Method of wrapping bottle packaging units, in a beverage bottling plant, with shrinkwrap material and shrinking the shrinkwrap material around bottle packaging units, method of wrapping packaging units with shrinkwrap material and shrinking shrinkwrap material around packaging units and minimizing faulty packaging units, and apparatus for performing the method

Abstract

A method of wrapping bottle packaging units, in a beverage bottling plant, with shrinkwrap material and shrinking the shrinkwrap material around bottle packaging units, method of wrapping packaging units with shrinkwrap material and shrinking shrinkwrap material around packaging units and minimizing faulty packaging units, and apparatus for performing the method. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

1 . A method of wrapping bottle packaging units, in a beverage bottling plant, with shrinkwrap material and shrinking the shrinkwrap material around the bottle packaging units, which bottle packaging unit comprise a plurality of beverage bottles, and minimizing faulty bottle packaging units minimizing wastage of shrinkwrap material and minimizing rewrapping of faulty bottle packaging units and minimizing the time between when a shrinkwrapping fault is discovered and when an adjustment is made to fix the shrinkwrapping fault and fixing the shrinkwrapping fault, said method comprising the steps of:
 wrapping a first bottle packaging unit of a first size with shrinkwrap material in a shrink wrapping machine;   transporting said wrapped first bottle packaging unit to a shrink tunnel and applying heat to the shrinkwrap material while moving said wrapped first bottle packaging unit through said shrink tunnel;   shrinking the shrinkwrap material wrapped around said first bottle packaging unit;   changing at least one of: the size of said bottle packaging unit, the format of said bottle packaging unit, a supply of said shrinkwrap material, and a type of shrinkwrap material;   wrapping, with shrinkwrap material, a second bottle packaging unit in said shrink wrapping machine after changing at least one of: the size of said bottle packaging unit, the format of said bottle packaging unit, a supply of said first shrinkwrap material, and a type of shrinkwrap material;   transporting said wrapped second bottle packaging unit to said shrink tunnel and applying heat to the shrinkwrap material while moving said wrapped second bottle packaging unit through said shrink tunnel;   shrinking the shrinkwrap material wrapped around said second bottle packaging unit;   observing, with at least two cameras, which at least two cameras comprise:
 a first camera being disposed at the entrance of said shrink tunnel and being configured and disposed to observe the wrapping on said bottle packaging units coming from said shrink wrapping machine before entering said shrink tunnel before and during the entrance of said bottle packaging units into said shrink tunnel; 
 a second camera being disposed at the exit of said shrink tunnel and being configured and disposed to observe the result of said shrinking of the shrinkwrap material wrapped around said second bottle packaging unit exiting said shrink tunnel during the exit of said bottle packaging units from said shrink tunnel; and 
 a third camera being disposed in said shrink tunnel and being configured and disposed to observe the shrinking of said wrapping on said bottle packaging units within said shrink tunnel during the transit of said bottle packaging units through said shrink tunnel; and 
   determining, from said observing, any shrinkwrapping resultant faults including at least one of:
 improper wrapping of said bottle packaging unit by said shrink wrapping machine; 
 the sealing of overlapping segments of said shrinkwrap material; 
 the inflation of said shrinkwrap material over formed lateral shrink holes; and 
 the initiation of the shrinking process; 
   upon determining a shrinkwrapping fault, adjusting at least one of said shrink wrapping machine and said shrink tunnel to initiate adjusting and correcting of said shrinkwrapping fault and to minimize wastage of shrinkwrap material and to minimize rewrapping bottle packaging units and to minimize the time between when a shrinkwrapping fault is discovered and when an adjustment is made to fix the shrinkwrapping fault and when the shrinkwrapping fault is fixed;   wrapping a third bottle packaging unit, substantially immediately subsequent to said adjusting, of at least one of said shrink wrapping machine and said shrink tunnel, relating to said second bottle packaging unit, in said shrink wrapping machine after changing at least one of: the size of said bottle packaging unit, the format of said bottle packaging unit, a supply of said shrinkwrap material, and a type of shrinkwrap material prior to said second bottle packaging unit being wrapped and shrunk;   transporting said wrapped third bottle packaging unit to said shrink tunnel and applying heat to the shrinkwrap material while moving said wrapped third bottle packaging unit through said shrink tunnel;   shrinking the shrinkwrap material wrapped around said third bottle packaging unit;   observing, with said at least two cameras, the wrapping, the shrinking, and result of said shrinking of the shrinkwrap material wrapped around said third bottle packaging unit during at least one of: entrance into said shrink tunnel, transit through said shrink tunnel, and exit from said shrink tunnel;   determining, from said observing, any shrinkwrapping resultant faults including at least one of:
 improper wrapping of said bottle packaging unit by said shrink wrapping machine; 
 the sealing of overlapping segments of said shrinkwrap material; 
 the inflation of said shrinkwrap material over formed lateral shrink holes; and 
 the initiation of the shrinking process; 
   upon determining a shrinkwrapping fault, readjusting at least one of said shrink wrapping machine and said shrink tunnel to initiate adjusting and correcting said shrinkwrapping fault and to minimize wastage of shrinkwrap material and to minimize rewrapping bottle packaging units and to minimize the time between when a shrinkwrapping fault is discovered and when an adjustment is made to fix the shrinkwrapping fault and when the shrinkwrapping fault is fixed; and   continuing said steps of observing and adjusting subsequent bottle packaging units until said bottle packaging units are substantially free of shrinkwrapping faults such that wastage of shrinkwrap material, rewrapping of bottle packaging units, and the time between when a shrinkwrapping fault is discovered and when an adjustment is made to fix the shrinkwrapping fault and fixing the shrinkwrapping fault is minimized.   
   
   
       2 . The method of wrapping bottle packaging units, in a beverage bottling plant, with shrinkwrap material and shrinking the shrinkwrap material around the bottle packaging units according to  claim 1 , wherein at the tunnel entrance ( 5 . 1 ) and/or at the tunnel exit ( 5 . 2 ), means ( 8 ,  9 ) are provided for the production of at least one air curtain ( 8 . 1 ,  9 . 1 ) that closes the tunnel interior ( 5 ) off from the outside, and that the at least one camera ( 10 ) located outside the tunnel interior ( 5 ) photographs the tunnel interior ( 5 ) or the portion of the tunnel interior through the at least one air curtain ( 8 . 1 ,  9 . 1 ). 
   
   
       3 . The method of wrapping bottle packaging units, in a beverage bottling plant, with shrinkwrap material and shrinking the shrinkwrap material around the bottle packaging units according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one camera ( 17 ) is located in the tunnel interior ( 5 ). 
   
   
       4 . The method of wrapping bottle packaging units, in a beverage bottling plant, with shrinkwrap material and shrinking the shrinkwrap material around the bottle packaging units according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one camera ( 10 ,  11 ,  17 ) can be moved and/or pivoted. 
   
   
       5 . The method of wrapping bottle packaging units, in a beverage bottling plant, with shrinkwrap material and shrinking the shrinkwrap material around the bottle packaging units according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the images that are supplied by the at least one camera ( 10 ,  11 ,  17 ) can be transmitted via the camera system  13  and a data transmission system to a spatially or geographically remote location; and   the transmission takes place online.   
   
   
       6 . A method of wrapping packaging units with shrinkwrap material and shrinking the shrinkwrap material around the packaging units, and minimizing faulty packaging units, said method comprising the steps of:
 wrapping a first packaging unit of a first size with a first shrinkwrap material in a shrink wrapping machine;   transporting said wrapped first packaging unit to a shrink tunnel and applying heat to the first shrinkwrap material while moving said wrapped first packaging unit through said shrink tunnel;   shrinking the first shrinkwrap material wrapped around said first packaging unit;   changing at least one parameter of said method of wrapping packaging units with shrinkwrap material and shrinking the shrinkwrap material around the packaging units;   wrapping, with a second shrinkwrap material, a second packaging unit in said shrink wrapping machine after changing at least one parameter;   transporting said wrapped second packaging unit to said shrink tunnel and applying heat to the second shrinkwrap material while moving said wrapped second packaging unit through said shrink tunnel;   shrinking the second shrinkwrap material wrapped around said second packaging unit;   detecting, with at least two sensing devices, which at least two sensing devices comprise:
 (A) a first sensing device being disposed at the entrance of said shrink tunnel and being configured and disposed to detect the wrapping on said packaging units coming from said shrink wrapping machine before entering said shrink tunnel before or during the entrance of said packaging units into said shrink tunnel; 
 (B) a second sensing device being disposed at the exit of said shrink tunnel and being configured and disposed to detect the result of said shrinking of the shrinkwrap material wrapped around said packaging units exiting said shrink tunnel during or subsequent to the exit of said packaging units from said shrink tunnel; and 
 (C) a third sensing device being disposed in said shrink tunnel and being configured and disposed to detect the shrinking of said wrapping on said packaging units within said shrink tunnel during the transit of said packaging units through said shrink tunnel; 
   determining, from said detecting, any shrinkwrapping resultant faults;   upon determining a shrinkwrapping fault, adjusting at least one of said shrink wrapping machine and said shrink tunnel to initiate adjusting and attempting correction of said shrinkwrapping fault;   wrapping a third packaging unit, substantially immediately subsequent to said adjusting relating to said second packaging unit of at least one of said shrink wrapping machine and said shrink tunnel;   transporting said wrapped third packaging unit to said shrink tunnel and applying heat to the second shrinkwrap material while moving said wrapped third packaging unit through said shrink tunnel;   shrinking the second shrinkwrap material wrapped around said third packaging unit;   detecting, with said at least two sensing devices:
 the wrapping on said packaging units coming from said shrink wrapping machine before entering said shrink tunnel before or during the entrance of said packaging units into said shrink tunnel; 
 the result of said shrinking of the shrinkwrap material wrapped around said packaging units exiting said shrink tunnel during or subsequent to the exit of said packaging units from said shrink tunnel; and 
 the shrinking of said wrapping on said packaging units within said shrink tunnel during the transit of said packaging units through said shrink tunnel; 
   determining, from said detecting, any shrinkwrapping resultant faults;   upon determining a shrinkwrapping fault, readjusting at least one of said shrink wrapping machine and said shrink tunnel to initiate adjusting and attempting correction of said shrinkwrapping fault and to minimize faulty packaging units; and   continuing said steps of detecting and adjusting of subsequent packaging units until said packaging units are substantially free of shrinkwrapping faults.   
   
   
       7 . Means for performing the method of wrapping packaging units with shrinkwrap material and shrinking the shrinkwrap material around the packaging units, and minimizing faulty packaging units according to  claim 6 , said means comprising:
 means for wrapping a first packaging unit of a first size with a first shrinkwrap material in a shrink wrapping machine;   means for transporting a wrapped first packaging unit to a shrink tunnel and applying heat to the first shrinkwrap material while moving the wrapped first packaging unit through said shrink tunnel;   means for shrinking the first shrinkwrap material wrapped around a first packaging unit;   means for changing at least one parameter of the method of wrapping packaging units with shrinkwrap material and shrinking the shrinkwrap material around the packaging units;   means for wrapping, with a second shrinkwrap material, a second packaging unit in said shrink wrapping machine after changing at least one parameter;   means for transporting a wrapped second packaging unit to said shrink tunnel and applying heat to the second shrinkwrap material while moving the wrapped second packaging unit through said shrink tunnel;   means for shrinking the second shrinkwrap material wrapped around a second packaging unit;   means for detecting, with at least two sensing devices, which at least two sensing devices comprise:
 (A) a first sensing device being disposed at the entrance of said shrink tunnel and being configured and disposed to detect the wrapping on packaging units coming from said shrink wrapping machine before entering said shrink tunnel before or during the entrance of packaging units into said shrink tunnel; 
 (B) a second sensing device being disposed at the exit of said shrink tunnel and being configured and disposed to detect the result of said shrinking of the shrinkwrap material wrapped around packaging units exiting said shrink tunnel during or subsequent to the exit of packaging units from said shrink tunnel; and 
 (C) a third sensing device being disposed in said shrink tunnel and being configured and disposed to detect the shrinking of said wrapping on packaging units within said shrink tunnel during the transit of packaging units through said shrink tunnel; 
   means for determining, from detecting, any shrinkwrapping resultant faults;   means for, upon determining a shrinkwrapping fault, adjusting at least one of said shrink wrapping machine and said shrink tunnel to initiate adjusting and attempting correction of the shrinkwrapping fault;   means for wrapping a third packaging unit, substantially immediately subsequent to adjusting relating to a second packaging unit of at least one of said shrink wrapping machine and said shrink tunnel;   means for transporting a wrapped third packaging unit to said shrink tunnel and applying heat to the second shrinkwrap material while moving the wrapped third packaging unit through said shrink tunnel;   means for shrinking the second shrinkwrap material wrapped around a third packaging unit;   means for detecting, with said at least two sensing devices:
 the wrapping on packaging units coming from said shrink wrapping machine before entering said shrink tunnel before or during the entrance of packaging units into said shrink tunnel; 
 the result of the shrinking of the shrinkwrap material wrapped around packaging units exiting said shrink tunnel during or subsequent to the exit of packaging units from said shrink tunnel; and 
 the shrinking of the wrapping on packaging units within said shrink tunnel during the transit of packaging units through said shrink tunnel; 
   means for determining, from the detecting, any shrinkwrapping resultant faults;   means for, upon determining a shrinkwrapping fault, readjusting at least one of said shrink wrapping machine and said shrink tunnel to initiate adjusting and attempting correction of the shrinkwrapping fault and to minimize faulty packaging units; and   means for continuing the steps of detecting and adjusting of subsequent packaging units until the packaging units are substantially free of shrinkwrapping faults.   
   
   
       8 . A shrinkwrapping arrangement for performing the method of wrapping packaging units with shrinkwrap material and shrinking the shrinkwrap material around the packaging units, and minimizing faulty packaging units according to  claim 7 , said shrinkwrapping arrangement comprising:
 a wrapping arrangement being configured to wrap a first packaging unit of a first size with a first shrinkwrap material in a shrink wrapping machine;   a transporting arrangement being configured to transport a wrapped first packaging unit to a shrink tunnel and apply heat to the first shrinkwrap material while moving the wrapped first packaging unit through said shrink tunnel;   a shrinking arrangement being configured to shrink the first shrinkwrap material wrapped around a first packaging unit;   a changing arrangement being configured to change at least one parameter of the method of wrapping packaging units with shrinkwrap material and shrinking the shrinkwrap material around the packaging units;   said wrapping arrangement being configured to wrap, with a second shrinkwrap material, a second packaging unit in said shrink wrapping machine after changing at least one parameter;   said transporting arrangement being configured to transport a wrapped second packaging unit to said shrink tunnel and applying heat to the second shrinkwrap material while moving the wrapped second packaging unit through said shrink tunnel;   said shrinking arrangement being configured to shrink the second shrinkwrap material wrapped around a second packaging unit;   a detecting arrangement being configured to detect, with at least two sensing devices, which at least two sensing devices comprise:
 (A) a first sensing device being disposed at the entrance of said shrink tunnel and being configured and disposed to detect the wrapping on packaging units coming from said shrink wrapping machine before entering said shrink tunnel before or during the entrance of packaging units into said shrink tunnel; 
 (B) a second sensing device being disposed at the exit of said shrink tunnel and being configured and disposed to detect the result of said shrinking of the shrinkwrap material wrapped around packaging units exiting said shrink tunnel during or subsequent to the exit of packaging units from said shrink tunnel; and 
 (C) a third sensing device being disposed in said shrink tunnel and being configured and disposed to detect the shrinking of said wrapping on packaging units within said shrink tunnel during the transit of packaging units through said shrink tunnel; 
   a determining arrangement being configured to determine, from detecting, any shrinkwrapping resultant faults;   an adjusting arrangement being configured to adjust, upon determining a shrinkwrapping fault, at least one of said shrink wrapping machine and said shrink tunnel to initiate adjusting and attempting correction of the shrinkwrapping fault;   said wrapping arrangement being configure to wrap a third packaging unit, substantially immediately subsequent to adjusting relating to a second packaging unit of at least one of said shrink wrapping machine and said shrink tunnel;   said transporting arrangement being configured to transporta wrapped third packaging unit to said shrink tunnel and applying heat to the second shrinkwrap material while moving the wrapped third packaging unit through said shrink tunnel;   said shrinking arrangement being configured to shrink the second shrinkwrap material wrapped around a third packaging unit;   said detecting arrangement being configured to detect, with said at least two sensing devices:
 the wrapping on packaging units coming from said shrink wrapping machine before entering said shrink tunnel before or during the entrance of packaging units into said shrink tunnel; 
 the result of the shrinking of the shrinkwrap material wrapped around packaging units exiting said shrink tunnel during or subsequent to the exit of packaging units from said shrink tunnel; and 
 the shrinking of the wrapping on packaging units within said shrink tunnel during the transit of packaging units through said shrink tunnel; 
   said determining arrangement being configured to determine, from the detecting, any shrinkwrapping resultant faults;   a readjusting arrangement being configured to readjust, upon determining a shrinkwrapping fault, at least one of said shrink wrapping machine and said shrink tunnel to initiate adjusting and attempting correction of the shrinkwrapping fault and to minimize faulty packaging units; and   a continuing arrangement being configured to permit the continuation of the steps of detecting and adjusting of subsequent packaging units until the packaging units are substantially free of shrinkwrapping faults.   
   
   
       9 . The method of wrapping packaging units with shrinkwrap material and shrinking the shrinkwrap material around the packaging units, and minimizing faulty wrapped packaging units according to  claim 6 , wherein said at least two sensing devices comprise one of:
 (A) and (B); and   (B) and (C).   
   
   
       10 . The method of wrapping packaging units with shrinkwrap material and shrinking the shrinkwrap material around the packaging units, and minimizing faulty wrapped packaging units according to  claim 9 , wherein said at least two sensing devices comprise at least two cameras. 
   
   
       11 . The method of wrapping packaging units with shrinkwrap material and shrinking the shrinkwrap material around the packaging units, and minimizing faulty wrapped packaging units according to  claim 10 , wherein at the tunnel entrance ( 5 . 1 ) and/or at the tunnel exit ( 5 . 2 ), means ( 8 ,  9 ) are provided for the production of at least one air curtain ( 8 . 1 ,  9 . 1 ) that closes the tunnel interior ( 5 ) off from the outside, and that the at least one camera ( 10 ) located outside the tunnel interior ( 5 ) photographs the tunnel interior ( 5 ) or the portion of the tunnel interior through the at least one air curtain ( 8 . 1 ,  9 . 1 ). 
   
   
       12 . The method of wrapping packaging units with shrinkwrap material and shrinking the shrinkwrap material around the packaging units, and minimizing faulty wrapped packaging units according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one camera ( 17 ) is located in the tunnel interior ( 5 ). 
   
   
       13 . The method of wrapping packaging units with shrinkwrap material and shrinking the shrinkwrap material around the packaging units, and minimizing faulty wrapped packaging units according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one camera ( 10 ,  11 ,  17 ) can be moved and/or pivoted. 
   
   
       14 . The method of wrapping packaging units with shrinkwrap material and shrinking the shrinkwrap material around the packaging units, and minimizing faulty wrapped packaging units according to  claim 13 , wherein the images that are supplied by the at least one camera ( 10 ,  11 ,  17 ) can be transmitted via the camera system  13  and a data transmission system to a spatially or geographically remote location. 
   
   
       15 . The method of wrapping packaging units with shrinkwrap material and shrinking the shrinkwrap material around the packaging units, and minimizing faulty wrapped packaging units according to  claim 14 , wherein the transmission takes place online. 
   
   
       16 . A shrinkwrapping arrangement for performing the method of wrapping packaging units with shrinkwrap material and shrinking the shrinkwrap material around the packaging units, and minimizing faulty packaging units, said shrinkwrapping arrangement comprising:
 a transporting arrangement being configured to transport a wrapped packaging unit to a shrink tunnel and apply heat to the shrinkwrap material while moving the wrapped packaging unit through said shrink tunnel;   a shrinking arrangement being configured to shrink the shrinkwrap material wrapped around a packaging unit;   a changing arrangement being configured to change at least one parameter of the method of wrapping packaging units with shrinkwrap material and shrinking the shrinkwrap material around the packaging units;   a detecting arrangement being configured to detect, with at least two sensing devices, which at least two sensing devices comprise:
 (A) a first sensing device being disposed at the entrance of said shrink tunnel and being configured and disposed to detect the wrapping on packaging units coming from said shrink wrapping machine before entering said shrink tunnel before or during the entrance of packaging units into said shrink tunnel; 
 (B) a second sensing device being disposed at the exit of said shrink tunnel and being configured and disposed to detect the result of shrinking of the shrinkwrap material wrapped around packaging units exiting said shrink tunnel during or subsequent to the exit of packaging units from said shrink tunnel; and 
 (C) a third sensing device being disposed in said shrink tunnel and being configured and disposed to detect the shrinking of wrapping on packaging units within said shrink tunnel during the transit of packaging units through said shrink tunnel; 
   a determining arrangement being configured to determine, from detecting, any shrinkwrapping resultant faults;   an adjusting arrangement being configured to adjust, upon determining a shrinkwrapping fault, at least one of said shrink wrapping machine and said shrink tunnel to initiate adjusting and attempting correction of a shrinkwrapping fault;   a readjusting arrangement being configured to readjust, upon determining a shrinkwrapping fault, at least one of said shrink wrapping machine and said shrink tunnel to initiate adjusting and attempting correction of a shrinkwrapping fault and to minimize faulty packaging units; and   a continuing arrangement being configured to permit continuation of the steps of detecting and adjusting of subsequent packaging units until packaging units are substantially free of shrinkwrapping faults.   
   
   
       17 . The shrinkwrapping arrangement as recited in  claim 16 , wherein at the tunnel entrance ( 5 . 1 ) and/or at the tunnel exit ( 5 . 2 ), means ( 8 ,  9 ) are provided for the production of at least one air curtain ( 8 . 1 ,  9 . 1 ) that closes the tunnel interior ( 5 ) off from the outside, and that the at least one camera ( 10 ) located outside the tunnel interior ( 5 ) photographs the tunnel interior ( 5 ) or the portion of the tunnel interior through the at least one air curtain ( 8 . 1 ,  9 . 1 ). 
   
   
       18 . The shrinkwrapping arrangement as recited in  claim 17 , wherein at least one camera ( 17 ) is located in the tunnel interior ( 5 ). 
   
   
       19 . The shrinkwrapping arrangement as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the at least one camera ( 10 ,  11 ,  17 ) can be moved and/or pivoted. 
   
   
       20 . The shrinkwrapping arrangement as recited in  claim 19 , wherein:
 the images that are supplied by the at least one camera ( 10 ,  11 ,  17 ) can be transmitted via the camera system  13  and a data transmission system to a spatially or geographically remote location; and   the transmission takes place online.