Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B53/00—Shrinking wrappers, containers, or container covers during or after packaging
  • B65B53/02—Shrinking wrappers, containers, or container covers during or after packaging by heat
  • B65B53/06—Shrinking wrappers, containers, or container covers during or after packaging by heat supplied by gases, e.g. hot-air jets
  • B65B53/063—Tunnels
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B59/00—Arrangements to enable machines to handle articles of different sizes, to produce packages of different sizes, to vary the contents of packages, to handle different types of packaging material, or to give access for cleaning or maintenance purposes
  • B65B59/001—Arrangements to enable adjustments related to the product to be packaged

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a shrink tunnel, a packaging system and a method for operating a shrink tunnel.
• a shrink tunnel is a device designed to shrink thermoplastic packaging material onto individual items or groups of items. It comprises a heat-resistant transport device that takes the items from a preceding conveyor and moves them through a shrink tunnel housing. A predetermined temperature is maintained within the shrink tunnel housing to allow the thermoplastic material to shrink onto the items as they move through the housing.
• a shrink tunnel is made, for example, from... DE 10 2016 211 632 A1 known.
• a shrink tunnel includes at least one heating element.
• Such heating elements require energy to regulate the temperature of the interior. For both economic and environmental reasons, it is desirable to keep the energy consumption for operating the shrink tunnel as low as possible.
• the object of the invention is therefore to provide a way to reduce the energy requirements of a shrink tunnel in a simple manner.
• the invention relates to a shrink tunnel with an interior space through which articles for shrinking thermoplastic material can be moved.
• the shrink tunnel can include a shrink tunnel housing and a
• the transport device includes a transport device that passes through the shrink tunnel housing.
• the shrink tunnel is designed to at least partially or partially adapt the geometry of an outer boundary of the interior.
• the volume of the interior space formed within the shrink tunnel hereinafter occasionally also referred to as the heating chamber, is selectively increased or decreased. This means that the heating chamber is only designed with a large volume if this is necessary for shrinking thermoplastic material.
• the interior can be adapted as needed, particularly depending on the product and/or material and/or the situation.
• the volume of the boiler room is smaller when smaller items are processed than the volume of the boiler room when larger items are processed.
• the volume of the heating chamber is smaller when fewer webs of articles are processed than the volume of the heating chamber when several webs of articles are processed.
• Adjusting the geometry of an outer boundary of the interior does not mean replacing, moving, removing, or inserting standard shaft walls, as these do not typically form an outer boundary of the interior. Since the shaft walls are usually heated to a similar degree during operation as the interior, they can be considered, from a thermal perspective, as part of the interior.
• a shaft wall of this type is usually consisting essentially of only an elongated hollow body in which either one side or opposite sides are arranged outlet nozzles or outlet holes.
• an interior space When an interior space is described in this context, it can be understood as that area of the shrink tunnel which is bounded by a transport device of the shrink tunnel, a ceiling of the shrink tunnel, and two walls of the shrink tunnel that essentially extend against the transport device and the ceiling, respectively.
• the outer boundary can therefore be formed by the transport device, the ceiling of the shrink tunnel, and the two walls of the shrink tunnel that essentially extend against the transport device and the ceiling, respectively.
• the two walls that essentially extend to the transport device and the ceiling could, for example, be side walls of a shrink tunnel housing designed as part of the shrink tunnel.
• two walls could be arranged in a shrink tunnel housing designed as part of the shrink tunnel, laterally defining the interior space and each extending essentially to the ceiling and the transport device.
• the items that can be moved through the interior of the shrink tunnel for shrinking thermoplastic material may be beverage containers, or in particular beverage bottles and/or beverage cans.
• the items can be partially wrapped in a foil covering with the thermoplastic material beforehand.
• the shrink tunnel may be designed so that the outer boundary of the interior is formed at least partially or in certain areas by at least one movable element which has a non-metallic insulating material.
• the shrink tunnel may be designed so that a shrink medium is heated and directed onto the articles to shrink the thermoplastic material. It may be designed so that the moving elements do not direct any shrink medium onto the articles. In other words, the moving elements are not shaft walls. Put another way, the moving elements are designed without shaft walls.
• the moving elements can direct shrink medium onto the articles.
• they are outer shaft walls that actually form a thermal boundary of the interior.
• this can be the case if the outer shaft walls have insulation on the side facing away from the interior and/or are sealed against the housing sides.
• At least one moving element can preferably be automatically adjusted by means of an actuator.
• the actuator can be a pneumatic cylinder, an electric motor, a robot, or the like.
• the moving element can be locked in the respective settings or positions by a locking mechanism.
• the locking mechanism can also be automatically actuated for locking and unlocking by the same or a separate actuator.
• the shrink tunnel may be designed so that the distance between a heat source for the shrink medium and the interior can be adjusted.
• nozzles can be arranged on the floor and/or ceiling of the shrink tunnel, through which shrink medium can be introduced into the interior.
• the nozzles can be partially blockable and/or switchable off, especially when the interior space is reduced.
• the outer nozzles can be blockable and/or switchable off.
• Effective designs include those in which the interior space is defined by a shrink tunnel housing and a transport device, with the shrink tunnel housing being telescopically adjustable in length, width, and/or height to adapt the geometry of the outer boundary. Such designs allow for simple adjustment of the geometry of the interior's outer boundary.
• the shrink tunnel can be designed for multi-lane transport of articles, wherein the shrink tunnel comprises at least one shaft wall positioned between two adjacent lanes, and which extends, in particular, at least approximately to the ceiling of the shrink tunnel housing.
• the at least one shaft wall can be designed to be telescopically adjustable in height.
• this allows the shrink tunnel to be easily and quickly adapted to articles of varying heights.
• Shrinkage medium can be piped from the shaft wall onto the articles. If the shaft wall is positioned between two adjacent lanes, shrinkage medium can preferably be piped to both sides, i.e., to the articles on both lanes, particularly through openings in the shaft wall. One, two, three, or even more than two or three shaft walls can be provided per shrink tunnel.
• the respective shaft wall comprises at least two parts or is formed from at least two parts, a first part of which is guided slidingly in a further part during telescoping.
• the shrink tunnel may include a specific adjustment mechanism, the actuation of which allows both the shrink tunnel housing to be telescoped in height and the at least one shaft wall to be telescoped in height.
• the shrink tunnel includes a first adjustment mechanism by which the shrink tunnel housing can be telescoped in height to adapt the geometry of the outer boundary.
• the shrink tunnel can include an additional second adjustment mechanism by which the at least one shaft wall can be telescoped in height.
• the at least one shaft wall includes at least one opening for the outflow of shrink medium, wherein the cross-sectional area of the at least one opening can be adjusted by telescoping the at least one shaft wall. This allows for targeted control of the amount of shrink medium flowing out of the at least one opening.
• the at least one shaft wall is designed such that shrink medium can flow out of the at least one opening when the telescoping at least one shaft wall is fully retracted.
• the at least one shaft wall may form the at least one opening in such a way that shrink medium can flow out of the at least one opening when the telescopic at least one shaft wall is fully extended.
• the shrink tunnel may include at least one actuator and a control device that communicates with that actuator.
• the control device may be configured and equipped as follows: The control device must be able to control at least one actuator for telescoping the shrink tunnel housing in length, width and/or height.
• At least one rear section of the ceiling and two rear side walls in the telescoped state can be smaller than a front section of the ceiling or the front sections of the side walls.
• the rear sections of the side walls can be smaller in height.
• the rear section of the ceiling can be smaller in width than the front section.
• the outer boundary of the interior may be provided, at least in part, by one or more functional elements designed to vary their volume and preferably having a cylindrical shape.
• the one or more functional elements may be interchangeably mounted on a shrink tunnel housing and within the interior, and preferably have a cylindrical shape.
• the one or more functional elements can be held on the shrink tunnel housing in such a way that a longitudinal extension of the one or more functional elements is oriented essentially perpendicular to a transport direction of the shrink tunnel.
• the functional elements can be the movable elements mentioned above.
• the shrink tunnel can include at least one industrial robot.
• the shrink tunnel can have, at least indirectly, a control device that allows the at least one industrial robot to be controlled to independently replace one or more functional elements.
• the industrial robot can be equipped with a suitable control system.
• the one or more functional elements can be designed with or comprise heat-resistant insulating material in various embodiments.
• one or more functional elements may be mounted interchangeably on the ceiling of a shrink tunnel housing designed as part of the shrink tunnel.
• one or more functional elements are held interchangeably on a wall or a side wall of the shrink tunnel housing.
• the functional elements can include shaft walls if these also contain insulation material. In this case, one would no longer speak of a conventional shaft wall (see above).
• items When the shrink tunnel is operated, in a first processing program, items may only be moved through the shrink tunnel along a first lane, whereas in a further processing program, items may be moved through the shrink tunnel along a first lane and along a second lane that runs parallel to and spaced apart from the first lane.
• one or more functional elements can be positioned in the area of the second lane when the shrink tunnel is subsequently operated in the first processing program. This positioning can be performed, for example, by at least one industrial robot.
• the one or more functional elements can then define a portion of the geometry of the outer boundary of the interior. In such embodiments, the geometry of the outer boundary of the interior can thus be easily adjusted.
• the at least one industrial robot removes the functional element(s) positioned in the area of the second lane, after which the shrink tunnel is operated in the second processing program and articles are moved along the first lane and along the second lane through the shrink tunnel.
• This approach is also suitable if, for example, a third processing program provides for three-lane transport of items, and a subsequent switch is made to a second processing program that provides for two-lane transport of items.
• the at least one industrial robot, employee, or piece of equipment in the shrink tunnel can then act as a functional element. or position several functional elements in the area of an unnecessary path that is not required for the respective processing program.
• the outer boundary of the interior may be formed, at least in part, by at least one flap, the position of which is adjustable to adapt the geometry of the outer boundary of the interior.
• the shrink tunnel may also include a control device and at least one actuator, wherein the control device is configured and equipped such that it can actuate the at least one actuator to adjust the position of the at least one flap.
• the adjustment of the position of the at least one flap can also be performed in accordance with a selected processing program.
• Embodiments have proven successful in which the at least one flap is pivotable, and the pivoting movement of the at least one flap occurs, in particular, about an axis that runs along the longitudinal direction of the shrink tunnel.
• the at least one flap can form a ceiling of the interior and define the interior in a vertical direction.
• the shrink tunnel can comprise exactly two flaps, which share a common axis about which the two flaps are pivotable. This common axis can extend along the longitudinal direction of the shrink tunnel and preferably has a horizontal orientation.
• the interior space may be laterally bounded by at least one wall, which is adjustable in position and, in particular, movable in the horizontal direction to adapt to the geometry of the outer boundary.
• This at least one wall may extend at least approximately to the transport device.
• At least one wall extends at least approximately to a shrink tunnel housing of the shrink tunnel.
• the shrink tunnel includes at least one linear guide, via which at least one linear guide the at least one wall can be moved in a horizontal direction.
• the at least one linear guide can be arranged on a shrink tunnel housing or on an upper side of a shrink tunnel housing.
• an entire housing wall of the shrink tunnel is adjustable. This could be a ceiling or a side wall of the shrink tunnel housing.
• the cross-section of the shrink tunnel housing can be essentially ⁇ -shaped (Pi-shaped) in a smaller volume setting, while in a larger volume setting it can be essentially a square bracket (rotated 90°) or a U (rotated 180°).
• a cross-section can be essentially H-shaped.
• the volume occupied by the entire shrink tunnel defined by the outer walls of the shrink tunnel housing (including the interior), can be reduced.
• the volume occupied by the shrink tunnel housing is adjustable. This would be the case, for example, with the ⁇ -shaped configuration, but not with the H-shaped cross-section.
• the flap and/or wall or housing wall or housing ceiling can also be a movable element as mentioned above.
• the shrink tunnel may be designed for the single-lane movement of items through the interior. Alternatively, it may be designed for the multi-lane movement of items through the interior. If the shrink tunnel is designed for the multi-lane movement of items through the interior, it may also include at least one shaft wall located between two adjacent lanes.
• the at least one shaft wall can have at least one opening through which shrink medium can be introduced into the interior of the shrink tunnel.
• the at least one opening can be designed such that, when introduced into the interior, the shrink medium flows out of the at least one opening with a directional component that points towards the respective articles moving through the multiple lanes of the shrink tunnel.
• the shrink medium can, in particular, be hot air.
• the shrink tunnel may have at least three adjacent tracks positioned perpendicular to a transport direction for the movement of articles through the interior.
• at least two shaft walls may be provided, each shaft wall being arranged between two tracks directly adjacent to each other perpendicular to the transport direction.
• the shrink tunnel may have a number A1 of shaft walls and a number A2 of tracks adjacent to each other perpendicular to the transport direction.
• the shrink tunnel may include a transport device for moving the articles through the interior.
• This transport device could comprise a multitude of separately controllable or separately driven conveyor belts, with the conveyor belts positioned adjacent to each other, at least in some areas of the interior.
• the conveyor belts are, in particular, parallel to each other and run parallel to the direction of article movement along their upper surface.
• the shrink tunnel can have at least one dedicated conveyor belt. It is also conceivable that the number of conveyor belts does not correspond to the number of lanes.
• At least one lane can be assigned two conveyor belts at any given time. At another time, this lane can be assigned either only one or at least three conveyor belts.
• the transport system may comprise at least two conveyor belts, preferably at least three, in particular at least four, or even at least seven.
• the conveyor belts may be, for example, wire mesh belts or similar materials.
• the shrink tunnel can include a control unit that receives information about the number of lanes along which items are to be moved through the interior of the shrink tunnel.
• This control unit can be configured such that it does not drive those conveyor belts that are not required for transporting items, depending on the selected lanes, and it drives those conveyor belts that are required for transporting items, depending on the selected lanes.
• one conveyor belt may not be continuously driven, while another conveyor belt is continuously driven and transports items through the interior of the shrink tunnel.
• two outer conveyor belts of the transport system may be stationary, or that, at least temporarily during operation of the shrink tunnel, two outer conveyor belts may not be continuously driven.
• a conveyor belt located between two other conveyor belts may be stationary or not continuously driven.
• the shrink tunnel can include a storage unit containing several functional elements.
• the storage unit can be located in close proximity to the shrink tunnel. Specifically, the storage unit can be housed inside or outside the shrink tunnel casing. It is conceivable that the storage unit is mechanically connected to the shrink tunnel casing. Alternatively, the storage unit can be located at a distance of at least 10 meters from the shrink tunnel casing.
• the functional elements can, for example, be cuboid bodies. These can have a substantially closed surface. Insulating materials can be arranged inside the functional elements. In further embodiments, the functional elements can form a cavity in which lower pressure conditions prevail compared to the ambient atmospheric pressure.
• one or more functional elements could rest on a transport device of the shrink tunnel when the shrink tunnel is in operation or when items are moved through the shrink tunnel housing via the transport device.
• a functional element could rest on a conveyor belt that is stationary or not continuously driven during the operation of the shrink tunnel or while items are being transported through its interior. This allows the outer boundary of the interior to be adjusted.
• a functional element is positioned on a conveyor belt that does not transport any items.
• the conveyor belt can then move the functional element into the interior of the shrink tunnel and leave it there, while items are moved through the interior via other conveyor belts during the continuous operation of the shrink tunnel.
• a conveyor belt on which the functional element is positioned can have an extension oriented perpendicular to its transport direction, which The magnitude of the extension of the functional element is essentially the same as that of a perpendicular extension to the direction of transport.
• an industrial robot can be provided to position the functional element on the conveyor belt.
• the industrial robot can be integrated into the shrink tunnel.
• an industrial robot can be provided to attach the functional element inside the shrink tunnel and to an upper side of the shrink tunnel housing.
• the industrial robot can, for example, be a multi-axis robot.
• a control unit of the shrink tunnel is given information about a planned end of the shrink tunnel operation, whereupon the conveyor belt removes the functional element arranged on it from a shrink tunnel housing.
• a first functional element in the area of a front end face of a shrink tunnel housing is introduced into the shrink tunnel housing via a first conveyor belt
• a second functional element in the area of a rear end face of the shrink tunnel housing is introduced into the shrink tunnel housing via a second conveyor belt.
• a shaft wall may be lowered, at least partially, in a vertical direction.
• a shaft wall may be lowered, at least partially, in a vertical direction using a telescopic function.
• the shaft wall may move relative to the ceiling or upper side of the shrink tunnel housing.
• the lowering action may be such that surface contact is established or maintained between the shaft wall and a transport device intended for moving items through the interior of the shrink tunnel. In this way, the geometry of the outer boundary of the interior can be adjusted.
• a control device may prevent the continuous operation of the transport device or its conveyor belt when the shaft wall is in surface contact with the transport device or conveyor belt.
• the extension of a conveyor belt perpendicular to a transport direction and the The extent of a shaft wall perpendicular to the direction of transport can be essentially identical in magnitude.
• the position of a shaft wall is adjusted perpendicular to the transport direction of a transport device integrated into the shrink tunnel.
• the shaft wall Prior to such an adjustment, the shaft wall is first raised vertically, thereby losing any surface contact it may have previously had with the transport device or with a conveyor belt integrated with the transport device. After being raised and its position adjusted, the shaft wall may be lowered, thereby establishing surface contact between the shaft wall and another conveyor belt of the transport device. It is also conceivable that during such an adjustment or displacement perpendicular to the transport direction, the shaft wall encounters a functional element and displaces the functional element until it reaches a defined position. Such a described adjustment of the shaft wall can be performed by an industrial robot in various embodiments.
• the invention also relates to a method for operating a shrink tunnel with an interior space through which articles are moved for shrinking onto thermoplastic material.
• a shrink tunnel with an interior space through which articles are moved for shrinking onto thermoplastic material.
• the features described below for the embodiments of the method according to the invention may also be provided in the previously described embodiments of the shrink tunnel.
• the shrink tunnel can be configured to carry out the embodiments of the method according to the invention described below.
• the embodiments of the method according to the invention described below can be carried out using the previously described embodiments of the shrink tunnel.
• thermoplastic material can be beverage containers, and in particular beverage bottles and/or beverage cans. Assemblies of beverage containers are each wrapped with a sheet of thermoplastic material, which is shrunk down in the shrink tunnel.
• the thermoplastic material is primarily shrink film, especially made of PE (polyethylene).
• the shrink tunnel has several different processing programs. These programs can be stored on the tunnel's control unit. The process involves selecting a program from these programs. Furthermore, the geometry of an outer boundary of the interior is adjusted, at least partially or in certain areas, to match the selected processing program.
• Effective designs include those in which the shrink tunnel automatically adjusts the geometry of the outer boundary of the interior according to the selected processing program.
• an industrial robot could automatically adjust the geometry of the outer boundary of the interior according to the selected processing program.
• the interior space can be defined by a shrink tunnel housing and a transport device.
• the lower side of the interior space can therefore be defined by the upper surface of the conveyor on which the items are transported.
• the geometry of the outer boundary of the interior space can be adjusted by telescoping the shrink tunnel housing in length, height, and/or width.
• the shrink tunnel housing may comprise an outer and an inner wall, with insulating material located between the outer and inner walls. This insulating material can be designed and positioned such that it is extended or compressed when the shrink tunnel housing is telescoping. In various embodiments, the insulating material itself can be telescoping. This ensures that the shrink tunnel housing remains insulated even when it is telescoping in length, height, and/or width.
• At least one actuator can be provided, which is connected to a control unit of the shrink tunnel.
• the control unit can adjust the outer boundary of the interior by actuating the at least one actuator in accordance with a selected processing program, thereby telescoped the shrink tunnel housing in length, height and/or width.
• the outer boundary of the interior space is provided, at least in part, by one or more functional elements.
• the geometry of the outer boundary of the interior space may be adjusted by the one or more functional elements increasing or decreasing their volume.
• liquid or gaseous medium is introduced into one or more functional elements, resulting in an increase in volume of one or more functional elements.
• liquid or gaseous medium may subsequently be drained from one or more functional elements, resulting in a reduction in the volume of that element or elements.
• This increase or decrease in volume can also be coordinated with the selected processing program.
• the geometry of the outer boundary of the interior can be adjusted by replacing one or more functional elements with another functional element or several other functional elements that have a larger or smaller volume.
• an industrial robot may be provided or used which independently replaces the one or more functional elements as needed, in accordance with the processing program to be carried out or the selected processing program.
• the outer boundary of the interior may be formed, at least in part, by at least one flap.
• the geometry of the outer boundary of the interior is adjusted by changing the position of at least one flap.
• Embodiments have proven successful in which the position of the at least one flap is adjusted by pivoting it, particularly about an axis that runs along the longitudinal direction of the shrink tunnel and is preferably horizontally oriented.
• the at least one flap can be a ceiling of the interior space that defines the interior space vertically.
• the at least one flap can be a wall that defines the interior space laterally.
• the interior space may be laterally bounded by at least one wall, which can be adjusted in position, particularly in the horizontal direction, to adapt to the geometry of the outer boundary. This adjustment of position or horizontal movement can be actuated, initiated by a control device, and coordinated with a selected or to-be-executed processing program.
• the transport mechanism can include a continuously driven transport element, the upper run of which provides a platform for items.
• the at least one seal can be in surface contact with the upper run of the continuously driven transport element.
• Effective designs are those in which a material is chosen for the at least one seal that results in low static friction between the transport means and the at least one seal when the at least one transport means is driven continuously.
• the at least one seal can be made of plastic. In such designs, the risk of premature wear of the continuously driven transport means due to surface contact with the at least one seal can be eliminated.
• the interior space is laterally bounded by at least one wall, which adjusts at least one wall in the vertical direction to adapt the geometry of the outer boundary and is in particular telescoped in the process.
• the shrink tunnel can be designed as part of a packaging system for articles.
• the shrink tunnel can be designed as part of a packaging system for beverage containers.
• the packaging system can include a filling machine for filling the articles or beverage containers with a liquid, especially a liquid beverage.
• the filling machine can be located upstream of the shrink tunnel in the direction of flow of the articles or beverage containers. This clarifies that such a filling machine can be arranged upstream of the shrink tunnel.
• the packaging system may include a workstation located upstream of the shrink tunnel, at which thermoplastic material blanks can be arranged on articles, groups of articles, or beverage containers or groups of beverage containers.
• the packaging system may include a machine for applying adhesive bonds to articles or beverage containers, via which adhesive bonds several articles or several beverage containers can be attached to each other as packages, in particular as partial packages.
• the packaging system includes a grouping station that follows the shrink tunnel downstream and via which several articles or several beverage containers or packages can be transferred into a relative arrangement to each other, which relative arrangement is tailored to a palletizable layer to be formed from the several articles, the several beverage containers or the several packages.
• Such a grouping station can, for example, include at least one delta kinematic robot that transfers the articles, beverage containers or packages into the relative arrangement that is tailored to form a palletizable layer from the multiple articles, beverage containers or packages.
• the packaging system includes a workstation which pushes together the items, beverage containers or packages of the already formed relative arrangement, thereby creating a complete palletizable layer.
• the packaging system may also include a palletizing station designed for transferring and stacking palletizable layers onto an assigned pallet.
• the palletizing station is located downstream of the shrink tunnel.
• the packaging system may include a feeding device that provides pallets to the palletizing station, either semi-autonomously or fully autonomously, for stacking multiple palletizable layers.
• the invention therefore also includes a packaging system with a shrink tunnel according to an embodiment of the preceding description, a grouping station following downstream of the shrink tunnel, which is designed to produce a relative arrangement of articles, which relative arrangement is adapted to a palletizable layer, a workstation which can form a palletizable layer by pushing the articles together in the relative arrangement, and a palletizer following downstream of the grouping station, which is designed to transfer palletizable layers onto an associated pallet.
• the articles can be designed as part of a container, which is formed via the shrink tunnel by shrinking the thermoplastic material onto several articles at a time.
• the articles can be designed as beverage containers.
• a standby mode may be provided in which the shrink tunnel can be operated if a format change is being carried out, or if there is a malfunction of the shrink tunnel or other system components downstream or upstream of the shrink tunnel, or if there is a shortage or backlog of items for other reasons.
• the standby mode is designed to save energy during production breaks while still allowing for a quick switch to production mode.
• a certain temperature higher than the ambient temperature, can be maintained inside the shrink tunnel.
• an increase in internal volume may be carried out in the second half of the production break, preferably shortly before the end of the break.
• thermoplastic material is also moved through the interior. It envelops the items, especially entire sets of items, at least partially, and conforms to the shape of the items as it heats up.
• the invention further relates to a shrink tunnel with an interior space through which articles for shrinking thermoplastic material can be moved, wherein the shrink tunnel is designed to adjust the extent of at least one interior boundary as seen from any point.
• the distance between a point and at least a part of an interior wall boundary is adjustable.
• conventional shaft walls do not constitute an interior boundary.
• the invention further relates to a shrink tunnel with an interior space through which items for shrinking thermoplastic material can be moved, wherein a heatable interior volume is adjustable. From a process perspective, one could say that the interior volume is adjusted. Here too, conventional shaft walls do not affect the interior volume. For example, the interior volume can be reduced by introducing additional insulated objects.
• the Figures 1A to 1C show schematic views of a first embodiment of a shrink tunnel 1 according to the invention and illustrate steps as they are carried out in various embodiments of the method 100 according to the invention (see Fig. 5 ) may be provided.
• the shrink tunnel 1 comprises a shrink tunnel housing 3 and a transport device 19.
• the transport device 19 runs through the shrink tunnel housing 3 and moving articles 2 (see Fig. 4A ) in Transport direction TR, in order to shrink thermoplastic material onto the articles during movement.
• the shrink tunnel housing 3 has an inlet 7.
• the respective articles 2 leave the shrink tunnel housing 3 via the outlet 9 after thermoplastic material has been shrunk onto the articles.
• the temperature level within the interior IR of the shrink tunnel 1 must be kept as constant as possible over time and correspond to a predetermined temperature level. Therefore, in practice, at least one temperature sensor is arranged within the interior IR of the shrink tunnel 1, which is connected to the control unit S.
• the control unit S can use the temperature sensor to detect the current temperature level in real time and, as needed, regulate a heating device, which is part of the shrink tunnel 1 and not shown here for clarity, in order to keep the temperature level in the interior IR at least approximately constant over time. It is also necessary that the articles 2, together with the thermoplastic material, are moved through the interior IR at a predetermined speed so that the thermoplastic material remains in the interior IR for a predetermined duration and the shrinkage result is not negatively affected by a dwell time that is too long or too short.
• the transport speed of the transport device 19 is also specified via the control device S, for which purpose the transport device 19 is connected to the control device S.
• the shrink tunnel housing 3 is shown in longitudinal section, so that the ceiling 12 of the shrink tunnel housing 3, but not the two opposite side walls 14 and 15 (cf. Fig. 3A ) can be seen.
• the interior IR is defined by the transport device 19 and by the ceiling 12 as well as the two opposite side walls 14 and 15 of the shrink tunnel housing 3.
• the boundary or outer boundary of the interior IR is indicated by reference numeral 17.
• the outer boundary 17 defines a heating chamber through which the articles are moved via the transport device 19.
• thermoplastic material can be applied to Article 2 (see above) without problems.
• Fig. 4A It can be shrunk down. It would be desirable if the energy required for such IR temperature control of the interior space could be reduced in a simple way.
• the shrink tunnel 1 is able to reduce energy consumption in a simple manner by actuating the geometry of the outer boundary 17 of the interior IR. Furthermore, the heating time for the interior IR can be shortened by adjusting the geometry of the outer boundary 17 as described below.
• the control unit S is first provided with information about the respective processing program to be carried out.
• information about the respective processing program to be carried out can include, for example, details on the dimensions of the respective articles 2, the number of each lane by which the articles 2 are fed into the shrink tunnel 1, the respective temperature level to be established in the interior IR, the intended dwell time of the articles 2 in the shrink tunnel housing 3, the transport speed of the transport device 9, and/or other details relating to the processing program to be carried out via the shrink tunnel 1.
• control unit S can then determine a suitable geometry for the outer boundary 17 of the interior IR, which is adapted to the respective processing program to be carried out.
• the information about the respective processing program to be carried out can also already contain details regarding the respective geometry of the outer boundary 17 of the interior IR, indicating the geometry with which the respective processing program is to be carried out through the shrink tunnel 1.
• the information can be entered by a user.
• a sensor is provided which is connected to the control unit S.
• the control unit S can use the sensor to detect articles 2 that have not yet entered the shrink tunnel 1 and then independently select a processing program in accordance with the design of the respective detected article 2.
• the shrink tunnel 1 according to the embodiment shown below Figures 1A to 1C is able to independently adjust the geometry of the outer boundary 17 of the interior IR after the control unit S has been given the information about the respective processing program to be carried out.
• Figures 1A and 1B Taken together, they show a possible adaptation of the geometry of the outer boundary 17 of the interior IR.
• the upper part 13 of the shrink tunnel housing 3 is lowered until the upper part reaches the position after Fig. 1B
• the lowering of the upper part 13 is actuated, whereby embodiments have proven successful in which the shrink tunnel housing 3 is designed to be telescopically adjustable in height or in which two opposing side walls 14 and 15 (cf. Fig. 3A
• the shrink tunnel housing 3 is designed to be telescopic.
• the interior IR has, in the position of the upper part, Fig. 1B opposite the position of the upper part 13 after Fig. 1A a smaller volume to be heated, so that a heating device in Fig. 1B requires less energy to heat the interior IR with reduced volume.
• the described procedure thus makes it possible to reduce the energy consumption of the shrink tunnel 1 in a simple way, since the volume of the interior IR is adapted to the processing program to be carried out by adjusting the outer boundary 17 of the interior IR.
• the processing program can be used according to Fig. 1B
• article 2 is moved through the shrink tunnel housing 3, which, compared to those within the processing program according to Fig. 1A
• the articles 2 to be moved through the shrink tunnel housing 3 have a lower height.
• the geometry of the outer boundary 17 and the resulting reduced volume of the interior IR extend in Fig. 1B This is done to allow thermoplastic material to be shrunk onto Article 2 with a lower height.
• FIG. 1A A summary of Figures 1A and 1B with Fig. 1C shows further advantages of the embodiment of a shrink tunnel 1 according to Figure 1 .
• the upper part 13 of the shrink tunnel housing 3 can be moved from the position to Fig. 1A further into the position after Fig. 1C be lifted, allowing the hot air stored in the interior IR to escape completely from the shrink tunnel housing 3.
• a horizontal conveyor system typically follows the shrink tunnel 1, the receiving capacity of which corresponds at least to the number of articles 2 arranged in the shrink tunnel 1 at any given time. If the articles 2 received in a shrink tunnel 1 cannot be processed further temporarily, all articles 2 are removed from the shrink tunnel 1 and temporarily stored via the horizontal conveyor system. In practice, such a horizontal conveyor system is also referred to as an empty travel section.
• FIGS. 2A and 2B show schematic views of a second embodiment of a shrink tunnel 1 according to the invention and illustrate steps as they are carried out in further embodiments of the method 100 according to the invention (see Fig. 5 ) may be provided.
• This also includes the shrink tunnel 1 of the embodiment according to Figures 2A and 2B a transport device 19 and a shrink tunnel housing 3 with an upper part 13 and two opposing side walls 14 and 15 (see Fig. 3A ), wherein the two opposite side walls 14 and 15 in Figures 2A and 2B which are not recognizable, since the images are based on Figures 2A and 2B
• Information about a processing program can be provided to the control unit S, specifying which processing program is to be carried out by the shrink tunnel 1.
• Several functional elements 16 are arranged on the upper part 13 of the shrink tunnel housing 3, each extending in the direction of the image plane, each having a cylindrical shape and forming a section of the outer boundary 17 of the interior IR.
• the processing program after Fig. 2A requires a larger interior volume IR, whereas for the processing program after Fig. 2B A reduced volume of the interior IR is sufficient to allow thermoplastic material to be shrunk onto article 2.
• the volume of the interior IR is determined according to... Figures 2A and 2B specified by adjusting the geometry of the outer boundary 17 of the interior IR via the functional elements 16.
• the functional elements 16 have opposite Fig. 2B a larger cross-sectional diameter in terms of area.
• the liquid or gaseous medium can be drained or removed from the functional elements 16, so that the functional elements 16 reduce their cross-sectional diameter again and thereby form a structure according to Fig. 2A take.
• a liquid medium with high heat storage capacity is introduced into the functional elements 16, if their cross-sectional diameter according to Fig. 2B is enlarged.
• Such functional elements 16 can store thermal energy by means of the absorbed liquid medium, thereby further reducing the energy requirement of the shrink tunnel 1.
• the functional elements 16 are shown here arranged on an upper part 13 of the shrink tunnel housing 3. Alternatively or additionally, however, it is also conceivable that one or more functional elements 16 are arranged on a side wall 14 or 15 (see Figure 16). Fig. 3A ) of the shrink tunnel housing 3. The longitudinal extent of the functional elements 16 is, in this case, essentially oriented perpendicular to the transport direction TR of the shrink tunnel 1.
• the functional elements 16 are positioned such that their respective longitudinal extent is oriented in the transport direction TR or obliquely to the transport direction TR.
• the numerical representation of exactly seven functional elements 16 is merely exemplary.
• a shrink tunnel 1 has a different has 16 functional elements or that a shrink tunnel 1 has only one functional element 16.
• the shrink tunnel housing 3 belongs to the Figures 1A to 1C is telescopic and that additionally a functional element 16 or several functional elements 16 are provided which form a geometry of the outer boundary 17 of the interior IR at least in some areas.
• the Figures 3A and 3B show schematic views of a third embodiment of a shrink tunnel 1 according to the invention and illustrate steps as they are carried out in further embodiments of the method 100 according to the invention (see Fig. 5
• the shrink tunnel 1 comprises a transport device 19 and a shrink tunnel housing 3.
• the outer boundary 17 of the interior IR is provided in this case by the side walls 14 and 15 of the shrink tunnel housing 3, by the transport device 19, and by two flaps 23 and 24, which together form a ceiling 12 of the interior IR and limit the interior IR in the vertical direction.
• the flaps 23 and 24 are arranged on an upper part 13 of the shrink tunnel housing 13.
• the Figures 4A and 4B show schematic views of a fourth embodiment of a shrink tunnel 1 according to the invention and illustrate steps as they are carried out in further embodiments of the method 100 according to the invention (see Fig. 5 ) may be provided.
• the fourth embodiment of a shrink tunnel 1 also comprises a shrink tunnel housing 3 and a transport device 19, with which articles 2 are moved for shrinking thermoplastic material.
• Figures 4A and 4B Article 2 is moved in several parallel paths. During the processing program after... Fig. 4A Article 2 is moved in three parallel tracks; the transport of the articles 2 is carried out by the Shrink tunnel housing 3 in the processing program according to Fig. 4B in just two parallel orbits.
• FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate that the volume of the interior IR or the boiler room can be reduced if Article 2 is first transported in three parallel tracks and then subsequently according to Fig. 4B The material is transported in only two parallel paths. To reduce the volume of the interior IR and thus lower the energy required to temperature-control the interior IR, the geometry of the outer boundary 17 of the interior 17 is further adjusted.
• the shrink tunnel 1 comprises two walls 26 and 28, each of which can be moved horizontally, thereby decreasing or increasing their relative distance to each other and adjusting the geometry of the outer boundary 17 of the interior IR.
• the two walls 26 and 28 can be arranged on the shrink tunnel housing 3 via a linear guide.
• shaft walls 32 and 34 are arranged, separating the adjacent tracks from each other.
• Shaft walls 32 and 34 may optionally include openings through which hot air can flow into the interior IR.
• Shaft walls 32 and 34 can also each be moved horizontally to allow for three-track transport according to... Fig. 4A on a two-track transport according to Fig. 4B to change.
• Fig. 5 The flowchart shows steps as they can be performed individually or according to the [missing information]. Fig. 5 The combination and sequence shown can be provided in various embodiments of the method 100 according to the invention.
• a processing program is selected from several different processing programs for a shrink tunnel 1.
• a geometry of an outer boundary 17 of an interior IR of the shrink tunnel 1 is adapted (second process step 120), through which interior IR a transport device 19 of the shrink tunnel 1 runs.
• articles 2 are moved through the interior IR via the transport device 19, whereby thermoplastic material is shrunk onto the articles 2.
• the Fig. 6 Figure 1 shows a fourth embodiment.
• the walls 26 and 28 are adjustable, particularly horizontally, along a guide 61 of the housing ceiling 60. Additionally, the shaft walls 32 and 34 can be adjustable on the same guide 61 or on another guide not shown.
• This embodiment can have a P-shaped cross-section.
• a seal 51 which can be adjusted, can be provided and is arranged between the housing wall 28 and the transport device 19.
• the Fig. 7 Figure 5 shows a fifth embodiment.
• the ceiling 60 is adjustable, particularly vertically, along guides 62.
• the shaft walls 32 and 34 can be arranged to be adjustable relative to the ceiling 60 (mechanism including guide not shown).
• Ceiling 60 and the side wall 14 of the 3 and the side wall 15 of the shrink tunnel housing 3 comprise in particular an insulating material such as rock wool or the like.

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