Tray Sealing Machine Cooling via Waste Heat Suction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Small tray sealing machines in grocery stores often lack a water connection for cooling systems, leading to increased operating costs and safety risks due to high housing temperatures, as traditional water cooling methods require additional energy and infrastructure.
Innovation Solution
A tray sealing machine design incorporating a temperature control device with a cooling air duct and exhaust air duct that utilizes the waste heat to create a suction effect, drawing ambient air for cooling without the need for external energy or water supply, effectively maintaining the housing temperature below a permissible maximum without using energy-intensive coolants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If water cooling system is integrated into tray sealing machine, then housing temperature is kept low, but additional infrastructure (water connection) and energy consumption are required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the water cooling system from the tray sealing machine and replaces it with an air-based cooling system. The exhaust air duct is separated from the housing and directed away from the housing to dissipate heat, eliminating the need for water connections while maintaining effective cooling. This allows the machine to be placed in locations without water infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces ambient air as an intermediary cooling medium. The cooling air duct draws in ambient air to cool the housing, and the exhaust air duct acts as a mediator to carry away the heated air. This intermediary air-based system replaces the direct water cooling approach, providing flexibility in installation locations.
2Temperature
If water cooling system is integrated into tray sealing machine, then housing temperature is kept low, but operating costs increase due to energy-intensive heat exchanger operation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful waste heat generated by the sealing device into a beneficial cooling force. The exhaust air duct captures the hot air rising from the sealing device and uses its upward flow to create a suction effect that draws cooling air through the housing. This natural convection current, driven by the temperature difference, eliminates the need for energy-intensive fans or heat exchangers while maintaining effective cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system is self-regulating and requires no external energy input. The temperature difference between the hot exhaust air and the cooler ambient air automatically drives the air flow through the housing. As the sealing device generates heat, the system automatically increases cooling air flow to match the heat generation, providing adaptive cooling without additional energy consumption.
3Device complexity
If no cooling means are used, then device complexity is reduced, but housing temperature becomes dangerously high causing user injury risk
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into two independent functional components: a cooling air duct for drawing in ambient air and an exhaust air duct for dissipating hot air. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function simply and effectively. The cooling air duct is positioned to draw air from the housing, while the exhaust air duct is directed away from the housing to discharge hot air, together providing adequate cooling without complex integration.
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 design provides effective and cost-efficient cooling, reducing the risk of user injury and operational costs by leveraging waste heat to generate a cooling air flow, allowing the machine to be used in various locations without additional infrastructure, and maintaining the housing at a safe temperature without external energy input.
Implementation Method 1
waste heat (i.e. warm air) rising in the exhaust air duct at the opening draws the cooling air from the cooling air duct into the exhaust air duct by means of a suction effect
Implementation Method 2
the exhaust air duct, at which opening the cooling air duct opens into the exhaust air duct. The passing warm air of the warm air flow thereby creates a suction effect at the opening, which draws cool air from the cooling air duct into the exhaust air duct
Implementation Method 3
The flow of cooling air moves within the housing from the air inlet opening to the mouth and ensures effective cooling of the housing of the tray sealing machine along this route
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a tray sealing machine (1) comprising a housing (3) with at least one supply air opening (10) and at least one exhaust air opening (17), a sealing device (2) and a temperature control device (8), which includes a cooling air duct (9) connected to the supply air opening (10) for drawing cooling air into the interior (I) of the housing (3) and an exhaust air duct (16) rising from the sealing device (2) to the exhaust air opening (17) for dissipating waste heat from the sealing device (2), in which at least one opening (20) is provided that connects the exhaust air duct (16) with the cooling air duct (9), so that waste heat (A) rising in the exhaust air duct (16) draws the cooling air from the cooling air duct (9) into the exhaust air duct (16) by means of a suction effect at the opening (20).