New KHS Development for Extensive Transparency in the Shrink Tunnel

The air curtain barrier provides an equally reliable enclosure for the temperature prevailing within the shrink tunnel as provided by the conventional hanging curtain solution.

24/03/07 KHS ensures transparency with a new development that has what it takes. In future, shrink packers can optionally be equipped with a shrink tunnel that is monitored by an inspection facility using the latest in camera equipment.

Monitoring of the shrink tunnel area is made possible by using air curtains in the infeed and outfeed areas of the tunnel. These air curtains work according to the same principle as those that have become familiar from the entrance and exit areas of department stores. An uninterrupted flow of air circulates from the upper area of the shrink tunnel infeed and outfeed to the lower area of the shrink tunnel infeed and outfeed. The air curtain barrier provides an equally reliable enclosure for the temperature prevailing within the shrink tunnel as provided by the conventional hanging curtain solution.

In addition to the main advantage of the unobstructed view that is possible into the shrink tunnel, there is another significant benefit of the air curtain option. This significantly affects the quality of the shrink pack, in that the packs are not subjected to any kind of mechanical contact in the shrink tunnel infeed and outfeed areas thus ruling out any possible damage to shrink packs.

A camera system installed at a defined distance from the outfeed area of the shrink tunnel automatically monitors the shrink tunnel area. The recorded images are displayed on a monitor. An immediate response based on the displayed images is possible to any malfunction that should occur during the shrink-wrap process. The process parameters can be rapidly readjusted. The results of the changes are in turn immediately available thanks to the camera equipment.

The camera system can remain in continuous operation if required. However, it is intended primarily for checking the shrink-wrap process after changing to a new format, when new settings have been made, if the quality of film varies, etc. The general rule is that the camera monitoring should be used whenever the shrink pack processing parameters are changed.

The latest camera equipment also includes the option of transmitting images online when service calls are required. Capabilities are also provided for communication between the camera equipment and a plant information system.

Although the camera solution in conjunction with the air tunnel is a significant KHS innovation, which companies will be pleased to implement when investing in new shrink pack equipment, it is not reserved solely for new investments. On request, it can also be retrofitted to existing shrink packers.