Variable-Volume Shrink Tunnel Geometry for Reduced Heating Energy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shrink tunnels consume excessive energy to maintain temperature for thermoplastic material shrinkage due to fixed interior volumes, regardless of the size or quantity of items being processed.
Innovation Solution
The shrink tunnel adjusts its interior volume by altering the geometry of its outer boundary, using movable elements and actuators to match the size of the items being processed, thereby reducing energy consumption and heating time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the shrink tunnel maintains a large fixed interior volume, then it can accommodate various sizes of items, but energy consumption increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the shrink tunnel interior volume adjustable rather than fixed. The outer boundary geometry is dynamically changed using movable elements (flaps, walls, or telescopic sections) that can be positioned at different locations to create optimized heating chamber volumes matching the actual item size being processed. This resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to adapt its volume dynamically between different operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by varying the geometric parameters of the shrink tunnel interior (volume, length, cross-sectional area) based on the items being processed. By changing these physical parameters of the heating chamber to match the actual requirements, the system achieves both adaptability to different item sizes and reduction of energy consumption by avoiding heating of excess space.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the shrink tunnel uses a large fixed interior volume, then it can process multiple webs of articles, but heating time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable boundary elements enable dynamic adjustment of the heating chamber volume to match the actual processing requirements. When processing fewer webs or smaller items, the interior volume is reduced, thereby decreasing the thermal mass that needs to be heated and reducing heating time while maintaining the capability to process multiple webs when needed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the shrink tunnel maintains a large interior volume, then it can handle larger items, but the energy demand increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the physical parameters of the heating chamber (volume, dimensions) to match the actual item size being processed. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system can handle both small and large items while minimizing energy demand by avoiding the heating of excessive space that would be required in a fixed large-volume design.
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 adaptive geometry reduces energy demand and shortens heating times by optimizing the volume of the heating chamber based on the specific items being processed, enhancing energy efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a shrink tunnel includes at least one heating element. Such heating elements require energy to regulate the temperature of the interior
Implementation Method 2
A shrink tunnel is a device designed to shrink thermoplastic packaging material onto individual items or groups of items
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
A shrink tunnel (1) with an interior space (IR) is disclosed, through which articles for shrinking thermoplastic material can be moved. The shrink tunnel (1) is designed to adapt a geometry to an outer boundary (17) of the interior space (IR).