Sublimation Oven Separation Wall for Energy Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for transferring graphical images by sublimation on elongated objects are inefficient as they require heating non-essential components, which are made of materials resistant to high temperatures, leading to unnecessary energy consumption and heat dispersion.
Innovation Solution
A system with a separation wall to divide the oven into a 'hot zone' for sublimation and a 'cold zone' for non-essential components, using a handling device to move the separation walls and limit the hot zone based on object size, and employing suction units and hooking/unhooking devices in the cold zone, with gaskets and catenaries made of materials resistant to lower temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all devices (suction units, catenaries, hooking/unhooking devices) are inserted into the oven during sublimation process, then the objects can be properly handled and transported, but the devices must be made of materials resistant to sublimation temperatures which increases device complexity and energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The oven interior is segmented into a hot zone (where sublimation occurs) and a cold zone (where non-essential devices are positioned). The separation wall divides the oven cavity, allowing suction units, catenaries, and hooking/unhooking devices to operate in the cold zone without requiring high-temperature material resistance, while still maintaining their functional reliability
Solution Approach 2:
Non-essential devices (suction units, catenaries, hooking/unhooking devices) are extracted from the hot zone and positioned in the cold zone. This extraction allows these devices to function without being exposed to sublimation temperatures, eliminating the need for expensive high-temperature resistant materials while maintaining their operational effectiveness
2Temperature
If all devices are heated in the oven, then complete heating is achieved, but unnecessary energy is consumed heating non-essential components
Solution Approach 1:
The oven heating function is segmented into selective zone heating. The separation wall creates distinct thermal zones, allowing the heating system to concentrate thermal energy only in the hot zone where sublimation occurs, rather than heating the entire oven volume and all devices within it. This reduces energy consumption while maintaining adequate temperature coverage for the sublimation process
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system provides localized quality by concentrating thermal energy specifically in the hot zone where sublimation occurs. The cold zone containing non-essential devices receives minimal or no heating, optimizing energy distribution to match the actual process requirements and eliminating waste heat to non-essential components
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
Optimizes energy consumption and heat dispersion by only heating necessary components, reducing the need for high-temperature materials and allowing for automatic unhooking of objects, while maintaining efficient image transfer.
Implementation Method 1
System for transferring by sublimation graphical images on objects wrapped by transfer supports
Implementation Method 2
devices for applying vacuum between supports and objects
Data Source
AI summary
A system arranged to transfer graphical images on objects (8) wrapped into transfer supports (2) by sublimation. The system comprises an oven (12) comprising an inlet mouth (21) and an outlet mouth (23), at least one suction unit (14) located along at least one side of the oven (12), a plurality of hooking/unhooking components (50) located along at least one side of the oven (12) and arranged to hook/unhook the objects (8) wrapped by the transfer supports (2), at least one catenary (18) located along at least one side of the oven (12) and arranged to transport the objects (8) wrapped into transfer supports (2) from the inlet mouth (21) to the outlet mouth (23) of the oven (12) by way of the hooking/unhooking components (50). The system further comprises at least one separation wall (71), configured to keep separate a hot zone, in which the oven (12) is active and the hooking/unhooking components (50) are provided, from a cold zone in which the oven (12) is not working and the at least one the catenary (18) and the at least one suction unit (14) are provided. Moreover, the system comprises a handling device (25) configured to move transversely to the inlet mouth (21) and to the outlet mouth (23) of the oven (12) the at least one suction unit (14), the at least one catenary (18) and the plurality of hooking/unhooking components (50) so that the separation wall (71) keeps separate the hot zone from the cold zone according to the dimensions of objects (8) wrapped by the transfer supports (2). The invention also concerns a method for realizing the system.