Abstract
A method and a system for heating of a casting mold, in particular for heating of casting molds for cosmetic products, is described. The system comprises at least an inductor for generating of at least one alternating magnetic field and at least one casting mold, wherein the casting mold consists substantially of a plastic material or an elastomer and is permeated with at least one additive, wherein the additive may be inductively heated.
Claims
1. A method for heating a casting mold, in particular for heating a casting mold for cosmetic products, the method comprising: generating of at least one alternating magnetic field using at least one inductor; and inductive heating of at least one casting mold, wherein the at least one casting mold consists substantially of one plastic material or an elastomer and is permeated with at least one additive, wherein the at least one additive can be heated inductively.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: regulating the at least one alternating magnetic field.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein an alternating current streams through the at least one inductor to generate the at least one alternating magnetic field and wherein the regulating the at least one alternating magnetic field comprises the regulating of the strength of the alternating magnetic field.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein an alternating current streams through the at least one inductor to generate the at least one alternating magnetic field and wherein the regulating the at least one alternating magnetic field comprises the regulating of the frequency of the alternating magnetic field.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: adjusting the distance between the at least one inductor and the at least one casting mold.
6. The method of claims 1, further comprising: determining a temperature of the at least one casting mold; and controlling the inductive heating the at least one casting mold based on the determined temperature.
7. A casting mold, in particular a casting mold for molding cosmetic products, wherein the casting mold consists in particular of a plastic material or an elastomer and is permeated with at least one additive, wherein the additive can be inductive heated.
8. The casting mold of claim 7, wherein the plastic material is a plastic material from the group of thermoplastically processable elastomers, TPE, and the elastomer is an elastomer from the group of thermal vulcanized silicone rubber.
9. The casting mold of claim 7, wherein the at least one additive is an additive from the group of ferromagnetic materials and/or an alloy.
10. A system for heating of casting molds, in particular for heating of casting molds for cosmetic products, the system comprising: at least one inductor for generating at least one alternating magnetic field; and at least one casting mold, wherein the casting mold consists substantially of a plastic material or an elastomer and is permeated with at least one additive, wherein the additive may be inductively heated.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the system further comprises: a means for regulating the strength of the alternating current and/or for regulating of the frequency of the alternating current, which streams through the at least one inductor in order to generate the alternating magnetic field.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the strength of the alternating magnetic field, which streams through the at least one inductor, is adjusted in the range from 50 A to 400 A and/or wherein the frequency of the alternating current, which streams through the inductor, is adjusted in the range of 50 Hz to 450 kHz.
13. The system of claim 10, further comprising: a means for adjusting the distance between the at least one inductor and the at least one casting mold.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for adjusting the distance is adapted to move the at least one inductor and/or the at least one casting mold.
15. The system of claim 10, further comprising: a means for determining the temperature of the at least one casting mold; and a means for controlling the at least one inductor based on the determined temperature.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments with the accompanying drawings. Further details, features and advantages of the subject matter of the invention may result from the exemplary embodiments described. It shows:
[0031] FIG. 1 a vertical slice through an exemplary casting mold, permeated by an additive and surrounded by an inductor;
[0032] FIG. 2 the exemplary casting mold shown in FIG. 1 with inductor laying inside;
[0033] FIG. 3 a vertical slice through another exemplary casting mold permeated by an additive only in specific areas and surrounded by an inductor;
[0034] FIG. 4 a vertical slice through another exemplary casting mold permeated by an additive and with integrated inductor;
[0035] FIGS. 5a to 5e a vertical slice through multiple casting molds, which are clockwise heated inductively by an inductor.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0036] FIG. 1 shows schematically, by way of a vertical slice through a casting mold 1, the inductive heating of the casting mold 1 by ease of an inductor 3, wherein the casting mold 1 is permeated by an additive 2 which may be inductively heated.
[0037] The inductor 3 is a so-called internal field inductor, which may have the shape of a coil, which is also shown by ease of a vertical slice. The cross in the sectional area of the windings from the inductor 3 indicates that the current flows into the image plane and the point in the sectional area of the windings from the inductor 3 indicates that the current flows out of the image plane.
[0038] The highest magnetic flux density of the induced magnetic field occurs in the interior of the inductor 3 and the inductor 3 and the casting mold 1 are arranged during the inductive heating so that the surface of the casting mold 1 facing the inductor 3 is the outer surface of the casting mold 1. The inductor 3 and/or the casting mold 1 are moved relatively to one another for inductive heating by ease of at least one lifting mechanism (not shown) such that the surface of the casting mold 1 facing the inductor 3 is the outer surface of the casting mold 1. It may also be said that the casting mold 1 at least partly dips into the inductor 3. After the end of the inductive heating, the inductor 3 and/or the casting mold 1 are relatively moved again so that the inductor 3 and the casting mold 1 move away from each other. The relative movement of the inductor 3 and the casting mold 1 is represented by the arrows.
[0039] FIG. 2 shows a vertical slice through a casting mold 1, wherein the casting mold 1 is permeated by an additive 2, which may be heated inductively. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the inductor 3 is a so-called external field inductor. The highest magnetic flux density of the induced magnetic field occurs outside the inductor 3 and the inductor 3 and the casting mold 1 are arranged during inductive heating so that the surface of the casting mold 1 facing the inductor 3 is the inner surface of the casting mold 1. The inductor 3 and/or the casting mold 1 are moved relatively to one another for inductive heating by ease of at least one lifting mechanism (not shown) such that the surface of the casting mold 1 facing the inductor 3 is the inner surface of the casting mold 1. It may also be said that the inductor 3 at least partly dips into the casting mold 1. After the end of the inductive heating, the inductor 3 and/or the casting mold 1 are relatively moved again such that the inductor 3 and the casting mold 1 move away from each other. The relative movement of the inductor 3 and the casting mold 1 is represented by the arrow.
[0040] The shape and design of the inductor 3 is illustrated schematically and may deviate from the illustration. For example, the inductor 3 may also have the form of a surface coil. The use of the inductor 3 in the form of a surface coil in the inductive heating may, for example, produce a concentration of the induced magnetic field lines in certain regions, whereby the at least one casting mold 1 may selectively reach a high degree of inductive heating in certain regions. Other means are known to the person skilled in the art with which the use of the inductor 3 for inductive heating may be optimized. For example, the system with which the inductive heating is enabled, may additionally include at least one so-called pole piece (not shown) with which, for example, the course of the field lines of the alternating magnetic field induced by the inductor 3 may be homogenized in certain regions. This means that the magnetic flux density and the path of the magnetic field lines change only slightly in certain areas over a certain distance in their magnitude and in their course. As a result of the homogeneous course of the field lines of the induced alternating magnetic field, the at least one casting mold 1 may, in certain regions, undergo a homogeneous inductive heating.
[0041] FIG. 3 schematically shows, by ease of a vertical slice through the casting mold 1, the inductive heating of the casting mold 1 by ease of an inductor 3, wherein the casting mold 1 is permeated only in specific regions with an additive 2 which may be inductively heated. No inductive heating of the casting mold 1 occurs in the regions of the casting mold 1 in which the casting mold 1 is not permeated with the additive 2, since the plastic material or the elastomer of which the casting mold 1 according to the invention consists substantially, are not inductively heatable. In these regions, the casting mold 1 is merely heated indirectly by heat transfer. By ease of the interspersion of the casting mold 1 with the additive 2, which may be inductively heated, in certain regions of the casting mold 1, the casting mold 1 may be inductively heated in the specific regions by ease of the alternating magnetic field induced by the inductor 3. For example, the casting mold 1 may be permeated with the additive 2 close to the inner surface of the casting mold 1, thereby enabling a specifically inductive heating of the casting mold 1 close to the inner surface of the casting mold 1. For example, the casting mold 1 may also be permeated with the additive 2 in different regions with a different concentration of the additive 2. The concentration of the additive 2, with which the casting mold 1 is permeated, has an effect on the degree of inductive heating of the casting mold 1. In high-concentration areas, a high degree of inductive heating of the casting mold 1 occurs, and a small degree of inductive heating of the casting mold 1 occurs in low-concentration areas. For example, the concentration of the additive 2 close to the inner surface of the casting mold 1 may be high, whereby the degree of the inductive heating of the casting mold 1 may be high near the inner surface of the casting mold 1.
[0042] FIG. 4 schematically shows the inductive heating of the casting mold 1 by ease of a vertical slice through the casting mold 1. In this exemplary embodiment, the inductive heating of the casting mold 1 occurs from the inside. The inductor 3 may be configured in such a way that it does not impair the flexibility of the casting mold 1, which according to the invention consists substantially of a plastic material or elastomer. There, the inductor 3 and the material surrounding the inductor, that is, the inductively heatable additive 2, may be galvanically separated. For example, the galvanic separation may consist of a coating of the inductor 3. An advantage of the integrated inductor 3 opposite to the external inductors may be, for example, that the inductor 3 and the casting mold 1 do not have to be moved relatively to one another before and after the inductive heating, and that, following the termination of the inductive heating, further process steps may be, for example, immediately executed in the production process of cosmetic products. This may, for example, reduce the cycle time.
[0043] FIGS. 5a to 5e show schematically, by ease of a vertical slice through a plurality of casting molds 4, 5, the in-phase inductive heating of the casting molds 4, 5 by ease of an inductor 3, wherein the casting molds 4, 5 are permeated with at least one additive 6, 7, which can be inductively heated. The at least one additive 6, 7 may be the same additive. In the exemplary embodiments shown here, the casting molds 4, 5 are fastened to a structural element, wherein for example at least one first casting mold 4 and at least one second casting mold 5 may be attached to the structural element. That is, the structural element may carry the casting molds 4, 5. The movement of the casting molds 4, 5 is thus aligned by the movement of the structural element. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the structural element may also carry further casting molds (not shown).
[0044] FIG. 5a shows schematically the beginning of a first time frame in a first work cycle, wherein the first casting mold 4 and the inductor 3 both are in a first position which may be referred to as starting positions of the first casting mold 4 and the inductor 3. The first casting mold 4 and the inductor 3 are then moved in a relative movement. In the illustrated embodiment, the inductor 3 is moved from its first position to the first casting mold 4 into a second position. The first casting mold 4 remains in its first position. The movement of the inductor 3 is represented by the vertical arrows in FIG. 5a. The second position of the inductor 3 is shown in FIG. 5b. The person skilled in the art is aware that the relative movement of the first casting mold 4 and the inductor 3 described herein may also take place by the inductor 3 remaining in its first position and the first casting mold 4 being moved to the inductor 3. The first casting mold 4 may also be attached to a structural element which performs the same relative movements as the first casting mold 4. The relative movement of the inductor 3 and the structural element may, for example, also be carried out by simultaneously moving the inductor 3 and the structural element. The first time frame of the first work cycle is completed when the second position of the inductor 3 is reached.
[0045] FIG. 5b schematically shows a second time frame in the first work cycle, wherein the inductor 3 is in the second position, in which the first casting mold 4 may be inductively heated by the inductor 3. The second time frame of the first work cycle is completed with the completion of the inductive heating. The end of the inductive heating by the inductor 3 may be indicated, for example, by a temperature sensor (not shown). In this case, the temperature sensor may emit a signal to a controller of the inductor 3, and the inductive heating may be controlled based on the signal. Subsequently, the first casting mold 4 and the inductor 3 are moved away from each other in a relative movement. In this case, the inductor 3 is moved from its second positionas shown in FIG. 5baway from the first casting mold 4 into its first positionas shown in FIG. 5a. The first casting mold 4 remains in its first position. The person skilled in the art is aware that the relative movement of the first casting mold 4 and the inductor 3 described herein may also take place by the inductor 3 remaining in its position and the first casting mold 4 being moved away from the inductor 3.
[0046] FIG. 5c schematically shows the end of a third time frame in the first work cycle, wherein the inductor 3 moving back into its first position as shown in FIG. 5a. The movement of the inductor 3 is represented by the vertical arrows in FIG. 5c. The third time frame of the first work cycle is completed when the initial position is reached. With the completion of the third time frame of the first work cycle, the first work cycle is also completed. Subsequently, the first casting mold 4 and the inductor 3 may be moved in a further relative movement, which may also be referred to as further clocking.
[0047] The further clocking is represented by the horizontal arrow in FIG. 5d. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the first casting mold 4 is moved from its first position into a second position, wherein the first casting mold 4 moves horizontally away from the inductor 3. The inductor 3 remains in its first position. Since the first casting mold 4 is fastened on a structural element to which at least a second casting mold 5 is attached, at least a second casting mold 5 is also moved when the first casting mold 4 moves by the movement of the structural element. When the first casting mold 4 is further clocked, the at least one second casting mold 5 is thus also further clocked. The further clocking may be completed, for example, when the at least one second casting mold 5 reaches a first position which corresponds to the first position of the first casting mold 4. Upon reaching the first position of the at least one second casting mold 5, a second work cycle may begin. The person skilled in the art is aware that the relative movement may also be carried out during the further clocking by moving the inductor 3 while the structural element and thus the first casting mold 4 and the at least one second casting mold 5 are not moved. The relative movement of the inductor 3 and the structural element during the further clocking may also be carried out, for example, by a simultaneous movement of the inductor 3 and the structural element.
[0048] Furthermore, FIG. 5d schematically shows the beginning of a first time frame in the second work cycle. In this case, the second casting mold 5 and the inductor 3 are both in a first position. The second casting mold 5 and the inductor 3 are then moved in a relative movement. In the illustrated embodiment, the inductor 3 is moved from its first position to the second casting mold 5 into a second position. The second casting mold 5 remains in its first position. The movement of the inductor 3 is represented by the vertical arrows in FIG. 5d. The second position of the inductor 3 is shown in FIG. 5e. The person skilled in the art is aware that the relative movement of the second casting mold 5 and the inductor 3 described herein may also occur in that the inductor 3 remains in its first position and the second casting mold 5 is moved to the inductor 3. The first time frame of the second work cycle is completed when the second position of the inductor 3 is reached.
[0049] FIG. 5e schematically shows a second time frame in the second work cycle, wherein the inductor 3 is in the second position, in which the second casting mold 5 may be inductively heated by the inductor 3.
[0050] It is clear that the work cycles as well as the time frames of the work cycles are the same, and that FIGS. 5a to 5e show, by way of example, a method for a clocked inductive heating of casting molds by ease of a plurality of casting molds, which can be clockwise inductively heated, such that this method may be implemented as a clock-controlled process in lipstick mine production.
[0051] It will be understood by the person skilled in the art that the exemplary embodiments shown are only exemplary and all elements, modules, components, participants and units shown may be differently designed, but nevertheless may fulfill the basic functionalities described here.
