Shrink tunnel control apparatus and method

• US 20040083687A1
• Filed: 11/01/2002
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Shanklin Corporation
• Original Assignee: Shanklin Corporation
• Inventors: Reichental, Abraham N., Christman, Russell T.
• Application Number:
  US10/286,243
• Publication Number:
  US 20040083687A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 53/442
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/00 Joining or sealing of preformed parts , e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor general aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts B29C66/00; using porous material formed by internal pressure generated therein for joining preformed parts B29C44/1228, B29C44/326
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/87441 by lowering or shutting down the power supply
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 53/063 Tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32021 Energy management, balance and limit power to tools
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/10 Greenhouse gas [GHG] capture, material saving, heat recovery or other energy efficient measures, e.g. motor control, characterised by manufacturing processes, e.g. for rolling metal or metal working
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

Control system and apparatus for controlling power consumption of a heat chamber such as a shrink tunnel. The system and apparatus of the present invention is modification to conventional systems, and takes advantage of the inherent equipment usage model in a packaging process. When the shrink wrap sealer has been idle for a predetermined duration, control circuitry in the shrink tunnel forces the tunnel to enter an energy savings mode.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the power consumption of a heat chamber by monitoring the activity of an associated shrink wrap sealer, comprising:

generating a signal whenever said sealer is operated;

transmitting said signal to said heat chamber;

monitoring elapsed time between said received signals;

reducing power consumption of said heat chamber by a predetermined percentage if said elapsed time exceeds a predetermined threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said sealer comprises a sealer jaw, and said signal is generated by said sealer whenever said sealer jaw is depressed.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said signal is transmitted wirelessly.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said signal is transmitted by a plurality of wireless transmitters.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said signal is received by a wireless receptor mounted on said heat chamber.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined percentage of power consumption is manually selectable.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said predetermined threshold is manually selectable.

8. Apparatus for controlling the temperature of a heat chamber, comprising:

a shrink wrap sealer machine;

a first device responsive to usage of said sealer machine for generating a signal when said sealer is active;

a detector for detecting when said signal is generated; and

a second device responsive to said detector for reducing power consumption of said heat chamber by a predetermined percentage when the duration between said detected signals exceeds a predetermined threshold.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said shrink wrap sealer machine comprises a sealer jaw, and said first device generates said signal when said sealer jaw is depressed.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said first device generates said signal wirelessly.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein there is a plurality of said first devices.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said detector is mounted on said heat chamber.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said detector detects said signal wirelessly.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said second device reduces power consumption of said heat chamber by reducing chamber temperature.

15. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said heat chamber comprises at least one blower, and said second device reduces power consumption of said heat chamber by reducing the speed of said at least one blower.

16. The apparatus, of claim 8, wherein said heat chamber comprises a conveyor belt, and said second device reduces power consumption of said heat chamber by reducing the speed of said conveyor belt.

17. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said predetermined percentage is manually selectable.

18. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said predetermined threshold is manually selectable.

19. Control system for minimizing power consumption of one of first and second associated film packaging machine components for packaging an article, wherein said first packaging machine component comprises upper and lower sealing jaws for sealing therebetween said film about said article, at least one of said upper and lower sealing jaws being movable with respect to the other between an open position and a closed position, said closed position causing the generation of a signal indicative of said position;

said second packaging machine component comprising a heated cavity for receiving the packaged article, said heated cavity requiring an amount of power to generate sufficient heat to shrink said film about said article;

said control system comprising a receiver for receiving said generated signal and a controller for determining the duration between said generated signals received by said receiver and reducing said amount of power when said duration exceeds a predetermined value.