Corrugated board production line and respective method for manufacturing or retrofitting such corrugated board production line

Abstract

The invention proposes a corrugated board line (2) which is configured for manufacturing a plurality of webs (6a, 6b, 6c) composed of paper into a corrugated board web (4), which extends in a longitudinal direction (L), which has a gluing device (8) for applying glue to at least one of the webs (6a, 6b, 6c), which has a preheating machine (10) with a plurality of heating units (12, 14, 16) for preheating one of the webs (6a, 6b, 6c) before it enters the gluing device (8), which has a printing machine (18) for printing one of the webs (6a, 6b) so that it is a printed web (6c). The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such a corrugated board line (2) and a method for retrofitting a corrugated board line (2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a corrugated cardboard production line, a method for manufacturing such a corrugated cardboard production line, and a method for modifying such a corrugated cardboard production line. Background Technology

[0002] A corrugated board production line is used to manufacture corrugated board. Here, multiple paper webs are unwound from their respective uncoilers and joined together to form a corrugated board web. For this purpose, one of the paper webs is corrugated using corrugating rollers and then glued to two uncorrugated paper webs. Multi-layer corrugated board webs with more than one corrugated paper web are also possible. The final corrugated board web is optionally further processed by the corrugated board production line, i.e., cut into individual sheets.

[0003] In principle, additional printing on corrugated board can be performed in a separate process outside the corrugated board production line, after the final manufacture of the corrugated board web or the cut sheet. However, integration into the corrugated board production line is desirable, allowing printing to occur directly within the line and during the fabrication of the corrugated board web. However, integrating the printing press into the corrugated board production line presents challenges. The various processing stages of the corrugated board production line typically need to be coordinated and positioned to optimally utilize available structural space and achieve specific run times for the paper web between processing stages. Therefore, integrating the printing press into the corrugated board production line is not always feasible, especially when retrofitting an existing line.

[0004] Some exemplary corrugated board production lines are described in CN 105 269 874 A, EP 2 551 117 A2 and DE 10312 601 A1.

[0005] See also DE 10 2010 009 741 A1, DE 102017 216 717 A1, DE 19 24 265 A, US3 220 911 A, US 2 384676 A, WO 2013 / 187 775 A1, CN 210 553 358 U and JP S59-52 655A. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Against this backdrop, the objective of this invention is to provide an improved corrugated board production line with an integrated printing press. Converting an existing corrugated board production line into one with a printing press should be as simple as possible. The printing press should be integrated into the corrugated board production line in a space-saving manner. Furthermore, the printing press should be capable of enabling the most flexible and personalized printing possible.

[0007] This task is accomplished according to the invention by a corrugated board production line having the features of claim 1, by a manufacturing method having the features of claim 22, and by a modified method having the features of claim 23. Advantageous designs, improvements, and variations are the subject of the dependent claims. Statements relating to the corrugated board production line also apply, in a meaningful sense, to both methods, and vice versa.

[0008] A corrugated board production line is configured to manufacture corrugated board webs from multiple webs of paper. The term "web" is currently used broadly both for a single web, i.e., a single-layer web, and for a web composed of multiple webs, i.e., a multi-layer web, such as a single-faced corrugated board web. For example, two sets of two webs are joined together to form a single-faced corrugated board web, and then these two single-faced corrugated board webs are joined together with each other and with another web to form a single corrugated board web. This corrugated board web is then a double-layered corrugated board web, which has two corrugated layers that alternate with three uncorrugated layers.

[0009] The corrugated board production line extends in the longitudinal direction, which is also the usual conveying direction of the production line. Here, the corrugated board production line extends from the beginning to the end, i.e., along the longitudinal direction through the beginning and end boundaries. Web sheets may occasionally be reversed or similarly operated, but generally, the web sheets are conveyed in the longitudinal direction (also referred to as the x-direction). The corrugated board production line is particularly mounted on a ground plane, such as a factory floor, so that the longitudinal direction extends parallel to the ground plane. The corrugated board production line thus has a length in the longitudinal direction (along the x-direction), a height perpendicular to the ground plane (along the y-direction), and a width perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and parallel to the ground plane (along the z-direction). The length is obtained primarily through different workstations erected sequentially before and after the corrugated board production line, and is generally significantly greater than the height and width.

[0010] Currently, the terms "overlapping," "above," and "below" are used to describe spatial arrangements along the vertical direction. Here, "X is arranged above Y" specifically means that X is farther from the ground plane than Y (and vice versa for "below"). Correspondingly, the terms "in sequence," "before," and "after / rear" are used to describe spatial arrangements along the longitudinal direction. Here, "X is arranged before Y" means that X is arranged longitudinally before Y, i.e., closer to the beginning (and vice versa for "after"). The terms "upstream" and "downstream" are used to describe the relative spatial arrangement of the web path (web travel), i.e., the transport of one of the webs. Here, "X is downstream of Y" means that the corresponding web first passes through Y and then through X (and vice versa for "upstream").

[0011] Corrugated board production lines typically have an adhesive applicator for applying adhesive to at least one of the webs. The adhesive is then used to join multiple webs together to form a new web, for example, joining a single-faced corrugated web and an unfaced web to form a single-faced corrugated board web, or joining a single-faced corrugated board web to one or more other webs.

[0012] In addition, corrugated board production lines typically include a preheater with multiple heating units, each used to preheat one web before it enters the sizing mechanism. Preferably, each heating unit preheats only one web. Alternatively or additionally, each web is preferably preheated by only one heating unit. However, a design in which a web is preheated sequentially by multiple heating units is also advantageous. However, the assignment of heating units to webs is preferably explicit, and each heating unit is used to preheat only one web. In this case, the preheater has exactly one heating unit for each web, and that heating unit preheats only that web. Preheating units are preferably, but not mandatory, to have one heating unit for each web. If there are more webs than heating units, one or more webs are correspondingly not preheated by the corresponding heating unit.

[0013] Each heating unit is preferably configured as a heating roller (also called a heating drum or hot roller), through which the web is guided for heating. Here, the web and the heating roller are in direct contact. The preheater is particularly used to preheat these webs before applying adhesive to them in the subsequent gluing mechanism to achieve optimal temperatures for bonding. Accordingly, the heating of the webs in the preheater is preferably adjusted based on the travel time of each web from the heating unit to the gluing mechanism. Specifically, the webs are not processed between the preheater and the gluing mechanism; instead, they are fed directly from the preheater to the gluing mechanism. In principle, it is not necessary to feed all webs to the gluing mechanism, or to apply adhesive to all webs; however, suitably, to ensure the best possible bonding, all webs are fed to the preheater and also heated using the preheater.

[0014] Corrugated board production lines are additionally equipped with printing presses for printing on one of the webs, thus making the web a printed web. Compared to simple, typically uniform, and even coating with paint or the like, printing presses, especially those for printing patterns, characters, markings, etc., are used for selective and non-uniform printing on the web.

[0015] Currently, without limiting the generality, we will take a double-walled corrugated board production line as a starting point, which is also a preferred design for corrugated board production lines. In this double-walled corrugated board production line, five sheets of paper are joined together to form a double-corrugated corrugated board web, i.e., a double-walled corrugated board web. Suitablely, two single-walled corrugated board webs are first manufactured by corrugating one of the sheets and joining it to the other uncorrugated sheet. These sheets are unwound, particularly from an uncoiler, preferably from a splicer, and then glued in a so-called single-facer. The single-facer produces a corrugated sheet from one of the two incoming sheets and then applies glue to one or both of these sheets. Especially for the latter, the single-facer includes a glue application mechanism. Finally, these sheets are joined together by the single-facer and pressed together, so that the result of the single-facer is a sheet of single-walled corrugated board webs. For this purpose, the single-facer has a corresponding joining unit. A double-wall corrugated board production line thus has two single-facers, which connect the two single-faced corrugated board webs to each other and to a fifth web. For this purpose, glue is similarly applied to one or more of these webs, and then the webs are connected to each other. In a suitable design, this is done by means of the glue application mechanism already mentioned. Following the glue application mechanism is a connecting unit, such as a so-called double-facer (also known as a heating and traction unit), which gathers the three webs together and presses them together. Accordingly, the preheater has three heating units, one for each of the three webs that enter the glue application mechanism after the preheater. However, the statements made herein also apply to other corrugated board production lines, such as single-wall corrugated board production lines, which connect only three webs into a corrugated board web with only one corrugated layer, and in which the preheater before the glue application mechanism has only two heating units.

[0016] Preferably, the printing press is located in the so-called wet-end of the corrugated board production line. The wet-end is the section of the corrugated board production line that joins the individual webs into a corrugated board web. In particular, the end of the last joining unit (especially the duplexer) in the longitudinal direction also marks the end of the wet-end. Connected to the wet-end in the longitudinal direction is the dry-end of the corrugated board production line, where the corrugated board web, which has been a continuous material up to this point, can optionally be cut, for example, slotted and / or diced, both longitudinally and / or transversely to the longitudinal direction.

[0017] In methods for manufacturing or modifying corrugated board production lines, a printing press is integrated into the corrugated board production line accordingly.

[0018] The advantage of integrating a printing press into a corrugated board production line is that printing can be performed directly within the production line, during the fabrication of the corrugated board web. By appropriately selecting the printing press, printing becomes particularly flexible and cost-effective.

[0019] Since integrating a printing press, especially into an existing corrugated board production line, is not without cost, several different design schemes are described below, in which the printing press is integrated into the corrugated board production line at different locations. These locations are characterized by making the integration of the printing press particularly simple, low-cost, space-saving, and / or inexpensive.

[0020] In a suitable first design, one heating unit is designated as the first heating unit, and the printing press and the first heating unit are arranged vertically stacked, i.e., viewed perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and perpendicular to the ground plane, the first heating unit is positioned above the printing press, or vice versa. Accordingly, the corrugated board production line particularly has at least two mounting planes, each extending longitudinally and particularly parallel to the ground plane, and arranged vertically stacked, such that one mounting plane is the lower mounting plane and the other is the upper mounting plane. Specifically, the printing press and the first heating unit are thus arranged not only vertically stacked by simply positioning them at different heights, but also in different mounting planes. One of these mounting planes is, in particular, the ground plane. Each mounting plane forms its own fastening point, particularly for the equipment components (printing press, heating unit, etc.) arranged therein, so that the equipment components in the different mounting planes are not directly connected to each other.

[0021] The main advantage of the first design is, in particular, that at least one heating unit of the printing press and preheater is arranged vertically stacked. This avoids the structural difficulties that arise when integrating the printing press into the corrugated board production line. A particular advantage of this design is that the length of the corrugated board production line, i.e., the total length, remains constant, the same whether the printing press is present or absent. Integrating a printing press while maintaining the length of the corrugated board production line is not easily feasible because the various parts of the production line are usually arranged to save as much structural space as possible and / or are technologically coordinated, making it difficult to easily integrate an additional part (here, the printing press). Therefore, by utilizing different mounting planes, the length can be maintained. This also advantageously enables the retrofitting of existing corrugated board production lines with the printing press.

[0022] Preferably, the printing press and the first heating unit each have a length measured in the longitudinal direction, and these two lengths overlap, i.e., preferably, at least 50% of the lengths overlap. Thus, the printing press and the first heating unit are arranged at the same longitudinal position when viewed in the longitudinal direction, that is, not only are they arranged in different mounting planes, but they are also arranged at the same position in the longitudinal direction, and thus are arranged directly stacked one on top of the other.

[0023] A particularly preferred design is one in which the printing press is positioned below the first heating unit. This has the advantage of making the printing press significantly more accessible, for example, for maintenance, and also more easily decoupled from the rest of the corrugated board production line. For the latter, the printing press is suitably positioned in the ground plane, and within that plane, in a sub-region decoupled from vibrations of the rest of the ground plane. Specifically, the first heating unit is also decoupled from the printing press, particularly by being positioned in a separate mounting plane and not simply placed on top of the printing press.

[0024] Inside a corrugated board production line, webs are guided along their own web paths. These paths are generally guided longitudinally, but locally, due to web turning, compression, or retraction, they may be guided in another direction. Therefore, the web path is typically the route the web takes through the corrugated board production line. The web paths are typically different for different webs.

[0025] In a preferred design, the first heating unit is arranged along the web path of the printed web. Here, the first heating unit (with respect to the web path of the printed web) is positioned downstream of the printing press, so that the web is printed first and then guided to the preheater. In other words, the first heating unit, positioned above or below the printing press, is specifically used to heat the web that has been printed by the printing press.

[0026] Preferably, the web path of the printed web originates first from the printing press and then enters another mounting plane, preferably thereafter being guided to the first heating unit. Thus, the web path generally leads through different mounting planes. In other words, a change of mounting plane occurs downstream of the printing press, for example, from the printing press to the first heating unit, along the web path of the printed web. For this purpose, the printed web is turned via corresponding turning elements. The printed web has, in particular, a printed side and an unprinted side. Preferably, the unprinted side is heated with a preheater; alternatively, the printed side is heated, and this heating is then advantageously also used to dry the printed body (also referred to as the printed pattern). Suitably, the printed side does not come into contact with any guide rollers on its path from the printing press (especially the printing cylinder of the printing press) to the preheater (especially to the first heating unit).

[0027] A corrugated board production line has an uncoiler for one web. Specifically, the corrugated board production line has one uncoiler for each single web, thus five uncoilers in a double-walled corrugated board production line. Suitably, the corrugated board production line also has a splicer for each single web. Each uncoiler is preferably combined with a splicer, and the two are configured in combination to support at least two rolls and to switch between two rolls without stopping the corrugated board production line. The splicer is suitably arranged above the uncoiler. For simplicity and without limiting generality, only the uncoiler is mentioned below; however, suitable variations are obtained by replacing the uncoiler with the combination of uncoiler and splicer as described above.

[0028] In a suitable second design, the printing press is now arranged longitudinally between the sizing mechanism and the uncoiler, and here directly after the uncoiler and / or directly before the sizing mechanism. "Directly" is understood to mean that, on the one hand, no additional processing or handling units of the corrugated board production line are arranged in the respective spaces between the uncoiler and the printing press, and on the other hand, between the printing press and the sizing mechanism. Since the web is also guided downstream of the printing press and upstream of the sizing mechanism through the preheater, at least one change of mounting plane occurs along the web path from the printing press to the sizing mechanism. After the printing press, the printed web is guided to the preheater, and here to another mounting plane. After the preheater, the printed web is then guided to the sizing mechanism, which is therefore arranged longitudinally directly after the printing press. Here, the printed web is again guided to another mounting plane, i.e., away from the mounting plane of the first heating unit, and is either guided back to the mounting plane of the printing press or to a completely different mounting plane. Alternatively, if the sizing mechanism is arranged in the same mounting plane as the first heating unit, the printed web remains in the mounting plane of the first heating unit until the sizing mechanism is installed.

[0029] When retrofitting a corrugated board production line, the positioning of the uncoiler and sizing mechanism is preferably kept unchanged, with the printing press being connected between them and in place of the preheater. In particular, the sizing mechanism is arranged at the second longitudinal positioning and also remains at that second positioning.

[0030] The second design scheme can be combined with the first design scheme.

[0031] In a suitable third design, the printing press is now arranged longitudinally between the preheater and the uncoiler, and here directly after the uncoiler and / or directly before the preheater. "Directly" is understood to mean that, on the one hand, no other processing or handling units of the corrugated board production line are arranged in the respective spaces between the uncoiler and the printing press, and on the other hand, between the printing press and the preheater. When guiding the web from the printing press to the preheater, the web typically remains in the same mounting plane, advantageously without requiring any changes.

[0032] When retrofitting a corrugated board production line, the intermediate space between the uncoiler and the preheater is increased to accommodate the printing press. This creates additional space for the printing press. However, advantageously, the overall length of the corrugated board production line remains unchanged, allowing the beginning of the dry end to be shortened to a similar degree as the intermediate space is increased. The end of the wet end is correspondingly moved backward toward the end of the corrugated board production line. This creates space for the printing press in a simple manner, while keeping the dry end largely unaffected.

[0033] The third design scheme can also be combined with the first design scheme.

[0034] Suitablely, all heating units of the preheater are arranged together in a common, i.e., the same mounting plane, which is located above the printing press. This is also referred to as a horizontal arrangement compared to a vertical arrangement where the preheater is constructed as a tower. Thus, the entire preheater is arranged above the printing press. In a corrugated board production line without a printing press, the preheater, for example as a tower of heating units, is arranged in the ground plane at a first longitudinal position for initial positioning. The heating units are then stacked perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, i.e., stacked vertically up and down. Especially when retrofitting a corrugated board production line, the preheater is now removed from the first longitudinal position and at least partially moved to another mounting plane above the ground plane. The printing press is then arranged in place of the preheater at its initial position, i.e., the first longitudinal position. Therefore, when retrofitting a corrugated board production line, the preheater is replaced by the printing press, and then the preheater is arranged in another location, i.e., such that at least one of its heating elements is arranged above the printing press. Suitablely, there is also a design in which multiple or all of the heating units of the preheater are arranged above the printing press.

[0035] To keep the height of the corrugated board production line as low as possible, all heating units of the preheater are preferably arranged sequentially in the longitudinal direction. This is particularly advantageous when the preheater is located on a mounting plane above the printing press. Based on the modification scheme described above, the arrangement of the heating units relative to each other is rotated accordingly. Here, "sequentially in the longitudinal direction" is specifically understood to mean "at the same height." Preferably, the heating units are also arranged equidistantly from each other. Suitably, a transverse aisle of the corrugated board production line extends between each pair of adjacent heating units, thereby allowing optimal access to the heating units for maintenance.

[0036] In a suitable design, the corrugated board production line has a cable tray for caching at least one web of single-faced corrugated board, preferably. Preferably, multiple, for example two webs are cached along the cable tray, particularly stacked vertically in correspondingly multiple different cable tray planes. The cable tray is suitably not arranged in the ground plane, but rather in a mounting plane above the ground plane. Specifically, single-faced corrugated board webs are produced separately by one or more facers, and these webs are then guided onto the cable tray, and thus into the mounting plane above the facer or multiple facers.

[0037] Cable trays especially have end sections, which can be described as longitudinal extensions. The end section is the rearward end of the cable tray in the longitudinal direction, that is, the end towards the end of the corrugated board production line.

[0038] In a suitable fourth design, at least one heating unit is arranged on the cable tray. Particularly preferably, all heating units are arranged on the cable tray. Specifically, the at least one heating unit, and if necessary, even multiple or all heating units, are arranged on the end section of the cable tray. Thus, the end section extends beyond the printing press, and optionally also beyond the gluing mechanism, and further optionally also at least partially beyond the connecting unit. If necessary, the cable tray, especially its end section, is additionally supported. If necessary, any possible aisles, ladders, or stairs may be relocated so that the one or more heating units can be arranged accordingly.

[0039] The fourth design scheme can be combined with the first, second and third design schemes respectively.

[0040] Suitablely, the cable tray has a cable tray guide to know and control the positioning of each web toward the end of the cable tray as needed. The cable tray guide is also called a guide and brake unit, and is particularly used for positioning the webs on the cable tray and braking them when necessary. The cable tray guide is particularly located on the end section of the cable tray. The preheater is suitably arranged after the cable tray guide, so that one or more webs on the cable tray are fed to the preheater in the same mounting plane after the cable tray guide, and only after passing through the preheater are they turned to another mounting plane, preferably the ground plane, so that they are then conveyed to the adhesive applicator.

[0041] In a suitable fifth design, the printing press is positioned below the cable tray guide. Here, the printing press and the cable tray guide each have a length measured longitudinally, and these two lengths preferably overlap, i.e., at least 50% of the lengths overlap. Thus, the printing press and the cable tray guide are positioned at the same longitudinal location when viewed longitudinally; that is, not only are they positioned in two different mounting planes, but they are also positioned at the same location longitudinally, and thus directly stacked one on top of the other.

[0042] The fifth design scheme can also be combined with the first, second and third design schemes respectively.

[0043] As an alternative or additional arrangement of one or more heating units on the cable tray, in a theoretically suitable design, the printing press is arranged on the cable tray. However, it is more advantageous to arrange the printing press below the cable tray.

[0044] As previously described, the corrugated board production line extends longitudinally from the beginning to the end. The uncoilers of the corrugated board production line are arranged at various longitudinal positions to achieve a specific sequence. Viewed from front to back, one of the uncoilers is the first uncoiler, which is closest to the beginning of the corrugated board production line. Correspondingly, one of the uncoilers is also the last uncoiler and is closest to the end of the corrugated board production line. If the printing press is arranged between the uncoilers and the preheater or sizing mechanism as described above, then this uncoiler is preferably also the last uncoiler.

[0045] In a suitable sixth design, the corrugated board production line has a first uncoiler at the beginning, and a printing press is arranged on top of the first uncoiler. In this way, the printing press is also specifically positioned at the beginning. Here, the first uncoiler and the printing press are arranged in different mounting planes. In particular, the printing press and the first uncoiler are arranged at the same longitudinal position when viewed along the longitudinal direction; that is, not only are they arranged in two different mounting planes, but they are also arranged at the same position along the longitudinal direction and directly stacked one on top of the other, i.e., the printing press and the first uncoiler each have a length measured along the longitudinal direction, and these two lengths overlap, preferably at least 50%. The printing press prints specifically on the web unwound by the first uncoiler. Accordingly, the web is first guided upwards from the uncoiler to the mounting plane of the printing press, and then continues through the corrugated board production line from there. Thus, a change of mounting plane occurs from the uncoiler to the printing press.

[0046] In a suitable seventh design, the printing press is positioned at the beginning, prior to the first uncoiler. The first uncoiler is positioned directly after the printing press. Accordingly, the web continues forward from the uncoiler in the same mounting plane, i.e., guided to the printing press in the opposite direction to the usual transport direction, and then turns and continues from there through the corrugated board production line in the usual transport direction. Therefore, no change of mounting plane occurs from the uncoiler to the printing press.

[0047] The sixth and seventh design schemes can be combined with the first design scheme.

[0048] If multiple printing presses are integrated into a corrugated board production line, all the designs mentioned herein can be combined arbitrarily with each other. Preferably, the printed web is a facing web, which forms the outer layer of the corrugated board web. The so-called facing web is specifically the side of the corrugated board web that faces outward and is correspondingly visible after the cut corrugated board webs are assembled individually, for example, for packaging. Accordingly, printing on the facing web can significantly affect the external appearance of the packaging. Inside the corrugated board production line, the facing web forms the bottom layer in particular and is suitably the last web unwound when viewed longitudinally. Alternatively, the printing press is arranged such that it prints on another web, for example, on one of the webs before it is joined into a single-faced corrugated board web.

[0049] In an advantageous design, one of the heating units (preferably a different heating unit from the first heating unit) is a second heating unit, and the gluing mechanism and the second heating unit are arranged stacked vertically. Specifically, the gluing mechanism and the heating unit form a tower, i.e., are arranged vertically, and preferably are also mechanically connected to each other. "Mechanically connected to each other" is specifically understood to mean that the gluing mechanism and the heating unit are fastened together with suitable mounting devices, such as screws and / or profiles. The arrangement of the second heating unit and the gluing mechanism applies similarly to the description of the first heating unit and the printing press. Suitablely, the gluing mechanism and the second heating unit are similarly arranged at the same longitudinal positioning. Preferably, the second heating unit is arranged above the gluing mechanism. In this way, even when modifying the corrugated board production line, the positioning of the gluing mechanism can remain unchanged, with the second heating unit positioned only above it. The second heating unit is suitable for heating, for example, single-faced corrugated board webs produced by a single-facer arranged before the preheater and printing press.

[0050] In a corrugated board production line with three heating units, the preheater correspondingly has a third heating unit in addition to the first and second heating units. In an advantageous first design, the sizing mechanism is sandwiched between the second and third heating units, i.e., the second heating unit is arranged above the sizing mechanism and the third heating unit is arranged below the sizing mechanism, or vice versa. The sizing mechanism and the second and third heating units are then arranged at the same longitudinal position and, in particular, form a tower, and are preferably also mechanically connected to each other (the above statement regarding the tower formed by the sizing mechanism and the second heating unit applies accordingly). In this design, the positioning of the sizing mechanism remains unchanged compared to a corrugated board production line without a printing press, but now one heating unit is used as a base for the sizing mechanism, while the other heating unit is placed on top of the sizing mechanism. This achieves a particularly compact arrangement of the heating units and the sizing mechanism. The assembly is preferably arranged in the ground plane; alternatively, the assembly consisting of the sizing mechanism and the second and third heating units is arranged in a recess in the factory floor, and thus deeper than the ground plane, in order to keep the overall height of the corrugated board production line as small as possible. The preheater is thus largely disassembled because its three heating units are no longer arranged in a row. Viewed longitudinally, the second and third heating units are arranged one on top of the other and at the same longitudinal position, while the first heating unit is preferably arranged before the adhesive applicator and the second and third heating units, or alternatively after them.

[0051] Suitablely, the corrugated board production line has a connecting unit, especially a double-facer as described above, for joining the webs after glue application in the glue applicator. The connecting unit is arranged particularly longitudinally after the glue applicator and preferably in the same mounting plane as the glue applicator. The connecting unit is arranged downstream of the glue applicator for all webs. The connecting unit gathers multiple webs and presses them together to join them. For example, the webs are bonded between a heating plate and a belt in the connecting unit, where the belt travels together at the speed of the webs. Advantageously, the pressure between the webs is individually adjusted using a suitable loading system.

[0052] In a design where one of the heating units is a third heating unit, the connecting unit and the third heating unit are advantageously arranged stacked vertically. Preferably, the third heating unit is positioned above the connecting unit. In a preferred design, the first, second, and third heating units are respectively positioned above the printing press, the gluing mechanism, and the connecting unit, thus arranging the entire preheating unit in a single (i.e., unique) mounting plane above the printing press, the gluing mechanism, and the connecting unit. This results in a particularly space-saving arrangement, both when viewed longitudinally and vertically.

[0053] With the repositioning of the preheater as described herein, the running time of one or more webs up to the gluing mechanism and / or connecting unit may be too long to achieve optimal heating by means of their respective heating units. Therefore, a corrugated board production line in an advantageous design has at least one heating element, particularly a heating plate, for heating one (preferably only one) web after gluing in the gluing mechanism and especially before joining with one or more other webs in the connecting unit. The heating element is suitably arranged in the input area of ​​the connecting unit and between two webs, particularly between two single-faced corrugated webs. Preferably, the heating element is used to heat the middle web of the three webs entering the connecting unit. By using the heating element, only one, several, or all of the webs are individually (i.e., before joining) in addition to the preheater, thus ensuring optimal subsequent gluing. Optionally, a steam spray beam is also arranged directly before or after the heating element.

[0054] Suitablely, the corrugated board production line has a drying section of variable length for the printed web. The drying section is particularly used for drying the printed text onto the web by the printing press. Accordingly, the drying section is arranged after the printing press along the web path of the printed web. Spatially, the drying section is preferably arranged above the printing press, particularly preferably inside the cable tray, and especially between the printing press and the first heating unit. The variable length is suitably achieved using floating rollers or the like, which for this purpose particularly have guide rollers capable of traveling in the longitudinal direction. The drying section is extended, particularly backward, in the opposite direction of the conveying direction by the travel of the floating rollers (i.e., their guide rollers), and shortened in the opposite direction. Therefore, in principle, the entire length of the cable tray can be used as a drying section. Alternatively, for extension, the floating rollers travel in the opposite direction, i.e., forward in the conveying direction and particularly toward the sizing mechanism. To facilitate the insertion of the web into the drying section, the floating rollers suitably travel until near the printing press.

[0055] Suitablely, the web tension on the printed web is also regulated after the printing press by means of the drying section, particularly by means of the aforementioned floating rollers. The printed web then exits the printing press and enters the drying section, where the printed body is dried either passively based solely on the running time of the drying section or actively by means of one or more corresponding heating elements. The heating elements are suitably integrated into the bridge, thereby allowing control over whether and how many heating elements the web is exposed to by the movement of the floating rollers. After the drying section, the printed web then proceeds specifically to the preheater. The drying process in the drying section prevents the printed body from being smudged when it comes into contact with one of the heating units. In an advantageous design, in addition to the preheater, the drying section is also used to preheat the web for subsequent gluing.

[0056] The printing press is preferably a digital printing press or an inkjet printing press (also known as an Inkjet printing press). Such a press enables highly personalized printing, exceptionally free design, and is also suitable for so-called "on-demand printing." Typically, the printing can be changed as needed during the fabrication of the corrugated board web without requiring the shutdown of the corrugated board production line, as is necessary in roll-to-roll printing. Furthermore, digital or inkjet printing presses offer high print quality and high printing speeds. In a suitable design, the press is a monochrome press, thus printing only a single color and therefore being particularly compact. For the actual application of the print, the press, in a suitable design, has one or more printing bars, which, individually or together, preferably cover the entire width of the web. The print applied to the web is essentially arbitrary and includes, for example, QR codes, barcodes, data matrices, other markings, logos, text characters, patterns, or the like. In particular, the press does not limit the web speed of the corrugated board production line, allowing the line to operate at maximum web speeds, such as 450 meters per minute or higher, despite being subjected to printing. The printing press is appropriately connected to the rest of the corrugated board production line in terms of data technology. Therefore, shrinkage compensation of the printed material is appropriately implemented, i.e., the printing press is manipulated so that the printed material is printed in a deliberately distorted manner, such that the printed material combines with the deformation of the web and ultimately achieves the desired dimensions at the end of the corrugated board production line. This deformation is particularly the shrinkage of the web in the transverse direction during heating.

[0057] In a suitable design, the printing press has one or more of the following components through which the web is guided: a web edge detection section, a web cleaning section, a paper thickness measuring section, a web inspection section, a web temperature detection section, and a nozzle inspection section. For optimal printing, the printing press preferably has corresponding web guiding elements, such as a central roller or pressure roller, as additional components. All components are preferably arranged inside the printing press, particularly within an air-conditioned enclosure, preferably an overpressure enclosure. Preferably, the printing press has a suction section (particularly for the generated ink mist) to establish and ensure as limited an environmental condition as possible within the enclosure. To establish a constant web tension as precisely as possible, particularly in the printing area of ​​the web, the printing press suitably has a central roller, which guides the web and suitably adjusts the web tension, particularly in conjunction with one or more winding arms. The winding arms are suitably part of a preheater.

[0058] The features and design options described above and below in the accompanying drawings are not limited to the specific combinations of features described and shown therein. Rather, other advantageous designs of the invention are obtained by omitting some features and / or by using different combinations of the mentioned features. Attached Figure Description

[0059] Embodiments of the present invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherein: Figure 1 A corrugated cardboard production line is shown; Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 A section of the corrugated cardboard production line; Figure 3 It shows Figure 1 A segment of a variant of a corrugated cardboard production line; Figure 4 A section of a corrugated cardboard production line without a printing press is shown; Figure 5 It shows Figure 1 Printing machines for corrugated cardboard production lines; Figure 6 It shows Figure 1 A variant segment of a corrugated cardboard production line Figure 7 It shows Figure 1 A segment of a variant of a corrugated cardboard production line; Figure 8 It shows Figure 1 A segment of a variant of a corrugated cardboard production line. Detailed Implementation

[0060] Figure 1 An embodiment of a corrugated board production line 2 is shown to manufacture corrugated board webs 4 from multiple webs 6a, 6b, 6c made of paper. The term "web" is currently used generally both for a single paper web, i.e., a single-layer web, and for a web composed of multiple paper webs, i.e., a multi-layer web, such as a single-faced corrugated board web.

[0061] Corrugated cardboard production line 2 extends along a longitudinal direction L, which is also the normal conveying direction of corrugated cardboard production line 2. Corrugated cardboard production line 2 is mounted on a ground plane M1, which is the factory floor, so that the longitudinal direction L extends parallel to the ground plane M1. Corrugated cardboard production line 2 has a length along the longitudinal direction L, a height perpendicular to the ground plane M1, and a width perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L and parallel to the ground plane M1. The length, height, and width are measured along the x-direction (X), y-direction (Y), and z-direction (Z), respectively.

[0062] The corrugated board production line 2 includes: a gluing mechanism 8 for applying glue to at least one of a plurality of webs 6a, 6b, 6c; and a preheater 10 having a plurality of heating units 12, 14, 16, namely a first heating unit 12, a second heating unit 14, and a third heating unit 16, which are respectively used to preheat one of the webs 6a, 6b, 6c before entering the gluing mechanism 8. Here, each heating unit 12, 14, 16 preheats only one of the webs 6a, 6b, 6c, and each web 6a, 6b, 6c is preheated by only one of the heating units 12, 14, 16. In the embodiment shown, the corrugated board production line 2 has three heating units 12, 14, 16, but this statement also applies, in a sense, to corrugated board production line 2 having only one or two of the three heating units 12, 14, 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the heating units 12, 14, 16 are respectively configured as heating rollers. In principle, it is not necessary for all webs 6a, 6b, and 6c to be fed to the glue application mechanism 8, or for all webs 6a, 6b, and 6c to be glued. However, currently, all webs 6a, 6b, and 6c are at least fed to the preheater 10 and heated by the preheater. No processing is performed on the webs 6a, 6b, and 6c between the preheater 10 and the glue application mechanism 8; instead, these webs are directly fed from the preheater 10 to the glue application mechanism 8.

[0063] The corrugated cardboard production line 2 additionally includes a printing press 18 for printing on one of the webs 6a and 6b, in this case, a paper web, so that the paper web is a printed web 6c. The printing press 18 is used to print patterns, characters, markings, or the like. The printing press 18 and the first heating unit 12 are arranged stacked vertically. Figure 2 and Figure 3 Two variations are shown in detail, in which the corrugated board production line 2 with printing press 18 is shown in sections. In the variation shown here, the first heating unit 12 is arranged above the printing press 18; conversely, alternatively, in a variation not explicitly shown, the printing press 18 is arranged above the first heating unit 12. Accordingly, the corrugated board production line 2 generally has at least two mounting planes M1, M2, one of which is the ground plane M1, but this is not mandatory. Mounting planes M1, M2 extend along the longitudinal direction L and are arranged vertically overlapping each other. Thus, the printing press 18 and the first heating unit 12 are not only simply positioned at different heights and arranged vertically overlapping each other, but they are also arranged in different mounting planes M1, M2. Each mounting plane M1, M2 forms its own fastening point for the equipment parts arranged therein, so that the equipment parts in the different mounting planes M1, M2 are not directly connected to each other.

[0064] The embodiment shown here is based on a double-wall corrugated board production line 2, but the statements made herein also apply to other corrugated board production lines 2, such as single-wall corrugated board production lines that simply join three paper webs into a corrugated board web with only one corrugated layer, and in this single-wall corrugated board production line, the preheater 10 before the gluing mechanism 8 has only two heating units 12, 14. In the double-wall corrugated board production line 2 shown here, five paper webs 6a are joined into a double-corrugated corrugated board web 4, i.e., a double-wall corrugated board web. For this purpose, two single-faced corrugated board webs 6b are first manufactured by corrugating one single paper web 6a and joining it with another uncorrugated paper web 6a. The paper webs 6a are unwound from the uncoiler 20 (here, the splicer) and then glued in the so-called single-facer 22. The single-facer 22 produces a corrugated paper web 6a from one of the two incoming paper webs 6a, and then applies glue to one or both of the paper webs 6a. For this purpose, the single-facer 22 includes a glue application mechanism. Finally, the paper webs 6a are joined by the single-facer 22 and pressed together, so that the result of the single-facer is an output single-sided corrugated board web 6b. For this purpose, the single-facer 22 has a corresponding connecting unit. The double-wall corrugated board production line 2 then has two single-facers 22, and then connects the two single-faced corrugated board webs 6b to each other and to a fifth paper web 6a. For this purpose, glue is similarly applied to one or more of the webs 6, and then the webs 6a, 6b, 6c are joined together. Currently, this is done using a glue application mechanism 8. Following the glue application mechanism is a connecting unit 24, which is specifically the so-called double-facer (also referred to as a heating and traction unit), which gathers the three webs 6a, 6b, 6c and presses them together. Accordingly, the preheater 10 thus has exactly three heating units 12, 14, 16, one for each of the three webs 6a, 6b, 6c that enter the sizing mechanism 8 after the preheater 10.

[0065] Currently, the printing press 18 is arranged in the so-called wet end of the corrugated board production line 2. The end of the connecting unit 24 also marks the end of the wet end. Connected to the wet end along the longitudinal direction L is the dry end of the corrugated board production line 2, which optionally performs cutting processing on the corrugated board web 4, which is now a continuous material, such as slotting and / or cutting.

[0066] In the illustrated embodiment, the printing press 18 and the first heating unit 12 are arranged at the same longitudinal position along the longitudinal direction L, i.e., not only are they arranged in different mounting planes M1 and M2, but they are also arranged at the same position along the longitudinal direction L, thus being directly stacked one on top of the other. The first heating unit 12 and the printing press 18, measured along the longitudinal direction L, respectively have lengths L1 and L2, and at least 50% of their lengths overlap. This is... Figure 2 and3 It is particularly clear and identifiable.

[0067] exist Figure 2 In this configuration, all heating units 12, 14, and 16 of the preheater 10 are arranged on the same mounting plane M2, which is located above the printing press 18. Thus, the entire preheater 10 is positioned above the printing press 18. For comparison, in... Figure 4 The diagram shows a corrugated board production line 2 without a printing press 18, where a preheater 10 is arranged as a tower of heating units 12, 14, 16 in a ground plane M1 at a first longitudinal position A (also called initial position A), i.e., the heating units 12, 14, 16 are stacked perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L. In general, or particularly for retrofitting the corrugated board production line 2, the preheater 10 is removed from initial position A and moved to a mounting plane M2 above ground plane M1, and at initial position A, it is replaced by... Figure 2 The printing press 18 is arranged as shown. Therefore, in order to modify it as shown... Figure 4 In the corrugated cardboard production line 2 shown, the preheater 10 is replaced by the printing press 18, and then the preheater 10 is placed in another location, such as... Figure 2 As shown above the printing press 18.

[0068] In addition, Figure 2 In the preheater 10, all heating units 12, 14, and 16 are arranged sequentially along the longitudinal direction L, i.e., at the same height. Figure 4 In contrast, the heating units 12, 14, and 16 are rotated relative to each other in their arrangement. Currently, the heating units 12, 14, and 16 are also arranged equidistantly from each other. A transverse walkway 26 extends between each pair of adjacent heating units 12, 14, and 16.

[0069] Inside the corrugated board production line 2, multiple webs 6a, 6b, and 6c are guided along their respective web paths. These web paths are generally guided in the longitudinal direction L, but locally, due to the turning, compression, or retraction of the webs 6a, 6b, and 6c, they may also be guided in another direction. Therefore, the web path is typically the path that the webs 6a, 6b, and 6c take as they traverse the corrugated board production line 2. The web paths of different webs 6a, 6b, and 6c are typically different, as can be seen from the figure.

[0070] exist Figure 2In this embodiment, the first heating unit 12 is arranged along the web path of the printed web 6c. Here, the first heating unit 12 (with respect to the web path of the printed web 6c) is arranged downstream of the printing press 18, so that the web 6a is printed first and then guided to the preheater as the printed web 6c. In other words, the first heating unit 12, arranged above (or below) the printing press 18, is specifically used to heat the web 6a printed by the printing press 18. Accordingly, the web path of the printed web 6c is first led out from the printing press 18, then introduced into another mounting plane M2, and guided there to the first heating unit 12. Thus, the web path is guided through different mounting planes M1 and M2. For this purpose, the printed web 6c is deflected via corresponding deflecting elements. The printed web 6c has a printed side and an unprinted side, and in one variant, the unprinted side is heated by a preheater 10, while the printed side is heated instead, and this heating is also used to dry the print.

[0071] exist Figure 2 and Figure 3 In both embodiments, the printed web 6c is a faceted web, which forms the outer layer of the corrugated board web 4. Inside the corrugated board production line 2, the faceted web currently forms the bottom layer and is also seen as the final web unwinding along the longitudinal direction L. In an alternative not shown, the printing press 18 is arranged such that it prints on another web 6a, 6b, for example, on one of the webs 6a before it is joined into a single-faced corrugated board web 6b. For example, the printing press is arranged between one of the splicers and one of the single-facers 22.

[0072] The corrugated board production line 2 has an uncoiler 20 for each sheet web, totaling five uncoilers 20, and each uncoiler 20 also has a splicer 21. Each uncoiler 20 and splicer 21 are configured to support at least two rolls and switch between two rolls without stopping the corrugated board production line 2. The printing press 18 is arranged longitudinally L between the sizing mechanism 8 and one of the combinations consisting of one of the uncoilers 20 and the splicer 21. Figure 2 and Figure 3The final unit along the longitudinal direction L is the uncoiler 20 and the splicer 21. Currently, the printing press 18 is arranged directly after the uncoiler 20 and the splicer 21, and the web 6a output from the uncoiler 20 via the splicer 21 is directly fed to the printing press 18. After the printing press 18, the printed web 6c is then guided to the preheater 10, and specifically, from the lower mounting plane M1 to the upper mounting plane M2. After the preheater 10, the printed web 6c is then guided to the sizing mechanism 8, which is arranged directly after the printing press 18 along the longitudinal direction L. No other processing or handling units of the corrugated board production line 2 are arranged in the respective spaces between the uncoiler 20 and the printing press 18, and between the printing press 18 and the sizing mechanism 8. Since the web 6c is guided downstream of the printing press 18 and upstream of the sizing mechanism 8 through the preheater 10, the mounting planes M1 and M2 are changed at least once, in this case twice, along the web path of the printed web 6c from the printing press 18 to the sizing mechanism 8. When retrofitting the corrugated board production line 2, for example... Figure 4 In the corrugated cardboard production line, the positions of the uncoiler 20, splicer 21 and gluing mechanism 8 remain unchanged, except that they are connected to the printing press 18 in between and in place of the preheater 10.

[0073] In addition, Figure 2 and Figure 3 In this arrangement, one of the heating units 12, 14, and 16, namely the second heating unit 14, is arranged vertically stacked with the gluing mechanism 8. The gluing mechanism 8 and the heating units 14 and 16 form a tower and are also mechanically connected to each other. The description of the arrangement of the second heating unit 14 and the gluing mechanism 8 is similarly applicable to the first heating unit 12 and the printing press 18. Accordingly, the gluing mechanism 8 and the second heating unit 14 are also arranged at the same longitudinal position. Currently, the second heating unit 14 is also arranged above the gluing mechanism 8. The second heating unit 14 is used here to heat, for example, the single-faced corrugated board web 6b produced by the single-facer 22, which is arranged before the preheater 10 and the printing press 18.

[0074] exist Figure 3In this embodiment, the gluing mechanism 8 is sandwiched between the second and third heating units 14 and 16, i.e., the second heating unit 14 is arranged above the gluing mechanism 8, and the third heating unit 16 is arranged below it (or vice versa). In this design, the positioning of the gluing mechanism 8 remains unchanged compared to a corrugated board production line 2 without a printing press 18, but now one of the heating units 14 and 16 is used as a base for the gluing mechanism 8, and the other heating unit of the heating units 14 and 16 is placed on top of the gluing mechanism. This assembly is arranged in the ground plane M1, optionally in a recess in the factory floor. The preheater 10 is generally disassembled here because its three heating units 12, 14, and 16 are no longer as... Figure 2 They are arranged in a row as shown in the middle. Observing along the longitudinal direction L, the second and third heating units 14 and 16 are stacked one on top of the other and arranged at the same longitudinal position, while the first heating unit 12 is arranged in front of the glue application mechanism 8 and the second and third heating units 14 and 16 (or alternatively arranged behind them).

[0075] The aforementioned connecting unit 24 is used to connect the webs 6a, 6b, and 6c after glue application in the glue application mechanism 8, and is arranged longitudinally L downstream of the glue application mechanism 8, and is currently even located in the same mounting plane M1 as the glue application mechanism 8. The connecting unit 24 is arranged downstream of the glue application mechanism 8 for all webs 6b and 6c. The connecting unit 24 gathers multiple webs 6a, 6b, and 6c and presses them together. Figure 2 In this embodiment, the connecting unit 24 and the third heating unit 16 are also arranged stacked one on top of the other. Here, the third heating unit 16 is arranged above the connecting unit 24. Therefore, the first, second, and third heating units 12, 14, and 16 are respectively arranged above the printing press 18, the glue application mechanism 8, and the connecting unit 24, so that the entire preheating machine 10 is arranged in the upper mounting plane M2.

[0076] The corrugated board production line 2 shown here also has a cable tray 30 for caching at least one of a plurality of webs 6a, 6b, and 6c. Currently, two webs 6b are cached along the cable tray 30, i.e., stacked one on top of the other in two different cable tray mating planes. The cable tray 30 is not arranged in the ground plane M1, but rather in the mounting plane M2 above the ground plane M1. Single-faced corrugated board webs are produced by two single-facers 22, and then these two single-faced corrugated board webs are guided onto the cable tray 30, thereby guiding them into the mounting plane M2 above the single-facers 22.

[0077] exist Figure 2 and Figure 3 In this configuration, at least one of the heating units 12, 14, and 16 is arranged on the cable tray 30. Figure 3In this configuration, only the first heating unit 12 is arranged on the bridge tray 30, and further arranged in the upper mounting plane M2. Figure 2 All heating units 12, 14, and 16 are arranged on the cable tray 30. The cable tray 30 has an end section 32, which is essentially an extension along the longitudinal direction L, for housing one or more of the heating units 12, 14, and 16. Thus, the end section 32 extends over the printing press 18, and optionally also over the glue applicator 8, and further optionally also at least partially over the connecting unit 24. Alternatively or additionally to arranging one or more of the heating units 12, 14, and 16 on the cable tray 30, in a design not explicitly shown, the printing press 18 is arranged on the cable tray 30.

[0078] In the embodiment shown, the cable tray 30 has a cable tray guide 34 to determine and control the positioning of the respective webs 6a, 6b, 6c relative to the end of the cable tray 30 as needed. The preheater 10 is then arranged after the cable tray guide 34, such that one or more webs 6a, 6b, 6c on the cable tray 30 are delivered to the preheater 10 within the same mounting plane M2 after the cable tray guide 34, and only after passing through the preheater 10 do they turn downwards into another mounting plane M1, where they are then conveyed to the adhesive applicator 8.

[0079] Due to the repositioning of the preheater 10 described herein, the running time of one or more of the webs 6a, 6b, 6c up to the gluing mechanism 8 and / or connecting unit 24 may be too long, making it impossible to achieve optimal heating by means of the corresponding heating units 12, 14, 16. Therefore, the corrugated board production line 2 in... Figure 2 Optionally, a heating element 36, here a heating plate, is also provided for heating one of the webs 6a, 6b, 6c, or even only one of the webs, after the gluing mechanism 8 and before the connection in the connecting unit 24. The heating element 36 is arranged in the input region 38 of the connecting unit 24 and between the two webs 6a, 6b, 6c. Figure 2 The heating element 36 is exemplarily arranged between two single-faced corrugated cardboard webs. It is used to heat the middle web of the three webs 6a, 6b, and 6c entering the connecting unit 24. Optionally, a steam spray beam (not explicitly labeled) may also be arranged directly before or after the heating element 36.

[0080] exist Figure 3In this corrugated board production line 2, a drying section 40 of variable length L3 is additionally provided for drying the printed material 6c printed onto the web 6a by the printing press 18. Accordingly, the drying section 40 is arranged after the printing press 18 along the web path of the printed web 6c. Spatially, in the embodiment shown here, the drying section 40 is arranged above the printing press 18, more precisely inside the bridge 30, and between the printing press 18 and the first heating unit 12. The variable length L3 is achieved here by a floating roller 42, which has a guide roller capable of traveling in the longitudinal direction L. The drying section 40 extends backward in the opposite direction of the conveying direction by the travel of the floating roller 42 (i.e., the guide roller), and shortens in the opposite direction (alternatively, it extends and shortens in opposite directions respectively). Currently, the web tension of the printed web 6c after the printing press 18 is also adjusted by means of the drying section 40. After the drying section 40, the printed web 6c enters the preheating machine 10. The concept of the drying section can also be used... Figure 2 Examples are shown in the text.

[0081] Figure 5 Exemplary only with respect to Figure 3 The arrangement of the drying section 40 and the third heating unit 16 together illustrates an embodiment of a printing press 18. In this illustrated embodiment, the printing press 18 is a digital or inkjet printing press, allowing the printed material to be changed as needed during the manufacture of the corrugated board web 4 without stopping the corrugated board production line 2. The printing press 18 is, for example, a monochrome printing press, thus printing only a single color. For the actual application of the printed material, the printing press 18 has one or more printing rods 46. Currently, the printing press 18 also has one or more of the following components through which the webs 6a, 6b, 6c are guided: a web edge detection unit 48, a web cleaning unit 50, a paper thickness measuring unit 52, a web inspection unit 54, a web temperature detection unit, and a nozzle inspection unit. For optimal printing patterns, the printing press 18 has corresponding web guiding elements as additional components, such as a central roller 56 or a pressure roller. The central roller 56 is also used to establish constant web tension in the printing areas of the webs 6a, 6b, 6c, particularly in conjunction with one or more unspecified winding arms. All components are housed within the air-conditioned overpressure enclosure 58 of the printing press 18.

[0082] Figure 6 , Figure 7 and Figure 8 Three other embodiments are shown in the figure.

[0083] According to Figure 6In the design, the printing press 18 is positioned longitudinally L between the preheater 10 and the uncoiler 20, directly after the uncoiler 20 and directly before the preheater 10. When guiding the web 6c from the printing press 18 to the preheater 10, the web 6c remains within the same mounting plane M1 without any changes. When modifying the corrugated board production line 2, the intermediate space 60 between the uncoiler 20 and the preheater 10 is increased to accommodate the printing press 18. This creates additional space for the printing press 18, but the overall length of the corrugated board production line 2 remains unchanged. For this purpose, the beginning of the dry end is shortened to a degree similar to the increase in the intermediate space 60. The end of the wet end is correspondingly moved backward toward the end of the corrugated board production line 2. This creates space for the printing press 18 and largely eliminates the impact on the dry end.

[0084] In addition, Figure 6 In this arrangement, the printing press 18 is also positioned below the cable tray guide 34, that is, at the same longitudinal location as the cable tray guide when viewed along the longitudinal direction L. However, this arrangement below the cable tray guide 34 does not, in principle, depend on the printing press 18 being positioned between the uncoiler 20 and the preheater 10. Figure 6 The arrangement shown in the figure.

[0085] The corrugated board production line 2 generally extends along the longitudinal direction L from the beginning 62 to the end 64. The uncoilers 20 of the corrugated board production line 2 are arranged at various different longitudinal positions along the longitudinal direction L, thus achieving a specific sequence. Viewed from front to back, one of the uncoilers 20 is the first uncoiler, which is closest to the beginning 62 of the corrugated board production line 2, and... Figure 1 , Figure 7 and Figure 8 This is clearly evident in the text. Accordingly, one of the uncoilers 20 is also the last uncoiler and is closest to the end 64 of the corrugated cardboard production line 2, and... Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 This is clearly evident from the text.

[0086] exist Figure 7In this embodiment, the printing press 18 is arranged above the first uncoiler 20 and positioned together with the first uncoiler 20 at the beginning 62. The first uncoiler 20 and the printing press 18 are arranged in different mounting planes M1 and M2, but are positioned at the same longitudinal location when viewed along the longitudinal direction L. The printing press 18 prints on the web 6a that has been unwound by the first uncoiler 20. Accordingly, the web 6a is first guided upward from the uncoiler 20 into the mounting plane M2 of the printing press 18, and then continues to be guided from there through the corrugated board production line 2. Thus, a change of mounting planes M1 and M2 occurs from the uncoiler 20 to the printing press 18.

[0087] exist Figure 8 In this embodiment, the printing press 18 is positioned at the beginning 62 and prior to the first uncoiler 20. The first uncoiler 20 is positioned directly after the printing press 18. Accordingly, the web material is first guided forward from the uncoiler 20 in the same mounting plane M1, i.e., guided to the printing press 18 in the opposite direction to the normal transport direction, and then turns and continues from there through the corrugated board production line 2 in the normal transport direction. Therefore, no change of mounting plane M1 occurs from the uncoiler 20 to the printing press 18.

[0088] List of reference numerals

[0089] 2 Corrugated Cardboard Production Line

[0090] 4 Corrugated cardboard width

[0091] 6a Web, paper web

[0092] 6b width, single-faced corrugated cardboard width

[0093] 6c Printed web

[0094] 8. Adhesive application mechanism

[0095] 10 Preheater

[0096] 12 First heating unit

[0097] 14 Second heating unit

[0098] 16 Third heating unit

[0099] 18 Printing press

[0100] 20 Uncoiling Machine

[0101] 21. Splicer

[0102] 22 Single-sided machine

[0103] 24 Connection Units

[0104] 26. Transverse walkway

[0105] 30 Cable tray

[0106] 32 End Section

[0107] 34 Cable tray guide section

[0108] 36 Heating elements

[0109] 38 Entrance Area

[0110] 40 Drying section

[0111] 42 Floating Rollers

[0112] 46 Printing rod

[0113] 48 Sheet Edge Inspection Department

[0114] 50-piece cloth cleaning department

[0115] 52 Paper Thickness Measurement Section

[0116] 54. Material Inspection Department

[0117] 56 Central Roller

[0118] 58 Overpressure Seal

[0119] 60 Intermediate Space

[0120] 62 (The beginning of the corrugated cardboard production line)

[0121] 64 (End of corrugated cardboard production line)

[0122] A. Initial Positioning

[0123] L (vertical direction)

[0124] L1 (printing press) length

[0125] L2 (length of the first heating unit)

[0126] L3 (drying section) variable length

[0127] M1 Ground plane, installation plane

[0128] M2 mounting surface

[0129] X x direction

[0130] Y y direction

[0131] Z z direction

Claims

1. Corrugated cardboard production line (2). - The corrugated board production line is configured to manufacture corrugated board webs (4) from multiple webs (6a, 6b, 6c) made of paper. - The corrugated cardboard production line extends along the longitudinal direction (L). - The corrugated board production line has a glue application mechanism (8) for applying glue to at least one of the webs (6a, 6b, 6c). - The corrugated board production line has a preheater (10) with multiple heating units (12, 14, 16) for preheating (10) one of the webs (6a, 6b, 6c) before entering the sizing mechanism (8). - The corrugated board production line has a printing press (18) for printing on one of the webs (6a, 6b) so that the web is a printed web (6c).

2. The corrugated cardboard production line (2) according to claim 1. in, One of the multiple heating units (12, 14, 16) is the first heating unit (12), wherein the printing press (18) and the first heating unit (12) are arranged stacked one on top of the other.

3. The corrugated cardboard production line according to claim 2, in, The printing press (18) and the first heating unit (12) have lengths (L1, L2) respectively measured along the longitudinal direction (L), and these two lengths (L1, L2) overlap, so that the printing press (18) and the first heating unit (12) are arranged at the same longitudinal position when viewed along the longitudinal direction (L).

4. The corrugated cardboard production line (2) according to claim 2 or 3. in, The printing press (18) is arranged below the first heating unit (12).

5. The corrugated cardboard production line (2) according to any one of claims 2 to 4. in, The webs (6a, 6b, 6c) are guided along the web path, respectively. The first heating unit (12) is arranged along the web path of the printed web (6c) and downstream of the printing press (18).

6. The corrugated cardboard production line (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5. in, The corrugated cardboard production line has an uncoiler (20) for one of the webs (6a). The printing press (18) is arranged in the longitudinal direction (L) between the sizing mechanism (8) and the uncoiler (20), and is arranged directly after the uncoiler (20) and directly before the sizing mechanism (8).

7. The corrugated cardboard production line (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5. in, The corrugated cardboard production line has an uncoiler (20) for one of the webs (6a). The printing press (18) is arranged in the longitudinal direction (L) between the preheater (10) and the uncoiler (20), and is arranged directly after the uncoiler (20) and directly before the preheater (10).

8. The corrugated cardboard production line (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 7. in, The corrugated cardboard production line has a bridge (30) for buffering at least one of the webs (6a, 6b, 6c). The cable tray (30) has an end section (32) on which at least one of the heating units (12, 14, 16) is arranged. The end section (32) extends beyond the printing press (30).

9. The corrugated cardboard production line (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 7. in, The corrugated cardboard production line has a bridge (30) for buffering at least one of the webs (6a, 6b, 6c). It includes a cable tray guide (34) for positioning and braking at least one of the webs (6a, 6b, 6c). The cable tray guide (34) is arranged on the end section (32) of the cable tray (30). The printing press (30) is located below the cable tray guide (34).

10. The corrugated cardboard production line (2) according to claim 1. in, The corrugated cardboard production line extends longitudinally (L) from the beginning (62) to the end (64) and has a first uncoiler (20) at the beginning (62). The printing press (30) is arranged above the first unwinder (20).

11. The corrugated cardboard production line (2) according to claim 1. in, The corrugated cardboard production line extends longitudinally (L) from the beginning (62) to the end (64). The corrugated cardboard production line includes a first uncoiler (20). The printing press (30) is located at the beginning (62), which is prior to the first unwinder (20).

12. The corrugated cardboard production line (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 11. in, All heating units (12, 14, 16) of the preheater (10) are arranged together in the same mounting plane (M2), which is located above the printing press (18).

13. The corrugated cardboard production line (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 12. in, All heating units (12, 14, 16) of the preheater (10) are arranged sequentially in the longitudinal direction (L).

14. The corrugated cardboard production line (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 13. in, One of the heating units (12, 14, 16) is the second heating unit (14). The adhesive application mechanism (8) and the second heating unit (14) are arranged stacked on top of each other to form a tower and are mechanically connected to each other.

15. The corrugated cardboard production line (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 14. in, The corrugated board production line has a connecting unit (24) for connecting the webs (6a, 6b, 6c) after gluing in the gluing mechanism (8). Among them, one of the multiple heating units (12, 14, 16) is the third heating unit (16). The connecting unit (24) and the third heating unit (16) are arranged stacked one on top of the other.

16. The corrugated cardboard production line (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 14. in, The corrugated board production line has a connecting unit (24) for connecting the webs (6a, 6b, 6c) after gluing in the gluing mechanism (8). The corrugated board production line has at least one heating element (36) for heating one of the webs (6a, 6b, 6c) after gluing in the gluing mechanism (8) and before joining it with one or more other webs (6a, 6b, 6c). The heating element (36) is arranged in the input region of the connecting unit (24) and between two webs in the webs (6a, 6b, 6c).

17. The corrugated cardboard production line according to any one of claims 1 to 16, in, The web path of the printed web (6c) first emerges from the printing press (18) and then enters another mounting plane (M1, M2).

18. The corrugated cardboard production line (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 17. in, The printed web (6c) is a covered web, which forms the outer layer of the corrugated paper web (4).

19. The corrugated cardboard production line (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 18. in, For the printed web (6c), the corrugated board production line has a drying section (40) with a variable length (L3).

20. The corrugated cardboard production line (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 19. in, The printing press (18) is a digital printing press or an inkjet printing press.

21. The corrugated cardboard production line according to any one of claims 1 to 20, in, The printing press (30) is a monochrome printing press.

22. A method for manufacturing a corrugated cardboard production line (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 21.

23. A method for retrofitting a corrugated cardboard production line (2), in, The printing press (18) is integrated into the corrugated board production line (2) to obtain the corrugated board production line (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 21.

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