Shrinking device and method for shrinking a shrink material onto articles at least partially wrapped with the shrink material

Abstract

The invention relates to a shrinking device (1) and a method for shrinking a shrink material (4) onto articles (5) at least partially wrapped with the shrink material (4). The shrinking device (1) comprises an interior space (2) with at least one conveyor line (3) for transporting articles (5) wrapped with shrink material (4), wherein the articles (5) wrapped with shrink material (4) are conveyed through the shrinking device (1) in a transport direction over a transport surface (6) along the conveyor line (3). The shrinking device (1) comprises at least two spaced-apart shrinking agent introduction devices (9) which are designed to introduce shrinking agent (20) into the interior (2) of the shrinking device (1) in the direction of the conveyor line (3). Furthermore, the shrinking device (1) comprises at least one first shrinking agent generator (13) for supplying at least one shrinking agent introduction device (9) with shrinking agent (20), which first shrinking agent generator is arranged laterally of the conveyor line (3) and / or which is arranged within at least one shrinking agent introduction device (9).

Description

The present invention relates to a shrinking device and a method for shrinking a shrink material onto articles at least partially enveloped with the shrink material, having the features of the independent claims.The present invention is concerned with shrink devices which preferably require less energy and which are easier to maintain.In filling and packaging installations, it is known that articles, in particular bottles, cans, beverage cartons or the like, are wound around by means of a shrink film and then transported through a shrink tunnel. The articles wound around with shrink film are acted upon by a shrink medium or shrink agent, in particular by hot air. The shrink film shrinks and is placed against the articles or assemblage of articles. A cooling region with fans directly adjoining the shrink tunnel ensures rapid cooling of the packaging units or containers produced thereby, as a result of which the latter maintain their transportable strength.The basic construction of a shrink tunnel will be explained only in rough outline at this point. A person skilled in the art, who is concerned with the objects and themes of the packaging industry, is familiar with the construction of such shrink tunnels, so that no further detailed embodiments need be mentioned here.A shrink tunnel generally comprises a revolving endless conveying means which runs through a housing, which bounds the shrink tunnel, at least over a section. Furthermore, a shrink tunnel usually comprises a plurality of heating elements on its top side 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 uniform distribution of the hot air, the hot air, after its production by means of suitable hot air guides, is preferably guided partly into so-called duct walls and partly into a floor chamber which is located directly below the conveying means of the shrinking tunnel. Thus, the articles wound around with shrink film can preferably be actively acted upon with shrink medium from at least three sides.An object of the invention is therefore to optimize a shrinking device to the effect that the energy consumption for the production of the shrinking medium can be reduced. In addition, the maintenance of the shrink agent generator is to be facilitated.The above object is achieved by a shrinking device and a method for shrinking a shrink material onto articles at least partially enveloped with the shrink material, which comprise the features in the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments are described by the dependent claims.The articles to be acted upon within the shrinking device by means of shrinking means (sometimes also referred to below as shrinking medium) are formed, for example, by a combination of a plurality of articles which are enveloped with a packaging material. In this case, the article groups can additionally be arranged on what are known as trays, pads or the like.When reference is made in the present context to shrink medium, which is often also referred to as shrink medium, this usually means the gaseous medium which transports the elevated temperature required for the shrinkage and conveys it to the articles to be tempered. The shrink medium is thus generally formed by hot gas or hot air, which is blown onto the articles within the shrink tunnel in a defined manner and in the manner described below.Alternatively, article assemblies can be held together in the region of their mouth by a previously applied carton blank. If articles wrapped with shrink material are mentioned in many places in the following description, this term is also intended to always include a wrapping that only partially surrounds the articles. Since many conventional coverings leave so-called shrinkage eyes free, at which the articles are not covered or enclosed by film, such coverings can and should also be included in the term of articles covered with shrink material.For this purpose, it is provided that in a grouping device, optionally to be provided, or in another way, the articles are put together into article groups. Alternatively, however, individual articles can also be processed. These are subsequently wrapped with the packaging material in a wrapping device. In particular, in the wrapping device, a shrink film is wrapped around the articles or article assemblage. The tuck-in device can optionally be a component of the shrinking device, but this is not a requirement. The wrapping device can also be arranged upstream of the shrinking device in the transport direction.For the sake of simplicity, articles are mentioned below, wherein this expression is also intended to include, in principle, article compositions.The packaging material is preferably formed from a thermoplastic, flat shrink material, in particular a shrink film, which contracts upon the supply of heat and thus bears against the outwardly facing outer lateral surfaces of the articles, as a result of which a tight bond is produced in the form of a packaging unit, which packaging unit is also referred to below as a shrink container.Alternatively, the shrink material can be a shrink tube or a shrink label which is / is arranged around an individual article and is shrunk onto the article within the shrink device. In the case of a shrink label, it may be necessary to fix its position on the article at least temporarily before the beginning of the shrinking process by means of at least one bond, for example an adhesive point or the like. This or a similar fixing of the adhesive point can / can also be the case or can be carried out when shrink films are wrapped in.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 with at least one conveying section for the transport of the articles wrapped with shrinking material. The articles wrapped with shrink material are conveyed in a transport direction over a transport surface along the conveying section by the shrink device.In particular, the conveying section can be a corridor through which the articles and the applied shrink material pass.The transport surface is understood to mean essentially the upper surface of the conveying means on which the articles wrapped with shrink material are transported.The shrinking apparatus comprises at least two first shrink-agent introduction devices which are spaced apart from one another and are designed to introduce shrink agent into the interior of the shrinking apparatus in the direction of the conveying section. Preferably, these are first lateral shrink-agent introduction devices.According to one embodiment, it is provided that the lateral shrink-agent introduction devices are designed as shaft walls, which each have at least one outflow surface for shrink agents directed towards the respective conveying section.The shrinking device has in particular a housing with an interior. In particular, a shrink-agent introduction device is arranged completely in the interior of the housing, wherein the wall of the housing is part of the housing. Preferably, all available shrink-agent introduction devices can be arranged completely in the interior of the housing, wherein the wall of the housing is again intended to be part of the housing.It can be that during production no further part or component is installed between the shrink agent introduction device and the articles or their shrink material. In other words: the shrink-agent introduction device preferably directs the shrink agent directly onto the articles wrapped with shrink material.The distance between the shrink-agent introduction devices can be at least as large as a width of the articles which pass through the conveying section. Preferably, the distance can be greater than a width of the articles multiplied by 1.05, in particular 1.1, and smaller than a width of the articles multiplied by 4, in particular 2.5.As already mentioned above, the shrink agent or shrink medium is preferably a temperature-controlled fluid, in particular a temperature-controlled gas, preferably hot air or the like.The number of shrink-agent introduction devices or shaft walls can define the number of formed conveying sections. In the case of a one-way transport via the transport surface, what are known as outer shaft walls are preferably provided on both sides of the conveying section, in particular above the transport surface, which walls each have an outflow surface facing the interior of the shrinking device and a side surface facing the housing of the shrinking device (which is closed at least during the one-way production).In the case of two- or multiple-web transport of articles over the transport surface, three or more shrink-agent introduction devices or shaft walls are arranged above the transport surface. Between the plurality of, in particular n, shrink agent introduction devices or shaft walls, n-1 conveying paths are thereby formed. In particular, the conveying sections are each bounded in the vicinity of the housing of the shrinking device by outer shaft walls.Between the two outer shaft walls, preferably approximately centrally between the two outer shaft walls, in the case of two-track transport an inner (or also called middle) shaft wall is arranged, the two substantially vertical side surfaces of which are each formed parallel to the transport direction as outflow surfaces. The inner shaft wall thus supplies in particular shrink medium or shrink medium to the two parallel conveying sections, wherein the loading of the two parallel conveying sections with shrink medium can have approximately the same order of magnitude.In the case of a transport of more than two tracks, correspondingly more inner shaft walls are provided.Alternatively, it can be that in the case of two-web transport, four shaft walls for discharging shrinkage medium are arranged in the shrinkage device, two outer ones, as illustrated above, and two inner ones, wherein the two inner ones each have only one outflow surface from which shrinkage medium exits during production.According to one embodiment of the invention, it is provided that at least one of the at least two first shrink-agent introduction devices is designed to be movable transversely to a transport direction of the articles, such that a distance between the two first shrink-agent devices and thus a width of the conveying section can be varied and adapted to the articles respectively transported by the shrinking apparatus.The shrinking apparatus comprises at least one first shrink agent generator for supplying at least one shrink agent introduction device of the at least two first shrink agent introduction devices with shrink agent.In this case, it is provided that the at least one first shrink agent generator is arranged laterally of the conveying section, that is to say in a region which is at a distance from the conveying section in the horizontal direction.In particular, the shrink agent generator can be arranged at least in regions at a height which lies between 0.5 meter above a lower edge of the shrink device and 2.5 meters above the lower edge, preferably in a range between 0.9 m and 2.1 m, even more preferably between 1.2 m and 1.8 m. The lower edge is usually formed by the placement surface of the shrink device, in particular by the underside of machine feet, if present.In particular, the shrink-agent generator can have a handle with which it can be gripped and handled manually.For example, it can be provided that the at least one first shrink agent generator is arranged or formed within and / or on at least one shrink agent introduction device.A preferred embodiment provides that a horizontal distance between at least one first shrink-agent generator arranged laterally to the conveying section and the conveying section is designed to be adjustable. This applies both to a first shrink agent generator which is arranged laterally with respect to the conveying section and to a first shrink agent generator which is arranged or formed within or on at least one first shrink agent introduction device.The at least one first shrink-agent generator can be designed in a known manner as a heating register, a gas burning unit or as a blower. According to one embodiment, it is provided that the at least one first shrink agent generator is designed as a laterally displaceable heating register, a laterally displaceable gas burning unit or as a laterally displaceable fan.The term "laterally" as used herein refers in particular to a substantially horizontal direction which is oriented substantially perpendicular to the transport direction of the articles.One embodiment provides that the at least one first shrink agent generator is arranged in the interior of the shrink device in a working mode or in a production mode of the shrink device, and that the at least one first shrink agent generator is arranged outside the interior of the shrink device at least in regions in a change mode of the shrink device or in a maintenance mode of the shrink device.In order to realize this, one embodiment of the shrinking device provides that at least one first, in particular pivotably designed closure element is assigned to the at least one first shrink means generator. The first closure element assumes a closed state in the working mode. Furthermore, the first closure element assumes an open state in the change mode, so that the at least one first shrink agent generator is easily accessible in particular for maintenance, repair or replacement work in the change mode.For example, the at least one first closure element can be configured such that it can be pivoted upwards and / or laterally. Alternatively, the at least one first closure element can be designed to be displaceable upwards and / or laterally.A closure element can be, in particular, a door.A further embodiment provides that at least one of the at least two shrink-agent introduction devices is itself designed as a shrink-agent generator. In this case, a heating register, a gas burning unit or a blower can be arranged within at least one shrink agent introduction device.Thus, for example, it can be provided that a plurality of heating wires are arranged within the at least one shrink agent introduction device.Preferably, different heating wires along the shrink agent introduction device can be configured individually controllable with respect to their temperature in the transport direction and / or over the height of the shrink agent introduction device, so that the temperature of the shrink agent can be varied over the length of the shrink agent introduction device in the transport direction and / or over the height of the shrink agent introduction device.One embodiment of the shrinking apparatus provides that the two first shrink-agent introduction devices, in particular the two first shrink-agent introduction devices designed as outer shaft walls, each form a lateral delimitation of the conveying section or are arranged laterally with respect to the conveying section, such that the conveying section runs between the two first shrink-agent introduction devices.A further embodiment of the shrinking apparatus provides that a first shrink-agent introduction device, in particular a first shrink-agent introduction device designed as an inner shaft wall, is arranged above the transport plane and likewise delimits the adjacent conveying paths or is arranged laterally with respect to the adjacent conveying paths.Furthermore, at least one second shrink-agent generator can be arranged below the transport plane and thus below the at least one conveying section. The at least one second shrink agent generator is designed to introduce shrink agent into the interior of the shrink device with an upward flow direction.One embodiment provides that the transport surface is formed by an upper strand of a revolving endless conveyor belt. According to a preferred embodiment, the at least one second shrink-agent generator is arranged between the upper strand and a lower strand of the endless conveyor belt.The at least one second shrink-agent generator is preferably designed as a laterally displaceable heating register, a laterally displaceable gas burning unit or as a laterally displaceable fan. The second shrink agent generator may comprise a plurality of heating wires. Due to the lateral movability, the at least one second shrink agent generator can be arranged between the upper strand and the lower strand of the endless conveyor belt in the working mode or production mode. Furthermore, the at least one second shrink-agent generator can be arranged at least in regions in an area in the changeover mode or maintenance mode, which area is located outside an intermediate area formed between the upper run and the lower run of the endless conveyor belt.In particular, the second shrink-agent generator can be designed to be displaceable or displaceable in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the articles.Furthermore, it can be provided that at least one second closure element is assigned to the at least one second shrink agent generator, which second closure element assumes a closed state in the working mode and which second closure element assumes an open state in the change mode. Via the opened second closure element, the second shrink-agent generator is easily accessible in the change mode for maintenance, repair or replacement.In particular, the at least one second closure element can be configured such that it can be pivoted upwards and / or laterally. Alternatively, the at least one second closure element can be designed to be displaceable upwards and / or laterally or the like.It is also possible for further shrink-agent generators to be provided, which can be arranged parallel or in series with the first and / or second shrink-agent generator, wherein a series arrangement means a successive arrangement in the flow direction of the shrink-agent.In the case of a series connection, it is thus possible, for example, to preheat the shrink agent by a third shrink agent generator and heat to the final temperature by the first or second shrink agent generator.A heating register may include a plurality of heating resistors, which may be arranged side by side in multiple columns and / or rows.Return channels can be provided in the housing or within the interior space, which return channels, after encountering the articles, conduct the shrink agent back to a shrink agent generator in order to heat it up again.The device can have an insertion channel in the housing, through which a shrink agent generator can be inserted or inserted and removed or roughed.The housing and / or the shrink-agent generator can comprise a latching means, with which the shrink-agent generator can be latched relative to the housing.The housing and / or the shrink-fit generator can comprise a lever in order to release the latching.The locking can be, for example, a bayonet lock or some other quick-change lock.The invention further relates to a method for shrink-fitting a shrink material onto articles at least partially sheathed with the shrink material. The method comprises the following steps:transporting articles wrapped with shrink material over a transport surface along a conveying section through an interior of a shrink device,heating and / or accelerating a shrink agent laterally of the conveying section with at least one first shrink agent generator arranged laterally of the conveying section,directing shrink agent onto the shrink material wrapped articles as they are transported through the shrink device.One embodiment can provide that in a further method step, at least a part of the shrink agent is returned to the shrink agent generator. Since the recycled shrink agent already has the desired temperature or almost the desired temperature, no energy amount or only a small amount of energy has to be supplied to the recycled shrink agent before it is introduced again into the shrink agent introduction devices.A further embodiment of the method further comprises the following step: removing the at least one first shrink agent generator with a movement during a change mode, which movement comprises a horizontal, in particular a substantially lateral movement component.In particular, this is a lateral movement component directed substantially orthogonally to the transport direction of the articles. The movement component preferably comprises a lateral movement component directed away from the conveying section.A further step of the method can also comprise the insertion of a fourth shrink agent generator into the position in which the first shrink agent generator was previously located.This fourth shrink agent generator can be used as desired as long as the first shrink agent generator is being serviced. It would likewise be conceivable to continue the further operation with the fourth shrink-agent generator and to keep the first shrink-agent generator ready as a replacement unit for a later replacement.A preferred embodiment of the shrinking apparatus can provide that the at least one first shrink agent generator is laterally attached to a shrink agent introduction device. For example, it can be provided that a first shrink agent generator is arranged on the lateral outer lateral surfaces of the outer shaft walls and a fluid connection to the interior of the respective shaft wall is formed. By moving the shaft walls laterally orthogonally to the transport direction of the articles, and in particular in a movement directed away from the conveying section, the shrink-agent generators can be transferred into the change position.Alternatively, it can be provided that the at least one shrink agent generator is arranged laterally of the conveying section and is designed as a laterally extractable heating register, laterally extractable gas burning unit and / or laterally extractable blower.A shrink-fit generator can be designed as a combined blower-gas burning unit. Alternatively, it can be designed as a combined heating register blower unit.The advantages of the invention described here are that the maintenance, repair or replacement of the at least one first shrink agent generator and / or of the at least one second shrink agent generator is facilitated by the lateral accessibility compared to the shrink agent generators conventionally arranged above the conveying section. In addition, a plurality of shrink agent generators can be controlled and moved separately in order to adapt the position to different products, with the result that, for example, in the case of two-line processing, different products can be processed within the shrinking apparatus.Furthermore, the ascending heat of the shrink agent leads to an energy saving, in particular since this does not first have to be introduced into the shrink agent introduction devices with a downward movement.A further embodiment of the invention can provide that the at least one shrink agent generator arranged laterally to the conveying section is accessible via the conveying section.A further embodiment can provide that the at least one first shrink agent generator is assigned to an inner shaft wall or that an inner shaft wall is designed as a first shrink agent generator. The inner shaft wall divides the transport surface into two conveying sections and thus forms a lateral boundary for the two conveying sections.If at least two first shrink-agent generators are used within a shrinking device or at least one first shrink-agent generator and at least one second shrink-agent generator, it can be provided that these are each of the same design. This has the particular advantage that fewer different replacement parts have to be provided for the shrinking device if required.However, it is alternatively also possible to use different shrink-agent generators within the shrinking device. This may be expedient for space reasons, for example, or else in the sense of redundancy, since differently configured shrink-agent generators are also differently susceptible to errors, wear or the like.The invention is also directed to a system comprising an apparatus according to independent claim 1, and which may further comprise a filling apparatus and / or a packaging machine and / or a palletizing apparatus and / or other machines.It should be expressly mentioned at this point that all aspects and embodiment variants explained in connection with the shrinking device according to the invention relate or can likewise be partial aspects of the method according to the invention. If, therefore, certain aspects and / or relationships and / or effects are mentioned at a point in the description or also in the claim definitions relating to the shrinking device according to the invention, this applies equally to the method according to the invention. Conversely, the same applies, so that all aspects and embodiment variants explained in connection with the method according to the invention can also relate to or be partial aspects of the shrinking device according to the invention. If, therefore, certain aspects and / or relationships and / or effects are mentioned at a point in the description or also in the claim definitions relating to the method according to the invention, this applies equally to the shrinking apparatus according to the invention.Exemplary embodiments are intended to explain the invention and its advantages in more detail below with reference to the appended figures. The size ratios of the individual elements to one another in the figures do not always correspond to the real size ratios, since some shapes are simplified and other shapes are depicted enlarged in relation to other elements for better illustration.FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a shrinking device according to the invention. FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a shrinking device according to the invention. FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of a shrinking device according to the invention in a working mode. FIG. 4 shows the third embodiment of the shrinking device according to FIG. 3 in a change mode. FIG. 5 shows a fourth embodiment of a shrinking device according to the invention in the working mode. FIG. 6 shows the fourth embodiment of a shrinking device according to the invention in the change mode. Fig. 7 describes a packaging device comprising a shrinking device according to the invention. FIG. 8 describes a packaging plant comprising a shrinking device according to the invention.Identical reference numerals are used for identical or identically acting elements of the invention. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference numerals are shown in the individual figures, which are required for the description of the respective figure. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples of how the invention may be embodied and do not provide a final limitation.The schematic illustration of FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a shrinking apparatus 1 according to the invention. The shrinking apparatus 1 has an interior 2 and two conveying sections 3 for the two-web transport of articles 5 wrapped with shrinking material 4. The articles 5 wrapped with shrink material 4 are conveyed in a transport direction, which is configured orthogonally to the plane of the drawing, via a transport surface 6 along the conveying section 2 by the shrink device 1 (see also FIGS. 7 and 8 in this regard).The transport surface 6 is understood to mean substantially the upper surface of the conveying means or of the conveying device 7, on which the articles 5 wrapped with shrink material 4 are transported. The conveying device 7 is formed, for example, by a revolving endless conveyor belt, a mat chain or the like.In the exemplary embodiment shown, the shrinking apparatus 1 comprises three first shrink-agent introduction devices 8 spaced apart from one another, which are designed to introduce shrink agent 20 into the interior 2 of the shrinking apparatus 1 in the direction of the conveying sections 3. Two first shrink-agent introduction devices 8 each delimit one of the conveying sections 3. In particular, the first shrink-agent introduction devices 8 are designed as shaft walls 9, which each have at least one outflow surface for shrink agents 20 directed towards the respective conveying section 3.The number of shaft walls 9 defines the number of conveyor paths 3 formed. In the case of one-way transport via the transport surface 6, what are known as outer shaft walls 10 are preferably provided on both sides of the conveyor path 3, in particular above the transport surface 6, each of which has an outflow surface facing the interior 2 of the shrinking device 1 and a closed side surface facing the housing 11 of the shrinking device 1.In the case of two-web transport of articles 5 wrapped with shrink material 4 over the transport surface 6, three shaft walls 9 are arranged on or above the transport surface 6. Between the three shaft walls 9 two conveying paths 3 are thereby formed. In particular, the two conveying sections 3 are each bounded by outer shaft walls 9 in the vicinity of the housing 11 of the shrinking device 1.Arranged centrally or approximately centrally between the two outer shaft walls 9 is an inner shaft wall 12, the two substantially vertical side surfaces of which are each formed as outflow surfaces parallel to the transport direction. The inner shaft wall 12 thus supplies in particular shrink medium or shrink means 20 to the two parallel conveying sections 3, wherein the loading of the two parallel conveying sections 3 with shrink means 20 has or can have approximately the same order of magnitude.Alternatively, it can be that in the case of two-track transport, four shaft walls 9 are provided for the discharge of shrinkage medium 20 in the shrinkage device 1, two outer shaft walls 10, as illustrated above, and two inner shaft walls 12, wherein the two inner shaft walls 12 each have only one outflow surface from which shrinkage medium 20 exits during production.Furthermore, it can be provided that at least one of the at least two first shrink-agent introduction devices 8 is designed to be movable transversely to the transport direction of the articles 5 wrapped with shrink material 4, such that a distance between the two first shrink-agent devices 8 and thus a width of the conveying section 3 can be varied and adapted to the articles 5 respectively transported by the shrink device 1 wrapped with shrink material 4.The shrinking apparatus 1 comprises at least one first shrink agent generator 13 for supplying at least one first shrink agent introduction device 8 of the at least two first shrink agent introduction devices 8 with shrink agent 20.In this case, it can be provided that the at least one first shrink agent generator 13 is arranged laterally to the conveying section 3. In particular, in the embodiment according to FIG. 1, two first shrink-agent generators 13 are provided which are arranged laterally on the housing 11 of the shrinking apparatus 1. From these, the shrink agent 20 is introduced into a distribution channel 14 formed above the shaft walls 9 and, starting from the distribution channel 14, into the shaft walls 9.The first shrink-agent generators 13 can be configured in a known manner, for example, as a heating register, gas combustion unit, optionally with an integrated blower or as a blower or the like.The schematic illustration of FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a shrinking apparatus 1 according to the invention, which is likewise provided for two-web transport.For understanding reference numerals which are illustrated in FIG. 2 but are not mentioned separately, reference is made to the description of FIG. 1In the embodiment shown here, it is provided that a first shrink agent generator 13 is assigned to at least one first shrink agent introduction device 8. In particular, in the embodiment shown, each shaft wall 9 is assigned its own first shrink agent generator 13.For example, a heating register, a gas burning unit or a blower or the like is arranged within the outer shaft walls 10, so that the shrinking agent 20 is generated directly within the outer shaft walls 10 and introduced via the outflow surfaces into the respectively assigned conveying section 3.The inner shaft wall 12 can, on the other hand, be equipped with a plurality of heating wires 15, which plurality of heating wires 15 form a first shrink-agent generator 13. Preferably, different heating wires 15 can be configured individually controllable along the inner shaft wall 12 in the transport direction and / or over the height of the inner shaft wall 12, so that the temperature of the shrink means 20 can be varied over the length of the inner shaft wall 12 in the transport direction or over the height of the inner shaft wall 12.The shaft walls 9 are arranged on an upper suspension 16. The shaft walls 9 are preferably arranged on the upper suspension 16 such that they can slide, which is illustrated by the black double arrow on the left outer shaft wall 10. Thus, the distance between the shaft walls 9 and accordingly the width of the respective conveying section 3 can be adjusted depending on the product.Furthermore, it can be provided that air is sucked out of the interior 2 of the shrinking device via the upper suspension 16 and introduced into the shaft walls 9. Since this is already heated air, it has to be heated less strongly by the respective first shrink agent generators 13 in order to achieve the necessary shrink agent temperature.It is clear to the person skilled in the art that he can likewise equip the inner shaft wall 12 with a heating register, a gas burning unit or a blower or the like or that he can also equip the outer shaft walls 10 with heating wires 15. Also, both the outer shaft walls 10 and the inner shaft wall 12 can be equipped with identical first shrink-agent generators 13.FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of a shrinking device 1 according to the invention in a working mode 30; FIG. 4 shows the third embodiment of the shrinking device 1 according to FIG. 3 in a change mode 31.The differences from the embodiment of FIG. 2 will be discussed above in particular below.In the embodiment shown here, first shrink-agent generators 13 are arranged on the closed side surfaces of the outer shaft walls 10 and are in fluid communication with the latter, such that the shrink-agent 20 generated by the first shrink-agent generators 13 can be introduced into the outer shaft walls 10.First closure elements 17 are formed on the lateral walls of the housing 11 of the shrinking device 1, for example in the form of upwardly pivotable doors or the like. In the working mode 30, these first closure elements 17 are closed.In the change mode 31, on the other hand, the closure elements 17 are opened. The first shrink-agent generators 13 arranged on the outer shaft walls 10 are now easily accessible from the outside for maintenance, repair or replacement work.The example of the left outer shaft wall 10 also shows an embodiment which provides that the associated first shrink agent generator 13 is arranged in the interior 2 of the shrink device 1 in the working mode 30 or in a production mode of the shrink device 1, in particular within the housing 11 of the shrink device 1.For example, the suspension 16 extends out of the housing 11 so that the outer shaft wall 10 together with the associated first shrink agent generator 13 can be displaced into a position outside the housing 11. This further increases the accessibility of the first shrink agent generator 13 arranged on the left outer shaft wall 10 for maintenance, repair or replacement work.FIG. 5 shows a fourth embodiment of a shrinking device 1 according to the invention in the operating mode 30 and FIG. 6 shows the fourth embodiment of a shrinking device 1 according to the invention in the change mode 31.Here too, the differences from the previous figures are substantially discussed again, to the description of which reference is hereby made.In this embodiment, a further, in particular a second, shrink-agent generator 18 is provided, which is arranged below the conveying section 3. The second shrink agent generator 18 is designed to introduce shrink agent 20 into the interior 2 of the shrinking apparatus 1 with an upward flow direction.In the embodiment shown here, the transport surface 6 is formed by an upper strand 25 of a revolving endless conveyor belt 26. The second shrink-agent generator 18 is arranged in particular between the upper strand 25 and the lower strand 27 of the endless conveyor belt 26. As a result, the second shrink agent generator 18 can be arranged in a very space-saving manner within the shrinking apparatus 1.Preferably, the second shrink agent generator 18 is designed as a laterally displaceable heating register, a laterally displaceable gas burning unit, as a laterally displaceable blower or the like. Due to the lateral movability, the second shrink agent generator 18 is arranged between the upper strand 25 and the lower strand 27 of the endless conveyor belt 26 in the working mode 30 or production mode. In contrast, the second shrink-agent generator 18 can be arranged in the changeover mode 31 or maintenance mode at least in regions outside the region formed between the upper strand 25 and the lower strand 27 of the endless conveyor belt 26.Furthermore, the shrinking device has a closure element 19 which assumes a closed state in the operating mode 30 and which assumes an open state in the change mode 31. In particular, the closure element 19 can be designed to be pivotable upwards and / or laterally or the like; alternatively, the closure element 19 can be designed to be displaceable upwards and / or laterally.In the exemplary embodiment shown, both the right outer shaft wall 10, which is equipped with heating wires, and the second shrink-agent generator 13 in the change mode 31 are easily accessible for maintenance, repair or replacement via the opened closure element 19.In particular if the second shrink-agent generator 18 is additionally designed to be laterally movable, it can be moved at least in regions into a position outside the housing 11 of the shrinking apparatus 1 for maintenance, repair or replacement work.In addition, it can be provided that the shaft walls 9 can be moved into a more readily accessible position in the change mode 31, in particular into a position outside the housing 11.Furthermore, an embodiment is described which supplies the shaft walls 9 with shrinkage means 20 in a conventionally known manner from a shrinkage means generator arranged above the conveying section. This embodiment has a second shrink agent generator 18 arranged between the upper strand 25 and the lower strand 27, which is preferably designed to be laterally movable and is accessible from the side via a closure element assigned to the housing 11 of the shrinking device 1.With the described shrinking devices 1 according to the invention, in particular a method for shrinking a shrink material 4 onto articles 5 at least partially wrapped with the shrink material 4 can be carried out, which comprises the following steps:transporting articles 5 wrapped with shrink material 4 over a transport surface 4 along a conveying section 3 through an interior 2 of a shrink device 1,heating and / or accelerating a shrink medium or shrink means 20 laterally of the conveying section 3 with at least one first shrink means generator 13 arranged laterally of the conveying section 3,guiding shrinking agent 20 onto the articles 5 wrapped with shrinking material 4 while these are being transported through the shrinking device 1.A further embodiment can provide that in a further method step, at least a part of the shrink agent 20 introduced into the interior 2 is returned to a first shrink agent generator 13. Since the returned shrink agent 20 already has the desired temperature or almost the desired temperature, no energy amounts or only small energy amounts have to be supplied to the returned shrink agent 20 before it is introduced again into the shrink agent introduction devices 8 or shaft walls 9.A further embodiment of the method comprises in particular the following step: removing the at least one first shrink agent generator 13 with a movement during a change mode 31, which movement comprises a horizontal, in particular a substantially lateral movement component. In particular, this is a lateral movement component directed substantially orthogonally to the transport direction of the articles 5. The movement component preferably comprises a lateral movement component directed away from the conveying section 3.FIG. 7 shows and describes a packaging device 35 which comprises a shrinking device 1 according to the invention.The products to be acted upon by means of the shrinking medium or shrinking means 20 within the shrinking apparatus 1 are formed, for example, by a plurality of articles 5, which are enveloped with a packaging material. The packaging material is preferably formed from a thermoplastic, flat shrink material 4, in particular a shrink film, which contracts upon the supply of heat and thus bears against the outwardly facing outer lateral surfaces of the articles 5, as a result of which a tight bond is produced in the form of a packaging unit 39, which packaging unit 39 is also referred to as a shrink container 40.For this purpose, it is provided that the articles 5 are assembled in a grouping module 36 to form article groups 37. These are subsequently wrapped with the shrink material 4 in a film wrapping module 38. In particular, in the film wrapping module 38, a shrink film is wrapped around the article group 37.The shrink material 4 is provided in the form of film rolls 41 and cut to length by a cutting device 42 and provided to the film wrapping module 38The finished packaging units 39 are then fed to further processing, for example grouping and palletizing.Alternatively, the shrink material 4 can be a shrink tube or a shrink label which is / is arranged around an article 5 and is shrunk onto the article 5 within the shrinking apparatus 1. In the case of a shrink label, it may be necessary to fix its position on the article 5 by means of an adhesive point or the like at least temporarily before the beginning of the shrinking process. This or a similar fixing of the adhesive point can / can also be the case or can be carried out when shrink films are wrapped in.The articles 5 are preferably containers, in particular beverage containers such as bottles, cans or the like made of glass, plastic, metal etc.The schematic top view of FIG. 8 furthermore describes an embodiment variant of a more complex beverage packaging plant 45 which comprises a shrinking device 1 according to the invention.The beverage packaging plant 45 may comprise a wet part 46 with a can and / or bottle dispenser or a stretch blow molding machine 47, a filling module 48 and a closing module assigned to the filling module 48 as well as optionally a labeling module 50. Reference numeral 49 may denote, for example, a pasteur or a buffer.Subsequently, the drinks filled in cans or bottles are combined in a packaging device 35 according to FIG. 7 to form packaging units 39 or "articles" are produced.The packaging device 35 comprises in particular a shrinking device 1 according to the invention.The packaging units 39 are subsequently assembled in a handling module 53 or the like, which is designed as a grouping module 51 or layer forming module 52, to form palletizable layers, which are stacked on pallets in a palletizing device 54.The overlap between 51 and 35 is only shown in the drawing, because in practice the two elements are spaced apart from each other. For example, palletizer 54 and array 51 may be located at a higher level.Within the beverage packaging plant 45, the articles and packaging units or piece goods are conveyed from one handling module to the next via suitable transport systems, which are optionally equipped with suitable buffer systems.The components of the beverage packaging plant 45 are to be understood as being only exemplary. Other configurations comprising a shrinking device 1 according to the invention are also intended to be encompassed by the application.The embodiments, examples and variants of the preceding paragraphs, the claims or the following description and the figures, including their different views or respective individual features, can be used independently of one another or in any combination. Features described in connection with an embodiment are applicable to all embodiments, unless the features are incompatible.At this point, a definitive reference is made to the descriptions of embodiments of the invention, these description passages referring in each case to the attached drawings. If "schematic" representations and views are generally mentioned in connection with the figures and their descriptions, this means by no means that the figure representations and their description should be of secondary importance with regard to the disclosure of the invention. The person skilled in the art is well able to obtain from the schematically and abstractly drawn representations enough information that facilitates the understanding of the invention without having to be impaired in his understanding in any way, for example, from the size ratios drawn and possibly not exactly to scale. The figures thus make it possible for the person skilled in the art as a reader to derive a better understanding of the inventive idea formulated in the claims and also in the general part of the description of more general and / or abstract terms on the basis of the implementations of the method according to the invention explained more specifically and the functionality of the shrinking device according to the invention explained more specifically.The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that modifications or alterations of the invention may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.Reference numerals denote reference numerals1 Shrinking device 2 Interior 3 Conveying section 4 Shrink material 5 Article 6 Transport surface 7 Conveying device 8 First shrink agent introduction device 9 Shaft walls 10 Outer shaft wall 11 Housing 12 Inner shaft wall 13 First shrink agent generator 14 Distribution channel 15 Heating wire 16 Suspension 17 First closure element 18 Second shrink agent generator 19 Closure element 20 Shrink agent 25 Upper strand 26 Endless conveyor belt 27 Lower strand 30 Working mode 31 Changeover mode 35 Packaging device 36 Grouping module 37 Article group 38 Film tuck module 39 Packaging unit 40 Shrink container 41 Film roll 42 Cutting device 45 Beverage packaging installation 46 Wet part 47 Stretch blow molding module or can pusher 48 Filling module 49 Pasteur or buffer 50 Labeling module 51 Grouping module 52 Layer formation module 53 Handling module 54 Palleting device TR Transport direction

Claims

Shrinking device (1) for shrinking a shrink material (4) onto articles (5) at least partially sheathed with the shrink material (4), - wherein the shrinking device (1) comprises an interior space (2) with at least one conveying section (3) for the transport of articles (5) sheathed with shrink material (4), wherein the articles (5) sheathed with shrink material (4) are conveyed in a transport direction (TR) via a transport surface (6) along the conveying section (3) through the shrinking device (1), - wherein the shrinking device (1) comprises at least two shrink agent introduction devices (9) spaced apart from one another, which are designed to introduce shrink agent (20) into the interior space (2) of the shrinking device (1) in the direction of the conveying section (3), and - wherein the shrinking apparatus (1) comprises at least one first shrink agent generator (13) for supplying at least one shrink agent introduction device (9) with shrink agent (20), - which at least one first shrink agent generator (13) is arranged laterally with respect to the conveying section (3), and / or - which at least one first shrink agent generator (13) is arranged within at least one shrink agent introduction device (9).Shrinking device (1) according to claim 1, in which a horizontal distance between the at least one first shrink agent generator arranged laterally to the conveying section (3) and the conveying section (3) is adjustable.Shrinking device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, in which the at least one first shrink agent generator (13) is designed as a heating register, a gas burning unit or as a blower, in particular as a laterally displaceable heating register, a laterally displaceable gas burning unit or as a laterally displaceable blower.Shrinking device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the at least one first shrink agent generator (13) is arranged in the interior (2) of the shrinking device (1) in an operating mode (30) of the shrinking device (1), and wherein the at least one first shrink agent generator (13) is arranged outside the interior of the shrinking device (1) at least in regions in a changeover mode (31) of the shrinking device (1).Shrinking device (1) according to claim 4, wherein at least one first, in particular pivotably designed, closure element (17) is assigned to the at least one first shrink means generator (13), which first closure element (17) assumes a closed state in the working mode (30) and which first closure element (17) assumes an open state in the change mode (31) and via which open first closure element (17) the at least one first shrink means generator (13) is accessible in the change mode (31).Shrinking apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of heating wires (15) are arranged within the at least one shrink-agent introduction device (9).Shrinking apparatus (1) according to claim 6, wherein different heating wires (15) can be individually controlled along the shrink-agent introduction device (9) in the transport direction (TR) and / or over the height of the shrink-agent introduction device (9).Shrinking device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the two first shrink-agent introduction devices (9) are each arranged laterally of the conveying section (3).Shrinking device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which at least one second shrink agent generator (18) is arranged below the conveying section (3), which at least one second shrink agent generator (18) is designed to introduce shrink agent (20) into the interior (2) of the shrinking device (1) with an upward direction of flow.Shrinking device (1) according to claim 9, wherein the transport surface (6) is formed by an upper run (25) of a revolving endless conveyor belt (26), wherein the at least one second shrink agent generator (18) is arranged between the upper run (25) and a lower run (27) of the endless conveyor belt (26).Shrinking apparatus (1) according to claim 10, wherein the at least one second shrink agent generator (18) is formed as a laterally displaceable heating register, a laterally displaceable gas burning unit or as a laterally displaceable fan, or wherein the at least one second shrink agent generator (18) is formed by a plurality of heating wires (15).Shrinking device (1) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the at least one second shrink agent generator (18) is arranged between the upper strand (25) and the lower strand (27) of the endless conveyor belt (26) in the working mode (30), and wherein the at least one second shrink agent generator (18) is arranged at least in regions outside the region formed between the upper strand (15) and the lower strand (27) of the endless conveyor belt (26) in the changeover mode (31).Shrinking device (1) according to one of claims 9 to 12, wherein at least one second closure element (19) is assigned to the at least one second shrink agent generator (18), which second closure element (19) assumes a closed state in the working mode (30) and which second closure element (19) assumes an open state in the change mode (31), and via which opened second closure element (19) the second shrink agent generator (18) is accessible in the change mode (31).Method for shrink-fitting a shrink material (4) onto articles (5) at least partially sheathed with the shrink material (4), which method comprises at least the following steps: - transporting articles (5) sheathed with shrink material (4) over a transport surface (6) along a conveying section (3) through an interior space (2) of a shrinking device (1), - heating and / or accelerating a shrink means (20) laterally of the conveying section (3) with at least one first shrink means generator (13) arranged laterally of the conveying section (3), and - guiding shrink means (20) onto the articles (5) sheathed with shrink material (4) during the transport of the articles (5) sheathed with shrink material (4) through the shrinking device (1).Method according to claim 14, further comprising the following step: - Movement of the at least one first shrink agent generator (13) for transferring the at least one first shrink agent generator (13) from a working mode (30) into a change mode (31), which movement comprises a horizontal, in particular a lateral movement component directed substantially orthogonally to a transport direction (TR) of the articles (5), in particular wherein the movement component comprises a lateral movement component directed away from the conveying section (3).

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