ES2360478T3 - DEVICE FOR THE REGULATED APPLICATION OF ADHESIVES AND / OR SEALING AGENTS. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for the regulated application of adhesives and sealants to support materials (11), containing essentially the following components: a) a supply container for at least one adhesive and/or sealant (1), b) a delivery pump (2), c) an applicator head (3) comprising at least one applicator nozzle (4), d) a volume flow sensor (5) and e) a control unit (6) with an associated data processing programme. The supply container (1), the delivery pump (2) and the applicator head (3) with the at least one applicator nozzle (4) are interconnected by a distribution system (7) which conducts the adhesive and/or sealant (7). The volume flow sensor (5) and the control unit (6) with the associated data processing programme are interconnected by an impulse transmission line (8) and the control unit (6) with the associated data processing programme, the delivery pump (2) and the applicator head (3) are interconnected by control lines (9). The invention also relates to the use of this device and to a method using the device for the regulated application of adhesives and/or sealants to support materials. The invention is especially characterised in that the precise and constant application and metering of adhesives and/or sealants is made possible on a manufacturing scale.

Description

The invention relates to a device for the regulated application of adhesives and / or sealing agents (sealants) on base materials (substrates). Moreover, the invention relates to the use of this device and to a method using this device for the regulated application of adhesives and / or sealing agents on base materials.

In many cases, for example, continuous bands of adhesives and / or sealing agents have to be applied on a base material (support or substrate), which continuously (eg endless material belts) or in the form of material cuts which follow one another are immediately carried under a device, consisting in principle of an applicator head, provided with an application nozzle. In other cases there is a need to apply the same adhesive and / or sealing agent on several areas of the same base material, for this, depending on the case, continuous bands of adhesives and / or sealants, adhesive points and / or sealing agent, adhesive cords and / or sealing agent of limited length or adhesive surfaces and / or sealing agent. For example, for the manufacture of packaging, the material tapes or the cuts must be provided with adhesive to fix them in the positions that the packages form, in the form of gluing points, gluing cords or gluing surfaces.

For the dosing of adhesives and / or sealing agents, the application heads usually have valves, which regulate the feeding (inlet) of the adhesives and / or sealing agents in the application nozzle by means of electronic control units.

For most applications it is desirable to achieve a homogeneous application model and a defined applied quantity or a defined dosage of the adhesive and / or sealing agent to be applied and, in particular, to control the achievement of the desired applied quantity.

It is necessary to control the application of the adhesive and / or sealing agent because it is not always possible to safely discard, for example, the plugging of the piping system, of the applicator head, of the applicator nozzle, of filters eventually installed or a leakage anywhere in the device. The differences between the desired applied amount and the actual amount achieved can arise, for example, by oscillations in the carry pump pressure due to the same production or by variations in viscosity, caused for example by temperature variations. These oscillations can lead in particular to the amount of adhesive and / or sealing agent being too small for the bonding and / or sealing required of the base material. Therefore, it is often attempted to counteract these effects taking into consideration a safety reserve of the adhesive and / or sealing agent applied beyond the amount applied theoretically required.

Safety reserves are taken into account especially in procedures, in which the base materials have surfaces that are difficult to stick or seal, for example when such surfaces have to be painted, printed or laminated (lined). It is also necessary to take into consideration a safety reserve when the bonded joint is subjected to great tensile stress. Such is the case, for example, when the base materials are glued together by forced molding and said base materials have the tendency to regain their original shape. This happens for example when the base materials are glued by the edges, eg when the edges of the wood are glued. For the rest, consideration is given to the safety reserve in those procedures, in which high resistance to heat deformation of the sealing agent or adhesive is required, for example when the glued or sealed base material must be filled with a hot product. The ability of a layer of adhesive to resist long-term temperature action without deforming is generally defined as heat deformation resistance in general.

The existence of the desired applied amount of the adhesive and / or sealing agent on the base material is normally checked by taking discontinuous or continuous samples, for example by visual controls and / or in a complementary manner:

a) moisture measurements, when the adhesive applied is water based or contains solvents;

b) infrared sensors, to determine through the radiated heat the dosage of the adhesive and / or sealing agent applied on the base material;

c) by gravimetry, weighing the properly marked base materials before and after the application of the adhesive and / or sealing agent;

d) by microwave or ultrasound, measuring the traces of the adhesive and / or sealing agent or the layers of the adhesive and / or sealing agent.

The accuracy of the control possibilities listed is not very large, due to the measurement methods and the additional external factors that influence (eg air humidity). This is another reason for the additional dosing normally carried out of the adhesive and / or sealing agent applied in the form of a safety reserve.

If the application of the adhesive and / or sealing agent on the base material is not performed or done insufficiently, then the consequence is usually the disposal of the base material. It is also taken into consideration that currently many procedures for applying adhesives and / or sealing agents on base materials work at high speeds, which can be very considerable economic losses due to waste and, therefore, the consequent stoppage of the machinery for cleaning and repair work.

In order to react more quickly to defects in the application of adhesives and / or sealing agents on base materials, then, those procedures are advantageous, in which the control of the applied amount of adhesive and / or sealing agent is carried out. tightness in the section between the storage tank of the adhesive and / or sealing agent and the applicator nozzle and not exclusively in the base material. These procedures are already known.

EP 0887 721 A1 describes a monitoring (control) model, in which a computer periodically collects the input signals sent by a sensor and compares them with the alarm limit values stored in memory. The sensor captures or detects a characteristic of a fluid flow rate through a distributor, for example the pressure of a liquid nozzle. A pressure sensor built into the applicator head measures the static pressure of the liquid when the nozzle is closed and the dynamic pressure of the liquid when the nozzle is open. When the nozzle is open, the pressure decreases depending on the flow through it. The measured values are compared with the preset reference pressures, the control consists of this comparison. This procedure allows conclusions to be drawn about the correct pump pressure and the flow rate in the applicator head. However, the lower the flow of liquid circulating through the nozzle, the smaller the difference between the dynamic pressure and the reference pressure. It is therefore obvious that when minimum amounts of liquid circulate, for example less than 100 mg of liquid, a sufficient differential pressure cannot be measured.

In the industrial utility model document DE 296 20 763 U an apparatus for applying adhesive is described, consisting of an adhesive storage tank, a carry pump and an applicator head having at least one applicator nozzle, said application tank. storage of the adhesive, the applicator nozzle and the applicator head are connected between a pipe that conducts the adhesive and that between the carry pump and at least one applicator nozzle contains at least one volumetric flow sensor of the adhesive. This adhesive volumetric flow sensor serves to measure the volumetric flow of adhesive actually transported by the carry pump to at least one applicator nozzle. If during one of the work cycles, the sensor detects that adhesive is not transported or transported in insufficient quantity, then the corresponding control switch immediately interrupts the production process, which is easily recognizable to the personnel working in the process.

The described devices control the application of the adhesives and trigger the alarm when an application failure arises, but they are not used to regulate the exact dosage of the adhesives. Moreover, with these devices neither the determination of the quantity nor the determination of the density of the liquid can be carried out.

In the industrial utility model DE-U 91 01 070 a device for the application of fluid masses in the form of cords on a base material (support or substrate) is described. For this, the fluid material is transported to the nozzle and dosing device, the volumetric amount of mass deposited per unit of length traveled being regulated by means of a regulation circuit. For this, the measuring element must be arranged away from the point of departure of the applied mass.

A device for applying fluid materials, preferably photographic, is described in US Patent 5,646,737. With this device it is possible to measure the layers of liquid applied, from the profile of the layers in the X and Y direction the amount applied is calculated. In combination with an encoder, it is possible to control the quantity applied. The measurement of the layers presupposes anyway that the coated material is absolutely flat, that the thickness of the layer of applied material is absolutely constant and that the coating is carried out continuously. Therefore, this application and measurement device is only applicable to the surface coating of sheets or sheet-type materials.

It is an objective of the present invention to avoid the inconveniences of the prior art and to improve and simplify the existing procedures and devices for the application of adhesives and sealing agents. The invention aims in particular to facilitate a better control of the application, a more accurate measurement of the amount applied and the regulation of the applied amount of adhesives and sealing agents, irrespective of the base material, of the surface of the material (e.g. eg sheets, non-woven, cardboard, wood, etc.) and of the form of application (eg surface coating, spiral spray application, spot application, cord application). The exact measurement of the quantity applied must be able to be carried out in case of an intermittent application and also in a continuous way.

The way to achieve this objective according to the invention is defined in the claims.

In the execution examples, the adhesives and sealing agents are transported from a storage tank (1), with a carry pump (2) through a pipe system (7), formed by rigid and / or flexible pipes and which can be heated and cooled, to an applicator head (3) and from this head through an applicator nozzle (4) is deposited on a base material (11), which is located on a transport device

(12) that operates continuously or discontinuously, for example a conveyor belt.

To generate pressure within the piping system (7), haul pumps (2) that work intermittently can be used, eg piston pumps, or haul pumps (2) that work continuously, eg. gear pumps The carry pump (2) can be operated pneumatically or even electronically.

The volumetric flow rate of the adhesive and / or transported sealing agent is measured by a volumetric flow sensor (5).

According to the invention, the volumetric flow sensor (5) forms part of the applicator head (3) and is arranged, in the direction of advance of the adhesive and / or sealing agent transported, immediately before the at least one applicator nozzle ( 4).

In this way, measurement delays and the effect of pressure fluctuations in the measurement system can be largely ruled out.

On the principle of a bucket wheel lock, the amount transported of the adhesive and / or sealing agent that flows through the volumetric flow sensor (5) is detected and sent in the form of electrical impulses to the control unit (6 ).

The volumetric flow sensor (5) can be part of a regulation circuit that controls the volumetric flow actually transported from the adhesive (s) and / or sealing agents and warns of variations, for example a lack of adhesive and / or sealing agent.

According to the invention, the volumetric flow sensor (5) is configured in the form of a gear pump that works in the reverse direction, because this type of volumetric flow measurement can differently resolve small mass transports up to a lower limit of 10 mg , referred to a density of 1 g / ml.

The volumetric flow sensor (5) measures in each case the partial amounts of adhesive and / or sealing agent predetermined by the gear. For each partial quantity, which is transported with the volumetric flow generated by the turning movement of the teeth that engage each other, the magnetoelectric sensor sends an electrical impulse. In general, the magnetoelectric sensor is a differential field plate sensor, which is located on the crown of one of the two sprockets of the measuring mechanism and emits an electrical impulse for each of the teeth that pass below he. The mechanical part of such a sensor is known, for example, from DE 40 40 409 C1, while the corresponding measuring sensor itself refers to DE 40 42 397 C2. To achieve greater measurement accuracy, even several differential field plate sensors can be used. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the volumetric flow sensor is provided with two differential field plate sensors, each with a separate preamp. The impulses of the corresponding channels 1 and 2 are displaced 90º and must appear as symmetrical phases. The precise installation required of the differential field plate sensor within the volumetric flow sensor to inductively capture the measuring bucket wheels is conveniently achieved with a plastic housing resistant to high temperatures, eg Teflon.

The volumetric flow sensor (5) is suitable for use in a temperature range from 20 ° C to 300 ° C, preferably from 80 ° C to 250 ° C and especially from 160 ° C to 210 ° C.

Depending on the distance of the sprockets of the measuring mechanism from each other, the resolution will be between 0.001 ml and 2 ml, preferably between 0.003 ml and 1.5 ml and with special preference between 0.005 ml and 1 ml. The choice of the volumetric flow sensor to be used (5) will depend on the viscosity and the amount of the sealing material and / or adhesive to be applied.

The electrical impulses emitted by the magnetoelectric sensor are transported through the corresponding impulse transmission conduit (8) to the control unit (6), equipped with the corresponding data processing program.

The control unit (6) with the corresponding data processing program will now be understood as a measurement and regulation unit, which by continuously comparing the actual value with the setpoint controls the applied amount of adhesive and / or agent of tightness on the base material (11) in the line and eventually corrects it to comply with the setpoint value.

The data processing program belonging to the control unit (6) is based on a standard computer program according to IEC 1131-3, which refers to language elements and programming rules for programming languages adopted worldwide for control units programmable in memory. Specifically, the computer program for example in STEP 7 of the SIMATIC product group of the Siemens company complies with this standard. The computer program is adapted to the tasks of the device of the invention and processes the data necessary to make the comparison and continuous adaptation of the real value with the setpoint value, for this purpose they have to be set as limit values of the applied amount of adhesive and / or sealing agent an upper limit and a lower limit that can be freely chosen, within these limits the adaptation of the real value with the setpoint value will have to be made.

If, for example, the amount of adhesive and / or sealing agent is reduced slowly due to an incipient plugging of the piping system (7), then the carry pump (2) is operated and the amount of the adhesive applied is regulated and / or sealing agent by issuing an analog signal and is corrected to adopt the setpoint again.

If the carry pump (2) is a pneumatic carry pump, then the corresponding commercial electropneumatic regulator will be needed. The electro-pneumatic regulator will preferably be connected directly to the compressed air inlet of the pneumatic carry pump. If the carry pump (2) is an electronically controlled carry pump, then the corresponding card will be needed to regulate the pump frequency.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the device of the invention contains an encoder (13).

The encoder (13) or even the goniometer serves to detect the angle of rotation or the length and direction of a rotational or linear movement of the moving bodies. Moving bodies have a magnetic, optical or other coding site for this purpose and pass in front of the sensor element that occupies a fixed place, whereby an absolute value can be determined in each position of the coded site with respect to the sensor as regards the angular position and the address number (eg number of turns).

The essential components for example of the optical encoders with the emitting system, a grid plate, usually a grid disk or a grid signal and a detector system. The emitting system usually consists of a light-emitting diode or a laser diode. The light beam emitted by the laser diode is modulated on the grid plate. It is in contact with the moving body and has a periodic opening model. The detector system detects the emitter signal of the modulated laser diode on the grid plate and provides at its output the information related to the counter pulse and the direction of movement.

In principle, all the usual encoders on the market can be used, encoders working with a voltage of 10 to 30 volts are preferred. Other characteristic data of the encoder, for example the number of pulses, the number of revolutions, the transmission ratio, etc. they are already taken into consideration at the time of programming the control unit (6) and are included in the corresponding data processing program.

With the encoder (13) it is possible to detect the path and time needed for this by the base materials (11), which are transported below the at least one applicator nozzle (4).

The encoder (13) and the control unit (6) with the corresponding data processing program are connected to each other by the corresponding transmission conduit (14).

The information provided by the encoder (13) is received in the control unit (6) provided with the corresponding data processing program, processed electronically and allows the regulation depending on the speed of the quantity applied and the application length of the adhesive and / or sealing agent.

Speed dependent regulation refers to the speed of the base material (11), with which it is transported below the applicator nozzle (4).

The information provided by the encoder (13) is received continuously in the control unit (6) with corresponding data processing program and is therefore processed, in addition to the speed-dependent regulation it is possible to perform it time a permanent control of the dosed amount of adhesive and / or sealing agent and the dosing time.

As previously mentioned, the volumetric flow sensor (5) emits an electromagnetic pulse when a certain volume is transported, for example a pulse when a volume of 10 ml is transported. The choice of measuring buckets will depend on the viscosity of the liquid, in case of high viscosity large volume measuring buckets should be chosen for each pulse. The larger the measuring bucket, the greater the inaccuracy of the measurement. To improve the accuracy of measurement, the use of an encoder is especially preferred, especially in the case of intermittent application and measurement of very small quantities. If compared with the resolution of the pulses emitted by the volumetric flow sensor (5), the resolution of the pulses emitted by the encoder (13) is much higher. For a given application length, the volumetric flow sensor (5) generates only one pulse, while the encoder (13) generates a much larger number of pulses. The control unit (6) with the corresponding data processing program calculates the unknown amount of adhesive applied between two pulses of the volumetric flow sensor

(5) for a given applied quantity by resorting to a conversion factor of the volumetric flow sensor pulses for each pulse of the encoder.

The control unit (6) with the corresponding data processing program is provided in such a way that the measurement for mass determination is calibrated before the measurement cycle and in this way the really applied amount of the adhesive is determined.

The device of the invention is used in the process of regulated application of adhesives and / or sealing agents on base materials (11) according to claim 7.

The control unit (6) and its corresponding data processing program records situations in which the limit values are exceeded or not reached, preferably as failure situations, processes them and signals them conveniently through electronic functions and / or acoustic as warning messages.

For this, the control unit (6) and its corresponding data processing program conveniently have an output (10) to the external processing of the error or fault messages.

You can connect for example a computer screen and, in case of failure, this situation appears on the screen. In addition or alternatively they can also be connected to the output (10) for example acoustic (eg siren) or optical functions (eg warning lamps). The control unit (6) and its corresponding data processing program may eventually interrupt the transport of adhesive and / or sealing agent even completely, when for example it is impossible to correct the actual value and adapt it to the setpoint value and by example when it is not possible to perform the necessary cleaning operations to correct the fault or breakdown.

The process is especially suitable for the application of glues, glues, dispersion adhesives, solution adhesives, contact adhesives, reactive adhesives, contact adhesives, hot melt contact adhesives and hot melt adhesives. Especially suitable are reactive adhesives, contact adhesives, hot melt contact adhesives and hot melt adhesives.

The hot melt adhesives are generally aqueous and solvent-free adhesives, which can be applied to the parts to be glued in the form of a melt and after assembly they are allowed to cool to produce a bonded joint of the physical type. Hot melt adhesives have multiple industrial applications, for example for bonding and laminating in the furniture, footwear, electrical, packaging and paper industry. In the packaging and paper industry, they are used, for example, to seal or close cardboard, to laminate multi-layer paper or to bind books.

For the manufacture of medical articles (eg plasters, bandage materials) or hygienic articles (eg diapers, compresses), the most diverse base materials are glued together with the hot melt adhesives. For example, materials such as polyolefin sheets, for example polyethylene sheets or polypropylene sheets, non-woven polyolefins, for example non-woven polyethylene or non-woven polypropylene, polyurethane sheets, polyurethane foams, sheets can be glued together or molded articles of cellulose derivatives, for example of cellulose of the fine and transparent type (tissue), sheets or molded articles of polyacrylates or of polymethacrylates, sheets or molded articles of polyester. Bonding is possible between materials of the same type or materials of different types.

As label adhesives, hot melt adhesives have found a wide range of applications in the food and beverage industry. In the tobacco industry, hot melt adhesives are used, for example, to glue cigarette filters.

The most diverse polymers and copolymers are available as base compounds for hot melt adhesives, for example:

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 polycondensates, for example polyamide resins, copolyamides, polyamide and EVA copolymers, polyamide and siloxane copolymers, polyetheramides, polyesteramidaimides, polyethersteramides, polyesteramides and copolyesters, saturated polyesters,

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 polyducts, for example linear or slightly branched thermoplastic polyurethanes, reactive and non-reactive and

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 polymers, for example ethylene copolymers, ethylene copolymers with unsaturated carboxylic acids, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene terpolymers, eg ethylene and acrylate terpolymers, propylene and hexane copolymers, of SIS and SBS, as well like other thermoplastic elastomers and amorphous polyolefins, eg polyethylene, polyolefins made by catalysis with metallocenes, especially PP and finally polybutene.

Preferred polymers are homo- and / or copolymers of olefinic monomers, especially alpha-olefins. These homo- and / or copolymers are manufactured by polymerization of olefinic monomers having a chain length of C2 to C20. Especially preferred are homo- and / or copolymers of olefinic monomers that are manufactured using metallocene catalysts. Especially preferred are homo- and / or copolymers of olefinic monomers that do not possess functional groups.

The polymers listed fundamentally determine the adhesive properties themselves in terms of adhesion, mechanical strength and temperature. To achieve other special properties (eg cohesion, viscosity, etc.), additives can be used, for example adhesive resins, waxes, plasticizers, eg oils, stabilizers, antioxidants and / or fillers.

Henkel KGaA, Dorus or Teroson companies supply concrete products for bonding and / or sealing. For flexible packaging or for finishing the paper, for example, adhesives with the trade names of Liofol, Lio-Clean or Liotron are supplied. For the manufacture, for example, of coatings, self-adhesive labels or adhesive tapes, adhesives are used that bear the commercial name of Euromelt, Dorus-PS, Adhesin J, Sichello J or Liotron. For the labeling of plastics, for example, adhesives of the Euromelt, Pekal, Optal or Smeltan type are used. Lioseal or Liotex are used for hot-sealing coatings or for textile lamination.

The products, for example, Technomelt, Adhesin or Curo are used in the cardboard packaging sector (outer cardboard closure, folding box closure, folding cardboard boxes), frozen containers or pallet fixing.

In the hygienic sector (eg infant diapers, compresses for the ruler or for incontinence) or in the medical sector (eg operating room cloths, bandages, plasters), for example Sanicare type adhesives are used. Tobacoll adhesives are used in the manufacture of cigarettes (side cord closure, packets, filter manufacturing, etc.).

In the sector, for example, the bonding of insulating glass, cable filling masses, wood processing or shoe manufacturing, for example, adhesives such as Terostat, Macromelt or Macroplast are used.

This procedure is suitable for adhesives and / or sealing agents, which for the corresponding processing temperatures have a viscosity of 20 mPas to 100 000 mPas, preferably 20 mPas to 40 000 mPas and with special preference between 20 mPas and 20 000 mPas, viscosity measured in accordance with ASTM D 3236. The corresponding processing temperatures are understood as temperatures between 20 ° C and 300 ° C, preferably between 40 ° C and 250 ° C and with special preference between 40 ° C and 200 ° C.

Preferably, these adhesives and / or sealing agents do not form threads when they leave the applicator nozzle (3), especially when small amounts are applied, of the order of 10 to 100 mg. In the application range of very small quantities, adhesives and / or sealing agents having a viscosity of between 20 mPas and 20,000 mPas, measured according to ASTM D 3236, are possibly indicated, possibly in combination with an applicator head (3) which It has at least one applicator nozzle (4), said applicator nozzle (4), at least one, is configured in the form of a spiral spray nozzle. Ideally, adhesives and / or sealing agents applied in very small quantities do not contain any solid fraction. If there are eventually solid fractions, then their particle size will be less than 5 microns.

The process is especially preferred for adhesives and / or sealing agents, which at the corresponding processing temperature have a constant viscosity, with an oscillation of ± 50% within the usual period of transformation. The usual transformation period is understood as a time between 15 minutes and 72 hours.

For example, it is known that, in the case of hot melt adhesives, depending on their composition, these may suffer material changes depending on the temperature. This can be translated, depending on the temperature rise and the exposure time thereto, on an evaporation of the most volatile components of the formulation and / or on at least partial thermal degradation. By thermal degradation volatile decomposition products and / or so-called cracking or carbonization products can be formed, but in general a cross-linking of already existing unsaturated compounds or generated by temperature action takes place as a previous step of cracking or carbonization. These material alterations caused by the action of temperature are manifested, for example, in an alteration of viscosity but also in a lack of incipient homogeneity or caused in a previously homogeneous composition, in a partial or total insolubility in most organic solvents, in those that the composition was totally soluble before being subjected to the action of temperature and / or in the form of an alteration of the chromatic state and of aggregation, passing for example from slightly yellow liquids to black products, similar to patent leather.

The device of the invention is especially suitable for the regulated application and dosing of adhesives and / or sealing agents on an industrial scale:

Amounts of up to 300 l / min can be applied in a regulated manner depending on the viscosity of the adhesive and / or sealing agent. The maximum speed, with which the base material (11) can be transported in front of the applicator nozzle (4) and with which the regulated application is still possible is equivalent to the speed of the most powerful machines used in production.

The process of the invention for the regulated application of adhesives and / or sealing agents on base materials (11) can be practiced intermittently or continuously.

For this, if necessary, the volumetric flow sensor (5) is integrated in the commercial applicator head (3), which is used to generate points, cords or extensive surface coating with adhesives and / or sealing agents:

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 It is possible to control and regulate, for example, the spot application of adhesives and / or sealing agents from an amount of 10 mg, based on a density of 1 g / ml, up to 2000 points per minute.

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 The information transferred by the encoder (13) to the control unit (6) and the corresponding data processing program and its continuous collection and processing regulates and controls the application of adhesives and / or sealing agents

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 in the form of a cord, its length and quantity applied are controlled,

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 in case of surface coating, for example with contact with the nozzle or by a spraying procedure, its quantity, referred to the application surface, is controlled and regulated, being able to remain constant or adapt to the speed in case the materials base (11) are transported with variable speeds.

The device of the invention can be used to determine the density and to measure the amount of adhesives and / or sealing agents applied. Measurement accuracy increases when the amount applied increases.

In a preferred embodiment, the device of the invention is used to determine the density of adhesives and / or sealing agents, which at the corresponding processing temperatures have a viscosity of 20 mPas to 100 000 mPas, measured according to ASTM D 3236. For this, an amount of adhesive and / or sealing agent freely chosen from the applicator head (3) is collected and the weight of the adhesive and / or sealing agent collected is determined.

The volumetric flow sensor (5), which is connected to the control unit (6) and the corresponding data processing program through an impulse transmission conduit (8), provides a number of pulses corresponding to the quantity Adhesive and / or sealing agent collection. A defined volume of adhesive and / or sealing agent is transported for each pulse, therefore, with the data processing program belonging to the control unit (6) the density is calculated, which can be presented for example on the screen of a computer. The manufacturing tolerances of the gear wheels of the measuring mechanism and the corresponding deviations due to them from the theoretically detected partial volume are taken into account and are included in the evaluation as a tolerance factor.

In another preferred embodiment, the device of the invention is used to determine the applied amount of

5 adhesive and / or sealing agent, which in the corresponding processing temperature has a viscosity of 20 mPas to 100 000 mPas, measured according to ASTM D 3236. If the density of the adhesive and / or sealing agent is already known a apply or has been determined for example by the method just described, then together with the number of pulses transmitted by the volumetric flow sensor (5) through the pulse transmission conduit (8) to the control unit (6) by A data processing program belonging to the control unit (6) can calculate the weight of the adhesive and / or sealing agent transported and can be displayed, for example, on a computer screen. The tolerances due to the manufacturing of the sprockets of the measuring mechanism and the consequent deviations of the theoretically detected partial volume are taken into consideration and included as a tolerance factor for the evaluation.

Ideally, after calibration, the density of the adhesive and / or sealing agent remains constant.

In this way it is especially possible to measure and dose very small quantities applied or to be applied of the adhesive and / or sealing agent.

Very small amounts, as previously mentioned in another paragraph, are understood as amounts from 10 mg to 100 mg, referred to a density of 1 g / ml.

Especially for coating the surface of the base material (11) with adhesives and / or sealing agents, for example in the case of non-woven coating with adhesives, the process of the invention compared to the other known procedures has the advantage that the weight of the adhesive and / or sealing agent applied is detected directly in the online process and does not have to be determined, for example, outside the line by randomly determining the weight per unit area of the base materials ( eleven).

25 For a complementary control, if apart from applying the exact amount, a homogeneous distribution of the adhesive and / or sealing agent on the base material has also been carried out, the corresponding known measuring device with sensors will eventually be used in the procedure infrared

The process of the invention for the application of adhesives and / or sealing agents provides an absolute measuring accuracy of ± 0.5% of the amount applied compared to conventional procedures. Conventional procedures are especially understood as the processes in which the adhesive and / or sealing agent is deposited on base materials (11), which are present in the form of cut-outs of the most diverse materials. To control the amount applied, for example, the weight of up to 100 base materials is determined

(11) before and after the application of the adhesive and / or sealing agent, it is statistically evaluated and after the evaluation the applicator device is calibrated. Often, the weight of the adhesive and / or agent is

The applied quality is relatively small, when compared with the weight of the base material (11), which translates into greater measurement inaccuracy when the weight is determined. Other factors, for example the loss of moisture from the base material or the adhesive and / or sealing agent after application on the base material (11) and before the weight determination increase the dispersion amplitude of the results of the measurement.

The accuracy, with which the adhesives and / or sealing agents are applied and dosed constantly for the first time on an industrial scale and with which the amount applied can be determined, allows the use of the device of the invention not only as an installed device permanently in the existing procedures for applying adhesives and / or sealing agents, but also as a device temporarily installed in existing plants, for example as a measuring and control device to check new adhesives and / or sealing agents tightness

45 It should be noted that the state of the art measurement procedures, which measure the actual deposition on the base material in the production in progress, can only be used with qualifications to determine the quantity applied. A surface coating can surely be measured reproducibly; in the case of application by points or cords, safe measurement is possible with regard to length and position, but not to determine the exact amount of mg. In the case of spray application of a low viscosity liquid, for example, a nonwoven of the same color, safe measurement is no longer possible. To this, it should be added that the actual applied quantity measurement system is specifically designed for a specific application and that it provides poor results due to interfering external factors, eg changes in ambient temperature, color changes, moisture content, etc. The measurement procedure of the invention can be applied in general and does not depend on the aforementioned interfering factors. The measurement of the circulating flow guarantees an exact applied quantity in mg. This is the requirement to be able to regulate the quantity accurately.

The device of the invention and its use in methods of applying adhesives and / or sealing agents contributes greatly to improve the quality. With the continuous measurement and regulation of the amount of adhesive and / or sealing agent transported, less waste will be produced. The additional reserve, in practice usually 10 to 30%, of the applied amount of the adhesive and / or sealing agent that theoretically is needed can be dispensed with at least considerably. The drawbacks associated with excessive dosing of adhesive and / or sealing agent are also avoided, for example the bonding of the base material (11) coated on the transport devices (12) or the fouling of the installations with adhesive residue and / or sealing agent.

The method of the invention in which the device of the invention is used is especially suitable for applying adhesives, preferably hot melt adhesives, on base materials (11) for medical articles and sanitary articles.

It is to be thought that the device of the invention and its use in application and measurement procedures for the application of adhesives and / or sealing agents can also be used to apply and measure the application of liquids of low or high viscosity of all kinds, in of liquids, whose viscosity at the corresponding processing temperatures is between 20 mPas and 100 000 mPas, measured according to ASTM D 3236.

Liquids, which meet this requirement, are processed for example in the food industry, the cosmetic industry and the chemical industry and are for example pastes or paints.

The device of the invention for the regulated application of adhesives and / or sealing agents on base materials is illustrated below with the graphic representation of an exemplary embodiment.

It is represented in figure 1: a perspective of the new device with a volumetric flow sensor arranged immediately before the applicator nozzles and the control unit as a unit of measurement and regulation.

It is represented in Figure 2: a section of an example of a specific embodiment of the housing in which the volumetric flow sensor is housed and

It is represented in figure 3:

a perspective of a volumetric flow sensor of a type already known.

Figure 4 is shown: a figure to illustrate the measurement principle for the case of intermittent application of tail cords.

Figure 5 is shown: a figure to illustrate the measurement principle for the case of continuous surface application.

The device shown in Figure 1 for the regulated application of adhesives and / or sealing agents on base materials consists of:

a) storage tank for an adhesive and / or sealing agent (1),

b) carry pump (2),

c) applicator head (3) provided with at least one applicator nozzle (4),

d) volumetric flow sensor (5),

e) control unit (6) with the corresponding data processing program,

the storage tank (1), the carry pump (2) and the applicator head (3) provided with at least one applicator nozzle (4) are connected to each other by a pipe system (7) through which the adhesive and / or sealing agent; the volumetric flow sensor (5) and the control unit (6) with the corresponding data processing program with a conduit for pulse transmission (8) are connected to each other; the control unit (6) with the corresponding data processing program, the carry pump (2) and the applicator head (3) are connected to each other by means of regulating ducts (9); and the control unit (6) with the corresponding data processing program has an output (10) for the external processing of fault or fault messages.

The volumetric flow sensor (5) is arranged between the carry pump (2) and the two applicator nozzles (4) of this example.

The volumetric flow sensor (5) serves, as mentioned above, to control the volumetric flow rate of the sealing and / or adhesive agent transported by the carry pump (2) from the storage tank (1) to the nozzles applicators (4).

5 The volumetric flow sensor (5) is part of the applicator head (3) and, considered in the direction of advance of the adhesive and / or transported sealing agent, is arranged immediately before the two applicator nozzles (4). With this arrangement, the pressure variations that may occur between the applicator nozzles (4) and the volumetric flow sensor (5) are minimized and, thus, the accuracy of the measurements is improved. The volumetric flow rate of the adhesive and / or sealing agent that circulates through the volumetric flow sensor

10 (5) is detected and converted into electrical impulses that are sent to the control unit (6).

Next, it is essential for the device that the control unit (6) process the electrical impulses by means of the corresponding data processing program and correct by means of a continuous comparison of the actual value with the setpoint value in the line the applied amount of adhesive and / or sealing agent on the base material (11) and adapts it to the setpoint, acting on the carry pump (2) and increased or

15 reducing its power as appropriate.

In the preferred embodiment shown, the control unit (6) is connected by the corresponding transmission conduit (14) with an encoder (13). By means of the encoder (13) it is possible to detect the path and time required for it of the base material (11) that is carried below the applicator nozzles (4).

The information sent by the encoder (13) is received in the control unit (6) with the corresponding

20 data processing program, are processed electronically and allow the regulation depending on the speed of the amount applied and also on the application length of the adhesive and / or sealing agent.

For a better understanding, a transport device (12) that works continuously or discontinuously is also shown in Figure 1, for example a conveyor belt and a base material (11) placed on it, for example a packing cut-out which is intended to paste.

25 To be complete, a commercial volumetric flow sensor (5) is shown in Figure 3, which does not require further clarification.

In a specific and preferred embodiment of the device, the applicator head (3) is configured in the form of a sillar or parallelepiped type housing (3 ') and is provided with the corresponding cavity (15), in which the sensor is housed of volumetric flow (5), which in the direction of the outlet is connected by a channel (16) of the housing (3 ')

30 with the valve housing (17) of the at least one applicator nozzle (4), said housing (17) is placed externally on the housing (3 ’).

Nor does the valve housing (17) illustrated in Figure 2 require further clarification, because there is no change in such valve housings (17) provided with their applicator nozzles (4).

Description of the measuring principle

35 For a better understanding, the measurement principle is illustrated with three examples.

one.

 Intermittent application of tail cords

2.

 Continuous surface application

3.

 Dosage

1. Intermittent application of tail cords (see figure 4)

40 The measurement is based on the following data:

-

 application length: 34 mm

-

 volumetric flow sensor with 1 pulse resolution = 10 mg (density = 1 g / ml)

-

 1000 pulse / revolution encoder

-

 encoder conversion - conveyor belt: 1 encoder revolution = 69 mm of transport path

-

 glue module opening time (valve housing) = trigger length measurement = 0.2 s

-

 volumetric flow sensor pulses = 5

-

 encoder pulses = 490

-

 Pulse rate ratio of the volumetric flow sensor / encoder = constant

-

 belt feed rate = 10.2 m / min

45 The following data are measured:

For the length of the trigger and the speed of advance of the tape a glue track length of 34 mm

The amount applied is between the 5th and 6th pulses of the volumetric flow sensor. The detected portion of the 5 pulses is 50 mg for 455 pulses of the encoder. If the 5 pulses of the volumetric flow sensor are divided by the 455 pulses of the encoder, a pulse valence of 0.010989 = 1/91 is obtained.

The amount remaining after the 5th pulse is calculated in this way: 490 - 455 = 35 encoder pulses; 35 encoder pulses x 1/91 pulse valence = 0.3846 volumetric flow sensor pulses x 10 mg / pulse = 3.846 mg; An applied amount of 50 + 3,846 = 53,846 mg results.

2. Continuous surface application (see figure 5)

The measurement is based on the following data:

-

 application width: 50 mm

-

 volumetric flow sensor with a resolution of 1 pulse = 10 mg (density = 1 g / ml)

-

 1000 pulse encoder per revolution

-

 encoder conversion - sheet type band: 1 encoder revolution = 1.375 m of the sheet type band

The following data is measured:

-

 measurement cycle: every 50 impulses sent by the volumetric flow sensor

-

 encoder pulses per measurement cycle = 455

With the 50th pulse of the volumetric flow sensor, 455 pulses are measured in the encoder. 455 encoder pulses = 0.625625 m of sheet type band.

With an application width of 50 mm, an application area of 0.05 m x 0.625625 m is obtained = 0.0312812 m2 and with 50 pulses of the volumetric flow sensor = 500 mg = 0.5 g, a weight applied by surface unit of 0.5 g / 0.0312812 m2 = 15,984 g / m2. The measurement cycle is initiated by the sensor pulses of volumetric flow, therefore when the applied weight increases, a longer application length is obtained short, that is, the next highest measurable applied weight will be obtained with the 50th pulse of the volumetric flow sensor and 454 pulses of the encoder. 454 encoder pulses = 0.62425 m of sheet type band x 0.05 m = 0.0312125 m2. Weight deposited by surface unit = 0.5 g / 0.0312125 m2 = 16.0192 g / m2.

The next measurable lower applied weight will be obtained with the 50th pulse of the volumetric flow sensor and 456 encoder pulses = 0.627 m of sheet type band x 0.05 m = 0.03135 m2. Weight deposited per unit area = 0.5 g / 0.03135 m2 = 15.9489 g / m2.

In this procedure, the determination of the quantity is based on the resolution of the encoder, therefore on this For example, an accuracy of measured values of ± 0.11% is obtained, since 455 = 100% and 1 pulse = 0.22%.

3. Dosage

The measuring system can be used as a dosing unit. The dosed quantity moves within the grid of the volumetric flow sensor, ie eg (density = 1 g / ml) 10 mg + 10 mg + ... + 10 mg + ...

In this version the encoder is not necessary. The control unit acts on the valve housing through the control line and thus regulates the opening time.

The dosed quantity is predetermined by adjusting the number of pulses of the volumetric flow sensor of the control unit as the setpoint. A maximum dosage time is also established. During the dosing process, it is checked that the set amount is achieved as it gets and the dosage time necessary for it. The dosed quantity is always reached, assuming that there is available material (adhesive) under pressure in the applicator system. Circulating flow changes are compensated due to changes in pressure or plugging of the filter or the nozzles of the valve housing, changing the dosing time. The control unit regulates the carry pump (pressure), so that the dosed quantity is delivered within the predetermined dosing time. If the dosed quantity is not reached within the maximum predetermined dosing time, then a fault (or fault) warning occurs.

List of reference numbers

(one)

 storage tank for an adhesive and / or sealing agent,

(2)

 carry pump,

(3)

 applicator head provided with at least one

(4)

 applicator nozzle,

(5)

 volumetric flow sensor,

(6)

 control unit with the corresponding data processing program,

(7)

 piping system, which joins the storage tank (1), the carry pump (2) and the applicator head (3) provided with at least one applicator nozzle (4),

(8)

 impulse transmission conduit, which connects the volumetric flow sensor (5) with the control unit (6),

(9)

 regulating ducts (9), which connect the control unit (6), the carry pump (2) and the applicator head (3),

(10)

 output to the external process of the error messages (from the control unit (6)),

(eleven)

 base material,

(12)

 transport device,

(13)

 encoder or goniometer,

(14)

 transmission conduit, which connects the encoder (13) with the control unit (6)

(fifteen)

 cavity in a special way (3 ’) of the applicator head (3)

(16)

 channel

(17)

 valve housing

Claims (19)

1. Device for the regulated application of adhesives and sealing agents on base materials (11), consisting of the following components, a) storage tank for at least one adhesive and / or sealing agent (1), b) carry pump (2), c) applicator head (3) provided with at least one applicator nozzle (4), d) volumetric flow sensor (5), the storage tank (1), the carry pump (2) and the applicator head (3) provided with at least one nozzle applicator (4) are joined together by a pipe system (7) that transports the adhesive and / or agent tightness; the volumetric flow sensor (5) is configured in the form of a gear pump that works in the opposite direction and is part of the applicator head (3) and, in the direction of advance of the adhesive and / or agent sealed, it is arranged immediately before the at least one applicator nozzle (4), characterized in that it contains a control unit (6) with the corresponding processing program of data; and the volumetric flow sensor (5) and the control unit (6) with the corresponding data processing program are connected to each other by means of a pulse transmission conduit (8); and the unity of control (6) with the corresponding data processing program, the carry pump (2) and the applicator head (3) are connected to each other by means of regulating ducts (9); The control unit adapts the quantity applied to the setpoint value by a continuous comparison of the actual value with the setpoint value.

2.

 Device according to at least claim 1, characterized in that the applicator head (3) is configured in the form of a sillar or parallelepiped type housing (3 ') and is provided with a cavity (15) to accommodate the sensor housing form of volumetric flow (5), in which a volumetric flow sensor (5) is used, which in the direction of the outlet is connected by a channel (16) of the housing (3 ') with the valve housing (17) which is arranged outside the housing (3 ') and is provided with at least one applicator nozzle (4).

3.

 Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the volumetric flow sensor (5) is integrated in the commercial applicator head (3), which is used to generate points, cords or surface coatings with adhesives and / or sealing agents.

Four.

 Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (6) with the corresponding data processing program is connected by the corresponding transmission conduit (14) with an encoder (13) of the transport device.

5.

 Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (6) with the corresponding data processing program has an output (10) to the external processing of fault messages.

6.

Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it can be installed in existing production plants for the application of adhesives and / or sealing agents.

7.

 Procedure for the regulated application of adhesives and / or sealing agents on base materials

(11) using a device according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a) the volumetric flow rate of the adhesive and / or transported sealing agent is measured with the volumetric flow sensor (5) arranged immediately before the applicator nozzle, b) the electrical impulses of the volumetric flow sensor (5) are sent to the control unit (6) provided with the corresponding data processing program, c) the control unit (6) with the corresponding data processing program adapts on the line the quantity applied on the base material (11) to the value of setpoint by continuously comparing the actual value with the setpoint value, regulating the carry pump (2) and increasing or decreasing its power.

8.

 Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the control unit (6) with the corresponding data processing program interrupts the transport of the adhesive and / or sealing agent, when it is no longer possible to adapt the actual value to the setpoint value.

9.

 Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the control unit (6) with the corresponding data processing program records as failure the overcoming or the situation lower than the chosen limit values, processes it and signals it by electronic and / or acoustic functions in the form of a warning message.

10.

 Method according to claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the information sent by the

Encoder (13) of a transport device are registered and processed electronically in the control unit (6) with the corresponding data processing program and the amount applied as well as the application length of the adhesive and / or sealing agent are regulated depending on the speed.

eleven.

 Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the adhesives are glue, paste, dispersion adhesives, solution adhesives, contact adhesives, reactive adhesives, pressure adhesives, hot melt pressure adhesives and / or hot melt adhesives.

12.

 Process according to at least one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the adhesives and / or sealing agents at the corresponding processing temperatures have a viscosity of 20 mPas to 100 000 mPas, measured in accordance with ASTM D 3236 .

13.

 Method according to at least one of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that the adhesives and / or sealing agents to be applied at the corresponding processing temperatures have a constant viscosity with a variation of ± 50% within the time periods usual processing.

14.

 Method according to at least one of claims 7 to 13, characterized in that the regulated application of adhesives and / or sealing agents on base materials (11) is carried out intermittently or continuously.

fifteen.

 Use of the device according to claims 1 to 6 for the determination of the density of adhesives and / or sealing agents, which at the corresponding processing temperatures have a viscosity of 20 mPas to 100 000 mPas, measured according to ASTM D 3236.

16.

 Use of the device according to claims 1 to 6 to determine the applied amount of adhesives and / or sealing agents, which at the corresponding processing temperatures have a viscosity of 20 mPas to 100 000 mPas, measured according to ASTM D 3236.

17.

 Use of the device according to claims 1 to 6 for the application and regulated dosing of adhesives and / or sealing agents on an industrial scale.

18.

 Use of the device according to claims 1 to 6 and of the method according to claims 7 to 14 for the measurement and dosage of very small quantities, very small quantities being understood to be those amounts between 10 mg and 100 mg, referred to a density of 1 g / ml

19.

 Use of the device according to claims 1 to 6 for the application of adhesives on base materials

(11) for medical and hygienic items.