Selective-Transmittance Preform for Fast Opaque Container Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing opaque preforms used for manufacturing containers, particularly those containing milk, face inefficiencies in heating processes due to high reflectivity and low transmittance of electromagnetic radiation, leading to uneven temperature distribution and reduced production rates, and are unsuitable for laser heating.
Innovation Solution
A preform design with specific transmittance properties in the infrared spectrum (5% to 70%) and low transmittance in the visible spectrum (less than 5%) allows for efficient heating in both halogen and laser furnaces, maintaining uniform temperature distribution and enabling high production rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If additives like titanium dioxide are incorporated into preforms to create light barrier capacity, then light protection capability is improved, but heating efficiency deteriorates due to blocked electromagnetic radiation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the electromagnetic spectrum into visible light range (350-520 nm) and infrared range (700-2250 nm). The preform material is designed to selectively block visible light while transmitting infrared radiation, achieving both light protection and heating efficiency by addressing different spectral segments with different properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating specific optical properties at different wavelengths. The preform material has high absorption in the visible range (providing light barrier) while maintaining high transmission in the infrared range (allowing efficient heating). This wavelength-dependent local quality resolves the contradiction between light blocking and heat absorption
2Duration of action of moving object
If conventional opaque preforms are heated in furnaces, then heating time is reduced, but temperature gradients cause degradation of the preform structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the preform material by selecting specific additives (titanium dioxide at controlled concentrations, iron oxide, manganese oxide) that modify the transmission characteristics. This parameter change enables the material to absorb infrared radiation uniformly throughout its thickness, achieving fast heating without excessive temperature gradients that would cause structural degradation
3Stability of the object's composition
If forced ventilation is used to cool the outer skin of preforms, then temperature uniformity is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the preform to self-regulate temperature distribution through its optimized optical properties. The material's selective transmission allows infrared radiation to penetrate and heat the interior while the exterior remains naturally cooled by ambient conditions, eliminating the need for energy-intensive forced 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
The preform achieves rapid and uniform heating, allowing production rates comparable to transparent preforms while effectively preventing light-induced degradation of contents like milk, thus optimizing energy consumption and manufacturing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a preform made of a plastic material which incorporates at least one additive giving the plastic material the property of filtering at least partially a visible spectrum of light and the property of allowing at least partially a passage of light in an infrared spectrum
Implementation Method 2
allowing at least partially a passage of light in an infrared spectrum, in which the preform has, according to electromagnetic radiation emitted perpendicularly to a wall, a transmittance in the infrared spectrum within a transmittance range extending between a threshold transmittance and a ceiling transmittance, at least one wavelength within a range from 700 nm to 2250 nm
Implementation Method 3
a heating furnace for heating the preform; and a blow molding unit for forming a container from the preform
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a preform (1) intended for the forming of containers (2) by blow molding or stretch blow molding, the preform (1) being made of plastic material incorporating at least one additive giving the plastic material the property of filtering at least partially the visible spectrum of light, the preform (1) comprising a wall (120) forming a hollow body, said or said additives giving the plastic material the property of allowing at least partially the passage of light in the infrared spectrum.