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EP-4741303-A1 - HOT-MELT GLUING UNIT WITH SUCTION FOR A LABELLING MACHINE AND LABELLING MACHINE

EP4741303A1EP 4741303 A1EP4741303 A1EP 4741303A1EP-4741303-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a hot melt adhesive unit (1) for a labeling machine for labeling containers in the beverage processing industry, wherein the hot melt adhesive unit (1) comprises a glue roller (3) rotatable about its longitudinal axis (2), a glue reservoir for supplying hot melt adhesive, and a housing (4) in which the glue roller (3) is partially arranged. Furthermore, the hot melt adhesive unit (1) includes at least one first suction tube (5, 6) for drawing in glue vapor along the glue roller (3) in a gluing area (7). The invention further relates to a labeling machine for labeling containers, such as bottles, in the food industry, wherein the labeling machine for applying labels with hot melt adhesive comprises the hot melt adhesive unit (1).

Inventors

  • Nuebel, Nicolas
  • PETER, Stephanie
  • Meissner, Soeren

Assignees

  • Krones AG

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251009

Claims (15)

  1. Hot melt adhesive unit (1) for a labeling machine for labeling containers in the beverage processing industry, wherein the hot melt adhesive unit (1) comprises: - a glue roller (3) rotatable about its longitudinal axis (2), - a glue container for providing hot glue, - a housing (4) in which the glue roller (3) is partially arranged, characterized by the fact that the hot melt glue plant (1) comprises at least one first suction pipe (5, 6) for drawing in glue vapor along the glue roller (3) in a gluing area (7).
  2. The hot melt glue plant according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first intake tube (5, 6) is arranged outside the housing (4).
  3. The hot melt glue plant according to claim 1 or 2, wherein suction holes (8) of the at least one first suction tube (5, 6) are provided over an entire length (I) of the glue roller (3).
  4. The hot melt glue plant according to claim 3, wherein the intake holes (8) of the at least one first intake tube (5, 6) each have an equal or nearly equal distance (d1) from each other.
  5. The hot melt glue plant according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one first intake pipe (5, 6) is designed such that glue vapor is drawn in against a direction of action of gravity.
  6. The hot melt glue plant according to one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a second suction pipe (11) for drawing in glue vapor, which is arranged above an upper end (12) of the glue roller (3) and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (2) of the glue roller (3).
  7. The hot melt glue plant according to claim 6, wherein the second intake tube (11) is arranged outside the housing (4).
  8. The hot melt glue plant according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the intake holes (13) of the second intake tube (11) each have an equal or nearly equal distance (d2) from each other.
  9. The hot melt glue plant according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the intake pipes (5, 6, 11) are arranged such that a flow of glue vapor can be received and extracted with a defined deflection.
  10. The hot melt glue plant according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the intake pipes (5, 6, 11) converge in an intake manifold (10).
  11. The hot melt glue plant according to claim 10, wherein the intake manifold (10) comprises an inlet device (16) for a predetermined quantity of external air, wherein, for example, the external air comprises ambient air or cooled ambient air.
  12. The hot melt glue plant according to claim 11, wherein the intake manifold (10) comprises an air mixer (17) for mixing the ambient air and the glue vapor.
  13. The hot melt glue plant according to claim 11 or 12, wherein a piping (24) for further cooling is provided downstream of the intake manifold (10).
  14. The hot melt glue assembly according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein a hood (21) is arranged on an upper housing surface (19).
  15. Labeling machine for labeling containers, such as bottles, in the food industry, characterized in that the labeling machine for applying labels with hot glue comprises a hot glue unit (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14.

Description

The invention relates to a hot melt glue plant with extraction system for a labeling machine and a labeling machine according to the independent claims. State of the art It is known that glue fumes are produced when hot melt adhesive is heated, for example, when applying hot melt adhesive to labels or containers using glue rollers. When these fumes condense on cold surfaces, such as component surfaces, glue particles are deposited and contaminate the machinery. For example, oils contained in the hot melt adhesive evaporate. This results in significant cleaning costs. Furthermore, the fumes can pose a health hazard to operators. EP 3 456 644 A1 Disclosing a hot melt glue plant comprising a glue roller arranged in a housing and a filter unit connected to the housing with a suction system that can extract fluids, such as solid and liquid components of the glue, from inside the housing and feed them to the filter unit before the gases can leave the hot melt glue plant. Task The object of the invention is to provide a hot melt glue plant with extraction for a labeling machine and a labeling machine that can enable efficient extraction and separation of glue vapor. Solution The problem is solved by the hot melt adhesive unit with extraction system for a labeling machine and the labeling machine according to the independent claims. Further embodiments are disclosed in the dependent claims. The hot melt adhesive unit according to the invention for a labeling machine for labeling containers in the beverage processing industry comprises a glue roller rotatable about its longitudinal axis, a glue reservoir for supplying hot melt adhesive, and a housing in which the glue roller is partially arranged. Furthermore, the hot melt adhesive unit comprises at least one first suction pipe for drawing in glue vapor along the glue roller in a gluing area. By means of at least one first suction pipe, glue vapor generated during operation of the hot melt glue plant can be drawn in and then extracted, so that it cannot lead to contamination of the surroundings (for example, a machine room) in which the hot melt glue plant is located, and so that odor nuisance from the glue vapor can also be avoided. The glue fumes can be drawn in from inside the housing as well as from outside the housing. To enable suction, one or more pumps may be provided, which may be connected directly or indirectly to the at least one first suction pipe. The longitudinal axis of the glue roller can be aligned parallel to a direction of action of gravity. Glue fumes can be produced when hot glue is heated. The fact that the at least one first intake pipe for drawing in glue vapor is arranged along the glue roller can mean that the at least one first intake pipe is arranged parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the glue roller. This can result in a uniform or substantially uniform cooling of the glue roller along its length when the glue vapor is drawn in by means of the at least one first intake pipe. This prevents partial cooling of a glue roller during the extraction of glue vapor, as would occur if, for example, glue vapor were only extracted from a lower end of the glue roller. The hot melt glue unit can include two first intake pipes for drawing in glue fumes along the glue roller in the gluing area. The first intake pipe can be located at a first end of the gluing area, and the second intake pipe can be located at a second end of the gluing area. The first and second end areas can be adjacent to an opening in the housing that leaves the gluing area unobstructed. In the gluing area, hot melt glue can be applied to a label or to a container to be labeled. In the gluing area, a portion of the glue roller's outer surface may be located outside the housing. During rotation around its longitudinal axis, a correspondingly changing portion of the glue roller's outer surface (due to the rotation) will be located outside the housing. This portion may extend over 2/9 of the glue roller's circumference. A portion of the top and/or bottom surface of the glue roller may also be located outside the housing. The housing can consist of a closed surface (e.g., top, bottom, and one or more side surfaces), except for the opening that allows for gluing. The closed surface can be made up of several individual parts. The closed surface may include small gaps, for example in an area between individual parts. Sufficient airflow during intake and extraction can reduce the escape of glue fumes at these gaps. Alternatively, the housing can be designed to include an opening that leaves the gluing area free and a further opening above part of the glue roller. This further opening can be located in an upper surface of the housing. The labeling machine can be designed to apply one or more labels to containers, such as bottles. The hot melt adhesive unit may include a glue scraper for evenly applying glue to the glue roller and for scraping glue from the glue r