DE102019202008A1 - Method for controlling and / or regulating a shrink tunnel and device for shrinking thermoplastic packaging material onto articles - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for controlling and / or regulating a shrink tunnel is disclosed. The method comprises the following steps: - Providing a classification (3), the different classes (7) of which are determined by different potential defects in the shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material, - Checking thermoplastic packaging material that has already been shrunk on articles through the shrink tunnel for defects which at least one class ( 7) can be assigned to the several different defined classes (7), - Creation of an evaluation (11) for the thermoplastic packaging material that has already been shrunk onto the article through the shrink tunnel, whereby all errors found during the check are used to create the evaluation (11) , which could be assigned to at least one class (7) of the different classes (7). Furthermore, the shrink tunnel, taking into account the assessment created (11) for the thermoplastic V that has already been shrunk onto the article through the shrink tunnel packaging material controlled and / or regulated.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for controlling and / or regulating a shrink tunnel and a device for shrinking thermoplastic packaging material onto articles.

It is known to combine articles such as beverage containers for the purpose of transport in handy containers with four, six or more containers, the containers in these containers being able to be wrapped and held together with shrink film, for example. The respective container, which can be a PET bottle or glass bottle, for example, forms a primary packaging in which the respective beverage or the respective liquid is safely accommodated. The shrink film can form a secondary packaging which holds the primary packaging in the form of a PET bottle or glass bottle together with the absorbed liquid or the respective absorbed beverage.

For easier handling, containers with such so-called disposable secondary packaging made of PE shrink film or the like often have handles made of flexible material, e.g. made of sufficiently stable film, cardboard, paper, plastics such as PVC or mixed materials, possibly with a paper and / or cardboard reinforced grip area. The ends of the handle strips can be fixed to the side surfaces of the container, for example by welding or gluing. For this purpose, the ends of the handle can optionally have self-adhesive areas.

In order for such an arrangement to have sufficient mechanical stability during manual handling of the container, not only the handle must have the required load-bearing capacity, but also the connection points to the container and its envelope, to which the handle is fixed. That is, the wrapping shrink film must have sufficient tensile strength and tear resistance so that the packaging film cannot overstretch and / or tear when handling the container with the handle. Sufficient tensile strength and tear resistance can only be reliably guaranteed if a shrinking process leads to the desired result or if the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material has sufficient mechanical strength after the shrinking process.

So far, such a shrinking process has taken place in a shrink tunnel in which the film is subjected to an increased temperature for shrinking. Depending on the properties of the respective shrink film, the temperature and dwell time of the respective film in the shrink tunnel must be specified or set within narrow ranges so that the respective film can securely hold the wrapped articles together after the shrinking process.

Shrink tunnels known from the prior art can also have nozzles which act on the respective film with a hot gas volume flow. In order to obtain a desired shrinking result in which the shrunk-on film also has sufficient mechanical stability, it may then be necessary to have to set a distance between the nozzles in a defined manner depending on the respective properties of a film and / or the direction of exit and / or amount To have to define the outlet quantities of the respective hot gas volume flow in advance.

Such a device, in which thermoplastic packaging material is shrunk onto articles, is shown, for example, in FIG DE 10 2010 032 455 A1 . The shrink tunnel disclosed herein has a plurality of radiant heaters arranged along a transport path for the articles, which are fixed together on a support structure and can be raised and lowered together with the support structure for heating the articles. If the respective shrink film is exposed to temperature by radiant heaters, it can expand at the beginning by a small amount up to its crystalline melting point, and then shrink to a certain value.

In order to optimize the shrinking result, the individual radiant heaters can be controlled in a targeted manner according to the device of the DE patent application. The respective temperature control must continue to be dependent on the material properties of the shrink film so that it can be shrunk onto the respective article in a defined manner to hold the articles together.

In practice it can also happen that thermoplastic films are provided with identifications such as product names, various graphics or the like. Shrinking processes are desirable in which, after the respective film has been shrunk onto the article, a proportionality of the markings can at least largely be maintained. An over- or under-proportional stretching, for example in the longitudinal direction, should be avoided at least to a large extent. Optical impairments, which can be formed, for example, by holes in the film, scratches, folds, waves, cracks and / or stains, are also undesirable and should be avoided if possible.

Despite the large number of already known measures aimed at avoiding such Impairments of the film are aligned and which are intended to improve the shrinkage quality, practice has shown that the nature of the packaging film shrunk onto beverage containers often does not correspond to the desired result. For example, it may be that the packaging film still does not have sufficient mechanical stability to be able to hold drinks containers together or that it is visually impaired. It is also possible that a handle or handle attached to the packaging film may inadvertently detach itself from the shrunk-on packaging film due to an unsatisfactory shrinkage result, if the respective container is lifted over the handle or handle.

Starting from this, an object of the invention can be seen in providing a possibility with which the shrinking result can be further improved in the simplest and most uncomplicated way possible.

The above object is achieved with the subjects comprising the features in the independent claims. Further advantageous refinements are described by the subclaims.

The invention relates to a method for controlling and / or regulating a shrink tunnel.

One step of the method provides for the provision of a classification, the different classes of which are determined by different potential defects in the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material. It can be the case that the classification is provided by a user or that the different classes of the classification are specified by a user.

The individual classes of the classification can be indicated by several lines in a first column. Another column can be designed in such a way that potential defects in the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material can be assigned to a respective class numerically or according to the respective number. In addition, a column can be provided in which a user can annotate a potential and a class numerically or according to the respective number assigned errors.

In connection with the classification, a tolerance range can be established for one or more of the classes, which excludes certain potential defects in the shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material from the respective class.

A further step of the method relates to checking articles that have already been shrunk on thermoplastic packaging material through the shrink tunnel for defects which can be assigned to at least one class of the several different classes specified. The checking of the thermoplastic packaging material, which has already been shrunk onto articles through the shrink tunnel, for defects, which can be assigned to at least one class of the several different classes that have been defined, can, if necessary, be carried out by a user or person. If this is the case, the respective user or the respective person can record and / or record the errors identified in the course of the check in the further column already described above and assigned to a respective class. Enter numerically or by number.

In addition, an assessment is made for the thermoplastic packaging material that has already been shrunk onto the article through the shrink tunnel, all of the errors found during the check being used to generate the assessment, which could be assigned to at least one of the different classes. If a tolerance range is specified, it may be the case that all of the errors found within the scope of the check that are within the tolerance range are not used or are not taken into account to create the assessment. In particular, it can be the case that only all errors ascertained in the course of the check are used to create the assessment, which errors could be assigned to at least one class of the different classes.

The assessment can contain information about the extent to which a quality of the thermoplastic packaging material that has already been shrunk onto the article and checked corresponds to a desired or specified target quality. In particular, it is conceivable here that the evaluation contains a percentage value or percentage information which is designed as a proportional correspondence of the properties of the thermoplastic packaging material that has already been shrunk onto the article and checked with a predetermined or desired target quality. As an alternative or in addition to this, the evaluation can contain a graphic which shows, in particular via different colors, to what extent the quality of the thermoplastic packaging material that has already been shrunk onto the article and checked corresponds proportionally to a predetermined or desired target quality. If the evaluation is created via a control and / or regulating device As an alternative or in addition to this, it can be that the evaluation is only created algorithmically and cannot be recognized by a user. It can also be the case that the assessment is created via a control and / or regulating device and is displayed in a visually recognizable manner for a user.

The shrink tunnel is controlled and / or regulated, taking into account the assessment made for the thermoplastic packaging material that has already been shrunk onto the article through the shrink tunnel. It is conceivable here that, taking into account the created evaluation, a defined temperature level of a hot gas volume flow provided for shrinking on the thermoplastic packaging material is set and the hot gas volume flow is brought to the temperature level set taking into account the created evaluation as part of the control and / or regulation of the shrink tunnel. As an alternative or in addition to this, it may be the case that, taking into account the assessment made, a direction of flow is set to act on the hot gas volume flow provided for shrinking on the thermoplastic packaging material, and the direction of flow, as part of the control and / or regulation of the shrink tunnel, is set to the direction of flow set taking into account the assessment made is specified. The shrink tunnel can further comprise at least one horizontal conveyor device, via which articles together with applied thermoplastic packaging material are moved through a housing of the shrink tunnel. It is conceivable here that, taking into account the created evaluation, a transport speed of the at least one horizontal conveyor device is set and the transport speed for the at least one horizontal conveyor device is formed according to the set transport speed within the framework of the control and / or regulation.

It may be that at least one class of the different classes is defined by at least one potential defect in the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material, which at least one potential defect relates to an undesired mechanical impairment of the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material. Such an unwanted mechanical impairment can be formed, for example, if several articles cannot be held together with sufficient or predetermined stability by means of shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material. Unintentional mechanical impairment can also occur, for example, if the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material cannot hold a handle, which may be arranged on the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material, with sufficient or predetermined stability.

In addition or as an alternative to this, it can be that at least one class of the different classes is defined by at least one potential defect in the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material, which at least one potential defect concerns an undesired visual impairment of the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material. It is conceivable that a respective unwanted visual impairment of the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material by a scratch, a fold, a wave, a cold spot, a bubble, a passage, a crack, a print image distortion, an impact in the direction of the article, an impact in the opposite direction the article, an overstretching of the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material, an unintentional welding of the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material and / or a partially absent shrinkage of the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material.

It is also conceivable that several different classes define several different positions at which the different potential defects can be formed in the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material. For example, at least one of the several different classes defines a potential defect in the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material which is located in the area of the circumference of the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material. Furthermore, at least one class of the several different classes defines a potential defect in the shrunk-on packaging material, which is located in a base area and / or in the area of a portion of the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material arranged above the article. It can also be the case that at least one class of the several different classes defines a potential defect in the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material which is located in the area of a film eye of the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material.

Embodiments have also proven themselves in which each class of the several different classes is assigned a separate instruction relating to the control and / or regulation of the shrink tunnel. It can be the case that the respective instruction of a respective class, which is part of the review an error could be assigned in the control and / or regulation of the shrink tunnel is taken into account. It is conceivable, for example, that a fault is found in a base area of the thermoplastic packaging material that has already been shrunk onto the article. A handling instruction which is linked to the fault detected in the floor area can for example provide that a temperature level of a hot gas volume flow provided for the floor area of the thermoplastic packaging material is raised or lowered.

It can also be the case that all errors found in the course of the check, which could be assigned to at least one class of the different classes, are given different weightings depending on the respective assigned class, the different weightings already being applied when creating the evaluation for the Articles shrunk through the shrink tunnel will be considered thermoplastic packaging material. It is conceivable, for example, that a mechanical defect is assigned to at least one class, which affects the stability of the thermoplastic packaging material shrunk onto the article. A defect assigned to at least one further class can relate, for example, to the formation of wrinkles in the thermoplastic packaging material. It can be the case here that a potential defect, which affects the stability of the thermoplastic packaging material shrunk onto the article, compared to a potential defect, which affects the formation of wrinkles in the thermoplastic packaging material, causes a relatively greater change in the temperature level provided for the hot gas volume flow.

It is conceivable that an optical sensor system and a control and / or regulating device are provided, the control and / or regulating device being connected to the optical sensor system. It can be the case that the control and / or regulating device checks thermoplastic packaging material that has already been shrunk onto articles through the shrink tunnel for errors which can be assigned to at least one class of the several different classes specified. It can also be the case here that the control and / or regulating device creates an assessment for the thermoplastic packaging material that has already been shrunk onto the article through the shrink tunnel, whereby the control and / or regulating device uses all of the errors found during the check to create the assessment which could be assigned to at least one class of the different classes.

Embodiments have proven themselves in which the control and / or regulating device independently or automatically checks thermoplastic packaging material that has already been shrunk onto the article through the shrink tunnel for errors with the aid of the optical sensors, and then independently or automatically evaluates the article Thermoplastic packaging material shrunk on through the shrink tunnel is created and then the shrink tunnel is regulated as required, taking into account the independently or automatically created assessment. During the independent checking of the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material for errors, during the independent or automatic creation of the assessment and during or in the course of the regulation of the shrink tunnel as required, the shrink tunnel can, if necessary, shrink thermoplastic packaging material onto the article without interruption.

The optical sensor system can be formed, for example, by a camera. It is conceivable that the optical sensor system is positioned in the area of a horizontal conveyor device, which transports articles with shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material that were previously moved through the shrink tunnel. The horizontal conveyor can preferably connect directly to the shrink tunnel. As an alternative or in addition to this, it can be the case that the optical sensor system is arranged within a housing designed as a component of the shrink tunnel.

It may be that the control and / or regulating device, with the aid of the optical sensors, checks all thermoplastic packaging material that is shrunk onto the article for defects that can be assigned to at least one class of the several different classes, the control and / or regulating device opening the shrink tunnel as required regulates, provided that the control and / or regulating device detects at least one error in the course of the check which can be assigned to at least one class of the several different classes.

It may also be that a control and / or regulating device and an input device, preferably designed as a touchscreen, are provided and that the control and / or regulating device, via the input device, preferably designed as a touchscreen, specify errors in the thermoplastic packaging material shrunk onto the article through the shrink tunnel and be assigned to a class. It can also be the case here that the control and / or regulating device makes an assessment for the item that is already on the item Thermoplastic packaging material shrunk on through the shrink tunnel is created, the control and / or regulating device using all of the errors specified by the input device and assigned to a class to create the assessment.

The input device, which is preferably designed as a touchscreen, can comprise a display on which the several different classes are visually represented. A user can, if necessary, enter errors detected during the check, which can be assigned to at least one class of the several defined different classes, according to number and assigned to a respective class into the input device, which is preferably designed as a touchscreen.

Embodiments have also proven themselves in which the checking of thermoplastic packaging material that has already been shrunk through the shrink tunnel for defects and the creation of the assessment for the packaging material that has already been shrunk onto the article through the shrink tunnel take place during continuous operation of the shrink tunnel. It can be provided that the shrink tunnel is then regulated as required, taking into account the assessment that has been made, during ongoing operation up to that point.

The invention also relates to a device for shrinking thermoplastic packaging material onto articles. Features which have already been described above for various embodiments of the method according to the invention can also be provided for embodiments of the device according to the invention described below and are not mentioned more than once. Features described below, which relate to various embodiments of the device according to the invention, can also be provided in various embodiments of the method already described and are not mentioned multiple times.

The device comprises a shrink tunnel and a control and / or regulating device designed to control and / or regulate the shrink tunnel.

A classification is stored on the control and / or regulating device, the different classes of which are determined by different potential defects in the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material. Furthermore, the control and / or regulating device is designed to receive and / or to detect class-related errors in the thermoplastic packaging material that has already been shrunk onto the article through the shrink tunnel.

It is provided that the control and / or regulating device can control and / or regulate the shrink tunnel taking into account the class-related errors received and / or ascertained. In particular, the control and / or regulating device can be designed in such a way that it can control and / or regulate the shrink tunnel taking into account only the class-related errors received and / or ascertained. Further errors, which may be within a tolerance range or which cannot be assigned or allocated to any of the different classes, may not be taken into account in the control and / or regulation.

With regard to the device, it can also be the case that the device comprises an input device, preferably designed as a touchscreen, via which the control and / or regulating device can receive errors in the thermoplastic packaging material that has already been shrunk onto articles through the shrink tunnel.

Furthermore, the device can include an optical sensor system connected to the control and / or regulating device, the control and / or regulating device being designed via the optical sensor system to detect class-related errors in the thermoplastic packaging material that has already been shrunk onto the article through the shrink tunnel.

• - mindestens eine Klasse der unterschiedlichen Klassen durch wenigstens einen potentiellen Fehler in aufgeschrumpftem thermoplastischem Verpackungsmaterial festgelegt ist, welcher wenigstens eine potentielle Fehler eine ungewollte mechanische Beeinträchtigung des aufgeschrumpften thermoplastischen Verpackungsmaterials betrifft, und/oder dass
• - mindestens eine Klasse der unterschiedlichen Klassen durch wenigstens einen potentiellen Fehler in aufgeschrumpftem thermoplastischem Verpackungsmaterial festgelegt ist, welcher wenigstens eine potentielle Fehler eine ungewollte optische Beeinträchtigung des aufgeschrumpften thermoplastischen Verpackungsmaterials betrifft.

It may be that the classification stored on the control and / or regulating device is designed in such a way that

• - At least one class of the different classes is defined by at least one potential defect in the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material, which at least one potential defect relates to an undesired mechanical impairment of the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material, and / or that
• - At least one class of the different classes is defined by at least one potential defect in the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material, which at least one potential defect relates to an undesired visual impairment of the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material.

The classification stored on the control and / or regulating device can also be used in this way be designed that several different positions are defined by several different classes, at which the different potential defects in the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material can be formed.

Embodiments have also proven themselves in which a separate instruction relating to the control and / or regulation of the shrink tunnel is stored on the control and / or regulating device for each class of the several different classes. It can be the case that the control and / or regulating device control and / or regulate the shrink tunnel taking into account the received and / or ascertained class-related errors and also taking into account the respective instructions for a respective class for which a class-related error was accepted and / or ascertained / or can regulate.

Different weightings can also be assigned to the different classes, with which the control and / or regulating device can link the received and / or ascertained class-related errors, taking into account the control and / or regulating device for controlling and / or regulating the shrink tunnel the received and / or ascertained class-related errors and their respective weighting.

The device can be designed to implement a method according to the description above and / or according to one of the method variants described above.

It should be expressly mentioned again at this point that all aspects and design variants which have been explained in connection with the device according to the invention relate to or can be partial aspects of the method according to the invention. If, therefore, at one point in the description or in the definition of claims for the device according to the invention, certain aspects and / or connections and / or effects are mentioned, this applies equally to the method according to the invention. The same applies in reverse, so that all aspects and design variants that have been explained in connection with the method according to the invention relate to or can be partial aspects of the device according to the invention. If, therefore, at one point in the description or in the definition of claims for the method according to the invention, certain aspects and / or relationships and / or effects are mentioned, this applies equally to the device according to the invention.

In the following, exemplary embodiments are intended to explain the invention and its advantages in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures. The proportions of the individual elements to one another in the figures do not always correspond to the real proportions, since some forms are simplified and other forms are shown enlarged in relation to other elements for better illustration.

• 1 zeigt im Flussdiagramm einzelne Schritte, wie sie bei diversen Ausführungsformen des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens vorgesehen sein können.
• 2 zeigt fehlerhaft auf Artikel aufgeschrumpftes thermoplastisches Verpackungsmaterial und verdeutlicht einzelne Aspekte, wie sie bei diversen Ausführungsformen des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens vorgesehen sein können.
• 3 zeigt eine beispielhafte Ausführungsform einer Klassifizierung, wie sie in diversen Ausführungsformen des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens vorgesehen sein kann und in diversen Ausführungsformen der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung auf einer Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung hinterlegt sein kann.
• 4 zeigt eine schematische Ansicht einer Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung und verdeutlicht einzelne Schritte, wie sie bei diversen Ausführungsformen des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens vorgesehen sein können.

Even if “schematic” representations and views are generally spoken of in connection with the figures, this in no way means that the figure representations and their description should be of secondary importance with regard to the disclosure of the invention. The person skilled in the art is quite able to derive enough information from the schematically and abstractly drawn representations that facilitate his understanding of the invention without his understanding being impaired in any way from the drawn and possibly not exactly to scale proportions . The figures thus enable the person skilled in the art as a reader to derive a better understanding of the inventive ideas formulated in the claims and in the general part of the description of general and / or more abstractly formulated ideas on the basis of the more specifically explained implementations of the method according to the invention and the more specifically explained mode of operation of the device according to the invention.

• 1 shows individual steps in the flowchart as they can be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention.
• 2 shows thermoplastic packaging material incorrectly shrunk onto an article and illustrates individual aspects as can be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention.
• 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a classification as it can be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention and can be stored on a control and / or regulating device in various embodiments of the device according to the invention.
• 4th shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a device according to the invention and illustrates individual steps as they can be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention.

Identical reference symbols are used for identical or identically acting elements of the invention. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference numerals are shown in the individual figures are required for the description of the respective figure. The illustrated embodiments merely represent examples of how the invention can be configured and do not represent a final limitation.

The highly schematic flowchart of FIG 1 illustrates individual steps as they are in various embodiments of the method according to the invention 1 can be provided. The procedure 1 is intended for controlling and / or regulating a shrink tunnel 5 as exemplified in 4th of the present patent application can be seen.

As part of the first step of the procedure, to which digit 110 in 1 refers as a classification 3 (see. 3 ), their different classes 7th through different potential errors 8th (see. 2 ) in shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 (see. 2 ) are trained.

An exemplary embodiment for such a classification 3 is in 3 to be recognized and described below. The classification 3 can for example be provided on a display or on a touchscreen. It can also be the classification 3 is provided to a user by a writable sheet or form. It is also conceivable that the classification 3 on a control and / or regulating device S. (see. 4th ) is stored algorithmically.

After the classification has been made available 3 in the process step 110 becomes the procedural step 120 carried out in which already on article through the shrink tunnel 5 (see. 4th ) shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 for mistakes 8th it is checked which at least one class 7th of the several established different classes 7th can be allocated. It may be that this is already on the article 4th through the shrink tunnel 5 shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 by a user or without technical aids for errors 8th is checked.

It can also be a classification 3 corresponding 3 is shown on a display and the user subsequently found errors during the check 8th in the classification 3 enters. Embodiments in which the display is designed as a touchscreen have proven themselves in practice in order to easily resolve errors that have been identified 8th in the classification 3 to be able to register. Unless the user fails 8th of the thermoplastic packaging material already shrunk onto the item 9 recognizes and that already on article 4th shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 is thus designed to be free of defects or has a desired quality, there are no defects 8th in the classification 3 registered.

Unless the user has multiple errors 8th des already on article 4th shrink-on packaging material 9 detects the multiple errors 8th of a respective class 7th the classification 3 assigned and a corresponding number of each class 7th associated error 8th in the respective class 7th registered.

As below to 4th still described, it may be that the inspection of the thermoplastic packaging material that has already been shrunk on 9 for mistakes 8th with the help of an optical sensor system 30th takes place, so that in such embodiments no entry has to be made by a user. In such embodiments, the personnel effort to identify the error 8th to reduce.

Timed after checking the items already on 4th (see. 4th ) shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 for mistakes 8th is completed, the process step 130 carried out. In the process step 130 becomes an evaluation 11 (see. 3 ) for that already on article 4th through the shrink tunnel 5 shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 created. When creating the assessment 11 become all errors 8th used or taken into account which were previously used when checking the shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 established and a class 7th could be assigned. The review 11 forms a statement to what extent a quality of the already on article 4th shrink-on packaging material 9 corresponds to a predetermined or desired target condition.

It can be, for example, that the evaluation 11 is output as a percentage value, which allows a statement to be made about the extent to which the nature of the item is already on 4th shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 proportionally corresponds to the specified or desired target condition.

Is to implement the procedure 1 If a display is provided, the evaluation may be shown graphically. For example, diagrams which include different color representations and which tell a user about the particular nature of the article have proven useful 4th shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 be able to inform by means of the different color representations.

After the evaluation 11 in step 130 is created, the process step 140 carried out. In the process step 140 becomes the shrink tunnel 5 (see. 4th ) taking into account the assessment made 11 controlled or regulated. It may be that the shrink tunnel 5 continual thermoplastic packaging material on items 4th shrunk on, the operation of the shrink tunnel 5 Thermoplastic packaging material that has already been shrunk on during testing 9 for mistakes 8th is not interrupted and the shrink tunnel 5 after creating the rating 11 is regulated as required.

It can also be an evaluation 11 in the process step 130 is created and the shrink tunnel 5 only after creating the assessment 11 is put into operation or taking into account the assessment made 11 is controlled. The control or regulation takes place in each case for the purpose of error 8th which could be determined in the course of the inspection, during a subsequent further shrinking of thermoplastic packaging material 9 on article 4th to avoid. Practice has shown that by checking thermoplastic packaging material that has already been shrunk on 9 for mistakes 8th , the assignment of the respective errors that may be found 8th in classes 5 and the related control or regulation of a shrink tunnel 5 in which the classes 5 associated error 8th are taken into account, the quality of the shrinkage result can be improved in a simple manner and in a short time.

The schematic representation of the 2 shows incorrectly on article 4th shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 and clarifies further aspects, as they are in various embodiments of the method according to the invention 1 can be provided.

This in 2 on the left with the reference number 10 designated container comprises several articles 4th , which in the present case by beverage containers 6th or beverage bottles are formed. The articles 4th or beverage container 6th have already been through a shrink tunnel 5 (see. 4th ) moves, in which thermoplastic packaging material 9 on the article 4th or on the beverage container 6th has been shrunk.

Unless that's on the article 4th or on the beverage container 6th shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 has a desired quality, has a film eye formed as a component of the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material 13th an at least approximately symmetrical and elliptical or circular course.

The 2 clarified taking into account the container shown on the left 10 that that's already on article 4th shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 with regard to the course of the foil eye 13th deviates from the desired or specified condition. To get the in 2 shown course of the foil eye 13th The shrink tunnel must at least approximate the desired course 5 can be controlled or regulated in a way that differs from the previous control.

For example, it can be that a certain temperature level is set, which is inside the shrink tunnel 5 for shrinking the thermoplastic packaging material 9 on article 4th is trained. Owns the thermoplastic packaging material 9 an error 8th or even multiple mistakes 8th , it must be inside the shrink tunnel if necessary 5 up to then trained temperature level are raised or lowered to the one error 8th or the multiple errors 8th in thermoplastic packaging material 9 to counteract.

By checking the items already on 4th shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 for mistakes 8th , the subsequent assignment of any errors found 8th to each as part of a classification 3 trained class 5 and controlling and / or regulating the shrink tunnel 5 taking into account an evaluation derived from this 11 lets mistakes 8th in shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 counteract this in a quick and easy way.

Especially that's already too 1 described procedure 1 then advantageously to use and apply if a container 10 several different errors 8th has the different classes 7th can be assigned. When creating the assessment 11 become all of these different and one class 7th associated error 8th used. Because the shrink tunnel 5 taking into account the assessment made 11 controlled or regulated, this can lead to different errors 8th by means of such an adapted control or regulation of the shrink tunnel 5 in shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 be avoided in each case.

The container is on the right again 10 to recognize which one is a bug 8th in the area of the foil eye 13th owns. Below this, different views can be seen, which illustrate different positions at which the packaging material that has already been shrunk onto the article 9 for mistakes 8th can be checked. The check can still be carried out via a user or, if necessary, via a optical sensors 30th which take place in 4th is shown and described.

The 3 Figure 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a classification 3 , as in various embodiments of the method according to the invention 1 can be provided and in various embodiments on a control and / or regulating device S. (see. 4th ) can be deposited.

As mentioned earlier, it may be the classification 3 with their different classes 7th is shown on a display or if necessary is shown on a writable sheet or a writable form. In the exemplary embodiment from 3 are in addition to the classification 3 mapped further input areas in which a respective user can store further information.

So is a basic field 15th shown, in which sometimes information about the respective manufacturer, the respective date of manufacture and the respective batch number of the item 4th shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 can be specified or stored by a user. Unless the base field 15th via a display from a control and / or regulating device S. is shown, it can be provided that if necessary a barcode is scanned and the control and / or regulating device S. as a result, several input fields in the basic field 15th can fill in independently.

There is also a mapping area 17th shown in which the container 10 with the thermoplastic packaging material already applied 9 can be shown or mapped. Such a mapping area 17th can be provided in particular, provided that this is already on article 4th shrink-on packaging material 9 by means of an optical sensor system 30th for mistakes 8th is checked. The optical sensors 30th can be designed as a camera, which is a bug 8th having and already on article 4th shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 captured and a picture of a bug 8th having and already on article 4th shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material in the image area 17th deposited.

The classification 3 comprises a first input area 19th and a second input area 21st that differ in terms of their respective classes 7th differ from each other. The first input area 19th and the second input area 21st each comprise several lines, with each line representing a respective class 7th depicts a potential defect in shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 specifies. In the first input area 19th you can specify whether or which mechanical faults 8th the respective on article 4th shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 owns. In the exemplary embodiment of a classification 3 to 3 it can be determined whether a handle with sufficient stability on the thermoplastic packaging material 9 is set whether the thermoplastic packaging material 9 mechanical defects and whether article 4th or beverage container 6th with sufficient or specified stability over the thermoplastic packaging material 9 be held together.

The one in the second input area 21st about the classes 7th specified potential errors 8th in shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 each concern errors 8th which is an unwanted visual impairment of the item already on 4th shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 acts.

The schematic representation of the 3 shows that in the second input area 21st a column is formed in which the respective one class 7th related errors 8th numerically or by number can be specified. In a further column, comments can be made that relate to the respective class 7th associated error 8th affect.

If there is provision for a user to use the respective shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 for mistakes 8th checked, the respective user can view the respective errors found during the check 8th one class 7th assign and numerically or by number in the respective input area 19th or. 21st deposit. If it is provided that a control and / or regulating device S. (see. 4th ) with the help of an optical sensor system 30th carries out the check, the control and / or regulating device S. the respective errors found during the check 8th one class 7th assign and numerically or by number in the respective input area 19th or. 21st deposit.

Are all mistakes 8th which of a class 7th in the input area 19th and / or in the input area 21st can be assigned, determined as part of the review and in the respective input area 19th or. 21st are entered, the errors 8th summed up and a rating 11 for that already on article 4th shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 created. Errors found during the check that are within a tolerance range are not taken into account. For example, it can be the case that the evaluation 11 information 11 `contains whether and to what extent this is already on the article 4th shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 corresponds to a desired or specified target condition. In addition or as an alternative for this it may be that the evaluation 11 as a graphic 11 " is designed, which allows a user to recognize via at least one diagram and possibly with the aid of different colors whether and to what extent this is already an article 4th shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 corresponds to a desired or specified target condition.

After the evaluation 11 is a shrink tunnel 5 (see. 4th ) taking into account the assessment made 11 regulated as required. Unless the evaluation 11 shows that the nature of the item already on 4th shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 deviates from a desired or specified target condition, the shrink tunnel becomes 5 regulated to thereby container 10 with shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 to obtain, the quality of which is at least approximated to the desired or predetermined target quality.

Unless the evaluation 11 shows that the nature of the item already on 4th shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 corresponds to the desired or specified target condition, the shrink tunnel 5 not regulated, but one already in the shrink tunnel 5 ongoing packaging program continued unchanged without a corresponding regulation. This means that packaging material that has already been shrunk onto the item, which the shrink tunnel 5 continuously for errors 8th be checked, the shrink tunnel 5 if an error is detected 8th is regulated as required.

The 4th shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a device according to the invention 10 and illustrates individual steps as they are in various embodiments of the method according to the invention 1 can be provided. In particular shows 4th single steps 210 to 260 the shrinking of thermoplastic packaging material 9 on article 4th or beverage container 6th . In illustrating the shrinking process through the steps 210 to 260 is the shrink tunnel 5 recognizable in cross section. Above that with the reference numbers 210 to 260 designated steps is the shrink tunnel 5 shown along its length. It can be seen here that the shrink tunnel 5 a housing 25th includes which is open on opposite end faces and through which article 4th with applied thermoplastic packaging material are moved to apply the thermoplastic packaging material to the articles 4th to shrink.

The step 210 shows that several items 4th into the shrink tunnel together with the thermoplastic packaging material that has been applied and has not yet been shrunk on 5 enter and this over as part of the shrink tunnel 5 trained horizontal conveyor 27 be moved in the direction of the image plane. On the side of the article 4th are shaft walls 29 positioned, each of which includes several nozzles for applying a hot gas volume flow to the thermoplastic packaging material. In step 220 the thermoplastic packaging material begins to attach to the item 4th to put on.

In step 230 is this already in 2 illustrated foil eye 13th shaped. In step 240 a lateral overhang of the not yet completely on the article 4th shrink-fit thermoplastic packaging material to the articles 4th the thermoplastic packaging material then in step 250 completely shrunk and the end faces smoothed. The side spray of the article 4th applied thermoplastic packaging material via hot air ends in step 250 , where in step 260 the container 10 with the shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 is cooled.

About mistakes 8th (see. 2 ) in shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 of the then completed container 10 to avoid was the thermoplastic packaging material 9 until now before the shrink tunnel went into operation 5 subjected to an analysis. As part of the analysis, characteristics of the respective thermoplastic packaging material, such as a shrinkage rate in the longitudinal and transverse directions, a surface tension, an E-module, tensile strength and / or a coefficient of friction of the thermoplastic packaging material were determined. A program for the shrink tunnel was then based on the determined characteristics of the thermoplastic packaging material 5 created.

With such a control of the shrink tunnel 5 has been shown to be on article 4th shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 error 8th (see. 2 ) can train. To such mistakes 8th to avoid or, if possible, to reduce, the device comprises 1 from the embodiment according to 4th a control and / or regulating device S. on which a classification 3 (see. 3 ) is stored algorithmically. The classification 3 includes different classes 7th (see. 3 ) caused by different potential errors 8th in shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 are set.

As the 4th further shows, the control and / or regulating device is at a standstill S. with an in 4th only schematically indicated optical sensors 30th in connection that in a Direction of movement of the articles 4th after the shrink tunnel 5 is arranged. The optical sensors 30th can for example be designed as a camera. Time after a respective container 10 with its already on article 4th shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 the shrink tunnel 5 leaves, the control and / or regulating device S. with the help of optical sensors 30th thus determine whether the shrunk thermoplastic packaging material 9 error 8th trains which of a class 7th the classification 3 (see. 3 ) can be assigned.

Following this, the control and / or regulating device is created S. a rating 11 for that already on article 4th shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 , the control and / or regulating device S. all identified errors 8th uses which at least one class 7th could be assigned. Unless the evaluation 11 shows that the nature of the item already on 4th shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 deviates from a desired quality, becomes the shrink tunnel 5 via the control and / or regulating device S. taking into account the evaluation 11 regulated.

It can be the case that within the framework of the regulation, a temperature level of the via the nozzles of the shaft walls 29 issued hot gas volume flow is increased or decreased to the nature of further on article 4th shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 to at least approximate the desired quality. It can also be the case, for example, that within the framework of the regulation, an exit direction of the via the nozzles of the shaft walls 29 output hot gas volume flow is changed or adapted to the nature of further on article 4th shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 to at least approximate the desired quality.

In addition or as an alternative to this, it can be provided, for example, that a transport speed of the horizontal conveyor device 27 within the framework of the regulation is raised or lowered to the condition of further on article 4th shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 to at least approximate the desired quality.

By finding mistakes 8th , the assignment of detected errors 8th to a respective class 7th a classification 3 can be an evaluation 11 for thermoplastic packaging material that has already been shrunk on 9 create several different errors 8th can be taken into account. By controlling and / or regulating the shrink tunnel 5 taking into account this assessment 11 the shrinking result can be improved easily and within a short time. This also leads to unwanted rejects due to insufficient quality of the respective article 4th shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material 9 reduced or largely avoided.

The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it is conceivable for a person skilled in the art that modifications or changes can be made to the invention without departing from the scope of protection of the following claims.

List of reference symbols

1

Procedure

3

Classification

4th

items

5

Shrink tunnel

6th

Beverage container

7th

Classes

8th

Mistake, potential mistake

9

packing material

10

Container

11

rating

11 '

Information (percentage)

11 "

graphic

13

Foil eye

15th

Base field

17th

Mapping area

19th

first input area

21st

second input area

25th

casing

27

Horizontal conveyor

29

Shaft wall

30th

optical sensors

50

contraption

110

first procedural step

120

second process step

130

third process step

140

fourth procedural step

210

first step (shrinking process)

220

second step (shrinking process)

230

third step (shrinking process)

240

fourth step (shrinking process)

250

fifth step (shrinking process)

260

sixth step (shrinking process)

S.

Control and / or regulating device

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• DE 102010032455 A1 [0007]

Claims (14)

A method (1) for controlling and / or regulating a shrink tunnel (5), the method comprising at least the following steps: - Provision of a classification (3), the different classes (7) of which are determined by different potential defects (8) in the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material (9), - Checking thermoplastic packaging material (9) already shrunk on articles (4) through the shrink tunnel (5) for defects (8), which can be assigned to at least one class (7) of the several different classes (7) specified, - Creation of an evaluation (11) for the thermoplastic packaging material (9) which has already been shrunk onto the article (4) through the shrink tunnel (5), whereby all errors (8) identified during the check are used to create the evaluation (11) at least one class (7) of the different classes (7) could be assigned, and - Controlling and / or regulating the shrink tunnel (5) taking into account the created assessment (11) for the thermoplastic packaging material (9) which has already been shrunk onto the article (4) through the shrink tunnel (5). Procedure according to Claim 1 in which - at least one class (7) of the different classes (7) is determined by at least one potential defect (8) in the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material (9), which at least one potential defect (8) represents an undesired mechanical impairment of the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material (4) relates, and / or in which - at least one class (7) of the different classes (7) is determined by at least one potential defect (8) in the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material (9), which is at least one potential defect (8) unwanted visual impairment of the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material (9) concerns. Procedure according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 , in which several different classes (7) define several different positions at which the different potential defects (8) can be formed in the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material (9). Method according to one of the Claims 1 to 3 , in which each class (7) of the several different classes (7) is assigned its own instruction relating to the control and / or regulation of the shrink tunnel (5) and it is provided that the respective instruction of a respective class (7), which in Within the scope of the check, an error (8) could be assigned which is taken into account in the control and / or regulation of the shrink tunnel (5). Method according to one of the Claims 1 to 4th , in which an optical sensor system (30) and a control and / or regulating device (S) are provided, the control and / or regulating device (S) being connected to the optical sensor system (30) and with which method is provided that the control and / or regulating device (S) with the aid of the optical sensor system (30) - already on article (4) through the shrink tunnel (5) shrunk thermoplastic packaging material (9) checks for errors (8), which at least one class (7) can be assigned to the several defined different classes (7) and with which method it is provided that - the control and / or regulating device (S) an assessment (11) for the item already shrunk through the shrink tunnel (5) thermoplastic packaging material (9), the control and / or regulating device (S) drawing on all the errors (8) identified in the course of the check to create the assessment, which at least one class (7) of the different classes (7) could be assigned. Method according to one of the Claims 1 to 5 , in which a control and / or regulating device (S) and an input device, preferably designed as a touchscreen, are provided and in which method (1) it is provided that - the control and / or regulating devices (S) errors (8 ) of the thermoplastic packaging material (9) shrunk onto the article through the shrink tunnel (5) are specified and assigned to a class (7) and with which method (1) it is provided that - the control and / or regulating device (S) an evaluation ( 11) for the thermoplastic packaging material (9) that has already been shrunk onto the article through the shrink tunnel (5), whereby the control and / or regulating device (S) for creating the assessment (11) uses all of the input device and a class (7 ) assigned errors (8) can be used. Method according to one of the Claims 1 to 6th , in which the checking of the article (4) already shrunk on thermoplastic packaging material (9) through the shrink tunnel (5) for defects (8) and the creation of the assessment (11) for the article (4) through the shrink tunnel (5) Shrink-on thermoplastic packaging material (9) take place during continuous operation of the shrink tunnel (5) and in which the shrink tunnel (5) subsequently takes into account the assessment (11) made during a until then further continuous operation is regulated as required. Apparatus (50) for shrinking thermoplastic packaging material (9) onto articles (4), comprising at least: - a shrink tunnel (5) as well - a control and / or regulating device (S) designed to control and / or regulate the shrink tunnel (5), and in which device (50) - A classification (3) is stored on the control and / or regulating device (S), the different classes (7) of which are determined by different potential defects (8) in the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material (9), the control and / or Control device (S) for receiving and / or detecting class-related errors (8) in the thermoplastic packaging material (9) already shrunk onto the article (4) through the shrink tunnel (5), and it is provided that - The control and / or regulating device (S) can control and / or regulate the shrink tunnel (5) taking into account the received and / or ascertained class-related errors (8). Device according to Claim 8 , in which on the control and / or regulating device (S) for each class (7) of the several different classes (7) a separate instruction relating to the control and / or regulation of the shrink tunnel (5) is stored, the control and / or control device (s) the shrink tunnel (5) taking into account the accepted and / or ascertained class-related errors (8) and also taking into account the respective instructions for a respective class (7) for which a class-related error (8) was accepted and / or has been determined, can control and / or regulate. Device according to Claim 8 or Claim 9 , comprising an input device, preferably designed as a touchscreen, via which the control and / or regulating device (S) can receive faults (8) in the thermoplastic packaging material (9) already shrunk onto the article (4) through the shrink tunnel (5). Device according to one of the Claims 8 to 10 , comprising an optical sensor system (30) connected to the control and / or regulating device (S), wherein the control and / or regulating device (S) uses the optical sensor system (30) to detect class-related errors (8) in the thermoplastic packaging material (9) that has already been shrunk onto the article (4) through the shrink tunnel (5). Device according to one of the Claims 8 to 11 , in which the classification (3) stored on the control and / or regulating device (S) is designed in such a way that at least one class (7) of the different classes (7) is caused by at least one potential defect (8) in the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material (9) it is determined which at least one potential defect (8) concerns an undesired mechanical impairment of the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material (9), and / or in which - at least one class (7) of the different classes (7) due to at least one potential defect (8) is fixed in the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material (9), which relates to at least one potential defect (8) an undesired visual impairment of the shrunk-on thermoplastic packaging material (9). Device according to one of the Claims 8 to 12 , in which the classification (3) stored on the control and / or regulating device (S) is designed in such a way that several different classes (7) define several different positions at which the different potential defects (8) in the shrunk-on thermoplastic Packaging material (9) can be formed. Device according to one of the Claims 8 to 13th that is designed and / or equipped and provided for implementing and / or carrying out a method according to one of the Claims 1 to 7th .

Images