Variable-Transmittance Preform for Light Barrier and IR Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional preforms containing high concentrations of titanium dioxide for opaque containers face inefficiencies in heating due to high reflectance and low absorbance of electromagnetic radiation, leading to uneven temperature distribution and reduced production rates, especially when using halogen or laser ovens, which can cause overheating and degradation of the preform.
Innovation Solution
A preform design with additives that allow partial filtering of visible light and controlled transmittance in the infrared spectrum, enabling efficient heating and production rates comparable to transparent preforms, using a transmittance range of 5% to 70% for wavelengths between 700 nm and 2250 nm, suitable for both halogen and laser ovens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If high titanium dioxide content is added to create a light barrier, then milk preservation capability is improved, but infrared radiation heating efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the preform material by controlling titanium dioxide content and distribution, wall thickness, and material composition to achieve selective transmittance: blocking visible light (350-520 nm) while allowing infrared radiation (700-2250 nm) to pass through for efficient heating
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite plastic materials with specific additives and controlled titanium dioxide distribution to create a material that simultaneously provides light barrier functionality and infrared transmittance, combining properties that individually would be contradictory
2Temperature
If forced ventilation is used to cool the outer skin, then temperature uniformity is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of high infrared reflectance into a beneficial property by designing the material to have controlled infrared transmittance, allowing the reflectance to be redirected toward uniform heating of the preform wall rather than requiring active cooling ventilation
3Object-affected harmful factors
If wall thickness is increased to improve light barrier, then milk preservation is improved, but heating time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the wall thickness parameter to a specific range that provides sufficient light barrier capability while maintaining adequate infrared radiation transmission for efficient heating, avoiding both excessive thickness that would block heating and insufficient thickness that would compromise light blocking
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, reducing energy consumption and maintaining structural integrity while preserving the content from light-induced degradation, with production rates comparable to transparent containers.
Implementation Method 1
said one or more additives give the plastic material the property of at least partially filtering the visible light spectrum... said one or more additives give the plastic material the property of at least partially allowing the passage of light in the infrared spectrum
Implementation Method 2
the radiation produced in the heating ovens intended to heat the preforms... electromagnetic radiation in the infrared spectrum
Implementation Method 3
ovens are conventionally used that are equipped with halogen lamps, which are particularly powerful and radiate over the entire light spectrum
Implementation Method 4
a material such as PET is particularly insulating, and variably absorbs electromagnetic radiation emitted in the infrared spectrum
Implementation Method 5
This ventilation allows the outer skin to be cooled in order to prevent it from reaching the spherulitic crystallization temperature
Implementation Method 6
ovens that are equipped with laser diodes... The laser heating technique is particularly described in the international application published under number WO 2006/056673
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a preform intended for forming containers by blow molding or stretch-blow molding, the preform being made of plastic material including at least one additive giving the plastic material the property of at least partially filtering the visible light spectrum, the preform comprising a wall forming a hollow body, said one or more additive(s) giving the plastic material the property of at least partially allowing the passage of light in the infrared spectrum.