IP Library Granted Patent US 12686520
Granted Patent B2
US 12686520 · App. 18/953,197 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Device for shrinking heat-shrink film placed around palletized stack of goods, and method for shrinking heat-shrink film placed around palletized stack of goods

Inventors: Christian Mrowka (Hünxe, DE); Enrico Czok (Kleve, DE); Michael Oymann (Xanten, DE); Reiner Hannen (Kalkar, DE); Uwe Jonkmanns (Goch, DE)
Assignee: MSK—Verpackungs-Systeme GmbH
B65B53/066
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12686520
App. No.
18/953,197
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A device for shrinking a heat-shrink film placed around a palletized stack of goods includes a shrinking frame movable on a rack in vertical direction and forming an opening for the stack of goods. A shrinking device for shrinking the heat-shrink film includes a surrounding side wall, forming a shrinking space, comprising a shrink hood open downward and a cover. The shrink hood is movable in the vertical direction, and includes a blower that generates an air flow in the interior of the shrink hood. The blower includes an impeller driven by a drive. At least one air-guide section includes a nozzle on its end opposite the impeller, so that the air suctioned by the impeller from the shrinking space surrounded by the shrink hood can be reintroduce in a directed manner via the nozzle into the shrinking space surrounded by the shrink hood.

Claims (25)

1 . A device ( 1 ) for the shrinking of a heat-shrink film ( 3 ) placed around a stack of goods ( 2 ), with a shrinking frame ( 5 ), movable on a rack ( 4 ) in vertical direction between an upper position and a lower position, forming an opening ( 19 ) for the stack of goods ( 2 ), on which at least one shrinking device for the shrinking of the heat-shrink film ( 3 ) is provided, wherein the device ( 1 ) includes a surrounding side wall ( 7 ), forming a shrinking space, comprising a shrink hood ( 6 ) open downward, as well as a cover ( 8 ), wherein the shrink hood ( 6 ) is movable in the vertical direction, and wherein the device ( 1 ) furthermore includes at least one blower ( 9 ) that generates an air flow in the interior of the shrink hood ( 6 ), wherein the at least one blower ( 9 ) includes an impeller ( 20 ) driven by a drive ( 10 ), wherein the impeller ( 20 ) of at least one blower ( 9 ) is connected to at least one air-guide section ( 11 ), wherein the at least one air-guide section ( 11 ) is respectfully connected to at least one nozzle ( 12 ) on an end thereof opposite the impeller ( 20 ) so that the air suctioned by the impeller ( 20 ) from the shrinking space surrounded by the shrink hood ( 6 ) can be reintroduce in a directed manner via the at least one nozzle ( 12 ) into the shrinking space surrounded by the shrink hood ( 6 ).

2 . The device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein at least one nozzle ( 12 ) is configured as a slotted nozzle.

3 . The device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein at least one blower ( 9 ) is configured as a radial blower.

4 . The device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the impeller ( 20 ) of at least one blower ( 9 ), and the at least one air-guide section ( 11 ) emanating therefrom, are attached below the cover ( 8 ) of the shrink hood ( 6 ), or are attached indirectly or directly to the inner side of the cover ( 8 ) of the shrink hood ( 6 ).

5 . The device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein in the at least one air-guide section ( 11 ), at least one heating element ( 28 ) is provided to heat the air flowing through the at least one air-guide section ( 11 ).

6 . The device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one blower ( 9 ) comprises the impeller ( 20 ), and wherein the at least one nozzle ( 12 ) is designed as horizontally movable.

7 . The device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one nozzle ( 12 ) is configured as horizontally movable, and the length of the at least one air-guide section ( 11 ) is variable according to the respective position of the at least one nozzle ( 12 ).

8 . The device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one nozzle ( 12 ) is vertically transportable.

9 . The device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein with the at least one blower ( 9 ), at least one nozzle ( 12 ) is disposed as swivelable about a horizontal axis ( 18 ).

10 . The device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the device ( 1 ) has a closure surface ( 13 ) that is adapted with respect to its contour and its dimensions to the contour and the dimensions of the opening ( 19 ) of the shrinking frame ( 5 ) such that the closure surface ( 13 ) on the one hand, and the shrink hood ( 6 ) on the other hand, are movable relative to one another, wherein when the shrinking frame ( 5 ) is located in its upper position, the closure surface ( 13 ) is disposed inside the opening ( 19 ), so that with increasing movement of the shrinking frame ( 5 ) into its lower position the closure surface ( 13 ) moves closer to the cover ( 8 ) of the shrink hood ( 6 ).

11 . The device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the height of the shrinking frame is at least 300 mm higher than the height of a stack of goods ( 2 ) to be packaged.

12 . The device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the shrink hood ( 6 ) is connected with the shrinking frame ( 5 ).

13 . The device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the impeller ( 20 ) of the at least one blower ( 9 ) is enclosed in a housing ( 21 ) including a suction intake opening ( 22 ), and wherein the at least one air-guide section ( 11 ) is connected to the housing ( 21 ).

14 . A method for shrinking a heat-shrink film ( 3 ) placed around a stack of goods ( 2 ), using a device ( 1 ), with a shrinking frame ( 5 ), movable in vertical direction between an upper position and a lower position, forming an opening ( 19 ) for the stack of goods ( 2 ), on which at least one shrinking device is provided for shrinking the heat-shrink film ( 3 ) by heating, wherein the device ( 1 ) includes a surrounding side wall ( 7 ), forming a shrinking space, comprising a shrink hood ( 6 ) open downward, as well as a cover ( 8 ), wherein the shrink hood ( 6 ) is movable in vertical direction, and wherein the device ( 1 ) furthermore includes at least one blower ( 9 ) generating an air flow in the interior of the shrink hood ( 6 ), wherein the at least one blower ( 9 ) includes an impeller ( 20 ) driven by a drive ( 10 ), using the device ( 1 ), wherein on the impeller ( 20 ) of the at least one blower ( 9 ) is connected to at least one air-guide section ( 11 ), which is respectfully connected to at least one nozzle ( 12 ) on an end opposite the impeller ( 20 ) so that the air in the shrinking space enclosed by the shrink hood ( 6 ) that is suctioned out by the impeller ( 20 ) is reintroduced in a targeted via the at least one nozzle ( 12 ) into the shrinking space surrounded by the shrink hood ( 6 ).

15 . The method for shrinking the heat-shrink film ( 3 ) according to claim 14 , wherein the air in the shrinking space surrounded by the shrink hood ( 6 ) that is suctioned out by the impeller ( 20 ) is reintroduced in a directed manner via the at least one nozzle ( 12 ) formed as slotted nozzle into the shrinking space surrounded by the shrink hood ( 6 ).

16 . The method for shrinking the heat-shrink film ( 3 ) according to claim 14 , wherein the at least one blower ( 9 ) comprises the impeller ( 20 ), and wherein the air-guide section ( 11 ) and the at least one nozzle ( 12 ) are moved horizontally.

17 . The method for shrinking a heat-shrink film ( 3 ) according to claim 14 , wherein the at least one nozzle ( 12 ) of the at least one blower ( 9 ) is moved horizontally, and wherein the length of the at least one air-guide section ( 11 ) varies according to the respective position of the at least one nozzle ( 12 ).

18 . The method for shrinking a heat-shrink film ( 3 ) according to claim 14 , wherein the at least one nozzle ( 12 ) of the at least one blower ( 9 ) is moved vertically.

19 . The method for shrinking a heat-shrink film ( 3 ) according to claim 14 , wherein the at least one nozzle ( 12 ) of the at least one blower ( 9 ) is swivelable about a horizontal axis ( 18 ).

20 . The method for shrinking a heat-shrink film ( 3 ) according to claim 14 , wherein with the at least one air-guide section ( 11 ), at least one heating element ( 28 ) is provided, and the at least one heating element ( 28 ) heats the air flowing through the at least one air-guide section ( 11 ).

21 . The method for shrinking a heat-shrink film ( 3 ) according to claim 14 , wherein the device ( 1 ) has a closure surface ( 13 ) that is adapted with respect to its contour and its dimensions to the contour and the dimensions of the opening ( 19 ) of the shrinking frame ( 5 ) such that the closure surface ( 13 ) on the one hand, and the shrink hood ( 6 ) on the other hand, are moved relative to one another, and wherein when the shrinking frame ( 5 ) is located in its upper position, the closure surface ( 13 ) is disposed inside the opening ( 19 ), so that with increasing movement of the shrinking frame ( 5 ) into its lower position, the closure surface ( 13 ) moves closer to the cover ( 8 ) of the shrink hood ( 6 ).

22 . The method for shrinking a heat-shrink film ( 3 ) according to claim 14 , wherein in the lower position of the shrinking frame ( 5 ), a distance A between a top side of the stack of goods ( 2 ) and the cover ( 8 ) of the shrinking frame ( 6 ) is at least 300 mm.

23 . The method for shrinking a heat-shrink film ( 3 ) according to claim 14 , wherein during shrinking, the at least one nozzle ( 12 ) is directed onto the adjacent upper edge ( 17 ) of the stack of goods ( 2 ).

24 . The method for shrinking a heat-shrink film ( 3 ) according to claim 14 , wherein during shrinking, an air flow is directed via at least two opposing nozzles ( 12 ) onto two opposing upper edges ( 17 ) of the stack of goods ( 2 ).

25 . The method for shrinking a heat-shrink film ( 3 ) according to claim 14 , wherein during shrinking, the at least one nozzle ( 12 ) is set in a pendulum motion about its horizontal axis ( 18 ).