EP4197649A1 - Haftmittelauftragssystem und -verfahren - Google Patents

Haftmittelauftragssystem und -verfahren Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4197649A1
EP4197649A1 EP21214471.1A EP21214471A EP4197649A1 EP 4197649 A1 EP4197649 A1 EP 4197649A1 EP 21214471 A EP21214471 A EP 21214471A EP 4197649 A1 EP4197649 A1 EP 4197649A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
adhesive
application
length
dashes
tracks
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.)
Pending
Application number
EP21214471.1A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Thomas Walther
Ken Robinson
Alain Ciclet
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Baumer HHS GmbH
Original Assignee
Baumer HHS GmbH
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Baumer HHS GmbH filed Critical Baumer HHS GmbH
Priority to EP21214471.1A priority Critical patent/EP4197649A1/de
Publication of EP4197649A1 publication Critical patent/EP4197649A1/de
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • B05C11/00—Component parts, details or accessories not specifically provided for in groups B05C1/00 - B05C9/00
    • B05C11/10—Storage, supply or control of liquid or other fluent material; Recovery of excess liquid or other fluent material
    • B05C11/1002—Means for controlling supply, i.e. flow or pressure, of liquid or other fluent material to the applying apparatus, e.g. valves
    • B05C11/1034—Means for controlling supply, i.e. flow or pressure, of liquid or other fluent material to the applying apparatus, e.g. valves specially designed for conducting intermittent application of small quantities, e.g. drops, of coating material
    • 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
    • B05C5/00—Apparatus in which liquid or other fluent material is projected, poured or allowed to flow on to the surface of the work
    • B05C5/02—Apparatus in which liquid or other fluent material is projected, poured or allowed to flow on to the surface of the work the liquid or other fluent material being discharged through an outlet orifice by pressure, e.g. from an outlet device in contact or almost in contact, with the work
    • B05C5/027—Coating heads with several outlets, e.g. aligned transversally to the moving direction of a web to be coated
    • B05C5/0275—Coating heads with several outlets, e.g. aligned transversally to the moving direction of a web to be coated flow controlled, e.g. by a valve
    • B05C5/0279—Coating heads with several outlets, e.g. aligned transversally to the moving direction of a web to be coated flow controlled, e.g. by a valve independently, e.g. individually, flow controlled
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
    • B31B—MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
    • B31B50/00—Making rigid or semi-rigid containers, e.g. boxes or cartons
    • B31B50/60—Uniting opposed surfaces or edges; Taping
    • B31B50/62—Uniting opposed surfaces or edges; Taping by adhesives
    • B31B50/624—Applying glue on blanks
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B41/00—Supplying or feeding container-forming sheets or wrapping material
    • B65B41/18—Registering sheets, blanks, or webs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
    • B65B43/24—Breaking creases to facilitate setting-up cartons
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B51/00—Devices for, or methods of, sealing or securing package folds or closures; Devices for gathering or twisting wrappers, or necks of bags
    • B65B51/02—Applying adhesives or sealing liquids
    • B65B51/023—Applying adhesives or sealing liquids using applicator nozzles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
    • B31B—MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
    • B31B2110/00—Shape of rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B31B2110/30—Shape of rigid or semi-rigid containers having a polygonal cross section
    • B31B2110/35—Shape of rigid or semi-rigid containers having a polygonal cross section rectangular, e.g. square
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B31—MAKING ARTICLES OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER; WORKING PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
    • B31B—MAKING CONTAINERS OF PAPER, CARDBOARD OR MATERIAL WORKED IN A MANNER ANALOGOUS TO PAPER
    • B31B2120/00—Construction of rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B31B2120/30—Construction of rigid or semi-rigid containers collapsible; temporarily collapsed during manufacturing

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an adhesive application system for providing an adhesive to a product, to a method of applying an adhesive to a product, and to an application head controller.
  • Automated adhesive application systems are used in modern packaging manufacturing machines to achieve the repeated application of adhesives to different substrates. These automated adhesive application systems are used to apply adhesive to a substrate, which is in turn used to connect together layers in order to ultimately form a package, for example, a box.
  • Some corrugated cardboard packaging are produced on flexo folder gluer, which is also referred to as "inliner".
  • inliner flexo folder gluer
  • a corrugated cardboard blank is transported through a gluing station, one or more continuous adhesive traces or rows of dots of short adhesive traces with gaps in between are applied to the adhesive flaps or other areas of the corrugated cardboard blank.
  • the corrugated cardboard blank is introduced into a gap between two product guide rails so that an aligned product is glued after product detection and, if necessary, the adhesive application is monitored via a sensor or camera.
  • Flexo folder gluer or inliner produce a folding box in one operation.
  • This type of machine is a compact machine comprising a series of several individual machines. These can include the following individual machines: a feed station, a printing unit(s), a creasing and slitting machine(s), a rotating punch(es), a folding station(s) with a gluing station(s), a counting and stacking station(s), and an ejecting and stacking station(s). All processing steps thereby follow one after the other in one line.
  • the cut corrugated cardboard formats are printed, grooved, slit to the desired box format and punched in one operation.
  • the folding boxes made in Flexo-Folder-Gluer or inliner usually consist of one piece with a factory edge ("manufactures joint") as well as top and bottom flaps. They are sent folded flat, are ready for use, and are closed with the flaps.
  • Adhesive stations have previously been described which are configured so that the adhesive is applied to the substrate either from above (top-down) or from below (bottom-up).
  • the adhesive application head is thereby converted from an upper installation position to a lower installation position and vice versa.
  • the adhesive application station can also comprise two adhesive application heads which are arranged above and below the substrate. The upper and/or the lower adhesive application head is then controlled via a pattern control.
  • the adhesive is applied without contact, i.e., the adhesive that emerges from an application nozzle of one or more adhesive application valves after the adhesive application valve has been actuated is applied to the substrate via an air gap between the nozzle opening and the substrate.
  • Contactless adhesive systems offer considerable advantages over adhesive application nozzles which must touch the surface of the cardboard box or the corresponding substrate (so called contact application systems).
  • the adhesive can be smeared via contact with the application nozzle and carried over into areas of the corrugated cardboard blank that is not intended for the adhesive application. This leads to boxes being joined together by adhesive in undesired places. The boxes can as a result no longer be properly constructed.
  • Folded boxes are also produced in folder gluing machines.
  • Folding box gluing machines for the production of folding boxes from folding box blanks have at least the following modules as processing stations: an insert that pulls the blanks to be processed from a stack one after the other and feeds them individually to the subsequent first processing station, at least one adhesive application device that applies an adhesive strip or adhesive dots to the folding flaps to be glued or other areas of the folding box, and a folding station in which the cut parts provided with the adhesive are turned over by 180° to produce an adhesive connection, i.e., folds and joins them.
  • a so-called transfer station is usually arranged following the folding station, in which the boxes can be counted, and discharged.
  • folding box machines mostly use individual adhesive application valves or adhesive application heads with several application nozzles, which are connected to a holder and which can thus be freely positioned in the machine.
  • the folding box blank can be provided at a distance from the nozzle opening of the application nozzle by machine elements of the folding box gluing machine, such as conveyor belts, sliding surfaces or a skid.
  • the important property is here the noncontact application of adhesive to the substrate via an air gap, for example, in the form of a folding box blank.
  • the adhesive application device can comprise further components which are arranged one behind the other in a conveying direction.
  • the adhesive application head is followed by a monitoring device, which checks the property profile of the adhesive application, and, if necessary, determines characteristic values that serve as the basis of a target/actual comparison, while taking tolerance limits into account, the evaluation being able to take place in the monitoring device itself.
  • the monitoring device then only transmits "good” or "bad” data to a higher-level controller or the evaluation takes place in a higher-level controller itself, the monitoring device transmitting characteristic values, images or other suitable features of the adhesive application to this higher-level controller.
  • the control of the adhesive application valves is calculated in a pattern control. This is typically performed taking into account the speed of the substrate, the position of the substrate, which is detected, for example, with a light barrier or a light sensor that detects a leading edge of the substrate and delay times, and the delay time of the adhesive application valve, i.e., the period of time between activation of the valve and the impact of the adhesive on the substrate passes.
  • the pattern control can be a central part of an adhesive application system or a decentralized control assigned to an individual adhesive application valve. The operator in this case typically only enters the parameters in the central control, which are then processed in a decentralized, often modular valve control.
  • the adhesive application valve is thereby activated by the valve control during the entire path thereof.
  • the control is based on an adhesive pattern stored in the control, which defines, for example, the location of the adhesive bead and its length.
  • EP 2 638 978 B1 describes a method of controlling fluid discharge from an applicator head for a fluid.
  • the method includes the application of intermittent, short-pulsed segments in order to provide an adequate adhesive effect while using a reduced amount of fluid or adhesive.
  • the method thereby also includes the steps of supplying a primary discharge signal for controlling the applicator head, and transforming the primary discharge signal into a secondary discharge signal when a recurrent pattern has been detected and supplying the secondary discharge signal to the applicator head.
  • the secondary discharge signal of EP 2 638 978 B1 has a plurality of successive, spaced-apart signal portions which are each determined as part of the length of the primary signal, for example, as a percentual part.
  • the amount of fluid to be saved, for example, 50 %, is thereby provided as predefined parameter.
  • the subdivision of the primary discharge signal into the portions of the secondary discharge signal is then calculated on the basis of these parameters.
  • an adhesive application system comprising an application head which comprises at least one application nozzle and an application head controller.
  • the application nozzle can be coupled with a traversing unit.
  • the application head is configured to operate in a closed position where an adhesive is not transported to the at least one application nozzle, and in an open position where the adhesive is transported to the at least one application nozzle.
  • the at least one application nozzle is configured to apply the adhesive on a product when the application head is in the open position.
  • the application head controller is configured to generate a close command so as to move the application head into the closed position, and to generate an open command so as to move the application head into the open position so as to thereby apply the adhesive on the product on each of at least two adhesive tracks based on a predefined adhesive saving amount.
  • Each of the at least two adhesive tracks comprise adhesive dashes.
  • Each of the adhesive dashes are separated from each other by a gap having no adhesive.
  • the term adhesive dashes refers to glue beads or glue lines.
  • the adhesive dashes and the gaps together form an interrupted adhesive pattern.
  • Each of the adhesive dashes have a dash length which is in at least one section of said at least two adhesive tracks the same.
  • Each dash length has a start point and an end point, and each of the gaps have a gap length which is the same.
  • the application head controller comprises a pattern definition unit which is configured to position the at least two adhesive tracks adjacent to each other and at a distance and parallel with respect to each other.
  • the start point of each of the adhesive dashes of a first adhesive track of the at least two adhesive tracks is positioned at a linear shift with respect to the start point of each of the adhesive dashes of the adhesive track(s) which is/are arranged immediately adjacent thereto.
  • Each of the dash length and the gap length is based on the predefined adhesive saving amount.
  • each of the adhesive dashes further has a length with a length midpoint which is arranged between the start point and the end point of each adhesive dash.
  • the start point and/or the end point of each of the adhesive dashes of the first adhesive track is thereby positioned substantially at the length midpoint of a respective one of the adhesive dashes of the adhesive track(s) which is/are arranged immediately adjacent thereto, so that the start point, the end point, and the length midpoint can be connected to form a triangle where at least two sides have an equal length.
  • all three sides of the triangle can, for example, have an equal length.
  • substantially at the length midpoint means that a respective adhesive dash is for the most part equidistantly positioned.
  • a person skilled in the art will know that as the speed at which the method of applying an adhesive to a product increases, that the adhesive will not be applied in a purely, for example, rectangular shape, but that the adhesive will potentially have an uneven shape, for example, with an "arrow” shape in the front end, and with a “tailing” at the rear end, whereby “front” is here understood to be the area where the adhesive is applied first, while “rear” is the area where the adhesive is applied last. Such an uneven application is in particular visible using, for example, UV light.
  • An adhesive application differential of +/- 5-20 %, for example, 10-15 %, for example, 5 %, 6 %, 7 %, 8 %, 9, %, 10, %, 11, %, 12, %, 13 %, 14 %, 15%, 16 %, 17 %, 18 %, 19 % or 20 % in any direction is here therefore considered to still be “substantially at the length midpoint" within the context of the present invention.
  • the length of each adhesive dash can, for example, be from 5 to 25 mm, for example, from 10 to 20 mm, for example, from 12-18 mm, for example, from 14- 16 mm, for example, approximately 15 mm, for example, exactly 15 mm.
  • the length of each adhesive dash can, for example, be, exactly 5 mm, 6 mm, 7 mm, 8 mm, 9 mm, 10 mm, 11 mm, 12 mm, 13 mm, 14 mm, 15 mm, 16 mm, 17 mm, 18 mm, 19 mm, 20 mm, 21 mm, 22 mm, 23 mm, 24 mm or 25 mm.
  • the length of each gap can, for example, be from 5 to 25 mm, for example, from 10 to 20 mm, for example, from 12-18 mm, for example, from 14- 16 mm, for example, approximately 15 mm, for example, exactly 15 mm.
  • the length of each gap can, for example, be, exactly 5 mm, 6 mm, 7 mm, 8 mm, 9 mm, 10 mm, 11 mm, 12 mm, 13 mm, 14 mm, 15 mm, 16 mm, 17 mm, 18 mm, 19 mm, 20 mm, 21 mm, 22 mm, 23 mm, 24 mm or 25 mm.
  • the length of each adhesive dash can, for example, be substantially equal to or exactly equal to the length of each gap.
  • a number of the at least one application nozzle equals a number of the at least two adhesive tracks.
  • the adhesive application system can, for example, be provided to have exactly three application nozzles as the at least one application nozzle, and exactly three adhesive tracks are provided as the at least two adhesive tracks.
  • the adhesive application system can, of course, have any number of application nozzles and adhesive tracks, for example, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more than 10.
  • the linear shift of the adhesive application system is between 20 and 80 %, for example, between 25 and 75 %, for example, between 30 and 70 %, for example, between 35 and 65 %, for example, between 40 and 60 %, for example, between 45 and 55 %, for example, substantially 50 %.
  • the Linear shift can, for example, be substantially 30 % or substantially 33 %.
  • the Linear shift can, for example, be exactly 30 % or exactly 33 %.
  • the adhesive application system may, for example, be configured so that each of at least two adhesive tracks further comprise at least one of a beginning adhesive application which is arranged at a beginning of each of the at least two adhesive tracks, and an ending adhesive application which is arranged at an end of each of the at least two adhesive tracks.
  • the length X of an adhesive dash can be determined based on a distance D between two adjacent adhesive tracks so that all three sides of the triangle can, for example, have an equal length.
  • the predefined adhesive saving amount can, for example, be manually provided to the application head controller via a computer or via another external apparatus, such as a cell phone or a tablet, which is/are directly or indirectly connect to the application head controller via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth etc., and/or independently calculated, in each case, based on Equation I.
  • the predefined adhesive saving amount can alternatively be pre-calculated based on Equation I and set forth in a database which can then be referenced and inputted into the application head controller.
  • Equation I results in rows of interrupted adhesive patterns where adhesive dashes or dots are applied instead of a solid line.
  • An important advantage is the saving of adhesive, i.e., 70 % of adhesive can always be saved.
  • the current market situation is characterized by the sharp rise in raw materials and thus adhesive prices, so that the issue of cost savings is increasingly important.
  • the sharply increasing need for adhesives due to the conversion of plastic packaging into paper-based packaging, the strong e-commerce boom combined with declining production capacities has led to a lack of adhesives. Increases in costs and the lack of availability of adhesives has therefore driven a renewed interest in dotting and/or stitching.
  • Equation I for the predefined adhesive saving amount also provides benefits in terms of sustainability. This is because a majority of adhesives are based on petrochemical principles. Finite fossil resources are thereby conserved due to reduced consumption. However, a lower consumption also has positive effects even if adhesives based on a renewable biomass are used. This is because land use is reduced by lower cultivation requirements. Food competition is reduced when a food, such as starch, is used as an adhesive base. The individual adhesive points also generate fewer CO 2 emissions and thus protect the environment.
  • the predefined adhesive saving amount can, for example, be manually provided to the application head controller via a computer or via another external apparatus, such as a cell phone or a tablet, which is/are directly or indirectly connect to the application head controller via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth etc.
  • the predefined adhesive saving amount can additionally or alternatively, for example, be independently calculated based on an algorithm which calculates an optimum of adhesive force based on data which includes at least one of an adhesive savings, an adhesive strength of the adhesive on the product, and a current speed of production of the product.
  • the algorithm can, for example, be or include Equation I.
  • the algorithm can alternatively, for example, be based on a spread sheet, a graph etc.
  • the adhesive application system can further include a classifier which independently calculates the predefined adhesive saving amount by analyzing, for example, via a trained learning algorithm, a property profile and the algorithm.
  • the algorithm can thereby include factors such as the intended adhesive savings, the adhesive strength of the adhesive on the product, the current speed of production of the product and/or Equation I.
  • the trained learning algorithm of the classifier can, for example, be an artificial neural network trained by a backpropagation method or a pre-trained convolutional neural network. It is generally known that machine learning is able to recognize patterns in signals.
  • the trained learning algorithm of the classifier can therefore be based on known machine learning methods, such as "Decision Tree Learning”, “k-Nearest Neighbor”, “Linear Regression”, “Logistic Regression”, “Winnow”, “LASSO”, “Ridge-Regression”, “ARIMA”, "Perceptron”, “Artificial Neural Networks”, “Deep Learning”, “Naive Bayes", “Bayesian Network”, “Support Vector Machines”, “Boosting”, “Reinforcement Learning”, “Markov Chain”, “Hidden Markov Model”, or other state of the art machine learning methods.
  • Many of these known machine learning methods including Perceptron, Winnow and Logistic Regression, have online versions capable of continuously learning from data. By utilizing such online learning methods, the quality of the calculation of
  • the predefined adhesive saving amount is 20 to 90 %, for example, from 30 to 80 %, for example, from 40 to 70 %, for example, from 50 to 60 %, for example, substantially 50 %, for example, exactly 50 %.
  • the predefined adhesive saving amount can, for example, be exactly 20 %, 21 %, 22 %, 23 %, 24 %, 25 %, 26 %, 27 %, 28 %, 29 %, 30 %, 31 %, 32 %, 33 %, 34 %, 35 %, 36 %, 37 %, 38 %, 39 %, 40 %, 41 %, 42 %, 43 %, 44 %, 45 %, 46 %, 47 %, 48 %, 49 %, 50 %, 51 %, 52 %, 53 %, 54 %, 55 %, 56 %, 57 %, 58 %, 59 %, 60 %, 61 %, 62 %, 63 %, 64 %, 65 %, 66 %, 67 %, 68 %, 69 %, 70 %, 71 %, 72 %, 73 %, 74 %, 75 %, 76 %
  • the adhesive application system can further include a monitoring device which comprises an illumination.
  • the monitoring device is thereby configured to examine a property profile of the adhesive applications on the product and to communicate the property profile to the adhesive application controller.
  • the application head controller can therefore provide the predefined adhesive saving amount to the application head controller based on a variety of information/factors.
  • the application head controller can, for example, provide the predefined adhesive saving amount to the application head controller based on Equation I.
  • the application head controller can, for example, provide the predefined adhesive saving amount to the application head controller based on a calculation of an optimum of the sample application, while taking into account the adhesive savings and the adhesive strength.
  • This information can be supplemented by including the current speed of production so that an optimum is found while taking into account the opening and closing times of the application nozzle(s). This can mean, for example, that a minimum strength is specified as a constant and that the predefined adhesive saving amount varies or vice versa.
  • the speed can be adjusted in stages so that not every adhesive valve activation cycle must be recalculated when the system is started up. Any adjustment can, for example, be performed between the blanks so that a uniform pattern on a blank is always provided.
  • the application head controller can, for example, pre-calculate an interrupted adhesive pattern based on a predefined adhesive saving amount for different speed ranges so that this information can immediately be provided during production. This dispenses with calculations and allows any required adaptation to be performed dynamically.
  • the application head controller can, for example, calculate an interrupted adhesive pattern and for a subsequent production while a previous production is still being processed.
  • All calculation results leading to the predefined adhesive saving amount can be part of a protocol that serves, for example, as evidence of the production conditions for the end customer of the packaging manufacturer. Almost all essential features of optimization tasks can, for example, be provided to be read off from graphical representations.
  • a power and/or savings curve can, for example, be shown on a monitor.
  • the operating point can thereby, for example, be represented by a conspicuous point or another suitable marking.
  • the predefined adhesive saving amount can also be provided as a slide control function, i.e., movable by touching and moving the working point marking. The values so moved can then be taken over as setpoints.
  • the object is solved by a method of applying an adhesive to a product with an adhesive application system.
  • the adhesive application system includes an application head which comprises at least one application nozzle and an application head controller.
  • the application head is configured to operate in a closed position where an adhesive is not transported to the at least one application nozzle, and in an open position where the adhesive is transported to the at least one application nozzle.
  • the at least one application nozzle is configured to apply the adhesive on a product when the application head is in the open position.
  • the application head controller is configured to generate a close command so as to move the application head into the closed position, and to generate an open command so as to move the application head into the open position so as to thereby apply the adhesive on the product on each of at least two adhesive tracks based on a predefined adhesive saving amount.
  • the method comprises:
  • Each of the adhesive dashes further has a length with a length midpoint which is arranged between the start point and the end point of each adhesive dash.
  • the method further comprises positioning the start point and/or the end point of each of the adhesive dashes of the first adhesive track substantially at the length midpoint of a respective one of the adhesive dashes of the adhesive track(s) which is/are arranged immediately adjacent thereto, so that the start point, the end point, and the length midpoint can be connected to form a triangle where at least two sides have an equal length.
  • all three sides of the triangle can, for example, have an equal length.
  • the linear shift of the adhesive application system is between 20 and 80 %, for example, between 25 and 75 %, for example, between 30 and 70 %, for example, between 35 and 65 %, for example, between 40 and 60 %, for example, between 45 and 55 %, for example, substantially 50 %.
  • the Linear shift can, for example, be substantially 30 % or substantially 33 %.
  • the Linear shift can, for example, be exactly 30 % or exactly 33 %.
  • the method of applying an adhesive to a product can, for example, further comprise applying to each of the at least two adhesive tracks, via the at least one application nozzle, at least one of a beginning adhesive application which is arranged at a beginning of each of the at least two adhesive tracks, and an ending adhesive application which is arranged at an end of each of the at least two adhesive tracks.
  • the predefined adhesive saving amount can alternatively be pre-calculated based on the above equation and set forth in a database which can then be referenced and inputted into the application head controller.
  • the method of applying an adhesive to a product can, for example, further comprise manually providing the predefined adhesive saving amount into the application head controller via a computer or via another external apparatus, such as a cell phone or a tablet, which is/are directly or indirectly connect to the application head controller via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth etc., and/or independently calculating the predefined adhesive saving amount based on an algorithm which calculates an optimum of adhesive force based on data which includes at least one of an adhesive savings, an adhesive strength of the adhesive on the product, and a current speed of production of the product.
  • the algorithm can, for example, be Equation I.
  • the adhesive application controller can, for example, further comprise a monitoring device and a classifier.
  • the monitoring device can, for example, comprises an illumination.
  • the monitoring device is configured to examine a property profile of the adhesive applications on the product and to communicate the property profile to the adhesive application controller.
  • the classifier independently calculates the predefined adhesive saving amount by analyzing, for example, via a trained learning algorithm, the property profile and the algorithm.
  • the algorithm can thereby include factors such as the intended adhesive savings, the adhesive strength of the adhesive on the product, the current speed of production of the product and/or Equation I.
  • the algorithm can alternatively, for example, be based on a spread sheet, a graph etc.
  • the trained learning algorithm of the classifier can, for example, be an artificial neural network trained by a backpropagation method or a pre-trained convolutional neural network as was discussed above.
  • the product can, for example, be a folding box blank.
  • the adhesive application system can, for example, further comprise a folding station which is arranged downstream of the adhesive station in the production flow direction. The folding station is thereby configured to fold the folding box blank with the adhesive applied thereto into a box.
  • the method can, for example, further comprise moving the folding box blank with the adhesive applied thereto from the adhesive station to the folding station, and folding the folding box blank in the folding station so as to provide a folded box blank.
  • the adhesive application system can, for example, further comprise a transfer station which is arranged downstream of the folding station in the production flow direction. The transfer station is thereby configured to at least one of count and discharge the folded box blank.
  • the method can, for example, further comprise moving the folded box blank from folding station to the transfer station, and at least one of counting and discharging the folded box blank in the folding station.
  • the adhesive application system can, for example, further comprise a collecting and pressing station which is arranged downstream of the transfer station in the production flow direction. The collecting and pressing station is thereby configured to apply a pressure to the folded box blank until the adhesive coagulates.
  • the method can, for example, further comprise moving the folded box blank from transfer station to the collecting and pressing station, and applying the pressure to the folded box blank in the collecting and pressing station until the adhesive coagulates so as to provide a box.
  • the present invention also provides a box which is produced pursuant to the above method.
  • an application head controller which is configured to generate a close command so as to move an application head into a closed position where an adhesive is not transported to at least one application nozzle, and to generate an open command so as to move the application head into an open position where the adhesive is transported to at least one application nozzle.
  • the at least one application nozzle is configured to apply the adhesive to a product on each of at least two adhesive tracks based on a predefined adhesive saving amount.
  • Each of the at least two adhesive tracks comprises adhesive dashes.
  • Each of the adhesive dashes are separated from each other by a gap having no adhesive.
  • the adhesive dashes and the gaps together form an interrupted adhesive pattern.
  • Each of the adhesive dashes have a dash length which is the same.
  • Each dash length has a start point, an end point, and a length with a length midpoint which is arranged between the start point and the end point of each adhesive dash, and each of the gaps has a gap length which is the same.
  • the application head controller comprises a pattern definition unit which is configured to position the at least two adhesive tracks adjacent to each other and at a distance and parallel with respect to each other.
  • the start point and/or the end point of each of the adhesive dashes of a first adhesive track is positioned substantially at the length midpoint of a respective one of the adhesive dashes of the adhesive track(s) which is/are arranged immediately adjacent thereto, so that the start point, the end point, and the length midpoint can be connected to form a triangle where at least two sides have an equal length.
  • Each of the dash length and the gap length is based on the predefined adhesive saving amount.
  • All three sides of the triangle can, for example, have the equal length.
  • the adhesive application valve is thereby activated by the valve control during the entire path thereof.
  • the control is based on an adhesive pattern stored in the control, which defines, for example, the location of the adhesive bead and its length.
  • Fig. 1 shows examples of prior art adhesive tracks. Instead of applying a continuous solid adhesive line/bead 130, the application of a sequence of points 132 (also called “dotting") or a series of short lines or dashes 134 (also called “stitching”) are known from the prior art.
  • a first approach is to provide a signal during the entire course of the adhesive application. This is typical, for example, when the control signals come from the machine control of the higher-level production machine. These signals are then chopped up or subdivided in the adhesive application system based on a pattern or a specification as a percentage of the adhesive consumption/area coverage of the adhesive application or by specifying the line/dot gap ratio or specifying the desired adhesive savings. The modified signal is then used to control the adhesive application valves, which then apply an adhesive pattern on the basis of this modified pattern.
  • a second approach is to generate the signals directly in a pattern control that is assigned to the adhesive application system.
  • the operator typically specifies the length of a path for a desired adhesive application, and this path is then converted into a sequence of application areas and gaps in the control system.
  • the conversion can take place on the basis of stored characteristics, parameters and algorithms. It is, for example, taken into account that an adhesive path always ends with a dot or dash.
  • the opening and closing times of the selected adhesive application valve type can be taken into account. More interruptions can be generated with a "fast valve” than with a slower switching adhesive application valve.
  • the route between the two end points is then interrupted based on the desired pattern.
  • the pattern can be selected from a variety of specifications.
  • the operator is typically shown the pattern graphically in a selection menu from which he/she can select the desired pattern.
  • the pattern can also be specified, for example, by specifying the order/gap ratio or by selecting the desired adhesive savings in percent.
  • the sample calculation for dotting/stitching in the pattern control can be provided globally for all valves, or individually for each glue application valve.
  • the pattern control can be dynamically adapted to the production speed, i.e., the order area/gap ratio is adapted to the changed production speed. This can be necessary because the control time (opening and closing times) of the adhesive application valve remains constant, while the distance covered by the substrate during the control time increasing speed becomes longer. This can lead to a close sequence of individual points again becoming a solid line.
  • the speed signal on which this adaptation is based can be obtained from the machine control of the production machine or from an encoder connected to the control of the adhesive application system or from another suitable means that detects the speed of the production machine.
  • Packaging must fulfill a packaging function, i.e., the packaging must protect the contents thereof, i.e., the packaged product.
  • the value of the packaged product is usually a high multiple of the value of the packaging itself. If the packaging opens and the packaged products are destroyed, all the energy and effort that went into the production of the packaged product is lost.
  • An industry preference therefore exists to use a continuous solid adhesive line in packaging instead of providing the adhesive as dotting and/or stitching, i.e., as an intermittent adhesive pattern.
  • Fig. 2 shows an adhesive application device in the form of an adhesive station 100 in a flexo folder gluer (inliner).
  • the adhesive is applied to the product (which is also sometimes referred to as a substrate, which can, for example, be a folding box blank 160) via an application head 101.
  • the application head 101 is shown in Fig. 2 to have three application nozzles 102.
  • the product 103 is introduced between an upper product guide 104 and a lower product guide 105, which together serve to guide the product 103 and to prevent contact of the product 103 with the three application nozzles 102.
  • a monitoring device 106 is arranged downstream of the application head 101 in the product flow direction 109.
  • the monitoring device 106 monitors a property profile of the adhesive dashes 4, 138 on the product 103 and communicates the property profile to the application head controller 110. In other words, the monitoring device 106 monitors the quality and the position of the adhesive dashes on the product 103.
  • the monitoring device 106 can be provided as an optical camera and/or as a thermal camera (i.e., a thermal imaging camera), an optical sensor, and/or a capacitive sensor, or any other monitoring device which is suitable for monitoring adhesive.
  • the monitoring device 106 can also be provided as any combination thereof.
  • the monitoring device 106 can also include an illumination 107 which illuminates the product 103 with the adhesive tracks located thereon in order to improve the contrast between the product surface and the adhesive track for the purpose of recognition.
  • the adhesive station 100 here also includes a cleaning device 108 which is activated during production breaks in order to clean the application nozzles 102 and/or to protect the residual adhesive present in the application nozzles 102 from drying out.
  • the cleaning device 108 can, for example, be provided as a water bath, in the water surface of which the nozzle tips of the application nozzles 102 are immersed and are thus protected, among other things, from drying out.
  • the application head controller 110 is connected to the application head 101.
  • the application head controller 110 is configured to generate open and close commands for the application head 101 to dispense an adhesive dash 4, 138 of, for example, glue, onto the product 103 so as to provide an interrupted adhesive pattern 140 on each of at least two adhesive tracks 1, 2, 3, 136 depending on a predefined adhesive saving amount.
  • the application head controller 110 comprises a pattern definition unit 111 which is configured to substantially equidistantly position each of the adhesive dashes 4, 138 of a respective interrupted adhesive pattern 140 along a respective adhesive track 1, 2, 3, 136, and to position each of the at least two adhesive tracks 1, 2, 3, 136 which are adjacent to each other at a distance D and parallel with respect to each other.
  • the length of each adhesive dash 4, 138 is generally from 5 to 25 mm, for example, approximately 15 mm.
  • Each of the adhesive dashes 4, 138 thereby has a length L, a start point 142, an end point 144, and a length midpoint 146 which is arranged between the start point 142 and the endpoint 144.
  • the predefined adhesive saving amount is provided to the application head controller 110 via a computer 113 having a mouse 114, a keyboard 115, and a monitor 116.
  • the computer 113 can be connected to an external database 117 where various predefined adhesive saving amounts are stored based on the product and adhesive used.
  • the predefined adhesive saving amount could also be provided to the application head controller 110 via a cell phone or via a tablet which are connected via a wired connection, or wirelessly, for example via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth etc.
  • the predefined adhesive saving amount can also be independently calculated via a classifier 112 of the application head controller 110.
  • the classifier 112 independently calculates the predefined adhesive saving amount by analyzing, via a trained learning algorithm, the property profile and the algorithm (the algorithm thereby including factors such as the intended adhesive savings, the adhesive strength of the adhesive on the product, and the current speed of production of the product and/or Equation I as set forth above).
  • the trained learning algorithm of the classifier 112 can, for example, be an artificial neural network trained by a backpropagation method or a pre-trained convolutional neural network.
  • Fig. 3 shows a flowchart of the method for applying an adhesive to a product 103.
  • the first step in the process is providing a product 103, for example, the folding box blank 160 shown in Fig. 10 , to the adhesive station which was described above.
  • the application nozzles 102 here equidistantly apply the adhesive to the product 103 on each of at least two adhesive tracks 136 based on the predefined adhesive saving amount, as controlled by the application head controller 110.
  • a folding station 200 is arranged downstream of the adhesive station 100 in the production flow direction 109.
  • the folding station 200 folds the product 103 (here the folding box blank 160) with the adhesive applied thereto to provide a folded box blank 162. See Fig. 10 .
  • a transfer station 210 is arranged downstream of the folding station 200 in the production flow direction 109.
  • the transfer station 210 counts and/or discharges the folded box blank 162 after it has left the transfer station 210.
  • a collecting and pressing station 220 is arranged downstream of the transfer station 210 in the production flow direction 109. The collecting and pressing station 220 applies a pressure to the folded box blank 162 until the adhesive coagulates so as to provide a box as a final product.
  • Two interrupted adhesive pattern samples arranged with adhesive dashes and gaps as per the present invention were tested, whereby a first interrupted adhesive pattern was based on a predefined adhesive saving amount of 30 %, with a 12.7 mm gap, and a second interrupted adhesive pattern was based on a predefined adhesive saving amount of 70 %, with a 19.05 mm gap.
  • Each of these samples were tested on a tensile tester from Instron ® Corp. to determine how much energy was required before a separation of two pieces of cardboard, which had been glued together resulted. The tests clearly showed the respective force which is required to initiate a respective continuous tearing through an adhesive layer.
  • first interrupted adhesive pattern was only slightly stronger than the second interrupted adhesive pattern despite the first interrupted adhesive pattern having a predefined adhesive saving amount of 30 % while the second interrupted adhesive pattern had a predefined adhesive saving amount of 70 %, i.e., 40 % less adhesive. It is believed that this is due to the fact that while both the first and the second interrupted adhesive pattern comport with Equation I above, that the first interrupted adhesive pattern yielded an isosceles triangle having two substantially equal sides and angles, while the second interrupted adhesive pattern yielded an equilateral triangle having three substantially equal sides and angles (i.e., 60°-60°-60°). This latter arrangement is believed to be the "sweet spot" where adhesive savings (i.e., the predefined adhesive saving amount) is maximized while adequate mechanical strength is still maintained.
  • a basic assumption of the present invention was therefore that a start of the adhesive application, which is formed by an adhesive dash, presents force peaks as a result of fiber tear initiation.
  • Fig. 4 shows two adhesive tracks 1, 2 comprising in at least one section 6 of the adhesive tracks 1, 2 a number of adhesive dashes 4 with gaps 5 arranged there between so as to together form an interrupted adhesive pattern, as generated by an application head controller.
  • Each one of the adhesive dashes 4 has a dash length which is the same, the adhesive dashes 4 having a start point and an end point, and each one of the gaps 5 having a gap length which is the same.
  • the application head controller is configured to generate a close command so as to move the application head into the closed position, and to generate an open command so as to move the application head into the open position, so as to thereby apply the adhesive dashes 4 on the product on each of the two adhesive tracks 1, 2 based on a predefined adhesive saving amount.
  • Fig. 5 shows three adhesive tracks 1, 2, 3 comprising in at least one section 6 of the adhesive tracks 1, 2, 3 a number of adhesive dashes 4 with gaps 5 arranged there between so as to form an interrupted adhesive pattern, as generated by an application head controller.
  • each of the adhesive dashes 4 has a dash length which is the same, each dash length having a start point and an end point, and each of the gaps 5 having a gap length which is the same.
  • the start point of each of the adhesive dashes 4 of the second adhesive track 1 is positioned at a linear shift with respect to the start point of each of the adhesive dashes of the adhesive track(s) which is/are arranged immediately adjacent thereto (i.e., adhesive tracks 1 and 3).
  • the linear shift here is equal one third of the length of an adhesive dash 4.
  • Each of the adhesive tracks 1, 2, 3 are arranged parallel with respect to each other.
  • At least one of the start point 142 and the end point 144 of each of the adhesive dashes 138 of a first interrupted adhesive pattern 140 of a first adhesive track 136 is positioned substantially at the length midpoint 146 of the one of the adhesive dashes 138 of a second interrupted adhesive pattern 140 of a second adhesive track 136 which is arranged parallel to the first adhesive track 136 (for example, the uppermost adhesive tack shown in Fig. 8 ), so that the start point 142, the end point 144, and the length midpoint 146 can be connected to form a triangle 148 (see Fig. 9 ) where at least two sides 150 have an equal length.
  • each of the adhesive tracks 136 also includes a beginning adhesive application 154 which is arranged at a beginning of a respective adhesive track 136, and an ending adhesive application 156 which is arranged at an end a respective adhesive track 136.
  • the adhesive station 100 in the shown embodiment has three application nozzles 102 so as to produce three adhesive tracks 136.
EP21214471.1A 2021-12-14 2021-12-14 Haftmittelauftragssystem und -verfahren Pending EP4197649A1 (de)

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP21214471.1A EP4197649A1 (de) 2021-12-14 2021-12-14 Haftmittelauftragssystem und -verfahren

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
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Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2896569A (en) * 1954-01-19 1959-07-28 Jl Ferguson Co Apparatus for applying adhesive to the flaps of cases or cartons
US4488665A (en) * 1982-05-24 1984-12-18 Spraymation, Inc. Multiple-outlet adhesive applicator apparatus and method
EP2638978B1 (de) 2012-03-13 2015-10-14 Nordson Corporation Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Steuern der Fluidabgabe eines Auftragskopfes für ein Fluid, sowie Auftragskopf mit solcher Vorrichtung
US20160332185A1 (en) * 2014-02-14 2016-11-17 Focke & Co. (Gmbh & Co. Kg) Valve arrangement for applying fluid media to surfaces

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2896569A (en) * 1954-01-19 1959-07-28 Jl Ferguson Co Apparatus for applying adhesive to the flaps of cases or cartons
US4488665A (en) * 1982-05-24 1984-12-18 Spraymation, Inc. Multiple-outlet adhesive applicator apparatus and method
EP2638978B1 (de) 2012-03-13 2015-10-14 Nordson Corporation Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Steuern der Fluidabgabe eines Auftragskopfes für ein Fluid, sowie Auftragskopf mit solcher Vorrichtung
US20160332185A1 (en) * 2014-02-14 2016-11-17 Focke & Co. (Gmbh & Co. Kg) Valve arrangement for applying fluid media to surfaces

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