CN217994994U - Shrinking device - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model relates to a constriction device (1). The shrinking device comprises a conveying section (3) for goods (20) which are at least partially wrapped with a shrinking material (23) and a shrinking agent introduction device (6) for conveying a shrinking agent into an inner space of the shrinking device (1). In a Production Mode (PM) of the shrinking device (1), the shrinking agent is conveyed via a first shrinking agent introduction device (7) arranged laterally and is conveyed from below via at least one second shrinking agent introduction device (8) arranged below the conveying section (3). In a Standby Mode (SM) of the shrinking device (1), the temperature (T2) of the interior space of the shrinking device (1) is reduced relative to the temperature of the interior space in a Production Mode (PM) by at least partially reducing or shutting off the transport of the shrinking agent from below and/or in the region assigned to the lower part of the transport section (3).

Description

Shrinking device

Technical Field

The invention relates to a constriction device (Schrumpfvorticichtung) having an optimized energy manager (energy manager) or operating with the aid of an optimized energy manager.

Background

It is known for filling and packaging plants that goods or compositions of goods, in particular bottles, cans, beverage crates, etc., can be wound up by means of shrink films and subsequently transported through a shrink tunnel. The goods wrapped with shrink film are applied with a shrink medium or shrink agent, in particular hot air, in the shrink tunnel. The shrink film shrinks and adheres to the article or composition of the article. A cooling region with a Ventilator (Ventilator) next to the shrink tunnel serves to cool the packaging unit or bundle produced therefrom rapidly, so that the packaging unit or bundle can acquire its strength for transport.

The constriction channel usually comprises a circumferential annular conveying means which runs at least over part of the way through a housing which defines the constriction channel. The shrink tunnel usually also comprises a plurality of heating elements and ventilators or blowers in order to generate the required hot air and subsequently distribute it into the interior space of the shrink tunnel. In order to achieve a particularly uniform distribution of the hot air, the hot air after its generation is preferably introduced partially into the so-called shaft wall (Schachtwand) and partially into the bottom space, which is located immediately below the conveyor means of the shrink tunnel, by means of suitable hot air guide devices. Thus, it is preferred to actively apply the shrink medium to the article wrapped with shrink film from at least three sides.

The basic configuration of the constriction channel is only to be explained briefly here. The construction of such a shrink tunnel is well known to those skilled in the art of the packaging industry and further details need not be described here.

The shrinking tunnel has a high thermal energy requirement, which results in considerable costs for the operator. In particular, the generation of the constricting medium is the greatest energy consumption in the constricting channel.

In order to reduce the energy consumption in the shrink tunnel, the shrink tunnel can be put into a so-called standby mode in an operating state in which the shrink tunnel does not need to be used for production. In this case, one or more energy-consuming components (verbracher) of the constriction channel reduce their power and thus reduce the energy consumption relative to the production work.

Such a shrink channel or a method for operating such a shrink channel is known, for example, from DE102010011640 A1. A shrink tunnel is described which, in addition to a usual production mode, has a further so-called standby mode, by means of which the shrink tunnel is operated with a reduced power compared to the production mode. The switching between the usual production mode and the further standby mode is controlled by means of time control and/or signals. Upon switching to the standby mode, several measures are performed to reduce the energy requirement of the systolic channel.

One measure is, for example, that the existing setpoint temperature can be set to a standby temperature that is reduced in relation to the setpoint temperature, which results in a lower heating power being required. Another measure is, for example, to reduce the transport speed of the transport device on the side of the shrink tunnel, so that the energy or heat output from the tunnel is minimized. Another is to cut off the cooling of the transport device on the side of the shrink tunnel and the cooling of the bundles exiting from the shrink tunnel in order to reduce the energy requirement. If at least two electrically driven blowers are assigned to each channel zone, switching off the blowers of the heating means of each channel zone can reduce the energy requirement.

It is also known that the so-called standby mode is accompanied by a further measure in which the two openings in the entry region and the exit region of the constriction channel are at least partially closed. The shrink tunnel entrance area and the shrink tunnel exit area are logically open in a usual production mode, so that the strapping can enter and exit the shrink tunnel without obstruction.

In this case, the shrink tunnel entrance region and the shrink tunnel exit region are opened or closed when switching between the respective operating modes, i.e. between the production mode and the standby mode. The switching between the two operating modes is also triggered here in a time-controlled and/or signal-controlled manner. Such a control device for operating a constriction channel and such a constriction channel are known per se, for example, from the publication DE102010020957 A1.

Publication DE102013104417A1 describes a method for switching a shrink tunnel into a production mode, which comprises at least an open shrink tunnel entrance region and/or an open shrink tunnel exit region, and further comprises at least one of the following steps: a) Increasing the temperature of the internal space of the constricted passage to a predetermined theoretical value; b) Switching on the conveying device or increasing the speed of the conveying device to a preset theoretical value; c) Switching on the cooling power of the chain or increasing the cooling power of the chain to a preset theoretical value; the bundle cooling capacity is switched on or increased to a predetermined setpoint value, wherein the opening of the constriction channel into the region and/or the opening of the constriction channel out of the region is initially carried out by means of one of steps a), b) and/or c).

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

The object of the present invention is to optimize the above prior art to further optimize the energy requirements of the shrink tunnel in different operating modes.

The above object is achieved by a retractor as described below.

The goods to which the shrinking medium or shrinking agent is applied in the shrinking device consist, for example, of a plurality of goods which are wrapped in a wrapper. To this end, the commodities are combined in a grouping device into a commodity group or a commodity composition. The commercial group or composition is then wrapped in a wrapper in a packaging unit (einschlagvorticichtung). In particular, shrink films are wrapped around the commodity composition in a bagging apparatus.

The packaging material is preferably formed from a thermoplastic, flat shrink material, in particular a shrink film, which shrinks when heat is supplied and thus lies against the outer side of the goods facing outwards, as a result of which a tight assembly in the form of a packaging unit, also referred to below as a shrink wrap, is produced.

Alternatively, the shrink material may be a shrink hose (schrumpfchlauch) or a shrink label (Schrumpfetikett) that is disposed about the merchandise and shrunk onto the merchandise within a shrink device. In the case of shrink labels, it may be necessary to locate the shrink label on the article at least in time-before the shrink process begins-by means of an adhesive point or the like. In the case of a shrink film already wrapped, the adhesive or similar adhesive fixing can also be the case or be realized as such.

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

The shrinking device has an interior space with a transport path (transport path), wherein the goods are preferably transported at least one rail within the shrinking device. A transport section is understood to mean, in principle, the upper surface of the conveying means on which the goods (including films if appropriate) or the bundles are transported.

The shrinking device includes a shrinking agent introduction apparatus configured to apply a shrinking agent to the goods wrapped with the wrapping material. In this case, preference is given to a lateral first shrinking agent introduction apparatus and/or a lower second shrinking agent introduction apparatus and/or an upper third shrinking agent introduction apparatus. According to one embodiment, the lateral shrinking agent introduction devices are configured as well walls, each of which has at least one outflow surface of the shrinking agent directed toward the respective transport track.

The number of well walls may define the transport track formed. During the monorail transport on the transport section, so-called outer shaft walls are preferably provided on both sides of the transport section, in particular above it, each having an outflow surface facing the interior of the constriction device and a closed side facing the housing of the constriction device.

When goods are transported by double tracks on the transportation section, three well walls are arranged on or above the transportation section. Thereby forming two transportation tracks between the three well walls. In particular, the two transport rails are each delimited adjacent to the housing of the retraction device by an outer shaft wall.

An inner (or also called intermediate) shaft wall is arranged in the middle or approximately in the middle between the two outer shaft walls, the two substantially vertical lateral surfaces of which, parallel to the transport direction, are each designed as outflow surfaces. The inner shaft wall therefore in particular conveys the shrink medium or the shrink agent separately to the two parallel conveyor tracks, wherein the shrink medium can be applied to the two parallel conveyor tracks, for example, in approximately the same order of magnitude or in the same order of magnitude.

Alternatively, four shaft walls for introducing the shrinking medium into the shrinking apparatus, two outer (as described above) shaft walls and two inner shaft walls may be arranged in a two-rail transport, wherein the two inner shaft walls each have only one outflow surface from which the shrinking medium comes out during production.

The lower shrinking agent introduction device is configured, for example, in the form of a bottom chamber which is located below the transport section and is provided such that the shrinking agent is guided with an upwardly directed flow component through the conveying means to the underside of the goods wrapped in the packaging material.

In the production mode, the shrinking agent is conveyed at least once via a first shrinking agent introduction device arranged laterally and from below via at least one second shrinking agent introduction device arranged below the conveying section. In particular, in the production mode, the constriction device operates at a defined first interior space temperature.

It is furthermore provided that in the standby mode the temperature of the interior space of the shrinking device is reduced relative to the temperature of the interior space in the production mode. In particular, the temperature of the interior space in the standby mode is lowered to a smaller second temperature.

This is achieved in that, in the standby mode, the transport of the shrinking agent from below and/or in the lower region assigned to the transport section is at least partially reduced or switched off.

The first embodiment may be such that in the standby mode the transport of the shrinking agent from below is completely shut off and therefore the reduced internal temperature is set by the shrinking agent flowing in sideways, also in progress. In this case, the conveying means are only indirectly heated by blowing a shrinking agent, for example hot air, through the side wall. Since less shrinking agent is introduced into the interior space of the shrinking device per time unit as a whole, this leads to a cooling of the interior space temperature.

A second embodiment is to reduce the input of the shrinking agent via the second shrinking agent introduction apparatus. Here, shrinkages having lower temperatures can also be conveyed. For example, by reducing the heating power of the heating device of the second shrinking agent device, the shrinking agent is heated to a lesser extent. Alternatively or additionally, the power of the blower may be reduced such that a smaller amount of shrinking agent per time unit is output from the second shrinking agent apparatus.

In this case, one embodiment provides that the transport path of the shrinking device comprises at least two sub-areas, which can be differently supplied with the shrinking agent in the standby mode.

For example, in the standby mode, the shrinking agent is transported from below by the second shrinking agent device in at least one first subregion of the conveying section, while no shrinking agent is transported from below by the second shrinking agent device in at least one second subregion of the conveying section. Alternatively, the shrinking agent can be fed in at least one second sub-zone from below via a second shrinking agent device with a reduced amount with respect to the first sub-zone.

The at least two partial regions can be arranged one behind the other in the transport direction. An embodiment may provide that no or a reduced amount of the shrink agent is delivered via the second shrink agent device in the second sub-zone downstream in the transport direction. Since the conveying means, which thus forms the conveying section, are heated to a lesser extent in the rear region, the energy dissipation at the output region of the constriction device is reduced compared to the production mode.

It is also conceivable for the application case to be such that the conveying of the shrinking agent in the first subregion is completely switched off in the standby mode and a reduced amount of shrinking agent or an amount of shrinking agent corresponding to the production mode is introduced into the interior space of the shrinking apparatus from below via the conveying means in the downstream second subregion.

A further embodiment can provide that at least two sub-regions of the transport section to which the shrinking agent is applied differently extend through the shrinking device parallel to the transport direction of the goods.

For example, a different delivery of the shrinking agent can be set by closing the respective nozzle openings of the second shrinking agent device.

Alternatively, each sub-area may be assigned its own second shrink agent device, which is adjusted accordingly. In particular, it can also be provided that the second shrinking agent device or the transport section arranged below the transport section has at least one first subregion and at least one second subregion, wherein the second shrinking agent introduction device is provided such that in the standby mode no shrinking agent is transported from below through the transport section in the second subregion, or wherein the second shrinking agent introduction device is provided such that in the standby mode a reduced amount of shrinking agent and/or a reduced-temperature shrinking agent is transported from below through the transport section in the second subregion.

In particular, regulating means (not shown), such as valves, throttle flaps or the like, are assigned to each sub-region in order to correspondingly actuate and adjust in order to reduce or shut off the transport of the shrinking agent to the respective sub-region.

A further embodiment can provide that, alternatively or additionally, the lateral transport of the shrinking agent is at least partially reduced in the region of the bottom assigned to the transport section in the standby mode, or that no lateral transport of shrinking agent is provided in the region of the bottom assigned to the transport section in the standby mode.

This can be achieved, for example, by the laterally arranged first shrinking agent device having at least one lower first sub-region and at least one second sub-region which is formed above the lower first sub-region, wherein the lower sub-region is formed such that in the standby mode no shrinking agent is output or a reduced amount of shrinking agent and/or a reduced temperature shrinking agent is output relative to the upper second sub-region.

For example, the transport of the shrink agent from a sub-zone of the lower portion of the borehole wall may be shut off or alternatively at least reduced. For this purpose, the nozzle openings of the shaft wall are completely or at least partially closed, for example in the lower, sub-zone close to the bottom. Furthermore, it can also be provided that the shrinking agent conveyed in the region close to the bottom has a lower temperature in the standby mode than in the production mode. Instead, adjusting means in the form of valves and/or throttle flaps or the like can also be used here.

In order to set different temperatures and/or different quantities of shrinking agent and/or to at least partially shut off the transport of shrinking agent, it is proposed that a control device assigned to the shrinking apparatus be connected in an interactive manner to a corresponding control device in order to actuate and adjust the same accordingly.

In addition, in the standby mode, it can be provided that the speed of the conveying means of the conveying section is additionally reduced and/or the chain cooling capacity is reduced and/or the shrink channel entry opening and/or the shrink channel exit opening is closed. All these measures also serve to further reduce the energy consumption of the constriction device in the standby mode. In this case, it can also be provided that the heating power of the other shrinking agent devices is reduced or switched off in the standby mode.

Another embodiment of the invention can be provided for providing the first and second and possibly further shrinking agent introduction devices with shrinking agent by means of a main blower, respectively, wherein adjusting means are provided between the main blower and the respective shrinking agent introduction devices, respectively. Preferably, the adjusting means is formed by a throttle flap.

The power of the main blower can be reduced in the standby mode in order to minimize the air flux through the constriction device. The adjustment means of the sidewall wall preferably remains fully open while the adjustment means to the bottom cavity is fully or partially closed. The open adjusting means of the side wall counteracts a continuous temperature readjustment (temperature readjustment), since the interior of the constriction device is again heated, if necessary, during this temperature readjustment.

If the adjustment means of the sidewall wall are closed, the inner space of the shrink device is cooled to a large extent at this time. This in turn causes a continuous reheating by the heating unit, so that the intake air temperature (ansaugmenttemperature) of the shrinking medium is maintained at the level of the starting point in time of the energy-saving standby mode.

Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention and their advantages are explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The dimensional ratios of the individual elements to one another in the figures do not always correspond to the actual dimensional ratios, since some shapes are shown simplified and others are shown enlarged for better illustration than others.

Fig. 1 shows a cross section of a variant of a shrinking device according to the invention in production mode.

Fig. 2 to 5 show different embodiments of the constriction device according to fig. 1 in a standby mode.

Fig. 6 shows a top view of a variant of the constriction device according to the invention in the production mode.

Fig. 7 to 12 show different embodiments of the constriction device according to fig. 6 in a standby mode.

List of reference numerals

1. Shrinking device

2. Inner space

3. Conveying section

4. Conveying belt

5. Driver

6. Shrinking agent introducing equipment

7. Well wall

8. Bottom cavity

Partial region of 8-1, 8-2 bottom cavity

9. Heating device

10. Blower fan

11. Entering the area

12. Leaving area

13-1, 13-2 regulating device

20. Commodity

21. Bottle (CN)

22. Commodity group

23. Packaging material

24. Shrink film

25. Packaging unit

26. Contraction bundling body

HL hot air

PM production mode

SM Standby mode

TB1 first sub-region

TB2 second sub-region

Sub-region near the bottom of TB3

T temperature of inner space

T1 first interior space temperature

T2 second interior space temperature

The same reference numerals are used for identical or functionally identical elements of the invention. Moreover, for the sake of clarity, only the reference numerals necessary to describe the respective figures are shown in the various figures. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples of how a device according to the invention or a method according to the invention can be implemented and are not final limitations.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a cross section of a constriction device 1 in a production mode PM. Fig. 2 to 5 show different embodiments of the constriction device 1 shown in fig. 1 in the standby mode SM.

The goods 20, for example bottles 21 or cans or the like, are grouped in a grouping device (not shown) into a group of goods 22. The group of items 22 is wrapped in a wrapping module (not shown) using a wrapping material 23. Preferably, this concerns a thermoplastic packaging material 23 in the form of a shrink film 24.

The group of articles 22 thus wrapped with the wrapping material 23 passes through the shrinking device 1, in which shrinking device 1 the group of articles is applied with a shrinking agent. In particular, hot air HL is used as shrinking agent. The shrinking agent causes the wrapping material 23 to shrink onto the articles 20 of the group of articles 22, wherein a wrapping unit or shrink-wrap is formed.

The shrinking device 1 has an interior 2 with a transport section 3, which transport section 3 serves for transporting a group of goods 22 wrapped with a wrapping material 23 in a transport direction. The conveyor path 3 is formed, for example, by a conveyor belt 4 which is designed to loop around, which conveyor belt 4 is driven by a drive 5.

The shrinking apparatus 1 also has a shrinking agent introduction device 6, which shrinking agent introduction device 6 is configured to apply a shrinking agent to the group of goods 22 wrapped with the wrapping material 23. Here, laterally arranged shrink agent introduction devices 6 are provided, in particular lateral shaft walls 7, which have a shrink agent outflow surface directed toward the interior space 2.

A lower shrinking agent introduction device 6 in the form of a bottom chamber 8 or the like is also preferably provided, which is located below the conveying section 3. In particular, the bottom chamber 8 is located below the upper run (obetrum) of the conveyor belt 4 and is configured to direct the shrinking agent through the conveyor belt 4 with an upwardly directed flow component towards the lower side of the group of goods 22 wrapped with the wrapping material 23.

The shrinking device 1 is operated in particular in a defined first interior space temperature T1 in the production mode PM.

When the shrinking device is switched from the production mode PM shown in fig. 1 to the standby mode SM according to fig. 2 to 5, the interior space temperature of the shrinking device 1 is reduced with respect to the first interior space temperature T1 in the production mode PM. In particular, the temperature of the interior space in the standby mode SM is reduced to a lower second temperature T2, so that T2 < T1 applies.

To achieve this, the supply of hot air HL through the bottom chamber 8 is completely cut off according to the embodiment shown in fig. 2. The conveyor belt 4 is thus also heated indirectly by blowing hot air HL through the side walls 7. Since less shrinking agent is introduced into the interior space 2 of the shrinking device 1 per time unit as a whole, this leads to a cooling of the interior space temperature T.

The delivery of the contracting agent through the bottom lumen 8 is reduced according to the embodiment shown in fig. 3. This is especially true if the arrows representing the shrinking agent have a smaller width. Here, hot air HL having a lower temperature can also be conveyed. That is, the shrinking agent is heated weakly, for example, by lowering the heating power of the heating device 9 of the bottom chamber 8. Alternatively or additionally, the power of the blower 10 may be reduced such that a smaller amount of shrinking agent is output by the bottom chamber 8 per time unit.

Thereby, the conveyor belt 4 is also heated only indirectly by blowing hot air HL through the side well wall 7. Since less shrinking agent is introduced into the interior space 2 of the shrinking device 1 per time unit as a whole, this leads to a cooling of the interior space temperature.

A further embodiment of the invention can be configured such that in the standby mode SM the shrinking agent is fed in from below via the bottom space 8 in the at least one first partial region TB1 of the transport section, and wherein no shrinking agent is fed in from below via the bottom space 8 in the at least one second partial region TB 2. Alternatively, provision can be made for the shrinking agent, which is reduced with respect to the first subregion TB1, to be introduced into the at least one second subregion TB2 from below via the bottom space 8.

Fig. 4 shows an embodiment in which the transport section 3 has two partial regions TB1 and TB2, which partial regions TB1 and TB2 extend through the retraction device 1 parallel to the transport direction (TR, see fig. 6 to 12) of the goods 20, wherein the transport direction extends perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. In the standby state SM, the shrinking agent in the form of hot air HL is conveyed in the first subregion TB1 on the left, while no shrinking agent is conveyed in the second subregion TB2 on the right. This can be set, for example, by closing the corresponding nozzle opening of the bottom chamber 8. Alternatively, each sub-area TB1, TB2 may be assigned its own bottom cavity 8.

For example, it can be provided that a regulating device (not shown), such as a valve, a throttle flap or the like, is assigned to each sub-area TB1, TB2 in order to correspondingly actuate and adjust the reduction or shut-off of the transport of the shrink agent to the respective sub-area TB1, TB 2.

Fig. 5 shows an embodiment in which, in the standby mode SM, no lateral shrinking agent is delivered in the region assigned to the delivery section 3 close to the base. In particular, the transportation of the shrinking agent from the lower sub-zone of the borehole wall 7 is cut off or alternatively at least reduced. For this purpose, the nozzle openings of the shaft wall 7 are completely or at least partially closed, for example, in the lower sub-zone TB3 close to the bottom. It can also be provided that the shrinking agent transported in the region close to the bottom has a lower temperature in the standby mode SM than in the production mode PM.

Although a downwardly directed flow direction of the hot air HL from the side shaft walls 6, 7 is shown in connection with fig. 1 to 5, respectively, this should not be construed as limiting. The inventive idea of the application can similarly be applied to a well wall from which a shrinking agent flows into the inner space 2 of the shrinking device 1 in a substantially horizontal direction or in a direction pointing at least partly upwards.

Fig. 6 shows a top view of the shrinking device 1 in the production mode PM, and fig. 7 to 12 show different embodiments of the shrinking device 1 in the standby mode SM.

In this case, a shrinking device 1 is also shown, which has two outer walls 7 for transporting goods 20, which are at least partially wrapped with a wrapping material 23, in particular on a single track. The conveyor belt 4 forming the conveyor section 3 is transported in the transport direction TR through the constriction device 1 from the entry region 11 to the exit region 12. The dense texturing (strukturrieng) of the conveying surface of the conveyor belt 4 (= conveying section 3) means that the shrink agent is applied from below through the conveyor belt 4 to the underside of a product 20 which is at least partially wrapped with the wrapping material 23 in the production mode PM.

Fig. 7 shows a standby mode SM similar to fig. 2, in which no shrinking agent is introduced through the conveyor belt 4 into the inner space of the shrinking device 1 via a bottom chamber (not shown) arranged below the upper run of the conveyor belt 4. This is indicated in particular by the fact that the conveying surface of the conveyor belt 4 (= conveying section 3) is shown without a pattern.

Fig. 8 shows a standby mode SM similar to fig. 3, in which a reduced amount and/or temperature-reducing shrinking agent is introduced through the conveyor belt 4 into the interior space of the shrinking device 1 via a bottom chamber (not shown) arranged below the upper run of the conveyor belt 4, which is indicated by the sparse texture of the conveying surface of the conveyor belt 4 (= conveyor section 3).

Fig. 9 shows a shrinking device 1, in which shrinking device 1 a bottom compartment 8 or a transport section 3 arranged below a transport section 3 has at least one first sub-zone TB1 and at least one second sub-zone TB2, wherein the bottom compartment 8 is configured in such a way that in the standby mode SM no shrinking agent is transported in the second sub-zone TB2 from below via the transport section 3, while in the first sub-zone TB1 the shrinking agent is fed as in the production mode PM.

In the schematic view of fig. 9, a bottom chamber 8 is also shown by way of example, which is formed by two sub-regions 8-1, 8-2 arranged one behind the other in the transport direction TR. Between the heating device 9 and the sub-regions 8-1, 8-2 of the bottom chamber 8, there are arranged regulating means 13-1, 13-2, such as valves, throttle flaps or the like, which can be actuated via a control device 15.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 9, the supply of hot air (not shown) to the second sub-zone 8-2 of the bottom chamber 8 is interrupted by the conditioning means 13-2.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 10, the supply of hot air to the first sub-zone 8-1 of the bottom chamber 8 is also reduced by the regulating means 13-1, so that the conveying section 3 is provided with a reduced amount of shrinking agent in the first sub-zone TB1 relative to the production mode PM.

In the schematic illustration of fig. 11, it is also possible to provide an application case in which it is advantageous to completely shut off the supply of shrink agent in the first sub-zone TB1 in the standby mode SM and to introduce a reduced amount of shrink agent or an amount of shrink agent corresponding to the production mode PM (not shown) into the inner space of the shrinking device 1 from below via the conveyor belt 4 in the second sub-zone TB 2.

The schematic illustration in fig. 12 shows a further embodiment in which the bottom space or conveyor section 3 arranged below the conveyor section 3 is divided into at least three sub-areas TB1, TB2, TB3 arranged one behind the other in the transport direction TR. It is shown here that in the standby mode only the middle sub-zone TB2 is supplied with a reduced amount of shrinking agent from below, while in the first sub-zone TB1 adjoining the entry zone 11 and in the third sub-zone TB3 adjoining the exit zone 12 no shrinking agent is supplied.

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

When referring generally to "schematic" illustrations and views in relation to the drawings, it is in no way intended that the drawings and their description be regarded as minor matters in the disclosure of the invention. The person skilled in the art is fully capable of obtaining sufficient information from the illustrations shown schematically and abstractly to make it easy to understand the invention without it interfering in any way with its understanding, for example by parts of the goods and/or the constriction device or other elements drawn which are drawn and may not be shown exactly to scale. The figures therefore allow the skilled person to better understand as the reader the general part of the description of the inventive idea more generally and/or more briefly explained, on the basis of the more specifically explained way of working of the device according to the invention.

Claims (10)

1. A shrinking device (1) for shrinking a shrink material (23) onto a commodity at least partially wrapped with the shrink material (23),

wherein the shrinking device (1) comprises an interior space having a conveying section (3) for transporting goods wrapped with shrink material (23), wherein goods (20) wrapped with shrink material (23) are conveyed through the shrinking device (1) on the conveying section (3) in a transport direction (TR),

wherein the constriction device (1) comprises a laterally arranged first constriction agent introduction apparatus (7), the first constriction agent introduction apparatus (7) being arranged to introduce a constriction agent into the interior space of the constriction device (1) from the side, and

wherein the constriction device (1) comprises at least one second constriction agent introduction device (8) arranged below the conveying section (3), the second constriction agent introduction device (8) being provided to apply a constriction agent to the inner space of the constriction device (1) through the conveying section (3),

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

wherein the shrinking device (1) is set to convey a reduced amount of shrinking agent at least partially from below through the conveying section (3) or in a lower area allocated to the conveying section (3) in the Standby Mode (SM), or

Wherein the shrinking device (1) is configured such that in a Standby Mode (SM) no shrinking agent is at least partially transported from below via the transport section (3) or in a lower region assigned to the transport section (3).

2. The shrinking device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the transport section (3) comprises at least two sub-areas (TB 1, TB 2), the two sub-areas (TB 1, TB 2) being differently applicable with shrinking agent in the Standby Mode (SM).

3. The shrinking device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a second shrinking agent introduction apparatus (8) arranged below the transport section (3) or the transport section (3) has at least one first sub-area (TB 1) and at least one second sub-area (TB 2), wherein the second shrinking agent introduction apparatus (8) is set up such that no shrinking agent is transported in the second sub-area (TB 2) through the transport section (3) from below in a Standby Mode (SM), or wherein the second shrinking agent introduction apparatus (8) is set up such that a reduced amount of shrinking agent and/or a reduced temperature shrinking agent is transported in the second sub-area (TB 2) through the transport section (3) from below in a Standby Mode (SM).

4. The constriction device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that an adjustment means is assigned to each sub-zone (TB 1, TB 2).

5. The shrinking device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the laterally arranged first shrinking agent introduction apparatus (7) has at least one lower subregion (TB 3) close to the bottom and at least one second subregion which is formed above the lower first subregion, wherein the lower subregion (TB 3) close to the bottom is provided such that in the Standby Mode (SM) no shrinking agent is output or a reduced amount of shrinking agent and/or temperature-reducing shrinking agent is output relative to the upper second subregion.

6. The constriction device (1) according to claim 5, characterised in that an adjustment means is assigned to each sub-region.

7. The constriction device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that said constriction device (1) comprises a control apparatus.

8. The constriction device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that said adjustment means is interactively connected with said control device.

9. A constriction device (1) as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that a valve or throttle flap is assigned to each sub-region (TB 1, TB 2).

10. The constriction device (1) according to claim 5, wherein a valve or throttle is assigned to each sub-region.

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