Packaging system with shrink tunnel and method for heating a shrink tunnel

Abstract

A packaging plant (1) is disclosed which includes a shrink tunnel (5) with a heating system (25) which can be operated independently of each other using several different energy carriers. The packaging system (1) includes a control device (S) which includes an energy management system which assigns at least one energy carrier for conversion into heating energy to different operating times of the heating system (25).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a packaging system with a shrink tunnel and a method for heating a shrink tunnel via a heating device.

[0002] A shrink tunnel is a device designed to shrink thermoplastic packaging material onto individual items or groups of items. It comprises a heat-resistant transport device that takes the items from a preceding conveyor and moves them through a shrink tunnel housing. A predetermined temperature is maintained within the shrink tunnel housing to allow the thermoplastic material to shrink onto the items as they move through the housing. Such a shrink tunnel is known, for example, from DE 10 2016 211 632 A1.

[0003] To establish and maintain the specified temperature level within the shrink tunnel housing over time, a shrink tunnel includes at least one heating element. Such heating elements require energy to regulate the temperature of the interior. For both economic and environmental reasons, it is desirable to keep the energy consumption for operating the shrink tunnel as low as possible. Furthermore, it may be the case that a fuel or energy source is unavailable or only available in limited quantities, which could lead to problems during operation of the shrink tunnel.

[0004] One objective of the invention can therefore be seen as providing a way to improve the operation of the shrink tunnel with regard to energy requirements.

[0005] The above problem is solved by the items comprising the features in the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments are described by the dependent claims.

[0006] The invention relates to a packaging system comprising a shrink tunnel with a heating system which can be operated independently of each other using several different energy carriers.

[0007] The shrink tunnel can comprise a shrink tunnel housing and a transport device, wherein items for shrink-wrapping with thermoplastic packaging material can be moved through the shrink tunnel housing via the transport device. The shrink tunnel housing can thus form an inlet through which items, together with a blank of thermoplastic packaging material, can enter the shrink tunnel housing, and an outlet through which items, together with the shrunk-on blank of thermoplastic packaging material, leave the shrink tunnel housing.

[0008] The transport system can include a continuously driven transport element on which items rest during their movement through the shrink tunnel housing. To prevent damage to the items resting on the continuously driven transport element due to excessive temperature, the shrink tunnel may include a cooling device located near the outlet of the shrink tunnel housing, and specifically below a transport level of the system. This cooling device can supply the lower section of the transport element with circulating air.

[0009] The packaging system includes a control unit that incorporates an energy management system, which assigns at least one energy carrier to different operating times of the heating system for conversion into heating energy.

[0010] The heating system can be designed, in particular, to generate a heated airflow. Furthermore, the heating system can be fluidically connected to a shrink tunnel housing, so that the heated airflow is guided from the heating system into an interior space within the shrink tunnel housing. Design features have proven effective in which the shrink tunnel housing comprises several side walls, each with multiple openings through which the heated airflow enters the shrink tunnel housing. If items or groups of items are to be moved through the shrink tunnel housing in several parallel tracks, the shrink tunnel may comprise several parallel shaft walls between which the items or groups of items are moved.One or more of these shaft walls can form openings through which the heated air volume flow enters the shrink tunnel housing.

[0011] The energy management system improves the operation of the shrink tunnel from both an economic and an ecological perspective. Furthermore, such a system ensures the availability of the necessary energy source for heating during operation by allocating energy sources to different operating times and allowing the heating system to operate independently using several different energy sources.

[0012] For example, the energy management system might have intelligent logic that allows the control unit to detect when the supply of a particular energy carrier is insufficient for the planned operating time of the shrink tunnel. In this case, the control unit allocates different energy carriers to different operating times, ensuring that the shrink tunnel is supplied with heating energy throughout its entire operating period. The intelligent logic can thus be designed so that the control unit guarantees an adequate supply of heating energy to the shrink tunnel over its entire planned operating time by allocating different energy carriers for conversion into heating energy to different operating times of the heating system.

[0013] It is therefore possible that the control unit plans proactively via the energy management system and distributes the available energy carriers across the respective different operating times, so that at least one energy carrier is available at each operating time of the heating device.

[0014] An energy management system can be designed in various ways, such that it uses intelligent logic. - assign at least one energy carrier for conversion into heating energy to different operating times of the heating system, taking into account the aspect of the security of supply of heating energy to the shrink tunnel for a planned operating period of the shrink tunnel, and / or be designed in such a way that it uses intelligent logic - assigns at least one energy carrier to each of the different operating times of the heating system for conversion into heating energy, taking into account the most cost-effective generation of heating energy for a planned operating period of the shrink tunnel.

[0015] The control unit can be designed as an integral part of the shrink tunnel in various embodiments. In further embodiments, it is also conceivable that the control unit is a central control system capable of controlling both the heating system and other equipment and / or workstations of the packaging system. In particular, the following can be controlled via the central control system in addition to the shrink tunnel: the filling machine, the workstation, the packer, the grouping station, the gluing machine, the palletizing station, the wrapping module, and / or the stretch wrapper.

[0016] The packaging system may include a filling machine located upstream of the shrink tunnel and designed to fill beverage containers that are subsequently fed into the shrink tunnel. In particular, the filling machine may be designed to fill beverage containers and to seal them airtight.

[0017] The packaging system may also include an insertion module located upstream of the shrink tunnel, which applies thermoplastic packaging material blanks to assemblies of beverage containers. The insertion module may comprise several insertion bars that are guided around the perimeter and apply thermoplastic packaging material blanks to assemblies of beverage containers.

[0018] Furthermore, the packaging system may include a packer that places several units produced via the shrink tunnel into a common carton and / or packages the units produced via the shrink tunnel with a packaging material or applies a packaging material to the units produced via the shrink tunnel. The packer may follow the shrink tunnel downstream. The packaging material could, for example, be a tray that provides a base for several units and has tabs that can be folded into an upright position.

[0019] Alternatively or additionally, the packaging system may include a grouping station located downstream of the shrink tunnel. This station arranges several packages produced via the shrink tunnel into a relative arrangement tailored to form a palletizable layer. Such a grouping station could, for example, include at least one delta kinematic robot that transfers the packages into this relative arrangement. It is also conceivable that the packaging system includes a workstation that pushes the packages together in the already formed relative arrangement, thereby creating a complete palletizable layer.

[0020] The packaging system may also include a palletizing station designed to transfer and stack palletizable layers onto an assigned pallet. The palletizing station can be connected to the previously mentioned workstation, allowing it to receive palletizable layers from the workstation and place them onto an assigned pallet.

[0021] If the packaging system includes a palletizing station, the packaging system can also include a feeding device which provides pallets to the palletizing station semi- or fully autonomously for the stacked receipt of several palletizable layers.

[0022] Horizontal conveying systems for transporting the articles or containers may be located between the aforementioned stations and modules.

[0023] It is also conceivable that the packaging system includes a gluing machine which applies an adhesive bond to articles and / or to containers produced via the shrink tunnel, in order to bond articles or containers produced via the shrink tunnel to other articles or containers produced via the shrink tunnel. The gluing machine can be located upstream of the shrink tunnel or downstream of it. The gluing machine can be designed as a rotary machine that receives articles, moves them along a circular path, and applies adhesive bonds to the articles while moving along this path.

[0024] The packaging options mentioned are not to be understood as restrictive, so that stretch wrappers or other packaging modules can optionally be included as part of the packaging system.

[0025] In a packaging system, the heating system may consist of at least one heating device or comprise at least one heating device. For example, designs have proven effective in which the heating system includes at least one specific heating device configured as a multi-heater, capable of converting several different energy sources into heat energy. One of these energy sources may be electrical energy. It is also conceivable that the heating system comprises exactly one specific heating device or consists of exactly one specific heating device configured as a multi-heater, capable of converting several different energy sources into heat energy. One of these energy sources may be electrical energy.

[0026] The heating system may also include a first heating device that can convert exactly one first energy source into heating energy, and a second heating device that can convert exactly one second energy source into heating energy, which differs from the first energy source. The first or second energy source can be, in particular, electrical energy that can be converted into heating energy by the first or second heating device.

[0027] The packaging system may feature a heating system or heating device that is designed as a dual burner, or may include a dual burner. A dual burner can convert different fuels into heat energy. It may be designed to convert different fuels into heat energy simultaneously. In such configurations, a high amount of heat energy can be provided at specific operating times if the dual burner is simultaneously converting different fuels into heat energy.

[0028] Furthermore, designs have proven effective in which the heating system or dual burner is configured to convert wood pellets as an energy carrier into heating energy and / or to convert SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) into heating energy. Alternatively or additionally, the heating system or dual burner may be configured to convert oil into heating energy and / or gas into heating energy. The oil can be vegetable oil, such as rapeseed oil. It is also possible for the heating system or appliance to convert electrical energy into heating energy.

[0029] As mentioned previously, the heating system or appliance can be designed as a dual burner. This means the heating system or appliance can be operated independently using exactly two different energy sources. However, it is also conceivable that the heating system or appliance can operate independently using more than two different energy sources. For example, it could operate independently using exactly three different energy sources, or exactly four different energy sources, or exactly five different energy sources.

[0030] All of the two, three, four, or five different energy carriers can be fuels in various embodiments. Alternatively, one of the two, three, four, or five different energy carriers could be electrical energy.

[0031] It is conceivable that the heating system or heating appliance is designed to convert electrical energy into heat energy, and that the packaging system includes a photovoltaic system to supply the heating system or heating appliance with electrical energy. The photovoltaic system can comprise several photovoltaic modules connected in series or parallel.

[0032] The control unit may have a communication interface through which it can receive information on the current output of the photovoltaic system and / or its expected future or past output. The control unit's energy management system may be configured and equipped to take this information into account when allocating the at least one energy source to different operating times. The control unit may also be designed to establish an online connection and retrieve weather forecast data for the photovoltaic system's current location, and use this data to inform the system's expected future output when allocating the at least one energy source to different operating times.

[0033] Furthermore, the packaging plant may be equipped with an inverter to which the photovoltaic system is connected for feeding electrical energy into the public grid. The control unit can use its energy management system to ensure that the electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic system is fed into the public grid, either completely or partially, whenever it is not needed for conversion into heat energy for the shrink tunnel.

[0034] Alternatively or additionally, the packaging system may have at least one battery connected to the photovoltaic system for intermediate storage of electrical energy. The control unit can use its energy management system to ensure that the electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic system is stored completely or partially in the battery whenever it is not needed for conversion into heat energy for the shrink tunnel.

[0035] The control device can be designed via its energy management system in such a way that the electrical energy temporarily stored via the at least one accumulator is taken from the at least one accumulator and converted into heating energy via the heating system or heating device, if the control device assigns electrical energy for conversion into heating energy to an operating time of the heating system or heating device via its energy management system.

[0036] It has also proven effective if the heating system or appliance is designed to convert electrical energy into heat energy, as well as fuel into heat energy, and if the control unit, via its energy management system, is configured and equipped to automatically convert fuel into heat energy via the heating system or appliance in the event of a disruption in the electrical energy supply. In practice, for example, if the electrical energy supply is not guaranteed due to a power outage, the shrink tunnel can still be supplied with sufficient heat energy if the system automatically initiates fuel conversion into heat energy.

[0037] This prevents the temperature level in the shrink tunnel from dropping unintentionally, which regularly impairs the shrink quality and renders the containers still in the shrink tunnel unsuitable for further processing and necessitates disposal.

[0038] Embodiments have also proven effective in which the control device is designed to establish an online connection and to retrieve information about current market prices of one or more energy carriers via this online connection. In such embodiments, the control device can also be configured and equipped to take retrieved current market prices into account when allocating the at least one energy carrier to the different operating times.

[0039] In particular, the control device can be designed via the energy management system in such a way that, for an operating duration of the shrink tunnel stored on or specified to the control device, it assigns the at least one energy carrier or the several different energy carriers to the respective operating times in such a way that the shrink tunnel is operated as cost-effectively as possible over the specified operating duration, taking into account the retrieved information about the actual market prices.

[0040] Furthermore, the energy management system may allocate several energy sources for simultaneous conversion into heat energy during a specific operating period of the heating system or heating unit, beginning with the commissioning of the shrink tunnel. When a shrink tunnel is commissioned, it is desirable in practice to reach the desired temperature level within the tunnel as quickly as possible. If the heating system or heating unit converts several energy sources into heat energy simultaneously during commissioning, a large amount of heat energy can be provided when the shrink tunnel is started. This allows the shrink tunnel to reach its operating temperature very quickly, or, conversely, enables a temperature level to be established within the shrink tunnel very quickly that is suitable for shrink-wrapping thermoplastic packaging material onto individual items or groups of items.

[0041] This allows items to be transported through the shrink tunnel housing at an early stage, with cutouts of thermoplastic packaging material being shrunk onto the items.

[0042] Such designs thus lead to a high throughput in the production of containers, since the shrinking process can begin shortly after the shrink tunnel has been put into operation or shortly after the shrink tunnel housing has been heated.

[0043] The invention also relates to a method for heating a shrink tunnel via a heating system that can be operated independently of one another using several different energy carriers. Features that have already been mentioned previously in relation to various embodiments of the packaging system may also be provided in the embodiments of the method described below without needing to be mentioned again.

[0044] Similarly, features mentioned below for various embodiments of the method according to the invention may be provided in the embodiments of the packaging system described above without being mentioned again. The packaging system may be configured to carry out the embodiments of the method according to the invention described below. Furthermore, the embodiments of the method according to the invention described below can be carried out with the embodiments of the packaging system described above.

[0045] The method provides that a control device, via an energy management system, assigns at least one of the several different energy carriers to different operating times of the heating system, whereby the heating system converts the respective assigned energy carrier into heating energy at the respective operating time.

[0046] In various embodiments, the different energy carriers may be fuels. It is conceivable that all of the several different energy carriers are fuels. It is also possible that the several different energy carriers are partially fuels. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the several different energy carriers are partially fuels, and that one energy carrier is designed as electrical energy for conversion into heating energy.

[0047] The heating system may use wood pellets and / or SAF (synthetically active fuel) as energy sources to generate heat. Alternatively or additionally, the heating system may use oil and / or gas as energy sources to generate heat. The oil may be vegetable oil, particularly rapeseed oil. Alternatively or additionally, the heating system may also use electrical energy as energy sources to generate heat.

[0048] Thus, the control device may assign at least one of the several different energy carriers to different operating times of the heating system via the energy management system, where the at least one energy carrier is wood pellets or SAF or oil or gas or electrical energy.

[0049] Furthermore, the heating system may be supplied with electrical energy as an energy source via a photovoltaic system, and the control unit may receive information via a communication interface regarding the current output of the photovoltaic system and / or the output it has already generated over a past period or what output it is expected to generate in the future. The control unit can then take this information into account via its energy management system when allocating the respective energy source (at least one) at any given time during operation.

[0050] It is possible that the control unit retrieves online weather forecast data for the current location of the photovoltaic system and takes this data into account as information on the future expected performance of the photovoltaic system when allocating at least one energy carrier to the different operating times.

[0051] It is also possible that the control unit, via its energy management system, initiates the full or partial feed-in of electrical energy into a public grid whenever the electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic system is not required for conversion into heating energy for the shrink tunnel. Alternatively or additionally, the control unit, via its energy management system, may initiate the temporary storage of the electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic system, either fully or partially, in the at least one accumulator whenever the electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic system is not required for conversion into heating energy for the shrink tunnel.It is possible that the control device, via its energy management system, initiates the withdrawal of temporarily stored electrical energy from the at least one accumulator and the conversion of the electrical energy withdrawn from the at least one accumulator into heating energy, if the control device, via its energy management system, allocates electrical energy for conversion into heating energy to an operating time of the heating device and if electrical energy is temporarily stored via the at least one accumulator at this operating time.

[0052] If the control device assigns the conversion of electrical energy into heating energy to an operating time, it may be that the control device, via its energy management system, initiates the withdrawal of temporarily stored electrical energy from the at least one accumulator, and that the control device, via its energy management system, only specifies a draw of electrical energy from the public grid if the at least one accumulator has no electrical energy stored, or if the temporarily stored electrical energy in the at least one accumulator has already been withdrawn from the at least one accumulator and the at least one accumulator is at least approximately completely discharged.

[0053] In particular, it is possible that in the event of a power outage, the electrical energy required to operate the packaging plant is supplied by a battery. It is also possible that heating energy is generated by converting fuels into heat energy, and that only the remaining electrical energy required, e.g., for the control systems and drives, is supplied by the battery.

[0054] In particular, two variants are conceivable for such embodiments. In a first variant, operation of the packaging system can continue until all items remaining in the shrink tunnel of the packaging system have been removed. In a second variant, operation of the packaging system can continue until the accumulator has a charge level of only 10%, preferably 20%, and particularly preferably 30%.

[0055] Once a minimum load level is reached, no further items are fed into the shrink tunnel of the packaging system; however, the items still inside the shrink tunnel are removed. The shrink tunnel is then shut down.

[0056] In addition to or as an alternative to the embodiments described above, the heating system may initially convert electrical energy into heat energy. If a fault occurs in the supply of electrical energy, the control unit, via its energy management system, may automatically switch to converting fuel into heat energy via the heating system. In such embodiments, after switching to converting fuel into heat energy, all items currently in the shrink tunnel may be removed, and operation of the shrink tunnel may be interrupted until the fault is rectified. In particular, the control unit may automatically resume operation of the shrink tunnel immediately after the fault has been rectified.

[0057] In various embodiments, the control device can retrieve information on current market prices of one or more energy carriers via an online connection and take the retrieved information into account when assigning the at least one energy carrier to the different operating times.

[0058] The energy management system can be configured to simultaneously convert several energy sources into heat energy over a specific period, beginning with the commissioning of the shrink tunnel. In particular, it can be configured that this period ends when a predetermined target temperature is reached within the shrink tunnel. The control unit can be connected to a temperature sensor located inside the shrink tunnel housing. This temperature sensor allows the control unit to verify whether the predetermined target temperature has been reached within the shrink tunnel.

[0059] The following exemplary embodiments of the invention and its advantages will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures. The relative sizes of the individual elements in the figures do not always correspond to the actual relative sizes, as some shapes are simplified and others are enlarged for better illustration. Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention and illustrates steps as they may be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention; Fig. Figure 2 shows in the flowchart steps as they may be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention.

[0060] Identical reference numerals are used for identical or equivalently functioning elements of the invention. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only those reference numerals necessary for describing the respective figure are shown in the individual figures. The embodiments shown are merely examples of how the invention can be designed and do not constitute an exhaustive limitation.

[0061] The Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a packaging system 1 according to the invention and illustrates steps that may be provided in various embodiments of the method 100 according to the invention. The packaging system 1 comprises a shrink tunnel 5, which includes a shrink tunnel housing 19. Articles 8 are moved through the shrink tunnel housing 19 via a conveyor belt 7, which is continuously and cyclically driven by a motor 4. In this case, the articles 8 are beverage containers 9.

[0062] Several articles 8 have a pre-cut piece of thermoplastic packaging material 13 applied to them, which is shrunk onto the articles 8 during movement. Upon exiting the shrink tunnel housing 19, the respective articles 8 are connected via the pre-cut piece of thermoplastic packaging material 13 and form a package. The pre-cut piece of packaging material 13 was applied to the articles 8 via a wrapping module designed as part of the packaging system 1. The wrapping module is in Fig. 1 is not shown, but in practice it is located upstream of shrink tunnel 5.

[0063] The shrink tunnel housing 19 comprises a right side wall 15 and a left side wall 17, through which heating energy in the form of a hot gas flow is supplied to the shrink tunnel housing 19. In this case, the heating energy is supplied exclusively by introducing the hot gas flow through the right side wall 15 and the left side wall 17, for which purpose the right side wall 15 and the left side wall 17 each have several openings. The hot gas flow rate and the flow direction of the hot gas flow are described in Fig. 1 indicated by an arrow. However, it is also possible that a hot gas flow is additionally introduced into the shrink tunnel housing 19 from below and / or from above.

[0064] The hot gas flow rate, which provides the heating energy required for temperature control of the shrink tunnel housing 19, is generated by the heating system 25 and conveyed from the heating system 25 to the shrink tunnel housing 19 via a flow channel 26. The heating system 25 is a heating device 27, or rather exactly one heating device 27, which can convert several different energy carriers into heating energy, one of which is electrical energy.

[0065] Inside the shrink tunnel housing 19, at least one temperature sensor is arranged, which is in Fig. Figure 1 is not shown. The control unit S is connected to the temperature sensor and can use the temperature sensor to determine the current temperature level, which is formed in the shrink tunnel housing 19. In order to produce containers with at least approximately consistent shrinkage quality via the shrink tunnel 5, the temperature level must correspond to a predetermined target temperature level over time and be kept at least approximately constant.

[0066] For this reason, the control unit S is able to control or regulate the heating system 25 taking into account the respective actual temperature level within the shrink tunnel housing 19, thereby keeping the temperature level within the shrink tunnel housing 19 at least approximately constant over time. Thus, the heating system 25 may not operate for a certain period of time when the temperature level is at the specified target temperature level.

[0067] If the temperature level drops to a predetermined value, the heating system 25 can provide heating energy in the form of the hot gas flow rate and raise the temperature level again until it reaches a specific temperature value. The heating system 25 is controlled by the control unit S.

[0068] It is also conceivable that the heating system 25 continuously delivers a hot gas flow rate over time, regulated according to the respective temperature level inside the shrink tunnel 5. In this case, the control device S may detect via the temperature sensor that the temperature level inside the shrink tunnel housing 19 is decreasing.

[0069] The heating system 25 can then be controlled by the control unit S such that it outputs a larger absolute hot gas flow rate over a certain operating period. Alternatively or additionally, the heating system 25 can be controlled in this case such that it increases the temperature of the continuously output hot gas flow rate over a certain operating period. If, however, the control unit S detects, with the aid of the at least one temperature sensor, that the temperature level prevailing in the shrink tunnel housing 19 is increasing and exceeds a predetermined temperature value, the control unit S can control the heating system 25 such that it outputs a smaller absolute hot gas flow rate during continuous operation.

[0070] Alternatively or additionally, the control device S can regulate the heating system 25 in this case in such a way that the heating system 25 lowers the temperature of the hot gas volume flow during continuous operation.

[0071] The heating system 25 in the exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 1 can be operated with several different energy carriers and convert different energy carriers into heating energy. In the present case, the heating system 25 is designed to convert a fuel, which may sometimes be a fossil fuel, into heating energy as needed. In addition, the heating system 25 in the embodiment according to Fig. 1 trained to convert electrical energy into heating energy when needed.

[0072] In order to operate the shrink tunnel 5 without interruption, it is necessary that the heating system 25 has a continuous supply of an energy carrier for conversion into heating energy. Furthermore, in order to operate the shrink tunnel 5 economically, it is also necessary that the energy carrier can be provided cost-effectively.

[0073] To decide which energy source should be converted into heating energy by heating system 25 at any given operating time, the control unit S includes an energy management system. Using this energy management system, the control unit S decides for each operating time of the shrink tunnel 5, or for each operating time of heating system 25, which energy source will be converted into heating energy or from which energy source heating energy will be obtained at that particular operating time.

[0074] Furthermore, the control unit S makes a decision for each operating time of the shrink tunnel 5 or for each operating time of the heating system 25 as to whether heating energy should be provided by converting exactly one energy carrier or by converting several energy carriers simultaneously. The control unit S makes this decision using the energy management system and intelligent logic, taking into account economic and ecological aspects, as well as ensuring the security of the heating energy supply to the shrink tunnel 5 during its operating time.

[0075] Like it Fig. As can be seen from Figure 1, the packaging system 1 of the exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 1. A photovoltaic system 30 with several photovoltaic modules 32. A connection of the control device S to the photovoltaic system 30 via a communication interface is in Fig. 1 is only indicated by phantom lines. This is intended to clarify that the control unit S knows the power output of the photovoltaic system 30 at the respective operating time.

[0076] Furthermore, in Fig. It is only indicated that the heating system 25 obtains at least part of its electrical energy requirement, which is converted into heating energy, from the photovoltaic system 30. When the control unit S makes a decision via its energy management system as to whether heating energy should be provided by electrical energy and / or by a fuel at a given operating time, the control unit S thus takes into account information on the actual power output of the photovoltaic system 30 at that time. As a rule, the control unit S will initiate the conversion of electrical energy into heating energy if heating energy is required to temperature-control the interior of the shrink tunnel housing 19 and if the electrical energy necessary to provide the heating energy is generated by the photovoltaic system 30 at the respective operating time.

[0077] Embodiments with an energy management system and in particular also with a photovoltaic system 30 according to Fig. 1 have therefore proven effective in optimizing energy consumption, potentially also from an ecological perspective. For example, the energy management system of the control unit S may initially specify a conversion of the electrical energy provided by the photovoltaic system 32 into heating energy in order to temper the shrink tunnel 5, and only switch to a conversion of fuels into heating energy, or only resort to a supplementary conversion of fuels into heating energy, if the electrical energy provided by the photovoltaic system 30 is insufficient to maintain the temperature level in the shrink tunnel 5 at least approximately constant via the heating system 25.

[0078] When assigning at least one energy source to a given operating time, the control unit S takes into account information on the current output of the photovoltaic system 32 as well as other information that the control unit S receives via online access. For example, the control unit S can retrieve information on current market prices of the different energy sources, which determines which different energy sources the heating system 25 can convert into heating energy.

[0079] If, for example, the control unit S determines that converting electrical energy drawn from a public grid is less expensive than converting fuel into heating energy at a given operating time, the control unit S can specify that electrical energy is drawn from the public grid at that particular operating time and that no fuel is converted into heating energy at that particular operating time. This applies in particular if the electrical energy supplied by the photovoltaic system 30 at the respective operating time is insufficient to supply the heating system 25 with enough electrical energy for conversion into heating energy.

[0080] Embodiments with a photovoltaic system 30 and a control unit S, which includes an energy management system, offer further advantages that can have a positive economic impact during operation of the shrink tunnel 5. For example, the photovoltaic system 30 can be connected to the public grid via an inverter, with the packaging system being designed to feed electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic system 30 into the public grid. When the shrink tunnel 5 is not in operation, the control unit S can ensure that all electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic system 30 is fed into the public grid.

[0081] If the control unit S, with its energy management system, causes the heating system 25 to convert only one fuel into heating energy, all electrical energy generated at this operating time via the photovoltaic system 30 can be fed into the public grid.

[0082] As previously mentioned, the control unit S can retrieve information on current market prices for different energy sources online. In doing so, the control unit S may determine that operating the heating system 25 with a fuel is more cost-effective than operating it with electricity. If this is the case, the control unit S can then instruct the heating system 25 to convert the fuel or wood pellets into heating energy and arrange for the electricity generated by the photovoltaic system 30 to be fed into the public grid.

[0083] In addition to or as an alternative to connecting the photovoltaic system 30 to the public grid, it may be provided that the packaging system 1 has one or more accumulators which temporarily store the electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic system 30 when the heating system 25 converts only one fuel into heating energy at a certain operating time or when the amount of electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic system 30 exceeds the demand of the heating system 25.

[0084] In such embodiments, the energy management system of the control unit S can be configured to take into account the charge level of one or more accumulators when the control unit S assigns at least one energy carrier for conversion into heating energy to different operating times of the heating system 25. The electrical energy temporarily stored in the one or more accumulators can then be drawn from the one or more accumulators and converted into heating energy at the instigation of the control unit S.

[0085] The photovoltaic modules 32 can, for example, be arranged on a building roof at packaging plant 1. Alternatively, the photovoltaic modules 32 can be installed on a ground surface, which may be located in the immediate vicinity of a machine hall within which packaging plant 1 is located.

[0086] The temperature inside the shrink tunnel housing 19 can reach up to 250°C. When the shrink tunnel 5 is put into operation, the heating system 25 must provide a significant amount of thermal energy to achieve the required temperature inside the shrink tunnel housing 19. To enable the application of thermoplastic packaging material 8 to a large number of items, it is desirable for the shrink tunnel 5 to reach the required temperature quickly.

[0087] The energy management system on the control unit S can therefore specify that the heating system 25 converts different energy carriers into heat energy simultaneously when the shrink tunnel 5 is put into operation, until a temperature level intended for shrinking the cut pieces of thermoplastic packaging material 13 is reached. This shortens the heating time of the shrink tunnel 5, so that cut pieces of thermoplastic packaging material 13 can be shrunk onto article 8 after a comparatively short time.

[0088] Current shrink tunnels typically have a heating element that can only be operated electrically. If an unforeseen malfunction occurs, such as a power outage, the temperature inside the shrink tunnel housing 19 drops, so that the shrinking result often no longer meets specified quality criteria and containers may have to be rejected because they are unsuitable for further processing.

[0089] It has therefore proven advantageous if the control unit S can detect a fault in the supply of electrical energy via its energy management system and is also designed such that, for operating times of the shrink tunnel 5 when electrical energy is not supplied due to a fault, the control unit S initiates the conversion of fuel into heating energy via the heating system 25 at the corresponding operating time. In such embodiments, the shrink tunnel 5 has a low susceptibility to faults and can therefore be operated with high reliability.

[0090] The Fig. Figure 2 shows the flowchart steps as they can be provided in various embodiments of the method 100 according to the invention. The method 100 relates to a method for heating a shrink tunnel 5 via a heating system 25, which can be operated independently of one another using several different energy carriers. In the exemplary embodiment, the heating system 25 is as follows: Fig. 2 trained as dual burners.

[0091] In step 110, a control unit S first retrieves online information about the current market prices of the several different energy sources that allow the heating system 25 to be operated independently. The heating system 25 can be operated with wood pellets as an energy source, so in step 110 the control unit S retrieves current market prices for wood pellets. The heating system 25 can also be operated with gas as an energy source, so in step 110 the control unit S retrieves current market prices for gas as an energy source.

[0092] The control unit S includes an energy management system. In step 120, the control unit S, with its energy management system, assigns different energy carriers to different operating times of the heating system 25, taking into account the information retrieved in step 110. Specifically, the assignment is carried out such that the heating system 25 converts the respective energy carrier into heating energy as required at the respective operating time, for which it was determined in step 110, using the retrieved information, that converting this energy carrier at the operating time leads to a comparatively cost-effective operation of the shrink tunnel 5.

[0093] The different operating times and the at least one energy source assigned to each of these times are stored on the control unit S. In step 130, information about the assigned energy source and the respective operating time is output to a user. This output can be displayed on a screen and / or in printed form.

[0094] The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it is conceivable to a person skilled in the art that modifications or alterations of the invention can be made without departing from the scope of protection of the following claims. Reference symbol list 1 packaging plant 4 engine 5 shrink tunnels 7 Conveyor belt 8 articles 9 beverage containers 13 Cutting 15 right side of the case 17 left case wall 19 shrink tunnel housings 25 Heating system 26 Flow channel 27 Heating unit 30 photovoltaic systems 32 photovoltaic modules 100 procedures 110th procedural step, first procedural step 120th procedural step, second procedural step 130th procedural step, third procedural step S control unit QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2016 211 632 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Packaging system (1) comprising a shrink tunnel (5) with a heating system (25) which can be operated independently of each other using several different energy carriers, the packaging system (1) characterized by a control device (S) comprising an energy management system which assigns at least one energy carrier to different operating times of the heating system (25) for conversion into heating energy. [2] Packaging system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the heating system (25) consists of at least one heating device (27) or comprises at least one heating device (27) which can be operated independently of each other via several different energy carriers. [3] Packaging plant (1) according to claim 2, wherein the at least one heating device (27) is designed for converting wood pellets as an energy carrier into heating energy and / or for converting SAF as an energy carrier into heating energy and / or for converting gas as an energy carrier into heating energy and / or for converting oil as an energy carrier into heating energy and / or for converting electrical energy as an energy carrier into heating energy. [4] Packaging system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein - the heating system (25) is designed to convert electrical energy as an energy carrier into heating energy and which packaging plant (1) - a photovoltaic system (30) for supplying the heating system (25) with electrical energy, wherein the control device (S) has a communication interface via which information on the actual power output of the photovoltaic system (30) and / or on the future expected or past power output of the photovoltaic system (30) can be provided to the control device (S), and wherein the control device (S) is configured and equipped via its energy management system in such a way that it takes the provided information into account when allocating the at least one energy carrier to the different operating times. [5] Packaging system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein - the heating system (25) is designed to convert electrical energy as an energy carrier into heating energy and to convert fuel as an energy carrier into heating energy, and wherein the control device (S) is configured and equipped via its energy management system in such a way that, in the event of a fault in the supply of electrical energy, it independently initiates a conversion of the fuel into heating energy via the heating system (25). [6] Packaging system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein - the control device (S) is designed to establish an online connection and to retrieve information about actual market prices of one or more energy carriers via the online connection, and wherein the control device (S) is configured and equipped via its energy management system in such a way that it takes retrieved actual market prices into account when allocating the at least one energy carrier to the different operating times. [7] Packaging plant (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, in which the energy management system assigns several energy carriers for simultaneous conversion into heating energy to a specific operating period of the heating system (25) beginning with the commissioning of the shrink tunnel (5). [8] Method (100) for heating a shrink tunnel (5) via a heating system (25) which can be operated independently of each other using several different energy carriers, the method (100) characterized by , that a control device (S) via an energy management system assigns at least one of the several different energy carriers to different operating times of the heating system (25), wherein the heating system (25) converts the respective assigned at least one energy carrier into heating energy at the respective operating time. [9] Method (100) according to claim 8, wherein the different energy carriers are fuels. [10] Method (100) according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the heating system (25) converts wood pellets as an energy carrier and / or SAF as an energy carrier and / or gas as an energy carrier and / or oil as an energy carrier and / or electrical energy as an energy carrier into heating energy. [11] Method (100) according to one of claims 8 to 10, in which electrical energy is supplied to the heating system (25) via a photovoltaic system (30) as an energy carrier and in which the control device (S) is provided via a communication interface with information on the actual power output of the photovoltaic system (30) and / or on the power output of the photovoltaic system (30) which it has already provided over a past period or which power output can be expected in the future, and wherein the control device (S) takes this information into account via its energy management system when allocating the respective at least one energy carrier at the respective operating time. [12] Method (100) according to one of claims 8 to 11, in which the heating system (25) first converts electrical energy as an energy carrier into heating energy and in which the control device (S) automatically switches to converting a fuel into heating energy via the heating system (25) via its energy management system when there is a disturbance in the provision of electrical energy as an energy carrier. [13] Method (100) according to claim 12, wherein after a change to convert the fuel into heating energy, all articles (8) received in the shrink tunnel (5) at that time are transported out of the shrink tunnel (5) and operation of the shrink tunnel (5) is interrupted thereafter until the fault is rectified, and wherein it is provided in particular that the control device (S) automatically resumes operation of the shrink tunnel (5) immediately after the fault has been rectified. [14] Method (100) according to any one of claims 8 to 13, wherein the control device (S) retrieves information on actual market prices of one or more energy carriers via an online connection and takes the retrieved information into account when assigning the at least one energy carrier to the different operating times. [15] Method (100) according to one of claims 8 to 14, wherein the energy management system provides that several energy carriers are converted into heating energy simultaneously over a certain period of time beginning with the commissioning of the shrink tunnel (5) and wherein it is provided in particular that the certain period of time ends when a predetermined target temperature is reached in the shrink tunnel (5).

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