Device for, and method of, applying, drying and activating hot glue on a packaging machine

The invention relates to a device for, and method of, applying, drying and activating hot glue on the packaging machine itself. In the case of the basic option, the device works as follows: two assemblies (1) for applying and drying glue are positioned on the plates (3) of machine (M). Assemblies (1) are made up of consoles (11) mounted in a way that enables them to slide and move, their front end on the lever (32) and their rear end on the shaft (31) attached between two plates (3). The lever (32) is attached, by way of levers (33), between the plates (3). One device (12) for applying hot glue is attached to the consoles (11), just above the lever (32), while a number of fans (13) are fastened along the console (11), above the device (12), as well as on the opposite side. The heater (4) is horizontally attached to the carrier (42) and positioned in the opening (43) on the plate (41). The strip heater (7) is made up of an endless strip (71) and vertical heaters (72). In the case of the basic option, the method of applying, drying and activating hot glue on the packaging machine itself consists of the following: paper (5) from the roll (51) is introduced under the consoles (11). The devices (12) apply hot glue to the top side of the paper in a continuous strip (61) and a discontinuous strip (62). Strips of glue (61, 62) are dried by fans (13) and further transported through the machine (M), together with the paper (5). Once the product is packaged, packages reach a horizontal heater (4) which activates the glue (61, 62) on the bottom side of the package, after which product packages pass between vertical heaters (72) which activate the glue on the sides of packages.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Phase application of PCT/RS2020/000007, filed on May 28, 2020, which claims the benefit of Serbian Application No. P-2019/0255, filed Feb. 25, 2019, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention belongs to the field of mechanical engineering, i.e. machines for automatic packaging of products in PVC or paper packaging, or more precisely to the types of devices and procedures that are used for applying, drying and activating glue on the paper wrapper of products on the packaging machine itself.

According to the International Patent Classification (IPC), the invention is classified as belonging to class B65G 47/00 (2006.01), which serves to define article or material-handling devices associated with conveyers; methods employing such devices. The invention is even more precisely classified as belonging to class B65B 51/02 (2006.01), which defines devices for, or methods of, sealing or securing package folds or closures, e.g. twisted bag necks, by applying adhesives or sealing liquids. The invention may also be classified as belonging to class B65B 51/10 (2006.01), which defines devices for, or methods of, sealing or securing package folds or packages, e.g. twisted bag necks, by applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof.

TECHNICAL PROBLEM

The technical problem solved by the invention at hand is how to constructively create a solution for a device for, and method of, applying, drying and activating hot glue on the packaging machine itself, in order to enable—using devices for continuous and/or discontinuous application of hot glue on paper, devices for drying the glue which are placed on the same console at the front end of the machine, and devices for activating the glue by heat and pressure located at the end of the machine, devices which are all electronically connected, by way of a controller, to the machine's CPU—efficient packaging of napkins, toilet paper rolls or other material in PVC or paper packaging using the same machine, without any prior changes or adjustments made to the machine, while applying the glue only in the glue application area, for reasons of economy and the glue's instant drying, to prevent contamination of the machine during the transport of paper tape.

PRIOR ART

The applicants are aware of the solutions of the following manufacturers. Napkin and facial tissue packaging is quite common. Machines already on the market deal exclusively with the packaging of napkins in heat-sealable PVC foil sealed on all sides (full wrap). Companies that produce this type of equipment are Multipack s.r.l. from Italy, Christian Senning Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH Co. KG, etc.

Certain manufacturers are also able, with some modifications, to package facial tissues using the same machine, which is not uncommon. As regards facial tissues, there are machines on the market that can wrap facial tissues in foil or paper (by bending—folding the packaging material around the product on four sides). The disadvantage of these machines is that when they work with paper, just before bending, hot glue must be applied to the paper in a liquid state, and the paper must then be overlapped so that it adheres all around the product. A

company that manufactures this type of equipment is: Bretting from the United States (C. G. Bretting Manufacturing Co. Inc.

However, there are no machines that can package facial tissues by applying both full wrapping and bending using the same machine without prior adjustment of the machine's design.

The main disadvantage of the aforementioned machines is reflected in the fact that it is not possible to unite all packaging combinations in one machine by swiftly making changes to it. So far, no manufacturer has attempted to construct a single machine which would be able to package goods in either foil or paper, using both full wrapping and bending of facial tissues.

Disadvantages of the aforementioned solutions lie in the use of heat-sealable paper (where glue is placed on the entire surface of the paper), which significantly affects the high price of raw materials. In addition, few companies are able to make heat-sealable paper and are limited by the width of the paper, which renders this solution quite expensive. One of the possible solutions involves the application of hot glue in the paper bending areas; however, well known manufacturers, as well as the applicant, have abandoned this idea for technical and technological reasons.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The technical problem has been successfully solved by the device for, and method of, applying, drying and activating hot glue within the packaging machine itself, which is the subject of the invention at hand. According to the proposed solution, the device for applying, drying and activating hot glue is installed in the existing foil packaging machine, which allows for facial tissues or toilet paper rolls to be packaged in paper by way of both full wrapping and bending, without any technical adjustments. The device consists of a table used for applying and drying glue, which is placed at the mouth of the machine, and a heater for activating the dried glue, depending on the package, in the horizontal and vertical direction of the packaged product. At the mouth of the machine there are consoles which are used to pass the paper through the component for applying and drying the glue. The consoles are in the shape of the Latin letter “U” and in the lower section, mouth of the console, where paper enters, there is a device for continuous/discontinuous application of hot glue. In the case of the basic option, the glue-applying device applies glue only on one (top) side of the paper. A number of fans for drying the hot glue are positioned in the upper and rear part of the console, and are positioned on the same side of the paper to which the glue has been applied. The device for applying the glue applies it on both (top and bottom) sides of the paper, continuously or discontinuously as the need may be. A heater for contact activation of glue on the package containing the packaged product is placed in the middle part of the machine, in the opening of the horizontal plate. At the outlet part of the machine, two vertical strip heaters are mounted in parallel, for the purpose of vertical-double-sided activation of glue on the packaged product.

The advantages of this invention's technical solution are reflected in the fact that the device for, and method of, applying, drying and activating hot glue on the packaging machine itself make it possible to package facial tissues and toilet paper rolls in plastic foil or paper, using both full wrap and bending, without any technical adjustments. The advantages of this solution are certainly: the application of glue on paper only in areas where that is really necessary (economic reasons), its drying on site to prevent contamination of the machine and the glue's reactivation due to thermal treatment at the time when such treatment is necessary, on one machine and without any technical adjustments, regardless of whether the process involves paper or plastic foil.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the case of the Basic Option of the present invention, the device for, and method of, applying, drying and activating hot glue on the packaging machine itself are implemented by placing two assemblies1for applying glue on plates3at the mouth of the packaging machine M, where packaging paper5is introduced into it (FIGS.1,2). Assemblies1are made up of holders11, in the shape of the Latin letter “U”, which are mounted in a way that enable them to slide—front end on a second linear guide32, and rear end on shaft31. Shaft31is attached between two plates3. The second linear guide32is attached, via connection plates33, between the plates3. Plates3are standard, are known from the Prior Art, and are used to fasten other elements to the mouth of the machine, e.g. rollers for guiding paper5, which unwinds from roll51. On the holders11, one device12for applying hot glue is attached just above the second linear guide32. A number of fans13for drying the glue (FIG.3) are attached along holder11, above device12and on the opposite side. According to the present invention, the device also comprises heater4, which is horizontally attached to the support42and placed in the opening43on plate41. This heater contact-activates the dried glue on the underside of the package of products. This construction of plate41and heater4is known from the Prior Art and is used for welding packages in foil; however, within the scope of the present invention it is applied for the first time also for packaging goods in paper. According to the present invention, the device also comprises a vertical strip heater7, made up of the endless strip71and vertical heaters72. Its function consists in thermally activating the dried glue on the vertical sides of the product package. This construction of the vertical strip heater7is also known from the Prior Art, and is used for welding packages in foil; however, within the scope of the present invention it is applied for the first time also for packaging goods in paper. According to the present invention, the control part of machine M is designed as follows: heaters4,72are connected to the controller82by connections821. Fans13and glue applicators12are interconnected by connections834also with their controller84. Controller84is connected to controller83via connections831,832. Controller82is connected, via connection811, with subprocessor81, with which controller83is also connected via connection813. According to the present invention, subprocessor81is an integral part of processor8of machine M. Subprocessor81, in correlation with controllers82,83, can independently guide and control the process, but must be correlated and controlled by processor8, because the operation of the entire machine M is complex and requires coordination of a large number of individual operations.

In the case of the basic option, the method of applying, drying and activating the hot glue on the packaging machine is performed by introducing the paper5from roll51using a standard system of rollers (not the subject of the invention) under holder11(FIG.5). Devices12apply hot glue to the top side of the paper in a continuous strip61, or in a discontinuous strip62. Strips of glue61,62are dried by fans13and further transported, together with paper5, through machine M as dry glue. Once the product is packaged (not the subject of the invention), the packages reach the horizontal heater4which activates the glue61,62on the underside of the package. Product packages then pass between the vertical heaters72, which activate the glue on the sides of the packages, thus completing the packaging process.

In the case of Option 1 of the present invention, the device for, and the method of, applying, drying and activating hot glue on the packaging machine itself are implemented in the following manner: at the mouth of the machine M, where packaging paper5is introduced, assemblies2,2′ for applying and drying glue are placed on plates3(FIG.4). Assemblies2,2′ are made up of holders2122, in the shape of the Cyrillic letter “P” [“1−1” ]. Holder21is slidably mounted on shaft36, which is attached to plate3using connection plates37,38. On the other, bottom end, holder21is slidably mounted on a first linear guide34which is, using connection plate35, attached to plate3. Device12for applying hot glue is attached on holder21, immediately above the first linear guide34, while a number of fans13for drying the glue are attached along holder21, above device12, on the opposite side (FIG.4). Holder22is slidably mounted on shaft36, while on the other end it is slidably mounted on the second linear guide32, which is attached to plate3via connection plates33. Device12for applying hot glue is positioned on holder22, on the inner side, just above lever32, while a number of fans13are placed above it, along holder22. In the case of this option, heaters4,72are positioned the same way as in the basic option, and are performing the same function. The control part is also implemented the same way as in the basic option.

In Option 1, the method of applying, drying and activating hot glue on the packaging machine itself is implemented by introducing paper5from roll51using a standard system of rollers (not the subject of the invention) below holder21and above holder22. The device applies hot glue to the top side of paper5from holder21in a continuous strip61, while device12applies glue to the bottom side of paper5in a continuous/discontinuous strip61from holder22(FIG.6). Strips of glue61,61′ are dried by fans13and are transported, together with paper5, as dry glue, through machine M. Once the product is packaged (not the subject of the invention), the packages reach horizontal heater4which activates glue61,62on the underside of the packages. Thereupon, product packages pass between the vertical heaters72, which activate the glue on the sides of the packages, thus completing the packaging process.

The advantage of the above described solution is reflected in the fact that it is possible to unify all the packaging combinations in one machine, with only a short time required for changing the operating mode. So far, none of the manufacturers has attempted to construct a single machine that would be able to perform packaging in foil or paper by way of full wrapping or bending. It is especially important that this invention makes is possible to package facial tissues or rolls of toilet paper in foil or paper using the same machine, without any special technical interventions.

INDUSTRIAL OR OTHER APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION

Using the invention at hand, the device for, and method of, applying, drying and activating hot glue on the packaging machine itself are implemented on standard machines for packaging products in foil, which are not able to package product in paper without special changes made to them. These changes require several hours of preparation and technical adjustment, which brings with it work delays. Also, the existing machines require the use of special paper with a full surface coating of glue, which is uneconomical, or the application of hot glue immediately prior to packaging, making the machine very dirty. In any case, existing machines require either significant modifications of a technical nature or the purchase of special machines only for the foregoing purpose.

Using the invention at hand, the device for, and method of, applying, drying and activating hot glue on a packaging machine is a machine that is universal for all necessary operations, in which changes to the operating mode are made by software adjustment and feeding of the appropriate material, i.e. paper or foil.