Glue Roller with Protruding Collar for Label Contamination Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional gluing devices have a large surface area and axial dimension on the glue roller that is not optimally matched to the labels or functional elements, leading to inefficient glue usage, contamination, and quality degradation due to uncontrolled glue displacement.

Innovation Solution

The glue roller's surface area is adapted to match the label height, with a protruding collar at the upper end forming a barrier to prevent glue displacement and contamination, and a adjustable ring for varying label sizes, ensuring optimal glue usage and quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the glue roller surface area is made large to ensure sufficient glue application, then the glue coverage is improved, but the axial dimension becomes excessively large compared to label size, causing inefficient glue usage and requiring additional scrapers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveglue application quantityVSAvoidglue usage efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making the glue roller's axial length variable rather than uniform. The roller has a first axial length portion that contacts the label and a second axial length portion that does not, allowing the glue application surface to be precisely matched to the label dimensions. This ensures sufficient glue coverage where needed while avoiding excessive glue application in non-contact areas, thereby improving glue usage efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Area of stationary object

If the glue roller axial dimension is increased to cover the entire label height, then the glue coverage area is improved, but the amount of glue that must be removed by scrapers increases, degrading glue quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveglue application surface areaVSAvoidglue quality degradation
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by making the axial length of the glue roller adjustable or variable. The roller can be configured with different axial lengths depending on the label size being processed. This dynamic parameter adjustment allows the glue application surface area to be optimized for each specific labeling task, ensuring complete label coverage while minimizing the amount of glue that needs to be removed, thus preserving glue quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If the glue scraper is positioned to remove excess glue, then the glue distribution uniformity is improved, but the risk of glue contamination to other labeling unit elements increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveglue distribution uniformityVSAvoidglue contamination risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the extraction principle by separating the glue removal function from the main labeling area. The glue scraper is positioned to remove excess glue only from the portion of the roller that contacts the label, while the second axial length portion of the roller that does not contact the label remains free of glue. This spatial separation extracts the potential contamination source from the vicinity of other labeling unit elements, reducing contamination risk while maintaining uniform glue distribution on the label.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Loss of substance

If an additional scraper is added before the glue application element to remove unused glue, then the glue waste is reduced, but the device complexity and glue quality impairment increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveglue waste reductionVSAvoidscraper system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the 'blessing in disguise' principle by converting the previously harmful feature (excessive axial length of the glue roller) into a beneficial one. The second axial length portion of the roller, which initially caused glue waste and required additional scrapers, is now designed to be glue-free. This converts the potential source of contamination and complexity into a built-in waste prevention mechanism, reducing glue waste without adding device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentEP2285697B1Gluing roller for a glue application device and glue application device
Publication Date: 2013.12.25 KHS GMBH
  • EP2285697B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2285697B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2285697B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a glue application device having at least one gluing roller (9) that can be driven to revolve about the roller axis thereof, and having at least one glue application and distribution device (11, 12) for applying a glue film onto a region (10.1) of a gluing roller circumferential or jacket surface (10) to which glue is to be applied.