EP2415676A1 - Assembly and method for coupling together multiple machine component assemblies of a container handling machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The arrangement has components for air guidance, for air cooling and for compressed air supply. One of the machine components is fed with exhaust air (12) of the other machine component. The machine component of a foil shrinkage station is supplied with exhaust air. The foil shrinkage station has a conveyor for transporting packages with multiple containers. An independent claim is also included for a method for coupling multiple machine components.

Description

The present invention relates to an arrangement of several at least material flow technology coupled machine assemblies with the features of independent claim 1. The invention further relates to a method with the features of the independent method claim 7 for coupling a plurality of machine assemblies, the successive treatment and / or processing stations of a machine for Processing, treatment and / or filling of containers form.

In known container treatment and packaging machines compressed air is used at different points. Thus, for example, in a container treatment machine comprising a packaging module with film wrapping, the use of compressed air in the area of the film guide is customary in order to ensure the correct film transport. Thus, within a film separation station, the cut film is normally conveyed over a belt in the direction of another conveyor belt of a film wrapping station. The conveyor belt of the film separation station is usually subjected to negative pressure by means of a blower. In the further course, the film must be pushed over an area in which no support of the film can be guaranteed. To bridge this area and to prevent the film or the film beginning is deflected by gravity down or up, an air channel can be formed for the promotion of the film by means of support of blowing nozzles. Both the vacuum required for the conveyor belt of the film separating station and the overpressure required for the air-assisted film transport in the further course require a relatively high consumption of compressed air. In addition, both systems are dependent on maintaining the system pressure of the compressed air supply.

A primary objective of the present invention is therefore to achieve an improved energy balance of a container treatment plant by diversion and / or other use of the exhaust air from existing fans and / or vacuum sources and to reduce unused portions of compressed air and thus previously used energy.

This object of the invention is achieved with the objects of the independent claims. Features of advantageous developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

In order to achieve the stated object, the invention proposes an arrangement of a plurality of at least material flow-coupled machine assemblies, which form successive treatment and / or processing stations of a machine for processing, handling, filling and / or packaging of containers, which machine assemblies each comprise components for air guidance, for air cooling and / or compressed air supply, wherein at least one of the machine assemblies is fed with exhaust air of the other machine assemblies. The machine assemblies may be, for example, parts or modules of a container forming plant, which are arranged downstream of a bottling plant and a packaging plant. In various machine parts compressed air is used as an energy source and / or to support the material promotion, eg. When film transport, which is normally consumed and released into the environment without further use. Therefore, the use of compressed air generally requires a relatively high energy consumption, which can be reduced with the help of the invention, when the machine parts are coupled not only material flow technology, but also energetically coupled to each other. For this purpose, it is proposed to use the compressed air supplies at least partially across modules, in particular by using the exhaust air produced at individual modules, for use in at least one other module.

Thus, it can be provided to use the exhaust air supplied by at least one of the machine assemblies as compressed air supply and / or cooling air supply of machine components and / or parts of the containers and / or their packaging means of at least one further machine assembly. An expedient variant of such a coupling may, for example, be that the machine assembly supplied with exhaust air is a film shrinking station which has a conveying device for transporting foil-enclosed containers with a plurality of containers. In the case of film shrinking stations, the problem often arises that the conveyor chains for the film-wrapped containers are permanently heated cyclically and must therefore be cooled before their first contact with a new container so that the packaging film does not become too soft at this point and sticks to the conveyor chain or glued there.

The arrangement according to the invention can therefore be formed by a variant in which the conveyor is a circulating conveyor chain which runs permanently through the film shrinking station and heated there by Heißluftbeaufschlagung the film-wrapped container and cooled in a outside of the film shrinkage area with the exhaust air of one of the adjacent machine assemblies becomes. In this way, the conveyor chain is effectively cooled, without any additional energy consumption associated with producing this cooling air.

Another useful variant of the invention can provide that a device for intermediate cooling of the exchanged between the modules exhaust air is arranged between adjacent and coupled together machine assemblies. This can be particularly useful if the exhaust air is to be reduced in their temperature for their further use as cooling air. The energetic advantage is here also unrestricted, since most of the energy is spent on the production of compressed air, whereas the intermediate cooling requires only a relatively small additional energy input.

Alternatively or additionally, a device for increasing the pressure of the exchanged between the modules exhaust air can also be arranged between adjacent and coupled together machine assemblies. Such a device for increasing the pressure can be formed, for example, by a suitable compressor, for example a turbo-compressor or the like.

In addition to the previously described variants of an arrangement of coupled machine assemblies, the invention also encompasses a method for the energetic coupling of a plurality of machine assemblies, which form successive treatment and / or processing stations of a machine for processing, treating, filling and / or packaging containers, which machine assemblies respectively Have components for air flow, air cooling and / or compressed air supply, wherein at least one of the machine assemblies is fed with exhaust air of the other machine assemblies. In this way, not only a material flow technology coupling of the machine assemblies is achieved, but also an energetic coupling, as due to the use of accumulating on a machine module exhaust air as cooling air and / or as part of a compressed air supply at least partially on the energetic complex production of cooling air and / or Compressed air can be dispensed with at this connected module. An advantageous variant of the method according to the invention therefore provides for the exhaust air supplied by at least one of the machine assemblies to be used for supplying compressed air and / or cooling air to machine components and / or parts of the containers and / or their packaging means and to route them to a further machine assembly.

The machine assembly supplied with exhaust air may, for example, be a film shrinking station which has a conveying device for transporting foil-enclosed containers with a plurality of containers. This conveyor may in particular be formed by a circulating conveyor chain, which runs permanently through the film shrinking station where it is heated by Heißluftbeaufschlagung the film-wrapped container and cooled in a outside of the film shrinkage area with the exhaust air of one of the adjacent machine assemblies. In these conveyor chains often the problem arises that the permanent heating within the shrink tunnel permanent heat input takes place, which leads to a temperature increase, which is too high for some operating time for the coming into contact with the conveyor chain shrink film, so that they already before greatly warmed by passing through the shrink tunnel, thereby softened and can stick under unfavorable circumstances with the conveyor chain.

Optionally, the exhaust air exchanged between adjacent and coupled machine assemblies may be intercooled and / or their discharge pressure increased. The intermediate cooling is particularly useful if the temperature of the exhaust air for use as cooling air is still too high. The delivery pressure can be increased, for example, by means of interposed turbo or radial compressor o. The like., If for the reuse of the exhaust air, a higher discharge pressure or a greater air speed should be required.

The present invention provides a way to reduce energy consumption in a container treatment machine having a plurality of interconnected and material flow associated stations or modules. For example, in the case of a film guide, the use of compressed air is necessary in order to ensure the correct transport of the film. Thus, within a film separation station, the cut film is normally conveyed over a belt in the direction of another conveyor belt of a film wrapping station. The conveyor belt of the Folientrennstation is usually acted upon by means of a fan with negative pressure. In the further course, the film must be pushed over an area in which no support of the film can be guaranteed. To bridge this area and to prevent the film or the beginning of the film from buckling due to gravity, it is customary to produce an air channel for conveying the film by means of a support of blowing nozzles, which is also known as so-called "air bed conveying". Both the vacuum required for the conveyor belt of the film separating station and the overpressure required for the air-assisted film transport in the further course require a relatively high consumption of compressed air. In addition, both systems are dependent on maintaining the system pressure of the compressed air supply. By contrast, the exhaust air generated by the fan was previously released unused to the environment. One aspect of the present invention relates to the use of the exhaust air of the existing blower in the film separating station. For example, the blower exhaust air can be connected to the blowing nozzles or pipes of the film separating station and thus at least partially replace the previously used compressed air. In addition, the blower exhaust air can also be connected to the tuyeres or pipes of a spread of film and there replace the previously used compressed air at least partially. Possibly. It may be necessary for these applications mentioned to increase the pressure of the exhaust air of the blower, which can be realized, for example, by means of a turbo blower or compressor. It would also make sense to adapt the fan dimensioning to the total compressed air used, including the exhaust air required in the film separation station and / or the film spreading.

However, a particularly advantageous variant consists in the use of largely unpressurized exhaust air without consideration of any residual pressure remaining for cooling other components, since it essentially depends on the available volume flow of exhaust air, without having to take special account of the pressure conditions. For this purpose, in particular the cooling of the conveyor chains in the shrinking station or in the shrink tunnel in question, since in this area the permanent heat input into the chain due to the film fixing the container hot air usually accompanied by a significant heating of the conveyor chains, causing problems in contact can lead with the film. For this reason, these conveyor chains must normally be cooled, which can be done particularly advantageous with the exhaust air supplied by other stations.

• Fig. 1 zeigt eine schematische Längsschnittdarstellung einer Verpackungsmaschine mit einer luftunterstützten Folienführungseinheit.
• Fig. 2 zeigt ein Blockschaltbild einer Behälterbehandlungsanlage, bei der mehrere einzelne Module materialflusstechnisch und energetisch miteinander gekoppelt sind.

The invention will be explained in more detail by means of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. The figures illustrate and illustrate non-limiting embodiments of the present invention in their details and functions.

• Fig. 1 shows a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a packaging machine with an air-assisted film guide unit.
• Fig. 2 shows a block diagram of a container treatment plant in which several individual modules are material flow technology and energetically coupled together.

The schematic representations of FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate embodiments of the present invention. The same parts in the figures are designated by the same reference numerals and are therefore partially not explained several times.

The schematic longitudinal section of the Fig. 1 illustrates the possibility of using the invention exhaust air 12 from the area of an air-assisted film guide unit 14 using a packaging machine 10. There, a blower 16 is used to generate compressed air to ensure the correct film transport. Thus, within a film separating station 18, the cut film 20 is normally conveyed via a conveyor belt 22 in the direction of a conveyor belt 24 of a film wrapping station 26. The conveyor belt 22 of the film separation station 18 is acted upon by means of the blower 16 with negative pressure. In the further course of the film 20 must over an area 28 (see. Fig. 1 ) are pushed, in which no support of the film 20 can be ensured. To bridge this area 28 and to prevent the foil 20 or the foil beginning from buckling due to gravity, an air channel is produced for conveying the foil 20 through tuyeres, which is also referred to as "air bed conveying". Both the vacuum required for the conveyor belt 22 of the film separating station 18 and the overpressure required for the air-assisted film transport in the further course 28 lead to an unavoidable consumption of compressed air. Instead of the exhaust air 12 generated by the fan 16 unused to the environment, it is fed to a further use, which in Fig. 1 indicated by the arrow 12 with broken line.

Furthermore, in Fig. 1 grouped articles 30, which are conveyed horizontally through the packaging machine 10 and wrapped in the film wrapping station 26 with foil 20 and thus packaged in containers (not shown). With Foil wrapped and packaged containers are in the horizontal direction (arrow 32) to a shrinking station (see. Fig. 2 ), where the film is shrunk by heat and thus a solid film composite is created. The articles 30 can be, for example, beverage containers made of PET or the like.

The schematic block diagram of Fig. 2 indicates one
Container treatment plant, in particular a packaging machine 10, in which a plurality of individual modules are coupled material flow technology and energy with each other. Thus, in the exemplary embodiment shown, the packaging machine 10 comprises a film transport module 34 for feeding the film sections to the following film wrapping module 26, in which the grouped articles (cf. Fig. 1 ) are wrapped with foil. As already mentioned above, the film transport module 34 comprises a fan 16 whose compressed air supports the film guide. The originating from the fan 16 exhaust 12 is largely depressurized, but can be advantageously used for cooling other components, since it essentially depends on the available volume flow of the exhaust air 12, without having to take special account of the pressure conditions. In the illustrated embodiment, the exhaust air 12 is used for cooling of conveyor chains 36 in a shrinking station 38 or in the shrink tunnel, since in this area the permanent heat input into the conveyor chain 36 due to the foil fixing the film around the container hot air leads to a significant heating of the conveyor chains 36 , which can lead to problems in contact with the film. The cooling of the conveyor chains 36 takes place with the exhaust air 12 of the blower 16 of the film transport module 34th

Not shown here and merely indicated by the broken arrow to the right of the shrinking station 38, the containers wrapped in shrink film can be subjected to further treatment and / or handling steps, for example palletizing or further transport to a warehouse or the like.

It should be pointed out at this point that the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications or changes may be made to the invention without departing from the scope of the following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

packaging machine

12

exhaust

14

film guide

16

fan

18

Film release station

20

foil

22

conveyor belt

24

conveyor belt

26

Film wrapping station

28

Area for film guidance

30

items

32

Conveying direction (container)

34

Film transport module

36

conveyor chain

38

shrinking station

Claims (10)

Arrangement of a plurality of machine assemblies (34, 38) coupled to each other at least in terms of material flow, which form successive treatment and / or processing stations of a machine (10) for processing, handling, filling and / or packaging containers, which machine assemblies (34, 38) each have components for air guidance, for air cooling and / or compressed air supply, wherein at least one of the machine assemblies (38) is supplied with exhaust air (12) of one of the further machine assemblies (34). Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust air (12) supplied by at least one of the machine assemblies (34) forms a compressed air supply and / or cooling air supply of machine components and / or parts of the containers and / or their packaging means to another machine assembly (38). Arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the machine assembly supplied with exhaust air (12) is a film shrinking station (38) which has a conveyor for transporting film-wrapped containers with a plurality of containers. Arrangement according to claim 3, in which the conveying device is a circulating conveyor chain (36), which runs permanently through the film shrinking station (38) and is heated there by hot air charging of the film-wrapped containers and in an outside of the film shrinkage region (38) with the exhaust air (12 ) of one of the adjacent machine assemblies (34) is cooled. Arrangement according to one of Claims 1 to 4, in which a device for intercooling the exhaust air (12) exchanged between the assemblies is arranged between adjacent and coupled machine assemblies (34, 38). Arrangement according to one of Claims 1 to 5, in which a device for increasing the pressure of the exhaust air (12) exchanged between the assemblies is arranged between adjacent and mutually coupled machine assemblies (34, 38). A method of coupling a plurality of machine assemblies (34, 38) forming successive processing and / or processing stations of a machine (10) for processing, handling, filling and / or packaging containers, each of which includes components for air routing, air cooling and / or or compressed air supply, wherein at least one of the machine assemblies (38) with exhaust air (12) of one of the further machine assemblies (34) is fed. Method according to Claim 7, in which the exhaust air (12) supplied by at least one of the machine assemblies (34) is routed to another machine assembly (38) for supplying compressed air and / or cooling air to machine components and / or parts of the containers and / or their packaging means. A method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the machine assembly provided with exhaust air (12) is a film shrinking station (38) having a conveyor for transporting multi-container foil-wrapped packages, the conveyor being constituted by a circulating conveyor chain (36) which is permanently through the film shrinking station (38) and there heated by Heißluftbeaufschlagung the film-wrapped container and in a outside of the film shrink area (38) with the exhaust air (12) of one of the adjacent machine assemblies (34) is cooled. Method according to one of Claims 7 to 9, in which the exhaust air (12) exchanged between adjacent and mutually coupled machine assemblies (34, 38) is cooled down and / or their delivery pressure is increased.

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