Heat shrinkage device

Abstract

To provide a heat shrinkage device that prevents water droplets from adhering to articles.SOLUTION: A heat shrinkage device (1) includes: a steam nozzle (41) that spouts steam (S) to a cap seal (L1), and a hot air blowing hole (51) provided below the steam nozzle (41) and blowing hot air (HA) to a portion of a container (B) where the cap seal (L1) is not fitted.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a heat shrinkage device for heating and shrinking a shrink film fitted to an article.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, for the purpose of sealing, it is known to attach a cap seal made of a heat-shrinkable shrink film to the mouth of a container. In relation to this type of technology, Patent Document 1 discloses suppressing the temperature rise of the contents by ejecting cooling water to the body of the container when heating and shrinking the cap seal with steam.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the conventional technology as described above, since water droplets adhere to the body of the container, there is a possibility that a tack seal, a heat-sensitive label, etc. attached to the container after the heat shrinkage of the cap seal may be easily peeled off.

[0005] One aspect of the present invention has been made in view of the above conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a heat shrinkage device in which it is difficult for water droplets to adhere to an article.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the above problems, a heat shrink device according to one aspect of the present invention is a heat shrink device for heating and shrinking a shrink film fitted onto a part of an article being conveyed in a conveying direction, comprising: a steam ejection port for ejecting steam onto the shrink film; and a gas ejection port positioned vertically apart from the steam ejection port for ejecting gas onto a part of the article that is not fitted with the shrink film.

[0007] To solve the above problems, a heat shrink device according to one aspect of the present invention is a heat shrink device for heating and shrinking a shrink film fitted onto a part of an article being conveyed in the conveying direction, comprising: a steam ejection port for ejecting steam onto the shrink film; and a gas ejection port for ejecting gas onto a part of the article not fitted with the shrink film, thereby reducing the adhesion of the steam to that part. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, a heat shrinking device can be provided that makes it difficult for water droplets to adhere to an article. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a front view showing a heat shrink device according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the inner wall of the heated tunnel. [Figure 3] This is an enlarged view of the area enclosed by the dashed line shown in Figure 1. [Figure 4] This is a front view showing a heat shrink device according to Embodiment 2. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] [Embodiment 1] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. In this embodiment, an example of attaching a cap seal to the mouth of a container using a heat shrink device according to one aspect of the present invention will be described. However, the following description is illustrative of the heat shrink device according to the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the illustrated example.

[0011] (Overview of Heat Shrinkage Apparatus 1) Figure 1 is a schematic front view showing the heat shrinking device 1 according to this embodiment. The heat shrinking device 1 is a device for attaching a cap seal (shrink film) L1 to the mouth of a container (article) B. Containers B fitted with unshrunk cap seals L1 are transported by a conveyor (transport section) T and sequentially fed into the heat shrinking device 1. The heat shrinking device 1 sprays steam S onto the cap seal L1 as the container B passes through the device, heating and shrinking the cap seal L1 to make it adhere tightly to the container B.

[0012] In this embodiment, the heat shrinking device 1, when spraying steam S onto the cap seal L1 fitted over the mouth of the container B, sprays hot air (gas) HA onto the body of the container B where the cap seal L1 is not fitted, thereby reducing the amount of steam S adhering to the body of the container B. As a result, water droplets are less likely to adhere to the body of the container B after the cap seal L1 has been heat-shrunk, that is, after the container B has been removed from the heat shrinking device 1, and peeling off of tack seals, thermal labels, etc. that are attached to the body in the next process can be prevented.

[0013] The cap seal L1 is made of a heat-shrinkable polyester or polystyrene film with letters, designs, etc., printed on it, and is formed in a cylindrical shape. The container B to which the cap seal L1 is attached is, for example, a glass bottle, a can, or a polyester PET bottle formed by blow molding. However, the object to which the shrink film such as the cap seal L1 is attached is not limited to a container, but any article that is used with the shrink film wrapped around it. In this embodiment, the container B has a shape in which a small diameter mouth and a large diameter body are connected by a shoulder that widens from the mouth towards the body. The inside of the container B is filled with contents such as liquid, and its mouth is closed with a fitted cap C made of molded polyethylene or the like.

[0014] (Configuration of the heat shrinking device 1) Next, the configuration of the heat shrinking device 1 will be explained with reference to Figures 1 to 3. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the inner wall of the heating tunnel 2 shown in Figure 1. In the following explanation, the direction in which the container B is transported by the conveyor T may be referred to as the transport direction X, the direction perpendicular to the transport direction X in a plan view as the left-right direction Y, and the direction perpendicular to both the transport direction X and the left-right direction Y as the up-down direction (vertical direction) Z.

[0015] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the heat shrinking device 1 comprises a heating tunnel 2 and an exhaust duct 3 connected to the heating tunnel 2 for forcibly exhausting steam S and the like from inside the heating tunnel 2. The heat shrinking device 1 also comprises a steam supply unit (not shown) that supplies steam S to the heating tunnel 2 and an air supply unit (not shown) that supplies pressurized air (air) A to the heating tunnel 2.

[0016] (Heated Tunnel 2) The heating tunnel 2 is a heating furnace that heats and shrinks the cap seal L1. The heating tunnel 2 is provided to cover a linear conveyor T, such as a belt conveyor or a roller conveyor. The heating tunnel 2 includes a pair of steam ejection units 4 positioned on both sides of the container B being conveyed, and a pair of hot air ejection units 5 positioned below the pair of steam ejection units 4.

[0017] The heating tunnel 2 includes, inside thereof, a steam ejection hole 41 for ejecting steam S toward the cap seal L1, and a hot air ejection hole (gas ejection hole) 51 that is disposed below (vertically downward) the steam ejection hole 41 and ejects hot air HA toward the body portion of the container B where the cap seal L1 is not fitted. Further, the heating tunnel 2 includes, inside thereof, a wind direction adjustment plate (adjustment plate) 6 that is disposed above the hot air ejection hole 51 and between the steam ejection hole 41 and the hot air ejection hole 51 and adjusts the direction of the hot air HA ejected from the hot air ejection hole 51, that is, the wind direction of the hot air HA, and a closing plate 7 that is disposed below the hot air ejection hole 51. The hot air ejection hole 51 is sandwiched in the vertical direction Z by the wind direction adjustment plate 6 and the closing plate 7, and the hot air HA is ejected from the gap sandwiched by the wind direction adjustment plate 6 and the closing plate 7.

[0018] The steam ejection holes 41 are disposed along the conveyance direction X on two inner walls of the steam ejection unit 4 that face each other with the container B therebetween so as to be positioned on both sides of the conveyed container B. The steam ejection holes 41 are disposed at the height position of the cap seal L1, that is, the height position of the mouth portion of the container B. The position of the steam ejection holes 41 in the vertical direction Z may be adjustable according to the position of the cap seal L1. Further, the amount of the steam S ejected from the steam ejection holes 41 may be adjustable by a supply steam amount adjustment valve (not shown).

[0019] In the present embodiment, the steam ejection holes 41 are circular through holes formed in the inner wall of the steam ejection unit 4, and a plurality of steam ejection holes 41 are disposed in two upper and lower stages. Specifically, on the upstream (carry-in) side in the heating tunnel 2, the number of stages of the steam ejection holes 41 is only one stage on the lower stage side, and it is a positioning zone for heating the lower side of the cap seal L1 fitted to the carried-in container B and positioning the cap seal L1 with respect to the container B. Further, on the downstream side of the positioning zone, the number of stages of the steam ejection holes 41 is two upper and lower stages, and it is a main heating zone and a finishing zone for heating the entire positioned cap seal L1 and attaching the cap seal L1 to the container B.

[0020] Incidentally, the number (number of stages), position, shape, etc. of the steam ejection holes 41 can be appropriately changed according to the dimensions of the container B and the cap seal L1. For example, the number of stages of the steam ejection holes 41 is preferably around 10 stages, and the ejection position of the steam S in the vertical direction X may be changed by blocking a part of the steam ejection holes 41 according to the dimensions of the container B and the like. Further, the shape of the steam ejection holes 41 is preferably circular, but may be a shape such as a vertical slit. Furthermore, the interval in the left - right direction Y between the steam ejection units 4 facing each other can also be appropriately changed according to the dimensions of the container B and the cap seal L1.

[0021] A steam supply part (not shown) is connected to the steam ejection unit 4 through a steam supply port 42 (see FIG. 2) communicating with the steam ejection holes 41. The steam ejection unit 4 heats and shrinks the cap seal L1 by ejecting the steam S supplied from the steam supply part from the steam ejection holes 41. The steam ejection holes 41 may eject superheated steam as the steam S. Superheated steam is steam obtained by further heating saturated steam evaporated at 100°C to a higher temperature. By using superheated steam as the steam S, the heating efficiency of the cap seal L1 can be increased.

[0022] The warm - air ejection holes 51 are arranged below the steam ejection holes 41. Specifically, the warm - air ejection holes 51 are arranged along the conveyance direction X on two opposing inner walls of the warm - air ejection unit 5 so as to be located on both sides of the conveyed container B. The warm - air ejection holes 51 eject warm air HA below the cap seal L1, that is, onto the body part of the container B where the cap seal L1 is not fitted, thereby reducing the adhesion of the steam S to the body part of the container B.

[0023] In this embodiment, two hot air ejection units 5 are arranged along the transport direction H. The hot air ejection holes 51 are rectangular through-holes drilled in the inner wall of each hot air ejection unit 5, with their longitudinal direction in the transport direction X. Above the hot air ejection holes 51, a wind direction adjustment plate 6 is provided, which defines the upper end of the hot air ejection hole 51 and adjusts the direction of the hot air HA. Below the hot air ejection holes 51, a closing plate 7 is provided, which defines the lower end of the hot air ejection hole 51. The width of the hot air ejection hole 51 in the vertical direction X can be changed by adjusting the distance between the wind direction adjustment plate 6 and the closing plate 7.

[0024] In the inner wall of the heated tunnel 2, if the region where the steam outlet 41 is located is defined as the steam outlet region R1, and the region where the hot air outlet 51 is located is defined as the hot air outlet region (gas outlet region) R2, the length of the hot air outlet region R2 in the transport direction X may be greater than or equal to the length of the steam outlet region R1 in the transport direction X. The length of the steam outlet region R1 in the transport direction X is the distance between the outer end (upstream end) of the steam outlet 41 located furthest upstream in the transport direction X and the outer end (downstream end) of the steam outlet 41 located furthest downstream. Similarly, the length of the hot air outlet region R2 in the transport direction X is the distance between the outer end (upstream end) of the hot air outlet 51 located furthest upstream in the transport direction X and the outer end (downstream end) of the hot air outlet 51 located furthest downstream. This allows the hot air outlet region R2 to be positioned so as to overlap the entire steam outlet region R1 in a plan view, enabling the hot air HA to be discharged over the entire steam outlet region R1, thereby reducing the adhesion of steam S to the container B.

[0025] Furthermore, the hot air ejection region R2 may overlap with the entire steam ejection region R1 in a plan view and may extend further upstream in the transport direction X than the steam ejection region R1. This allows the container B to be preheated by the hot air B before the steam S is ejected. As a result, the adhesion of steam S to the container B can be effectively reduced.

[0026] An air supply unit (not shown) is connected to the hot air ejection unit 5 via an air supply port 52 (see Figure 1) that communicates with the hot air ejection hole 51. Pressurized air A at room temperature is supplied to the heating tunnel 2 from the air supply unit. Inside the hot air ejection unit 5, multiple folded air heating pipes (gas heating pipes) 53 are arranged, through which steam S supplied from the aforementioned steam supply unit passes. Therefore, the pressurized air A supplied to the inside of the hot air ejection unit 5 from the air supply port 52 is heated by contact with the circumferential surface of the air heating pipes 53 and ejected as hot air HA from the hot air ejection hole 51. In this way, by using superheated steam to generate hot air HA, the energy consumption of the heating and shrinking device 1 can be reduced. The steam S that has passed through the air heating pipes 53 may be supplied to the steam ejection unit 4 from the steam supply port 42 either directly or after reheating. This allows the steam S used to heat the pressurized air A to be reused for the thermal shrinkage of the cap seal L1, thereby reducing the amount of steam S used. Furthermore, if superheated steam is used as the steam S, the heating efficiency of the pressurized air A can be increased.

[0027] Alternatively, the heated pressurized air A may be directly supplied to the hot air ejection unit 5 and ejected as hot air HA from the hot air ejection port 51. In this case, since there is no need to heat the pressurized air A inside the hot air ejection unit 5, heating mechanisms such as air heating piping 53 may be omitted from the hot air ejection unit 5.

[0028] The position and shape of the hot air outlet 51 can be appropriately changed according to the dimensions of the container B. Furthermore, the spacing between the opposing hot air outlet units 5 in the left-right direction Y can also be appropriately changed according to the dimensions of the container B.

[0029] In the heating tunnel 2, the hot air HA ejected from the hot air outlet 32 ​​onto the body of the container B is reflected off the surface of the container B, and a portion of it hits the cap seal L1. If the wind speed or volume of the hot air HA hitting the cap seal L1 is large, a deterioration in the quality of the cap seal L1 may occur (for example, the occurrence of wrinkles or uneven shrinkage). For this reason, it is preferable to adjust the amount of hot air HA hitting the cap seal L1 to an appropriate range so as to reduce the adhesion of steam S to the body of the container B while preventing a deterioration in the quality of the cap seal L1. Therefore, in the heating tunnel 2, a wind direction adjustment plate 6 for adjusting the wind direction of the hot air HA ejected from the hot air outlet 51 is placed above the hot air outlet 51, making it easier to adjust the amount of hot air HA hitting the cap seal L1.

[0030] Figure 3 is an enlarged view showing the area P enclosed by the dashed line in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 3, the airflow adjustment plate 6 is positioned at an angle opposite to the cap seal L1, i.e., tilted downwards. Specifically, the airflow adjustment plate 6 includes a first portion 61 extending along the vertical direction Z and a second portion 62 extending from the lower end of the first portion 61 toward the container B. The second portion 62 forms an angle θ with the first portion 61. This angle θ is adjusted to, for example, 90 degrees or more. A portion of the hot air HA ejected from the hot air outlet 51 in the left-right direction Y collides with the airflow adjustment plate 6 and its direction is changed diagonally downwards. Therefore, by changing the angle θ of the airflow adjustment plate 6, the flow of hot air HA inside the heating tunnel 2 can be adjusted. Consequently, it becomes easier to adjust the amount of hot air HA that reflects off the surface of the container B and hits the cap seal L1 to an appropriate range, and the deterioration of the quality of the cap seal L1 caused by the hot air HA can be reduced.

[0031] The amount of hot air HA that hits the cap seal L1 varies depending on various factors such as the shape of the container B, the position of the hot air outlet 51, the temperature of the hot air HA ejected from the hot air outlet 51, and the wind speed or airflow rate. Therefore, if these various factors can be adjusted to control the amount of hot air HA hitting the cap seal L1 within an appropriate range, the wind direction adjustment plate 6 is not essential and may be omitted. However, using the wind direction adjustment plate 6 makes it easier to adjust the amount of hot air HA hitting the cap seal L1.

[0032] (Exhaust duct 3) The exhaust duct 3 is connected to an exhaust port 81 (see Figure 1) provided on the upper wall 8 of the heating tunnel 2. The exhaust duct 3 includes a fan (not shown) and draws in steam S etc. from the heating tunnel 2 from above and forcibly discharges it to the outside. The discharged steam S etc. refers to water vapor and steam that has condensed from water vapor.

[0033] (Operation of the heat shrink device 1) Next, we will describe the case in which the cap seal L1 is attached to the container B using the heat shrink device 1. First, the cap seal L1 is fitted onto the opening of the container B on the conveyor T, and the container B is then transported into the heating tunnel 2. The heating tunnel 2 then blows hot air HA from the hot air outlet 51 onto the transported container B. This preheats the container B, effectively reducing the adhesion of steam S to the container B.

[0034] Next, in the positioning zone, the heating tunnel 2 ejects steam S from the lower steam outlet 41 onto the lower side of the cap seal L1. As a result, the lower side of the cap seal L1 is in close contact with the container B, and the cap seal L1 is positioned at the mouth of the container B. At this time, hot air HA is continuously ejected from the hot air outlet 51 onto the body of the container B, which reduces the adhesion of steam S to the body of the container B.

[0035] Next, the heating tunnel 2 ejects steam S from two upper and lower steam ejection holes 41 onto the entire cap seal L1 in the heating zone and finishing zone. As a result, the cap seal L1 is completely thermally contracted and adheres tightly to the circumferential surface and periphery of the container B and the fitted cap C. At this time, hot air HA is continuously ejected from the hot air ejection holes 51 onto the body of the container B, which reduces the adhesion of steam S to the body of the container B.

[0036] In this manner, the heating tunnel 2 continuously blows hot air HA onto the body of the container B while spraying steam S onto the cap seal L1. As a result, water droplets are less likely to adhere to the body of the container B after the cap seal L1 has been heated and shrunk, i.e., after the container B has been discharged from the heat shrinking device 1. Therefore, it is possible to prevent peeling of, for example, tack seals, thermal labels, etc., that are attached to the body of the container B in the next process.

[0037] (Summary of Heat Shrinkage Apparatus 1) As described above, the heat shrinking device 1 according to this embodiment is a heat shrinking device 1 that heat shrinks a cap seal L1 fitted onto a part (mouth) of a container B being transported in the transport direction X, and comprises a steam ejection hole 41 arranged along the transport direction X for ejecting steam S onto the cap seal L1, and a hot air ejection hole 51 arranged below the steam ejection hole 41 along the transport direction X for ejecting hot air HA onto the part of the container B that is not fitted with the cap seal L1 (body).

[0038] The heat shrink device 1 is equipped with a hot air outlet 51 that blows hot air HA onto the portion of the container B that is not covered by the cap seal L1, thereby reducing the adhesion of steam S to that portion. Therefore, according to this embodiment, a heat shrink device 1 can be realized in which water droplets are less likely to adhere to the container B.

[0039] [Embodiment 2] Other embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 4. For the sake of clarity, components having the same function as those described in the above embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will not be repeated.

[0040] In this embodiment, an example of attaching a label to the body of a container using a heat shrink device according to one aspect of the present invention will be described. However, the following description is illustrative of the heat shrink device according to the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the illustrated example.

[0041] (Configuration of the heat shrinking device 11) Figure 1 is a schematic front view of the heat shrink device 11 according to this embodiment. The heat shrink device 11 is a device for attaching a label (shrink film) L2 to the body of a container B. As shown in Figure 1, the heat shrink device 11 differs from the heat shrink device 1 described above mainly in that a hot air ejection unit 5 is positioned above the steam ejection unit 4.

[0042] In the heat shrinking device 11, the steam outlet 41 is positioned at the height of the label L2, that is, at the height of the body of the container B, and the hot air outlet 51 is positioned above the steam outlet 41. In addition, a wind direction adjustment plate 60 is positioned below the hot air outlet 51 and between the steam outlet 41 and the hot air outlet 51.

[0043] The airflow adjustment plate 60 is positioned at an angle opposite to the label L2, i.e., tilted upward. A portion of the hot air HA ejected from the hot air outlet 51 in the left-right direction Y collides with the airflow adjustment plate 60, changing its direction diagonally upward. Therefore, by changing, for example, the angle θ of the airflow adjustment plate 60, it becomes easier to adjust the amount of hot air HA that reflects off the surface of the container B and hits the label L2, thereby reducing the deterioration of the label L2 quality caused by the hot air HA.

[0044] (Operation of the heat shrinking device 11) Next, we will describe the case in which the label L2 is attached to the container B using the heat shrink device 11. First, the label L2 is fitted onto the body of the container B on the conveyor T, and the container B is then transported into the heating tunnel 2. The heating tunnel 2 then blows hot air HA from the hot air outlet 51 onto the transported container B. This preheats the container B, effectively reducing the adhesion of steam S to the container B.

[0045] Next, in the positioning zone, the heating tunnel 2 ejects steam S from the lower steam ejection holes 41 onto the lower side of the label L2 fitted onto the body of the container B. As a result, the lower side of the label L2 adheres closely to the container B, and the label L2 is positioned on the container B. At this time, the heating tunnel 2 continuously ejects hot air HA from the hot air ejection holes 51 onto the mouth of the container B, thereby reducing the adhesion of steam S to the mouth of the container B.

[0046] Next, the heating tunnel 2 ejects steam S from two upper and lower steam outlets 41 onto the entire label L2 in the heating zone and finishing zone. As a result, the label L2 completely shrinks due to the heat and adheres tightly to the circumferential surface of the container B. At this time, the heating tunnel 2 continuously ejects hot air HA from the hot air outlet 51 onto the mouth of the container B, thereby reducing the adhesion of steam S to the mouth of the container B.

[0047] In this manner, the heating tunnel 2 continuously blows hot air HA onto the mouth of the container B while spraying steam S onto the label L2. As a result, water droplets are less likely to adhere to the mouth of the container B after the label L2 has been heated and shrunk, i.e., after the container B has been discharged from the heat shrinking device 11. Therefore, it is possible to prevent peeling off of, for example, tack seals, thermal labels, etc., that are attached to the mouth of the container B in the next process.

[0048] (Summary of the heat shrinking device 11) As described above, the heat shrinking device 11 according to this embodiment is a heat shrinking device 11 that heat shrinks a label L2 fitted onto a part (body) of a container B being transported in the transport direction X, and comprises a steam ejection hole 41 arranged along the transport direction X for ejecting steam S onto the label L2, and a hot air ejection hole 51 arranged above the steam ejection hole 41 along the transport direction X for ejecting hot air HA onto the part of the container B that is not fitted with the label L2 (mouth).

[0049] The heat shrink device 11 is equipped with a hot air outlet 51 that blows hot air HA onto the part of the container B that is not covered by the label L2 (the opening), thereby reducing the adhesion of steam S to that part. Therefore, according to this embodiment, a heat shrink device 11 can be realized that is less likely to have water droplets adhere to the container B.

[0050] 〔supplement〕 A heat shrink device according to embodiment 1 of the present invention is a heat shrink device for heating and shrinking a shrink film fitted onto a part of an article being conveyed in a conveying direction, and comprises a steam ejection port for ejecting steam onto the shrink film, and a gas ejection port positioned vertically apart from the steam ejection port for ejecting gas onto a part of the article that is not fitted with the shrink film.

[0051] In the above configuration, the heat shrink device is equipped with gas ejection holes that eject gas to the parts of the container that are not covered with shrink film, thereby reducing the adhesion of steam to those parts. Therefore, according to the above configuration, a heat shrink device that is less likely to cause water droplets to adhere to the container can be realized.

[0052] In the heating shrinkage device according to embodiment 2 of the present invention, an adjustment plate may be further provided, which is positioned between the steam ejection hole and the gas ejection hole at an angle inclined toward the opposite side with respect to the shrink film, and which adjusts the direction of the gas ejected from the gas ejection hole.

[0053] According to the above configuration, the direction of the gas can be easily adjusted by changing the angle of the adjustment plate.

[0054] In the heating shrinkage apparatus according to embodiment 3 of the present invention, in embodiment 1 or 2, the length in the transport direction of the gas ejection region, which is the region where the gas ejection holes are located, may be greater than or equal to the length in the transport direction of the steam ejection region, which is the region where the steam ejection holes are located.

[0055] In the above configuration, the gas ejection region can be positioned so as to overlap the entire steam ejection region in a plan view. Therefore, with this configuration, gas can be ejected over the entire steam ejection region, reducing the adhesion of steam to the container.

[0056] In the heating shrinkage apparatus according to embodiment 4 of the present invention, in embodiment 3, the gas ejection region may be longer upstream in the conveying direction than the steam ejection region.

[0057] In the above configuration, the container can be preheated with gas before the steam is released. Therefore, according to the above configuration, the adhesion of steam to the container can be effectively reduced.

[0058] In the heating shrinkage device according to embodiment 5 of the present invention, in embodiments 1 to 4, the gas may be brought into contact with the circumferential surface of the gas heating pipe through which the steam passes and heated, and then the gas may be ejected from the gas ejection hole.

[0059] According to the above configuration, by ejecting heated gas from the gas outlet, the adhesion of vapor to the article can be more effectively reduced. Furthermore, according to the above configuration, by using vapor to heat the gas, the energy consumption of the heating and shrinking device can be reduced.

[0060] A heat shrink device according to aspect 6 of the present invention is a heat shrink device for heating and shrinking a shrink film fitted onto a part of an article being conveyed in the conveying direction, and comprises a steam ejection port for ejecting steam onto the shrink film, and a gas ejection port for ejecting gas onto a part of the article that is not fitted with the shrink film, thereby reducing the adhesion of the steam to that part.

[0061] In the above configuration, the heat shrink device is equipped with gas ejection holes that eject gas to the parts of the container that are not covered with shrink film, thereby reducing the adhesion of vapor to those parts. Therefore, according to the above configuration, a heat shrink device can be realized that is less likely to cause water droplets to adhere to the container.

[0062] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, new technical features can be formed by combining the technical means disclosed in each embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 1,11: Heat shrinkage device 6,60: Wind direction adjustment plate (adjustment plate) 41: Steam vent 52: Hot air outlet (gas outlet) A: Pressurized air (air) B: Container (article) HA: Hot air (gas) L1: Cap seal (shrink film) L2: Label (shrink film) R1: Steam ejection area R2: Hot air outlet area (gas outlet area) X: Conveying direction Z: Vertical direction (up and down direction) S: Steam θ: Angle

Claims

1. A heat shrink device for heating and shrinking a shrink film fitted onto a part of an article being transported in the transport direction, A steam outlet for ejecting steam onto the shrink film, A gas outlet is positioned vertically apart from the aforementioned steam outlet and ejects gas to the portion of the article that is not covered by the shrink film, A heat shrink device comprising: an adjustment plate positioned between the steam ejection port and the gas ejection port at an angle inclined toward the opposite side with respect to the shrink film, and which adjusts the direction of the gas ejected from the gas ejection port.

2. A heat shrink device for heating and shrinking a shrink film fitted onto a part of an article being conveyed in the conveying direction, A steam outlet for ejecting steam onto the shrink film, The article is provided with a gas outlet positioned vertically apart from the aforementioned steam outlet, which ejects gas to the portion of the article not covered by the shrink film, The length in the transport direction of the gas ejection region, which is the region where the gas ejection holes are located, is greater than or equal to the length in the transport direction of the steam ejection region, which is the region where the steam ejection holes are located. The gas ejection region is longer upstream in the conveying direction than the steam ejection region, and is a heating and shrinking device.

3. A heat shrink device for heating and shrinking a shrink film fitted onto a part of an article being conveyed in the conveying direction, A steam outlet for ejecting steam onto the shrink film, The article is provided with a gas outlet positioned vertically apart from the aforementioned steam outlet, which ejects gas to the portion of the article not covered by the shrink film, A heating and shrinking device that heats the circumferential surface of a gas heating pipe through which steam passes by bringing the gas into contact with the gas, and then ejects the gas from the gas ejection hole.

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