Shrinking Process for Solid Transportable Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shrinking processes for producing solid, transportable, and printable containers with a height/width ratio greater than 1 face instability and unevenness due to vibrations and shocks, especially when heating is limited for products like cooled dairy or pressurized beverages, leading to inadequate heat sealing and energy inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A shrinking process that uses a reverse flow of hot air to form a peripheral shell at the base of the container, optimizing heat transfer and energy input by directing hot air only to the base area, thereby stabilizing the container shape and preventing heat accumulation, and using a reticular structure for continuous transport to maintain container stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hot air is applied laterally to seal overlapping film ends during continuous transport, then sealing is achieved, but the wrapping film inflates and slips, intensifying the tendency of articles to tip or change position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by first sealing the overlapping film ends at the base area before the lateral shrinking process. This pre-sealing creates initial stability that prevents the film from inflating and slipping during subsequent lateral hot air application, thereby resolving the contradiction between achieving reliable sealing and maintaining container stability during continuous transport
2Temperature
If shrink temperatures are reduced to limit heating of foodstuffs, then core temperature is controlled, but process duration is prolonged and heat-sealing strength is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating high-temperature hot air application specifically at the base area where overlapping film ends require sealing, rather than uniformly heating the entire container. This localized heating approach allows sufficient sealing strength to be achieved at the critical base area while maintaining lower overall temperatures that protect temperature-sensitive foodstuffs, thereby resolving the contradiction between controlling core temperature and achieving adequate sealing strength within reasonable process duration
3Stability of the object's composition
If a solid tray is used to produce stable containers with uniform dimensions, then container stability is improved, but material and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the taking out principle by removing the solid tray from the process entirely. Instead of using a tray to provide structural support and stability, the invention achieves container stability through proper film sealing techniques at the base area and optimized shrinking process parameters. This eliminates the additional material and energy requirements associated with tray production and heating, thereby resolving the contradiction between achieving container stability and reducing material and energy consumption
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 approach allows for efficient energy transfer, maintaining low core temperatures, achieving rapid shape stabilization, and preventing heat-induced instability, ensuring containers withstand pressure stresses and maintain uniform dimensions during transport.
Implementation Method 1
heating by heat transfer or convection in order to seal the free ends in the area of overlap
Implementation Method 2
heating by heat transfer or convection in order to seal the free ends in the area of overlap
Implementation Method 3
a final heating, the container so produced being stabilized at the same time by the shrinking process
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a shrinking process for producing solid, transportable and printable containers by wrapping the articles to be packaged with a film in such a manner as to produce an overlapping section of the film ends on the base area, heating by heat exchange or convection in order to seal the free ends in the area of overlap, and finally heating in a shrinking oven, the container so produced being stabilized by the shrinking process. The method comprises first locally limiting the incoming hot air to the base area of the container to form a peripheral shell in the area of the bottle bottoms, the shape of the container being stabilized thereby, while the container is continuously transported during stabilization and the hot air directed onto the base area of the container in a bundle of discretely distributed gas jets is thereby discharged and guided back after a locally limited heat transfer with the film, and more hot gas is directed laterally against the continuously transported container at an increased lateral blow speed in order to complete the shrinking process. The invention further relates to a device for carrying out the shrinking process.