ES2834091T3 - Device and method for the intermittent application of a liquid material, in particular foam adhesive, on a substrate - Google Patents

Abstract

Device (1) for the intermittent application of a liquid material, in particular foam adhesive, on a substrate, comprising: a housing (2) having an internal fluid chamber (6); a first movable member (4) movable at least partially within said internal fluid chamber (6) between a first downstream position and a second upstream position, so that the fluid within said internal fluid chamber is move at least partially in an upstream direction when said movable member moves upstream; a nozzle (8) having a discharge channel (10, 10a, 10b) and a discharge opening (12) communicating with said discharge channel (10, 10a, 10b); and a rotary valve element (14) rotatable between a first position, wherein said internal fluid chamber (6) is in fluid communication with said discharge opening (12), where liquid material flows from said chamber internal fluid through said discharge channel (10, 10a, 10b) and said discharge opening (12), and a second position, in which said internal fluid chamber (6) is not in fluid communication with said discharge opening (12), in which the nozzle (8) is a slotted nozzle, and said rotary valve element (14) is a cylindrical bar and has at least one slot-shaped conduit (16) and characterized in that a Through the movement of the first movable member (4) from the first downstream position to the second upstream position, liquid material within the internal fluid chamber (6) moves at least partially in an upstream direction and liquid material that has status in the discharge channel (10, 10a, 10 b) between the discharge opening (12) and the rotary valve element (14) it is completely sucked into the slot-shaped conduit (16) of the rotary valve element (14).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Device and method for the intermittent application of a liquid material, in particular foam adhesive, on a substrate

The present invention relates to a device and method for intermittently applying a liquid material, in particular foam adhesive, on a substrate.

Such devices and methods are used in various industrial sectors to apply adhesives, sealants, or other flowable technical materials to a variety of different substrates, such as films, packaging materials, machine parts, or other work pieces.

The device and method according to the present invention relate especially to surface applications, in which a closed layer of liquid material must be applied on the substrate for use in the manufacture of products. While the device and method according to the present invention can be used in the manufacture of many different types of products, one example is the use in the bookbinding industry to apply adhesive to the spine of a book.

The requirements for liquid materials are increasing along with the quality expectations of the customers of the products produced. Improvements in material properties are associated with rising material prices. Therefore, efficient production techniques are needed to compensate for the increased price of the material.

Therefore, various branches of industry have adapted their production equipment to use foamed materials, especially foam adhesives. Foaming of the adhesive has not been found to lead to bond quality disadvantages for a variety of materials. The use of foam adhesive leads to material savings and therefore lower production costs.

However, the use of foamed adhesives has a great disadvantage. Foamed materials tend to increase in volume and therefore a precise application of the foamed material to the substrate is difficult. Especially, the achievement of a suitable interruption in the surface application cannot always be provided by means of known application devices.

In surface application devices, the foamed material is forced to flow through a slot-shaped discharge channel or a discharge slot to be discharged through a discharge opening on a substrate. After stopping the flow of foamed material through a closure member (or valve), residual material remains between the closure member and the discharge opening. Expansion of the foamed material causes improper reflux in the application product and thus causes improper material breakdown.

In EP 1419 900 B1 a device of this type for bookbinding applications is described having a slotted nozzle for dispensing the foam adhesive onto the spine of a book.

Other coating devices are described in JP 2007 253013 A, US 2013/277457, EP 319 707 A1 and US 2002/053406 A1, US 2008/0166207 A1 and US 2004/0062866 A1.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a device and a method for intermittently applying a foamed material on a substrate allowing an improved application of the material, especially allowing a suitable interruption of the material in surface applications.

Thus, according to the invention, a device of the type mentioned initially is proposed, which includes the features of claim 1.

The invention makes use of the fact that the foamed material cannot cause an inappropriate interruption of the material through the expansion of the material while the flow of material is interrupted, when the material located in the groove or discharge channel between the discharge opening and the rotary valve member is sucked back. before the rotary valve element stops the flow of material. Since no expandable foamed material remains between the discharge opening and the rotary valve element while the flow of liquid material is interrupted by means of the rotary valve element, there is no or little risk of the expanding material causing an unwanted reflux on the application product.

According to the invention, the rotary valve element is a cylindrical rod and has at least one slot-shaped conduit. In the first position of the rotary valve member, the slot-shaped conduit is aligned in line with the inner fluid chamber so that fluid communication is established between the inner fluid chamber. fluid and discharge opening. Through the cylindrical rod, a rotary valve function can be obtained as long as the cylindrical rod cooperates with a cylindrical cavity in the housing. A side surface of the cylindrical cavity functions as a valve seat for the rotary valve element. By means of an elongated cylindrical bar having a groove-shaped conduit, a valve is provided for a grooved nozzle that is capable of instantly interrupting and allowing the flow of a liquid material along the entire length of the groove or channel. discharge, respectively, without displacing the fluid.

In an embodiment of the device according to the invention, the rotary valve element is arranged adjacent to the discharge opening. Adjacent within the meaning of this invention is to be understood in the way that there is no other functional component between the discharge opening and the rotary valve element, except the discharge channel or a part of the discharge channel that allows fluid communication between the rotary valve element and the discharge opening.

It is further preferred that the rotary valve member is arranged in a downstream direction with respect to the first movable member. This leads to the effect that the material located between the discharge opening and the rotary valve element is sucked into or through the passageway of the rotary valve element while the first movable member moves from the first downstream position to the second. upstream position.

In another preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the discharge channel is arranged at least partially between the discharge opening and the rotary valve element. Furthermore, it is preferred that the device is adapted so that the volume released by the movement of the first movable member from the first downstream position to the second upstream position is equal to the volume of the discharge channel between the discharge opening and the element. rotary valve. This leads to the effect that a movement of the first movable member from the first downstream position to the second upstream position completely empties the discharge channel between the discharge opening and the rotary valve element. In an alternative, the device according to the invention is adapted so that the volume released by the movement of the first movable member from the first downstream position to the second upstream position is greater than the volume of the discharge channel between the discharge opening and the rotary valve element.

In another preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, a first pneumatically and / or electrically actuated actuator is coupled to the first movable member to move the first movable member back and forth. By moving the first movable member back and forth, the first downstream position as well as the second upstream position can be adjusted. The first pneumatically and / or electrically actuated actuator may comprise, for example, a diaphragm pneumatic actuator, a pneumatic power cylinder, an electric linear actuator, a rotary actuator having a transmission, or a magnetic actuator. In an alternative embodiment, the first actuator can also be actuated hydraulically and / or mechanically.

In another preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, a second actuating device is coupled with the rotary valve element. It is preferred that the second drive device is a rotary pneumatic, hydraulic or electric drive or a linear pneumatic, hydraulic or electric drive.

Another preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention comprises adjustment means adapted to adjust the effective length and / or the effective width and / or the effective shape of the discharge opening. By means of such adjusting means, the device can be used to apply various sizes and / or shapes of surfaces on substrates. In the bookbinding industry, for example, such adjusting means allow foam adhesive to be applied to a variety of books of different sizes and / or shapes. The adjustment means is arranged adjacent to the discharge opening and is movable such that a surface or surfaces of the adjustment means cover the discharge opening in a manner that prevents the flow of liquid material through the covered locations. The adjustment means can be movably and detachably coupled to the housing. Guiding means may be provided, as well as mounting means for finely adjusting the adjusting means and fixing the adjusting means in the desired location. The adjustment means may further have side recesses that are in fluid communication with a discharge opening. Such side recesses are used in the book binding process to spread the surface of the discharged foam adhesive over the edges of the spine of the book. This leads to improved stability of the bound book, as well as a longer service life and greater durability of the binding.

In another preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention a volume compensation channel and a movable displacement element are provided, in which the movable displacement element is at least partially movable within the volume compensation channel. The volume of the volume compensation channel can be adjusted by moving the scroll element. Especially in combination with the use of adjustment means, such volume compensation is required in order to adjust the correct amount of liquid material to be dispensed.

In another preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the housing comprises at least a first part and a second part, in which the first part and the second part are detachably coupled to each other, which gives rise to various advantages. Device maintenance and repair are greatly simplified. Broken and / or inoperative components can be easily replaced by replacing an entire part of the housing in which the broken or inoperative component is mounted. Clogs and / or deposits that can have a negative effect on application function or application accuracy can be removed by easily removing the housing. Furthermore, the manufacturing process and thus also the manufacturing costs can be reduced by a two-part or multi-part housing design. Complex conduit structures that allow fluid communication within the housing can be realized, for example, as notches in one side of a first housing part. A second housing part can be placed against the surface of the first housing part having the notches to make a complex system of conduits allowing fluid communication.

In another preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the first movable member is arranged in the second part of the casing and / or the rotary valve element is arranged partially in the first part and partially in the second part of the casing and / or the internal fluid chamber is arranged partially in the first part and partially in the second part of the housing and / or the volume compensation channel is partially arranged in the first part and partially in the second part of the housing and / or the Slotted nozzle is arranged between the first part and the second part of the housing.

In another example of the device, the rotary valve element is adapted to rotate only in one direction of rotation, so that the rotation from the first position to the second position has the same direction of rotation as the rotation from the second position to the second position. first position. Since the first position and the second position of the rotary valve element can be obtained by turning the rotary valve element in only one direction of rotation, the cycle time can be adapted by modifying the rotational speed of the rotary valve element.

The object of the present invention mentioned above is also solved by a method according to claim 11.

As for the advantages of the method according to the invention, reference is made to the advantages presented with reference to the device according to the invention.

A first preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention comprises the steps of decreasing the volume of the inner fluid chamber by a predetermined volume and reestablishing fluid communication between the inner fluid chamber and the discharge opening, preferably before, during or after the volume of the inner fluid chamber is reduced by the predetermined volume.

In another example of the method, the predetermined volume is equal to or greater than a volume of the discharge channel between the discharge opening and the rotary valve member. This leads to a completely empty discharge channel between the discharge opening and the rotary valve member after the volume of the internal fluid chamber is increased and the fluid material is sucked in in an upstream direction.

In another preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, increasing the volume of the inner fluid chamber by a predetermined volume comprises moving a first movable member that is disposed at least partially within the inner fluid chamber from a first downstream position to a second upstream position and / or moving the first movable member at least partially out of the internal fluid chamber.

Another embodiment of the method according to the invention comprises the step of adjusting the effective length and / or the effective width and / or the effective size of the discharge opening.

Still another embodiment of the method according to the invention comprises the step of applying adhesive to the spine of a book. The quality of the bindings can be considerably improved by using the method according to the invention. In addition, cycle times can be increased and the amount of adhesive required per binding can be reduced.

In the following, the invention is described in more detail with reference to the preferred embodiments and the figure drawings. Drawings show in:

Fig. 1, a perspective view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention;

Fig. 2, a perspective view of another embodiment of the device according to the invention;

Fig. 3, a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the device according to the invention;

Fig. 4, a front view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention showing parts of the device in a cross-sectional view;

Fig. 5, a front view of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4 also showing parts of the device in a cross-sectional view;

Fig. 6, a detailed cross-sectional view of parts of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5;

Fig. 7, a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention;

Fig. 8, a detailed cross-sectional side view of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9, a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention;

Fig. 10, a detailed cross-sectional side view of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11, a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention;

Fig. 12, a detailed cross-sectional side view of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 11, and

Fig. 13, a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the method according to the invention.

Figure 1 provides a perspective view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention. The device 1 shown for intermittently applying a liquid material to a substrate is a device used in the book binding industry to apply a foam adhesive surface to the spine of a book. The housing 2 has an internal fluid chamber 6 (not shown), which is in fluid communication with a discharge opening 12 when a rotary valve member 14 is in a first position. While the rotary valve member 14 is in the first position, liquid material can flow from the internal fluid chamber through a discharge channel 10 or slot 10 opening 12 to be applied to the substrate.

The discharge channel 10 and the discharge opening 12 are part of a slotted nozzle 8. The effective length and / or the effective width and / or the effective shape of the discharge opening 12 can be adjusted by adjusting means 22a, 22b. The adjusting means 22a, 22b are coupled with a handwheel 23 through a transmission means 25. By turning the handwheel 23, the device 1 can be configured for different book sizes and spine sizes, respectively. The rotary valve element 14 is actuated by a rotary pneumatic actuator 20. The rotary motion generated by the rotary pneumatic actuator 20 is transferred to the rotary valve element 14 through a gearbox 21 having an adjustable gear ratio. By rotating the rotary valve member 14 from the first position to a second position, fluid communication between the internal fluid chamber and the discharge opening 12 is interrupted.

Figure 2 and Figure 3 illustrate similar embodiments of a device according to the invention. The device shown in the perspective view of Figure 2 features a linear pneumatic actuator that causes the rotary movement of the rotary valve member 14. Therefore, the transmission elements are used to convert the linear movement of the linear pneumatic actuator into a rotational movement of the rotary valve member 14. The perspective view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 3 differs from the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 in that the gearbox 21 is belt driven so that the Transmission ratio between the second actuator 20 and the rotary valve member 14 is fixed.

The cross-sectional view of Figure 4 shows a device without liquid material. The rotary valve element 14 is a cylindrical rod and has a groove-shaped conduit 16. The slotted conduit 16 is capable of establishing fluid communication between the discharge opening 12 and the internal fluid chamber. Fluid communication is established while the rotary valve member 14 is in the first position. In the first position of the rotary valve member, liquid material is forced to flow from the internal fluid chamber through the discharge channel to the discharge opening 12 to be applied to the substrate. A volume compensation channel 24 of cylindrical shape is arranged in the housing 2 of the device 1.

Figure 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a device that is coupled to a source of liquid material. In the illustrated configuration of device 1, fluid communication is established between volume compensation channel 24, internal fluid chamber, and slotted nozzle. The rotary valve element 14 is partially disposed within the slotted nozzle 8.

The cross-sectional view of Figure 6 illustrates in greater detail the flow direction of the liquid material from the volume compensation channel 24 through the internal fluid chamber 6, the discharge channel 10b, the slot-shaped conduit 16 of the rotary valve element 14, the discharge channel 10a to the discharge opening 12. The discharge opening 12 and the discharge channels 10a, 10b are part of the slotted nozzle 8. In the configuration shown, the valve element Rotary 14 is in the first position and therefore fluid communication is established between the inner fluid chamber 6 and the discharge opening 12.

Figure 7 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention. A first movable member 4 is disposed at least partially within the internal fluid chamber 6. The first movable member 4 is capable of moving back and forth and therefore can move between a first downstream position and a second position. upstream. In the configuration shown, the first movable member 4 is in the first downstream position. The first movable member 4 is actuated by a first actuation device 18. The actuation device allows linear movement of the first movable member 4 within the internal fluid chamber 6. It is also shown that the housing of the device 1 comprises a first part. 2a and a second part 2b. The first movable member 4 is arranged in the second part 2b of the housing. The rotary valve element 14, the internal fluid chamber 6 and the volume compensation channel 24 are arranged partially in the first part 2a and partially in the second part 2b of the housing. The slotted nozzle 8 is arranged between the first part 2a and the second part 2b of the housing. In the configuration shown, the rotary valve member 14 is in the first position, so that the discharge opening 12 is in fluid communication with the internal fluid chamber 6.

The detailed cross-sectional view of Figure 8 illustrates that the slotted conduit 16 of the rotary valve member 14 is engaged with the discharge opening 12 by the discharge channel. 10a. The groove-shaped conduit 16 of the rotary valve member 14 is connected to the internal fluid chamber by the discharge channel 10b.

Figure 9 shows the first movable member in the second upstream position. Through the movement of the first movable member 4 from the first downstream position to the second upstream position, the fluid material within the internal fluid chamber 6 moves at least partially in an upstream direction. The movement of the fluid material in the upstream direction is caused by an increase in the volume of the internal fluid chamber through the movement of the first movable member 4 from the first downstream position to the second upstream position.

Figure 10 shows that the liquid material that has been in the discharge channel 10a between a discharge opening 12 and the rotary valve element 14 (see Figure 8) is completely sucked into the groove-shaped conduit 16 of the valve element. rotary valve 14.

Figure 11 and Figure 12 show the device 1 after the rotary valve member has rotated from the first position to the second position. Since the slotted conduit of the rotary valve member 14 is not aligned in line with the discharge channel 10a, 10b, fluid communication between the internal fluid chamber 6 and the discharge opening 12 is interrupted.

Figure 13 shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the method according to the invention. Preferably, the method makes use of the devices described above and / or in the claims.

The first stage of the illustrated stage is to force the flow of the liquid material from the inner fluid chamber through the discharge channel and the discharge opening 102. This stage is followed by increasing the volume of the inner fluid chamber by a predetermined volume 104. Increasing the volume of the inner fluid chamber by a predetermined volume 104 may comprise the step of moving a first movable member, which is disposed at least partially within the inner fluid chamber, from a first downstream position to a second upstream position 105a and / or the step of moving the first movable member at least partially out of the internal fluid chamber 105b. Subsequently, the step of interrupting the fluid communication between the inner fluid chamber and the discharge opening 106 is performed, wherein interrupting the fluid communication between the inner fluid chamber and the discharge opening 106 may comprise rotating a valve element rotatable from a first position to a second position 107. This step is followed by the steps of decreasing the volume of the inner fluid chamber by the predetermined volume 108, reestablishing fluid communication between the inner fluid chamber and the discharge opening 110 and adjusting the effective length and / or effective width and / or effective size of discharge opening 112.

Reference number list:

1 device

2 casing

a, 2b first and second housing part first movable member

internal fluid chamber

slotted nozzle

0, 10a, 10b discharge channel or discharge slot 2 discharge opening

4 rotary valve element

6 slot-shaped duct

8 first drive device 0 second drive device

1 gear box

2nd adjustment means

3 steering wheel

4 channel volume compensation 5 transmission media

Claims (16)

1. Device (1) for the intermittent application of a liquid material, in particular foam adhesive, on a substrate, comprising: a housing (2) having an internal fluid chamber (6); a first movable member (4) movable at least partially within said internal fluid chamber (6) between a first downstream position and a second upstream position, so that the fluid within said internal fluid chamber is move at least partially in an upstream direction when said movable member moves upstream; a nozzle (8) having a discharge channel (10, 10a, 10b) and a discharge opening (12) communicating with said discharge channel (10, 10a, 10b); Y a rotary valve element (14) rotatable between a first position, wherein said inner fluid chamber (6) is in fluid communication with said discharge opening (12), where liquid material flows from said inner chamber of fluid through said discharge channel (10, 10a, 10b) and said discharge opening (12), and a second position, in which said internal fluid chamber (6) is not in fluid communication with said opening discharge (12), wherein the nozzle (8) is a slotted nozzle, and said rotary valve member (14) is a cylindrical rod and has at least one slot-shaped conduit (16) and characterized in that through movement of the first movable member (4) from the first downstream position to the second upstream position, liquid material within the internal fluid chamber (6) moves at least partially in an upstream direction and material Liquid that has been in the discharge channel (10, 10a, 10b) between the discharge opening (12) and the rotary valve element (14) is completely sucked into the slot-shaped conduit (16) of the valve element. rotary valve (14). 2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said rotary valve element (14) is arranged adjacent to said discharge opening (12) and / or arranged in a downstream direction with respect to said first movable member (4). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said discharge channel (10, 10a) is arranged at least partially between said discharge opening (12) and said rotary valve element (14). 4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said first mobile member (4) is mobile within a lateral channel that communicates with said internal fluid chamber (6), preferably with a distribution channel to distribute fluid in said discharge slot (10, 10a, 10b) Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a first pneumatically and / or electrically and / or hydraulically actuated actuator (18) is coupled to said first movable member (4) to move said first movable member (4) back and forth. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a second actuating device (20) is coupled to said rotary valve element (14), said second actuating device (20) preferably being a rotary pneumatic, hydraulic and / or electric actuator or a pneumatic, hydraulic and / or rotary actuator or linear electric. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by adjusting means (22a, 22b) adapted to adjust the effective length and / or the effective width and / or the effective shape of said discharge opening (12). Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a volume compensation channel (24) and an at least partially movable displacement element within said volume compensation channel (24), wherein the volume of said volume compensation channel (24) is adaptable by the movement of said displacement element. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said casing (2) comprises at least a first part (2a) and a second part (2b), wherein said first part (2a) and said second part (2b) are detachably coupled to each other or to an element adapter. 10. Device (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that said first movable member (4) is arranged in said second part (2b) and / or said rotary valve element (14) is partially arranged in said first part (2a) and partially in said second part (2b) and / or said internal fluid chamber (6) is partially arranged in said first part (2a) and partially in said second part (2b) and / or said volume compensation channel (24) is partially arranged in said first part (2a) and partially in said second part (2b) and / or said slotted nozzle (8) is arranged between said first part (2a) and said second part (2b). Method (100) for intermittently applying a liquid material, in particular foam adhesive, on a substrate, using the dispensing device according to at least one of claims 1 to 10, comprising the steps of: forcing (102) liquid material to flow from said internal fluid chamber (6) through said discharge channel (10, 10a, 10b) and said discharge opening (102); increasing the volume (104) of said internal fluid chamber (6) by a predetermined volume; and interrupting (106) fluid communication between said inner fluid chamber (6) and said discharge opening (12) after the volume of said inner fluid chamber has been increased by the predetermined volume (104) by rotating of the rotary valve element (14) comprising a cylindrical bar with at least one slot-shaped conduit (16) from a first position to a second position (107) 12. Method (100) according to claim 11, comprising the stages of: decrease the volume (108) of said internal fluid chamber (6) by said predetermined volume; and reestablishing fluid communication (110) between said internal fluid chamber (6) and said discharge opening (12). 13. Method (100) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that said predetermined volume is equal to a volume of said discharge channel (10, 10a, 10b) between said discharge opening and said rotary valve element. Method (100) according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that increasing the volume (104) of said internal fluid chamber by a predetermined volume (104) comprises: moving the first movable member (4) that is at least partially disposed within said internal fluid chamber (6) from a first downstream position to a second upstream position (105a) and / or moving said first movable member (4) at least partially out of said internal fluid chamber (105b). 15. Method (100) according to one of claims 11 to 14, comprising the step of: adjusting (112) the effective length and / or the effective width and / or the effective size of said discharge opening (12). 16. Method (100) according to one of claims 11 to 15, comprising the step of: apply adhesive to a spine of a book.