JP2018532661A - Method and apparatus for removing defects in stationary webs of packaging material - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is a method for removing defects in a stationary web (106) of packaging material, wherein the packaging material web (106) is removed from a first rotatable roller (121) through a repair line. Moving in a first direction to two rotatable rollers (122), cutting the packaging material web (106) in a first predetermined position, and the packaging material of the first roller (121) Guiding the web (106) in a second direction; discarding the web (106) of packaging material of the first roller (121) to a disposal station by movement in the second direction; Cutting the packaging material web (106) of the first roller (121) at the second predetermined position and returning the packaging material web (106) of the first roller (121) in the first direction; And guiding the packaging material web (106) of the first roller (121) at the first predetermined position, Wherein the packaging material of the second roller (122) web (106) comprising the steps of seaming together, and on how the method is automated. The invention further relates to an apparatus for removing stationary web defects in packaging materials.

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for removing defects on a stationary web of packaging material.

  Of the packaging technologies, disposable consumer packaging is commonly used to package and transport liquid foods such as milk. This type of so-called disposable packaging is often made from a laminated packaging material comprising a paper or cardboard base layer and an outer liquid-tight layer of polyethylene. In special cases, for example with oxygen-sensitive foods such as fruit juices, it is necessary to supplement the packaging material with at least one further layer of material with oxygen-impervious properties, this kind The most common example of this auxiliary material layer is an aluminum foil between a paper or cardboard layer and one of the two outer liquid-tight layers.

  This type of consumer packaging uses a modern and rational packaging machine of the kind that both forms and fills the finished package and also seals it from the web or from pre-made blanks of packaging material. Currently, it is almost manufactured.

  Formed, filled and sealed consumer packaging is made from a web, e.g., integrating two longitudinal edges of the web into a longitudinal liquid tight seal joint (usually an overlapping seal joint) The web is made by first being transformed into a tube by bonding to. The tube is continuously filled with a specific food product, for example milk, and under the filling product height of the tube, transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tube, by repeated transverse heat sealing of the tube. And divided into linked pillow-shaped pack units. The filled pillow-shaped pack units can be separated from each other by cutting in the transverse seal, and then given at least one further forming and heat sealing process to give the desired geometric shape. . Well-known examples of this type of commercial consumer packaging are Tetra Brik packaging and Tetra Classic packaging used to transport liquid foods of the milk, fruit juice, wine, and cooking oil types. is there.

  Laminated packaging materials of the type described above are produced on an industrial scale from wide web rolls of paper or cardboard. The web unrolled is directed to a first work station where a repetitive pattern of aesthetic and / or informational nature is provided on one side of the web by appropriate printing techniques. In combination with printing or shortly after printing, the web is provided with a similar repeating pattern of weakening lines (so-called folding lines) that facilitate folding. It is important that these two repeating patterns be applied to the web as close as possible to each other in order to give the desired shape and attractive appearance to later manufactured disposable packages.

  The web provided with the print and fold lines is further guided to subsequent work processing, where the web is covered on each side with an outer liquid-tight layer, usually polyethylene. Specifically, in certain cases, such as when the packaging material is directed to a packaging container for an oxygen sensitive product, the packaging material includes at least a material having such barrier properties, such as an aluminum foil. One further layer is provided on one side of the packaging material between the paper or cardboard layer and one of the two outer liquid-tight coatings.

  Finally, the web of packaging material is divided into individual partial webs, which are formed, filled and filled to produce a sealed packaging container. Rolled up.

  To ensure that the packaging material in the finished packaging roll meets established quality requirements and does not suffer from serious defects and defects that could endanger the chemical and / or mechanical protection of the finished packaging container , Packaging rolls remove defective areas such as areas where the packaging material may be unpolymerized, pinholes in the material layer, defective aluminum foil, wrinkles, stains, fold defects, or printing defects Receive quality control to be repaired.

  A conventional type of repair line has a rotatable horizontal shaft at one end and a corresponding rotatable horizontal shaft at the other end. Between the rotatable shafts, the repair line has a repair station in which detected defects are removed and processed on a stationary web of packaging material. This is because the packaging material web that is routed through the repair station is often plagued by numerous manufacturing failures and these manufacturing failures can be found in places where they spread irregularly in the exact same packaging material. , Which can each be subjected to several repair operations at different locations along the web of packaging material rolls, meaning that defective packaging material is removed in connection with quality control. Between the resting operations of the web in a stationary state, the web needs to be wound up at a high speed toward the next position for the resting operation.

  When the roll of packaging material is verified and repaired, it is suspended from a horizontally rotatable shaft at one end of the repair line. The web of packaging material is unwound from a suspended roll and manually advanced to wrap around a horizontally rotatable shaft at the other end of the repair line. On the way to the rotatable shaft at the other end, the web is first guided through a device for controlling the axial stress of the web and the work station where the detected manufacturing defects are processed in the web. Is advanced from the device through. Such manual pulling of the web along the U-shaped loop through the already known roller construction is complex and labor intensive whenever a new roll needs to be verified and repaired. It takes time.

  The actual repair of the web involves manually cutting the web in two places before and after the position of the defective packaging material on the web, removing the part between the cuts and re-forming a continuous web of packaging material To make it, it is made by joining the ends together by hand. These tasks are time consuming and labor intensive.

  The object of the present invention is therefore to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks and to provide an apparatus of the kind described in the introduction, which is considerably easier and time consuming for repairing a web of packaging material. Enables non-labor intensive methods.

  Improving the current state of the art, solving the above problems, and providing an improved method for repairing the web by removing defects in the stationary web of packaging material; Is the object of the present invention.

  These and other objectives are a method for removing defects in a stationary web of packaging material, the web of packaging material being second rotatable from a first rotatable roller through a repair line Moving to the roller in a first direction, cutting the packaging material web in a first predetermined position, and preferably changing the position of the guide cylinder to change the packaging material web of the first roller. In a second direction, discarding the web of packaging material of the first roller to a disposal station by movement in the second direction, and the first roller in a second predetermined position Cutting the packaging material web of the first roller, and preferably changing the position of the guide roller back to its initial position. Guiding the web in a first direction, and splicing the web of packaging material of the first roller together with the web of packaging material of the second roller in a first predetermined position; And is achieved by the method being automated.

  Automated methods reduce labor requirements and make the method faster. Thereby, costs are saved both in two ways: to reduce labor costs and to reduce the number of devices required to remove defects in the web of packaging material. Human errors are also avoided, providing a high degree of certainty that all errors in the web of packaging material have been eliminated. Better processing control of seaming is also achieved so that packaging registration is maintained intact, i.e. seaming is precisely such that only one package will have seaming. It is positioned at the position of the web corresponding to one package.

  The method may further include stopping the web of packaging material from moving in the first direction prior to cutting the web of packaging material in the first predetermined position. The method may further include stopping the web of packaging material from moving in the second direction prior to cutting the web of packaging material in the second predetermined position. If the packaging material web is stopped before the packaging material is cut at the first predetermined position, the cutting becomes easier to perform and the location of the cutting becomes more accurate.

  The method according to the invention may further comprise the step of rewinding the web of packaging material of the second roller from the second roller to the third rotatable roller. The second roll because the packaging material web needs to be used in the correct orientation when used in a packaging machine such as a filling machine so that the printing of the packaging material web is in the correct orientation in the packaging The web of packaging material that is wound on must be re-wound into a third roll before it can be further distributed and finally used to make a package.

  The method according to the invention may further comprise the step of receiving from the control unit information regarding defects in the web of packaging material as a first step. An in-line quality control device can be used on the packaging material web at a relatively early stage in the factory, for example to scrutinize the packaging material web for errors. Thus, erroneous vertical locations can be recorded and stored with the identification of the reel with the web of packaging material. If an error is detected, the reel will be moved to the device to remove the defect and the method described herein will be applied to the web of packaging material.

  The method according to the invention may further comprise the step of controlling the tension of the packaging material web in the longitudinal direction of the packaging material web using a tension control device. Tension control is important because the web of packaging material is not damaged during the repair operation.

  The present invention is an apparatus for removing defects in a stationary web of packaging material, the first rotatable roller and the second rotatable roller, the web of packaging material comprising: Using a first rotatable roller and a second rotatable roller, which are wound in a first direction from a roller to a second roller, and a movable guide cylinder, preferably forming part of itself, the first A guide unit adapted to guide a web of packaging material of one roller between a first direction and a second direction; and packaging material at a first predetermined position and at a second predetermined position A cutting device adapted to cut the web of the packaging material and a web of packaging material arranged along the second direction and cut between the first predetermined position and the second predetermined position Of the first roller with the disposal station adapted to And a seaming unit adapted to seam the web of packaging material integrally with the web of packaging material of the second roller, and further relates to an apparatus in which the apparatus is automated.

  The device according to the present invention provides a tension in the packaging material web between the first rotatable roller and the second rotatable roller in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the packaging material web, It may further comprise at least one tension control device adapted to provide pressure to the web of packaging material, or a so-called dancer roller.

  The device may comprise a third roller, and the web of packaging material is wound from the second roller to the third roller so as to wrap the web of packaging material again, so that the control unit controls the device. Composed.

  The splicing unit of the device may include an induction sealing device for integrally sealing the open ends of the splicing unit.

  Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the same advantages detailed in relation to the features of the method of the invention are also true for the corresponding features of the device of the invention.

  In general, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the art, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to “one (a / an / the) [element, device, component, means, step, etc.]”, unless expressly stated otherwise, said element, device, component It should be publicly interpreted as referring to at least one example of element, means, step, etc.

  In addition to the foregoing objects, additional objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following illustrative, non-limiting detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is more fully understood.

1 is a schematic view of an apparatus for removing defects in a stationary web of packaging material. FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an apparatus for removing defects in a stationary web of packaging material, where the web of packaging material is cut and fed to a disposal station. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a tension control device adapted to be placed in the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 in some embodiments. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a method for removing defects in a stationary web of packaging material.

  FIG. 1 shows an apparatus for removing defects in a stationary web of packaging material. A reel 102 of a stationary web 106 of packaging material is arranged on a first rotatable roller 121. At the start, the leading edge of the stationary web 106 is pulled to the second rotatable roller 122 by a robot arm (not shown). The reel 102 of the stationary web 106 of packaging material is taken up from the first rotatable roller 121 to the second reel 104 in the second rotatable roller 122.

  A stationary web 106 is now bent around a tensioning and braking component 110 that rotates about a first axis of rotation 116 and a second axis of rotation 118, respectively. The first guide cylinder 112 and the second guide cylinder 114 are provided as described above. As will be described later, at least one of the guide cylinders 112, 114 is movable so that the web path can be changed depending on the position of the at least one guide roller 112, 114.

  During the reworking process, the operating position of the tensioning and braking structure 110 is such that the web is guided through the structure 110 along an S-shaped path. In the setting here, the first guide cylinder 112 is disposed above the second guide cylinder 114. When viewed from the first reel 102, the web is guided down around about half of the second cylinder on the far side of the second cylinder and then about half of the circumference of the second cylinder After following the second cylinder around, the rework station 108 and the second reel 104 are continued. While the first guide cylinder 112 is illustrated with a solid line, various positions for the second guide cylinder 114 are illustrated with a broken line. As can be seen from FIG. 2, there is a position P 1 corresponding to the position shown in FIG. 1, that is, an “operation position” for guiding the web 106 toward the second reel 104. There is a position P2 corresponding to an “engagement position” that is an intermediate position that is passed when moving between other positions. There is a “discard position” P3 that guides the web 106 through which the component 110 passes downward. The web 106 may be conveniently positioned (or passed through) through the structure 110 simply by following a linear path from the first reel 102 to the second reel 104. There is also a “pass-through position” P4 in which the second guide cylinder 114 is completely disengaged from the first guide cylinder 112. The first guide cylinder 112 is configured to rotate about the first shaft 116. The second guide cylinder 114 is configured to rotate about the second shaft 118. The first and second guide cylinders are arranged in parallel, that is, they have parallel rotation axes. In one or more embodiments, both guide cylinders 112, 114 are suspended only from an axis on one side of those cylinders that essentially corresponds to the axis of rotation of each cylinder, each cylinder being , Having one end attached to the structural configuration, while the second end is free.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the second guide cylinder 114 is disposed at the disposal position P3. In this position, the second guide cylinder 114 is in contact with the first guide cylinder 112 with the web 106 interposed, and the contact tangent, i.e., the nip is directed downward, with the web in the alternative direction. 106 guidance is possible. In this embodiment, the web 106 is directed toward a waste assembly that is generally indicated by a recycle box. The disposal of the packaging material can be the first operation after passing through the web. This means that the second guide cylinder 114 is moved from the position P4 to the position P2, and then moved to the disposal position P3. As another example, the second guide cylinder 114 may be moved directly from the first position P1 to the disposal position P3. Regardless of the situation, this structure can cause the second guide cylinder 114 to assume position P3.

  When the automatic repair process is completed, referring to FIG. 2, the packaging material 106 that is wound up on the roller 122 is wound up on the roller 123 so that the packaging material can be used to remove defects. When entering the device, it is wound in the same order. The apparatus of the present invention further comprises a control unit 125, which controls the automated processing of the entire apparatus in order to remove defects in the stationary web of packaging material.

  FIG. 3 shows the tension control device 201. While web outages can generally be performed without major problems, problems and interruptions often occur in the context of web restart after each stop and pause. This type of problem and interruption occurs when the web 106 in which the packaging material travels cannot be stopped instantaneously, and the web slows down and stops due to inherent inertia and other dynamic effects after a continuous delay process, During the continuous delay process, it is associated at least in part with the fact that an increasing accumulation or loop of the slowing web is formed in combination with or just before the repair station 108. When the web 106 is started and then accelerated again after its pause, this accumulation or loop of the web will gradually become smaller and eventually disappear. At that same moment, the web will be subject to axial pulling, which simultaneously exposes the web to an instantaneous strong axial force in the direction of web movement.

  In order to prevent this momentary axial force from becoming so great that it exceeds the tensile strength of the specific web, the repair line in FIGS. 1 and 2 controls the axial force in the web and this axial force is A tension control device 201 according to the present invention may be mounted to keep the magnitude less than the tensile strength. The tension control device 201 can be placed, for example, in front of the tensioning and braking device 110 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, that is, a position between the first reel 102 and the tensioning and braking assembly 110.

  The tension control device 201 includes a first cylinder 204 that can rotate around a first horizontal shaft, a second cylinder 205 that can rotate around a second horizontal shaft, And a third rotatable cylinder 203 that is rotatable about a horizontal shaft. The third rotatable cylinder 203 is in the vertical direction between the two first rotatable cylinders 204 and the second rotatable cylinder 205 in response to an axial force acting on the web at any moment. Can be moved between a lower position and an upper position along an arc-shaped movement path (shown in broken lines) in the plane of the It has been established.

  In order to resist strong axial forces on the web in relation to tension when the web speed is accelerated, the third rotatable cylinder 203 is in the direction of movement of the third cylinder from the lower position. It is biased with a freely adjustable force that acts. Such a resistance force can be created in an already known manner involving both pneumatic and hydraulic means and mechanical means acting directly on the fourth rotatable shaft. In order to avoid web tearing due to excessively strong pulls and axial forces on the web, this resistance must be set at a value below the specific tensile strength of the web, as described above. For example, if the web has a tensile strength with a magnitude of 20,000 N, the resistance is set at a value that is only 1/10 (1/10) the tensile strength, such as 1800-2000 N, Therefore, when an axial force acts on the web, the third cylinder can already be displaced in a state much smaller than the tensile strength of the web.

  FIG. 4 shows an automated method for removing stationary web imperfections in the packaging material performed by the apparatus of FIGS. The apparatus receives information regarding defects in the packaging material web from a control unit that instructs the apparatus where the defects are present in the packaging material. The packaging material is moved from the first rotatable roller to the second rotatable roller and is stopped from moving in the first direction at a position corresponding to the information received regarding the location of the defect. The web of packaging material is then cut at a first predetermined position, as indicated by the position of the cutting knife 124 in FIG. 1 or FIG. The cutting knife 124 is preferably a sharp tool that is movable across the width of the web 106 to separate the web into a leading edge and a trailing edge. Thereafter, the web of packaging material is guided in the second direction until disposal by changing the position of the second guide roller 114. Thereby, the web of packaging material of the first roller containing defects is moved in a second direction to a disposal station. When the defective area is discarded, the web of packaging material is stopped from moving to the disposal station in the second direction. The web of packaging material is cut at its second predetermined position where the defect no longer exists. This may be done, for example, so that the cutting knife 124 engages at a position upstream of the tension and brake assembly 110 and actuates the cutting knife 124 to provide a transverse cut across the width of the web 106. This can be done by moving the knife 124 to the right in FIG. The web of packaging material of the first roller is guided again in the first direction by returning the second guide roller 114 to its position P1 and pulling the packaging material by the robot arm, using the repair station 108 Thus, at the first predetermined position, the second roller 122 is spliced together with the web of packaging material, preferably using an induction heating device or other heat generating device. Thus, the defective portion is automatically cut and removed, and the web packaging material is reattached.

  Those skilled in the art will appreciate that many variations of the embodiments described herein are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

102 1st reel
104 2nd reel
106 Stationary web of packaging material
108 Rework station, repair station
110 Tensioning and braking components
112 First guide cylinder, guide roller
114 Second guide cylinder, guide roller
116 First axis of rotation
118 Second axis of rotation
121 First rotatable roller
122 Second rotatable roller
124 cutting knife
125 Control unit
201 Tension control device
P1 operation position
P2 engagement position
P3 Disposal position
P4 pass-through position

Claims (13)

A method for removing defects in a stationary web (106) of packaging material comprising:
Moving the web of packaging material (106) in a first direction from a first rotatable roller (121) to a second rotatable roller (122) through a repair line;
Cutting the web (106) of packaging material at a first predetermined position;
Guiding the web (106) of the packaging material of the first roller (121) in a second direction;
Discarding the web (106) of the packaging material of the first roller (121) to a disposal station by movement in the second direction;
Cutting the web (106) of the packaging material of the first roller (121) at a second predetermined position;
Guiding the web (106) of the packaging material of the first roller (121) to return in the first direction;
Seaming the web (106) of the packaging material of the first roller (121) integrally with the web (106) of the packaging material of the second roller (122) at the first predetermined position; When,
Including
The method is automated.   Guiding the web (106) of packaging material into the second position is performed by changing the position of the guide cylinder (114), and moving the web (106) of packaging material in the first direction. The method according to claim 1, wherein the guiding back is performed by returning the guide cylinder (114) to its initial position.   The method further comprises stopping the web (106) of packaging material from moving in the first direction prior to the step of cutting the web (106) of packaging material in the first predetermined position. The method according to 1 or 2.   The method further comprises stopping the web (106) of packaging material from moving in the second direction prior to the step of cutting the web (106) of packaging material in the second predetermined position. The method according to any one of 1 to 3.   The method further comprises rewinding the web (106) of packaging material of the second roller (122) from the second roller (122) to a third rotatable roller (123). The method as described in any one of.   6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising the step of receiving information about the defect of the web (106) of packaging material from a control unit (125) as a first step.   7. The method of any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising controlling a tension of the web (106) of packaging material in a longitudinal direction of the web (106) of packaging material using a tension control device. Method. An apparatus for removing defects in a stationary web of packaging material,
A first rotatable roller and a second rotatable roller, wherein the web of packaging material (106) is in a first direction from the first roller (121) to the second roller (122); A first rotatable roller and a second rotatable roller wound at
A guide unit configured to guide the web (106) of the packaging material of the first roller (121) between the first direction and the second direction;
A cutting device formed to cut the web (106) of packaging material at a first predetermined position and at a second predetermined position;
A disposal station disposed along a second direction and configured to collect the web (106) of packaging material cut between the first predetermined position and the second predetermined position;
A seaming unit formed to seam the web (106) of the packaging material of the first roller (121) integrally with the web (106) of the packaging material of the second roller;
With
The device is an automated device.   The guide unit comprises at least one guide cylinder (114) configured to be movable between at least two positions, whereby the web (106) of packaging material is moved to a second position. Guiding is performed by changing the position of the guiding cylinder (114), thereby guiding the web (106) of packaging material back in the first direction. 9. Apparatus according to claim 8, implemented by returning the cylinder (114) to its initial position.   The web (106) of packaging material so as to provide tension of the web (106) of packaging material between the first rotatable roller (121) and the second rotatable roller (122). The apparatus of claim 8 or 9, further comprising at least one tension control device (201) configured to provide pressure to the web (106) of packaging material in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the packaging material. .   A third roller (123), wherein the web of packaging material (106) extends from the second roller (122) to the third roller (123) so as to wrap the web of packaging material (106) again 11. The device according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein   12. Apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the splicing unit comprises an induction sealing device.   13. Apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 12, further comprising a control unit configured to control operation of the apparatus.

Images