WO2013088571A1

WO2013088571A1 - Device for applying liquid material

Info

Publication number: WO2013088571A1
Application number: PCT/JP2011/079188
Authority: WO
Inventors: 紳司石井
Original assignee: 日本たばこ産業株式会社
Priority date: 2011-12-16
Filing date: 2011-12-16
Publication date: 2013-06-20

Abstract

This device for applying liquid material forms a plurality of linear application regions (A1, A2, A3) in a packaging material web (Wb) and includes: a nozzle unit (24) formed from a plurality of applications nozzles (26) arranged with a space between each other in a direction crossing the pathway along which the packaging material web (Wb) runs; an optical sensor (66) that detects each of the application regions (A1, A2, A3) and outputs detection results; and adjustment apparatuses (48) which adjust the discharge flow rate for the liquid material from the plurality of applications nozzles (26) and are independent of each other. With this constitution, liquid material can be applied to the packaging material web while controlling the application amount for each of a plurality of linear application regions.

Description

Liquid material applicator

The present invention relates to a coating apparatus that applies a liquid material to a packaging material web.
Background art

The cigarette package includes an enveloping material that wraps a bundle of cigarettes or filter cigarettes, that is, an aluminum foil bonding paper, and the aluminum foil bonding paper has an aluminum foil and a paper layer bonded to the foil.

On the other hand, a flavor generating paper for generating a flavor such as menthol is known in this kind of aluminum foil laminated paper, and this flavor generating paper has a flavor impregnated in the paper layer.
An apparatus for manufacturing the above-described flavor generating paper, that is, a coating apparatus is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 below.

The coating apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a vibration that discharges flavor liquid toward one surface of a packaging material web, that is, the paper layer, in a process in which the packaging material web for forming the flavor generating paper travels along the travel path. Including nozzles. The vibrating nozzle is vibrated with a constant amplitude in the width direction of the packaging material web, and the flavor liquid is applied to the packaging material web in a wave shape extending along the longitudinal direction. That is, a wave-shaped coating area is formed on the packaging material web. Thereafter, the applied flavor liquid is impregnated into the paper layer and spreads around the application area.

Patent Document 1: US Pat. No. 3,906,893 (USP 3,906,893)
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

Since the vibrating nozzle of Patent Document 1 is vibrated in the width direction of the packaging material web, it is difficult to make the coating amount per unit length of the coating area uniform along the wave shape. That is, since the movement of the vibrating nozzle is temporarily stopped at both ends that define the amplitude of vibration, the amount of flavor liquid applied locally increases.

Thus, if there is a rich spot in which the amount of flavor liquid applied is locally increased in the coating area, it is difficult to uniformly impregnate the flavor throughout the paper layer of the packaging material web. Therefore, even if individual flavor generating papers are formed from a packaging web coated with flavor liquid, such flavor generating papers can impart a uniform flavor to individual cigarettes or filter cigarettes in a cigarette bundle. Can not.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for applying a liquid material capable of effectively applying a liquid material to a packaging material web so that the liquid material is uniformly impregnated into the packaging material web having one surface that can be impregnated with the liquid material. It is to provide.
Means for solving the problem

The above-described object is achieved by the liquid material application apparatus of the present invention,
A plurality of application nozzles arranged in a traveling path of a packaging material web having a surface that can be impregnated with a liquid material and arranged at intervals in a direction crossing the traveling path. A plurality of application nozzles for discharging a liquid material toward the one surface and forming a plurality of linear application areas arranged at intervals in the width direction on the packaging material web;
An optical sensor that detects each application area and outputs a detection result;
The plurality of application nozzles include a regulator for adjusting the discharge flow rate of the liquid material independently of each other.

Specifically, the application nozzle is accommodated in a casing having an inlet port to which the liquid material is supplied, a discharge port for discharging the liquid material, and a valve hole positioned between the inlet port and the discharge port, respectively. And a valve needle capable of opening and closing the valve hole,
The adjuster includes an electric actuator that advances and retracts the valve needle with respect to the valve hole to adjust the opening of the valve hole.

According to the above-described coating apparatus, the discharge flow rate of the liquid material from each coating nozzle can be adjusted independently, while each coating area can be detected by an optical sensor, based on the detection result from the optical sensor, The application amount of the liquid material per unit length of each application area can be controlled independently. Therefore, when the packaging material web is uniformly impregnated with the liquid material, the coating amount of the liquid material in each coating area can be appropriately controlled, and the coating amount of the liquid material per unit length of the packaging material web is the target value. Can be maintained with high accuracy. This means that even if the type (for example, viscosity) of the liquid material to be applied to the packaging material web or the amount of application is changed, this change can be easily handled.

Preferably, the coating apparatus detects a supply flow rate of the liquid material toward the plurality of coating nozzles, and supplies the liquid material toward the plurality of coating nozzles so as to match the detected supply flow rate with a target value. A source. Thus, if the supply amount supplied to the plurality of application nozzles is maintained at the target value, the discharge flow rate of the liquid material from each application nozzle can be accurately adjusted only by adjusting the opening of the valve hole of the application nozzle. Control becomes possible.

For example, the optical sensor detects the wet area of the packaging web wetted by the application of the liquid material as the application area, and outputs the width of the wet area as a detection result. In this case, even if the liquid material is transparent, there is a clear difference in color tone between the wet area of the packaging web and other dry areas, so that the optical sensor is in the wet area, that is, the application area. The width can be reliably detected.

Furthermore, the coating apparatus can include a nozzle controller that independently controls the discharge flow rate of the liquid material from each coating nozzle. Specifically, the nozzle controller calculates the application amount of the liquid material per unit length of each application area based on the detection result from the optical sensor, and matches the application amount to the target value based on the calculation result. Therefore, the discharge amount of the liquid material from each application nozzle is controlled through a corresponding adjuster. Such a nozzle low controller enables automatic adjustment of the application amount in each application area.

The packaging material web may include a paper layer forming the one surface and a metal layer such as aluminum superimposed on the paper layer. Further, the liquid material may be a liquid flavor such as menthol liquid.
The invention's effect

The liquid material application apparatus of the present invention can adjust the discharge flow rate of the liquid material from each application nozzle, that is, the application amount of the liquid material in each application area, independently of each other. The material can be uniformly impregnated, and the coating amount of the liquid material per unit length of the packaging material web can be matched with the target value with high accuracy.

It is the schematic of the manufacturing machine which manufactures the packaging material web provided with the flavor. It is the schematic of the nozzle unit which apply | coats a menthol liquid to a packaging material web. It is a side view which shows one needle valve of a nozzle unit partially broken, and shows it. It is the figure which showed the opening degree change of the needle valve. It is the figure which showed the relationship between the application area | region on a packaging material web, and a line sensor. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the function of the nozzle controller of FIG. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, the manufacturing machine includes an unwinding reel 10. The unwinding reel 10 is rotatably supported and incorporates a brake (not shown). This brake can provide a desired braking force to the unwinding reel 10.

A wrapping material web Wb is wound around the unwinding reel 10, and the wrapping material web Wb is formed on the aluminum foil F and the aluminum foil F as shown in FIG. It has a double structure having the paper layer P bonded together. Such a wrapping material web Wb is used for manufacturing a cigarette package, and specifically provides an inner wrapping material for wrapping a bundle of cigarettes or filter cigarettes, that is, an aluminum foil laminated paper.

On the other hand, the manufacturing machine further includes a take-up reel 12, and this take-up reel 12 is disposed away from the take-up reel 10 in the horizontal direction, for example. A large number of guide rollers 14 are rotatably disposed between the take-up reel 10 and the take-up reel 12, and these guide rollers 14 receive the packaging material web Wb unwound from the take-up reel 10. Guide to 12. That is, the guide roller 14 defines a travel path 16 of the packaging material web Wb that connects the take-up reel 10 and the take-up reel 12.

The output shaft of the take-up reel 12 is connected to the output shaft of a drive motor (not shown), and this drive motor rotates the take-up rule 12 in one direction. When the take-up reel 12 is rotated, the take-up reel 12 winds the packaging material web Wb, while the packaging material web Wb is unwound from the unwinding reel 10.
A rotary encoder 18 is attached to the guide roller 14 disposed in the vicinity of the unwinding reel 10. The rotary encoder 18 detects the traveling speed of the packaging material web Wb, while the drive motor controls the rotational speed of the take-up reel 12 so as to maintain the detected traveling speed constant. For example, the traveling speed of the packaging material web Wb is 300 m / min.

Further, a tension roller 20 is disposed in the travel path 16 so as to be movable up and down. The tension roller 20 cooperates with the brake of the unwinding reel 10 to maintain the tension of the packaging material web Wb constant.
Further, a meandering restricting device 22 is arranged in the vicinity of the take-up reel 12 in the traveling path 16, and the meandering restricting device 22 corrects meandering of the packaging material web Wb. Therefore, the take-up reel 12 can wind up the packaging material web Wb accurately and cleanly.

The manufacturing apparatus described above incorporates a coating apparatus according to an embodiment. This coating apparatus applies flavor liquid, specifically menthol liquid, as a liquid material to one surface of the packaging web Wb, that is, the paper layer P, in the course of the packaging web Wb traveling along the travel path 16. To do.
The coating apparatus includes a nozzle unit 24, and the nozzle unit 24 is disposed immediately above the horizontal portion 16 h of the traveling path 16. As apparent from FIG. 2, the nozzle unit 24 has, for example, three electric-proportional control type needle valves 26 as application nozzles, and these needle valves 26 are spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the travel path 16. Has been placed.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the needle valve 26 includes a casing 28. A cylinder bore 30 is formed in the casing 28, while an inlet port 32 and a discharge port 34 are formed on the outer surface of the casing 28, respectively. The inlet port 32 is positioned on the axis of the cylinder bore 30 and has an inner diameter that is smaller than the bore diameter of the cylinder bore 30.
A valve seat 36 is positioned adjacent to the inner end of the inlet port 32. The valve seat 36 has a valve hole 37, and the valve hole 37 is connected to the inlet port 32.

The casing 28 further has an annular groove 38 interposed between the cylinder bore 30 and the valve seat 36, and the inner diameter of the annular groove 38 is larger than the bore diameter. The discharge port 34 extends in the radial direction of the casing 28 and is connected to the annular groove 38. The discharge port 34 has an inner diameter of 0.6 mm, for example, and opens toward the paper layer P of the packaging material web Wb on the travel path 16.

As is apparent from FIG. 2, the discharge ports 34 of the three needle valves 26 are positioned at intervals from each other in the width direction of the packaging material web Wb. Specifically, when viewed in the width direction of the packaging material web Wb, one of the discharge ports 34 is positioned at the center of the packaging material web Wb, and a predetermined gap is provided between the remaining side discharge port 34 and the central discharge port 34. An interval is secured, which corresponds to 1/3 of the width of the packaging material web Wb.

A valve needle 40 is rotatably accommodated in the cylinder bore 30, and an O-ring 42 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the valve needle 40. The O-ring 42 divides the inside of the cylinder bore 30 into two chambers, that is, a chamber on the annular chamber 38 side and a chamber on the electric actuator side to be described later. The valve needle 40 has one end that can enter into the valve hole 37, which is formed as a tapered valve element 44, which has a maximum diameter that is greater than the inner diameter of the valve hole 37.

The valve needle 40 has a screw portion 46 at the other end, and this screw portion 46 meshes with a female screw (not shown). This female screw is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder bore 30.
The other end of the valve needle 40 protrudes from the casing 28 and is spline-engaged with the rotor (not shown) of the electric actuator 48 described above. This spline engagement rotates the rotor and valve needle 40 together, but allows movement of the valve needle 40 in the axial direction relative to the rotor.

The electric actuator 48 rotates the valve needle 40 in the forward or reverse direction, and according to the direction of this rotation, the valve needle 40 advances toward the valve seat 36 according to the engagement of the screw portion 46 and the internal thread, or the valve seat 40 Retreat from 36.
Such advance and retreat of the valve needle 40 adjusts the opening degree of the valve seat 36, that is, the valve hole 37 steplessly. Specifically, FIG. 4A shows a state in which the valve element 44 is seated on the valve seat 36 and the valve hole 37 is completely closed. 4B and 4C show a state in which the valve element 44 is separated from the valve seat 36 and the opening degree of the valve hole 37 is adjusted to 50% and 80%, respectively.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the inlet port 32 of each needle valve 26 is connected to a supply source of menthol liquid. The supply source includes a supply path 50, which is connected to the three needle valves 26 directly or via a branch path. As is apparent from FIG. 1, the supply path 50 extends from the menthol liquid supply tank 52, and a pump 54 and a relief valve 56 are sequentially arranged in the supply path 50 from the supply tank 52 side.

Further, a flow rate sensor 58 is connected to the supply path 50 downstream of the relief valve 56. The flow rate sensor 58 detects the supply flow rate Qt of menthol liquid supplied toward the nozzle unit 24, and the detected supply flow rate. Qt is output toward the pump controller 60. The pump controller 60 controls the operation of the pump 54 so that the supply flow rate Qt matches the target value.

In this embodiment, the supply tank 52 has a heater 62, and this heater 62 maintains the menthol liquid in the supply tank 52 at a temperature higher than the solidification temperature of menthol. Further, the entire menthol supply system from the supply tank source 52 through the supply path 50 to the nozzle unit 24 is covered with a heat insulating sheath 64, and this heat insulating sheath 64 is indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. ing.

When menthol liquid is supplied to each needle valve 26 of the nozzle unit 24, these needle valves 26 move from the discharge port 34 toward the paper layer P of the running packaging material web Wb according to the opening of the valve hole 37. Discharge the liquid. As a result, three coating areas A are linearly formed on the packaging web Wb (see FIG. 2).
Even if the applied menthol liquid soaks into the paper layer P of the packaging material web Wb, the application of the menthol liquid forms a wet region indicating that the paper layer P has been wetted with the menthol liquid. Therefore, even if the menthol liquid is transparent, this wetted area can be optically identified, that is, detected as the application area A.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, a line sensor 66 as an optical sensor is disposed in the traveling path 16 downstream of the nozzle unit 24, and this line sensor 66 is located immediately upstream of the tension roller 20 described above. At the position, the three coating areas A of the packaging material web Wb are detected.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the line sensor 66 detects the widths w1, w2, and w3 of the three coating areas A1, A2, and A3, and the detected widths w1, w2, and w3 are the nozzle controller. Output to 68. Specifically, the widths w1, w2, and w3 are about 4 mm.
Further, the nozzle controller 68 is also electrically connected to the electric actuator 48 of each needle valve 26, and based on the width w1, w2, w3, the opening of the valve hole 37 of each needle valve 26, that is, from each needle valve 26. The menthol liquid discharge flow rates are controlled independently of each other.

FIG. 6 shows functional blocks of the nozzle controller 68.
The widths w1, w2, and w3 are supplied to the

sections

70, 72, and 74 of the nozzle controller 68. In these

sections

70, 72, and 74, moving average values of the widths w1, w2, and w3 are obtained, respectively. The next section 76 calculates menthol liquid application amounts (hereinafter referred to as reference application amounts) Q1, Q2 and Q3 per unit length of the application areas A1, A2 and A3 based on the moving average values, respectively.

The next section 78 calculates the control amount of the electric actuator 48 of each needle valve 26 based on the deviation between each reference application amount and the target value, and each of the control amounts via the electric actuator 48 based on these control amounts. The opening degree of the valve hole 37 of the needle valve 26, that is, the discharge flow rate of menthol liquid from each needle valve 26 is individually controlled. As a result, the reference application amount in the application area A is adjusted in real time to match the target value.

The packaging material web Wb to which the menthol liquid has been applied as described above is taken up on the take-up reel 12. When the packaging material web Wb is completely transferred from the take-up reel 10 to the take-up reel 12, a web roll of the packaging material web Wb is formed on the take-up reel 12. The web roll is removed from the take-up reel 12 and immediately vacuum packed. Vacuum-wrapped web rolls are stored for about two weeks before being used to manufacture cigarette packages.

That is, in the cigarette package manufacturing machine, the packaging material web Wb supplied from the web roll is cut into individual packaging materials. A bundle of cigarettes or filter cigarettes is wrapped with an inner packaging material to form an inner pack. The inner pack is accommodated in an outer case, and the outer case is formed by folding an outer blank around the inner pack. Further, the outer case is wrapped with a transparent film, and at this point, the cigarette package is manufactured.

As described above, since the supply flow rate Qt of the menthol liquid supplied to the nozzle unit 24 is maintained at the target value, the amount of menthol liquid applied per unit length of the packaging material web Wb, that is, the number of encapsulates per sheet. The amount of menthol solution applied to the material is uniform.
Only three coating areas A are formed on the packaging material web Wb. However, the menthol solution in the coating area A is distributed over the entire paper layer P of the packaging material web Wb during storage of the web roll. Impregnate in the same manner.

As a result, the menthol is uniformly added to the entire paper layer P of the inner packaging material, and the inner packaging material can uniformly apply the menthol to the cigarette or filter cigarette in the inner pack.
Since the needle valve 26 can adjust the opening degree of the valve hole 37 steplessly even if the reference cloth amount in the application area A is small, the reference application amount in the application area A can be controlled with high accuracy. it can.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made.
For example, the reference application amount of each application area A, that is, the target value is not necessarily the same, and may be set individually based on the arrangement of the application liquid A with respect to the packaging material web Wb. Further, the number of needle valves (coating nozzles) included in the nozzle unit 24 is not limited to three.

Furthermore, in one embodiment, the opening of the valve hole of each needle valve is automatically adjusted by the nozzle controller 64, but instead of this automatic adjustment, the opening of the valve hole of each needle valve may be adjusted manually. Good. In this case, the regulator of each needle valve includes an adjustment handle for rotating the valve needle 40 instead of the electric actuator 48, while the line sensor 68 is electrically connected to the display. This indicator displays the width of each coating area A based on the output from the line sensor 68.

The operator confirms the width of each application area A on the display, and executes the required adjustment handle operation to adjust these widths to the target value, and adjusts the menthol discharge flow rate from each needle valve. To do.
On the other hand, the optical sensor can also detect the application amount of menthol liquid in each application area A based on the reflection intensity of light from each application area A.
Furthermore, the coating apparatus of the present invention can be similarly applied to other types of flavor liquids other than menthol.
Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Unwinding reel 12 Take-up reel 16 Travel path 24 Nozzle unit 26 Needle valve (application nozzle)
28 Casing 32 Inlet port 34 Discharge port 37 Valve hole 40 Valve needle 48 Electric actuator 50 Supply path 52 Supply tank 54 Pump 58 Flow rate sensor 60 Pump controller 66 Line sensor (optical sensor)
68 Nozzle controller F Aluminum foil (metal layer)
P Paper layer Wb Packaging material web

Claims

A plurality of coating nozzles arranged on a traveling path of a packaging material web having one surface impregnated with a liquid material and arranged at intervals in a direction crossing the traveling path, wherein the coating nozzles are disposed on the packaging material web; A plurality of application nozzles for discharging a liquid material toward the one surface and forming a plurality of linear application areas arranged at intervals in the width direction on the packaging material web;
An optical sensor that detects each of the application areas and outputs a detection result;
The liquid material application apparatus, wherein the plurality of application nozzles include an adjuster for adjusting the discharge flow rate of the liquid material independently of each other.
Each application nozzle
A casing having an inlet port to which the liquid material is supplied, a discharge port for discharging the liquid material, and a valve hole positioned between the inlet port and the discharge port;
A valve needle housed in the casing and capable of opening and closing the valve hole;
The liquid material coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adjuster includes an electric actuator that moves the valve needle forward and backward with respect to the valve hole and adjusts an opening degree of the valve hole.
A flow rate sensor that detects a supply flow rate of the liquid material toward the plurality of application nozzles, and a supply source that supplies the liquid material toward the plurality of application nozzles in order to match the detected supply flow rate with a target value. The liquid material coating apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:
3. The optical sensor according to claim 2, wherein the optical sensor detects the wet area of the one surface wetted by application of the liquid material as the application area, and outputs the width of the wet area as the detection result. Liquid material applicator.
5. The liquid material application apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a nozzle controller that independently controls a discharge flow rate of the liquid material from each application nozzle.
The nozzle controller is
Based on the detection result from the optical sensor, the application amount of the liquid material per unit length of each application area is calculated, and each application is made to match the application amount with a target value based on the calculation result. The liquid material application apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a discharge flow rate of the liquid material from the nozzle is controlled via a corresponding regulator.
The liquid material coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the packaging material web includes a paper layer forming the one surface and a metal layer superimposed on the paper layer.
The liquid material coating apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the metal layer is made of aluminum.
2. The liquid material coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid material is a liquid flavor.