System and method for producing paper sticks

Abstract

The invention relates to a production system (1) for producing a large number of single-color, compact, flexurally rigid, and cavity-free paper sticks (2). The single-color paper sticks (2) can be produced from a paper web supply (3) with white or virtually white paper by cutting the paper web in a cutting device of the production system (1) and by winding the paper web in a winding device, which comprises a wheel (5), of the production system (1). At least some sections of the wheel (5) can be supplied with an aqueous colorant solution (12), whereby the paper sticks (2) can be colored with a single selectable color during the production process.

Description

[0001] MANUFACTURING

[0002] PLANT and PROCESS for PAPER RODS

[0003] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The invention relates to a manufacturing plant according to the preamble of claim 1 and claim 3. The plant serves to produce single-colored, compact, rigid, and void-free paper sticks in large quantities. The paper sticks are used, for example, as the basis for hygiene articles such as cotton swabs, i.e., they are circulated as mass-produced, disposable products in hundreds of thousands or millions of quantities within a short period of time. The single-colored paper sticks can be produced from a paper web stock containing white or nearly white paper by cutting in a cutting device of the manufacturing plant and by winding in a winding device comprising a wheel of the manufacturing plant. The winding of the paper web to form a paper stick with a diameter of, for example, 2 to 10 mm is carried out so compactly and tightly that the paper stick has no or almost no voids (void-free).In the context of paper web stock, "virtually white" means that the paper stock is uncolored. The paper in the paper stock can be made from bleached or unbleached pulp; it can be light gray, light beige, natural brown, or cream-colored, but not colored or black. For paper rod production, for example, a paper web is first cut from a supply roll to a specified length and then wound into a (thin and compact) paper web roll. The wheel of the winding device comprises a winding area that narrows uniformly in the direction of paper web movement, forming a rigid and void-free, compact paper web roll or paper web winder whose diameter corresponds to that of the compact and rigid paper rods. The paper rods formed in this way are fed to a post-processing and packaging device.In order to ensure that the paper adheres within the paper web roll during the winding process, the wheel can be supplied with an aqueous adhesive, in particular water, at least in sections by means of an adhesive supply device.

[0005] The invention also relates to a method for producing a large number of single-color paper sticks according to the preamble of claim 6 and claim 8. The single-color paper sticks are formed from a paper web supply of white or nearly white paper by cutting and winding in a winding device comprising a wheel. The wheel can be coated, at least in sections, with an aqueous adhesive, in particular water.

[0006] The invention also relates to a single-color paper stick according to the preamble of claim 9 and a cotton swab for medical or hygiene applications according to the preamble of claim 11. TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

[0007] When marketing medical or hygiene products such as cotton swabs or other sticks, such as lollipops, there is a demand in the trade for single-colored sticks, for example, red, blue, green, yellow, or other single-colored sticks. This demand can be caused by aesthetic reasons (the sticks should match the bathroom decor or an individual décor, or the taste (of the product or consumer), practical reasons, such as being able to better distinguish thick cotton swabs with the help of a specially colored stick from thin cotton swabs or cotton swabs for special applications), and reasons related to recognition, for example, of a manufacturer of the product with a paper stick.

[0008] For ecological reasons, cotton swabs with a plastic stem are currently being replaced by those with a paper stem. Dyeing a plastic in a desired color is standard, and the associated costs are almost unavoidable. However, producing a colored paper swab is significantly more complex, as it currently requires specially dyed raw material—i.e., a paper web dyed by the paper manufacturer—to be prepared. In practice, this means that prior to the actual swab production, there is currently a production process for colored paper stock. This process incurs considerable additional costs and is only economically viable for comparatively large quantities. Not every paper manufacturer is sufficiently equipped for this.

[0009] Retailers have little or no financial flexibility to offset the significant additional costs associated with the production of colored paper sticks, so colored paper sticks are now missing from many product ranges. This is a nuisance to the end customer, or rather, the consumer, and this is where the invention comes in. STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Against this background, the object is to be achieved by providing technical measures that enable the cost-effective production of large quantities of single-colored, compact, rigid, and void-free paper sticks, particularly for cotton swabs. This object is achieved by a production plant according to claim 1. Further embodiments are the subject of the dependent and auxiliary claims. According to claim 1, the production plant serves to produce single-colored paper sticks in large quantities. As described above, the single-colored paper sticks are produced from a paper web supply containing white or nearly white paper by cutting and winding. The wheel of the winding device of the plant can be exposed to an aqueous colorant solution, at least in sections, whereby the paper sticks can be dyed in a selectable color during production.The aqueous colorant solution not only colors the paper, but also serves as a suitable adhesive, allowing the paper web sections to be wound up compactly and stably. Dyeing the paper during paper rod production, according to the invention, results in numerous advantages: Since an undyed (white or nearly white) paper web stock is sufficient for the production of the single-colored rods, no additional process step is required during paper stock production. This saves costs and simplifies logistics regarding paper stock procurement and storage. A further advantage is that the coloring can be customized for each customer within the scope of available dyes.

[0011] According to a preferred variant, the winding device does not comprise an adhesive supply device, in particular no additional water supply device or water addition device. According to paper rod manufacturing devices known in the prior art, a supply of water as an adhesive is provided in the region of the wheel. This manufacturing process step is eliminated in the manufacturing system according to the invention, since the colorant solution eliminates the previously common addition of water. Cost-effective production of large quantities of single-colored, compact, rigid, and void-free paper rods is further achieved with a manufacturing system according to claim 3. In the system according to claim 3, the wheel can be supplied at least in sections with an aqueous adhesive, in particular with water, by means of an adhesive supply device.To color the paper rods, the adhesive supply device comprises a colorant addition device, whereby the adhesive, in particular the water, can be colored in a single color, so that the paper rods can be colored in a single color during production with the single-colored adhesive, in particular with the single-colored water (colored process solution). In this embodiment of the invention, the water addition is supplemented by the colorant addition device, so that the colored water achieves both the desired adhesion and the coloring of the paper. In this respect, the process water already present in the rod production takes on the additional function of the solvent for the color.

[0012] For controlled and metered, in particular controllable and / or regulated, addition of the colorant, the colorant addition device of the production plant can comprise a colorant container that can be filled with colorant via a colorant canister, for example, by means of a (compressed air diaphragm) pump and (electro-pneumatic) ball valve and / or (needle) valve. The colorant container can be filled with water, for example, via a (drinking) water connection and by means of a (solenoid) valve. The colorant container can comprise at least one stirring device for better mixing of the colorant and water. According to a preferred variant, the colorant addition device can comprise a scale. The scale can be designed such that it can weigh a colorant container weight of up to approximately 100 kg with an accuracy of less than approximately 50 g, for example 20 g.

[0013] A cost-effective production of large quantities of single-colored paper sticks is further achieved with a method according to claim 6. The method serves to produce a large number of single-colored, compact, rigid, and void-free paper sticks, wherein the single-colored paper sticks are formed from a paper web supply of white or nearly white paper by cutting and winding in a winding device comprising a wheel. The wheel is exposed at least in sections to an aqueous colorant solution, whereby the paper sticks can be dyed in a selectable color during production. Preferably, no adhesive, in particular no additional water, is added to the winding device.

[0014] A cost-effective production of large quantities of single-colored, compact, rigid, and void-free paper rods is also achieved with a method according to claim 8. The wheel is exposed at least in sections to an aqueous adhesive, in particular water. The adhesive, in particular the water, is colored in a single color by adding a colorant and / or a colorant solution, in particular an aqueous one, whereby the paper rods are colored in a single color during production with the single-colored adhesive, in particular with the single-colored water.

[0015] Reducing the manufacturing costs for large quantities of single-colored paper sticks is further achieved with a single-colored, compact, rigid, and void-free paper stick according to claim 9. The paper stick is intended in particular for the production of cotton swabs. The paper stick is manufactured using a manufacturing system described and claimed herein or using a manufacturing method described and claimed herein. The paper stick is colored in a single color with a selectable color.

[0016] Preferably, the outer surface is completely colored. The paper rod interior and / or the paper rod cross-section is / are at least partially uncolored, i.e., white or nearly white. This means that less dye is required to color the paper rod. When viewing the end face of the colored paper rod, the user will notice that the coloring is only arranged on the outer surface, but not in the paper rod core. This is also a feature that distinguishes the colored paper rod described and claimed herein from other paper rods, in particular from those formed from a pre-colored paper web.

[0017] Finally, reducing the manufacturing costs of large quantities of cotton swabs with a single-colored paper stick is achieved with a cotton swab according to claim 11. The cotton swab comprises a paper stick as described and claimed herein.

[0018] The aforementioned components to be used according to the invention, as well as those claimed and described in the exemplary embodiments, are not subject to any special exceptional conditions in terms of their size, shape, material selection and technical conception, so that the selection criteria known in the field of application can be applied without restriction.

[0019] Further details, features, and advantages of the subject matter of the invention emerge from the dependent claims, as well as from the following description and the accompanying drawing, which schematically illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a paper rod production system. Individual features of the claims or embodiments can also be combined with other features of other claims and embodiments.

[0020] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTERS

[0021] In the drawing show

[0022] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a production plant for the production of single-coloured paper rods and

[0023] Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of a colorant addition device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Fig. 1 shows the principle of a production plant 1 for producing paper sticks 2. The paper web is stored on a large base paper roll 3 containing uncolored, i.e., white or nearly white, paper. The paper is first pre-finished in the production plant 1 (device 4) before entering the winding process 5, where it is wound into a paper web roll. The finished and colored paper sticks (6) then enter a post-processing and packaging station 7 within the plant 1, where they leave the plant 1 as a finished product (2).

[0025] During the winding process 5, the paper web is exposed to process water 8 from a water treatment system 9, which contributes to the adhesion of the paper web within the wound paper web roll. The process water 8 is colored using a colorant in a coloring station 10, so that an aqueous process solution 12 is applied to the paper from the water feed 11, which colors the paper. This creates single-colored paper rods 2 without the need for colored base paper and without any significant additional costs.

[0026] A colorant addition device 10 is shown schematically in Fig. 2. The colorant addition device 10 comprises a colorant container 13, which can be closed with a hood 14. Water can be filled into the colorant container 13 via a drinking water connection 15 (dosed via a (solenoid) valve 26). The water-soluble and preferably liquid colorant is drawn from a colorant canister 16. The colorant is fed into the colorant container 13 by means of a compressed air diaphragm pump 17. Due to hygienic considerations, the pump 17 can be formed, at least in part, from a plastic, for example, a polyolefin, in particular polypropylene (PP). The colorant is metered using an (electro-pneumatic) ball valve 18 and a needle valve 19.

[0027] The paint canister 16 and the paint container 13 are arranged on a frame 20. A scale 21 can be provided between the frame 20 and the paint container 13 to monitor the fill level in the paint container 13. A stirring device 22, driven by a motor 23, is arranged in the paint container 13. The stirring device 22 ensures homogeneous mixing of the aqueous paint solution. The paint-water mixture can be transferred to the production system 1 via a connection arrangement 24. For this purpose, a (compressed air diaphragm) pump 17 can be provided (also made in components from a plastic, for example PP) as well as an (electro-pneumatic ball) valve 18. The colorant addition device 10 has its own control device 25 with which valves (19), valves (18), pumps (17), the stirring motor (23) and / or the scale (21) can be controlled and / or regulated.

[0028] LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0029] 1 manufacturing facility

[0030] 2 paper sticks / finished product

[0031] 3 raw paper rolls

[0032] 4 Pre-assembly facility

[0033] 5 Winding process / wheel

[0034] 6 colored paper sticks

[0035] 7 Post-processing and packaging station

[0036] 8 Process water

[0037] 9 Water treatment

[0038] 10 Coloring station / colorant addition device

[0039] 11 Water feed / adhesive feed device

[0040] 12 Process Solution

[0041] 13 colorant containers

[0042] 14 hood

[0043] 15 Water connection

[0044] 16 canisters

[0045] 17 Pump

[0046] 18 cock

[0047] 19 Valve

[0048] 20 frame

[0049] 21 Libra

[0050] 22 Stirring device

[0051] 23 Engine

[0052] 24 connection arrangement

[0053] 25 Control device

[0054] 26 (Solenoid) valve

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A manufacturing plant (1) for producing single-colored, compact, rigid, and void-free paper sticks (2) in large quantities, wherein the single-colored paper sticks (2) can be produced from a paper web supply (3) with white or almost white paper by cutting in a cutting device of the manufacturing plant (1) and by winding in a winding device of the manufacturing plant (1) comprising a wheel (5), characterized in that the wheel (5) can be acted upon at least in sections with an aqueous colorant solution (12), whereby the paper sticks (2) can be colored in a selectable color during production.

2. Paper rod manufacturing plant (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the winding device does not comprise an adhesive supply device, in particular no additional water supply device.

3. A manufacturing plant (1) for producing single-colored, compact, rigid, and void-free paper sticks (2) in large quantities, wherein the paper sticks (2) can be produced from a paper web supply (3) with white or almost white paper by cutting in a cutting device of the manufacturing plant (1) and by winding in a winding device of the manufacturing plant (1) comprising a wheel (5), and wherein the wheel (5) can be supplied at least in sections with an aqueous adhesive, in particular with water, by means of an adhesive supply device (11), characterized in that the adhesive supply device (11) comprises a colorant addition device (10), whereby the adhesive, in particular the water, can be colored in a single color, so that the paper sticks (2) can be colored in a single color in a selectable color during production with the single-colored adhesive, in particular with the single-color colored water.

4. Production plant (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by a colorant addition device (10) which comprises a colorant container (13) which can be filled with colorant via a colorant canister (16), wherein the colorant container (13) can be filled with water, and wherein the colorant container (13) comprises a stirring device (22).

5. Production plant (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the colorant addition device (10) comprises a scale (21).

6. A method for producing a large number of single-colored, compact, rigid and void-free paper rods, wherein the single-colored paper rods are formed from a paper web supply with white or almost white paper by cutting and winding in a winding device comprising a wheel, characterized in that the wheel is at least partially exposed to an aqueous colorant solution, whereby the paper rods can be colored in a selectable color during production.

7. Manufacturing method according to claim 6, characterized in that no adhesive is added to the winding device, in particular no additional water.

8. A method for producing a large number of single-coloured, compact, rigid and void-free paper rods, wherein the single-coloured paper rods are formed from a paper web supply with white or almost white paper by cutting and winding in a winding device comprising a wheel, and wherein the wheel is at least partially exposed to an aqueous adhesive, in particular water, characterized in that the adhesive, in particular the water, is coloured in a single colour by adding a colourant and / or a colourant solution, in particular an aqueous one, whereby the paper rods are coated with the single-coloured adhesive, in particular with the single-colored water, can be colored in a selectable color.

9. A single-coloured, compact, rigid and void-free paper rod (2), in particular for the production of cotton swabs, characterized in that the paper rod (2) is manufactured by means of a production plant (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, or by means of a production method according to one of claims 6 to 8, and in that the paper rod (2) is coloured in a single colour with a selectable colour.

10. Paper rod according to claim 9, characterized in that the outer surface is completely colored, and that the paper rod interior and / or the paper rod cross-section is at least partially uncolored.

11. Cotton swab for medical or hygiene applications, characterized by a paper stick (2) according to claim 9 or 10, which is coated with cotton at the end.

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