EP4067247A1 - Shrinking device and method for transferring a shrinking device to a standby mode - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for transferring a shrinking device (1) from a production mode (PM) to a stand-by mode (SM) and a shrinking device (1). The shrinking device (1) comprises a conveyor section (3) for articles (20) at least partially covered with a shrinking material (23) and shrinking agent introduction devices (6) for feeding shrinking agent into the interior of the shrinking device (1). In the production mode (PM), shrinking agent is supplied via laterally arranged first shrinking agent introduction devices (7) and shrinking agent is fed in from below via at least one second shrinking agent introduction device (8) arranged below the conveyor section (3). In stand-by mode (SM), the interior temperature (T2) of the shrinking device (1) is reduced compared to an interior temperature (T1) in production mode (PM) by supplying the shrinking agent from below and/or in a lower conveyor section (3rd ) assigned area is at least partially reduced or switched off

Description

The present invention relates to a method for transferring a shrinking device from a production mode to a stand-by mode and a shrinking device according to the features of the independent claims.

The present invention deals with shrinking devices that have optimized energy management or are operated with optimized energy management.

In bottling and packaging plants, it is known that articles or assemblies of articles, in particular bottles, cans, beverage cartons or the like, are wrapped using a shrink film and then transported through a shrink tunnel. The articles wrapped with shrink film are subjected to a shrinking medium or shrinking agent, in particular hot air. The shrink film shrinks and attaches itself to the article or assembly of articles. A cooling area with fans immediately adjacent to the shrink tunnel ensures rapid cooling of the packaging units or bundles produced in this way, giving them their transportable strength.

A shrink tunnel generally includes a revolving endless conveyor, which runs through a housing, at least over a section, which delimits the shrink tunnel. Furthermore, a shrink tunnel usually includes several heating elements and also fans or blowers in order to generate the required hot air and then distribute it in the interior of the shrink tunnel. In order to achieve a particularly even distribution of the hot air, after it has been generated, the hot air is preferably guided partly into so-called shaft walls and partly into a floor chamber which is located directly below the conveying means of the shrink tunnel. Thus, the articles wrapped with shrink film are preferably actively loaded with shrink medium from at least three sides.

The basic structure of a shrink tunnel is explained here only in rough outlines. A specialist from the packaging industry knows the structure There are enough shrink tunnels of this kind, so that no further detailed explanations need to be mentioned at this point.

Shrink tunnels have a high demand for thermal energy, which means that the operator incurs not inconsiderable costs. In particular, the generation of the shrink medium is the largest energy consumer in a shrink tunnel.

In order to reduce the energy consumption of a shrink tunnel, it can be put into a so-called stand-by mode in certain operating states in which the shrink tunnel is not required for production. One or more consumers of the shrink tunnel are reduced in their performance and thus the energy consumption is reduced compared to the production operation.

Such a shrink tunnel or such a method for operating a shrink tunnel is, for example, from DE 10 2010 011 640 A1 out. A shrink tunnel is described here which, in addition to the conventional production mode, has a further so-called stand-by mode, with the shrink tunnel being operated with a reduced power compared to the production mode by means of this stand-by mode. The change between the conventional production mode and the further stand-by mode takes place in a time and/or signal-controlled manner. When switching to stand-by mode, a number of measures are taken that lead to a reduction in the energy requirement of the shrink tunnel.

One measure would be, for example, that the existing desired temperature can be set to a stand-by temperature that is reduced compared to the desired temperature, with the result that less heating power is required. Another measure would be, for example, reducing the transport speed of the transporter on the shrink tunnel side in order to minimize the energy or heat discharge from the tunnel. Again, it is evident that switching off the cooling of the shrink tunnel-side conveyor and the cooling of the packs that leave the shrink tunnel would also be measures to reduce the energy requirement. Switching off one fan of the heating means per tunnel zone, provided that each tunnel zone is assigned at least two electrically operated fans, results in a reduced energy requirement.

It is also known that the so-called stand-by mode involves another measure, with the two openings in the input and Exit area of the shrink tunnel are at least partially closed. In a conventional production mode, the shrink tunnel entrance area and the shrink tunnel exit area are logically open so wide that the packs can enter and exit the shrink tunnel unhindered.

The shrink tunnel entry area and the shrink tunnel exit area are either opened or closed when changing between the respective operating modes, ie between the production mode and the stand-by mode. The change between the two operating modes is also triggered in a time- and/or signal-controlled manner. Such a controller for operating a shrink tunnel and such a shrink tunnel itself are disclosed, for example, in the published application DE 10 2010 020 957 A1 out.

The disclosure document DE 10 2013 104 417 A1 describes a method for converting a shrink tunnel into a production mode, which comprises at least opening a shrink tunnel entry area and/or opening a shrink tunnel exit area, and also at least one of the following steps: a) increasing the shrink tunnel interior temperature to a predefined setpoint; b) turning on the conveyor or increasing the speed of the conveyor to a predetermined setpoint; c) Turning on or increasing the chain cooling capacity to a predetermined setpoint; Switching on or increasing the pack cooling capacity to a predetermined target value, with the opening of the shrink tunnel entry area and/or the opening of the shrink tunnel exit area taking place at the earliest with one of steps a), b) and/or c).

The object of the present invention is now to optimize the stated prior art in such a way that the energy requirement of the shrink tunnel is further optimized in different operating modes.

The above object is achieved by a method for transferring a shrinking device from a production mode to a stand-by mode and a shrinking device comprising the features in the independent patent claims. Further advantageous configurations are described by the dependent claims.

The products to be applied within the shrinking device by means of shrinking medium or shrinking agents are, for example, by a

A plurality of articles formed, which are wrapped with a packaging material. For this purpose, it is provided that the articles are combined into article groups or article combinations in a grouping device. These are then wrapped with the packaging material in a wrapping device. In particular, a shrink film is wrapped around the assembly of articles in the wrapping device.

The packaging material is preferably formed from a thermoplastic flat shrink material, in particular a shrink film, which contracts when heat is applied and thus rests against the outwardly facing outer lateral surfaces of the articles, resulting in a close bond in the form of a packaging unit, which packaging unit is also referred to below as a shrink pack referred to as.

Alternatively, the shrink material may be a shrink tube or label that is placed around an article and shrunk onto the article within the shrink apparatus. In the case of a shrink label, it may be necessary to fix its position on the article by means of an adhesive dot or similar, at least temporarily before the start of the shrink process. This or a similar adhesive point fixation can also be the case or be carried out with wrapped shrink films.

The articles are preferably containers, in particular beverage containers such as bottles, cans or the like made of glass, plastic, metal etc.

The shrinking device has an interior space with a transport section, the articles being preferably transported within the shrinking device in at least one lane. The upper surfaces of the conveying means, on which articles (possibly including foil) or containers are transported, can essentially be understood as the transport route.

The shrinking device includes shrinking agent introduction devices which are designed to apply shrinking agent to the articles wrapped with packaging material. These are preferably first lateral shrinkage agent introduction devices and/or second lower shrinkage agent introduction devices and/or third upper shrinkage agent introduction devices. According to one embodiment, it is provided that the lateral shrinking agent introduction devices are designed as shaft walls, each of which has at least one outflow surface for shrinking agents directed towards the respective transport path.

The number of shaft walls can define the number of transport lanes formed. In the case of single-track transport over the transport section, so-called outer shaft walls are preferably provided on both sides of, in particular above, the transport section, each having an outflow surface facing the interior of the shrinking device and a closed side surface facing the housing of the shrinking device.

In the case of a two-lane transport of articles over the transport route, three shaft walls are arranged on or above the transport route. As a result, two transport tracks are formed between the three shaft walls. In particular, the two transport paths in the vicinity of the housing of the shrinking device are each delimited by outer shaft walls.

An inner (or also called central) shaft wall is arranged in the middle or approximately in the middle between the two outer shaft walls, the two essentially vertical side surfaces of which are each designed as outflow surfaces parallel to the transport direction. The inner shaft wall thus feeds shrinking medium or shrinking agent in particular to the two parallel transport paths, with the application of shrinking medium to the two parallel transport paths having or can have approximately the same magnitude.

Alternatively, in the case of two-lane transport, four shaft walls for dispensing shrinking medium can be arranged in the shrinking device, two outer ones, as shown above, and two inner ones, with the two inner ones each having only one outflow surface from which shrinking medium emerges during production .

A lower shrinking agent introduction device is designed, for example, in the form of a floor chamber, which is located below the transport path and is designed to direct shrinking agent with an upward flow component through the conveying means onto the underside of the articles wrapped with packaging material.

In one production mode, at least one supply of shrinking agent takes place via laterally arranged first shrinking agent introduction devices and from below via at least one second one arranged below the conveyor section Shrinking agent feeding device. In particular, the shrinking device is operated in the production mode with a defined first interior temperature.

Provision is also made for the interior temperature of the shrinking device to be reduced in a stand-by mode compared to an interior temperature in the production mode. In particular, the interior temperature is lowered to a lower second temperature in the standby mode.

This is achieved in that, in the stand-by mode, the supply of shrinking agent from below and/or in a lower area assigned to the conveying path is at least partially reduced or switched off.

A first embodiment can provide that the supply of shrinking agent from below is completely switched off in the stand-by mode and the reduced internal temperature is thus adjusted by the continuing lateral inflow of shrinking agent. In this case, only an indirect heating of the conveyor takes place by blowing shrinking agent, for example hot air, over the side walls of the shaft. Since less shrinking agent is introduced into the interior of the shrinking device overall per unit of time, this leads to a cooling of the interior temperature.

A second embodiment provides that the supply of shrinking agent is reduced via the second shrinking agent device. Either shrinking agent can be supplied at a lower temperature. For example, the shrinking agent is heated to a lesser extent by reducing the heat output of the heating device of the second shrinking agent device. Alternatively or additionally, the output of the blower can be reduced, so that a smaller amount of shrinking agent is released from the second shrinking agent device per unit of time.

One embodiment can provide that the conveying path of the shrinking device comprises at least two sub-areas, which two sub-areas can be loaded differently with shrinking agent in the stand-by mode.

For example, in stand-by mode, shrinking agent can be supplied from below via the second shrinking means device in at least a first partial area of the conveying line, while shrinking agent is not fed from below via the second shrinking means device in at least a second partial area of the conveying line. Alternatively it can be provided that in the in at least one second sub-area, a reduced supply of shrinking agent compared to the first sub-area takes place from below via the second shrinking agent device.

The at least two partial areas can be arranged one behind the other in the transport direction. One embodiment can provide that in the second partial area downstream in the direction of transport there is no supply or a reduced supply of shrinking agent via the second shrinking agent device. Since the conveying means forming the conveying path is heated less in the rear area, the energy discharge via the exit area of the shrinking device is reduced compared to the production mode.

Furthermore, applications are conceivable in which the supply of shrinking agent in the first sub-area is completely switched off in stand-by mode and shrinking agent is introduced in a reduced amount or in the amount corresponding to the production mode from below via the conveyor into the interior of the shrinking device in the second sub-area downstream.

A further embodiment can provide that the at least two partial areas of the conveying path, which can be differently loaded with shrinking agents, extend through the shrinking device parallel to the transport direction for the articles.

The different supply of shrinking agent can be adjusted, for example, by closing corresponding nozzle openings of the second shrinking agent device.

Alternatively, each partial area can be assigned its own second shrinkage device, which is regulated accordingly. In particular, it can therefore be provided that the second shrinking agent device arranged below the conveying line or the conveying line has at least a first partial area and at least a second partial area, with the second shrinking agent introduction device being designed to not apply any shrinking agent from below in the second partial area in a stand-by mode via the conveying line or wherein the second shrinking agent introduction device is designed to supply shrinking agent in a reduced quantity and/or reduced temperature from below via the conveying line in the stand-by mode in the second partial area.

In particular, it is provided that each sub-area are assigned adjustment means (not shown), for example valves, throttle valves, etc., in order to To control and regulate the reduction or shutdown of the shrinking agent supply to the individual sub-areas accordingly.

A further embodiment can provide that, alternatively or additionally, in the stand-by mode, the lateral supply of shrinking agent is reduced at least in some areas in an area near the ground, assigned to the conveyor line, or that in stand-by mode there is no lateral supply of shrinking agent in an area near the ground, assigned to the conveying line he follows.

This can be achieved, for example, in that the laterally arranged first shrinking means devices have at least a first lower partial area and at least one second partial area formed above the first lower partial area, with the lower partial area being designed to have no shrinking agent or shrinking agent in a stand-by mode deliver reduced amount and / or reduced temperature compared to the upper second portion.

For example, the supply of shrinking agent from a lower section of the shaft walls can be switched off or, alternatively, at least reduced. For this purpose, for example, the nozzle openings of the shaft walls are completely or at least partially closed in this lower partial area close to the ground. Provision can also be made for the shrinking agent supplied in the area near the floor to have a lower temperature in the stand-by mode than in the production mode. Here, too, setting means in the form of valves and/or throttle flaps or the like can be used.

To set the different temperatures and/or the different amounts of shrinking agent and/or to switch off the supply of shrinking agent at least in some areas, a control device assigned to the shrinking device is operatively connected to the corresponding setting means in order to control and set them accordingly.

Furthermore, in the stand-by mode it can be provided that the speed of a conveyor of the conveyor line is additionally reduced and/or that the chain cooling capacity is reduced and/or that a shrink tunnel inlet opening and/or a shrink tunnel outlet opening is closed. All of these measures continue to serve to further reduce the energy consumption of the shrinking device in stand-by mode. In In this context, it can also be provided that the heating output of further shrinking means devices is reduced or switched off in the stand-by mode.

A further embodiment of the invention can provide that the shrinkage means for the first and second and optionally further shrinkage means introduction devices is provided by a main fan, with adjustment means being provided between the main fan and the various shrinkage means introduction devices. The setting means are preferably formed by throttle flaps.

In stand-by mode, the power of this main fan can be reduced in order to reduce the air flow through the shrink device to a minimum. The adjustment means for the lateral shaft walls preferably remain completely open, while the adjustment means for the bottom chamber are completely or partially closed. The open adjustment means of the lateral shaft walls counteract a constant temperature readjustment, since such a temperature readjustment causes the interior of the shrinking device to be unnecessarily heated again.

If the adjustment means for the lateral shaft walls were to be closed, then the interior of the shrinking device would cool down too much. This in turn would result in constant post-heating by the heating unit in order to keep the intake temperature of the shrink medium at the level at the start of the energy-saving stand-by mode.

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

• Fig. 1 zeigt einen Querschnitt einer Ausführungsvariante einer erfindungsgemäßen Schrumpfvorrichtung im Produktionsmodus.
• Figuren 2 bis 5 zeigt unterschiedliche Ausführungsformen einer Schrumpfvorrichtung gemäß Fig. 1 im StandBy-Modus.
• Fig. 6 zeigt eine Draufsicht auf eine Ausführungsvariante einer erfindungsgemäßen Schrumpfvorrichtung im Produktionsmodus.
• Figuren 7 bis 12 zeigen unterschiedliche Ausführungsformen einer Schrumpfvorrichtung gemäß Fig. 6 im StandBy-Modus.

In the following, exemplary embodiments are intended to explain the invention and its advantages in more detail with reference to the attached 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 shown in simplified form and other forms are shown enlarged in relation to other elements for better illustration.

• 1 shows a cross-section of an embodiment variant of a shrinking device according to the invention in production mode.
• Figures 2 to 5 shows different embodiments of a shrinking device according to FIG 1 In standby mode.
• 6 shows a plan view of an embodiment variant of a shrinking device according to the invention in production mode.
• Figures 7 to 12 show different embodiments of a shrinking device according to 6 In standby mode.

Identical reference symbols are used for elements of the invention that are the same or have the same effect. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference symbols are shown in the individual figures that are necessary for the description of the respective figure. The illustrated embodiments only represent examples of how the device according to the invention or the method according to the invention can be designed and do not represent any final limitation.

the 1 shows a cross section of a shrinking device 1 in production mode PM. the Figures 2 to 5 shows different embodiments of the 1 shown shrinking device 1 in standby mode SM.

Articles 20, for example bottles 21 or cans or the like, are combined into article groups 22 in a grouping device (not shown). The article groups 22 are wrapped with a packaging material 23 in a wrapping module (not shown). This is preferably a thermoplastic packaging material 23 in the form of a shrink film 24.

The groups of articles 22 wrapped with packaging material 23 in this way pass through a shrinking device 1, during which they are subjected to shrinking agents. In particular, hot air HL is used as a shrinking agent. The shrinking agent causes the packaging material 23 to shrink around the articles 20 of the article group 22, with a packaging unit or a shrink pack being formed.

The shrinking device 1 has an interior space 2 with a conveyor path 3 for transporting article groups 22 wrapped with packaging material 23 in one transport direction. The conveyor section 3 is formed, for example, by a conveyor belt 4 which is designed to run all the way around and which is driven by a drive 5 .

Furthermore, the shrinking device 1 has shrinking agent introduction devices 6 which are designed to apply shrinking agent to the article groups 22 wrapped with packaging material 23 . Here, on the one hand, laterally arranged shrinking agent introduction devices 6 are provided, in particular lateral shaft walls 7, which have an outflow surface for shrinking agent pointing towards the interior 2.

Furthermore, a lower shrinking agent introduction device 6 in the form of a bottom chamber 8 or the like is preferably provided, which is located below the conveying path 3 . In particular, the bottom chamber 8 is located below the upper strand of the conveyor belt 4 and is designed to direct shrinking agents with an upward flow component through the conveyor belt 4 onto the underside of the article groups 22 wrapped with packaging material 23 .

In the production mode PM, the shrinking device 1 is operated in particular with a defined first interior temperature T1.

When transferring the shrinking device from the in 1 Production mode PM shown in a standby mode SM according to one of Figures 2 to 5 the interior temperature of the shrinking device 1 is reduced compared to the first interior temperature T1 in the production mode PM. In particular, the interior temperature in the standby mode SM is lowered to a lower, second temperature T2, so T2<T1 applies.

In order to achieve this, according to the 2 illustrated embodiment, the supply of hot air HL via the bottom chamber 8 is completely switched off. The conveyor belt 4 is therefore only heated indirectly by blowing in hot air HL via the lateral shaft walls 7. Since less shrinking agent is introduced into the interior 2 of the shrinking device 1 per unit of time, this leads to a cooling of the interior temperature T.

According to the 3 illustrated embodiment, the supply of shrinking agent via the bottom chamber 8 is reduced. This is characterized in particular by the fact that the arrows. Which represent the shrinking agent, have a smaller thickness. Either hot air HL can be supplied at a lower temperature. This means that the shrinking agent is heated less, for example by reducing the heat output of the heating device 9 of the bottom chamber 8 . Alternatively or additionally, the power of the blower 10 can be reduced, so that a smaller amount of shrinking agent is released from the bottom chamber 8 per unit of time.

The conveyor belt 4 is therefore only heated indirectly by blowing in hot air HL via the lateral shaft walls 7. Since less shrinking agent is introduced into the interior 2 of the shrinking device 1 per unit of time, this leads to a cooling of the interior temperature.

A further embodiment of the invention can provide that in the stand-by mode SM in at least a first partial area TB1 of the conveying path, shrinking agent is supplied from below via the floor chamber 8 and in at least a second partial area TB2 no supply of shrinking agent from below takes place the bottom chamber 8 takes place. Alternatively, it can be provided that in the at least one second partial area TB2 there is a reduced supply of shrinking agent from below via the bottom chamber 8 compared to the first partial area TB1.

In 4 an embodiment is shown in which the conveyor section 3 has two partial areas TB1 and TB2, which partial areas TB1 and TB2 extend parallel to the transport direction (TR, cf Figures 6 to 12 ) for the articles 20 extend through the shrinking device 1, the transport direction extending perpendicularly to the plane of representation. In the left-hand first partial area TB1, shrinking agent is supplied in the form of hot air HL in the stand-by mode SM, while in the right-hand second partial area TB2 no shrinking agent is fed. This can be set, for example, by closing corresponding nozzle openings in the bottom chamber 8 . Alternatively, each partial area TB1, TB2 can have its own floor chamber 8 assigned to it.

For example, it is provided that each sub-area TB1, TB2 is assigned adjusting means (not shown), for example valves, throttle flaps or the like, in order to control and regulate the reduction or shut-off of the supply of shrinking agent to the individual sub-areas TB1, TB2 accordingly.

In figure 5 an embodiment is shown in which, in the stand-by mode SM, there is no lateral supply of shrinking agent in an area close to the ground and assigned to the conveying path 3 . In particular, the supply of shrinking agent from a lower partial area of the shaft walls 7 can be switched off or, alternatively, at least reduced. For this purpose, for example, the nozzle openings of the shaft walls 7 are completely or at least partially closed in this lower partial area TB3 near the ground. It can also be provided that the shrinking agent supplied in the area close to the ground has a lower temperature in the stand-by mode SM than in the production mode PM.

Even if related to the Figures 1 to 5 If a downward flow direction of the hot air HL from the lateral shaft walls 6,7 is shown, this is not to be understood as limiting. The inventive concept of this application can be applied analogously to shaft walls from which the shrinking agent flows in a substantially horizontal direction or in an at least partially upward direction into the interior 2 of the shrinking device 1 .

the 6 shows a plan view of a shrinking device 1 in production mode PM and Figures 7 to 12 show different embodiments of a shrinking device 1 in standby mode SM.

In this case, too, a shrinking device 1 with two outer shaft walls 7 is shown for transporting the articles 20 that are at least partially wrapped with packaging material 23, in particular in one lane. The transport takes place via the conveyor belt 4 forming the conveying path 3 through the shrinking device 1 from the input area 11 to the output area 12 in a transport direction TR. The strong structuring of the conveying surface of the conveyor belt 4 (=conveyor section 3) shows that in production mode PM, shrinking agent is applied through the conveyor belt 4 from below onto the underside of the articles 20 that are at least partially wrapped with packaging material 23.

the 7 shows a stand-by mode SM analogous to 2 , in which no shrinking agent is introduced through the conveyor belt 4 into the interior of the shrinking device 1 via the bottom chamber (not shown) arranged below the upper run of the conveyor belt 4 . This is shown in particular by the fact that the conveying surface of the conveyor belt 4 (=conveyor section 3) is shown without structuring.

the 8 shows a stand-by mode SM analogous to 3 , in which the shrinking agent is introduced in a reduced quantity and/or at a reduced temperature via the bottom chamber (not shown) arranged below the upper strand of the conveyor belt 4 into the interior of the shrinking device 1 through the conveyor belt 4, which is due to a slight structuring of the conveying surface of the conveyor belt 4 (= conveyor section 3) is shown.

the 9 shows a shrinking device 1, in which the bottom chamber 8 arranged below the conveyor section 3 or the conveyor section 3 has at least a first partial area TB1 and at least a second partial area TB2, wherein the bottom chamber 8 is designed to be in the stand-by mode SM in the second partial area TB2 does not supply any shrinking agent from below via the conveyor section 3, while shrinking agent is supplied in the first partial area TB1, as in production mode PM.

In the schematic view of 9 a floor chamber 8 consisting of two partial areas 8-1, 8-2 arranged one after the other in the transport direction TR is also shown by way of example. Adjusting means 13 - 1 , 13 - 2 , for example valves, throttle flaps or the like, which can be activated via a control device 15 , are arranged between a heating device 9 and the partial areas 8 - 1 , 8 - 2 of the bottom chamber 8 .

At the in 9 illustrated embodiment, the supply of hot air (not shown) to the second portion 8-2 of the bottom chamber 8 is prevented via the adjusting means 13-2.

At the in 10 In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the supply of hot air to the first sub-area 8-1 of the bottom chamber 8 is also reduced by the adjusting means 13-1, so that the conveying path 3 in the first sub-area TB1 is subjected to a reduced amount of shrinkage compared to the production mode PM.

In the schematic view of 11 shows that there can also be applications in which it makes sense to completely switch off the shrinking agent supply in the first partial area TB1 in the stand-by mode SM and shrinking agent in a reduced amount or in the amount corresponding to the production mode PM (not shown) in the second partial area TB2 to be introduced into the interior of the shrinking device 1 from below via the conveyor belt 4 .

The schematic view of 12 shows a further embodiment, in which the bottom chamber arranged below the conveyor section 3 or the conveyor section 3 is divided into at least three partial areas TB1, TB2, TB3 arranged one after the other in the transport direction TR. It is shown that in stand-by mode only the middle sub-area TB2 is applied with a reduced amount of shrinking agent from below, while in the first sub-area TB1 adjoining the entry area 11 and in the third sub-area TB3 adjoining the exit area 12 no shrinking agent supply he follows.

The embodiments, examples and variants of the preceding paragraphs, the claims or the following description and figures, including their different views or respective individual features, can be used independently of one another or in any combination. Features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments unless the features are incompatible.

Even if "schematic" representations and views are generally referred to in connection with the above description of the figures, this in no way means that the representations in the figures and their description are to be of secondary importance with regard to the disclosure of the invention. The person skilled in the art is quite capable of extracting enough information from the diagrammatically and abstractly drawn illustrations to make it easier for him to understand the invention, without having to draw from the drawn and possibly not exactly true-to-scale proportions of the articles and/or parts of the shrinking device or other drawn elements would be impaired in any way in his understanding. The figures thus enable the person skilled in the art as a reader to derive a better understanding of the inventive concept formulated more generally and/or more abstractly in the claims and in the general part of the description 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.

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

Reference List

1

shrink device

2

inner space

3

conveyor line

4

conveyor belt

5

drive

6

Shrinkage insert devices

7

shaft wall

8th

attic chamber

8-1,8-2

Section of floor chamber

9

heating device

10

fan

11

entrance area

12

exit area

13-1, 13-2

adjustment means

20

article

21

Bottle

22

item group

23

packing material

24

shrink wrap

25

Packaging Unit

26

shrink pack

HL

hot air

p.m

production mode

SM

Standby mode

TB1

first section

TB2

second section

TB3

sub-area close to the ground

T

interior temperature

T1

first interior temperature

T2

second interior temperature

Claims (13)

Method for transferring a shrinking device (1) from a production mode (PM) to a stand-by mode (SM), wherein the shrinking device (1) comprises a conveying path (3) for articles (20) at least partially wrapped with a shrinking material (23), and wherein the shrinking device (1) has shrinking agent introduction devices (6) for feeding shrinking agent into the interior of the shrinking device (1) includes, wherein in the production mode (PM) shrinking agent is supplied via laterally arranged first shrinking agent introduction devices (7), and wherein in the production mode (PM) shrinking agent is fed in from below via at least one second shrinking agent introduction device (8 ) he follows, wherein in stand-by mode (SM) the interior temperature (T2) of the shrinking device (1) is reduced compared to an interior temperature (T1) in production mode (PM), and wherein in the stand-by mode (SM) the supply of shrinking agent from below and/or in a lower area assigned to the conveyor section (3) is reduced or switched off at least in some areas. Method according to Claim 1, wherein in the stand-by mode (SM) in at least a first partial area (TB1) of the conveyor section (3) shrinking agent is supplied from below via the at least one second shrinking agent introduction device (8) and wherein in at least a second partial area (TB2) no supply of shrinking agent from below via the at least one second shrinking agent introduction device (8) or wherein in at least one second partial area (TB2) there is a reduced supply of shrinking agent from below via the at least one second partial area (TB1) compared to the first partial area (TB1). Shrink agent introduction device (8) takes place. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in the stand-by mode (SM) the lateral supply of shrinking agent is at least partially reduced in a ground-level area assigned to the conveyor section (3) or wherein in Stand-by mode (SM) no lateral supply of shrinking agent takes place in a ground-level area assigned to the conveyor section (3). Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the speed of a conveyor (4) of the conveyor section (3) is reduced in the stand-by mode (SM), and/or whereby in the stand-by mode (SM) a reduction in the chain cooling capacity is carried out, and/or wherein in the stand-by mode (SM) a shrink tunnel entry opening and/or a shrink tunnel exit opening is closed. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the heating output of further shrinking means devices is reduced or switched off in the stand-by mode (SM). Shrinking device (1) for shrinking a shrinking material (23) onto articles at least partially covered with the shrinking material (23), - wherein the shrinking device (1) comprises an interior space with a conveying path (3) for the transport of articles wrapped with shrinking material (23), the articles (20) wrapped with shrinking material (23) moving in a transport direction (TR) over the conveying path ( 3) are conveyed through the shrinking device (1), - wherein the shrinking device (1) comprises laterally arranged first shrinking agent introduction devices (7) which are designed to introduce shrinking agent from the sides into the interior of the shrinking device (1), and - wherein the shrinking device (1) comprises at least one second shrinking agent introduction device (8) which is arranged below the conveying section (3) and is designed to apply shrinking agent to the interior of the shrinking device (1) through the conveying section (3), and - wherein the shrinking device (1) is designed to supply shrinking agent in a stand-by mode (SM) at least in certain areas from below via the conveyor section (3) or in a lower area assigned to the conveyor section (3) in a reduced quantity, or - wherein the shrinking device (1) is designed so that in a stand-by mode (SM) at least in some areas no shrinking agent is supplied from below via the conveyor section (3) or in a lower area assigned to the conveyor section (3). Shrinkage device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the conveying section (3) comprises at least two sub-areas (TB1, TB2), which two sub-areas (TB1, TB2) can be differently loaded with shrinking agent in the stand-by mode (SM). Shrinkage device (1) according to one of claims 6 or 7, wherein the second shrinking device (8) arranged below the conveyor section (3) or the conveyor section (3) has at least one first partial area (TB1) and at least one second partial area (TB2), wherein the second shrinkage agent introduction device (8) is designed not to supply any shrinkage agent from below via the conveying section (3) in a stand-by mode (SM) in the second partial area (TB2), or wherein the second shrinkage agent introduction device (8) is designed to to supply the stand-by mode (SM) in the second sub-area (TB2) with shrinking agent in a reduced quantity and/or at a reduced temperature from below via the conveyor section (3). Shrinkage device (1) according to Claim 8, in which each partial area (TB1, TB2) is assigned an adjustment means, in particular a valve or a throttle valve. Shrinkage device (1) according to one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the laterally arranged first shrinking means devices (7) have at least a first lower partial area (TB3) and at least one second partial area formed above the first lower partial area, the lower partial area (TB3) thereto is configured not to release any shrinking agent or shrinking agent in a reduced quantity and/or reduced temperature in a stand-by mode (SM) compared to the upper second section. Shrinkage device (1) according to Claim 10, in which an adjustment means, in particular a valve or a throttle valve, is assigned to each partial area. Shrinkage device (1) according to one of claims 6 to 11, wherein the shrinkage device (1) comprises a control device. Shrinkage device (1) according to Claim 12, in which the adjustment means are operatively connected to the control device.

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