EP1866167A1

EP1866167A1 - Adhesive application station for binding printed material

Info

Publication number: EP1866167A1
Application number: EP06705421A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Walter Baltensperger
Original assignee: Sogno AG
Current assignee: Sogno AG
Priority date: 2005-03-30
Filing date: 2006-03-29
Publication date: 2007-12-19
Also published as: US20080166207A1; WO2006102783A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an adhesive application station (14) comprising a device for binding stacked printed material (10) using a free-flowing or liquefiable adhesive (52). Said adhesive application station (14) comprises, in the sliding surface (16) for the printed materials (10), at least one outlet (20) for the adhesive (52) and a dosing device (44) which is supplied with adhesive (52) and can be closed by an actuator in a manual, mechanical, electronic and/or sensor-controlled manner. At least two separately closing supply lines (64) for the adhesive (52) end in a common supply channel (70) for the dosing device (44), directly upstream of the dosing device (44), said lines each comprising an adhesive reservoir (62) and a pump (68). In this way, especially a plurality of adhesives (52) can be successively treated on the same installation without any retrofitting.

Description

Adhesive application station for binding printed products

The invention relates to an adhesive application station in a device for binding stacked printed products by means of a flowable or liquefiable adhesive, which station in the sliding surface for the printed products at least one outlet opening for the adhesive and a manually, mechanically, electronically and / or sensor-controlled by an actuator includes closable, fed with adhesive metering device.

For the time being printed products of all kinds are collected, stacked and fixed in a clamping device with a clamp for the production of books, magazines, brochures and the like. Then the back surface of the pile is milled flat and roughened at the same time. In this way, the subsequently applied adhesive can be better absorbed and unfold its effect. In case of insufficient pretreatment of the back surface, the adhesion of the adhesive is poor and the binding quality is lowered. As a result, individual sheets are detached during use or the bound printed products fall apart. The applied adhesive layer, however, not only has to firmly bind each individual side, but also has to be so elastic that it is easy to leaf through the bound printed products.

Known adhesives are cold glues, hot glues or in particular hotmelts, as thermoplastic adhesives are called, these are, for example, polyurethanes, polyolefins, such as polyethylene and polypropylene, ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and / or polystyrene.

In general, the mentioned stacked printed products are glued not only on the back surface, but hung in an envelope, which gives the region of the bond increased strength and stability. According to the known state of the art, the back of the stack is pulled over an applicator roll which dips into a tub of liquid adhesive. However, when turning an adhesive applicator roll not only adhesive is conveyed to the back of the stack of printed products, there is also the disadvantage that oxygen is introduced into the liquid adhesive. This can significantly affect the quality of the adhesive. This is especially true for adhesives which react with atmospheric moisture, for example a moisture-reactive polyurethane adhesive in which, due to the penetrating air humidity, a pre-reaction with the isocyanate group takes place.

For example, because when an adhesive applicator roll is rotated, debris may enter the liquid adhesive, the quality of the adhesive may be further degraded. Penetrating oxygen and / or contamination can cause a significant reduction in the adhesive properties of adhesives.

EP 1156931 B1 brings about a considerable improvement with respect to the harmful action of atmospheric oxygen. The schematic diagrams taken from this European patent according to FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the binding region of an adhesive application head of an adhesive application station in plan view and in section.

FIG. 1 shows a stack of printed products 10 on an adhesive application head 12 of an adhesive application station 14 (FIG. 2). A sliding surface 16 of a nozzle block 18 of the glue application head 12 is penetrated by a discharge slot 20 for a liquefied adhesive 52 (FIG. 2) running at right angles to the direction of advance E of the printed products 10, whereby an application edge is formed. The slot width s of the exit slot 20 is 0.1 mm - 1 mm, in particular about 0.2 mm. This slot width s is usually given but it can be e.g. also be adjustable according to US Pat. No. 6,277,794 A.

The sliding surface 16 is laterally of a fixed stop 22 with a first Füh- 24, including a guide 24 a, and a hold-down 26 with a second guide surface 28, for a printed product 10, limited. The hold-down device 26 is displaceable and exactly positionable in the direction of the double arrow 30 which runs parallel to the exit slot 20. The hold-down device 26 guides a slider 32, which can be pressed into the hold-down device 26 against a resilient force within a narrow tolerance range t in the direction of the double arrow 34, which likewise runs parallel to the exit slot 20. The slider 32 has a third guide surface 36 for stacked printed products 10, also with a guide 36a. Both these third guide surface 36 and the first guide surface 24 are angled and widen as a guide 24 a, 36 a against the insertion direction E for stacked printed products 10 on. The narrow tolerance range t for the spring-returnable slide 32 is limited by a bore 38 in the hold-down 26 and an abkragenden in this bore 38 from the slider 32 bolts 40.

For binding stacked printed products 10, first, the hold-down 26 is positioned with the slider 32 corresponding to the minimum thickness d of the stacked printed products 10 and set with, for example, a screw. With a tolerance range t of, for example, 0.5 mm for the thicknesses d of the stacked printed products 10, the width g of the sliding surface 16 is set to the distance d and the tolerance range t, provided the slider 32 is pressed flush with the second guide surface 28 at maximum tolerance t , The pushing in of the slide 32 takes place during the introduction of stacked printed products 10 when they are pushed along guides 24a, 36a of the first and third guide surfaces 24, 36. Upon reaching the exit slot 20, the adhesive application begins mechanically, electronically and / or sensor-controlled and is terminated when the printed product 10 leaves the region of the exit slot 20.

Both the hold-down 26 and the slider 32 seal the exit slot 20 when and where they rest on the sliding surface 16. When guiding the stacked printed products 10 via the exit slot 20, they are pressed by the slider 32 onto the first lateral guide surface 24. The second guide surface 28 does not act as such in the present case, the stacked printed products 10 slide along the third guide surface 36 with guide 36 a. When bonding according to Fig. 1, differences in the thickness d of the stacked printed products 10 are automatically compensated both within the same stack and from stack to stack, adhesive leakage in addition to the printed products 10 can not occur, resulting in not only a loss of adhesive 52, but also the formation of ugly glue cords is avoided.

In Fig. 2, a glue application head 12 of a Kieberauftragsstation 14 is sketched with a slot 42, which comprises the discharge slot 20 shown in FIG. 1 and a guided in a bore 38 of the glue application head 12 metering 44 with a longitudinal slot 46. This extends over the length of the exit slot 20 of the sliding surface 16, are guided on the over an inclined insertion ramp 61 stacked printed products 10.

Below the rotatable in the direction of the double arrow 48 Dosierwelle 44 designed as a pressure chamber adhesive reservoir 50 is arranged, which is filled with a dissolved or molten adhesive 52. In a pressure accumulator 54, a pressure cylinder 56 is arranged with a pressure ram 58, which is movable in the direction of the double arrow 60 and protrudes into the Klebstoffspei- rather 50. As a result, a pressure compensation system is formed. A pressure in the adhesive reservoir 50 is determined according to EP 1156931 B1 by the cross-sectional ratio of the pressure cylinder 56 to the pressure piston 58 and the pressure in an antechamber 63 of the pressure accumulator 54, this being for example in a range between 0.7 and 0.8 bar.

The inventor has set itself the task of creating an adhesive application station of the type mentioned, which does not in an adhesive type change guaranteed only a small loss of adhesive and a small oxygen input, but also significantly reduces the effort. Significantly reduced downtime increases the productivity of such a system to a significant extent.

The object is achieved according to the invention in that immediately before the metering device at least two separately closable feed lines for the adhesive, which each have an adhesive reservoir and a pump, open into a common feed channel of the metering device. Special and further development tasks of the adhesive application station are the subject of dependent claims.

In particular, the metering device according to the invention allows several

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Adhesives can be processed without retooling at the same plant.

The metering device operates as a closed system, so that no oxygen is introduced into the adhesive. Preferably, the metering device is designed as a metering shaft with a longitudinal slot, which corresponds to the outlet slot and the feed channel. For constructional details, reference is made to EP 1156931 B1, which was acknowledged at the beginning as state of the art. Instead of the longitudinal slot, it is also possible to provide other means, for example a hole or a plurality of short slots formed along a surface line.

The separately closable feed lines, which lead to storage with arbitrary, suitably different adhesives, have a shut-off device, for example in the form of a slide, a flap, a solenoid valve or a tap. The shut-off devices can be actuated manually and / or programmatically with an actuator. Program-controlled shut-off devices are actuated such that a shut-off device closes one feed line before the respective other feed line can open, which corresponds to the function of an OR valve. According to a variant, it is also possible, for example when using more than two shut-off valves or feed lines, to make open or close the relevant shut-off devices so that two or more feed lines are open at the same time, while the other shut-off devices remain closed or become , In this way, adhesive types and / or components are mixed together before or during application, for example, two-component adhesives. Variable pressure controls also allow dosing of volumetric flows, thus achieving a required ratio of the types and / or components of the adhesives to be mixed.

Preferably, a shut-off device is installed, which automatically causes by the structural design that the adhesive is fed exclusively from a feed line of the metering device. This is done according to a first variant, characterized in that in each of the two supply lines, a check valve is installed. Such a check valve has, for example, a cylindrical interior with at both ends to a tube tapered frustoconical end faces and a game with respect to the cylinder jacket freely movable ball. This is seated in a return on a sealing, in the adhesive supply between the ball and the cylinder jacket enough material is allowed to pass. An abutment causes the ball or other closure body not sealingly during the flow of material. According to another variant, the obturator is a three-way cock, which can be switched by a simple hand movement and the one or the other supply line closes absolutely sealed.

Advantageously, the obturator is designed as a compact installation unit. The junction of the two feed lines in the feed channel can be integrated in this mounting unit.

If a structurally satisfactory solution permits, three or even more closable supply lines can be fed into a common food storage system. zen lead to the metering device.

The decisive advantage of the solution according to the invention is that, in a glue application station, adhesive type and / or component can be replaced within one minute or less by closing the working feed line and opening the static feed line with the already connected new adhesive. The adhesive to be replaced is automatically ejected from the feed channel, the longitudinal slot of the metering and the exit slot. Prior to the introduction of the stack to be bonded with a new adhesive, the small amount of ejected, no longer used adhesive is wiped away. This in a matter of seconds cleaning occurs in place of a usually about half an hour cleaning work according to the prior art.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawing, which are also the subject of dependent claims. It show schematically

3 shows a schematic diagram, FIG. 4 shows a three-way cock in the two working positions,

FIG. 5 shows a check valve with two supply lines, FIG.

FIG. 6 shows a variant of FIG. 5,

- Fig. 7 a check valve with three supply lines, and

FIG. 8 shows a variant of FIG. 7.

In Fig. 3, the glue application head 12 of an adhesive application station 14 is merely indicated. The sliding surface 16 for the back of the printed matter 10 (Figure 1) is interrupted transversely by an exit slot 20 for the adhesive 52 (Figure 2). Immediately below the outlet slot 20, the metering shaft 44 is arranged with the longitudinal slot 46, in the present case the metering shaft 44 in the outlet slot 20 verschiiessender position. A first supply line 64 'is detachably flanged to a first adhesive reservoir 62' with a first adhesive 52 '. This can be closed by a first shut-off device 66 'designed as a solenoid valve. A first pump 68 'pumps the first adhesive 52' in the direction of the metering shaft 44. A second supply line 64 "is detachably flange-mounted to a second reservoir 62" with a second adhesive 52 "which can be closed by a second shut-off device 66" designed as a magnetic valve A second pump 68 "pumps another, second adhesive 52" in the direction of the metering shaft 44.

The first and second feed line 64 ', 64 "combine to form a common feed channel 70, which corresponds to the longitudinal slot 46 in the open position of the metering shaft 44.

A microprocessor 72 controls the process, which is indicated by dashed lines. When a printed product 10 (FIG. 1) reaches the exit slot 20, the metering shaft 44 is rotated in a vertical position for the longitudinal slot 46, the working first or second shut-off device 66 ', 66 ", in the present case designed as a solenoid valve, is opened, and at the same time the operating pump 68 'or 68 "pressed. When a printed product 10 leaves the region of the outlet slot 20, the metering shaft 44 is rotated back so that its longitudinal slot 46 is outside the region of the outlet slot 20, the working pump 68 'or 68 "and / or the working shut-off device 66', 66 "immediately closed.

If a series of printed products 10 is running continuously, only the metering shaft 44 can be actuated. The obturator 66 'or 66 "and the pump 68, 68" can then be switched in continuous operation.

If the left side of FIG. 3 is operating and the right side is resting, an adhesive change of 52 "to 52" may occur within about 30 seconds, the remnants of the first adhesive 52 'are expelled by the new adhesive 52 "and can thanks to the small amount, for example, with a squeegee, you can wipe it off with a wave of your hand. Station 14 already ready for use with the new adhesive 52 ".

In Fig. 4, a three-way cock 74 is shown in two working positions. In the upper half of the figure, the first adhesive 52 'is fed to the feed channel 70, in its lower half the second adhesive 52 ". The three-way cock 74 is manually or processor-controlled by the processor 72 (Figure 3) operable with an actuator can be referred to as the OR valve.

FIG. 5 shows a check valve 76, a second type of OR valve. The check valve 76 is formed integrally, the introduced first and second adhesive 52 ', 52 "are characterized by an arrow The feed lines 64', 64" open into the check valve 76 via screw fittings 78. In each case a cylindrical cavity 80 is upstream tapered valve seat 82 is formed for a ball 84, which prevents backflow. Both balls 84 are drawn in the closed position. If adhesive 52 'or 52 "is being pumped, the valve in question opens, and the adhesive 52', 52" flows in a separate continuation of the feeders 64 ', 64 "to the downstream face 86 of the check valve 76. These separate outlets have the advantage in that the return flow of the one into the other supply line 64 ', 64 "is minimal.

6, the two supply lines 64 'and 64 "already unite in the check valve 76, the common feed channel 70 exits from the downstream end side 86 of the check valve 76. As in FIG. 5, the stops are from the valve seat 82 weggedrückten ball 84 for simplicity not drawn.

In Fig. 7, three feed lines 64 ', 64 "and 64'" are combined in a check valve 76 to a lying on the end face 86 feed channel 70. As in FIGS. 5 and 6, the stops of the ball 84 pushed away from the valve seat 82 are not shown for the sake of simplicity. FIG. 7 is designed in such a way that only one of the three supply lines 64 ', 64 "or 64'" is in each case at the time considered. is open, the other two are closed. Blending the adhesives 52 ', 52 ", 52'" is thus excluded.

In another embodiment, not shown, the opening or closing of the balls 84 according to FIG. 7 is configured such that two supply lines 64 'and 64 ", 64' and 64" 'or 64 "and 64'" open at the time in question are. The respective third feed line 64 ', 64 "or 64'" is then closed (and vice versa). This configuration mode allows blending of two types of adhesives, for example 52 'and 52 ", whereas a third, separate adhesive 52'" is fed when the two other feeders, e.g. 64 'and 64 "are also closed by means of variable pressure controls, a desired, individual volume flow for each of the feeders 64', 64" and 64 '"is set in. In this way, the exact dosing of the adhesives 52', 52", In addition, a ratio required for the blending of two types of adhesives or components, for example, three portions 52 'and one portion 52 "simultaneously.

FIG. 8 shows a check valve 76 in which two feed lines 64 'and 64 "are combined to form a feed channel 70 located on the end face 86, whereas a third feed line 64'" is guided independently of the end face 86. The embodiment allows a simultaneous opening / closing of the two feed lines 64 'and 64 ", whereby a blending of the adhesives 52' and 52" is achieved. The proportionate ratio is in turn adjustable by means of variable pressure controls, which over the exact dosing beyond a required in the mixing of two types of adhesive or components ratio is achieved. In the second circuit state, the feeders 64 'and 64 "are closed, but the feed line 64'" is open. Thus, a third, separate adhesive 52 '"is supplied.

In a further, not shown embodiment according to FIG. 8, only one of the feed lines 64 '64 "or 64'" is opened, whereas the other two are closed. As the adhesive 52, 52 ', 52 ", 52'", a hot melt, a molten thermoplastic adhesive, is usually used.

Claims

claims

1. adhesive application station (14) in a device for binding stacked printed products (10) by means of a flowable or liquefiable adhesive (52), which station in the sliding surface (16) for the printed products (10) at least one outlet opening (20) for the adhesive (52) and a manually, mechanically, electronically and / or sensor-controlled by an actuator closable, with adhesive (52) fed metering device (44),

characterized in that

at least two separately closable feed lines (64) for the adhesive (52), each having an adhesive reservoir (62) and a pump (68), in a common feed channel (70) for the metering device (44) immediately before the metering device (44) lead.

Second adhesive application station (14) according to claim 1, characterized in that the metering device as Dosierwelle (44) with a longitudinal slot (46) which corresponds in working position with the outlet slot (20) and the feed channel (70) is formed.

3. adhesive application station (14) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the feed lines (64) with a shut-off device (66), in particular a slide, a flap, a solenoid valve or a tap, are lockable.

4. adhesive application station (14) according to claim 3, characterized in that the shut-off elements (66) can be actuated manually and / or programmatically with an actuator.

5. adhesive application station (14) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized indicates that at least two feed lines (64) open into the feed channel (70) via an OR valve (74, 76).

6. adhesive application station (14) according to claim 5, characterized in that for each feed line (64) a check valve (76) is formed.

7. adhesive application station (14) according to claim 6, characterized in that the check valves (76) each comprise a cylindrical interior (80) with a frusto-conical valve seat (82) and a game with clearance to a stop longitudinally displaceable ball (84).

8. adhesive application station (14) according to claim 5, characterized in that the OR valve is a three-way cock (74).

9. adhesive application station (14) according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the check valve (76) has a compact, interchangeable mounting unit with separate feed lines (64) and / or at least one common feed channel (70) with a plurality of supply lines (64) is.

10. adhesive application station (14) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that pressure controls of the feed lines (64) are adjustable.