EP2772445A1 - Adjustment portal, shrinking device with adjustable shaft walls and method for adjusting shaft walls - Google Patents

Abstract

The portal (1) has a contraction tunnel for adjusting shaft walls, which are adjustable relative to each other in a relative position. The shaft walls of the contraction tunnel are arranged at a setting device (40). An adjusting device is variably positioned along an adjusting track. The adjusting device is selectively associated to the setting device and brought into active connection with the setting device. The setting device is newly positioned during active connection with an adjusting unit of the adjusting device. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a contraction device (2) a method for adjusting two shaft walls of a contraction tunnel of a contraction device.

Description

The present invention relates to an adjustment portal, a shrinking device with adjustable shaft walls and a method for adjusting shaft walls according to the features of the preambles of claims 1, 9 and 11.

When assembling, assembling and packaging articles and article assemblies, the individual processing devices must often be adapted to the particular product. For example, the width of transport lanes must be adapted to the size and throughput of the respective article or article flow. Automatically adjustable lanes are known in the prior art, which are realized via a central drive, deflection gear and spindles.

For example, in the production of filled beverage containers, the empty containers are first produced within an overall plant. These are then filled, if necessary provided with a label, printed or similar. and then packed. For this purpose, the filled beverage containers or similar. assembled in the desired number and summarized for example by a packaging means. A preferred packaging means is shrink film, which is shrunk in a shrinking device around the article assembly and holds the articles together in the so-called container.

Often the containers, depending on their respective size, the shrinking device fed in several parallel paths and processed in this. In order to be able to apply warm air to all containers from all sides, means for introducing the warm air must also be provided, which inject the shrinking medium between the parallel containers. For example, shrink tunnels with movable shaft walls are used for the multi-lane processing. In this case, the shaft walls are driven as required by costly spindle adjustments to the side tunnel wall, if they are not needed.

WO 2002/036436 describes the multi-lane processing of containers in a shrink tunnel. In this case, movable shaft walls are used, whose Position is adjusted depending on the containers to be processed by lateral displacement in the horizontal direction. For this purpose, positioning rods are provided which extend transversely across the transport path within the shrink tunnel and on which the so-called shaft walls are displaceably arranged.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and cost-effective solution for adapting transport widths for articles or article assemblies.

It is another object of the invention to provide a simple and inexpensive solution for adjusting the distances between components of a container treatment device, in particular between the shaft walls of a shrinking device. Preferably, the solution should be universally applicable to various container treatment devices for various components.

The above object is achieved by a Verstellportal, a shrinking device and a method for adjusting shaft walls, comprising the features in the claims 1, 9 and 11. Further advantageous embodiments are described by the subclaims.

The invention relates to an adjustment portal for a shrinking device for adjusting at least two shaft walls which can be adjusted to one another in at least one relative position within a shrinking tunnel of the shrinking device. In the shaft walls of the shrink tunnel shrinking means, such as hot air, introduced and introduced via nozzle openings in the interior of the shrink tunnel. The adjustment portal comprises at least one adjusting device with an adjusting means and at least two adjusting devices. The components of the container treatment device to be adjusted, ie the shaft walls of the shrinking device to be set, are each arranged on an adjusting device of the adjustment portal. The adjustment device can be variably positioned along an adjustment path and can be selectively assigned to each of at least one adjustment device by displacement along the adjustment path and brought into operative connection therewith. After an active connection has been established via the adjusting means between the adjusting device and the adjusting device, the adjusting device can be moved again along the adjustment path. In this case, the adjusting device takes the adjusting device and arranged on the respective adjusting device component, ie the respective shaft wall, with, whereby this is repositioned. After the shaft wall has reached the new target position, the operative connection between the adjusting device and adjusting device is released. As a result, the adjusting device and thus the positioning of the associated shaft wall at the new position via a positive, frictional and / or non-positive connection is fixed in place. The adjustment device can now proceed again freely along the adjustment path and assigned to a further adjustment device with shaft wall and reset its position.

The adjustment portal comprises a first drive and a first drive axle. The first drive axle serves to adjust the adjustment means, i. the adjusting device is variably positionable via the first drive of the adjustment portal along an adjustment path of the first drive axle. Furthermore, the adjusting device comprises a second transverse drive for the adjusting means.

The adjusting devices are preferably arranged on at least one guide device parallel to the first drive axle or adjustment path. In particular, these are guide rails, wherein the adjusting devices are fixed in a first working mode via a positive, frictional and / or non-positive connection fixed thereto. The positive, frictional and / or non-positive connection can continue to adopt a second adjustment mode in which the adjusting devices are displaceable along the guide device. In particular, the adjusting devices can be transferred by operative connection with the adjusting means of the adjusting device of the first working mode in the second adjustment mode.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the adjusting means are designed as mechanically acting engagement elements, wherein a mechanical operative connection between the adjusting device and the adjusting device can be produced by mechanical engagement in corresponding receiving elements of the adjusting devices. For example, can be used as adjusting a mechanical driving pin. As soon as the adjusting device is correctly positioned on the setting device of a component to be adjusted via the first drive, the driving pin is displaced via the transverse drive so that it engages in a receiving device of the setting device. As a result, a mechanical operative connection is produced, and in a method of the adjustment device along the adjustment path, the adjustment device is correspondingly displaced on the parallel guide device.

According to a further embodiment, the adjusting device and the adjusting devices comprise corresponding means by means of which a magnetic operative connection can be established. For example, the adjusting means or the like electromagnetic coils. comprise and the adjustment devices may at least partially have magnetic properties. As soon as the adjusting device is correctly positioned on the setting device of a component to be adjusted via the first drive, the electromagnetic coil is activated via the second transverse drive, thereby producing a magnetic operative connection between the adjusting device and the setting device. If the adjusting device is now moved along the adjustment path, then the adjustment device and thus the component is correspondingly displaced on the parallel guide device.

Preferably, the adjustment portal and / or the adjusting device is assigned a control unit, via which the positioning of the adjusting device and / or the adjusting means of the adjusting device can be controlled. According to one embodiment, the adjustment gantry comprises detection means - for example image capturing or other suitable sensors - with which the position of the adjusting device and / or the adjusting devices can be detected. The determined data can then be transmitted to the control unit, which balances the actual positions of the setting devices with the desired desired positions. The control unit can then control the adjustment of the desired desired positions of the adjusting devices and thus the desired desired positions of the associated components, in particular shaft walls, via the adjusting device. Alternatively or additionally, the adjustment device may comprise detection means for detecting the position of the adjustment devices. In particular, detection means may be provided which check the correct positioning of the adjusting device on an adjusting device, so that a correct operative connection between adjusting means and adjusting device can be ensured.

According to one embodiment of the invention, sensors are arranged on the adjusting device and / or on the adjusting devices, which check the correct positioning of the adjusting device on an adjusting device. If these sensors detect a deviation of the actual position of the adjusting device in relation to the setting device, then the position is readjusted accordingly. Alternatively, for example, at least one sensor may be provided above the adjustment path, which monitors the entire adjustment path and thus the positions of the adjusting device and adjusting devices or the correct positioning of the adjusting device on a Adjustment monitored. Based on the determined data can then, if necessary, be intervened by the control corrective.

According to a further embodiment it is provided that the adjusting device comprises detection means with which the position of the adjusting devices is detected and stored in the control unit. For example, in the case of a product change, all components, in particular shaft walls, can be adjusted via the adjustment devices of the adjustment portal. After the operating state or working mode has been established for the new product, the adjusting device moves the entire adjustment distance, thereby determining the position of all adjusting devices. The data are stored accordingly in a control unit. Does it come during operation, for example, by a collision o. For an undesired adjustment of the components, in particular of the shaft walls, the operating state or working mode can be restored automatically by means of the adjusting device on the basis of the stored values.

According to one embodiment of the invention, an operating platform is provided, via which the adjustment of the components or shaft walls during a product change can be easily realized. The operating platform is correspondingly coupled to the control unit of the adjustment portal and / or the adjusting device. For example, the operator enters the desired positioning or setting of the components or shaft walls via the operating platform. Then the adjusting device is activated and the adjusting devices are adjusted accordingly. Or the operator enters the new product data, whereupon the necessary adjustment of the components or shaft walls is calculated and set. The operating platform can be operated, for example, via a touchscreen. Preferably, a memory function is provided which provides for the automated adjustment of the components for predefined products in certain selectable programs.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the adjustment portal comprises at least two guide rails, each with at least two adjusting devices. The guide rails are preferably arranged opposite one another, parallel to the adjustment path of the adjusting device. First components, in particular shaft walls, of the container treatment device or of the shrinking device are arranged on the first adjustment devices of the first guide rail and second components of the second guide devices of the second guide rail Container treatment device or the shrinking device arranged. The adjusting means must be able to assume different adjustment positions. In a first working mode, there is no operative connection between the adjusting means of the adjusting device and one of the adjusting devices. In a second adjustment mode, an operative connection between the adjusting device and a first adjusting devices of the first guide rail can be produced. Now, the position of an associated first shaft wall can be adjusted. In a third adjustment mode, an operative connection between the adjustment device and a second adjustment device of the second guide rail can be produced. Now, the position of an associated second component can be adjusted. Preferably, the adjustment of the first shaft walls and the second components takes place independently of each other.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention it is provided that the adjusting device in a fourth adjustment simultaneously an operative connection to a first adjustment of the first guide rail and a second adjustment of the second guide rail can be made. In particular, the adjustment device in this case two transverse drives are assigned, with which two adjustment means can be activated simultaneously. In this case, a simultaneous adjustment of the first shaft walls and the second components take place.

With an adjustment portal with two guide rails, for example, different components of a container treatment device, in particular a shrinking device, can be adjusted by only a single adjusting device. This means that only two or three drives are needed to set a variable number of different components. An adjustment portal with two guide rails can also be advantageously used in the transition region between two container treatment devices, for example between a transport device and a shrinking device. In this case, components of the first container treatment device can be adjusted via the first adjustment devices of the first guide rail and components of the other, second container treatment device can be set with the second adjustment devices of the second guide rail. In particular, shaft walls of the first shrinking device can be adjusted via the first adjusting devices of the first guide rail, and guide rails of the transporting device can be adjusted via the second adjusting devices of the second guide rail, for example.

Furthermore, a shrinking device is described, which comprises at least two in their relative position to each other adjustable shaft walls. In the shrinking tunnel of the shrinking device, packaging material is shrunk around articles or article assemblies thereon. For this purpose, a suitable shrinkage means, for example hot air, is passed via shaft walls onto the articles or article assemblies and the packaging material, in particular shrink film. In a first initial area and a second end area of the adjustable shaft walls, an adjustment portal, as already described, is arranged in each case. The shaft walls adjustable in their position relative to one another are each arranged on an adjusting device of each adjusting portal.

The arrangement of two adjustment portals already described in detail takes place in each case in an upper entrance area and in an exit area of the shrinking tunnel of the shrinking device. The shaft walls that are adjustable relative to one another in their position are each arranged on an adjustment device of each adjustment portal. It is preferably provided that the shaft walls are extended beyond the interior of the shrink tunnel, for example via an attached flat steel element or another suitable fastening element. This extension serves as a mounting area for the adjustment portals. In particular, the shaft walls are fastened to the adjusting devices of the adjustment portals via the fastening elements or extension areas. The adjustment portals can be arranged in particular outside of the shrink tunnel. Thus, the adjustment portals and their components are not exposed to the extreme temperature fluctuations that prevail inside the shrink tunnel. As a result, the adjustment portals can be produced cost-effectively, since it is not necessary to pay extra attention to the components used that they must be suitable for extreme temperature and / or humidity fluctuations.

In the shrinking device, the adjustment portals are used to automatically adjust the shaft walls in a product change, in particular to automatically adjust the distance between each adjacent shaft walls to the size and / or shape of the new product. In order to increase the efficiency and benefit of the adjustment portals, they can additionally serve additional functions during operation. For example, in the case of a so-called energy-saving package, closing or opening of the entry and / or exit regions of the transport path can be provided by further components of the shrinking device. In this case, preferably two guide rails with adjusting devices are each other opposite, provided parallel to the adjustment of the adjustment. The adjusting devices on the first guide rail are associated, for example, with the shaft walls and cause their adjustment or positioning during a product change. The adjusters on the second guide rail, however, are associated with curtains in the inlet or outlet area of the shrink tunnel and cause their adjustment during operation, so that the inlet or outlet area is as far as possible closed by the curtains, if just no article or no article compilation in this Area is located. This should at least largely prevent shrinkage from escaping from the interior of the shrink tunnel or that the interior of the shrink tunnel cools, as this has a negative impact on the shrinkage result.

The invention further relates to a method for adjusting at least two components of a container treatment device of a container treatment system and / or container packaging system that are adjustable relative to one another in at least one relative position. In particular, the invention relates to the adjustment of the distance between at least two shaft walls within a shrinking tunnel of a shrinking device. The components, in particular the shaft walls, are each arranged on an adjusting device of at least one adjustment portal. The adjustment portal comprises an adjusting device with an adjusting means and the adjusting device is variably positionable along a Verstellstrecke. The adjustment of the position of a component, in particular a shaft wall, takes place in the steps described below.

First, the adjusting device moves to the actual position of the first adjusting device, on which the component, in particular the shaft wall, is arranged. This is done by shifting the adjustment along the Verstellstrecke. Subsequently, an operative connection between the adjusting device and the adjusting means of the adjusting device is produced. As a result, the locking of the adjusting device is released on a guide device. When the adjusting device is displaced again along the adjustment path, the adjusting device is entrained by the adjusting device and displaced along the guiding device, which extends parallel to the adjustment path. If the new desired position of the adjusting device is reached, the operative connection between the adjusting device and adjusting means of the adjusting device is released. As a result, the adjusting device is fixed or locked in its new desired position on the adjustment portal. Due to the physical coupling between the component and the setting device is moved by moving the in Active connection with the adjusting device adjusting a displacement and thus repositioning of the component, for example. The respective shaft wall causes.

According to a further embodiment, a first adjustment portal is assigned to a first end region of the components or shaft walls to be adjusted, and a second adjustment portal is assigned to a second end region of the components or shaft walls. Each of the components to be adjusted is arranged on an adjustment device of the first adjustment portal and on an adjustment device of the second adjustment portal. The adjustment of the positioning of the components or shaft walls is carried out in each case by a simultaneously controlled adjustment of the two adjusting devices on the component or on the shaft wall.

According to a further embodiment, not only a parallel adjustment of the components or shaft walls is possible with the arrangement of two Verstellportale to be set components or shaft walls. It can also be provided that the attachment between the component or shaft wall and adjusting device is not rigid, so that it would also be possible to reposition only one of the end regions of a component or a shaft wall. Thus, for example, would be an angled setting. a shaft wall opposite other tunable shaft walls possible. Thus, the position of the shaft walls in the shrink tunnel of a shrinking device can be tracked to the shrinking packaging means, so that the distance between the shaft wall and packaging means along the transport path within a shrink tunnel remains as constant as possible. Furthermore, thus also transport lanes could be set with increasing or decreasing transport width.

Furthermore, a so-called learning function or teaching function can be provided. After an initial setting of the positions of all adjusting devices and components, in particular shaft walls, the adjusting device is moved along the entire adjustment path. By suitable sensors, which are arranged for example on the adjusting device, the desired positions of all adjusting devices are determined. The determined positioning data are transmitted to an associated control unit and stored there. When the adjustment device is moved along the adjustment path during the current container treatment operation, the actual positions of the adjustment devices are continuously checked and corrected in the event of deviation from the stored desired positions. Alternatively and / or additionally, this teaching function is used in order to restore the initial situation quickly after a fault in the current container treatment operation. In particular, by a crash o.ä. the components, in particular the shaft walls, are moved. The adjusting device is moved along the adjustment path and determines the deviations between the respective actual position and the respective desired position of the individual adjusting devices or associated components or shaft walls. The correct nominal position of the individual adjusting devices is automatically restored by the adjusting device. The initial setting of the positions of all adjustment device or all components associated with the adjustment devices, in particular shaft walls, can be produced manually, for example. In particular, the teaching function facilitates a reproducible restoration of a manually set initial state. Furthermore, the information can be assigned to a specific product. If the same product is to be processed again, the adjustment of the components, in particular of the shaft walls, can now be carried out directly automatically based on the stored data.

The innovation describes a universal Verstellportal, which can be used in particular for the adjustment or positioning of shaft walls in a shrink tunnel of a shrinking device. Likewise, the adjustment portal can also be used for the setting of guide rails of transport devices for container transport, for packers, etc. However, an adjustment portal can also be arranged on other container treatment devices, for example on devices for producing the containers, such as blow molding machines, on devices for filling and closing the containers, etc., and there effect the adjustment of components. Furthermore, such a container treatment device could be a device for assembling containers and packaging these compilations o.ä. be. The adjustment portal is designed so that it can be easily adapted to different container treatment devices and thus used to set different container treatment devices. In particular, the adjustment portal can be easily and quickly arranged on the respective container treatment device. The components to be adjusted are fastened to corresponding adjustment devices of the adjustment portal. It is therefore not necessary to adapt the adjusting device to the respective components to be adjusted, since in each case an operative connection between the adjusting device and adjusting device is produced and there is never a direct connection between the adjusting device and the component to be adjusted. Due to its design, the adjustment portal, for example, at the shrink tunnel offers a cost-effective Alternative to the manual adjustment of shaft walls, since the effort for ergonomics and operability with manual adjustment by an operator is eliminated. Furthermore, when using an adjustment portal can reduce the changeover times of machinery and machine associations.

Due to the simple design, the costs for an adjustment portal are low. Both with container transport, with the packer and / or with the shrink tunnel, etc., a high level of automation can be achieved by using one or more adjustment gantries. In particular, the selected settings can be quickly and easily reproduced by appropriately storing the position data of the adjusting devices, and thus a desired state or an original state can be easily restored.

The adjustment portal is therefore also inexpensive to use in various applications or on different container treatment devices, since the number of setting devices is not limited. The adjustment of the adjustment portal is configured according to the number of adjusters and guide rails with adjusters via a software accordingly.

In a product change, the actual position of the existing adjusting devices is determined, for example, by sensors. Subsequently, the adjustment devices are positioned according to the new product specifications. The sensory position detection scan function also serves to initialize after a crash, power loss, or other malfunction.

As drives preferably inexpensive stepper motors are used. In particular, an electrical adjustment axis is provided as a single drive with stepper motor per Verstellportal and an electric transverse axis with stepper motor for the adjustment. However, other suitable drives, in particular servo motors, etc., can also be used. Also, use of magnemotion drives, i. a magnetically driven method of adjusting and / or adjusting devices is conceivable. This is particularly advantageous, since thus a wireless control is possible.

• Figur 1A zeigt eine Draufsicht auf eine erste Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Verstellportals.
• Figuren 1B und 1C zeigen detaillierte Ansichten einer benachbart zu einer Einstellvorrichtung angeordneten Verstellvorrichtung des Verstellportals gemäß Figur 1A.
• Figuren 2 zeigen schematisch die Wirkweise des Verstellmittels der ersten Ausführungsform des Verstellportals gemäß Figur 1A.
• Figur 3 zeigt die Anordnung zweier Verstellportale an einer Schrumpfvorrichtung zur Einstellung der Position der Schachtwände.
• Figuren 4 zeigen verschiedene Ansichten bzw. Details einer zweiten Ausführungsform eines Verstellportals.
• Figuren 5 zeigen schematisch die Wirkweise des Verstellmittels der zweiten Ausführungsform des Verstellportals gemäß Figuren 4.

In the following, embodiments of the invention and their advantages with reference to the accompanying figures will be explained in more detail. The size ratios of the individual elements to each other in the figures do not always correspond to the real size ratios, since some shapes are simplified and other shapes are shown enlarged in relation to other elements for ease of illustration.

• Figure 1A shows a plan view of a first embodiment of a Verstellportals invention.
• FIGS. 1B and 1C show detailed views of an adjacently arranged to an adjustment adjusting the Verstellportals according Figure 1A ,
• Figures 2 show schematically the mode of action of the adjusting means of the first embodiment of the adjustment portal according to Figure 1A ,
• FIG. 3 shows the arrangement of two Verstellportale on a shrinking device for adjusting the position of the shaft walls.
• FIGS. 4 show different views or details of a second embodiment of a Verstellportals.
• Figures 5 schematically show the mode of action of the adjusting means of the second embodiment of the adjustment portal according to FIGS. 4 ,

For identical or equivalent elements of the invention, identical reference numerals are used. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference symbols are shown in the individual figures, which are required for the description of the respective figure. The illustrated embodiments are only examples of how the device according to the invention can be designed and do not represent a final limitation.

Figure 1A shows a plan view of a first embodiment of a Verstellportals 1, 1 a according to the invention. The adjustment portal 1, 1a comprises an adjusting device 10, which is designed in particular as an adjusting slide 12. The adjusting device 10 is arranged so as to be able to slide on two guide rails 14 on an axis 17 driven by a first drive 16. The lateral sliding movement S of Verstellschlittens 12 is over the length of the guide rails 14 and the adjusting section 18 along the drive axis 17 laterally delimiting stop elements 19, limited. The adjusting device 10 comprises a second transverse drive 20 and at least one adjusting means 22 coupled thereto (cf. FIGS. 1B, 1C ).

The assemblies 30 to be adjusted are, for example, shaft walls 33 of a shrinking device 50 (cf. FIGS. 6A to 6E ). These are mounted on adjusters 40. The adjusting devices 40 are, in particular, guide carriages 42, which are displaceably arranged on a guide rail 44. The guide rail 44 is arranged parallel to the drive axle 18.

FIG. 1B and FIG. 1C show detailed views of an adjacently to an adjusting device 40 arranged adjusting 10. Between the adjusting device 10 and the adjusting 40 can be made in each case via the adjusting means 22, which is in particular designed as a driving pin 24, an operative connection, whereby the respective adjusting device 40 in an adjustment VM (see. FIG. 2B ) is transferred, in which an adjustment of the position of the positioned on the adjusting device 40 component 30, for example, the shaft wall 33, is possible.

The mode of action of a first embodiment of an adjusting means 22 is shown schematically in the FIGS. 2A and 2B shown. By means of displacement of the adjusting carriage 12 along the guide rails 14, the adjusting carriage 12 comprises a driving pin 24 as displacement means. The latter is positioned directly adjacent to a guide carriage 42 (cf. FIGS. 1 ). The driven by the second transverse drive 20 driving pin 24 can now engage in a corresponding receiving device 46 of the guide carriage 42. In particular, the driving pin 24 is perpendicular to the direction of movement S of the adjusting slide 12 by the transverse drive 20 (see. FIGS. 1 ) in the direction of the guide carriage 42 and engages in the receiving device 46 a. As a result, a positive, frictionally and / or non-positive connection between guide carriage 42 and guide rail 44 is achieved. The guide carriage 42 is thus in the so-called adjustment mode VM (see also FIG. 2B ). If the adjustment slide 12 is now again along the drive axle 18 (see. FIGS. 1 ), so he takes the guide carriage 42 and the component 30 disposed thereon accordingly. If the guide carriage 42 or the component 30 arranged thereon has reached the corresponding new desired position, the driving pin 24 is removed from the receiving device 46 by returning in the direction of the adjusting slide 12 so that the operative connection between the adjusting slide 12 and the guide slide 42 is canceled the guide carriage 42 is again fixed by a positive, frictionally and / or non-positive connection to the guide rail 44 and is in the so-called working mode AM. In working mode AM, in particular, the position of the component is defined defined.

If adjustment points for adjusting the components have to be overhauled, a part of the adjusting devices can be arranged behind the adjusting axis of the adjusting device and a part in front of the adjusting axis of the adjusting device. A corresponding Verstellportal 1 b is in the Figures 3 shown. For the description of the individual components of the adjustment portal 1 b is largely based on the description of the FIGS. 1 and 2 directed. FIG. 3A shows a view of an adjustment portal 1 b from above, FIG. 3B shows a representation of an adjustment portal 1 b from the front and Figures 3C and 3D show different perspective views of the adjustment portal 1 b. FIG. 3E shows an embodiment of a setting device 40a with positive-locking operative connection and FIG. 3F shows a side view of an adjusting device 10b between two adjusting devices 40-1 and 40-2.

Parallel to the drive shaft 17 and the guide rails 14 of the adjustment device 1 b, first guide rails 44-1 are provided for first adjustment devices 40-1. Furthermore, second guide rails 44-2 are provided for second adjusting devices 40-2, which are likewise arranged substantially opposite to the drive axle 17 and the guide rails 14, the first guide rail 44-1. As in FIG. 3B it can be seen, the guide rails 44-1, 44-2 for the adjusting devices 40-1, 40-2 can be arranged above the guide rails 14 for the adjusting means 10b. Alternatively, the guide rails 44-1, 44-2 for the adjusting devices 40-1, 40-2 may be arranged below or at the same height of the guide rails 14 for the adjusting means 10b (cf. Figures 3C, 3D ).

The first adjusting devices 40-1 serve to adjust the first components, while the second adjusting devices 40-2 serve to adjust further components. Such an adjustment portal 1b can, for example, on a shrinking device 50 according to FIG. 6 be advantageously used to adjust the distances between shaft walls 33 by means of the first adjusting devices 40-1.

So that the adjusting device 10b can operate both the first adjusting devices 40-1 and the second adjusting devices 40-2, it is provided that the adjusting device 10b comprises two adjusting means 22-1 and 22-2 arranged substantially opposite one another, which in particular respectively act as driving elements 24 -1 and 24-2 are formed. The transverse drive 20b must then instead of two positions (working mode AM and adjustment mode VM cf. Figures 2 ), designed for three positions.

By way of example, three adjusting devices 40-1 are respectively provided on the guide rail 44-1 and two adjusting devices 40-2 are provided on the guide rail 44-2. However, the number of adjusters 40-1, 40-2 per guide rail 44-1, 44-2 is variable. With two drives per adjustment portal 1b, ie the first drive 16 for the adjusting device 10b and the second transverse drive 20b for the adjusting means 22-1, 22-2, thus a plurality of components can be adjusted. For larger, more difficult to handle components, such as shaft walls, it may be advantageous to arrange each an adjustment portal 1, 1 b in an initial region and in an end region of the component in order to ensure a smooth adjustment (see. FIGS. 6 ).

FIG. 3E shows an embodiment of an adjustment device 40a. On the guide rail 14 for the adjusting means 10b are on both sides along the adjustment path 18 (see. FIG. 1 ) Profil rails 15 with a first sawtooth 15 * arranged. The adjusting device 40a comprises a corresponding second sawtooth profile 41, which in the working mode AM positively engages in the first sawtooth profile 15 * of the profile rails 15. In the adjustment mode VM, the positive connection between the first and the second sawtooth profile 15 *, 41 is canceled and the adjustment device 40b can be moved along its guide rail 44.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show representations of another embodiment of an adjustment 10c. For the description of the reference numerals is on the FIGS. 1 to 3 directed. The transverse drive 20c in particular comprises a first shaft 90, which is set in rotation R by the transverse drive 20c. On the first shaft 90, a first gear 92 is arranged. Furthermore, the adjusting device 10c comprises a second shaft 94 with a second gear 96, wherein the first and the second gear 94, 96 are engaged with each other. The second gear 96 is arranged on the adjusting means 22, that upon rotation of the drive shaft 90, the rotational movement R is transmitted via the first gear 92 to the second gear 96 and the second shaft 94. Furthermore, the rotational movement of the second gear 96 is transmitted to the adjusting means 22 that performs a linear movement L. Depending on the direction of rotation of the drive shaft 90, the adjusting means 22 in a first direction L1 orthogonal to the sliding movement direction S of the adjusting device 10c (see. Figures 1A . 3A, 3B ) or in a direction opposite to the first direction L2. Thus, the first free end 25 of the adjusting means 22 can be positioned in the receiving device 46-1 of the adjusting device 40-1. Or the second free end 26 of the adjusting means 22 is positioned in the receiving device 46-2 of the adjusting device 40-2. Figures 5 schematically illustrate the arrangement of an adjustment 10d between two adjustment devices 40-1 and 40-2 and show the selective engagement of a common adjustment means 22d in a respective receiving device 46-1, 46-2 of the adjusting devices 40-1, 40-2. In this embodiment, the adjusting means 22d comprises a first free end 25 and a second free end 26. By positioning one of the free ends 25, 26 in a receiving device 46-1, 46-2 of the adjusting devices 40-1, 40-2 becomes the adjustment mode VM of each setting enabled. In particular, the adjusting means 22d can be displaced via the transverse drive 20d in the direction of the first adjusting device 40-1, so that the first free end 25 of the adjusting means 22d engages the receiving device 46-1 of the first adjusting device 40-1 and these in the first adjustment mode VM1 transferred (cf. FIG. 5B ). If the adjustment device 10d is now moved along the adjustment axis 18 (cf. Figures 3 ), the first adjusting device 40-1 is accordingly taken along, and thus the component (not shown) arranged on the first adjusting device 40-1 is moved to a new desired position. According to FIG. 5C the adjusting means 22d will be displaced in the direction of the second adjusting device 40-2 via the transverse drive 20d, so that the second free end 26 of the adjusting means 22d engages the receiving device 46-2 of the second setting device 40-2 and transfers them into the second adjustment mode VM2 , If the adjustment device 10d is now moved along the adjustment axis 18 (cf. Figures 3 ), the second adjusting device 40-2 is taken along accordingly and thus the component (not shown) arranged on the second adjusting device 40-2 is moved to a new desired position.

According to an alternative, not shown embodiment, it can be provided that the adjusting device comprises two transverse drives and two independently controllable driver, so that a simultaneous entrainment of the first and second adjusting device is possible, if they can be adjusted or should be simultaneously.

FIG. 6A shows the arrangement of two Verstellportale 1e-1 and 1 e-2 on a shrinking device 50 with shrink tunnel 51. Articles, in particular beverage containers, bottles 52, cans or the like. are put together in article groups and wrapped with shrink film 54. These arrangements are also referred to as article assemblies or containers 56. The containers 56 are fed in the transport direction TR on a conveyor belt 58 to the shrink tunnel of the shrinking device 50. In the shrink tunnel heating means (not shown) are arranged, which act on the container 56 with shrink, for example, with hot air, whereby the shrink film 54 shrinks around the bottle 52.

After the bundles 56 have passed through the shrink tunnel, they are cooled with cold air 62 by fans 60 arranged above the conveyor 58.

The heating means, not shown, are in particular at least two shaft walls which limit the width of the at least one transport path. Depending on the size of the processed articles or article groups, it may be advantageous to change the position of the shaft walls parallel to the transport direction TR and thus to adjust the distance between the shaft walls and the articles or article groups product-specific.

FIG. 6B shows a double-sided adjustment portal 1e, analogous to the adjustment portal 1b according to Figures 3 and FIG. 6C shows a detailed view of the adjusting means 10b arranged on an adjusting device 40-1 according to FIGS Figures 3 , At the adjusting devices 40-1 fastening means 37 for fastening shaft walls 33 (see. FIGS. 6D, 6E ) arranged. For example, curtains of the inlet or outlet region 70, 72 of the shrinking device 50 (cf. FIG. 6A ) can be arranged. In particular, the curtains are intended to prevent shrinkage material from escaping from the interior of the shrinking tunnel 51 of the shrinking device 50. By adjusting the relative position of the curtains to one another, in particular the size of the inlet or outlet opening in the inlet or outlet region 70, 72 of the shrinking device 50 can be regulated depending on the product.

FIG. 6D shows the arrangement of two mutually adjustable in position bay walls 33-1, 33-2 between two Verstellportalen 1 e-1 and 1 e-2 and in particular the attachment of the shaft walls 33-1, 33-2 to the attachment means 37 of the Verstellportale 1 e -1, 1 e-2. FIG. 6E shows a corresponding side view. The following is a general description of the interaction of the adjustment portals 1 e-1 and 1 e-2. For a better understanding of the components described is on the FIGS. 1 and 3 and their description referenced. In the area of the shrink tunnel inlet area 70 (cf. FIG. 6A ) is a first Verstellportal 1e-1 arranged and in the region of the shrink tunnel outlet region 72, a second Verstellportal 1 e-2 is arranged. The shaft walls 33-1, 33-2 are extended in their upper region upwards and outwards and fastened via the fastening means 37 to the adjusting devices 40-1 of the adjustment portals 1 e-1 and 1 e-2. In particular, the respective shaft wall 33-1, 33-2 is arranged in its initial region on an adjustment device 40-1 of the first adjustment portal 1 e-1. Furthermore, the respective shaft wall 33 is in her End region arranged on an adjusting 40-1 of the second Verstellportals 1 e-2. The adjusting devices 10b of the two adjustment portals 1 e-1 and 1 e-2 are coupled to one another via a control unit 80. In particular, the adjustment devices 10b of the two adjustment portals 1e-1 and 1e-2 simultaneously approach the adjustment devices 40-1 associated with each shaft wall 33-1, 33-2 and move them to a new desired position. The respective shaft wall 33-1, 33-2 is preferably adjusted simultaneously in its start and end regions, in particular first the shaft wall 33 -1 is displaced parallel to the transport direction TR of the conveyor belt 58. Subsequently, the at least one second shaft wall 33-2 can also be repositioned via the jointly controlled adjustment devices 10b of the two adjustment portals 1e-1 and 1e2.

To adjust the position of the shaft walls 33-1, 33-2 of a shrinking device 50 by means of two Verstellportalen 1 e-1 and 1 e-2 thus four drives are necessary, in particular, each adjustment portal 1e-1 and 1 e-2 each comprise a first drive 16 for the drive axle of the adjusting devices 10b and in each case a second transverse drive 20b for the adjusting means of the adjusting devices 10b. The number of drives required in particular does not depend on the number of shaft walls 33 to be set. The adjustment portals 1e-1 and 1 e-2 can be used according to the present embodiment, both in shrinking devices 50 with one-lane processing, comprising only two so-called outer shaft walls with each of the interior facing outflow surfaces for the shrink. Furthermore, the adjustment gantries 1 e-1 and 1 e-2 can also be used in shrinking devices 50 with multi-lane processing, which additionally comprise so-called inner shaft walls, each having two opposite outflow surfaces for the shrinking means, each of the outflow surfaces each an inner region of the shrinking device and each facing a transport path for the respective products. In this case, the adjustment gantries 1 e-1 and 1 e-2 respectively comprise correspondingly more adjustment devices 40-1.

The adjustment portals 1e-1 and 1e-2 are preferably arranged outside the shrinking tunnel 51 of the shrinking device 50. Only the additional extension elements or the special attachment means 37 of the adjustment portals 1 e-1, 1 e-2 protrude at least partially into the shrink tunnel 51. According to an alternative embodiment, the adjustment portals 1 e-1, 1 e-2 can be arranged within the shrink tunnel. In this case, in the construction is on it Ensure that the components used are suitable for the temperature fluctuations occurring in the shrink tunnel 51.

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

1

Verstellportal

10

adjustment

12

Adjustable slide

14

guide rail

15

rail

15 *

first sawtooth profile

16

First drive

17

drive axle

18

adjustment distance

19

stop element

20

second transverse drive

22

adjustment

24

driving pins

25

first free end

26

second free end

30

module

33

shaft wall

35

distribution channel

37

fastener

40

adjustment

41

second sawtooth profile

42

guide carriage

44

guide rail

46

recording device

50

shrinker

51

shrink tunnel

52

bottles

54

shrink film

56

container

58

conveyor belt

60

fan

62

cold air

70

intake area

72

discharge area

80

control unit

AT THE

work mode

L

linear motion

R

rotation

S

Sliding movement / direction of movement

TR

transport direction

VM

adjustment mode

Claims (14)

Adjustment portal (1) for a shrinking device (50) with shrink tunnel (51) for adjusting at least two adjustable in at least one relative position shaft walls (33), the Verstellportal (1) at least one adjusting device (10) with an adjusting (22) and at least two adjusting devices (40), wherein the shaft walls (33) of the shrinking tunnel (51) to be adjusted can each be arranged on an adjusting device (40), wherein the adjusting device (10) is variably positionable along a displacement path (18), wherein the adjusting device ( 10) is selectively assignable to at least one adjusting device (40) and can be brought into operative connection therewith, wherein the adjusting device (40) can be repositioned when operatively connected to the adjusting means (22) of the adjusting device (10). Adjustment portal (1) according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment device (10) is variably positionable via a first drive (16) of the adjustment portal (1) along the adjustment path (18) and wherein the adjustment device (10) has a second drive (20) for the Adjusting means (22). Adjustment portal (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the adjusting devices (40) are arranged on at least one guide device (44) parallel to the adjustment path (18). Adjustment gantry (1) according to claim 3, wherein the adjustment devices (40) are arranged fixedly on the guide device (44) in a first working mode (AM) and wherein the adjustment devices (40) are arranged in a second adjustment mode (VM) along the guide device (44). are displaceable, wherein the adjusting devices (40) by operative connection with the adjusting means (22) of the adjusting device (10) from the first working mode (AM) in the second adjustment mode (VM) can be transferred. Adjustment portal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjusting means (22) engaging elements (24), wherein by engagement in corresponding receiving elements (46) of the adjusting devices (40) produces a mechanical operative connection between adjusting device (40) and adjusting device (10) or wherein the adjusting means (22) at least one electromagnetic coil and wherein the adjusting devices (40) at least partially have magnetic properties, wherein by activation of the adjusting means (22) has a magnetic operative connection to an adjacently arranged adjusting device (40) can be produced. Adjustment portal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjustment portal (1) and / or the adjusting device (10) is associated with a control unit (80) via which the positioning of the adjusting device (10) and / or the adjusting means (22) Adjustment device (10) is controllable. Adjustment portal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjustment portal (1) comprises detection means for detecting the position of the adjusting device (10) and / or the adjusting devices (40) and / or wherein the adjusting device (10) detecting means for detecting the position of Adjusting devices (40). Adjustment portal (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjustment portal (1) at least two guide rails (44-1, 44-2) each with at least two adjusting devices (40-1, 40-2) opposite each other, parallel to Verstellstrecke (18 ) of the adjusting device (10), wherein first shaft walls (33) of the container treatment device are arranged on the first adjusting devices (40-1) of the first guide rail (44-1), and wherein the second adjusting devices (40-2) of the second guide rail ( 44-2) second components (30) of the shrinking device (50) are arranged. Shrinking device (50) having a shrink tunnel (51) with at least two shaft walls (33) which can be adjusted relative to one another in their relative position, shrinkage means being able to be conducted into an interior of the shrink tunnel (51) via the shaft walls (33), characterized in that the shaft walls (33 ) in each of a first start region (70) and a second end region (72) of the adjustable components (30) an adjustment gantry (1 e-1, 1 e-2) is arranged according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein in their position mutually adjustable shaft walls (33) in each case on an adjusting device (40) of each Verstellportals (1 e-1, 1 e-2) are arranged. A shrinking device (50) according to claim 9, wherein the shaft walls (33) are disposed in the first entrance area (70) and the second exit area (72) of the first exit area (70) Shrink tunnels (51) at least in an upper region of a mounting region (37), on each of which a Verstellportal (1 e-1, 1 e-2) is arranged according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the Verstellportale (1 e-1 , 1 e-2) are arranged outside the shrinking tunnel (51). Method for setting at least two shaft walls (33) of a shrinking tunnel (51) of a shrinking device (50), which are adjustable relative to each other, wherein the shaft walls (33) are respectively arranged on an adjusting device (40) of at least one adjusting portal (1) the adjustment portal (1) comprises an adjusting device (10) with an adjusting means (22), wherein the adjusting device (10) is variably positionable along a displacement path (18), wherein the adjustment of the position of a shaft wall (33) takes place in the following steps: • Approaching the actual position of the adjusting device (40) associated with the shaft wall (33) by a displacement of the adjusting device (10) along the adjustment path (18); • establishing an operative connection between the adjusting device (40) and the adjusting means (22) of the adjusting device (10); • entrainment of the adjusting device (4) to a new desired position by displacement of the adjusting device (10) along the Verstellstrecke (18); • Release the operative connection between adjusting device (40) and adjusting means (22) of the adjusting device (10). The method according to claim 11, wherein the position of the adjusting device (40) or the associated shaft wall (33) is fixed or locked on the adjusting portal (1) by releasing the operative connection between setting device (40) and adjusting means (22) of the adjusting device (10) becomes. The method of claim 11 or 12, wherein each a first Verstellportal (1-1) is associated with a first end portion (70) of the shaft walls (33) and wherein in each case a second Verstellportal (1 e-2) a second end portion (72) of the shaft walls (33) is assigned and wherein each shaft wall (33) on an adjusting device (40-1) of the first Verstellportals (1e-1) and on an adjustment device (40-2) of the second Verstellportals (1 e-2) is arranged and wherein the adjustment of the positioning of the shaft wall (33) by a simultaneously controlled adjustment of the two adjusting devices (40-1, 40-2) takes place on the shaft wall (33). A method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein • after a first setting of the positions of all adjusting devices (40) and shaft walls (33), the adjustment device (10) is moved along the entire adjustment path (18); • while the target positions of all adjusting devices (40) are determined; The positioning data is transmitted and stored to an associated control unit (80); • During the process of the adjustment device (10) along the adjustment path (18) in the current shrinking operation, the actual positions of the adjusting devices (40) are continuously checked and corrected for deviation from the stored desired positions or • After a fault in the current container treatment operation, the desired positions of the adjusting devices (40) are automatically restored by the adjusting device (10).

Images