Apparatus and method to heat metallic containers or workpieces
AssigneeBall Corporation
InventorsJohn D. Efner, Julian Stock
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and methods of heating metallic containers in an oven which includes electric heating elements are provided. The electric heating elements include one or more of an electric induction element and an electric infrared heating element. The electric heating elements heat the metallic containers to a predetermined temperature to dry moisture on the metallic containers or to cure inks and coatings. Air within the oven may be at a temperature that is less than the predetermined temperature.
Claims28
An oven for heating a metallic workpiece, comprising:
- an enclosure with a hollow interior;
- a conveyor system with a conveyor to transport the metallic workpiece through the hollow interior of the enclosure;
- a motor operably connected to the conveyor system to move the conveyor through the enclosure at a predetermined velocity;
- a heating element within the enclosure that is positioned proximate to the conveyor, the heating element operable to heat the metallic workpiece to a predetermined temperature;
- a power source to provide electrical current to the heating element to impart heat to the metallic workpiece;
- a ventilation system to remove air from the enclosure;
- and
- a control system operable to send a signal to the power source to alter the electrical current provided to the heating element based on one or more of:
- a velocity of the conveyor relative to the heating element;
- a distance between an exterior surface of the metallic workpiece and the heating element;
- a thermal conductivity of a metallic material of the metallic workpiece;
- a predetermined rate of heating of the metallic workpiece;
- a temperature to which the metallic workpiece will be heated;
- and a type of coating or a type of fluid on the metallic workpiece.
A method of heating a metallic workpiece, comprising:
- positioning the metallic workpiece on a conveyor of a conveyor system;
- moving the metallic workpiece on the conveyor into a hollow interior of an enclosure of an oven that includes:
- a heating element within the enclosure that is positioned proximate to the conveyor;
- a power source to provide electrical current to the heating element;
- and
- a ventilation system to remove air from the enclosure;
- providing electrical current from the power source to the heating element;
- moving the metallic workpiece past the heating element at a predetermined velocity, wherein the heating element heats the metallic workpiece to a predetermined temperature;
- and sending a signal from a control system to the power source to alter the electric current provided to the heating element based on one or more of:
- a velocity of the conveyor relative to the heating element;
- a distance between an exterior surface of the metallic workpiece and the heating element;
- a thermal conductivity of a metallic material of the metallic workpiece;
- a predetermined rate of heating of the metallic workpiece;
- a temperature to which the metallic workpiece will be heated;
- and a type of coating or a type of fluid on the metallic workpiece.
A non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions configured to cause a processor of a control system to perform a method of heating a metallic workpiece in an oven, comprising:
- sending a first signal to a power source of the oven, the oven including:
- an enclosure with a hollow interior;
- a conveyor system with a conveyor to transport the metallic workpiece through the hollow interior of the enclosure;
- a heating element within the enclosure and positioned proximate to the conveyor, wherein the heating element is one or more of an electric induction element and an electric infrared heating element;
- and
- the power source, wherein the first signal causes the power source to provide a first electrical current to the heating element to heat the metallic workpiece to a predetermined temperature;
- receiving a temperature of the metallic workpiece downstream from the heating element;
- and
- sending a second signal to the power source when the temperature of the metallic workpiece is not the predetermined temperature, wherein the second signal causes the power source to provide a second electric current to the heating element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.