EP0791402A1 - Plant for coating a laminar substrate with a layer of resin - Google Patents
Plant for coating a laminar substrate with a layer of resin Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0791402A1 EP0791402A1 EP97102835A EP97102835A EP0791402A1 EP 0791402 A1 EP0791402 A1 EP 0791402A1 EP 97102835 A EP97102835 A EP 97102835A EP 97102835 A EP97102835 A EP 97102835A EP 0791402 A1 EP0791402 A1 EP 0791402A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- duct
- laminar substrate
- resin
- conveyor
- holes
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05C—APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05C13/00—Means for manipulating or holding work, e.g. for separate articles
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a system for coating at least one laminar substrate with a layer of resin, comprising:
- the system usually also comprises an irradiation station which brings about cross-linking of the resin applied and is disposed along the conveyor, downstream of the application station.
- the at least one table has an internal cavity which communicates with the bearing surface through a plurality of holes, and in that the system comprises vacuum-generating means and means for selectively connecting the vacuum-generating means to the internal cavity of the table so as to cause the laminar substrate selectively to adhere to the bearing surface of the table.
- the system of the invention thus has advantages in terms of a reduction in the usage of labour and in the risk of damage due to the manipulation of the laminar substrates.
- a honeycomb structure 36 disposed in the cavity 32 comprises a plurality of cells which are in communication with one another through holes 38 formed in their side walls.
- a rotary vacuum distributor 40 located ( Figures 1 and 4) in the centre of the loop defined by the conveyor 12 has a disc 42, fixed to the central portion of the lower face of which is a tubular appendage 44, rotatably mounted in a sleeve 46 fixed to a support structure 48.
- the lower end of the tubular appendage 44 is connected by means of a connector 50 and a pipe 52 to vacuum-generating means of known type, for example, a suction pump 54, while the upper end of the tubular appendage 44 communicates with a plurality of ducts 56 which extend radially towards the periphery of the disc 42.
- an operator 68 places a plurality of labels 10 on the upper bearing surface 28 of the table 20 which stops in front of him at the time in question as a result of the stoppage of the conveyor 12.
- the obturator 66 of the valve 60 of this table 20 is in the open position ( Figure 3) so that the suction pump 54, the pipe 52, the connector 50, the tubular appendage 44 of the disc 42, the duct 56 and the flexible pipe 58 associated with this table 20, as well as the duct 34 and the internal cavity 32 thereof, are all in free communication.
- the suction effect exerted by the pump 54 is thus exerted through the holes 26 in the bearing surface of the table 20 with the consequence that, as soon as the labels 10 are laid on the table, they remain adhering thereto.
- the operator 68 advances the conveyor 12 until the table 20 is at the station 14 where the labels 10 are coated with resin, and subsequently at the stations 16, 18 where the resin is cross-linked by irradiation.
- the labels 10 remain adhering to the bearing surface 28 of the table 20 by virtue of the suction effect which is generated by the pump 54 and continues to be exerted.
- the rotary mounting of the disc 42 of the distributor 40 in fact enables both the disc 42 and the flexible pipe 58 to follow the movement of the table 20 without the connection being lost between the suction pump 54 and the internal cavity 32 and the holes 26 in the table 20. Otherwise, the resin-application and cross-linking stages are substantially similar to those which take place in conventional systems.
- the operator stops the conveyor 12 and causes the obturator 66 of the valve 60 to move to the shut-off position, shutting off communication between the suction pump 54 and the holes 26 in the table 20.
- the coated labels 10 can thus be removed from the table 20 without encountering any resistance since no suction effect is exerted in the cavity 32 which is downstream of the valve 60.
- the table 20 will now be in the starting condition again, so that a new working cycle similar to that just described can start.
- the task of the operator 68 is thus greatly facilitated since it is limited essentially to the laying of the labels 10 to be coated on the tables 20 and the unloading of the coated labels, whilst the fixing of the labels 10 to the tables 20 and their subsequent release are achieved by a simple operation of the obturator 66 of the valve 60.
- the productivity of the operator 68 is thus increased and the risks of damage to the labels 10 due to manipulation thereof in order to fix them to the tables 20 is reduced.
Landscapes
- Coating Apparatus (AREA)
- Replacement Of Web Rolls (AREA)
- Collation Of Sheets And Webs (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a system for coating at least one laminar substrate with a layer of resin, comprising:
- a conveyor,
- at least one table which can be transported by the conveyor and has a bearing surface which can support at least one respective laminar substrate, and
- a station for the application of the resin to the laminar substrate supported by the table, the application station being disposed along the conveyor.
- If a thermosetting resin is used, the system usually also comprises an irradiation station which brings about cross-linking of the resin applied and is disposed along the conveyor, downstream of the application station.
- Systems of the type indicated above are generally used for coating substrates such as, for example, labels carrying graphic representations of some kind, with a layer of transparent resin so as to protect them from the outside atmosphere and make them more glossy.
- In known systems, one or more operators place a plurality of labels on each table and fix them thereto with mechanical devices before the tables pass through the resin-application and -cross-linking stations. At the output from the last of these stations, the same operators, or others, release the coated labels from the tables and unload them therefrom.
- The object of the present invention is to provide a coating system in which the laminar substrates such as, for example, labels can be fixed to and subsequently released from the table more easily and quickly.
- This object is achieved by means of a system of the type indicated above, characterized in that the at least one table has an internal cavity which communicates with the bearing surface through a plurality of holes, and in that the system comprises vacuum-generating means and means for selectively connecting the vacuum-generating means to the internal cavity of the table so as to cause the laminar substrate selectively to adhere to the bearing surface of the table.
- In the system of the invention the fixing of the substrates to the respective tables and their subsequent release take place by a simple pneumatic effect as a result of suitable activation of the selective connection means and without the need either for precise manipulation by the operators or for the use of additional mechanical locking devices.
- The system of the invention thus has advantages in terms of a reduction in the usage of labour and in the risk of damage due to the manipulation of the laminar substrates.
- Further advantages and characteristics of the present invention will become clear from the following detailed description, given with reference to the appended drawings, provided purely by way of non-limiting example, in which:
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a system according to the invention,
- Figure 2 is a perspective view showing one of the tables of the system of Figure 1, on an enlarged scale,
- Figure 3 is a section taken on the line III-III of Figure 2, on an enlarged scale, and
- Figure 4 is a section taken on the line IV-IV of Figure 1, on an enlarged scale.
- A system (Figure 1) for coating laminar substrates such as
labels 10 with a layer of resin comprises anendless conveyor 12 along which there are arranged in series a resin-application station 14 andirradiation stations 16, 18 which can bring about cross-linking of the resin applied. Both theconveyor 12 and thestations - The
conveyor 12 can transport a plurality of tables 20 to which thelabels 10 to be coated with resin are fixed, as will be described in detail below. - Each table 20 has a structure formed (Figures 2 and 3) by a
lower plate 22 and by anupper plate 24 which has a plurality ofholes 26 and can constitute abearing surface 28 for thelabels 10. Aperipheral frame 30 is interposed between theplates plates internal cavity 32 which communicates with the outside atmosphere by means of aduct 34 formed in theframe 30 as well as by theholes 26 formed in theupper plate 24. - A
honeycomb structure 36 disposed in thecavity 32 comprises a plurality of cells which are in communication with one another throughholes 38 formed in their side walls. - A
rotary vacuum distributor 40 located (Figures 1 and 4) in the centre of the loop defined by theconveyor 12 has adisc 42, fixed to the central portion of the lower face of which is atubular appendage 44, rotatably mounted in asleeve 46 fixed to asupport structure 48. The lower end of thetubular appendage 44 is connected by means of aconnector 50 and apipe 52 to vacuum-generating means of known type, for example, asuction pump 54, while the upper end of thetubular appendage 44 communicates with a plurality ofducts 56 which extend radially towards the periphery of thedisc 42. - The radially outer end of each
duct 56 is connected by means of a respectiveflexible pipe 58 to the duct 34 (Figures 2 and 3) formed through theframe 30 of a respective table 20. A respective shut-offvalve 60 is mounted on each table 20 at the mouth of theduct 34. Each shut-offvalve 60 comprises (Figure 3) a body 62 in which there is aduct 64 which puts theduct 34 into communication with theflexible pipe 58 and which can be shut off by amovable obturator 66. - The operation of the system described above takes place in accordance with a cyclic scheme and, to make it easier to understand, is described initially with reference to the operations carried out on a single table 20.
- In a portion of the
conveyor 12 between the resin-application station 14 and the last irradiation station 18, an operator 68 (Figure 1) places a plurality oflabels 10 on the upper bearingsurface 28 of the table 20 which stops in front of him at the time in question as a result of the stoppage of theconveyor 12. - During this stage, the
obturator 66 of thevalve 60 of this table 20 is in the open position (Figure 3) so that thesuction pump 54, thepipe 52, theconnector 50, thetubular appendage 44 of thedisc 42, theduct 56 and theflexible pipe 58 associated with this table 20, as well as theduct 34 and theinternal cavity 32 thereof, are all in free communication. The suction effect exerted by thepump 54 is thus exerted through theholes 26 in the bearing surface of the table 20 with the consequence that, as soon as thelabels 10 are laid on the table, they remain adhering thereto. - Upon completion of the loading of the
labels 10 onto the table 20, theoperator 68 advances theconveyor 12 until the table 20 is at thestation 14 where thelabels 10 are coated with resin, and subsequently at thestations 16, 18 where the resin is cross-linked by irradiation. During the application and cross-linking of the resin, thelabels 10 remain adhering to thebearing surface 28 of the table 20 by virtue of the suction effect which is generated by thepump 54 and continues to be exerted. The rotary mounting of thedisc 42 of thedistributor 40 in fact enables both thedisc 42 and theflexible pipe 58 to follow the movement of the table 20 without the connection being lost between thesuction pump 54 and theinternal cavity 32 and theholes 26 in the table 20. Otherwise, the resin-application and cross-linking stages are substantially similar to those which take place in conventional systems. - When the table 20 is disposed in front of the
operator 68 again after passing through the last cross-linking station 18, the operator stops theconveyor 12 and causes theobturator 66 of thevalve 60 to move to the shut-off position, shutting off communication between thesuction pump 54 and theholes 26 in the table 20. The coatedlabels 10 can thus be removed from the table 20 without encountering any resistance since no suction effect is exerted in thecavity 32 which is downstream of thevalve 60. The table 20 will now be in the starting condition again, so that a new working cycle similar to that just described can start. - When the system is actually in operation, since the
conveyor 12 transports a plurality of tables 20, the various operative stages described above, such as the loading/unloading of thelabels 10 onto/from the respective table 20 and the application and cross-linking of the resin, take place simultaneously on various tables 20 all of which are thus subjected, in succession, to the same series of operations already mentioned. - Clearly, the task of the
operator 68 is thus greatly facilitated since it is limited essentially to the laying of thelabels 10 to be coated on the tables 20 and the unloading of the coated labels, whilst the fixing of thelabels 10 to the tables 20 and their subsequent release are achieved by a simple operation of theobturator 66 of thevalve 60. - The productivity of the
operator 68 is thus increased and the risks of damage to thelabels 10 due to manipulation thereof in order to fix them to the tables 20 is reduced. - Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining the same, the details of construction and forms of embodiment may be varied widely with respect to those described and illustrated purely by way of example, without thereby departing from the scope thereof.
Claims (9)
- A system for coating a laminar substrate (10) with a layer of resin, comprising:- a conveyor (12),- at least one table (20) which can be transported by the conveyor (12) and has a bearing surface (28) which can support at least one respective laminar substrate (10), and- a station (14) for the application of the resin to the laminar substrate (10) supported by the table (20), the application station (14) being disposed along the conveyor (12),the system being characterized in that the at least one table (20) has an internal cavity (32) which communicates with the bearing surface (28) through a plurality of holes (26), and in that the system comprises vacuum-generating means (54) and means for selectively connecting the vacuum-generating means to the internal cavity (32) of the table (20) so as to cause the laminar substrate (10) selectively to adhere to the bearing surface (28) of the table (20).
- A system according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of tables (20).
- A system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveyor device (12) is endless.
- A system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one table (20) has a structure formed by a lower plate (22) and an upper plate (24) having the plurality of holes (26), and a peripheral frame (30) is interposed between the plates (22, 24), the plates (22, 24) and the frame (30) defining the internal cavity (32) which is put into communication with the outside atmosphere by a duct (34) formed in the frame (30).
- A system according to Claim 4, characterized in that a honeycomb structure (36) is disposed in the cavity (32) and comprises a plurality of cells which are in communication with one another through holes (38) formed in their side walls and with the exterior through the holes (26).
- A system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the selective connection means comprise a rotary vacuum distributor (40) having a disc (42), to the central portion of the lower face of which is fixed a tubular appendage (44) mounted for rotating in a fixed support sleeve (46), the lower end of the tubular appendage (44) being connected to the vacuum-generating means (54) and the upper end communicating with a plurality of ducts (56) which extend radially towards the periphery of the disc (42).
- A system according to Claim 6, characterized in that the radially outer end of each duct (56) is connected by means of a respective flexible pipe (58) to the duct (34) formed through the frame (30) of an associated table (20).
- A system according to Claim 7, characterized in that, at the mouth of the duct (34) there is a respective shut-off valve (60) comprising a body (62) in which there is a duct (64) which puts the duct (34) into communication with the flexible pipe (58), and which can be shut off by a movable obturator (66).
- A system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one station (16, 18) for the irradiation of the resin applied to the laminar substrate (10), the at least one irradiation station (16, 18) being disposed along the conveyor device (12).
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
ITTO960121 | 1996-02-23 | ||
IT96TO000121A IT1285256B1 (en) | 1996-02-23 | 1996-02-23 | PLANT FOR COATING WITH A LAYER OF RESIN LAMINARY SUBSTRATES |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0791402A1 true EP0791402A1 (en) | 1997-08-27 |
EP0791402B1 EP0791402B1 (en) | 2001-10-24 |
Family
ID=11414289
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP97102835A Expired - Lifetime EP0791402B1 (en) | 1996-02-23 | 1997-02-21 | Plant for coating a laminar substrate with a layer of resin |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0791402B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69707524T2 (en) |
IT (1) | IT1285256B1 (en) |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3558093A (en) * | 1969-07-29 | 1971-01-26 | Epec Systems Corp | Vacuum memory holding device |
DE3316421A1 (en) * | 1982-05-07 | 1983-11-17 | The Gerber Scientific Instrument Co., 06074 South Windsor, Conn. | VACUUM HOLDING DEVICE |
US4759310A (en) * | 1986-05-19 | 1988-07-26 | M/A-Com Government Systems, Inc. | Automated system for reconditioning electrical terminals |
-
1996
- 1996-02-23 IT IT96TO000121A patent/IT1285256B1/en active IP Right Grant
-
1997
- 1997-02-21 EP EP97102835A patent/EP0791402B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1997-02-21 DE DE69707524T patent/DE69707524T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3558093A (en) * | 1969-07-29 | 1971-01-26 | Epec Systems Corp | Vacuum memory holding device |
DE3316421A1 (en) * | 1982-05-07 | 1983-11-17 | The Gerber Scientific Instrument Co., 06074 South Windsor, Conn. | VACUUM HOLDING DEVICE |
US4759310A (en) * | 1986-05-19 | 1988-07-26 | M/A-Com Government Systems, Inc. | Automated system for reconditioning electrical terminals |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE69707524D1 (en) | 2001-11-29 |
IT1285256B1 (en) | 1998-06-03 |
EP0791402B1 (en) | 2001-10-24 |
ITTO960121A0 (en) | 1996-02-23 |
DE69707524T2 (en) | 2002-05-02 |
ITTO960121A1 (en) | 1997-08-23 |
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