ES1077058U - Device for applying a liquid product to a sheet of paper - Google Patents

Abstract

Liquid product applicator device to paper sheet, comprising a plurality of spray nozzles (1) supported above the path of a moving paper sheet (P), said spray nozzles (1) being connected to a supply source of a liquid product and arranged to spray said liquid product on a surface of said paper sheet (P), characterized in that it comprises a spray chamber (2) having an opening (7) facing said path of said sheet paper (P), where the spray nozzles (1) are installed on a wall of said spray chamber (2) and oriented to direct the sprayed liquid product towards the opening (7) through the spray chamber (2). (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

Liquid product applicator to paper sheet.

Technical field

The present invention relates generally to a device for applying a liquid product to a sheet of paper, and more particularly to a device for applying a liquid product capable of creating a barrier layer against grease, oil and water, an anti- lined, a pigmentation layer or a layer of any other surface treatment on a continuous sheet of paper, whereby a sheet of water-repellent paper is obtained which can be used, for example, to form hydrophobic corrugated cardboard, or a sheet of paper with other properties and for other uses.

Throughout this description the term "paper" is used to designate paper and its derivatives, such as cardboard and cardboard.

Background of the invention

The fact of applying a liquid product on a continuous or discontinuous sheet of paper to create a barrier layer and thereby make the paper resistant to grease, oil and water is known. In general, the application of the liquid product is carried out by one or more applicator rollers that roll on the continuous moving sheet of paper.

Document ES 2220514 T3 discloses a surface finish on paper or cardboard and an agent for this purpose. The agent is an aqueous solution of an active ingredient for surface finishing and is applied to a sheet of hydrophilic paper or cardboard by spraying or by rollers. However, this document does not provide technical details about a suitable applicator device for spraying the liquid product to the paper sheet at an industrial level.

There is therefore a need for an application device for liquid product to spray paper sheet. There is also a need for such a spray applicator device to form a unit that can be easily integrated into a paper sheet manufacturing line. There is also a need for the spray applicator device to be easily adaptable to continuous sheets of paper sheet of different widths.

Exhibition of the invention

The present invention contributes to satisfying the above and other needs by providing a device for applying a liquid product to a paper sheet comprising a spray chamber supported above the path of a moving paper sheet or successive sheets of paper sheet moving. This spray chamber has a front wall, a rear wall, some side walls, a bottom wall, and an opening opposite said bottom wall and facing the path of the sheet of paper. A plurality of spray nozzles, which are connected to a supply source of a liquid product, are installed in the bottom wall and oriented to direct the sprayed liquid product into the opening through said spray chamber to spray said product liquid on a surface of the paper sheet.

Optionally, the spray nozzles are oriented to spray the liquid product in an inclined direction in favor of the direction of advance of the paper sheet, that is, in a direction inclined in the same direction as that of paper sheet get moving. However, there is no limitation so that the spray nozzles are oriented to spray the liquid product in a perpendicular or inclined direction against the direction of advance of the paper sheet.

Preferably, the device further comprises one or more outlet suction nozzles adjacent to a lower edge of the rear wall of the spray chamber, where the sheet of paper coated with the liquid product comes out, and optionally also one or more nozzles of chamber suction connected to the spray chamber to aspirate inside it.

With this construction, the front, rear, side and upper walls of the suction chamber prevent the sprayed product from spreading through the surrounding atmosphere, the one or more outlet suction nozzles, if any, absorb dispersed spray in the air leaving the spray chamber being dragged along the sheet of moving paper, and the one or more chamber suction nozzles, if any, absorb spray dispersed in the air inside the spray chamber avoiding its accumulation Obviously, the chamber suction nozzles will be arranged in positions that do not disturb the normal application of the sprayed liquid product on the paper sheet.

In one embodiment, the spray nozzles are controlled by a valve device to adapt the spray width to continuous bands of paper sheet of different widths, that is, to selectively operate only those spray nozzles that are located on one of paper sheet of a specific width. In a more refined embodiment, the device comprises a plurality of presence sensors arranged to detect the width of the paper sheet, and the valve device controls the operation of the spray nozzles in response to a signal generated by said sensors. presence to adapt the spray width to the width of the detected paper sheet.

The liquid product applicator device also preferably comprises a collection tray located below the path of the paper sheet and facing the opening of the spray chamber. This collection tray is sized to cover the entire opening of the spray chamber. Since the opening of the spray chamber is sized to cover the entire width of a sheet of paper of the maximum permissible width, when working with a sheet of paper of a width smaller than the maximum permissible, the collection tray ensures that Liquid product will not be spilled on other elements of the manufacturing line or on the floor.

Optionally, the mentioned one or more outlet suction nozzles and the collection tray are fixed to a stationary chassis in relation to the path of the paper sheet, while the spray chamber is connected to a regulating mechanism configured for move the spray chamber in relation to the chassis in order to vary a distance between the spray nozzles and the path of the paper sheet, and thereby vary the density with which the sprayed liquid product is deposited on the sheet of paper. In one embodiment, said regulation mechanism comprises an electric motor operatively connected to move the spray chamber in relation to the chassis.

To prevent the sprayed liquid product from escaping into the surrounding atmosphere through a separation between the opening of the spray chamber and the paper sheet when the regulating mechanism places the spray chamber relatively separate from that of the paper sheet, The device comprises a front auxiliary wall, a rear auxiliary wall and side auxiliary walls fixed to the chassis in stationary positions such that lower edges of the front wall, the rear wall and the side walls of the spray chamber move adjacent to said front auxiliary wall, rear auxiliary wall and side auxiliary walls, respectively, when the spray chamber is moved relative to the chassis by the regulating mechanism. Optionally, the side auxiliary walls may be formed by chassis walls.

The rear auxiliary wall of the spray chamber has an appendix in which a plurality of auxiliary spray nozzles can optionally be fixed, which are a short distance from the path of the paper sheet and oriented to direct the sprayed liquid product towards the path of the sheet of paper. The front auxiliary wall of the spray chamber has an appendix in which the aforementioned presence sensors can be installed, for example. A pair of pressure rollers arranged downstream of the spray chamber can also be optionally mounted on the chassis to press on opposite sides of the sheet of paper. The passage of the paper or cardboard sheet through the rollers allows to improve the surface finish of the same once treated by spraying.

In a specific example, the liquid product applied by the device is a copolymer dispersion in water suitable for creating a barrier layer against grease, oil and water, and the spray nozzles are adapted to spray said copolymer dispersion in water. In such a case, the sheet of paper obtained can be used for the formation of hydrophobic corrugated cardboard, ie corrugated cardboard resistant to grease, oil and water.

Brief description of the drawings

The foregoing and other features and advantages will become more apparent from the following description of some examples of embodiment with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an applicator device of liquid product to paper sheet according to a first simple embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid sheet paper product applicator device according to a second more complex embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a schematic side view of the device of the second embodiment with a spray chamber located in a lower position, where some components have been suppressed for greater clarity of the drawing;

Fig. 4 is a schematic side view of the device of the second embodiment with a spray chamber located in an upper position, where some components have been suppressed for greater clarity of the drawing;

Fig. 5 is a front view of the device of the second embodiment;

Fig. 6 is a schematic side view of a variant of the device of the second embodiment, where some components have been suppressed for greater clarity of the drawing; Y

Fig. 7 is a schematic side view of a liquid sheet paper product applicator device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of some embodiments

Referring first to Fig. 1, there is shown a device for applying liquid product to paper sheet according to a simple embodiment of the present invention, which comprises a spray chamber 2 intended to be installed in a line of manufacture of continuous strip of paper sheet P, wherein said continuous strip of paper sheet P moves in a forward direction D.

It should be noted that although the continuous sheet of paper is shown in the figures, alternatively the device of the present invention can apply the liquid product on separate sheets of paper that move consecutively on a conveyor of the manufacturing line.

The spray chamber 2 has a front wall 3, a rear wall 4, some side walls 5, a top bottom wall 6, and a bottom opening 7 opposite said bottom wall 6. The bottom wall 6 is smaller than the opening 7 in the longitudinal direction of the continuous strip of paper sheet P, so that the spray chamber 2 has a bell shape.

The opening 7 is facing the path of the continuous strip of paper sheet P and located a short distance from it. A plurality of spray nozzles 1 connected to a supply source of a liquid product are supported on the bottom wall 6, which are oriented to direct the sprayed liquid product into the opening 7 through said spray chamber 2 and with this spray the liquid product on an upper surface of the continuous strip of moving paper sheet P. The spraying chamber 2 of this first simple embodiment can be fixed to a frame of the said continuous sheet of paper sheet manufacturing line P.

Continuing with Fig. 1, the device further comprises a collection tray 9 located below the path of the continuous strip of paper sheet P and facing the opening 7 of the spray chamber

2. This collection tray 9 has substantially the same dimensions as the opening 7 of the spray chamber 2. The bottom of the collection tray 9 is inclined towards a sump (not shown) to evacuate the collected liquid product. The side walls 5 of the spray chamber 2 extend downwardly beyond the path of the continuous strip of paper sheet P and the collection tray 9 is supported on these extensions of the side walls 5 of the spray chamber 2 .

The sprayed liquid product forms a nebula, the size of the drops and the volume of which can be regulated by means of control, and depending on its volume, the nebula can pass through the sides of the sheet of paper P towards the tray collection 9 and be deposited to a certain extent also on the lower surface of the continuous strip of moving paper sheet P.

Figs. 2 to 6 show a more complex embodiment of the liquid product applicator device of the present invention, which comprises a spray chamber 2 analogous to that described above in relation to Fig. 1, where the spray chamber 2 is installed so movable on a chassis 10, which is fixed to a frame B of the continuous sheet of paper sheet P manufacturing line in a stationary position in relation to the path of the continuous strip of paper sheet P.

Figs. 3, 4 and 6 show the continuous strip of paper sheet P moving in a forward direction D supported on rollers R of the continuous sheet manufacturing line of paper sheet P and passing between a pair of pressure rollers 18, 19 installed in the chassis, which will be described in greater detail below. Fig. 6 further shows a side access window 5a formed in the side wall 5 of the spray chamber 2.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the spray chamber 2 is connected to a regulating mechanism 11 comprising, for example, guide elements 21 and an electric motor 12 operatively connected to move the spray chamber 2 along said guide elements 21 in relation to the chassis 10 between lower and upper positions in order to vary the distance between the spray nozzles 1 and the continuous strip of paper sheet P. The side walls 5 of the spray chamber 2 have nuts attached 23 coupled to respective spindles 24 driven by the electric motor 12 by means of angled transmissions 25 and a transmission shaft 26 (Fig. 5).

Fig. 3 shows the spray chamber 2 in the lower position, in which the spray nozzles 1 are closer to the continuous strip of paper sheet P, and Fig. 4 shows the spray chamber 2 in the position upper, in which the spray nozzles 1 are further from the continuous strip of paper sheet P. In addition, the regulating mechanism 11 can park the spray chamber 2 in any position between the lower and upper positions. Figs. 3 and 4 also show that the spray nozzles 1 are oriented to spray the liquid product in an inclined direction in favor of the direction of advance of the continuous strip of paper sheet P.

In the embodiment shown, the bottom wall 6 of the spray chamber 2 is inclined with respect to the path of the continuous strip of paper sheet P and the spray nozzles 1 are arranged perpendicularly to the bottom wall, although other alternative constructions They're possible.

To prevent the sprayed liquid product from spreading in the atmosphere, the device comprises a front auxiliary wall 13, a rear auxiliary wall 14, and side auxiliary walls 15 fixed to the chassis 10 in stationary positions. In the illustrated embodiment, said side auxiliary walls 15 are part of the chassis 10, although this is not an indispensable condition. The lower edges of the front wall 3, the rear wall 4, and the side walls 5 of the spray chamber 2, which delimit the opening 7, move respectively adjacent to said front, rear and side auxiliary walls 13, 14, 15 and a short distance from them when the spray chamber 2 is moved between the lower and upper positions in relation to the chassis 10 by the regulating mechanism 11.

This second embodiment also includes a collection tray 9 located below the path of the continuous strip of paper sheet P and facing the opening 7 of the spray chamber 2. In this case, the collection tray 9 is fixed to the side auxiliary walls 15 of the chassis 10 in a stationary position.

Another component of the second embodiment is an outlet suction nozzle 8 located adjacent to a lower edge of the rear wall 4 of the spray chamber 2, where the continuous web of paper sheet P coated with the liquid product comes out. This outlet suction nozzle 8 has an elongated shape that substantially covers the entire width of the spray chamber 2 and is fixed to the chassis 10 in a stationary position. Alternatively, instead of a single elongated outlet aspiration nozzle 8 there could be a plurality of outlet aspiration nozzles arranged in a row with an equivalent result.

A plurality of chamber suction nozzles 17 arranged to suction inside the suction chamber 2 are installed on the bottom wall 6 of the suction chamber 2. Alternatively, the chamber suction nozzles 17 could be in other positions or there could be a single chamber suction nozzle 17, being careful not to disturb the normal application of the liquid product sprayed by the spray nozzles 1 on the sheet of paper P.

The spray nozzles 1 are controlled by a valve device that allows the spray width to be adapted to continuous bands of sheets of paper P of different widths. This adaptation is automated by a plurality of presence sensors 20 (Fig. 6) installed for example in an appendix 13a of the front auxiliary wall 13, and arranged to detect the width of the continuous strip of paper sheet P. The device for valves controls the operation of the spray nozzles 1 in response to a signal generated by said presence sensors 20 to adapt the spray width to the width of the continuous web sheet strip P detected.

The spray nebula comprises a plurality of tiny drops that are formed by a mixture of air and liquid product under pressure expelled through the spray nozzles. The device of the present invention includes electronic control means, based for example on a PLC, that automatically adjust the spray pressures according to the speed of the paper web, whereby the device is able to adjust the quality (droplet size) and quantity (volume of the nebula) of the spray depending on the parameters of air pressure and liquid product pressure, which can be modified by the control means. The device of the present invention preferably includes one or more cleaning programs that are also controlled by the control means.

Fig. 6 shows a plurality of auxiliary spray nozzles 16 fixed in an appendix 14a of the rear auxiliary wall 14, located a short distance from the path of the continuous strip of paper sheet P and oriented to direct the sprayed liquid product towards the path of the continuous strip of paper sheet P.

The device further comprises a pair of pressure rollers 18, 19 mounted on the chassis 10 and arranged downstream of the spray chamber 2 to press on opposite sides of the continuous web of sheet of paper P. The upper pressure roller 18 is movable with respect to the chassis 10 and for this it has its ends connected to dynamic fluid piston and cylinder devices 22 (Fig. 5).

Fig. 7 shows a third embodiment of the present invention having a first bell-shaped spray chamber 2 analogous to the spray chamber 2 described above in relation to the second embodiment. This first spray chamber 2 has a front wall 3, a rear wall 4, side walls 5 and a bottom wall 6. The spray chamber 2 also has an opening 7 opposite to the bottom wall 6 and facing a first side of the path of the continuous strip of paper sheet P, a short distance from it.

A plurality of spray nozzles 1 connected to a supply source of a liquid product are installed on the bottom wall 6 of the first spray chamber 2. The spray nozzles 1 are oriented to direct the sprayed liquid product towards the opening 7 through said spray chamber 2 and thereby spray the liquid product on a first surface of the continuous strip of moving paper sheet P.

This third embodiment differs from the previous ones in that it comprises a second spray chamber 32 in the form of a bell similar to said first spray chamber 2. This second spray chamber 32 has a front wall 33, a rear wall 34, side walls 35, a bottom wall 36 and an opening 37 opposite the bottom wall 36 and facing a second side of the path of the continuous strip of paper sheet P, a short distance from it and in a position coinciding with the opening 7 of the first spray chamber 2.

The second spray chamber 32 is associated with a liquid product collection tray. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, the collection tray is formed, for example, by the same bottom wall 36 of the second spray chamber 32, which for this purpose is provided with a sump (not shown).

A plurality of spray nozzles 31 connected to the supply source of a liquid product and oriented to direct the sprayed liquid product towards the opening 37 through the second chamber are installed in the bottom wall 36 of the second spray chamber 32 of spraying 32, and thereby spraying the liquid product on a second surface of the continuous web of moving paper sheet P, opposite to said first surface thereof.

In positions adjacent to lower edges of the rear walls 3, 33 of the first and second spray chambers 2, 32 are located outlet suction nozzles 8, 38, and a plurality of chamber suction nozzles 17, 47 are installed on the bottom walls 6, 36 of the suction chambers 2, 32.

The first and second spray chambers 2, 32 are installed on a stationary chassis (not shown) and connected to respective regulation mechanisms (not shown) analogous to the regulation mechanism 11 described above in relation to the second embodiment. These regulation mechanisms allow to regulate the distance between the openings 7, 17 of the first and second spray chambers 2, 32 and the corresponding first and second surface of the continuous strip of paper sheet P.

To prevent the sprayed liquid product from spreading in the atmosphere, the device comprises first and second front auxiliary walls 13, 43, first and second rear auxiliary walls 14, 44, and side auxiliary walls (not shown) fixed to the chassis 10 in stationary positions.

The liquid product applicator device of this third embodiment may be installed in a section of a continuous web of sheet paper P manufacturing line where the continuous web is in a horizontal, inclined or even vertical position. When the device is installed in a horizontal or inclined position, the second spray chamber 32 is located on the bottom side of the continuous strip of paper sheet P and additionally acts as a collection tray replacing the collection tray 9 described above in relation to the first and second embodiments.

In any of the embodiments, the liquid product used can be, for example, a copolymer dispersion in water suitable for creating a barrier layer against grease, oil and water, and the spray nozzles 1 are adapted to spray said copolymer dispersion in water or another product on the continuous strip of paper sheet P, and the continuous strip of paper sheet P treated with this liquid product can be used, for example, for the formation of hydrophobic corrugated cardboard. However, also in any of the embodiments, the liquid product may be configured to create an anti-scratch layer, a pigmentation layer or a layer of any other surface treatment on the paper sheet.

A person skilled in the art will be able to introduce modifications and variations to the embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (21)

1. Device for applying a liquid product to a sheet of paper, comprising a plurality of spray nozzles (1) supported above the path of a sheet of paper (P) in motion, said spray nozzles (1) being connected to a source of supply of a liquid product and arranged to spray said liquid product on a surface of said paper sheet (P), characterized in that it comprises a spray chamber (2) having an opening (7) facing said trajectory of said sheet of paper (P), where the spray nozzles (1) are installed in a wall of said spray chamber (2) and oriented to direct the sprayed liquid product towards the opening (7) through the chamber of spray (2). 2. Device for applying a liquid product according to claim 1, characterized in that the spray chamber (2) comprises a front wall (3), a rear wall (4), side walls (5) and a bottom wall (6 ) opposite to said opening (7), and the spray nozzles (1) are installed in said bottom wall (6). 3. Device for applying a liquid product according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises at least one outlet suction nozzle (8) adjacent to a lower edge of said rear wall (4) of the spray chamber (2) through which it exits the sheet of paper (P) coated with the liquid product. 4. Device for applying a liquid product according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that it comprises at least one chamber suction nozzle (17) connected to the spray chamber (2) to aspirate therein. 5. Device for applying a liquid product according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said spray nozzles (1) are controlled by a valve device to adapt the spray width to sheets of paper (P) of different widths. 6. Device for applying a liquid product according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of presence sensors (20) arranged to detect the width of the paper sheet (P), and said spray nozzles (1) they are controlled by a valve device in response to a signal generated by said presence sensors (20) to adapt the spray width to the width of the sheet of paper (P) detected. 7. Device for applying a liquid product according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a collection tray (9) located below the path of the paper sheet (P) and facing the opening (7) of the spray chamber (2), said collection tray (9) being sized to cover the entire opening (7) of the spray chamber (2). 8.- Liquid product applicator device according to claim 7, characterized in that said suction nozzle (8) and the collection tray (9) are fixed to a stationary chassis (10) in relation to the path of the paper sheet (P), and the spray chamber (2) is connected to a regulating mechanism (11) configured to move the spray chamber (2) in relation to said chassis (10) in order to vary a distance between the nozzles spray (1) and the path of the paper sheet (P). 9. A liquid product applicator device according to claim 8, characterized in that said regulation mechanism (11) comprises an electric motor (12) operatively connected to move the spray chamber (2) in relation to the chassis (10). 10.- Liquid product applicator device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that it comprises a front auxiliary wall (13), a rear auxiliary wall (14), and side auxiliary walls (15) fixed to the chassis (10) in some stationary positions, and lower edges of the front wall (3), the rear wall (4), and the side walls (5) of the spray chamber (2) move adjacent to said front auxiliary wall (13) , rear auxiliary wall (14), and side auxiliary walls (15), respectively, when the spray chamber (2) is moved relative to the chassis (10) by the regulating mechanism (11). 11.- Liquid product applicator device according to claim 10, characterized in that said side auxiliary walls (15) are part of the chassis (10). 12. Device for applying a liquid product according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a second spray chamber (32) having an opening (37) facing an opposite side of the paper sheet path. (P) and in a position coinciding with the opening (7) of the first spray chamber (2), said second spray chamber (32) having a plurality of spray nozzles (31) installed in a wall thereof, connected to the source of supply of a liquid product and oriented to direct the sprayed liquid product into said opening (37) through the second spray chamber (32), and thereby spray the liquid product onto a second surface of the sheet of paper (P) in motion, opposite a first surface thereof sprayed by the first spray chamber (2). 13.- Liquid product applicator device according to claim 12, characterized in that said first and second spray chambers (2, 32) are installed on a stationary chassis (10) in relation to the path of the paper sheet (P) , where the first and second spray chamber (2, 32) is connected to a regulation mechanism (11) configured to move the first and second spray chambers (2, 32) in relation to said chassis (10) for the purpose of varying distances between the spray nozzles (1, 31) and the opposite sides of the paper sheet path (P). 14.- Liquid product applicator device according to claim 13, characterized in that said regulation mechanism (11) comprises at least one electric motor (12) operatively connected to move the first and second spray chambers (2, 32) in relation to the chassis (10). 15.- Liquid product applicator device according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that it comprises a first and second front auxiliary walls (13, 43), first and second rear auxiliary walls (14, 44), and first and second walls lateral auxiliaries (15) fixed to the chassis (10) in stationary positions, and lower edges of front walls (3, 33), rear walls (4, 34), and side walls (5, 35) of the first and second spray chambers (2, 32) move adjacent to said first and second front auxiliary walls (13, 43), first and second rear auxiliary walls (14, 44), and first and second side auxiliary walls ( 15), respectively, when the first and second spray chambers (2, 32) are moved relative to the chassis (10) by the regulating mechanism (11). 16.- Liquid product applicator device according to claim 15, characterized in that said first and second side auxiliary walls (15) form part of the chassis (10). 17.- Liquid product applicator device according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of auxiliary spray nozzles (16) fixed in an appendix (14a) of said rear auxiliary wall (14) a short distance from the path of the paper sheet (P) and oriented to direct the sprayed liquid product towards the path of the paper sheet (P). 18.- Liquid product applicator device according to claim 7 or 12, characterized in that it comprises a pair of pressure rollers (18, 19) mounted on the chassis (10) and arranged downstream of the spray chamber (2) to press on opposite sides of the sheet of paper (P). 19.- Liquid product applicator device according to claim 10, characterized in that said presence sensors (20) are installed in an appendix (13a) of the front auxiliary wall (13). 20.- Liquid product applicator device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the spray nozzles (1) are oriented to spray the liquid product in an inclined direction in favor of the direction of advance of the paper sheet (P ). 21. Device for applying a liquid product according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said liquid product is a dispersion of copolymer in water suitable for creating a barrier layer against grease, oil and water, an anti-scratch layer, a layer of pigmentation or a layer of any other surface treatment, and the spray nozzles (1) are adapted to spray said copolymer dispersion in water.