CN217532104U

CN217532104U - Corrugated board production equipment

Info

Publication number: CN217532104U
Application number: CN202123244339.0U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 皮耶罗·阿尔贝托·布里维奥; 伦托·罗斯
Original assignee: Ripple Quantum Inc
Current assignee: Ripple Quantum Inc
Priority date: 2020-12-22
Filing date: 2021-12-22
Publication date: 2022-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 2031-12-22
Also published as: DE202021106294U1

Abstract

A corrugated cardboard production apparatus includes a corrugator, a plurality of continuous web magazines, a coupler assembly and a baffle assembly arranged downstream of the coupler assembly in the direction of movement of the corrugated cardboard and comprising one or more baffle units. The apparatus also includes a printing assembly disposed downstream of the at least one diaphragm unit.

Description

Corrugated board production equipment

Technical Field

The invention relates to a corrugated board production device.

Background

The corrugated board production equipment of the known art comprises one or more corrugated board assemblies, each of which is supplied with a continuous web. Each corrugated assembly comprises a corrugator, known as a "single facer", specially adapted to produce corrugations in one of the continuous webs, which are then coupled to a continuous web, known as a "cover", to form a composite sheet, known as a "fluted sheet".

Specifically, each single facer includes a pair of corrugation rollers coupled to each other and defining a corrugation trough. After the continuous web is fed into the corrugation grooves, a plurality of continuous permanent parallel and perpendicular corrugations are formed in the web feed direction. After the paper strip exits the corrugation grooves, an adhesive is applied to the corrugation strip to bond the corrugation strip to the first cover layer. A pressing element or module arranged near the outlet of the flute compresses the first cover layer to ensure its adhesion to the corrugated strip.

The apparatus further includes a coupler assembly for bonding one or more corrugated sheets to another continuous web (referred to as a "second cover") such as by gluing to form corrugated paperboard. Each corrugated cardboard comprises a first corrugated sheet, to which one or more corrugated sheets can be superimposed, and finally a second cover layer.

Corrugated board production equipment also typically includes a baffle assembly for stabilizing the coupling between the sheets. For example, the baffle assembly includes a heating plate and a pressing pad/roller for heating and pressing the corrugated cardboard, respectively, to consolidate the adhesion effect between the sheets constituting the corrugated cardboard.

The cardboard band formed in this way is subsequently flattened and cut into individual cardboard at the end regions of the apparatus.

EP 2543505 describes a corrugated board production plant in which the corrugated sheet output from the single facer comprises a plurality of corrugations arranged downwards. The corrugated sheet is then turned upside down and then overlapped with other corrugated sheets or bonded with a second cover sheet.

Some corrugated board production facilities also include printing assemblies specifically adapted to print images, logos or other graphic elements on a continuous web of paper to form a finished board. The purpose of printing is various. In many cases, the purpose of the printing is to obtain a finished paperboard with printed graphics, thereby producing a personalized package with a company logo or brand. In addition, the purpose of the printing is to print specific instructions on the paperboard for assembling the carton or for disassembling its contents. In other cases, the purpose of the printing is to print a reference mark that can be read by the apparatus itself to verify that the cardboard is correctly shaped and/or creased and/or that the cut individual cardboard is acceptable.

There are various solutions known in the art for coupling the second cover layer to the corrugated sheet after printing. For example, the second cover layer may be printed on the base layer and then coupled to the corrugated sheet with the corrugations facing downward; it is also possible to print the top layer first and then couple it to the corrugated sheet with the corrugations facing upwards, as shown in EP 3459724. In still other solutions, the printed lines of cover layer are side by side or superimposed on different corrugated sheet production lines, as described in WO 2019219539.

Numerous experiments performed by the bearer have shown that the above solutions all have drawbacks. In some cases, the overall footprint of the facility increases so greatly that the production site cannot provide the necessary space. In other cases, the cover layers after printing may be partially misaligned, have a lower printing resolution or may be printed incorrectly, and therefore one or more cover layers must be reprinted. To reduce these problems, the last part of the existing apparatus is provided with a print control system, as described in EP 1459878.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

Therefore, if the above-mentioned disadvantages of the known processes are to be overcome, there is a need for a corrugated cardboard production plant which is capable of producing defect-free printed corrugated cardboard and which, with a simple solution, has the advantages of a small footprint and low costs.

To this end, the inventor has realized according to the invention a corrugated cardboard production device comprising a corrugator, a plurality of continuous strip magazines, a coupler assembly and a diaphragm assembly which is arranged downstream of the coupler assembly in the direction of movement of the corrugated cardboard and comprises one or more diaphragm units which have the feature that a printing assembly is arranged downstream of at least one diaphragm unit.

It should be appreciated that elements and features of the present example of implementation may be readily incorporated into other examples of implementation without further recitation.

Drawings

Reference will now be made in detail to various exemplary embodiments of the invention, reference being made in particular to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an overall view of the apparatus of the invention;

figure 2 is an enlarged view of a first part of the apparatus of figure 1;

figure 3 is an enlarged view of a second part of the apparatus of figure 1; and is

Figure 4 is a diagram of an alternative embodiment of the second part of the device of figure 3.

Detailed Description

Each example is provided by way of illustration only and is not intended as a limitation. For example, features of portions of the embodiments shown or described may be employed on or with other embodiments to yield yet further embodiments. It is to be understood that the invention includes corresponding modifications and variations.

A corrugated board production plant, generally designated 10, comprises a plurality of devices and stations/operating assemblies arranged in series along a longitudinal direction corresponding to the direction of movement of the boards.

With particular reference to fig. 1, the production facility includes a corrugator machine 20, a plurality of

continuous web magazines

30,40,50, a coupler assembly 60 and a spacer assembly 70.

A first magazine 30, arranged downstream of corrugator 20, comprises at least one reel support arm to support a continuous reel of paper dedicated to forming a first covering layer of cardboard. The second magazine 40, arranged upstream of the corrugator machine 20, comprises at least one reel support arm to support a continuous reel of paper dedicated to forming corrugated paper. The third magazine 50, arranged upstream of the corrugator machine 20, comprises at least one reel support arm to support a continuous reel of paper dedicated to forming a second covering layer of cardboard.

Corrugator 20 for forming corrugated sheets C ₁ I.e. composite sheets consisting of corrugated board coupled by corresponding flat sheets. With particular reference to fig. 2, the corrugator machine 20 includes a pair of

corrugating rollers

25 and 26 coupled to each other and defining a corrugation trough 22. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the inlet of the corrugation trough 22 is disposed toward the printing element 90 and the outlet of the corrugation trough 22 is disposed toward the coupler element 60.

The corrugator machine 20 also comprises a gluing station 28 for applying glue to the corrugated sheets C ₁ The peaks are formed so as to couple with the first cover and include a hold-down element 26 to ensure adhesion of the first cover to the corrugated strip.

Flute sheets C output from the corrugator 20 ₁ Comprising a plurality of downwardly disposed corrugations. One or more deflectors, for example one or more deflecting rollers 29, arranged downstream of the corrugator, to make the corrugated sheet C ₁ Turned so that the corrugations are disposed upwardly before entering the coupling assembly 60.

The coupler assembly 60, arranged upstream of the corrugator machine 20, comprises glue application means for applying a predetermined quantity of glue to the sheets C of flute output from the corrugator machine 20 ₁ And then with a second cover layer C delivered from a third magazine 50 ₀ And (6) bonding. The coupler assembly 60 is then passed through the corrugated sheet C ₁ And a second cover layer C ₀ Coupled to form a corrugated board with a double-layer covering. As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the corrugated sheet C at the inlet (i.e., upstream) of the coupling assembly 60 ₁ Arranged with the corrugated side facing upward, and a second cover layer C at the inlet of the coupler assembly 60 ₀ Arranged on corrugated sheets C ₁ And (4) upward.

Downstream of the coupler assembly 60, a baffle assembly 70 is provided for stabilizing or consolidating the coupling between the sheets to form corrugated board. For example, the diaphragm assembly 70 includes a plurality of diaphragm units 72. Each of the separator units 72 includes a heating element and a pressing element for heating the corrugated cardboards to a predetermined temperature and applying a predetermined pressure to the corrugated cardboards, respectively. For example, each partition unit may include one or more lower plates 71 and one or more upper runners or tie plates 73.

In addition, the baffle assembly 70 includes a conveying unit (not shown in detail) for conveying or moving corrugated cardboard from the inlet 74 to the outlet 76 of the baffle assembly 70 through the baffle unit 72.

In one example, the transfer unit of the barrier assembly 70 may include a pad or a belt extending over the entire or a portion of the length of the barrier assembly 70. In alternative embodiments, the conveyor units of the baffle assembly 60 may include a plurality of conveyor belts or a pair of opposing conveyor belts, each corresponding to an extension of one of the baffle units 72, which may be integrally assembled together and arranged in sequence to make up the extension of the baffle assembly 60.

In the solution according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the corrugated cardboard production installation comprises a printing group 90 arranged downstream of one or more baffle units 72.

According to the embodiment shown in fig. 3, the printing assembly 90 is arranged downstream of all three diaphragm units 72.

Printing assembly 90 includes a known printing device of the digital or analog type. According to one of the possible embodiments, the printing device comprises one or more printing heads (preferably piezoelectric heads), a drying unit (such as one or more infrared lamps), an inspection unit (such as an optical sensor) and a control unit (such as an electronic circuit configured to control the operation of the other units). Further, the printing assembly also includes a housing for isolating the internal components of the printer to prevent or limit the ingress of dust into the interior, and also to prevent uncontrolled temperature or humidity changes from affecting the printer performance.

According to another embodiment of the invention, shown in fig. 4, a printing group 90 is arranged downstream of the first two printing units 72, in the direction of movement of the sheets.

According to a further embodiment (not shown), the corrugated cardboard production plant according to the invention may comprise two or more corrugating machines capable of producing two or more corrugated sheets. Similarly, the apparatus may include additional coupler assemblies coupling two or more bellows together, and coupler assemblies coupling one or more bellows with the second cover. The apparatus may further comprise a plurality of diaphragm assemblies including one or more diaphragm units for consolidating and stabilizing the coupling between the two or more corrugated sheets and another diaphragm assembly for consolidating and stabilizing the coupling between the two or more corrugated sheets and the second cover layer. These embodiments also include a printing assembly disposed downstream of at least one of the spacer units for consolidating and stabilizing the coupling between the two or more corrugated sheets and the second cover layer.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the fluted sheet output from the corrugator machine comprises a plurality of flutes which have been arranged upwardly. Thus, this solution does not design a deflector, the corrugated sheet is inserted directly into the coupling assembly, and the second cover at the inlet of the coupling assembly is arranged above the corrugated sheet.

The above-described device is therefore capable of printing images or text on the second cover layer from above, according to the intended use of the finished board, performing the function of printing corrugated cardboard. The advantage of printing on the second cover layer is that the continuous web C delivered from the magazine 50 ₀ No specific mechanical or thermal deformations occur which occur on the first cover layer.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the corrugated cardboard is printed with a second cover layer after the stabilizing and strengthening action exerted by the spacer elements 72. The corrugated cardboard in the baffle assembly 70, after being subjected to the hydrothermal treatment, the steam and heat change the chemical and physical properties of the continuous web of paper making up the corrugated cardboard.

In known types of solutions, the second cover layer is generally printed before being coupled with the corrugated sheet, but when passing through the diaphragm assembly 70, the printed paper is deformed by the hydrothermal treatment, causing both the size and the shape of the printed elements (figures, symbols, etc.) to change.

The present invention overcomes all of these disadvantages.

Claims

1. A corrugated board production apparatus comprising a corrugator (20); a plurality of continuous tape magazines (30,40,50); a coupler assembly (60); a baffle assembly (70), said baffle assembly (70) being disposed downstream of said coupler assembly in the direction of corrugated board movement and comprising one or more baffle units (72); and a printing assembly (90), the printing assembly (90) being arranged downstream of at least one baffle unit (72), the corrugated cardboard in the baffle assembly (70) comprising a cover layer (C) ₀ ) At least one corrugated sheet (C) coupled ₁ ) Characterized in that said corrugating machine (20) comprises one or more deflectors (29), said one or more deflectors (29) being arranged downstream of said corrugating machine (20) to deflect said fluted sheet (C) ₁ ) So as to make the corrugated sheet (C) ₁ ) Is arranged facing upwards before entering the coupler assembly (60) and the printing assembly (90), and the printing assembly (90) is arranged on the covering layer (C) ₀ ) And (4) printing.

2. Corrugated cardboard production plant according to claim 1, characterized in that the printing unit (90) comprises a digital printing device.

3. Corrugated cardboard production plant according to claim 2, characterized in that each separator unit (72) comprises at least one heating element (71) and pressing element (73) for heating and pressing the corrugated cardboard, respectively.

4. Corrugated cardboard production plant according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the coupler assembly (60) comprises glue application means for applying a predetermined amount of glue to the corrugated sheet (C) output from the corrugating machine (20) ₁ ) The above.

5. Corrugated board production plant according to claim 1, characterised in that the corrugator (20) comprises a pair of corrugating rollers (25,26) coupled to each other and defining a corrugation trough (22), the inlet of the corrugation trough (22) being arranged towards the printing assembly (90) and the outlet of the corrugation trough (22) being arranged towards the coupler assembly (60).

6. Corrugated cardboard production plant according to claim 4, characterised in that the coupler assembly (60) is produced by folding the corrugated sheet (C) ₁ ) As well as the cover layer (C) ₀ ) Coupled to form a corrugated cardboard, the coating (C) at the inlet of the coupling element (60) ₀ ) Is arranged on the corrugated sheet (C) ₁ ) And (4) upward.