Shrink wrap machines are an important aspect of many businesses, especially when large amounts of merchandise are involved. Have you wondered if a shrink wrap machine would be right for your company, and if so, which kind of machine you would need? There's no reason to look any further because we've included a comprehensive list of shrink wrap machine types to help you better understand the types of machines available and their methods of operation!
Shrink wrap is a polymer plastic film used to protect items. Using a heat source to shrink the wrap to the dimensions of the product it is covering, shrink wrap is applied to fit a product securely. Either a shrink wrap machine or a hand-held heat gun is used as the heat source.
As the name implies, the chamber sealer passes the items through a chamber or compartment where a film of shrink wrap is used to wrap the item in. The shrink-wrap is compressed and forms a solid covering over the object in this chamber as it is heated enough to do so. Depending on the width of the plastic, the time for this operation varies.
This specific variety of shrink wrap machine was developed to accommodate larger sizes of shrink-wrapping material. If you have an automatic L-sealer handy, set it up, plug it in, and place the thing you want to seal inside. Two sealing bars on this device have the shape of a backward "L." In order to form a pouch-like aperture via the crinkle of the folds and allow your goods to pass through, shrink film bends down the two bars.
Once your object has been securely positioned inside the crease, the shrink film has three other sides that need to be securely sealed. When an object is fully loaded into the machine, the L-sealer can identify when to cover it with shrink film. Later, a shrink tunnel in the manufacturing line gets a hold of the unheated part of the shrink wrap attached to each product and warms the wrap so that it can firmly and securely fit around each item.
This is the quickest and most practical way to bundle a large number of products in a short period of time. The goods are wrapped in a continuous pipe of film, with each unit being divided downstream by a crisscross seal after being covered on one side. There are typically two configurations for the side sealers: two or three belts.
Compared to an L-sealer, a sealer with two belts is a little larger and removes one of the side sealer belts to create the last seal just before the side seal. When you need to wrap larger things but don't have the time to extend the length of the production line, this type is the most effective.
The sealers with three belts, on the other hand, are slightly larger than those with two belts and have the advantage of precisely spacing the items before they enter the section where they are to be wrapped.
Combo shrink systems provide a quality shrink packaging solution in a compact footprint. Systems are available as automatic combo systems or semi-automatic combo systems. Combo systems are available in greatly equipped heavy duty combos, or you can find more compact sizes and customize your options with a standard duty combo system. L-bar sealers and heat shrink tunnels are combined in one industrial shrink wrapping machine to provide tightly wrapped packaging solutions. First, sealed in a bag using the L-bar sealer, the package then moves to the shrink tunnel where the film is heated and shrinks around the package. Shrink wrap machines are used to provide a transparent, tightly wrapped package. Practical and cost effective, shrink packaging is great for packaging boxes, cartons, multi-packs, & beverage cans.
With the seemingly endless amount of shrink wrap products and machines available on the market, it can be a daunting task to attempt to figure out which products are the best fit for your company. By contacting a reputable shrink wrapping company regarding your needs and questions, you can find exactly the methods and products that are right for you!
Mr. Shrinkwrap is a leading distributor of protective products, shrink wrap films and installation supplies with a dedicated team available to take your order at any time of day. We have several experienced shrink wrap installation technicians on staff to help and support you on various aspects of any shrink wrap project. If you would like to place an order over the or have questions for us, give Mr. Shrinkwrap a call today at 800-847-!
- Wednesday, May 29,
Shrink wrapping is one of the most popular packaging methods today. This method creates a form-fitting layer of packaging when you want to provide your products with extra protection and branding. Shrink wrapping is used daily in the packaging world. A wide selection of styles is available to meet different application needs.
Shrink Wrapping Type
Material
Application
Examples of Items Wrapped
Shrink Banding
PVC Film
Wrapping bottles for safety seal; prevents tampering
Liquid medicines, bottled drinks, shampoos, salad dressings
Shrink Bags
PVC or Polyolefin Shrink Wrap
Packaging with three closed sides, open at the top
CDs, DVDs, books, soap, toys, printed stationary, biscuits
Shrink Sleeves
Pre-cut Printed Shrink Film
Slid over bottles and jars for advertising and info
Drink bottles, medicine bottles, cleaning supplies
Shrink Bundling Film
Single-wound Polyethylene Sheeting
Bundling multiple items together; flat off the roll
Bottled goods, canned goods
So, how do you package products with shrink wrap? A shrink wrap machine is all you need. This machine is like a reliable assistant for your packaging process. Whether you're a first-time user or looking to get the most out of your shrink wrap machine, you must know how this machine works. That's why we composed this post. By the end of the post, you will grasp everything essential to use the shrink wrap machine properly.
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Like most packaging machinery, shrink wrap machines come in an array of styles. Each has varying levels of automation and packaging capacity. There are three major types of shrink wrap machines in the market right now. They are:
Although there are many different types of shrink wrap machines, they work on a similar principle. The shrink wrap machine working principle is quite straightforward. These machines work by using heat to shrink a plastic film to form a tight, protective cover around a product. The heat source is typically from a heat gun or a heat tunnel.
Using a shrink wrap machine is not a complicated task. Yet, it can vary slightly depending on your machine type. Let's explore how to use different types of shrink wrap machines.
An I-Bar shrink wrap machine consists of two parts: an I-Bar sealer and a heat gun. The I-bar sealer is an impulse sealer. It's typically a manual device with a single sealing bar and a feed roll. The heat gun generates heat to shrink the film wrapped around the product.
(Screenshot Source: US Packaging & Wrapping)
STEP 1: Turn on the power switch of the I-Bar sealer. Set the sealing temperature.
STEP 2: Pull the length of the centerfold shrink film depending on the size of the product being wrapped.
STEP 3: Place your product within the centerfold shrink film. Make sure the product is positioned properly for wrapping.
STEP 4: Lower the sealing bar to cut the film to the desired size. A straight seal is created on the open end of the film.
STEP 5: Raise the sealing bar. Use a hand-held heat gun (often included in the machine) to apply heat to the wrapped product. The heat shrinks the film and creates a snug fit around the product.
STEP 6: Place the wrapped product aside to let it cool down. Check if the shrink wrapping is intact. If not, repeat the process until a tight finish is formed around the product.
Like the I-Bar option, L-Bar shrink wrap systems perform the wrapping process by using an L-Bar impulse sealer and a heat source for shrink. The L-Bar sealer comes in a square frame with two sealing bars intersecting to form an L. Compared with the I-Bar systems, they are more efficient as they can run at a higher speed and often work together with a conveyor. Additionally, L-Bar shrink wrap systems are available in manual and automatic models.
STEP 1: Turn on the power switch on the control panel of the L-Bar sealer. Adjust the temperature and conveyor settings.
STEP 2: Insert the product to be wrapped into the centerfold shrink film. Make sure it's properly aligned.
STEP 3: Pull the centerfold shrink film with the product. Ensure the film length is enough for cutting.
STEP 4: Pull the square frame down, allowing the L-shaped sealing bars to cut and seal the film on two adjacent sides. A L-shaped seal is formed around the product.
STEP 5: Raise the frame. It's worth mentioning that if you choose an automatic L-Bar sealer, the sealing bars will lift by themselves.
STEP 6: Use a heat gun to shrink the film. In the case of a shrink tunnel, place the wrapped product on the conveyor of the tunnel. As the product passes through the tunnel, the heat is evenly distributed onto the film to form a tight fit around the product. If you're using an automatic L-Bar sealer, connect the sealer's conveyor to the tunnel's conveyor. This allows the wrapped product to be transferred to the tunnel when the square frame rises.
STEP 7: Place the product aside and allow it to cool. Inspect the shrink wrapping effect. Repeat the process if any issue is found.
A continuous shrink wrap machine is typically a fully automatic shrink wrapping machine. It can wrap and seal products without human involvement. The continuous shrink wrap machine can handle a constant flow of products at a high speed. This type of machine is ideal for high-volume shrink wrapping operations. It can often be integrated into an existing packaging or production line.
STEP 1: Turn on the shrink wrap machine. Set all parameters on HMI. Start the shrink wrapping process.
STEP 2: The products to be wrapped are fed into the machine through a feed conveyor. A pair of spacer wheels is mounted on both sides of the conveyor. These components are used to stop the passing products for seconds and allow them to be even spaced to enter the machine.
STEP 3: A feed roll feeds the shrink film into the machine.
STEP 4: As a product is in place, the shrink film is cut off and placed on the product.
STEP 5: The loose-wrapped product continues to ride on the conveyor and travel into a shrink tunnel.
STEP 6: The shrink tunnel applies heat to each passing product to cause the film to shrink. The film conforms to the shape of the product, creating a tight-fitting layer around the product.
STEP 7: The shrink-wrapped products are discharged from the tunnel. Suppose your continuous shrink wrap machine is connected to a production line. In that case, these products will be transferred to the downstream equipment for further processing.
Understanding the shrink wrap machine working principle helps you better utilize your machine. By following the steps in this article, you can master how to use different types of shrink wrap machines. Additionally, with the proper knowledge of the shrink wrap machine working principle, you can optimize your packaging process.
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