SH-45 heat shrink film hooding machine

The SH-45 automatic shrink wrapping machine is a sophisticated combined machine designed by SHJLPACK. It performs both the hooding and heat-shrinking operations on a product within a single work station, streamlining the packaging process.

The SH-45 machine utilizes a reel of shrink film supplied in a tubular form, often equipped with side bellows. Different versions of the machine can accommodate up to three film reels, allowing for flexibility and efficiency in production runs.

Film shrinking is carried out by a gas-fired ring oven, applying heat directly to the hooded product. All machine functions, including both automatic and manual operations, are precisely managed by an integrated PLC system.

Machine Operation Cycle

The machine cycle is efficiently structured, with certain preparatory phases often occurring in parallel with the main cycle or during the loading of the next product. This design minimizes impact on the overall cycle time.

Phase 1: Hood Preparation and Hooding

This phase is initiated at the rear of the machine and involves several steps:

• Film Unwinding: The film reel unwinds to the length required for the specific pack. The necessary height is automatically determined by an external reading system.
• Welding and Cutting: A dedicated unit prepares the hood by welding and then cutting the film from the reel.
• Hood Transport and Spreading: The prepared hood is transported by a mechanical gripping system to the central shrinking arch area. Mechanical pliers (four mobile units) spread the hood's four flaps outwards from the center. This synchronized movement creates the correct rectangular opening required to fit onto the product.
• Hooding: The machine's arch descends, placing the spread hood easily over the product.

Phase 2: Heat Shrinking

Following the hooding process, the shrinking cycle begins:

• Air Removal: A suction device is activated to remove air trapped between the product and the shrink film hood. This step promotes better adhesion of the film to the product's base and sides.
• Shrinking Activation: With the product centered, the shrinking phase starts. Gas-powered hot air heaters within the ring oven are switched on.
• Efficient Heating: The oven heaters operate intermittently, activating only when a hooded product is ready for shrinking. The duration of heating is automatically adjusted based on the dimensions of the pack and the thickness of the film being used. This smart control ensures reduced gas consumption, applying heat only for the necessary time to achieve proper film shrinkage.
• Pack Transfer: Once the shrinking is complete and the heaters switch off, the finished pack is transferred to the machine outlet, allowing a new pack to enter for processing.

Technical Specifications

The SH-45 machine is built to handle demanding industrial packaging needs. Key technical data includes:

This combination of automated processes and robust technical specifications makes the SH-45 a reliable solution for securing palletized goods with heat shrink film.