EP3730417A1 - Shrink equipment and method for adjusting shrink equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a shrinking device (1) for heat-shrinking a shrinking material (22) around articles (20) or combinations of a plurality of articles (20) and a method for adapting a shrinking device (1). The shrinking device (1) comprises at least one transport path (5) on which the articles (20) are transported in a transport direction (TR). The transport path (5) is limited on both sides by shaft walls (10) with nozzle surfaces (11), with shrinking medium flowing through the nozzles of the nozzle surfaces (11) in a first flow direction (SR1) in the interior of the shrinking device (1) in the direction of the transport path (5) flows in. In an upper area of at least one nozzle surface (11) there is a deflection device (30) for deflecting shrinkage medium from the nozzle row (13) arranged directly below the deflection device (30) or from two or more nozzle rows arranged directly below the deflection device (30) (13) arranged.

Description

The present invention relates to a shrinking device and a method for adapting a shrinking device according to the features of the independent claims.

Methods and devices for packaging articles are known from the prior art which use a shrink material, in particular a shrink film, as the packaging casing for the articles. The shrink film is generally wrapped around an assembly of several articles as a film cut using a wrapping system. This combination, wrapped in shrink film, is also known as a bundle. The pack is transported through a shrink device, for example a shrink tunnel with a transport path. In the shrink tunnel, the articles wrapped in shrink film are exposed to a shrinking medium, for example warm or hot air. The heat supply causes the shrink film to contract and cling to the item, creating the finished shrink wrap. A shrink tunnel can also be used to put shrink labels or similar. to apply to articles. Both the shrinkage quality and the energy consumption play a major role in these processes.

The shrinking medium, for example hot air, is supplied via nozzle pipes, nozzle ducts or shaft walls, for example. Often the compositions wrapped in shrink film, depending on their respective size, are processed in several parallel lines in the shrink tunnel. In order to be able to apply warm air to all article assemblies from all sides, means for introducing the warm air must also be provided, which inject the shrinking medium between the article assemblies guided in parallel. For example, shrink tunnels that have or use two outer shaft walls and at least one so-called middle or inner shaft wall are used for multi-lane processing.

The known shaft walls are typically formed by lateral spraying devices in the form of perforated hollow bodies with so-called nozzle surfaces, with hot air entering the inner cavity of the shaft walls is blown in, which then flows through the shrink medium outlet openings or nozzle openings into the interior of the shrink tunnel. For this purpose, the shaft walls each have at least one air inlet opening, preferably arranged in the upper region, through which the hot air is blown into the shaft wall from above. Outer shaft walls have a closed side surface and a nozzle surface, which in particular delimits the interior of the shrink tunnel. The at least one inner shaft wall, on the other hand, has two side wall surfaces in the form of nozzle surfaces that are arranged parallel to the transport direction, so that hot air flows into the respective partial interior of the shrink tunnel on both sides and thus for the lateral impact of the articles or combinations of articles guided in two parallel tracks hot shrinking medium.

The shaft walls described above normally extend along the transport route for the articles or article assemblies through the shrink tunnel and ensure that the articles or article assemblies are exposed to the side with hot shrinking medium or with hot air. The shaft walls are usually designed as welded or riveted constructions in which the nozzle surfaces are equipped with different hole patterns. In general, the shaft walls are always made of one part and their parameters are therefore determined. The system can only be reconfigured for different product groups with considerable effort. The time and construction-related expenditure is also high in the case of design changes, retrofitting or changes due to complaints.

In the production of shrink packs, a plurality of articles are first put together, then wrapped with a flat shrink material, which is shrunk onto the item under the action of heat, so that a finished shrink pack is created. In the ideal case, the shrink material should lie against the articles without creases and form a regular film eye on the side.

The articles or containers typically have areas of different sensitivity. For this reason, it is advantageous if certain areas are less exposed to hot air. For example, describes the EP 2 319 769 A Manhole walls with a plurality of nozzles. These are arranged in rows. Means for adjusting the amount and / or the flow angle of the hot gas flow are assigned to the respective rows of nozzles. The funds each include Exchangeable nozzle plates which can be pushed into holders, the exchangeable nozzle plates being movable and exchangeable in particular parallel to the shaft wall. As a result, the shrink tunnel should be able to be adapted to the height of the packaged goods in order to achieve an improved shrink quality.

Furthermore, adjustable nozzle surface closing plates are known from the prior art, which can be moved from top to bottom and thus close nozzle row by nozzle row starting from the top in order to adapt the shrink tunnel to the height of the packaged goods. The problem, however, is that by closing the nozzles, less air is circulated inside the shrink tunnel, as a result of which the internal temperature in the tunnel drops. This changes the thermodynamic operating state and requires readjustment of the heating output or the like.

By using diaphragms or guide plates, a certain adjustment of a shrinking device to the respective products to be processed can be achieved; however, as a rule, this cannot be optimally adapted to the product to be processed.

The object of the invention is to achieve an optimal application of containers or articles with shrinking medium in a shrinking device so that the resulting products have optimized product properties and, in particular, wrinkle-free shrinkage of the shrink material.

The above object is achieved by a shrinking device and a method for adapting a shrinking device, which include the features in the independent patent claims. Further advantageous refinements are described by the subclaims.

The products to be acted upon by means of the shrinking medium within the shrinking device are formed, for example, by a plurality of articles which are covered with a shrink material such as a shrink film suitable for the purposes. For this purpose, it is provided that the articles, for example beverage containers such as bottles or cans or the like, are assembled into article groups or article combinations in a grouping device. These are then wrapped with a shrink material in a wrapping device. In particular, a shrink film is wrapped around the article assembly in the wrapping device.

The compilation of articles encased in this way with shrink material is now fed to the shrinking device, where the shrink material is shrunk onto the compilation of articles when shrinking medium, for example hot air, is supplied and holds the articles together within the compilation to form a so-called shrink pack.

The shrink device comprises a housing surrounding the shrink tunnel with an entry area and an entry opening as well as an exit area and an exit opening for the articles or combinations of articles wrapped with shrink material. At least one transport path for the articles wrapped with shrink material extends between the inlet opening and the outlet opening, on which path they are conveyed in the transport direction through the shrinking device.

The transport route is formed in particular by a transport device or a partial area of a transport device which is delimited on both sides by shaft walls. Each of the shaft walls has at least one outflow surface or nozzle surface for shrinking medium, which is directed towards the transport path and which flows through the nozzles of the nozzle surface or the like. is applied to the article wrapped with shrink material.

The number of shaft walls defines the number of transport routes. In the case of a single-lane transport over a transport path, so-called outer shaft walls are provided on both sides of the transport path on or above the transport device, each having an outflow surface or nozzle surface facing the interior of the shrinking device and a closed side surface facing the housing of the shrinking device.

With a two-lane transport over two parallel transport routes, three shaft walls are arranged on or above the transport device. In particular, the two transport routes in the vicinity of the housing of the shrinking device are each delimited by outer shaft walls.

Arranged in the center or approximately in the middle between the two outer shaft walls is an inner shaft wall, the two substantially vertical side surfaces of which are each designed as outflow surfaces or nozzle surfaces parallel to the transport direction. The middle or inner shaft wall thus in particular feeds shrinking medium to the two parallel transport routes, with the application of the has or can have approximately the same order of magnitude in both parallel transport routes with shrinking medium.

In the case of the shrink device according to the invention, it is provided that a deflection device for deflecting shrinking medium is or can be arranged at least in regions in an upper area of at least one nozzle surface. In particular, the deflecting device deflects a first flow direction in which the shrinking medium exits a row of nozzles arranged directly below the deflecting device or from two or more rows of nozzles arranged directly below the deflecting device into a second flow direction. In this case, the shrinking medium is particularly preferably deflected downward, being deflected in the direction of an upper side of the article wrapped with shrinkable material instead of flowing off upward.

It is preferably provided that a deflection device extends from each of the two opposing nozzle surfaces in the direction of the center of the transport path. In particular, it can be provided that the two deflection devices are designed and arranged mirror-symmetrically to a vertical plane formed in the center of the transport path parallel to the transport direction.

The path taken by the articles wrapped with shrink material through the shrinking device results in a so-called movement space when viewed together with the spatial external dimensions of the articles wrapped with shrink material. The deflection device deflects shrinking medium that would flow into the interior of the shrink device above this movement space in a first flow direction, for example in an essentially horizontal first flow direction, in such a way that it is now deflected to the movement space of the article. The first flow direction of the shrinking medium emerging from the nozzle surface directly below the deflecting device is preferably given a downstream movement component by the deflecting device, so that the shrinking medium instead flows in a downwardly inclined second flow direction into the interior of the shrinking device and in particular in the direction of the movement space of the article .

The shrinking medium is passed through the deflection devices onto an upper region of the article or the assembly of a plurality of articles wrapping shrink material passed, particularly preferably the shrink medium is passed centrally on the top of the shrink material wrapping the article.

According to a preferred embodiment, a deflection area of the deflection device extends from the nozzle surface in the direction of the center of the transport path and comprises a deflection surface with a downward inclination, so that the shrinking medium flowing into the interior of the shrinking device directly below the deflection device at the bottom flows along inclined deflection surface and experiences a deflection in a second, downward flow direction. The second flow direction corresponds in particular to the inclination of the deflection surface directed downwards and towards the center of the transport path.

It is preferably provided that the deflection device or the deflection surface of the deflection device has a downward inclination between 2 degrees and 75 degrees, in particular between 5 degrees and 50 degrees, particularly preferably between 10 ° and 40 °, relative to a horizontal.

According to one embodiment it is provided that a deflection device extends up to a maximum of half a width of the transport path. This results in particular from the mirror symmetry described above. As a rule, the deflecting devices extend only partially in the direction of the middle of the transport path, preferably a deflecting device extends up to a maximum of 40 percent of the width of the transport path in the direction of the middle of the same. If deflecting devices were to extend from both nozzle surfaces to the middle of the transport path, this could lead to a build-up of heat underneath the deflecting devices, especially in the movement space of the articles, which could have a detrimental effect on the product quality. However, in certain applications such a maximum expansion of the deflection devices can advantageously be used, in particular in connection with a reduced temperature of the shrinking medium.

According to one embodiment it is provided that the deflecting devices each have a width which corresponds approximately to half the width of the transport path or a smaller width. Due to the downward inclination of the deflection devices, there is thus a distance between the two deflection devices in the area of the center of the transport path. About this distance can Shrink medium rise into the upper area of the shrink device so that no accumulated heat is created below the deflection devices.

The at least one deflection device per nozzle surface preferably extends parallel to the transport path and essentially horizontally. According to one embodiment, the deflecting device extends only in certain areas along the transport path or the at least one deflecting device extends along the entire transport path between the inlet opening and the outlet opening. Embodiments are also conceivable in which a first deflection device is arranged on the nozzle surface in a first sub-area of the shrinking device and a second deflection device or the like is arranged in a second sub-area. A preferred embodiment provides for the arrangement of deflection devices in the rear area of the shrinking device assigned to the exit area and / or the outlet opening, for example the deflection devices extend in a rear sub-area of the transport path in the transport direction, comprising the exit area or adjacent to the exit area. Shrinking devices often include two sub-areas, in each of which shrinking medium of different temperatures is supplied. According to one embodiment, it can be provided that only one of these partial areas is equipped with a deflection device or that the two partial areas are equipped with different deflection devices.

The deflection device preferably comprises a deflection area, which is formed in particular by a sheet metal, a curved sheet metal, a sheet metal with regular cutouts or a sheet metal with irregular cutouts, which extends from the nozzle surface into the interior of the shrinking device in the direction of the center of the respective transport path extends. The recesses can, for example, be designed in such a way that the sheet metal forms a comb structure, with the comb back being located on the nozzle surface and with the comb teeth extending into the interior of the shrinking device. The comb teeth can be designed regularly, in particular each have the same width, and the same distances between the comb teeth can be configured. An alternative embodiment can provide the arrangement of comb teeth in an irregular width and at different distances. Comb teeth that taper towards the free end can also be useful so that less shrinking medium is deflected by the comb teeth in the direction of the center of the transport path. In addition, embodiments are conceivable in which the deflection device along its Length parallel to the direction of transport has different deflection areas and / or deflection areas of different widths. According to one embodiment, the use of at least two deflection devices with differently designed deflection areas can be provided, which are arranged in alignment on the nozzle surface in the transport direction.

The deflection devices are preferably each arranged at a height above the article and above the upper side of the shrink material on the nozzle surfaces and thereby cause the shrink medium to be deflected in a downwardly sloping second flow direction and thereby directed onto the upper side of the shrink material enveloping the article.

In the event of a product change, one embodiment provides that the arrangement and / or positioning of the at least one deflection device on each nozzle surface is adapted to the new product requirements in each case. This is done in particular by changing the height of the deflection device on the nozzle surface and / or changing the position of the deflection device along the transport path and / or by using another deflection device with an optimized shape and / or design of the deflection area and / or contour of the deflection surface or the like.

In this context, it can be provided that the deflection device is arranged on the nozzle surface in a horizontally movable and / or vertically movable manner. One embodiment can provide that vertical rails are arranged on the nozzle surface and that the deflection device is guided in these rails in a vertically movable manner, so that the deflection device can be arranged at different heights on the nozzle surface. This enables the shrink device to be quickly and easily adapted to different article heights. Thus, the shrinking device can be easily adapted to the changed production conditions, particularly when changing products, with the deflection device being arranged at a height on the nozzle surface that is matched to the height of the article to be processed. In particular, the deflection device is arranged at a height above the greatest height of the article to be processed.

If the deflection device on the nozzle surface only extends over a partial area of the transport route, it can alternatively or additionally be advantageous to change the positioning along the transport route in order to further optimize the conditions for certain products. This can be removed by removing it accordingly and re-assemble the deflection device on the nozzle surface. Alternatively, it can be provided that the deflection device can be shifted horizontally along the nozzle surface. This can also be done using a suitable rail system or the like. will be realized.

The above-described deflection devices and further deflection devices, with embodiments not described here that achieve the same technical effect also being included, the flow of the shrinking medium is increasingly directed to the center of the top of the article wrapped with shrink material. As a result, the shrinkage result in this area can be optimized and, in particular, significantly improved. If necessary, it is even possible to work with a lower shrinking temperature, as a result of which, on the one hand, the problem of undesired hole formation can be avoided and, on the other hand, the energy requirement of the shrinking device can be reduced.

• Fig. 1 zeigt schematisch eine seitliche Darstellung einer Schrumpfvorrichtung.
• Figur 2 zeigt den Innenraum einer ersten Ausführungsform einer Schrumpfvorrichtung in perspektivischer Darstellung.
• Figur 3 zeigt einen Querschnitt durch die erste Ausführungsform der Schrumpfvorrichtung gemäß Figur 2.
• Figur 4 zeigt einen Querschnitt durch eine zweite Ausführungsform einer Schrumpfvorrichtung.
• Figur 5 zeigt einen Querschnitt durch eine dritte Ausführungsform einer Schrumpfvorrichtung.
• Figur 6 zeigt eine perspektivische Darstellung durch eine vierte Ausführungsform einer Schrumpfvorrichtung.
• Figur 7 zeigt eine Befestigungsmöglichkeit für eine Umlenkeinrichtung.
• Figuren 8A bis 8G zeigen unterschiedliche Ausführungsformen für eine Umlenkeinrichtung.
• Figur 9 zeigt die Umlenkung der Strömungsrichtung des Schrumpfmediums durch eine Umlenkeinrichtung.
• Figur 10 zeigt eine fünfte Ausführungsform einer Schrumpfvorrichtung.

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

• Fig. 1 shows schematically a side view of a shrinking device.
• Figure 2 shows the interior of a first embodiment of a shrink device in a perspective view.
• Figure 3 shows a cross section through the first embodiment of the shrink device according to FIG Figure 2 .
• Figure 4 shows a cross section through a second embodiment of a shrink device.
• Figure 5 shows a cross section through a third embodiment of a shrinking device.
• Figure 6 shows a perspective illustration through a fourth embodiment of a shrinking device.
• Figure 7 shows an attachment option for a deflection device.
• Figures 8A through 8G show different embodiments for a deflection device.
• Figure 9 shows the deflection of the flow direction of the shrinking medium by a deflection device.
• Figure 10 shows a fifth embodiment of a shrink device.

Identical reference symbols are used for identical or identically acting elements of the invention. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference symbols are shown in the individual figures which are necessary for the description of the respective figure. The illustrated embodiments are only examples of how the invention can be designed and do not represent a final limitation. The features described below are not to be understood in close connection with further features of the respective exemplary embodiment, but can in each case be provided or in a general context . are used for this.

The Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a shrinking device 1. Article 20, in particular beverage containers, bottles 21, cans or the like. are put together in article groups or combinations of articles 20 and wrapped in at least some areas with shrink material 22. The shrink material 22 is, in particular, a thin shrink film with defined shrink properties. The articles 20 wrapped with shrink material 22 are fed one after the other in the transport direction TR on a feeding conveyor device 2 to the shrink device 1. The articles 20 wrapped with shrink material 22 enter the shrinking device 1 via an inlet opening 3 in the housing 18 and are conveyed within the shrinking device 1 via a transport path 5 in the transport direction TR to the outlet opening 4. The transport path 5 is provided in particular by a transport device 6 delimited by shaft walls (not shown).

Inside the shrinking device 1, heating devices (not shown) are arranged which act on the articles 20 wrapped with shrink material 22 with a shrinking medium, for example with hot air, whereby the shrink material 22 shrinks around the articles 20 of the combinations. The heating devices comprise in particular at least two shaft walls arranged parallel to the transport direction TR on the transport path. The shaft walls each have at least one outflow surface or nozzle surface pointing in the direction of the transport path 5, via which the shrinking medium enters the interior of the Shrink device 1 arrives and in particular is directed in the direction of the article 20 wrapped with shrink material 22.

When passing through the shrinking device 1, the shrinking material 22 is firmly attached to the article 20 and thus forms a firm cohesion in the form of a shrinking container 23. After the shrinking container 23 has left the shrinking device 1 via the outlet opening 4, it is transported via a discharge conveyor 7 of the further processing, for example palletizing or the like. It can be provided that the shrink packs 23 are acted upon by at least one fan 8 arranged above the discharge conveyor 7 with a coolant, in particular with cool or cold air, and are thereby cooled.

The feeding conveyor device 2, the transport device 6 and the discharging conveyor device 7 can each be formed by an endlessly revolving conveyor belt, for example a roller or roller chain or a mat chain conveyor.

The shaft walls of the shrinking device 1 are assigned at least one deflection device, at least in some areas, as shown in the following Figures 2 to 8 be described and illustrated in more detail.

Figure 2 shows the interior of a first embodiment of a shrinking device 1 in a perspective view, Figure 3 shows a cross section through the first embodiment of the shrinking device 1 according to Figure 2 and Figure 4 shows a cross section through a second embodiment of a shrinking device 1. In all the embodiments shown, a two-lane transport of articles 20 wrapped with shrink material 22 over the transport path 5 formed by the transport device 6 is provided, ie the transport path 5 is divided into two parallel transport paths 5- 1 and 5-2.

Each of the transport routes 5-1 and 5-2 is limited on both sides by shaft walls 10, each of the shaft walls 10 having at least one outflow surface or nozzle surface 11 for shrinking medium facing the transport route 5-1, 5-2, the shrinking medium via the nozzles of the Nozzle surface 11 or similar is applied to the articles 20 wrapped with shrink material 22. The nozzles are preferably arranged in nozzle rows 13 parallel to the transport direction TR.

In the two-lane transport shown here over two parallel transport routes 5-1 and 5-2, three shaft walls 10 are arranged on or above the transport device 6. In particular, the two transport routes 5-1 and 5-2 are each on the outside, ie in the vicinity of the housing 18 of the shrinking device 1 (cf. Figure 1 ), limited by so-called outer shaft walls 10a. These have a closed side surface 12 pointing in the direction of the housing 18 and a nozzle surface 11 facing the interior of the shrinking device 1 and the respective transport path 5-1, 5-2. Arranged centrally or approximately centrally between the two outer shaft walls 10a is an inner shaft wall 10b, the two essentially vertical side surfaces of which are each designed as nozzle surfaces 11 parallel to the transport direction. The middle or inner shaft wall 10b thus in particular feeds shrinking medium to the two parallel transport routes 5-1 and 5-2, the application of shrinking medium to the two parallel transport routes 5-1 and 5-2 being or being approximately the same.

The articles 20 wrapped with shrink material 22 pass through the shrink device 1 in a so-called movement space, which results from the cross section of the articles 20 wrapped with shrink material 22 transversely to the transport direction TR and the longitudinal extent of the movement in the transport direction TR. Above this movement space, deflection devices 30 are arranged at least in some areas on the nozzle surfaces 11, which at least partially deflect the shrinking medium flowing out below the deflection devices 30 via the nozzle surfaces 11. In particular, the shrinking medium flows in an essentially horizontal first flow direction SR1 from the nozzles of the nozzle surfaces 11 into the interior of the shrinking device 1.

The directions of flow are in Figure 9 shown in detail. The deflection device 30 forms a barrier which prevents the shrinking medium flowing out of the nozzles of the nozzle surface 11 in the first flow direction SR1 from being able to flow further in this direction. Instead, the shrinking medium is at least partially deflected by the deflection device 30 in a second flow direction SR2. In particular, the deflecting device 30 comprises a deflecting surface 31 which is inclined downward from the nozzle surface 11 in the direction of the center of the respective transport path 5. The shrinking medium flows along the deflection surface 31, thereby receives a downward component of movement and is deflected downward and in particular in the direction of the movement space of the articles 20 wrapped with shrink material 22. Depending on the design of the deflection area or the deflection surface 31 of the deflection device, the entire shrink medium or only part of the shrink medium from a row of nozzles 13 arranged directly below the deflecting device 30 or from two or more rows of nozzles 13 arranged directly below the deflecting device is accordingly fed into the second flow direction SR2 deflected.

It is preferably provided that part of the shrinking medium is specifically directed by the deflecting device 30 onto the upper side of the articles 20 or combinations of articles 20 wrapped with shrink material 22 in order to specifically support the shrinking of the shrink material 22 on this upper side. As in Figure 9 can also be seen, the shrinking medium which emerges from the nozzle surface 11 directly below the deflection device experiences a stronger deflection than, for example, the shrinking medium that emerges from a row of nozzles 13 below.

It is preferably provided that according to the Figures 2 to 4 The illustrated embodiments of each of the two nozzle surfaces 11 delimiting a transport path 5 each have a deflecting device 30 extending in the direction of the center of the transport path 5. As can be seen in the figures, the two deflection devices 30 are designed and arranged mirror-symmetrically to a vertical plane V, which is formed in the middle of the transport path 5 and parallel to the transport direction TR. The vertical plane V is only in Figure 3 indicated by a dashed line.

Figures 3 and 4 show the use of deflection devices 30 with different inclinations, by means of which the shrink medium is correspondingly deflected to different degrees. It is preferably provided that the deflection device 30 has a downward inclination between 2 degrees and 75 degrees, in particular between 5 degrees and 50 degrees, particularly preferably between 10 ° and 40 °, with respect to a horizontal line H. In the first embodiment according to Figures 2 and 3 the deflection devices 30-1 each have a first angle of inclination α1 of approximately 5 degrees, which causes a slight deflection of the shrinking medium. In contrast, the deflection devices 30-2 in the second embodiment according to FIG Figure 4 a second angle of inclination α2 of approximately 45 degrees, which causes the shrinking medium to be clearly deflected downwards.

While using a deflection device 30-1 with a small angle of inclination α1 according to Figure 3 the shrink medium is directed in a targeted manner centrally onto the upper side of the article 20 wrapped with shrink material 22, when using a deflector 30-2 inclined more downwardly according to FIG Figure 4 the shrinking medium is deflected in such a way that it is guided in the direction of a so-called upper edge of the container, which in particular enables more targeted shrinking of the upper region of the film eye.

Figure 5 shows a cross-section through a third embodiment of a shrinking device 1. It is shown in particular that in certain applications it may be sufficient if a deflecting device 30 is arranged only on one of the opposing nozzle surfaces 11 that delimit the respective transport path 5, which diverts the shrinking medium from the corresponding The nozzle surface 11 specifically deflects in the direction of the article 20 wrapped with shrink material 22.

Furthermore, it is shown that the deflecting device 30 can have a different width depending on the application and can therefore extend differently in the direction of the center of the respective transport path 5-1, 5-2 at a comparable angle of inclination α. The deflection device 30-3 assigned to the left transport path 5-1 has a width B1 which is greater than the width B2 of the deflection device 30-4 assigned to the right transport path 5-2. The deflection device 30-3 thus extends further in the direction of the center of the transport path 5-1. In particular, it can be advantageous to use a deflection device 30-3 with a smaller width B1 in the case of first combinations of articles 20-1 that have a greater width transversely to the transport direction TR than second combinations of articles 20-2. In this context, it goes without saying that the width of the combinations of articles 20 does not only depend on the width of the respective articles 20, 20-1, 20-2. The width of such a combination is of course also dependent on the number of articles 20 arranged next to one another transversely to the transport direction TR, as shown for example in FIG Figure 10 is shown.

The width B1, B2 of the deflection devices 30, 30-3, 30-4 is matched to the product, ie the respective combination of articles 20, 20-1, 20-2 selected so that the flow medium optimally strikes the top of the respective combination of articles 20, 20-1, 20-2 enveloped with shrink material 220.

Shrinking devices 1 are known in which the outer shaft walls 10a can be tilted in order to bring them closer to the articles and thus to optimize the shrinking process. Such an inclination is not possible with inner shaft walls 10b, since these each serve two parallel transport routes 5-1, 5-2 and thus the inclination, which could lead to the optimization of the shrinking process within one transport route, on the other hand leads to a deterioration in the shrinking process within the would lead to another transport route. The distance between the articles 20 and the nozzle surface 11 of an inner shaft wall 10b always depends on the articles 20 wrapped with shrink material 22 in the non-shrunk state. One embodiment can therefore provide for wider deflection devices 30-3 with a greater width B1 to be used on the nozzle surfaces 11 of the inner shaft walls 10b than on the nozzle surfaces 11 of the outer shaft walls 10a in order to compensate for this disadvantage.

Figure 6 shows a perspective illustration through a fourth embodiment of a shrinking device 1. The deflecting device 30 preferably extends essentially horizontally, parallel to the transport path 5 and parallel to the transport direction TR. The deflection device 30 can be arranged along the entire length of the shaft wall 10 on the nozzle surface 11. According to the in Figure 6 In the illustrated embodiment, the deflecting device 30 extends only in some areas along the transport path 5, in particular a corresponding deflecting device 30 is only provided in the rear area of the shrinking device 1, essentially up to the outlet opening 4.

Figure 7 shows a fastening option for a deflection device 30 on the nozzle surface 11 of a shaft wall 10. In particular, the deflection device 30 positioned on the nozzle surface 11 is fastened with suitable fastening means 35. The deflection device 30 has, for example, a fastening area 32 which is arranged flat against the nozzle surface 11 and is fixed to this via the fastening means 35. A deflection area 33 with the deflection surface 31 is formed at an angle to the fastening area 32 and, after the deflection device 30 has been fastened to the nozzle surface 11, extends therefrom with a downward inclination in the direction of the center of the transport path (in Figure 7 not shown).

For example, rivets, screws, locking bolts or the like can be used as fastening means 35. be used. Alternatively, it can be fastened using a hook system in which the deflection device has correspondingly arranged fastening hooks in the fastening area 32, which are hooked into correspondingly arranged and designed fastening openings 36 of the nozzle surface 11 (cf. Figure 6 ). In this way, when a product is changed, a particularly quick and simple adaptation of a height h at which the deflecting device 30 is arranged on the nozzle surface 11 of the shaft wall 10 to the new production conditions is possible.

Figures 8A through 8G show different embodiments for deflection devices 30. In the simplest embodiments, the deflection device 30 consists of a single-edged sheet metal, one area being designed as a fastening area 32 and the other area as a deflection area 33 with a downwardly inclined deflection surface 31.

According to Figure 8A If a deflection device 30a between the fastening area 32 and the deflection area 33, an angle ε is formed, the amount of which corresponds to the amount of the angle of inclination α relative to the horizontal H plus 90 degrees, ie I ε I = 90 ° + I α I. This results when the deflecting device 30 is fastened via the fastening region 32 on the nozzle surface of a shaft wall, a downward inclination of the deflecting surface 31.

According to the in Figure 8B The embodiment of a deflection device 30b shown in the figure, the deflection area 33 can also be designed to be curved, the deflection surface 31 in particular having a concave curvature relative to the horizontal H between the fastening area 32 and the deflection area 33.

In the Figure 8C The deflection device 30c shown corresponds essentially to the embodiment according to FIG Figure 8A , the deflection area 33 being formed here with a significantly larger width B compared to the fastening area 32.

The Figures 8D through 8G show various embodiments of deflection devices 30d to 30g, in which the deflection regions 33 have recesses 34. In these embodiments, no closed deflection surface 31 is thus formed. Thus, only part of the shrinking medium impinging on the deflection area 33 is also moved in the second flow direction (cf. Figure 9 ) diverted. The remaining part of the shrinking medium can pass through the recesses 34 through the deflection area 33 of the deflection device 30 without being deflected into the second Pass through flow direction SR2 or only slightly deviating from the first flow direction SR1.

According to the in Figure 8D In the illustrated embodiment of a deflection device 30d, the deflection area 33 has a regular arrangement of regularly formed recesses 34d, which extend from the side edge 40 facing the transport path almost to the fastening area 32, whereby a comb structure is formed. The deflection device 30e according to FIG Figure 8E formed, but the recesses 34e here only extend to about 50 percent between the side edge 40 facing the transport path and the fastening region 32.

The recesses 34f of the deflection device 30f according to FIG Figure 8F also extend to about 50 percent between the side edge 40 facing the transport path and the fastening area 32. Furthermore, in this case it is provided that a width of the recesses 34f decreases continuously starting from the side edge 40, whereby prongs are formed which are directed towards the side edge 40 taper to a point.

The deflection device 30g according to Figure 8G has recesses 34g in an irregular arrangement, so that prongs of different widths are formed between the recesses 34g.

In addition, the deflection devices 30d to 30g can be optimized in that the deflection areas 33 provided with cutouts 34 are analogous to FIG Figure 8B be provided with a curvature and / or by the angle ε being selected according to the respective product requirements.

Furthermore, embodiments are conceivable in which several differently designed deflection devices 30, 30a to 30g are arranged one behind the other along the length of the shaft wall. In particular, deflection devices 30 of different lengths and / or widths of the deflection area 33 can advantageously be used. It is also conceivable that only certain areas within the shrinking device 1 are each equipped with suitable deflection devices 30. By selecting the suitable deflection device 30 and arranging it at a suitable height h on the nozzle surface 11 (cf. Figure 6 ) the application of the article 20 with shrinking medium within the shrinking device 1 can be set differently in areas. This is particularly interesting because the When the shrinking device 1 passes through the shrinking material 22 more and more against the articles 20, so that in the front area of the shrinking device 1 there is a different arrangement of the shrinking material 22 on the articles 20 than in a rear area of the shrinking device 1 To achieve a good design of the lateral film eye and / or the top of the container, to optimize the respective spraying conditions in areas within the shrinking device 1.

The deflecting devices 30 suitable in each case can in particular be different depending on the type of article, article size, number of articles 20 assembled, type and nature of the shrink material 22 etc. and must be selected accordingly and arranged 1 within the shrink device. For example, in the case of a very thin shrink material 20, it can be advantageous if deflection devices 30 with cutouts 34 are used, so that the shrink medium is only partially deflected.

Figure 10 shows a fifth embodiment of a shrinking device 1. In the event of a product change, for example, the deflecting devices 30 can each be completely replaced and replaced by another deflecting device 30 of a suitable design, for example according to one in FIG Figures 8A through 8G illustrated embodiment are replaced. Alternatively, it can be provided that a deflection device 30 is arranged essentially permanently within the shrinking device 1 and can be adapted to changed product conditions within a certain predetermined range of motion.

For example, it can be provided that the deflection device 30 is arranged in a height-adjustable manner on the respective nozzle surface 11 and, depending on the respective products to be processed, in particular the assemblies of articles 20 wrapped in shrink material 22, at different heights h, h1, h2 above the transport path 5 can be arranged. For example, vertical rails can be arranged on the nozzle surface 11, within which the deflection device 30 is guided and can be shifted vertically along the nozzle surface 11 manually or by motor using a cable pull, a crank. A training comparable to a sinker would also be conceivable in this context.

Another embodiment, not shown here, can optionally or additionally provide that the deflection device 30 is arranged on the nozzle surface 11 in a horizontally movable manner. It is thus possible to optimize the position of the deflection device 30 within the shrinking device 1 parallel to the transport direction TR and depending on the product. This horizontal adjustment can also be done using a suitable rail system or the like. will be realized.

The above-described deflecting devices 30 and further deflecting devices, with embodiments not described here that achieve the same technical effect also being included, the flow of the shrinking medium can be directed to the center of the upper side of the articles 20 wrapped with shrink material 22. This can significantly improve the shrinking result in this area. If necessary, it is even possible to work with a lower shrinking temperature, as a result of which, on the one hand, the problem of undesired hole formation can be avoided and, on the other hand, the energy requirement of the shrinking device can be reduced.

The embodiments, examples and variants of the preceding paragraphs, the claims or the following description and the figures, including their different views or respective individual features, can be used independently of one another or in any combination. Features that are described in connection with an embodiment are applicable to all embodiments, provided that the features are not incompatible.

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

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

List of reference symbols

1

Shrinking device

2

feeding conveyor

3

Inlet opening

4th

Outlet opening

5

Transport route

5-1.5-2

Transport route

6th

Transport device

7th

discharge conveyor

8th

fan

10

Shaft wall

10a

outer shaft wall

10b

inner shaft wall

11

Nozzle area

12

closed side surface

13th

Row of nozzles

18th

casing

20th

items

21st

bottle

22nd

Shrink material

23

Shrink wrap

30th

Deflection device

30-1 to 30-4

Deflection device

30a to 30g

Deflection device

31

Deflection surface

32

Attachment area

33

Deflection area

34, 34d to 34g

Recess

35

Fasteners

36

Mounting hole

40

Side edge

α, α1, α2

Inclination angle

ε

angle

B, B1, B2

width

H

height

H

horizontal

SM

Shrink medium

SR1

first direction of flow

SR2

second direction of flow

TR

Transport direction

V

Vertical plane

Claims (14)

Shrinking device (1) for heat-shrinking a shrink material (22) around articles (20) or assemblies of a plurality of articles (20),
wherein the shrinking device (1) comprises at least one transport path (5) with an entry area and an exit area for the articles (20) or combinations of articles (20) on which the articles (20) are transported in a transport direction (TR),
wherein the transport route (5) is limited on both sides by shaft walls (10),
the shaft walls (10) each having a nozzle surface (11) directed towards the transport path (5) with a plurality of nozzles directed towards the articles (20) or assemblies of articles (20),
wherein the nozzles are arranged in nozzle rows (13) and wherein the shrinking medium flows through the nozzles in a first flow direction (SR1) in the interior of the shrinking device (1) in the direction of the transport path (5),
wherein in an upper area of at least one nozzle surface (11) at least regionally a deflection device (30) for deflecting shrinking medium from the nozzle row (13) arranged directly below the deflection device (30) or from two or more nozzle rows arranged directly below the deflection device (30) (13) is arranged or can be arranged. Shrinking device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the deflection device (30) extends from the nozzle surface (11) in the direction of the center of the transport path (5) and has a downward incline. Shrinking device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the deflection device (30) has an inclination between 2 degrees and 75 degrees, in particular an inclination between 5 degrees and 50 degrees, particularly preferably between 10 degrees and 40 degrees, with respect to a horizontal line (H). Shrinking device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the deflection device (30) extends up to a maximum of half a width of the transport path (5), in particular wherein the deflection device (30) has a width (B) which corresponds to less than or equal to half the width of the transport path (5) transversely to the transport direction (TR). Shrinking device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the deflecting device (30) extends partially parallel to the transport path (5), in particular wherein the deflecting device (30) extends along a complete length of the transport path (5) within the shrinking device (1) or wherein The deflection device (30) extends in a partial area comprising the exit area of the transport path (5) or adjacent to the exit area of the transport path (5). Shrinking device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the deflecting device (30) comprises a deflecting area, the deflecting area (33) being formed by a sheet metal, a curved sheet metal, a sheet metal with regular cutouts (34) or a sheet metal with irregular cutouts (34) ) is formed, which extends from the nozzle surface (11) into the interior of the shrinking device (1), in particular wherein the deflection device (30) has differently designed deflection areas (33) along a length of the deflection device (30). Shrink device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the deflection device (30) is designed differently in different areas along a length of the deflection device (30), in particular wherein the deflection device (30) comprises at least two deflection areas (33) of different design or wherein at least two deflection devices (30) with differently designed deflection areas (33) are arranged in alignment on the nozzle surface (11) in the transport direction (TR). Shrinking device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the deflection device (30) is arranged on the nozzle surface (11) so that it can move horizontally and / or move vertically. Shrinking device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the deflection device (30) is arranged at a height on the nozzle surface (11), the height being selectable depending on the articles (20) to be processed. Shrinking device (1) according to claim 9, wherein the deflection device (30) is arranged at a height which is greater than a height of the respective articles (20) to be processed. Method for adapting a shrinking device (1) to the articles (20) wrapped with shrink material (22) or combinations of a plurality of articles (20) wrapped with shrink material (22) within the shrinking device (1),
wherein the articles (20) are transported over a transport path (5) in a transport direction (TR) through the shrinking device (1), which transport path (5) on both sides through shaft walls (10) with nozzle surfaces (11) each directed towards the transport path (5) be limited, the shrinking medium being passed through nozzles on the nozzle surface (11) in a first flow direction (SR1) towards the article (20),
wherein a deflecting device (30) is arranged at least in regions on at least one nozzle surface (11), the shrinking medium being deflected in a second flow direction (SR2) by the deflecting devices. The method according to claim 11, wherein the shrink medium is directed onto an upper region of a shrink material (22) enveloping the articles (20) or the assembly of a plurality of articles (20), in particular onto an upper side of the articles (20) or the assembly of a A plurality of articles (20) wrapping shrink material (22). A method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the deflection device (30) is arranged at a height above the article (20) and above the top of the shrink material on the nozzle surfaces, and wherein the shrink medium is diverted in a downwardly inclined second flow direction (SR2) . Method according to one of claims 11 to 13, wherein when a product is changed, the arrangement and / or positioning of the at least one deflection device (30) on each nozzle surface (11) is adapted to the new product requirements, in particular with a height of the deflection device (30) the nozzle surface (11) and / or wherein a position of the deflection device (30) along the transport path (5) is changed and / or readjusted.

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