EP4246084A1 - Verfahren und vorrichtung zur steuerung der betriebsbedingungen einer befeuchtungsrolle und zugehöriges computerprogramm - Google Patents

Verfahren und vorrichtung zur steuerung der betriebsbedingungen einer befeuchtungsrolle und zugehöriges computerprogramm Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4246084A1
EP4246084A1 EP23162217.6A EP23162217A EP4246084A1 EP 4246084 A1 EP4246084 A1 EP 4246084A1 EP 23162217 A EP23162217 A EP 23162217A EP 4246084 A1 EP4246084 A1 EP 4246084A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
wetting
intensity
infrared radiation
wetting roller
roller
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
EP23162217.6A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Anselmo CICCHITTI
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.)
Fameccanica Data SpA
Original Assignee
Fameccanica Data SpA
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 Fameccanica Data SpA filed Critical Fameccanica Data SpA
Publication of EP4246084A1 publication Critical patent/EP4246084A1/de
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
    • B65B9/02—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs
    • B65B9/04—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs one or both webs being formed with pockets for the reception of the articles, or of the quantities of material
    • B65B9/042—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs one or both webs being formed with pockets for the reception of the articles, or of the quantities of material for fluent material
    • 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
    • B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
    • B65B9/02—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs
    • B65B9/04—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs one or both webs being formed with pockets for the reception of the articles, or of the quantities of material
    • B65B2009/047—Rotary pocket formers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method for controlling the operating conditions of a wetting roller.
  • the invention has been developed, in particular, with a view to its application in the production of single-dose capsules (also called pods) for home care, such as laundry detergents, dishwasher detergents, fabric softeners and other compositions used in household appliances.
  • single-dose capsules also called pods
  • laundry detergents such as laundry detergents, dishwasher detergents, fabric softeners and other compositions used in household appliances.
  • the invention relates to a control device for controlling the operating conditions of a wetting roller and to a machine for producing single-dose capsules including such a control device.
  • Single-dose capsules are formed by one or more fluid or powder compositions, for example, of laundry or dishwasher detergent, enclosed between two water-soluble films.
  • Single-dose capsules are becoming increasingly popular due to their ease of use for the user, and they also have a positive impact on sustainability as they are a way to reduce detergent waste as each capsule contains the precise dose of detergent for one load.
  • Single-dose capsules are generally produced by forming recesses in a first water-soluble film, filling the recesses with fluid or powder compositions, applying a second water-soluble film over the first water-soluble film, and binding the first and second water-soluble films together to seal the compositions between the two water-soluble films.
  • Water-soluble films are typically formed from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) or a derivative of PVA, and are designed to be soluble in cold water. These water-soluble films are not heat-sealable like thermoplastic films used for packaging food items.
  • PVA polyvinyl alcohol
  • Binding of the water-soluble films is typically accomplished by wetting one of the two water-soluble films and pressing the films together around the recesses containing the compositions.
  • the wetting phase of the water-soluble film is a key point in the single-dose capsule formation process. Since water-soluble films are specifically designed to dissolve upon contact with water, it is critical that the water-soluble film is wetted by a precise amount of water, which should be high enough to achieve proper sealing of the capsules, which prevents leakage of the compositions, but low enough to prevent the dissolution of water-soluble films.
  • the wetting of one of the water-soluble films is carried out by a wetting roller rotating around a horizontal axis, and having an outer surface on which a layer of water is deposited.
  • the water-soluble film is advanced into contact with the outer surface of the wetting roller and during rotation of the wetting roller some of the water retained on the outer surface of the roller is released to the water-soluble film.
  • a more or less prolonged stop of the rotation of the wetting roller tends to cause unsuitable wetting conditions on the roller surface.
  • prolonged stops of the machine cause the drying and hardening of the outer surface of the wetting roller, which require long start-up times and waste of material during the start-up of the machine.
  • Machines according to the state of the art do not provide an automatic system which checks the distribution of water on the surface of the wetting roller. The control of the correct quantity and uniformity of the water on the wetting roller is left to the experience and sensitivity of the operator.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a method for controlling the operating conditions of a wetting roller which overcomes the problems of the prior art.
  • this object is achieved by a method having the characteristics forming the subject of claim 1.
  • the invention relates to a device for controlling the operating conditions of a wetting roller having the characteristics of claim 5, a machine for producing single-dose capsules including this control device, and a computer program having the characteristics of claim 10.
  • the machine 10 comprises a forming surface 12 having a plurality of cavities 14, continuously movable in a machine direction MD.
  • the forming surface 12 is the outer cylindrical surface of a drum 16 rotating about a horizontal axis A.
  • the forming surface 12 may be the outer surface of a closed-loop belt.
  • the machine 10 comprises a first feeding unit 18 configured to feed a first continuous water-soluble film 20 onto the forming surface 12.
  • the first continuous water-soluble film 20 is unwound from a first reel 22 and is fed to the forming surface 12 at a first position 24.
  • the first continuous water-soluble film 20 is held on the forming surface 12, for example, by suction, while moving in the machine direction MD, and is deformed within recesses 14 of the forming surface 12.
  • the machine 10 comprises a second feeding unit 28 configured to feed a second water-soluble film 30 unwound from a second reel 34 onto the forming surface 12 at a second position 32 located downstream of the first position 24 with respect to the machine direction MD.
  • the machine 10 comprises a dosing apparatus 36 configured to dispense metered quantities of at least one fluid composition into the recesses of the first continuous water-soluble film 20.
  • the dosing apparatus 36 is located in an intermediate position between the first position 24 and the second position 32. After the recesses of the first continuous water-soluble film 20 have been filled with the fluid compositions, the second continuous water-soluble film 30 is applied onto the first continuous water-soluble film 20, so as to enclose the metered amounts of fluid compositions contained in the recesses between the first and the second continuous water-soluble films 20, 30.
  • the dosing apparatus 36 comprises at least one dosing unit 50 having respective nozzles 58 connected to a fluid delivery system via a line 62.
  • the machine 10 comprises a wetting unit 38 configured to wet a surface of the second continuous water-soluble film 30 upstream of said second position 32.
  • the wetting unit 38 is configured to wet the surface of the second continuous water-soluble film 30, which will be placed in contact with the first continuous water-soluble film 20.
  • the first and second continuous water-soluble films 20, 30 are water-bonded to each other along contact areas surrounding the recesses containing the metered fluid compositions.
  • the machine 10 comprises a longitudinal cutter 40 and a transversal cutter 42, which cut the first and second continuous water-soluble films 20, 30 so as to form single-dose capsules, which are collected on an outlet conveyor 44.
  • the scraps of the water-soluble films originating from the longitudinal and transversal cuts are removed by a scrap suction device 46.
  • the wetting unit 38 comprises a wetting roller 66 and a film guide device 64 configured to guide the second continuous water-soluble film 30 so that it passes into contact with the outer surface of the wetting roller 66.
  • the wetting roller 66 may comprise an outer tubular member 68 having an outer surface 70.
  • the outer tubular member 68 may be made of an elastically deformable waterpermeable material, for example, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), which allows the passage of water in a radial direction from the inside to the outside.
  • PVA polyvinyl alcohol
  • the wetting roller 66 may comprise an inner central element 74 formed, for example by a metal shaft, connected to a water supply line 78 via a rotating connector.
  • the water supply line 78 is connected to a water tank 82.
  • the wetting roller 66 may have an outer surface 70 of hydrophilic material, for example felt. A lower part of the wetting roller 66 may be immersed in the water contained in a tray 72.
  • the wetting unit 38 comprises a control device 84 configured to control the operating conditions of the wetting roller 66.
  • the control device 84 comprises an infrared illuminator 86 configured to illuminate the outer surface 70 of the wetting roller 66 with infrared radiation, and a sensor 88 sensitive to infrared radiation and configured to receive infrared radiation reflected from the outer surface 70 of the wetting roller 66.
  • the control device 84 is based on the fact that the outer surface 70 of the wetting roller 66 has a substantially different reflectivity of the infrared radiation when the outer surface 70 is dry or wet.
  • the sensor 88 may be a SWIR camera.
  • SWIR cameras are sensitive to infrared radiation with a wavelength between 1400 - 3000 nm.
  • the sensor 88 may be a matrix or a line scan camera.
  • the sensor 88 is configured to provide a signal indicative of the intensity of infrared radiation reflected by the outer surface 70 of the wetting roller 66.
  • the senor 88 may be configured to acquire an image, for example, a digital image, of at least one part of the outer surface 70 of the wetting roller 66, formed by a matrix of pixels wherein each pixel is associated with a respective outer surface area 70 of the wetting roller 66, and wherein each pixel has an intensity value indicative of the intensity of infrared radiation reflected from the respective outer surface area 70 of the wetting roller 66.
  • the signal supplied by the sensor 88 is sent to a processing unit 90 equipped with an image processing program configured to generate information indicative of the intensity of the infrared radiation reflected by the outer surface 70 of the wetting roller 66, and to determine the operating conditions of the wetting roller 66 as a function of said information.
  • the information indicative of the intensity of the infrared radiation reflected by the outer surface 70 may be the average value of the intensity of the infrared radiation reflected by various areas of the outer surface 70 of the wetting roller 66.
  • the processing unit 90 may also be configured to determine a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of the intensity of the infrared radiation reflected by the outer surface 70 of the wetting roller 66, which is indicative of the uniformity of the film of water present on the outer surface 70.
  • Figures 5 and 6 are graphs which report on the x-axis the intensity value I of the reflected infrared radiation, and on the y-axis the number of pixels N of the image which have the intensity value I.
  • the intensity value I may vary from zero for zeroreflected radiation (corresponding to black in a gray scale) to a maximum value corresponding to 100% of the reflected radiation (corresponding to white in a gray scale) .
  • the mean value of the graphs along the x-axis indicates the mean value of the intensity of the infrared radiation reflected by the outer surface 70 of the wetting roller 66.
  • the graph of Figure 5 refers to the image of a completely dry outer surface 70
  • the graph of Figure 6 refers to the image of a correctly wetted outer surface 70.
  • the average value of the graphs indicated with Im is indicative of the average wetting degree of the outer surface 70. For example, it is possible to gradually vary the degree of wetting and identify the corresponding mean value Im to identify the relationship between the mean value Im and the degree of wetting. In this way, it is possible to identify a threshold value of the Im above which it is believed that the wetting roller is wet enough to operate.
  • This threshold value varies according to the equipment and processes involved, and may be identified by a satisfactory level of welding between the sheets verified, for example, with any known standard method.
  • the difference between the maximum and minimum intensity values, indicated with Imax and Imin, is indicative of the uniformity of the film of water present on the outer surface 70.
  • the processing unit 90 compares the mean intensity value Im with a predetermined reference range.
  • the wetting conditions of the outer surface 70 of the wetting roller 66 are considered correct if the mean intensity value Im is included in the pre-established reference range. Conversely, the wetting conditions of the outer surface 70 of the wetting roller 66 are considered incorrect if the average intensity value Im is outside the predetermined reference range.
  • the processing unit 90 may also compare the difference D between the intensity values Imax and Imin with a predetermined reference range.
  • the conditions of wetting uniformity of the outer surface 70 of the wetting roller 66 are considered correct if the difference D between the intensity values Imax and Imin is included in the predetermined reference range. Conversely, the conditions of wetting uniformity of the outer surface 70 of the wetting roller 66 are considered incorrect if the difference D between the intensity values Imax and Imin is outside the predetermined reference range.
  • the information provided by the control device 84 may be used to generate an alarm signal in the event that the detected degree of wetting of the outer surface 70 of the wetting roller 66 is outside the correct operating range.
  • the information provided by the control device 84 may also be used in feedback to control the supply of water to the wetting roller 66, thereby increasing the degree of wetting of the outer surface 70 of the wetting roller 66 when a trend is detected of reducing the wetting degree and, conversely, so as to reduce the wetting degree of the outer surface 70 of the wetting roller 66 when a tendency to increase the wetting degree is detected.
  • One of the advantages of the method and of the device according to the present invention is that the optical detection of the reflected infrared radiation is not influenced by humidity or by the lighting conditions of the environment.
  • the method and the device according to the present invention allow the control of both the wetting degree and the uniformity of the wetting degree on the outer surface of the wetting roller.
  • the control device according to the present invention may be used together with a device which controls the quantity of water applied to the film of water-soluble material downstream of the wetting unit 38, which may, for example, be made as described in the European patent application EP21182827 by the same Applicant.
  • a device controlling the wetting roller operating conditions together with a device that detects the amount of water applied to the water-soluble film provides an integrated control of the process and the product, which optimizes the quality of the finished products and analytically controls the evolution of the process variables in real time.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Investigating Or Analysing Materials By Optical Means (AREA)
EP23162217.6A 2022-03-18 2023-03-16 Verfahren und vorrichtung zur steuerung der betriebsbedingungen einer befeuchtungsrolle und zugehöriges computerprogramm Pending EP4246084A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT202200005360 2022-03-18

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4246084A1 true EP4246084A1 (de) 2023-09-20

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP23162217.6A Pending EP4246084A1 (de) 2022-03-18 2023-03-16 Verfahren und vorrichtung zur steuerung der betriebsbedingungen einer befeuchtungsrolle und zugehöriges computerprogramm

Country Status (1)

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EP (1) EP4246084A1 (de)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2006281086A (ja) * 2005-03-31 2006-10-19 Jfe Steel Kk 帯状物体の塗装装置及び塗装方法
US8520223B2 (en) * 2009-05-26 2013-08-27 Udo Wolfgang Bucher Wet paint coating thickness measurement and instrument
CN107321557A (zh) * 2017-08-17 2017-11-07 京东方科技集团股份有限公司 一种涂布检测装置、涂布设备及涂布检测方法
US11175127B2 (en) * 2017-11-13 2021-11-16 Illumina, Inc. System and method for large sample analysis of thin film

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2006281086A (ja) * 2005-03-31 2006-10-19 Jfe Steel Kk 帯状物体の塗装装置及び塗装方法
US8520223B2 (en) * 2009-05-26 2013-08-27 Udo Wolfgang Bucher Wet paint coating thickness measurement and instrument
CN107321557A (zh) * 2017-08-17 2017-11-07 京东方科技集团股份有限公司 一种涂布检测装置、涂布设备及涂布检测方法
US11175127B2 (en) * 2017-11-13 2021-11-16 Illumina, Inc. System and method for large sample analysis of thin film

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