Slitter-Winder Nip-Adjacent Adhesive Application for Full-Speed Production

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing adhesive application methods in slitter-winders require a decrease in running speed to accommodate fast-hardening adhesives, leading to capacity loss and inefficiency, especially in two-drum winders.

Innovation Solution

Adhesive application devices are positioned to apply adhesive close to the winding nip, with transverse movement over the fiber web, allowing for rapid application and use of fast-hardening adhesives without slowing down the process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If adhesive application is performed in conventional positions away from the winding nip, then the adhesive has sufficient time to set, but the running speed must be decreased leading to capacity loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesive bonding reliabilityVSAvoidslitter-winder production capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive application point is relocated from conventional positions (above or below the web) to a position in the winding nip region, utilizing the third dimension of space around the winding drum. This allows the adhesive to be applied where the web is already under compression and moving at full speed, eliminating the need to slow down while ensuring reliable bonding through the concentrated pressure in the nip region.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the spatial parameter of adhesive application location from distant positions to a position within 1000 mm of the winding nip. This parameter change allows the adhesive to be applied when the web is moving at full production speed, and the concentrated pressure in the winding nip provides the necessary bonding conditions without requiring reduced running speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If adhesive is applied far from the winding nip, then application can be performed at full speed, but the adhesive does not have sufficient time to set before reaching the bonding point

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverunning speedVSAvoidadhesive bonding reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The winding drum acts as an intermediary that concentrates pressure at the winding nip, providing the necessary bonding conditions for the adhesive. By applying the adhesive close to this pressure concentration point, the web receives both the adhesive and the bonding pressure simultaneously, eliminating the time delay that would occur with conventional application positions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If conventional adhesive application positioning is used, then equipment complexity is low, but two slitter-winders are needed to maintain capacity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesive application system complexityVSAvoidcustomer roll production capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive application device is positioned in the winding nip region around the drum, utilizing the circumferential space that is typically unused. This spatial reconfiguration allows single-point adhesive application at full web speed, enabling one slitter-winder to perform the work of two while adding minimal complexity to the existing winding mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4477590B1Method of applying adhesive in a slitter-winder and a slitter-winder comprising a system of applying adhesive
Publication Date: 2025.07.09 VALMET TECH OY
  • EP4477590B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4477590B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4477590B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a method of applying adhesive in a slitter-winder, which slitter-winder comprises a winder (20) with at least one winding drum (10) for winding a fiber web (W) into a customer roll (15) by a winding nip (N) formed between the winding drum (10) and the customer roll (15), in which method at least one adhesive application device (31, 32) is adapted to apply adhesive on end of the fiber web (W), while the fiber web (W) is moving, for attaching the end of the fiber web (W) onto the customer roll (15), in which method the adhesive application device (31; 32) is moved in cross-direction of the running direction of the fiber web (W) over at least partial width of the fiber web webs on a support element (33; 34). In the method the adhesive is applied on the fiber web (W) at most 1000 mm before the adhesive on the fiber web (W) reaches the winding nip (N).