making process monitoring and control impossible.
Innovation Solution
A device and method using a radiation deflection system to direct thermal radiation from plastic preforms to a pyrometer, allowing for cost-effective, large-area temperature profiling without direct contact, utilizing movable radiation deflection devices and pyrometers to capture temperature data across different areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If contactless temperature detection is used for moving containers, then hygiene is improved and contamination risk is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to container motion and positioning variability
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-positioning multiple radiation deflection devices along the transport path and pre-aligning their deflection angles to correspond to specific container positions. This allows the temperature detection device to accurately track moving containers without physical contact, maintaining both hygiene and measurement precision through advance preparation of the detection geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The radiation deflection devices serve as intermediaries that redirect thermal radiation from moving containers to the temperature detection device. These mediators enable contactless measurement while compensating for container motion, thus preserving hygiene requirements while maintaining measurement accuracy through optical path management.
2Device complexity
If a fixed temperature detection device is used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability deteriorates because the device cannot track moving containers at different positions
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system is segmented into multiple independent radiation deflection devices, each responsible for a specific angular sector or position range. This segmentation allows the system to cover a wide transport path while keeping each individual detector relatively simple, balancing overall system complexity with adaptability to track containers at various positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates dynamic elements through adjustable radiation deflection devices that can change their deflection angles to track moving containers. This dynamic capability enables a single detection system to adapt to varying container positions without requiring multiple fixed detectors, maintaining simplicity while achieving versatility.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple temperature detection devices are arranged to cover the entire transport path, then measurement coverage is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a linear arrangement of multiple detectors to a dimensional solution using radiation deflection devices that redirect radiation at different angles. By utilizing the angular dimension, a single temperature detection device can effectively monitor a much larger area through the deflection of thermal radiation paths, reducing the number of required detectors while maintaining comprehensive coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
Radiation deflection devices act as intermediaries that extend the effective detection range of each temperature detection device. By redirecting thermal radiation from different spatial locations to a single detector, these intermediaries multiply the detection coverage area without proportionally increasing the number of detection devices, thus reducing overall system complexity.
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
Enables accurate, cost-effective temperature measurement and control of plastic preforms, improving process monitoring and control by capturing detailed temperature profiles without the high costs associated with infrared cameras.
Implementation Method 1
the temperature detection device (4) is suitable and intended to detect thermal radiation emitted by the container (10)
Implementation Method 2
a first radiation deflection device (6) is arranged in a beam path of the thermal radiation (W) between the container (10) and the temperature detection device (4), which deflects thermal radiation reaching this radiation deflection device (6) from the container (10) to the temperature detection device (4)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
Device for temperature detection of containers and in particular of plastic preforms, comprising a transport device (2) which transports the containers along a predetermined transport path and a temperature detection device (4) for non-contact detection of the temperature of at least one area of a container transported by the transport device, wherein the temperature detection device (4) is suitable and intended to detect thermal radiation emitted by the container, characterized in that a first radiation deflection device (6) is arranged in a beam path of the thermal radiation (W) between the container (10) and the temperature detection device, which deflects thermal radiation reaching this radiation deflection device (6) from the container (10) to the temperature detection device (4).