EP2547590A1

EP2547590A1 - Shrink tunnel for applying shrink films, method for operating or controlling a shrink tunnel, and production system having a shrink tunnel

Info

Publication number: EP2547590A1
Application number: EP11702142A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Christian Schilling
Original assignee: KHS GmbH
Current assignee: KHS GmbH
Priority date: 2010-03-16
Filing date: 2011-01-25
Publication date: 2013-01-23
Anticipated expiration: 2031-01-25
Also published as: BR112012021983A2; PL2547590T3; DE102010011640B4; WO2011113506A1; ES2568526T3; DE102010011640A1; US20130000256A1; EP2547590B1; US9926091B2

Abstract

The invention relates to a shrink tunnel for use in a production system for producing packaging units or containers from packaging elements filled with a product and with shrink film shrunk on, comprising at least one tunnel zone having heating means for shrinking the shrink film onto the packaging units moved through the tunnel zone under the influence of heat at a tunnel temperature, which is a target operating temperature in the normal undisturbed operating state or operating mode of the shrink tunnel.

Description

Shrink tunnel for applying shrink films, method for operating or controlling a shrink tunnel and production plant with a shrinking tunnel

shrink tunnel

The invention relates to a shrink tunnel for applying

Shrink foils on packaging units or containers according to the preamble of claim 1, to a method for operating or controlling a

Shrink tunnels according to the preamble of claim 10 and to a

Production plant with a shrink tunnel according to preamble 19.

In production plants, especially in those of the beverage industry, it is known, the packaging, such as bottles, cans or other packaging, which were filled in previous investment components or machines with a product, sealed and labeled, a downstream

Supply packaging machine, in which the packaging means are assembled, for example on packaging elements in each case to packaging groups with a predetermined number of packaging and the packaging groups thus produced are each covered with a shrink film. In one of the

Packaging machines downstream shrink tunnel will be out of everyone

Packaging group formed by shrinking the shrink film under the action of heat, in particular by blowing hot air in each case a fixed or fixed packaging unit.

In order to ensure shrinkage with the required quality, it is common practice in known systems to operate the shrink tunnel, which generally has a plurality of heating or tunnel zones, each having its own heating means, in successive heating or tunneling zones of the packaging units or packages all tunnel zones by appropriate control or regulation of the heating power of the heating means constantly required for the shrinkage of the shrink films target operating temperature, for example, a temperature in the range between 195 ° C and 210 ° C, preferably at a temperature of about 200 ° C, even during malfunctions in which no packaging or packaging groups for shrinking the shrink film by the

Shrink tunnels are moved and, for example, due to disturbances in the shrink tunnel preceding or subsequent investment components or machines are required. The heating means are usually electric or

gas-powered heating elements, especially those of hot air blowers.

Although in such malfunctions due to the absence of moving through the shrink tunnel packaging or packaging groups that for the

Maintaining the tunnel temperature or setpoint operating temperature required heating power reduced, for example, to about 40% to 45% of normal heating system required in the normal operation of the plant, this operation requires known shrink tunnel considerable energy consumption with significant energy or heating costs and associated with unnecessarily high exhaust gas and CO2 emissions.

The invention has for its object to provide a shrink tunnel, which avoids these disadvantages. To solve this problem, a shrink tunnel according to the patent claim 1 is formed. A method for operating or controlling a shrink tunnel is the subject of patent claim 10. A production plant for manufacturing packaging units or containers with these enclosing and / or fixing shrink films is the subject of patent claim 19.

In a development of the invention, the shrink tunnel and / or the method for its control are advantageously designed such that

in that the tunneling temperature in the shrinking tunnel and / or in the at least one tunneling zone exceeds the power of the tunneling temperature

Heating means is controlled or controlled in such a way that during the normal operating mode, the tunnel temperature of the desired operating temperature, for example, a target operating temperature in the range between 190 and 210 ° C, preferably a desired operating temperature of 200 ° C and in standby mode, the tunnel temperature in the at least one tunnel zone to a temperature amount, for example by a temperature amount of 50 ° C to 80 ° C compared to the target operating temperature to a reduced

Tunnel temperature is lowered

and or

that at several consecutive in the transport direction

Tunnel zones, each associated with their own heating means, these are controlled or controlled independently for switching the operating modes, preferably depending on set or stored in the control unit or control parameters,

and or

the setpoint operating temperature and / or the reduced tunneling temperature are adjustable and / or stored in the control device as control or regulating parameters,

and or

the heating means of the at least one tunnel zone (14) are controlled or regulated between a base load corresponding heating power and a maximum heating power, for example between a heating power (base load) of 10 KW to 14 KW and a heating power of 46 KW - 50 KW, and / or

that the standby mode in the presence of at least one malfunction indicating signal, for example one of a parent

Control device of the production plant (line signal) and / or initiated with a time delay, for example with a time delay in the range of 1 to 2 minutes,

and or

that a reset of the shrinking tunnel in the normal operating mode after the elimination of the fault message, in particular by increasing the heating power or raising the tunnel temperature to the target operating temperature,

and or

that after the release of the standby mode, a reduction of the

Transport speed of a shrink tunnel side carrier, for example, a reduction of the transport speed to 20% to 40% of the transport speed of the normal operating mode and / or a shutdown of cooling of the shrink tunnel side transport element and / or cooling, which serves to cool the packaging units after shrinking of the shrink film,

and or

shutdown of blowers of the heating means,

and or

if the fault message is omitted or the shrink tunnel is reset to the normal operating mode, the tunnel temperature is set to

Setpoint operating temperature is reset,

and or

that when omitted fault message or when resetting the shrink tunnel in the normal operating mode, the blower of the heating means are turned on, and / or

that in case of omitted fault message or when resetting the shrink tunnel in the normal operating mode and when reaching a first

Temperature threshold of the tunnel temperature below the

Target operating temperature, the transport speed of

shrink tunnel side conveyor (13) is again increased, for example, at a first temperature threshold, which is about 5% below the temperature threshold,

and or

Temperature threshold of the tunnel temperature below the

Set operating temperature cooling of this transport system are switched on, for example, at a first temperature threshold, which is about 5% below the temperature threshold,

and or

that in case of omitted fault message or when resetting the shrink tunnel in the normal operating mode and when reaching a second, the Target operating temperature further approximated threshold, which is, for example, 2% below the desired operating temperature, generates a production release causing signal and / or the cooling for the

Packaging units or containers (4) is switched on,

wherein the aforementioned features can be used individually or in any combination.

Further developments, advantages and applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures. All are described and / or illustrated

Features alone or in any combination in principle subject of the invention, regardless of their summary in the claims or their dependency. Also, the content of the claims is made an integral part of the description.

The invention is described below with reference to the figure, which is simplified in

Functional representation of a plant section 1 of a production plant for filled with a product packaging 2, for example, with a liquid product, e.g. filled with a beverage packaging 2 shows, explained in more detail. The illustrated in the figure and generally designated 1 plant section of

Production plant is used specifically to assemble the filled with the product packaging 2 to packaging groups 3 and for packaging each

Packaging group 3 u.a. using a shrink wrap, so that the

Packages 3 each after shrinking the shrink film

Packaging units or container 4, each with a predetermined number of packaging 2 form.

The packaging means 2 are, for example, bottles, cans or similar containers which are filled, sealed and labeled with the product. The plant section 1 has for this purpose in a transport direction A, in which the packaging 2 and

Packaging groups 3 and finally the packaging units or containers 4 are moved, following one another, inter alia, the following system components with the following functions:

- A buffer or storage unit 5, which is formed for example by a buffer or storage table and which serves for the intermediate storage of this device via an outer conveyor 6 in the transport direction A supplied packaging 2.

- A packaging machine 7, in from the packaging 2, the

Packaging agent groups 3 are formed, in the illustrated

Embodiment respectively on or in a packaging element 8, for example in the form of a cardboard-like packaging element or a tray or tray in such a way that each packaging material group 3, the packaging means 2 in a predetermined number and assignment to each other, for example, in the illustrated embodiment in two rows, respectively three packaging means 2. In the packaging machine 7, each packaging material group 3 including its packaging element 8 is wrapped with the shrink film, preferably such that the overlapping ends of this envelope at the bottom of the

Packing group 3 and the packaging element 8 are located.

- The packaging elements 8 or these forming blanks are fed in the packaging machine 7 via a feed dog 9 (arrow B).

- A shrink tunnel 10, in which the shrinking of the shrink film on the respective packaging groups 3 to form the packaging units or container 4, by the action of heat, in particular by the action of hot air on the through the shrink tunnel 10 in

Transport direction A moved, wrapped with the shrink film

Product groups 3.

The packaging units or containers 4 after leaving the shrink tunnel 10 via an outer conveyor 11 another

Use or treatment supplied, for example, designed as a palletizer device. Within the plant section 1, the buffer or storage unit 5, the packaging machine 7 and the shrink tunnel 10 are interconnected by a transport system 12 formed by at least one conveyor or conveyor belt, but the shrink tunnel 10 is an independent and independently controllable transport system for the packaging material groups 3 and the packaging units or container 4 formed from these in the form of at least one endless circulating drivable conveyor belt 13 (eg Drahtgliedergurtkette or also hinge band) has.

As well as the packaging machine 7, the shrink tunnel 10, for example, the usual for this system components construction. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the shrink tunnel is, for example, with several heating or tunnel zones 14 following one another in the direction of transport A.

formed, for example, with a total of three tunnel zones 14, whereby u.a.

It is ensured that in normal trouble-free operation of the system or the shrink tunnel 10 even with a dense sequence of moving in the transport direction A through the shrink tunnel 10 Packmittelgruppen 3 shrinking of the shrink film on each packaging material group 3 takes place with the required quality. Each tunnel zones 14 is provided in the illustrated embodiment with its own, in the figure only very schematically 15 heating means which effect shrinkage of the shrink film on the packaging groups 3 by heat and at least one hot air generator consisting of at least one fan and at least one Associated fan

Heater and optionally include at least one additional heater for a basic heating power. To avoid energy losses 10 slat curtains 16 are provided at the inlet and at the outlet of the shrink tunnel.

The shrink tunnel 10 also comprises a cooling device, not shown (for example cooling air blower), with which the at least one conveyor belt 13 on a

Conveyor belt length outside the shrink tunnel 10 and is cooled in the direction of rotation in front of the inlet of the shrink tunnel 10, so that each the Shrink tunnel 10 supplied and wrapped with the shrink wrap packaging material group 3 is first transferred to the cooled conveyor belt 13. Furthermore, the shrink tunnel 10 in the direction of transport A to the tunnel zones 14 following a direction indicated in the figure by broken lines cooling zone 17, which is used inter alia for cooling the packaging units or container 4 and this

For example, equipped with a cooling fan.

In the trouble-free operating condition of the system, the shrink tunnel 10 is operated in its normal operating state or operating mode, the u.a. characterized by the following operating parameters:

Shrink tunnel 10 or its tunnel zones 14 are located on

Target operating temperature, which is sufficient for the shrinking of the shrink film with the desired quality. This target operating temperature, which is the tunnel temperature in the interior of the shrink tunnel 10 or in the interior of the tunnel zones 14 and in particular also at least the temperature of the hot air introduced into the tunnel zones 14, is for example 200 ° C.

The at least one conveyor 13 is driven at production speed, i. at a speed that matches the performance of the plant and thus the performance of packaging machine 7 and the

Transport speed of the transport system 12 corresponds and is usually much larger than

8 m / min.

- The heating means 15 are to maintain the desired operating temperature between a basic heating power, which is for example 10-15 KW for each tunnel zone 14, and a maximum heating power or

Controlled or regulated total heat output, for example, 45-50 KW for each tunnel zone 4.

The cooling device 17 or the local, cooling air generating blower is turned on. A special feature of the system or the shrink tunnel 10 is that when occurring in the system disturbances of the shrink tunnel 10 and its

Tunnel zones 14 occupy a standby mode or standby mode with a respect to the normal, trouble-free operating state significantly reduced power and automatically return to the normal operating state after correcting the fault. Such the standby mode

causing disturbances are, for example, a given one

Minimum quantity of packaging material 2 in the buffer and storage unit 5 and / or a packaging jam within the plant, e.g. in relation to the transport direction A of the shrink tunnel 10

preceding and / or subsequent section of the system. The control of the shrink tunnel 10 between the two operating conditions is automatic, i. in the illustrated embodiment by an electronic

Control device 18, which is, for example, a shrinking tunnel 10 associated control device with its own intelligence and also regulates or controls the heating means 15 to comply with the respectively required tunnel temperature. The control device 18, for example, via a not shown bus system with other control devices or with a central or higher

Control panel is connected, controls the switching between the

Operating conditions of the shrink tunnel 10 (normal operating mode /

Standby mode) depending on error messages such as the

higher-level system control and / or depending on other signals. Preferably, in the control device 18 for detecting present disturbances at least partially processed signals that are used to control other system components, for example, to control the

Packaging machine 7. Such signals are for example "shortage in the buffer or storage unit 5" and / or "shortage of packaging in the packaging machine 7", and / or "minimum product" as examples of error conditions in

Transport direction A in front of the shrink tunnel 10, and / or "back pressure external" and / or "lack of pallets" for fault conditions in the transport direction A after the shrink tunnel 10, etc. Standby mode initiates the following actions, which can be taken individually or in any combination:

Lowering the tunnel temperature by a predetermined amount ΔΤ, for example by 50 ° C to 80 ° C, preferably by about 50 ° C below the target operating temperature, said temperature decrease or the amount ΔΤ locally on the shrink tunnel 10 or at an input of

Control device 18 for adaptation to the concrete

Production conditions is adjustable, for example, for each tunnel zone 1 individually.

Switching off the base load, i. the basic heating power providing heating elements, which is at least primarily for a heating of the

Shrink tunnels 10 applies with electrical energy, while in an operation of the shrink tunnel 10 with gas already for safety reasons the

Heating the tunnel zones 10 takes place exclusively with hot air. When the tunnel temperature is lowered by the amount ΔΤ, a gas-driven shrink tunnel 10 inevitably causes a corresponding reduction in the basic heating power, i. The heating elements or gas burners regulate themselves automatically to the required power and switch ggs. also for a short time.

Reduction of the transport speed of the shrinking tunnel side transport system or the at least one conveyor belt 13 to a transport speed which is only 20% to 40% of

Transport speed of the normal operating state of

Shrink tunnels 10 corresponds.

Switching off the cooling of the cooling zone 17 for cooling the

Packaging units or containers 4 and at least one

Conveyor belt 13.

Switching off a fan per tunnel zone 14, if each tunnel zone 14 at least two electrically operated blowers are assigned, as is usually the case. The standby mode, which can preferably be triggered on site, ie on the shrink tunnel 10 or on the control device 18, is provided with a

Time delay At1 delayed initiated. The duration of this time delay At1 is preferably selected to be sufficiently long so that such packaging means groups 3 which are already in the shrink tunnel 10 as well as at the time of the input of at least one error message indicating the transition to the stand mode

optionally also in a shrink tunnel with respect to

Transport direction A preceding section of the system, for example, in the packaging machine 7 and / or on the transport system 12 between the packaging machine 7 and the shrink tunnel 10 are high

Reliable reliability in the shrink tunnel 10 are treated, i. the shrink film on these groups of packaging 2 still properly

is shrunk. The time delay At1, at which the standby mode is initiated, is for example 1 to 2 minutes.

The return of the shrink tunnel 10 from the standby mode to the normal operating mode or mode is also delayed after the error message (s) and due to the time required for re-heating to the target operating temperature, i. with a time delay Δ \ 2, for example, from 2 to 3 minutes. Only after the expiration of this time delay is the

Packaging machine 7 again turned off, of course, during the standby mode of the shrink tunnel 10 was switched off or in a stand-by mode. A re-switching of the packaging machine 7 and of the packaging material groups 3 to the shrink tunnel 10 preferably takes place

Transport system 12 only when the tunnel temperature the

Setpoint operating temperature or at least one of the setpoint operating temperature has reached a highly approximate temperature value. Turning on the

Packaging machine 7 and preferably also of the transport system 12 is then caused, for example, by a corresponding signal supplied by the control device 18. The standby mode results in disturbances in the system a very significant energy savings, in particular, a very significant savings in heating energy and thus a significant reduction in the

Exhaust emission and, in particular, C02 emission from gas-fueled vehicles

Shrink tunnel 10.

As stated, in conventional systems, even in case of malfunction, i. when no packaging agent groups 3 are moved through the shrink tunnel to shrink their shrink film, the operating temperature of the

Shrink tunnels at the normal target operating temperature, for example, maintained at the operating temperature of 200 ° C. This requires a heating power, which is reduced because of the lack of moving through the shrink tunnel product groups 3 compared to the heating power in normal, trouble-free operation, but still means a heating power, which is about 40% to 50% of

Total performance of the shrink tunnel in normal trouble-free operation and corresponds, for example, in conventional shrink tunnels in the range between 40 KW and 45 KW.

In a concrete embodiment of the shrink tunnel 10, whose

Target operating temperature in normal trouble-free operation is 200 ° C, was at a temperature drop ΔΤ νοη 50 ° C, i. on a reduced

Tunnel temperature of 150 ° C in standby mode, a reduction of the heating power to 5.4 KW and a temperature drop ΔΤ of 80 ° C, i. to a reduced tunnel temperature of 120 ° C, a reduction in heating power to 4.6 kW, the heating times to the nominal operating temperature 2.5 minutes at the temperature reduction ΔΤ of 50 ° C and 4 minutes at the

Temperature drop ΔΤ of 80 ° C amount.

Also taking into account the length of time after the initiation of the

Standby mode for the temperature drop from the target operating temperature to the reduced tunnel temperature of the standby mode is needed and is for example 8 to 10 minutes, resulting in a significant energy savings potential switching to standby mode. So is the example

Energy savings in a 10-minute fault or interruption of the

Operation between 1, 44 KWh and 5.76 KWh and with a 30-minute disturbance or interruption at about 18 KWh, including that for the

Reheat necessary after completion of the operation destruction

Heating energy.

A significant energy saving results further by switching off the cooling or cooling fan for the at least one conveyor belt 13 and the cooling zone 17 as well as by switching off at least one fan for the hot air in each tunnel zone 14, these fans, for example, a

Have power requirements of about 3 KW.

Resetting the plant and the shrink tunnel to normal

Operating condition, i. the production release as well as the start-up of the

Shrink tunnels 10 in the normal operating state after clearing the error messages takes place, for example, in the following steps:

Resetting the tunnel temperature of the individual tunnel zones 14 to the required set operating temperature set and / or stored at the control device 18 and switching on all the heating means 15 or all the heating devices and heating air blower;

- Reset the transport speed of at least one

Conveyor belt 13 on product speed and switching on the conveyor belt cooling for the at least one conveyor belt 13 when the tunnel temperature has reached a temperature threshold in all tunnel zones 14 during reheating a temperature threshold of about 5% to 7%, for example about 5% or 10 ° C below the Target operating temperature is; Enabling or switching on the packaging machine 7 and switching on the cooling for the packaging units or containers 4, ie release of production, when the operating temperature has reached a temperature threshold in all tunnel zones 14 during heating, the slightly ie, for example, 2 to 3%, for example, 5 ° C below the desired operating temperature.

The normal operating mode and the standby mode characterizing operating parameters, in particular the target operating temperature, the

Temperature reduction ΔΤ and / or the reduced tunnel temperature, the

Time delays At1 and At2, the reduction of the transport speed of the shrink tunnel side transport system or the at least one

Conveyor belt 13, etc. are as control or regulation parameters on the

Control device 18 adjustable and / or stored there in a data memory.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one further standby mode or standby mode is provided for the shrink tunnel 10, which is initiated according to other criteria or parameters and / or has other measures than the standby mode described above, at

Malfunctions in the system is initiated. This further standby mode can be provided, for example, for planned production interruptions, in particular of known frequency, preferably with a longer duration and / or with planned start and end times, for example for planned or predefined ones

Production breaks. Since the end of such planned production interruptions, for example the end of a daily recurring break, and thus also the time at which production is resumed, can be known during such a planned or fixed production interruption

Shrink tunnel 10 are driven into a lower standby mode, i. The tunnel temperature in the tunnel zones 14 can be further reduced in comparison to the disruption-related standby mode, since the re-start, in particular the re-heating of the tunnel zones can be planned and timed.

The invention has been described above by means of an embodiment. It is understood that numerous changes and modifications are possible without that thereby the inventive concept underlying the invention is abandoned.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 section of the installation

2 packaging

3 packaging group

4 packing unit or container

5 buffer or storage unit

6 outer conveyor

7 packaging machine

8 packing element

9 transport system for feeding the packaging elements 8

10 shrink tunnel

11 outer conveyor

12 transport system

13 conveyor belt

14 tunnel zone

15 heating means

16 slat curtain

17 cooling zone

18 electronic control unit

A, B transport direction

ΔΤ Temperature reduction in standby mode

Δί1 Time delay when initiating standby mode

Δί2 Time delay for reheating the shrink tunnel

10

Claims

claims

Shrink tunnel for use in a production plant for producing packaging units or packages (4) of product-filled packaging (2) and shrunk-on shrink film, with at least one tunnel zone (14) with heating means (15) for shrinking the shrink film under heat which moved through the tunnel zone

Packaging units (4) at a tunnel temperature, the one

Target operating temperature in the normal trouble-free operating state or operating mode of the shrink tunnel (10), characterized in that the shrink tunnel (10) as a further operating state at least one

Standby mode with a reduced performance compared to the normal operating mode, in particular with a reduced heating power, and that the standby mode is triggered time and / or signal-controlled.

2. Shrink tunnel according to claim 1, characterized by control means or a control device (18) for controlling or regulating the tunnel temperature in the shrink tunnel and / or in at least one tunnel zone (14) on the performance of the tunnel temperature generating heating means (15) in such a way that during normal operating mode, the tunnel temperature of the

Target operating temperature, for example, a target operating temperature in the range between 190 and 210 ° C, preferably a desired operating temperature of 200 ° C and in standby mode, the tunnel temperature in the at least one tunnel zone (14) by a temperature amount (ΔΤ), for example by a temperature amount of 50 ° C. is lowered to 80 ° C compared to the desired operating temperature to a reduced tunnel temperature.

3. Shrink tunnel according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by a plurality in the transport direction (A) successive tunnel zones (14), each tunnel zone (14) heating means (15) are assigned, which are independently controllable or controllable for switching the operating modes , preferably in Dependence on the control or regulating parameters set or stored in the control unit (18).

4. Shrink tunnel according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

in that the setpoint operating temperature and / or the reduced tunneling temperature can be set and / or adjusted in the control device (18)

Control device (18) are stored as control or control parameters.

5. Shrink tunnel according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

in that the heating means (15) of the at least one tunnel zone can be controlled or regulated between a heating power corresponding to a base load and a maximum heating power, for example between a heating power of 10 KW to 14 KW and a heating power of 46 KW - 50 KW.

6. Shrink tunnel according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the control device (18) for the initiation of

Standby in the presence of at least one malfunction

indicating signal, for example one from a parent

Control device of the production facility supplied signal and / or for triggering the standby mode with a time delay (At1) is formed, for example, with a time delay in the range of 1 to 2 minutes.

7. Shrink tunnel according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the control device (18) for resetting the

Shrink tunnels (10) is formed in the normal operating mode after the elimination of the fault message, in particular by increasing the heating power or raising the tunnel temperature on the

Desired operating temperature.

8. Shrink tunnel according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the control device (18) for reducing the Transport speed of a shrink tunnel side conveyor (13), for example, for a reduction of the transport speed to 20% to 40% of the transport speed of the normal operating mode and / or shutdown of cooling of the shrink tunnel side transport element (13) and / or cooling, for cooling the packaging units ( 4) after shrinking the shrink film is used, and / or for switching off blowers of the heating means (15) is formed in each case after the initiation of the standby mode.

9. Shrink tunnel according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the control device (18) is designed so that it resets the tunneling temperature to the desired operating temperature and eliminates fault message or when resetting the shrinking tunnel (10) in the normal operating mode and the fans of the heating means (15) and / or upon reaching a first temperature threshold value of the tunnel temperature below the target operating temperature, the transport speed of the shrink tunnel side conveyor (13) again increased and / or a cooling system of this transport system turns on, for example at a first temperature threshold, which is about 5% below the temperature threshold, and / or upon reaching a second , the target operating temperature further approximated threshold, which is for example 2% to 5% below the desired operating temperature, generates a production release causing signal and / or the cooling for the packaging units or container (4) turns on.

10. A method of operating or controlling a shrink tunnel for use in a manufacturing facility to manufacture packaging units or

Containers (4) of packaging material (2) filled with a product and with

shrunk shrink film, wherein the shrink tunnel at least one tunnel zone (14) with heating means (15) for shrinking the shrink film under heat on the through the shrink tunnel (10) moved

Packing units (4) forms at a tunnel temperature, the one Setpoint operating temperature in the normal trouble-free operating state or operating mode of the shrink tunnel (10), characterized in that in case of faults for the shrink tunnel (10) a standby mode with a relation to the normal operating mode reduced power, in particular with a reduced heating power time and / or signal triggered ,

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the

Tunnel temperature in the shrink tunnel (10) and / or in the at least one tunnel zone (14) via the power of the tunnel temperature generating heating means (15) is controlled or controlled so that during the normal operating mode, the tunnel temperature of the desired operating temperature, for example, a target operating temperature in Range between 190 and 210 ° C, preferably a desired operating temperature of 200 ° C and in standby mode, the tunnel temperature in the at least one tunnel zone (14) by a temperature amount (ΔΤ), for example by a temperature amount of 50 ° C to 80 ° C compared to Target operating temperature is lowered to a reduced tunnel temperature.

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that in the transport direction (A) successive tunnel zones (14), each associated with their own heating means (15), these are controlled or regulated independently for switching the operating modes, and preferably as a function of the control or regulating parameters set or stored in the control unit (18).

13. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the desired operating temperature and / or the reduced

Tunneltemperatur adjustable and / or stored in the control device (18) as control or control parameters.

14. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the heating means (15) of the at least one tunnel zone (14) between a heating power corresponding to a base load and a maximum heating power, for example, between a heating power of 10 KW to 14 KW and a heating power of 46 KW - 50 KW controlled or regulated.

15. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the standby mode is initiated in the presence of at least one malfunction indicating signal, for example a signal supplied from a higher-level control device of the production plant and / or for a time delay (At1), for example with a time delay in the range of 1 to 2 minutes.

16. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that a reset of the shrinking tunnel (10) in the normal operating mode after the elimination of the fault message, in particular by increasing the heating power or raising the tunnel temperature to the desired operating temperature.

17. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that a reduction of the transport speed of a shrink tunnel side conveyor (13), for example for a reduction of the transport speed to 20% to 40% of the transport speed of the normal operating mode and / or a shutdown of cooling of the shrink tunnel side transport element (13) and / or cooling, which is used to cool the packaging units (4) after shrinking the shrink film, and / or switching off blowers of the heating means (15) after the triggering of the standby mode.

18. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized

in that, if the fault message is omitted or the shrinking tunnel (10) is reset to the normal operating mode, the tunnel temperature is reset to the setpoint operating temperature and the fans of the heating means (15) turns on and / or upon reaching a first temperature threshold of the tunnel temperature below the desired operating temperature the

Transport speed of shrinking tunnel side conveyor (13) again increased and / or cooling of this transport system are turned on, for example at a first temperature threshold, which is about 5% below the temperature threshold, and / or upon reaching a second, the target operating temperature further approximated threshold, for example, is 2% below the target operating temperature, a the

Production release inducing signal generated and / or the cooling for the packaging units or containers (4) are turned on.

19. Production plant with a packaging machine (7) downstream shrink tunnel (10), characterized in that the shrink tunnel according to one of the preceding claims 1-8 is formed.