Valve assembly for applying flowable medium

Abstract

The invention relates to a valve arrangement for applying a flowable medium, in particular adhesive, onto an application surface in which a substrate can be placed, comprising a preferably stationary central body (24) and two valve units (25a, 25b) mounted on opposite sides of the stationary central body (24) and designed as application valves, each with a dispensing opening preferably arranged at the end of a nozzle for dispensing the medium onto the application surface, wherein the valve units (25a, 25b) are arranged on both sides of a transverse plane arranged between them and extending perpendicular to the application surface. The invention is characterized in that, to change this distance between the dispensing openings, one or each valve unit (25a, 25b) is linearly movable relative to the central body (24), in particular parallel to the application surface.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a valve arrangement for applying flowable medium, in particular hotmelt adhesive, to an application plane in which a substrate can be placed, such as a blank for or for the production of a pack for tobacco products, comprising a preferably stationary (preferably metallic) central body, in particular designed as a distributor body to which the medium can be fed, and two valve units fastened to opposite, in particular parallel sides of the stationary central body, each with a discharge opening, preferably arranged at the end of a nozzle, for discharging the medium onto the application plane, wherein the valve units are arranged on both sides of a transverse plane arranged between them and running perpendicular to the application plane, preferably in a common plane running perpendicular to the transverse plane,and wherein the discharge openings of the two valve units are spaced apart perpendicular to the transverse plane.,

[0002] During the manufacturing process of packs, especially for rod-shaped tobacco products such as cigarettes, adhesive is applied to various surfaces of the unfinished pack. This is done, for example, to bond different tabs together or to adhere bands (e.g., tax bands) to or with the pack. Valve assemblies of the type mentioned above are often used for this purpose.

[0003] The corresponding application valves or valve units of the respective valve arrangement generally have a nozzle with an application opening, with at least two application valves being arranged next to one another at a defined distance from one another, so that they can simultaneously apply adhesive portions to the respective surface or substrate moving past, usually relative to them below them, at a corresponding distance determined by this distance.

[0004] For example, two parallel adhesive tracks consisting of individual adhesive dots or continuous adhesive beads can be applied to the respective substrate by the application valves arranged next to each other.

[0005] Depending on the packaging formats to be produced or the banding formats to be used, or even depending on other technical specifications, the spacing of the adhesive tracks (track width) may need to be adjusted during or before the respective production process. For example, because different types or formats of banding are to be used from one production process to the next. The spacing of the application valves must then be adjusted accordingly.

[0006] This adaptation process is typically complex. One common approach in this context is to completely replace the application valves with ones of different formats. This is costly, as a variety of application valve formats must be maintained in stock.

[0007] Based on this, the object of the present invention is to further develop valve arrangements of the type mentioned at the beginning.

[0008] This object is achieved by a valve arrangement having the features of claim 1.

[0009] Accordingly, the valve arrangement mentioned above is characterized according to the invention in that, in order to change the distance between the dispensing openings of the valve units designed as application valves, one or each valve unit is linearly movable relative to the central body of the valve arrangement, preferably parallel to the application plane or parallel to the common plane running perpendicular to the transverse plane, in which the dispensing openings of the two valve units are preferably located. This linear mobility of the or each valve unit can preferably be achieved by mounting the or each valve unit on the central body so as to be linearly movable.

[0010] According to the invention, it is accordingly achieved that if the medium or, if applicable, adhesive track width that the two adjacent valve units of the valve arrangement can produce needs to be adjusted, or if the distance between the dispensing openings of the two valve units needs to be adjusted, only one or both valve units need to be moved (linearly) relative to the central body in the manner described.

[0011] According to the invention, it can be provided that both valve units are each linearly movable independently of one another or are mounted independently of one another or separately on the central body so that they can move.

[0012] Particularly preferably, the valve arrangement can have an actuating means for one, the or each valve unit that can be actuated by a user, by the actuation of which the linear movement can then be effected.

[0013] The or each actuating means can in particular be rotatably mounted on the central body, in particular on one or on a respective, preferably hollow-cylindrical guide piece of the central body.

[0014] As far as the central body is concerned, it can be designed as a distributor body having, in particular, one or more bores for the medium line, to which the medium which the valve arrangement applies to the substrate can be fed, in particular via a medium line connectable to the distributor body, in particular a medium hose, and from which the medium can be passed on to the valve unit via a connecting line connecting the central body and the respective valve unit or units, through which the medium can be passed.

[0015] The or each connecting line can have two telescopically guided connecting line sections through which the medium can be guided, either to shorten the connecting line when the or the respective valve unit is moved linearly relative to the central body in the direction of the central body, or to lengthen the connecting line when the or the respective valve unit is moved linearly away from the central body in the opposite direction relative to the central body.

[0016] It can be provided that the connecting line sections are connected to each other via movement threads.

[0017] One of the connecting line sections can be formed by the actuating means of the respective valve unit, so that the medium can be conducted through the interior of the actuating means.

[0018] Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the other connecting line section or - generally speaking - one of the connecting line sections is formed by the respective guide piece of the central body, so that the medium can be guided through the interior of the guide piece.

[0019] According to the invention, it can further be provided that the actuating means causing the linear movement of the or the respective valve unit is designed as an adjusting screw having one of the connecting line sections, which is mounted so as to be longitudinally displaceable or longitudinally displaceable relative to the central body by means of a movement thread arranged thereon and a matching counter-thread of the central body, in particular arranged on the or the respective guide piece of the central body. This is particularly such that upon rotation of the adjusting screw, the or the respective valve unit is moved in the direction of the central body, shortening the connecting line relative to the central body, or in the opposite direction away from the central body, lengthening the connecting line relative to the central body.

[0020] Furthermore, it can be provided that a removable spacer plate, in particular one that can be replaced by a spacer plate of a different thickness, is clamped between at least one of the valve units and the central body, which spacer plate rests on the one hand on an outer side of the valve unit facing the central body and on the other hand on an outer side of the central body facing the valve unit.

[0021] A removable spacer plate, in particular one that can be replaced by a spacer plate of a different thickness, can also be clamped between each of the two valve units and the central body, wherein each spacer plate rests on the one hand on an outer side of the respective valve unit facing the central body and on the other hand on an outer side of the central body facing the valve unit.

[0022] The two spacer plates can be connected to each other by a connecting web, in particular in one piece or made of the same material.

[0023] One or each spacer plate can be made of a heat-conducting material, in particular aluminum or copper.

[0024] Further features of the present invention emerge from the appended patent claims, the following description of preferred embodiments and from the appended drawings.

[0025] It shows: Fig. 1 shows a valve arrangement according to the invention with two valve units mounted on a central body during a manufacturing process in which a banderole is attached to a pack for tobacco products, in particular cigarettes, in side view, Fig. 2 shows the detail II from Fig. 1 , namely the valve arrangement according to the invention in an enlarged view, partially sectioned, Fig. 3 a side view of the valve arrangement according to the invention from the viewing direction III in Fig. 2 ., Fig. 4 - Fig. 6 the valve arrangement according to the invention in views according to Fig. 2 with different distances between the valve units and the central body due to linear movement of the valve units, partly with spacer plates between the valve units and the central body, Fig. 7 the valve arrangement according to the invention in a view according to Fig. 2 with two spacer plates connected in one piece by a connecting web between the valve units and the center body.

[0026] The valve assembly 10 according to the invention is explained based on its use in a manufacturing process for packs 11 for tobacco products, in particular cigarettes. It is understood that a valve assembly according to the invention can also be used in other contexts and is not limited to the described application.

[0027] Such a valve arrangement 10 serves to apply medium portions (not shown), in particular adhesive portions, to substrates, such as in the present case, for example, to banderoles 12, which are glued to the packages 11.

[0028] In the Fig. 1 In the manufacturing process shown, the packs 11 are conveyed with the rear wall facing upwards along a pack track 13 at a distance from one another along treatment stations, in this case by means of an endless conveyor 14.

[0029] A banding device 15 is positioned above the packaging track 13 or above the endless conveyor 14 for preparing the bands 12, in particular for applying particularly dot-shaped adhesive portions.

[0030] The banderoles 12 are removed one after the other from a banderole magazine 16 in the banderole device 15 and transferred by means of a take-off roller 17 to a conveyor roller 18, which in the present case has segment-like banderole carriers 19 on which the individual banderoles 12 are held, for example by means of suction air.

[0031] The valve arrangement 10 is arranged in the area of ​​the conveyor roller 18 and applies medium or adhesive portions, in particular hot melt adhesive, to the respective side of the respective banderol 12 facing away from the conveyor roller 18, while the banderol 12 is located on the conveyor roller 18.

[0032] The banderoles 12 provided with the medium portions are then placed by the conveyor roller 18 onto a respective back side of the packages 10.

[0033] Subsequently, the packs 11, each with its band 12 applied, are conveyed by the endless conveyor 14 toward a wrapping station 20, in which the individual packs 11 are provided with an outer wrapper made of individual film cutouts 23 from a film web 21. The wrapping station 20 includes, among other things, a folding turret 44 with individual pockets 22 for receiving one pack 11 each with a band 12 and film cutout 23.

[0034] For further details of this known manufacturing process, reference is made to EP 3 438 019 B1, the content of which is hereby incorporated into the present application for disclosure purposes.

[0035] The valve arrangement 10 is designed in a special way, compare for example Fig. 2 .

[0036] It has a central body 24, in particular a metallic central body, which is designed as a distributor body and to which a medium line 45, in this case a hose for transporting adhesive, is connected in order to supply the medium which is applied to the banderoles 12 by means of the valve arrangement 10, i.e. in this case the adhesive, to the valve arrangement 10 from a medium source not shown, for example from a tank device for adhesive.

[0037] From this central body 24, the medium is then conducted via connecting lines 30 to two valve units 25a and 25b, which are designed as application valves and can each be individually controlled via control lines 31. Via these, the medium is then applied to the substrate or, in the present case, the banderoles 12 through dispensing openings 26 at the ends of nozzles 27 of the valve units 25a and 25b. It is also understood that a valve arrangement according to the invention could also comprise more than two valve units.

[0038] The valve units 25 a and 25 b are arranged on either side of an (imaginary) transverse plane arranged between them, which runs perpendicular to an application plane 28, in which the respective banderol 12 or a region of the banderol 12 extends, which is provided with the respective current medium portions emerging from the respective dispensing opening 26. In the present case, the aforementioned transverse plane extends centrally and vertically through the central body 24, but this need not be the case.

[0039] The respective valve units 25a and 25b are configured and arranged on opposite (outer) sides 24a and 24b of the central body 24, which in this case are particularly parallel and extend parallel to the transverse plane, in such a way that the nozzles 27, or their respective longitudinal central axes 29, which coincide with the outlet direction of the medium portions, are inclined toward each other and toward the transverse plane. In this case, the longitudinal central axes 29 meet the transverse plane at identical acute angles and the application plane 28 at identical acute angles.

[0040] As can also be seen, the dispensing openings 26 are spaced apart from each other in a plane perpendicular to the transverse plane, cf. distance A in Fig. 2 In the present case, they do not have any height offset from one another, but are arranged approximately in a common plane running parallel to the application plane 28.

[0041] Due to the respective inclination of the valve units 25 a and 25 b, in the present case, a distance B between the medium portions applied by the valve units 25 a and 25 b in the application plane 28, also called the track width, results that is smaller than the distance between the dispensing openings 26 of the valve units 25 a and 25 b. However, this does not have to be the case. It would also be conceivable for the distances A and B to be equal, or for the distance B to be greater than the distance A.

[0042] In order to be able to adjust the aforementioned track width if necessary, for example to different band widths, the valve units 25 a and 25 b - in the present case, but this does not have to be the case - are mounted on the central body 24 in a linearly movable or movable manner, and are movable parallel to the application plane 28, so that the dispensing openings 26 can be moved towards or away from each other in their common plane running perpendicular to the transverse plane, compare the movement arrows in Figure 5 and Figure 6 .

[0043] In the present case, the central body 24 is arranged in a stationary manner, for example fastened by means of fastening means 41 to a stationary support frame or a stationary support wall (not shown).

[0044] In order to effect the respective movement of the respective valve unit 25 a or 25 b, in this case each valve unit 25 a and 25 b is assigned an actuating means 32, in this case designed as an adjusting screw, wherein in this case the rotational movements of the actuating means 32 or the adjusting screw are converted into the corresponding linear movements of the valve units 25 a and 25 b.

[0045] However, it would of course also be conceivable, among other things, to provide only one common actuating means for both valve units 25 a and 25 b or, alternatively, to design only one of the valve units 25 a and 25 b to be linearly movable at all, so that accordingly only one actuating means would be required for this one valve unit 25 a and 25 b.

[0046] The details of the linearly movable bearings of the valve units 25 a and 25 b are described in more detail below using the example of the valve unit 25 b shown on the right in the figures. The bearings of the left valve unit 25 a are designed in a mirror image.

[0047] As in Fig. 2 As can be seen, a hollow cylindrical guide piece 33 is arranged on the central body 24, namely on the side 24 b thereof facing the valve unit 25 b, in the present case formed there, to which the actuating means 32 is connected via movement threads 38 (external and internal threads).

[0048] The central axis of the guide piece 33 and the central axis of the actuating means 32 run perpendicular to the (imaginary) transverse plane arranged between the valve units 25 a and 25 b.

[0049] Rotations of the actuating means 32 by a user in one direction lead to a movement of the valve unit 25 b in one direction, namely towards the central body 24, and rotations of the actuating means 32 in the opposite direction correspondingly lead to movements of the valve unit 25 b in the opposite direction, namely away from the central body 24.

[0050] The movement in the direction of the central body 24 is achieved in that the actuating means 32 is seated in a through bore 34 of a base body 35 of the valve unit 25 b, to which the nozzle 27 is indirectly but non-movably connected and in this case rests with a first edge section, in particular a circumferential section, arranged in the region of one end of the nozzle, on a first contact surface 37, in particular a circumferential contact surface, of the base body 35 forming a first stop 36 and entrains the base body 35 in the direction of the central body 24 during its corresponding linear movement caused by the movement threads 32.

[0051] The reverse movement away from the central body 24 is achieved in that the adjusting screw 32 rests with a particularly circumferential edge section arranged in the region of its other end against a particularly circumferential contact surface 40 of the base body 35 forming a second stop 39 and takes the base body 35 with it in its corresponding linear movement caused by the movement threads 38, which moves it away from the central body 24.

[0052] As in Fig. 2 As can be further seen, the connecting line 30, through which the medium is guided from the central body 24 to the valve unit 25 b, runs through the interior of the guide piece 33 and the interior of the actuating means 32.

[0053] A first connecting line section 30 a of the connecting line 30 is formed by the guide piece 33 and a second connecting line section 30 b by the actuating means 32.

[0054] The two connecting line sections 30 a and 30 b are guided telescopically into one another, specifically to shorten the connecting line 30 when the valve unit 25 b is moved linearly relative to the central body 24 in the direction of the central body 24, and to lengthen the connecting line 30 when the valve unit 25 b is moved linearly relative to the central body 24 in the opposite direction away from the central body 24.

[0055] As particularly in the Fig. 2 , 4 , 6 and 7As can be clearly seen, a removable, separate, preferably metallic spacer plate 42, which can be replaced by a spacer plate of a different thickness, for example made of highly thermally conductive aluminum or copper, can be arranged or clamped between the respective outer side 24 a or 24 b on the one hand and the side of the valve unit 25 a or 25 b facing this, with which reproducible distances between the central body 24 and the respective valve unit 25 a or 25 b can be set in a simple manner.

[0056] It can also be provided that the two spacer plates 42 are connected to each other by a common web 43, cf. Fig. 7 .

[0057] For this purpose, the two spacer plates 42 and the web 43 could be connected to one another in one piece, ie form a coherent component made of one and the same material. List of reference symbols:

[0058] 10 Valve arrangement 31 Control lines 11 Packs 32 Actuating means 12 banderoles 33 guide piece 13 Packing track 34 Bore base body valve unit 14 Endless conveyor 35 Basic body 15 banding machine 36 first stop base body 16 Banderol magazine 37 first contact surface base body 17 take-off roller 38 Movement thread 18 conveyor roller 39 second stop base body 19 Banderol carrier 40 second contact surface base body 20 Wrapping station 41 Fasteners for center body 21 film web 42 spacer plate 22 Bags 43 web 23 Foil cutting 44 folding revolver 24 Middle body 45 medium hose 24 a Midbody side 24 b Midbody side A Distance between dispensing openings 25 a valve unit B Distance between medium portions 25 b valve unit 26 Dispensing opening 27 nozzles 28 Order level 29 Longitudinal center axis 30 connecting line 30 a connecting line section 30 b connecting line section

Claims

1. A valve arrangement for applying a flowable medium, in particular adhesive, to an application plane in which a substrate can be placed, comprising a preferably stationary central body (24), in particular designed as a distributor body to which the medium can be supplied, and two valve units (25 a, 25 b) mounted on opposite, in particular parallel sides of the stationary central body (24) and designed as application valves, each having a discharge opening, preferably arranged at the end of a nozzle, for discharging the medium onto the application plane, wherein the valve units (25 a, 25 b) are arranged on both sides of a transverse plane arranged between them and running perpendicular to the application plane, preferably in a common plane running perpendicular to the transverse plane, and wherein the discharge openings of the two valve units (25 a, 25 b) are spaced apart from one another perpendicular to the transverse plane, characterized in thatto change this distance between the dispensing openings, one or each valve unit (25 a, 25 b) is linearly movable relative to the central body (24), in particular parallel to the application plane.

2. Valve arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that both valve units (25 a, 25 b) can be moved linearly independently of one another.

3. Valve arrangement according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve arrangement, in particular one, the or each valve unit (25 a, 25 b), has for one, the or each valve unit (25 a, 25 b) an actuating means (32) which can be actuated by a user and by the actuation of which the linear movement of the or each valve unit (25 a, 25 b) can be effected.

4. Valve arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in thatthe or each actuating means (32) is mounted in particular rotatably on the central body (24), in particular on one or on a respective preferably hollow-cylindrical guide piece of the central body (24).

5. Valve arrangement according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central body (24) is designed as a distributor body, in particular having bores for the medium line, to which the medium can be supplied in particular via a medium line connectable to this, in particular a medium hose, and from which the medium can be passed on to the valve unit (25 a, 25 b) via a connecting line (30) connecting the central body (24) and the respective valve unit(s) (25 a, 25 b).

6. Valve arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in thatthe or each connecting line (30) has two connecting line sections (30 a, 30 b) which are guided telescopically one inside the other, either for shortening the connecting line (30) when the or the respective valve unit (25 a, 25 b) is moved linearly relative to the central body (24) in the direction of the central body (24), or for lengthening the connecting line (30) when the or the respective valve unit (25 a, 25 b) is moved linearly away from the central body (24) in the opposite direction relative to the central body (24).

7. Valve arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that one of the connecting line sections (30 a, 30 b) is formed by the actuating means (32) of the or the respective valve unit (25 a, 25 b), and / or that one of the connecting line sections (30 a, 30 b) or the other connecting line section (30 a, 30 b) is formed by the or the respective guide piece of the central body (24).

8. Valve arrangement according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the connecting line sections (30 a, 30 b) are connected to one another via movement threads.

9. Valve arrangement according to claim 6, 7 or 8, characterized in thatthe actuating means (32) bringing about the linear movement of the or the respective valve unit (25 a, 25 b) is designed as an adjusting screw having one of the connecting line sections (30 a, 30 b), which is mounted so as to be longitudinally displaceable relative to the central body by means of a movement thread arranged on it and a matching counter-thread of the central body, arranged in particular on the or the respective guide piece of the central body (24), in particular in such a way that when the adjusting screw rotates, the valve unit (25 a, 25 b) is moved in the direction of the central body (24) while shortening the connecting line (30) relative to the central body (24) or in the opposite direction away from the central body (24) while lengthening the connecting line (30) relative to the central body (24).

10. Valve arrangement according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in thata removable spacer plate, which can in particular be replaced by a spacer plate of a different thickness, is clamped between at least one valve unit (25 a, 25 b) and the central body (24), which spacer plate rests on the one hand on an outer side of the valve unit (25 a, 25 b) facing the central body (24) and on the other hand on an outer side of the central body (24) facing the valve unit (25 a, 25 b).

11. Valve arrangement according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that between each of the two valve units (25 a, 25 b) and the central body (24) a removable spacer plate, in particular one which can be replaced by a spacer plate of a different thickness, is clamped, wherein each spacer plate rests on the one hand on an outer side of the respective valve unit (25 a, 25 b) facing the central body (24), and on the other hand on an outer side of the central body (24) facing the valve unit (25 a, 25 b).

12. Valve arrangement according to claim 11, characterized in that the two spacer plates are connected to each other in one piece by a connecting web.

13. Valve arrangement according to one or more of the preceding claims 10 - 12, characterized in that one or each spacer plate is made of a heat-conducting material, in particular aluminum or copper.

Images