Abstract: System for heat shrink sealing open-topped containers wherein the system includes a housing or enclosure wherein a majority of a bulk roll of film material is accessible when the cover is open. The system preferably includes two opposing rollers that are configured to engage the film and cause it to move to a dispensing position. In a preferred aspect, the system includes a movable sealing unit that accommodates use of the lidding system with open ended containers having various sizes and shapes. In a more preferred aspect, the system includes an indicia generating device operable to label sealed containers and a knife that generates a perforation in the film during sealing operations.

Abstract: An apparatus for heat shrinking packages includes a mover having an active surface configured for receiving one or more packages and for displacing the one or more packages along a predetermined operating path, a heating fluid circuit configured to circulate a heating fluid, a control unit operative on the heating fluid circuit, the control unit being configured to control circulation of the heating fluid in the heating fluid circuit, a chamber having an opening and being configured for receiving the one or more packages positioned on the active surface and for heat shrinking the one or more packages based on circulation of the heating fluid in the heating fluid circuit, and means for forming a liquid curtain arranged at the opening and configured to define a liquid curtain along the opening, the liquid curtain separating an inner volume of the chamber from an ambient atmosphere external to the chamber.

Abstract: A system for transferring articles, includes a plurality of gripping devices, configured to grip respective articles which pass along a first conveyor, wherein each gripping device is movable independently from the remaining gripping devices. A control unit is configured for controlling the gripping devices. A first detection sensor is configured to detect a first value indicating a position of an article on the first conveyor. The control unit is configured for receiving the first value; positioning a gripping device at the article, as a function of the first value; gripping the article with the gripping device; adjusting, as a function of the first value, a speed of the gripping device which grips the article, and releasing the article from the gripping device when the article reaches a release position.

Abstract: A control device for a capsule endoscope is provided. The control device includes a balance arm device, a permanent magnet, a 2-DOF rotary platform and an examination bed. The bottom of the balance arm device is fixed, and the active end of the balance arm device connects with a boom. The 2-DOF rotary platform is fixed below the boom and the permanent magnet is located in the 2-DOF rotary platform. The examination bed is put below the 2-DOF rotary platform, and the area between the examination bed and the 2-DOF rotary platform is an examination area.

Abstract: Disclosed is object a method for operating a retraction device of an automatic bundler that is designed to be used in a facility for processing products that are delivered in the form of bundles that each group multiple products held together with a retractable film; with the retraction device being equipped with a retraction furnace including at least one heating unit that is designed to heat the air of the furnace and at least one air circulation unit that is designed to distribute the hot air in the furnace; with the operating method including a production mode during which the bundler is adjusted to be able to produce output and a superficial standby mode that helps save energy. The superficial standby mode includes the reduction in speed of at least one air circulation unit, compared to production mode, to a non-zero value. Also disclosed is a corresponding device.

Abstract: A bale bagging apparatus for wrapping a bag around a bale of compressed material includes a base frame member having a first end and a second end, a transportation system, a bale chute and a bag retrieval system. The transportation system is provided to transport a bale through the bale chute having a bag for wrapping the bale. Additionally, the bale bagging apparatus has the bag retrieval system to position a bag from a first position to a second position to a third position, where in the third position an open end of the bag is positioned around the output end of the bale chute when the bale is transported by the transportation system through the bale chute.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heat-shrinking facility for heat-shrinking sleeves made of heat-shrinkable material inserted onto supports, such as containers, comprising an enclosure, a heat-diffusion means (200) arranged inside the enclosure for supplying the heating means with steam and at least one conveyor for carrying the supports through the enclosure between an intake of the enclosure and an output of the enclosure. According to the invention, the steam-generation means comprises an adjustment means suitable for controlling the steam-generation means according to at least one measurement of the temperature prevailing in the enclosure such as to make the measured temperature tend towards a given set temperature.

Abstract: A method of shrinking a heat shrinkable film onto product units, in which a heat shrinkable film is wrapped around a product unit so as to form an opening in the heat shrinkable film on a side of the product unit. A hot, gaseous medium is then emitted from at least one discharge or nozzle to thereby shrink the heat shrinkable film on the product unit while simultaneously moving the product unit on a conveying arrangement along a transport path. The emission of the hot, gaseous medium is controlled such that essentially all of the hot, gaseous medium emitted from the at least one discharge to shrink the heat shrinkable film on the product unit, during movement of the product unit along the transport path, is directed at the side of the product unit having the opening in the heat shrinkable film.

Abstract: An apparatus for heat shrinking a package, comprising: a chamber configured such that a package on a surface or the apparatus may be heat shrunk via a heating fluid in the chamber; and a preheat container configured to supply a preheated liquid to a heat tank from which the heating fluid is supplied to the chamber; wherein the preheat container is above the surface such that liquid in the preheat container can be preheated by heat from the chamber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for shrinking a shrink film (1) onto a stack of goods (2), wherein a shrink frame (3) is provided, which can be moved on the stack of goods and which surrounds the stack of goods while the shrink film is shrunk on. The shrink frame has a plurality of heating apparatuses distributed over the perimeter of the shrink frame for heating the shrink film for the shrinking process. Furthermore, there is a cover plate (6) that covers the stack of goods and that is arranged in particular at a distance from the top side (7) of the stack of goods during the shrinking process. Side walls (11) extending along the stack of goods are provided between the shrink frame and the cover plate, and intermediate spaces for the heated gases flowing upward are formed between the stack of goods and the side walls. The cover plate can be moved toward the top side of the stack of goods and can be moved away from the top side of the stack of goods.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for the production of sets of containers (10), wherein the apparatus has a packaging device (2) which wraps a plurality of containers (20) at least in part with a film-like packaging material (12) and thus forms a set of containers (10), with a shrinking device (4) which shrinks the packaging material (12) which wraps the containers (20) at least in part, with a conveying device (6) which conveys the containers (20)—wrapped by the packaging material (12)—in a pre-set conveying direction, and with an inspection device (8) which inspects the containers (20)—wrapped at least in part by the packaging material (12)—after the shrinking procedure.

Abstract: A thermal shrink packaging machine is revealed. A receiving base is disposed on a machine plate. Two slide rails are respectively arranged at two sides of the receiving base while a slide unit is set between the two slide rails. A power source is arranged at the receiving base and an output shaft of the power source is connected to the slide unit. The slide unit is disposed with a cutter and a vacuum nozzle. A curved guiding piece is set on the machine plate. A tear part cutter is arranged over the cutter. Thereby a tear part is formed by the tear part cutter cutting correspondingly to a tear line of thermal shrink film when the cutter is cutting the thermal shrink film. Thus users can tear apart the thermal shrink film along the tear line easily by holding the tear part.

Abstract: An apparatus intended for generating process heat for a packaging arrangement and can be operated using an energy source which can only be regulated to a limited extent, if at all. For this purpose, the apparatus contains a heat-transfer medium and a heat accumulator.

Abstract: Heat isolation apparatus for capturing a specific area of heat-shrinkable plastic film used for packaging objects suitable for packaging as a heat-shrinkable package to prevent heat from reaching a specific area of the heat-shrinkable plastic film; a slotted track for transporting the heat-shrinkable plastic film and object to be packaged throughout the heat isolation apparatus; means for inserting the heat-shrinkable plastic film in an area of the heat isolation apparatus for capturing a portion of the heat-shrinkable plastic film that forms a designated area removed from the application of heat; means for propelling the heat-shrinkable plastic film and object to be packaged through the heat isolation apparatus; heat tunnel means for applying heat to the heat-shrinkable plastic film surrounding the object to be packaged and not to the plastic film captured by the apparatus; the means for propelling moving the object and heat-shrinkable plastic film to the heat tunnel; and means for securely capturing the des

Abstract: Systems (200) and methods (1300) for selectively retracting a first component of a Vacuum Packaging Appliance (“VPA”). The method comprises: causing the first component to normally be in an engaged position in which the component facilitates a formation of a heat seal along an open end of a container disposed within the VPA; detecting an existence of at least one first condition associated with the VPA; and applying a magnetic field in proximity to the component when the first condition is detected, whereby the first component is at least maintained in an unengaged position in which the first component no longer facilitates the formation of the heat seal.

Abstract: An object is first wrapped with a strip of thermoplastic film such that upper edges of the strip project upward past a top face of the object and fold inward onto outer edge regions of the top face of the object. Then a cover sheet is laid on the top face over the folded-in edges of the strip with outer edges of the cover sheet projecting outward past and hanging down around the wrapped object outside the film strip. A heated plate is then pressed down against the cover sheet and hot air is blown against the strip on the side faces so as to shrink the strip against the side faces and such that the hot air rises and welds the outer cover-sheet edges sheet to the strip around upper regions of the side faces.

Abstract: A tangential airstream heat shrinking device of plastic film has a chassis, a heating chamber, air blowers, and high-temperature airstream ejectors. The heating chamber is mounted on the chassis and the heating channel is under the heating chamber. The air blowers are mounted to a bottom of the chassis. The high-temperature airstream ejectors are respectively fit into the mounting holes of the heating chamber. Heated air is discharged through a high-temperature airstream discharging opening of the air blade section under a respective high-temperature airstream ejector. A high-temperature airstream discharging opening is located inside the heating channel of the heating chamber. Each high-temperature airstream ejector can be rotationally adjusted so that the high-temperature airstreams are supplied along routes defined by different tangents at different angles along the circumference of a film-packaged article.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a first pack (1) and a second pack (2) arranged in a stack which is movable on a transport path (3) comprises a deflection unit (4). The deflection unit comprises at least one deflection device (40; 41) having at least one pair (400, 401; 410, 411) of rotatable rollers which are positioned laterally adjacent to the transport path (3). A first roller of the pair of rollers is positioned at one side of the transport path (3), and a second roller of the pair of rollers is positioned at the other side of the transport path (3). The at least one pair of rollers is arranged to define a deflection path (402; 412) which includes an acute angle (?) with the transport path (3) of the stack. The apparatus allows for separation of the first pack (1) from the second pack (2).

Abstract: A packaging device includes a conveyance mechanism, a guide portion, a heating portion, and a processor. The conveyance mechanism is configured to convey, in a conveyance direction along a conveyance path, a base on which an object is placed. The guide portion is configured to guide a film for packaging and to move along a movement path. The heating portion is provided below the conveyance path, is configured to heat the film, and includes a plurality of heating units that are arranged parallel to the conveyance path and that are arranged side by side in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction. Each of the plurality of heating units includes a heater and an urging portion. The urging portion is configured to urge the heater upward toward the conveyance path. The processor is configured to cause the heating portion to heat the film guided to a lower side of the base.

Abstract: A packaging device includes a conveyance mechanism, a first guide portion, and a processor. The conveyance mechanism is configured to convey, along a conveyance path, a base on which an object is placed. The first guide portion is configured to guide a film and to move along a movement path. The processor is configured to cause the conveyance mechanism to convey the base toward a downstream side in a conveyance direction. The processor is further configured to cause the first guide portion to move along the movement path from above to below the conveyance path after the base is conveyed toward the downstream side to a first position. The processor is further configured to cause the conveyance mechanism to convey the base toward the upstream side to a second position after the first guide portion is moved to below the conveyance path.

Abstract: A method for producing a packaging unit includes combining individual products into a product formation, providing a shrink-wrap film having a perforation area that is susceptible to contact-free activation, and using the shrink-wrap film, securing the individual products to each other.

Abstract: A system and method for coiling and sealing an elongate, flexible component includes a coiler and a sealer positioned beneath the coiler. The coiler includes a rotatable central core and a feeding tube for guiding and transferring a free end of the flexible component onto the central core to form a coil. The coil is then dropped in a generally vertical downward direction from the coiler into a partially-sealed and partially-opened container positioned beneath the coiler and disposed within the sealer. The sealer seals the remaining one or more open sides of the container and then drops the coil encased within the sealed container in a generally vertical downward direction onto a conveyor. The container may be made of a heat-shrinkable material and the conveyor may transport the sealed container into a heat-shrink oven to heat shrink the container around the coil.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for heat shrinking a film wrapping an object and a method for operating such an apparatus. The apparatus includes a heat treatment chamber and a transport device for supporting and moving the object through the heat treatment chamber. Steam is supplied to a fluid outlet device including one or more nozzles. The apparatus further includes a window arranged to allow an operator to look inside the heat treatment chamber. To improve continuous viewing capabilities the apparatus further includes a blurring reduction system. A fluid flow is generated along an inner side of the window.

Abstract: An apparatus for heat shrinking a film wrapping an object includes a housing having a heat treatment chamber, a transport device for supporting and moving the object through the heat treatment chamber. Steam, supplied from at least one supply is led to at least a first and a second fluid outlet device and directed at the transported object using one or more outlets. The fluid outlet devices are disposed on opposite sides of the transport device. According to the invention the apparatus and method further include generating a downward directed fluid flow in an area extending between the fluid outlet devices having a lower temperature than the steam supplied from the outlets. This results in improved sleeving results and higher efficiency.

Abstract: A tangent stream thermal shrinking device includes a chassis, along two side of which two position adjusting mechanisms are arranged. Each position adjusting mechanism has at least one mounting section, of which the position is adjustable. Mounting seats that are respectively mounted to the mounting sections of the position adjusting mechanisms each form at least one track slot. Hot air dispensers are respectively coupled to the track slots of the mounting seats and are thus angular position adjustable along the track slots to discharge hot air streams along paths that are tangential to a circumference of an article outside which a heat shrink film wraps. A hot air supply device supplies hot air to the hot air dispensers to have the heat shrink film fast and uniformly heated and shrunk for packaging.

Abstract: A shrink film heating device includes a chassis above which a hood is arranged. A conveyor belt and a driving belt are arranged between the chassis and the hood. The hood has an upper wall to which at least one heating assembly is mounted to supply hot air into a hollow interior space of the hood. The hood has front and rear walls forming openings that define a heating channel through the hood. Two heat homogenization assemblies are respectively set at opposite sides of the heating channel inside the hood and include a conduit coupled to an air supply source in order to supply regulate temperature air into the hood for mixing with and uniformly distributing high temperature air uniformly through the interior space of the hood so as to achieve uniform heating of a packaged object moving through the heating channel.

Abstract: For the production of cigarette packs (10) with shrink-treated outer film, the packs (10) are subjected in a continuously rotating shrinking revolver (19) to a heat treatment effecting the shrinkage. To each pack (10) there are assigned, in the region of the shrinking revolver (19), heating plates (22, 23), which bear against the front side and rear side of the pack (10) or of the film.

Abstract: The objective of the invention is to provide an alternative way of wrapping a product with cardboard at faster speed and maintain stacking strength. This accomplished by bending two strips of cardboard into the shape of a U channel where the sides of the U form an angle smaller than 90 degrees. The sides of the U channel cardboard will be open by a guide that will allow each U channel cardboard piece to slide around each end of the product without requiring glue to hold the U Channel in position. By maintaining an angle of less than 90 degrees the U channel cardboard acts like a spring clamp around the product and maintains its position on the conveyor belt while the product is film wrapped and the film is heat shrunk.

Abstract: Methods and machines are provided for forming a five-sided carton of packages of smoking articles. A piece of film material is applied to a plurality of packages of smoking articles such that five sides of the plurality of packages are at least partially covered by the film material, but the sixth side remains uncovered. The film material is applied such that the group of packages is sufficiently tightly bound so that none of the packages may slip free from the carton. The sixth side of the plurality of packages in the carton remains exposed so that tax stamps may be easily applied. The film of material may be applied so that a gap is formed relative to the sixth side.

Abstract: The invention relates to a packaging machine including a sealing device, said sealing device comprising at least a first and an individually controllable second sealing tool for producing a first and a second seal uniting a lower web with a top web.

Abstract: A packaging assembly for lightweight containers that includes a secondary packaging for gathering and holding a plurality of individual primary lightweight containers. The secondary packaging includes two layers of thermoplastic shrinkable film enclosing the lightweight containers, with the layers being connected to one another at least partially in the circumference of the secondary packaging. Each of the primary lightweight containers has a container body and a container neck with a neck opening. The lightweight containers are disposed in the secondary packaging in rows forming one single, substantially plane layer, with all containers being oriented with their longitudinal axis (L) forming an angle (?) with the plane of the packaging assembly that is between 0 and 45°.

Abstract: A hot wind supplying apparatus having high energy consumption efficiency for packaging a product by use of a heat shrink film, capable of promoting the economics of a packaging work, the hot air supplying apparatus including at least one hot wind unit configured to discharge hot wind to a packaging surface of the product, wherein the hot wind unit includes a body having a discharging hole, at least one blower fan configured to blow air to the discharging hole, at least one fan motor configured to drive the blower fan, a heater configured to heat air that is to be discharged from the discharging hole, and at least one recycling flow path configured to collect the air discharged from the discharging hole and to supply the air collected to an intake side of the blower fan.

Abstract: The method for packaging together a plurality of record rolls of cover tape according to the present invention comprises wrapping a stack obtained by roughly coaxially stacking said record rolls in a heat-shrink film; and heat-shrinking said heat-shrink film, so that a pressure of at least 0.8 mN/mm2 and at most 1.2 mN/mm2 is applied between the record rolls. This method will not deform the rolled state after packaging, while suppressing the occurring of roll collapse when exposed to a high-temperature environment or a low-temperature environment.

Abstract: The objective of this invention is to provide a handle for carrying an article or a bundle of bottles that is more resistant to tearing and delaminating and has the ability to carry heavy loads. This is accomplished by placing a strip on the inside of the wrapping material and wrapping an article, so that the strip that forms the handle is enclosed within the wrapping material. By placing the handle inside the wrapping material so that the strip overlaps when the wrapping material covers the article, the handle is capable of carrying heavy loads.

Abstract: A heat shrink apparatus for heat shrinking a shrink film to a bladder. The heat shrink apparatus may include a support structure, a bladder support system, and a heat chamber. The bladder support system for supporting the bladder thereon may have two spaced apart parallel rows of a plurality of resilient members pivotally and/or resiliently attached to the support structure. The heat chamber may be hollow with opposing end openings and may have one or more heating elements therein. The heat chamber may translate over the shrink film and the bladder along the support structure between the two spaced apart parallel rows, shrinking the shrink film to the bladder. As the heat chamber translates, it may contact ends of the resilient members, thereby pivoting or deflecting the resilient members from a first position to a second position such that the heat chamber can pass between the two parallel rows.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a shrink tunnel for use in a production system for the production of packaging units from packaging materials filled with a product and having shrink film shrunk thereon, the shrink tunnel comprising a tunnel zone, heating means for application of heat to shrink the shrink film onto packaging units moved through the tunnel zone, the tunnel zone being maintained at a tunnel temperature equal to a target operating temperature, wherein the tunnel has an operating mode and a standby mode, wherein heat output during the standby mode is less than heat output during the operating mode, and wherein the standby mode is triggered by at least one of a time control and a signal control.

Abstract: A hot water shrink tunnel includes a heat chamber that has no flue or vent into the heat chamber, an inlet opening and spaced therefrom an outlet opening. Each opening is closed by an end closing device, such as a curtain. A conveyor carries a product through the heat chamber from the inlet opening to the outlet opening. A duct is mounted adjacent each end opening, where the duct includes a shroud of a size and design to capture hot water vapor that issues from the heat chamber when a product passes through the end closing device of the non-flued/unvented tunnel.

Abstract: A machine for the automatic packaging of loose products or products placed in trays, with a usually heat-weldable stretch film, comprises means for unrolling sections of stretch film from a supply reel, separating said sections of film (F) into lengths appropriate for the dimensions of the product to be packaged, by transverse cutting, and positioning the sheet of film thus obtained, horizontally, in a packaging station (C), holding said sheet by the opposite longitudinal sides by means of parallel pairs (G1, G2) of superposed, synchronized belts (1, 3).

Abstract: A shrink film applying apparatus includes an article feed for feeding articles for shrink-wrapping at line pressure; a wrapping conveyor driven at a wrapping speed through a wrapping zone, the wrapping conveyor receiving articles from the article feed. First and second films are supplied to the wrapping zone. A plurality of flight bars are individually driven in a path at a variable speed. A sealing mechanism within the wrapping zone seals the first film to the second film at contact points to form a circumferential film unit substantially surrounding grouped articles within loops of second film and a corresponding portion of the first film, the film unit being shrinkable about the grouped articles to form a package. Related methods and subassemblies of the apparatus are disclosed.

Abstract: A device intended to assist in the accurate and controlled shrinkage of thermo-shrinkable container-jacketing material. Said device producing at least an elevated temperature in a heated processing zone. Heat energy available in said heated processing zone primarily derived from a first heat source, preferably pressurized steam. Said first heat source steam exhibiting preferred characteristics related to the controlled shrinking of thermo-shrinkable materials. A second heat source, other than steam, acting in cooperative relationship with said first heat source steam, delaying the decay of one or more preferred characteristics of said first heat source steam. Said first heat source steam, urging said heat-shrinkable materials to shrink, substantially conforming to receiving containers in a preferred manner along one or more axis.

Abstract: A device (10) for thermally treating packaged goods by means of a hot air or gas stream (28), particularly for the shrink treatment of film-wrapped goods, such as packs or the like, is disclosed. The device includes a hot gas generator (12) having a gas burner (14) whose combustion products (16) pass into a mixing device (18) via at least one supply opening (38). The mixing device (18) is formed by a channel portion (20) arranged between a conduit portion (22) formed as an inflow area (23) and an outflow area (25), wherein the mixing device (18) comprises at least one opening (32) for supplying the combustion products (16) and for mixing them with the gas stream (26) of the channel portion (20).

Abstract: A heat shrinking apparatus for a shrink film, which can uniformly heat shrink a shrink film covering a part of a whole of an article and can prevent adherence of water droplets on the surface of the article and the shrink film. The heat shrinking apparatus may include a heat treatment chamber installed so as to surround a transfer conveyor for transferring a bottle on which cylindrical label has been fitted, and heating means that heats the cylindrical label fitted on the bottle passing through the heat treatment chamber. The heat treatment chamber may include an external tunnel and an internal tunnel installed in a preheating zone, and an external tunnel and an internal tunnel installed in a main heating zone.

Abstract: A chamber shrink wrapping machine having a longitudinal body defining a lower portion of a chamber, a hood with an integral L-sealer transversely hinged to the body to define an upper portion of the chamber when lowered, an air heater to supply heated air to the chamber, a roller conveyor mounted to the body to initially support a product to be wrapped in the chamber longitudinally and transversely closely adjacent the L-sealer during sealing and cutting of heat-shrinkable film around the product when the hood is lowered, wherein the body defines longitudinal and transverse horizontal air ducts in the lower portion of the chamber to direct heated air toward the L-sealer and around the product.

Abstract: A method and device for finishing packets having respective overwrappings of heat-shrink material, whereby the overwrappings are sealed about the respective packets and then heated to shrink and adapt to the configuration of the packets; after being heated, the overwrappings are cooled to set and so reduce the risk of damage to the overwrappings at subsequent processing stages.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for placing sleeves on traveling articles, said sleeves being cut from a continuous sheath passing over a sheath-opening shaper, first outer wheels serving to advance the sheath along the shaper, and second outer wheels being provided downstream from cutter means for the purpose of ejecting the cut-off sheath segment, said wheels being driven in rotation by associated electric motors controlled synchronously by a virtual-shaft common electronic programmer.

Abstract: In a packaging machine, typically a cellophaner for overwrapping packets of cigarettes, each of the packets is enveloped by a wrapping unit in a heat shrinkable wrapper presenting at least two opposite faces disposed parallel one with another. The machine also comprises a unit by which heat is applied to the wrappers, equipped with a pair of belt conveyors that present two branches, facing one another and set in motion in such a way as to transport the packets by gripping the two opposite faces of each wrapper, and at least one heating head associated with each transport branch; the heating heads are faced with a leaf of lamellar graphite bonded to the head on one side and offered in direct contact on the other to the respective branch of the corresponding belt conveyor, so as to minimize friction between the belt and the head.

Abstract: This invention is to replace the need for a corrugated carton by wrapping an article with a heat shrinkable bubble wrap film. Heat shrinking the bubble wrap will allow the bubble wrap to shrink sufficiently to conform to an article such as a group of containers, e.g. bottles. Because of the inability of the bubble wrap film to tightly shrink around the containers, the containers can move and bump each other.

Abstract: A heat tunnel for applying heated air to articles enclosed in shrink-wrap film includes at least one air supply unit; a conveyor; and a heat shroud spaced from the conveyor. The air supply unit includes a source of heated air, a fan, a heated air plenum, air ducts, and a return air plenum. Multiple air supply units can be provided along the conveyor to create a heat tunnel of desired length.

Abstract: A device is provided for shrinking shrinkable packages by heating by utilizing a liquid and/or gaseous heating medium, which reduces the amount of energy required. The novel device and method achieves its advantages by recovering heat by a recirculation apparatus (8, 9) for recovering heating medium which has evaporated from the liquid heating medium. The method relates to an operational process utilizing such a device.

Abstract: A conveying device and a packaging machine for beverage containers are disclosed. The beverage containers are grouped as packs and wrapped with film, comprising a horizontal conveying device including an endlessly circulating conveyor chain whose movable members and/or meshes each have a supporting structure and contact areas for the packs and/or coatings that include significant portions of PTFE plastic. The contact areas of plastic have a thickness corresponding to at least 10% of the thickness of the supporting structure covered and/or coated therewith.