Patent Publication Number: US-9409374-B2

Title: Double facer, and method and device for gluing thereof

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is National Phase of International Application No. PCT/JP2011/056869 filed Mar. 23, 2011, and claims priority from, Japanese Application No. 2010-088933, filed Apr. 7, 2010, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a method of and a device for gluing flute tips of a single faced corrugated cardboard travelling in a double facer incorporated in a corrugator that manufactures corrugated cardboards, and also relates to a double facer including the above gluing device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A double facer incorporated in a corrugator uses a gluing device that applies glue to the flute tips of a single faced corrugated cardboard, which is formed by gluing a medium web with a bottom linerboard, so that the single faced corrugated cardboard is glued with a top linerboard. 
     The gluing device deposits glue stored in a glue bath onto a gluing roll and adjusts the glue on the gluing roll to a predetermined thickness using a doctor roll. After that, the device passes a single faced corrugated cardboard through a nip between the gluing roll and a pressure roll, and transfers the glue on the gluing roll to the flute tips of the single faced corrugated cardboard while passing through the nip. 
     Normally, an amount of glue to be applied to a single faced corrugated cardboard is adjusted by the space between the gluing roll and the doctor roll. Alternatively, the amount of glue to be applied can be adjusted by adjusting the number of flute tips being concurrently in contact with the gluing roll. Specifically, more flutes being concurrently in contact increases an amount of glue to be applied to each flute tip. The number of flutes being in contact with the gluing roll at the same time is practically three or so. 
     If an excessive amount of glue is applied to flute tips of a single faced corrugated cardboard, the portion applied excessive glue to excessively shrinks after the applied glue is dried and the flatness of the resultant single faced corrugated cardboard is not maintained. An optimum amount of glue to be applied to each flute tip is different with the basic weight of the paper web or the flute shape (flute type) of a single faced corrugated cardboard as well as the traveling speed of the single faced corrugated cardboard. 
     Patent Literature 1 discloses means for changing the number of flutes being concurrently in contact with the gluing roll, so that an optimum amount of glue can be applied in accordance with the traveling speed of the single faced corrugated cardboard. Hereinafter, description will now be made in relation to a method of gluing disclosed in Patent Literature 1 with reference to  FIG. 4( a )  and  FIG. 4( b ) . 
     A gluing device  100  of the double facer in  FIG. 4( a )  and  FIG. 4( b )  includes a glue bath  102  containing glue g; a gluing roll  104  having a lower part immersed in the glue g; a doctor roll  106  disposed above the surface of the glue g; and a pressure roll  108  forming a nip N between the gluing roll  104  and the pressure roll  108 . 
     A single faced corrugated cardboard k manufactured in a single facer that is disposed upstream of the double facer is heated by a non-illustrated preheater, then travels in the direction of the arrow a to be wrapped around the pressure roll  108 , and enters the nip N between the gluing roll  104  and the pressure roll  108 . Flute tips m of the single faced corrugated cardboard k wrapped around the pressure roll  108  are applied with glue g adhering to the surface of the gluing roll  104 . 
     In  FIG. 4( a ) , if a casing  110  that supports the gluing roll  104  and the doctor roll  106  is moved in the direction of arrow b using a non-illustrated driving device, two or more (e.g., four) flute tips m of the single faced corrugated cardboard k come into contact with the gluing roll  104 . This makes it possible to surely apply glue g to the flute tips of the single faced corrugated cardboard k even the double facer is running at a high speed. 
     In  FIG. 4( b ) , if the casing  110  is moved in the direction of arrow c while the single faced corrugated cardboard k travels at a relatively low speed, only one flute tip of the single faced corrugated cardboard k, for example, comes into contact with the gluing roll  104 , so that, according to Patent Literature 1, an excessive amount of glue g is not applied even during low-speed operation. 
     Furthermore, Patent Literature 1 states that: since the single faced corrugated cardboard k which is leaned to be flat in the width direction is wrapped around the pressure roll  108 , the single faced corrugated cardboard k can be free from warp and can be applied glue film uniformly in the width direction. Also, Patent Literature 1 states that the pressure roll  108  may be moved forwards or backwards in the directions of arrows b and c in place of the gluing roll  104 . 
     PRIOR ART REFERENCE 
     Patent Literature 
     [Patent Literature 1] Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. HEI 8-267620 
     SUMMARY 
     Problems to be Solved by Invention 
     The gluing device  100  disclosed in Patent Literature 1 makes it possible to change the number of flutes of the single faced corrugated cardboard k, the flutes being concurrently in contact with the gluing roll  104 , by the movable configuration of the gluing roll  104  or the pressure roll  108 . However, this manner impels the relative position between the gluing roll  104  and the pressure roll  108  to change each time the operation condition changes. The space between the pressure roll and the gluing roll requires precise setting, which needs frequent readjustment of the space between the rolls and burdens much complex labor. 
     In addition, since the pressure roll  108  is arranged over the gluing roll  104 , the space between the central parts of the rolls becomes narrower when the central part of the pressure roll  108  bends under the weight of the pressure roll  108  itself, which causes a problem of the space of the nip between the gluing roll  104  and the pressure roll  108  being not uniform in the axis direction. In particular, when the single faced corrugated cardboard k has the number of flutes being concurrently in contact being one, there is a high possibility that only the center position of the single faced corrugated cardboard k comes into contact with the gluing roll  104  or is squeezed. 
     Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 4( a ) , when the single faced corrugated cardboard k is leaving the gluing roll  104 , a splash s of glue scattering in the tangent direction of the gluing roll  104  occurs around the exit of the gluing device. The splash s soils the portion around the exit with glue and consequently requires frequent cleaning. 
     In addition, as shown in  FIG. 4( b ) , since the single faced corrugated cardboard k travels in the tangent direction of the gluing roll  104 , the leaving position d is not constant at which the flute tips of the single faced corrugated cardboard k leaves the surface of the gluing roll  104 . This causes a problem that glue is not constantly applied to flute tips. 
     With the foregoing problems in view, a first object of the present invention is to change an amount of glue to be applied to a single faced corrugated board in a wide range, so that an amount of glue to be applied to a single faced corrugated cardboard can be easily adjusted. 
     A second object of the present invention is to apply glue in a wide range of amount evenly in the width direction of the single faced corrugated cardboard. In particular, the object is aiming at, even when the number of flutes concurrently in contact is one, evenly applying glue, so that the amount of glue can be saved. 
     A third object of the present invention is to avoid soiling due to a splash of glue that occurs at a position where the flute tips of a single faced corrugated cardboard leave the surface of the gluing roll in the tangent direction of the gluing roll, and concurrently to achieve constant glue application to the flute tips at the position. 
     A fourth object of the present invention is to enable an amount of glue to be applied to be adjusted automatically according to change in paper type of a single faced corrugated cardboard or change in operation condition even during the operation of the corrugator. 
     Means to Solve Problem 
     To attain the objects, there is provided a method for gluing a single faced corrugated cardboard in a double facer, the method including: immersing part of a gluing roll in glue contained in a glue bath; adjusting glue adhering to the gluing roll to a predetermined film thickness by a doctor roll; and transferring the glue to flute tips of the single faced corrugated cardboard while the single faced corrugated cardboard is passing through a nip between the gluing roll and a pressure roll, wherein the single faced corrugated cardboard is wrapped around a swing roll disposed at an upstream portion of a transferring direction of the single faced corrugated cardboard from the nip between the gluing roll and the pressure roll, and the number of flute tips of the single faced corrugated cardboard that are to be concurrently in contact with the surface of the gluing roll and applied the glue is adjusted by moving the swing roll in such a direction that the single faced corrugated cardboard is wrapped around the gluing roll when the single faced corrugated cardboard is passing through the nip. 
     In this method, the number of flute tips of the single faced corrugated cardboard that are to be concurrently in contact with the surface of the gluing roll can be easily changed by moving the swing roll in such a direction that the single faced corrugated cardboard is wrapped around the gluing roll while the cardboard passes through the nip between the gluing roll and the pressure roll (that is, in a direction that crosses the sheet face of the single faced corrugated cardboard passing through the nip). This configuration makes it possible to easily adjust an amount of glue to be applied to each flute tip of the single faced corrugated cardboard. 
     Further, since this configuration moves only the swing roll, the relative position between the gluing roll and the pressure roll is unchanged. 
     In this method, the center axes of the gluing roll and the pressure roll may be horizontally arranged, and the pressure roll may be horizontally arranged for the gluing roll, so that a bend caused by the weight of the pressure roll is not generated (does not influence) on the nip between the gluing roll and the pressure roll. 
     This configuration makes it possible to keep the space of the nip between the gluing roll and the pressure roll uniform in the axis direction (i.e., cross direction), so that, even when the number of flutes being concurrently in contact is one, the glue can be surely applied to the flue tips of a single faced corrugated board and the amount of glue can also be saved. 
     Additionally, the swing roll may be arranged over/above the gluing roll and the pressure roll; the single faced corrugated cardboard may enter the nip between the gluing roll and the pressure roll from the upper to the nip; and the single faced corrugated cardboard may be wrapped around the surface of the pressure roll at the exit of the nip and may be transferred in the lateral direction, so that a space under the nip is empty. 
     This configuration downwardly directs a splash of glue scattering in the tangent direction of the gluing roll when the single faced corrugated cardboard is leaving the gluing roll. Since the glue bath is disposed under the gluing roll, the splash can be returned to the glue bath, eliminating the possibility of soiling an area around the exit of the gluing roll with scattering glue. 
     In addition, since the single faced corrugated cardboard is wrapped around the surface of the pressure roll and is thereby forwarded in the lateral direction at the exit of the nip between the gluing roll and the pressure roll, the single faced corrugated cardboard sharply leaves the gluing roll, so that the flute tips of the single faced corrugated cardboard come of f the gluing roll at a constant point. Consequently, the flute tips can be glued constantly. 
     Furthermore, in the method of the present invention, the number of flute tips of the single faced corrugated cardboard that are to be concurrently in contact with the surface of the gluing roll and applied the glue may be adjusted by moving the swing roll in accordance with at least one of parameters of a basic weight (paper type), a flute shape (flute type), and a travelling speed. An optimum amount of glue to be applied to each flute tip is determined by at least one of the above parameters. Such an adjustment that changes an amount of glue to be applied on the basis of the parameter makes it possible to apply an optimum amount of glue according to change in paper type of a single faced corrugated cardboard and/or in operation condition. 
     There is provided a gluing apparatus of the double facer that can be directly applied to the method of the present invention includes: a glue bath that contains glue; a gluing roll that is partially immersed in the glue and that is coated with the glue; a doctor roll that adjusts the glue on the gluing roll to a predetermined thickness, the glue adjusted to the predetermined thickness on the gluing roll being transferred to a single faced corrugated cardboard; a swing roll that is disposed at an upstream portion of a transferring direction of the single faced corrugated cardboard from a nip between the gluing roll and a pressure roll; and a moving device that moves the swing roll in such a direction that the single faced corrugated cardboard is wrapped around the gluing roll when the single faced corrugated cardboard is passing through the nip, wherein the single faced corrugated cardboard is wrapped around the swing roll and the number of flute tips of the single faced corrugated cardboard that are to be concurrently in contact with the surface of the gluing roll and applied the glue is adjusted by moving the swing roll in such a direction that the single faced corrugated cardboard is wrapped around the gluing roll when the single faced corrugated cardboard is passing through the nip. 
     In the device of the present invention, the number of flute tips of the single faced corrugated cardboard that are to be concurrently in contact with the surface of the gluing roll can be easily changed by moving the swing roll in such a direction that the single faced corrugated cardboard is wrapped around the gluing roll so that an amount of glue to be applied to each flute tip of the single faced corrugated cardboard can be easily adjusted. At that time, the relative position between the gluing roll and the pressure roll is unchanged. 
     Additionally in the device of the present invention, the center axes of the gluing roll and the pressure roll may be horizontally arranged, and the pressure roll may be arranged on the same horizontal level as the gluing roll, so that a bend caused by the weight of the pressure roll is not generated (does not influence) on the nip between the gluing roll and pressure roll. Preferably, the gluing roll and the pressure roll may be arranged such that an angle between a plane connecting the center axis of the gluing roll with the center axis of the pressure roll and a horizontal plane is within ±15 degrees. 
     This configuration makes it possible to keep the space between the gluing roll and the pressure roll uniform in the axis direction (i.e., cross direction), so that, even when the number of flutes being concurrently in contact is one, the glue can be surely applied to the flue tips of a single faced corrugated board, and the amount of glue can also be saved. 
     Furthermore, in the device of the present invention, the swing roll may be arranged over/above the gluing roll and the pressure roll; the single faced corrugated cardboard may enter the nip between the gluing roll and the pressure roll from the upper end of the nip; and the single faced corrugated cardboard may be wrapped around the surface of the pressure roll at the exit of the nip to be transferred in the lateral direction, so that a space under the nip is empty. 
     This configuration downwardly directs a splash of glue scattering in the tangent direction of the gluing roll when the single faced corrugated cardboard is leaving the gluing roll. Since the glue bath is disposed under the gluing roll, the splash can be returned to the glue bath, eliminating the possibility of soiling an area around the exit of the gluing roll with scattering glue. 
     In addition, since the single faced corrugated cardboard is wrapped around the surface of the pressure roll and is thereby forwarded in the lateral direction at the exit of the nip between the gluing roll and the pressure roll, the single faced corrugated cardboard sharply leaves the gluing roll, so that the flute tips of the single faced corrugated cardboard come off the gluing roll at a constant point. Consequently, the flute tips can be glued constantly. 
     The device of the present invention may further includes a controller that adjusts the number of flute tips of the single faced corrugated cardboard that are to be concurrently in contact with the surface of the gluing roll and applied the glue by moving the swing roll in accordance with at least one of parameters of a basic weight (paper type), a flute shape (flute type), and a travelling speed. 
     The controller adjusts an amount of glue to be applied to the flute tips of the single faced corrugated cardboard on the basis of the above parameters. Such an adjustment that changes an amount of glue to be applied on the basis of the parameters makes it possible to apply an optimum amount of glue according to change in paper type of a single faced corrugated cardboard and/or in operation condition. In addition, the amount of glue to be applied can be automatically controlled. Specifically, the amount of glue to be applied can be automatically controlled even during the operation of the corrugator. 
     The controller can be incorporated in a production management device that manages the entire operation of a corrugator that manufactures corrugated cardboards. 
     The double facer of the present invention includes the gluing device having the above configuration. The gluing device makes the double facer possible to easily adjust an amount of glue to be applied to each flute tip of a single faced corrugated cardboard. 
     Effects of Invention 
     The method of the present invention includes: immersing part of a gluing roll into glue contained in a glue bath; adjusting glue adhering to the gluing roll to a predetermined thickness by a doctor roll; and transferring the glue to flute tips of the single faced corrugated cardboard while the single faced corrugated cardboard is passing through a nip between the gluing roll and a pressure roll, wherein the single faced corrugated cardboard is wrapped around a swing roll disposed at an upstream portion of a transferring direction of the single faced corrugated cardboard from the nip between the gluing roll and the pressure roll, and the number of flute tips of the single faced corrugated cardboard that are to be concurrently in contact with the surface of the gluing roll and applied the glue is adjusted by moving the swing roll in such a direction that the single faced corrugated cardboard which is passing through the nip is wrapped around the gluing roll. This configuration makes it possible to easily adjust an amount of glue to be applied to each flute tip of the single faced corrugated cardboard, and does not change the relative position between the gluing roll and the pressure roll. Therefore, the flute tips of the single faced corrugated cardboard leave the surface of the gluing roll at a constant point, so that a constant amount of glue can be applied to each flute tip. 
     The gluing device for a double facer of the present invention includes: a glue bath that contains glue; a gluing roll that is partially immersed in the glue and that is coated with the glue; a doctor roll that adjusts the glue on the gluing roll to a predetermined thickness, the glue adjusted to the predetermined thickness on the gluing roll being transferred to a single faced corrugated cardboard; a swing roll that is disposed at an upstream portion of a transferring direction of the single faced corrugated cardboard from a nip between the gluing roll and a pressure roll; and a moving device that moves the swing roll in such a direction that the single faced corrugated cardboard which is passing through the nip is wrapped around the gluing roll, wherein the single faced corrugated cardboard is wrapped around the swing roll, and the number of flute tips of the single faced corrugated cardboard that are to be concurrently in contact with the surface of the gluing roll and applied the glue is adjusted by moving the swing roll in such a direction that the single faced corrugated cardboard which is passing through the nip is wrapped around the gluing roll. The configuration of the gluing device ensures the same effects at those of the above method. 
     The double facer of the present invention includes the gluing device having the above configuration, and can ensure the same effects as those of the above method. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  A diagram illustrating the configuration of a gluing device of a double facer according to a first embodiment of a method and a device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  A diagram illustrating the configuration of a production management device according to a second embodiment of a method and a device of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  A table indicating an example of characteristics of parameters that determine the optimum number of flutes being concurrently in contact in the second embodiment; and 
         FIG. 4( a )  and  FIG. 4( b )  Diagrams illustrating the configuration of a conventional gluing device of a double facer. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, the present invention will now be detailed with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating various embodiments. However, dimension, material, shape, and relative position of the components described in embodiments should by no means be limited to those of the descriptions unless specified. 
     First Embodiment 
     The method and the device of a first embodiment of the present invention will now be detailed with reference to  FIG. 1 . In a gluing device  10  of the first embodiment of  FIG. 1 , glue g made of starch glue is stored in a glue bath  12  and part of a gluing roll  14  is immersed in the glue g. 
     The gluing roll  14  is disposed so as to face a doctor roll  18  and a pressure roll  20 . The axes of these three rolls are disposed parallel to each other, and rotate in the directions of the respective arrows. The doctor roll  18  regulates the thickness of a glue film adhering to the gluing roll  14  to a predetermined thickness. A single faced corrugated cardboard k is downwards fed into a nip N formed between the gluing roll  14  and the pressure roll  20 . The glue g is applied to the flute tips m of the single faced corrugated cardboard k passing through the nip N. 
     A space δ is formed between the gluing roll  14  and the doctor roll  18 . A uniform glue film having a thickness δ is formed on the outer surface of the gluing roll  14  by the glue g passing through the space δ. The glue g in amount corresponding to the film thickness δ is applied to each flute tip m of the single faced corrugated cardboard k. The doctor roll  18  is configured to move close to or apart from the gluing roll  14  by an eccentric cam mechanism  22 . The eccentric cam mechanism  22  adjusts the space δ. 
     A production management device  24  is provided, which manages the entire operation of the corrugator. The production management device  24  controls the eccentric cam mechanism  22  such that the space δ is adjusted, and also controls a driving machine  42  of the swing roll  36 , which will be detailed below. 
     A doctor blade  28  is disposed so as to face the doctor roll  18 . The doctor blade  28  scrapes glue adhered at the nip between the gluing roll  14  and the doctor roll  18  off the surface of the doctor roll  18 , so that the remaining glue is avoided from being fed into the nip again. The doctor blade  28  is fixed to a mount  30 , which is mounted on a supporting frame  32  so as to be rotatable around the center O. A coil spring  34  is hung between the mount  30  and the supporting frame  32 . The coil spring  34  presses the doctor blade  28  against the outer surface of the doctor roll  18  by predetermined resilience force. 
     The swing roll  36  is disposed over the gluing roll  14  and is supported by an axis  40  via an arm  38 . Furthermore, a driving machine  42  is disposed, which rotates the axis  40 . The swing roll  36  is movable, by the driving machine  42 , in the direction (of the arrow) substantially orthogonal to the sheet face of a single faced corrugated cardboard passing through the nip N between the gluing roll  14  and the pressure roll  20 . A guide roll  44  is disposed at the right hand of the axis  40 . The axis  40  and the guide roll  44  are rotatably supported and fixed by a non-illustrated supporting frame. 
     With this configuration, the glue g is applied to the outer surface of the gluing roll  14 . The glue film formed on the gluing roll  14  is adjusted to have a predetermined thickness corresponding to the space δ while passing through the doctor roll  18  and is then applied to the flute tips m of a single faced corrugated cardboard k at the nip N between the gluing roll  14  and the pressure roll  20 . 
     The production management device  24  sends an instruction signal to the driving machine  42  of the axis  40  so that the position of the swing roll  36  is determined along the direction orthogonal to the sheet face of a single faced corrugated cardboard k passing the nip N. Thereby, the number of flute tips m being concurrently in contact with the gluing roll  14  can be adjusted such that the amount of glue to be applied to each flute tip m is optimized. A single faced corrugated cardboard k having flute tips m glued when passing through the nip N is wrapped around the pressure roll  20  at the exit of the nip N and then transferred in the horizontal direction. 
     In the first embodiment, the number of flute tips m being concurrently in contact with the surface of the gluing roll can be easily changed by moving the swing roll  36  in the direction substantially orthogonal to the sheet face of a single faced corrugated cardboard k passing through the nip N between the gluing roll  14  and the pressure roll  20 . This makes it possible to easily adjust an amount of glue to be applied to each flute tip m of a single faced corrugated cardboard k. 
     In this case, only the swing roll  36  moves and the relative positions of the gluing roll  14  and the pressure roll  20  are fixed, so that the flute tips m of a single faced corrugated cardboard k are removed from the surface of the gluing roll  14  at the constant point at the downstream portion of the nip N. Consequently, a constant amount of glue can be applied to each flute tip. 
     The center axes of the gluing roll  14  and the pressure roll  20  are arranged in the horizontal direction and also the pressure roll  20  is also horizontally arranged relatively to the gluing roll  14 , so that a bend caused by the weight by the pressure roll  20  is not generated on the nip N. Since this configuration can keep the space in the axis direction between the gluing roll  14  and the pressure roll  20  to be uniform, glue can be surely applied to the flute tips m of a single faced corrugated cardboard k even if the number of flutes m being concurrently in contact is one. This can further save the amount of glue. 
     The experiments conducted by Inventors revealed that, if the angle between a face connecting the center of rotation of the gluing roll  14  and that of the pressure roll  20  and the horizontal face is within ±15 degrees, the space between the gluing roll  14  and the pressure roll  20  can be kept constant and a bend caused by the weight of the pressure roll  20  has a less influence. In contrast, if the angle exceeds ±15 degrees, the bend caused by the weight of the pressure roll  20  comes to affect a glue film and thereby makes the glue film to have an uneven thickness in the roll axis direction. 
     The single faced corrugated cardboard k is wrapped around the surface of the pressure roll  20  at the exit of the nip N and then transferred in the lateral direction, so that the space under the nip N is empty. A splash s of glue scattering in the tangent direction of the gluing roll  14  when the single faced corrugated cardboard k leaves the gluing roll  14  can be directed downwards. Thereby, the splash s can be returned to the glue bath  12  disposed under the gluing roll  14 . It is possible to prevent glue from scattering everywhere and the gluing device can be avoided from being smeared with scattered glue. 
     Since the single faced corrugated cardboard k is wrapped around the surface of the pressure roll  20  at the exit of the nip N and then transferred in the lateral direction, the single faced corrugated cardboard k rapidly comes off the gluing roll  14 . Thereby, the flute tips m of the single faced corrugated cardboard k can leave the gluing roll  14  at a constant point, so that the flute tips m can be evenly glued. 
     Second Embodiment 
     Next, description will now be made in relation to the method and the device according to a second embodiment of the present invention with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 . A gluing device of the second embodiment has the same hardware configuration as that of the first embodiment. The number of flutes being concurrently in contact, which is set for applying an optimum amount of glue to each flute tip m of the single faced corrugated cardboard k, depends on parameters of basic weight (paper type), flute shape (flute type), and travelling speed.  FIG. 3  is a table indicating an example of qualitative relationship between characteristics of parameters and the optimum number of flutes being concurrently in contact. 
     For example, if the paper web forming the single faced corrugated cardboard k is light-weight paper having a light basic weight or a flute type having small flutes, the number of flutes being concurrently in contact is small while the paper web is heavy-weight paper having a heavy basic weight or has large flutes, the number of flutes being concurrently in contact is large. This means that the paper web being heavy-weight paper or a flute type having large flutes requires the number of flutes being concurrently in contact to be large so that an amount of glue to be applied to each flute tip is ensured. 
     If the single faced corrugated cardboard k travels slowly, the number of flutes being concurrently in contact is small while, if the cardboard k travels quickly, the number of flutes being concurrently in contact is large. This means that the single faced corrugated cardboard k travelling slowly requires the number of flutes being concurrently in contact to be small so that excessive glue is not applied to each flute tip. 
     For the above, the second embodiment previously calculates the optimum number y of flutes being concurrently in contact associated with a number of parameters (x 1  through x 3 ) through experiments, and obtains a matrix map based on the experimental values. Then, the matrix map is stored in the production management device  24 . This makes it possible to automatically select the optimum number of flutes being concurrently in contact in accordance with the basic weight (paper type) of the single faced corrugated cardboard and operation condition through operating by driving machine  42  from the production management device  24 . Also, this makes it possible to automatically change the number of flutes being concurrently in contact even when the corrugated cardboard manufacturing device is operating. 
     The second embodiment obtains the optimum number of flutes being concurrently in contact from the three parameters. Alternatively, the present invention may determine the optimum number of flutes being concurrently in contact from at least one of these parameters. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The present invention enables the gluing device of a double facer to optimize an amount of glue to be applied to each flute tip of a single faced corrugated cardboard and also to evenly apply glue to a single faced corrugated cardboard in the width direction. This configuration can apply glue to a flute tip even when the number of flutes being concurrently in contact is one, and consequently glue can be saved.