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JP-2026514470-A - Method and apparatus for manufacturing webs for packaging materials

JP2026514470AJP 2026514470 AJP2026514470 AJP 2026514470AJP-2026514470-A

Abstract

A method (S100) for manufacturing a web (118) of packaging material is disclosed. The method (S100) includes providing a carton-based web having a first surface (120) and a second surface (122) (S102), and printing decorations (200a-b) on the first surface (120) of the carton-based web (S104) using a printing plate cylinder (112) to which at least two subsequently arranged printing plates (114a-d) are attached. Herein, at least two printing plates (114a-d) have different printing patterns (202a-b), and are provided such that an arrangement (206a-b) of sections (204a-c) of the web (118) has different decorations (200a-b), and each section of the web (118) is arranged to be converted into a food-filled package (500) in a roll-feed filling machine (600).

Inventors

  • ブルガレッリ、ダニエーレ
  • エジディ、サラ
  • スカラベッリ、パオロ
  • ボルギ、ダビデ
  • クロ、ダビデ

Assignees

  • テトラ ラバル ホールディングス アンド ファイナンス エス エイ

Dates

Publication Date
20260511
Application Date
20240409
Priority Date
20230417

Claims (15)

  1. A method (S100) for manufacturing a web (118) of packaging material, wherein the method (S100) is Step (S102) of supplying a carton-based web having a first side (120) and a second side (122), Step (S104) of printing decorations (200a to b) on the first surface (120) of the web of the carton base using a printing plate cylinder (112), Equipped with, The printing plate cylinder (112) is subsequently fitted with at least two printing plates (114a-d), the at least two printing plates (114a-d) having different printing patterns (202a-b) and providing a sequence (206a-b) of sections (204a-c) of a web (118) having different decorations (200a-b). Each section of the web (118) is arranged to be converted into a food-filled package (500) in a roll-feed filling machine (600). Method (S100).
  2. The process includes the step (S108) of winding a printed web (118) onto a reel (602), the reel (602) comprising an electronic device (606) including a transceiver (614), memory (612), and a processor (610), The method further includes step (S110) of uploading web-related data, which includes information about multiple sections (204a to c), for each sequence (206a to b) of the decoration (200a to b), to an electronic device (606) such as an RFID tag provided on the reel (602). The method according to claim 1 (S100).
  3. The aforementioned different printing patterns include different two-dimensional codes, The method according to claim 1 or 2 (S100).
  4. The aforementioned different two-dimensional codes constitute different data matrix codes. The method according to claim 3 (S100).
  5. The process includes the step (S106) of providing weakening lines (300) on the web (118) according to a weakening line pattern so that the web (118) can be easily folded into the package (500) by compressing the carton layer of the packaging material, The different two-dimensional codes are positioned relative to the weakening line pattern such that, after the web (118) is folded into the package (500), the different two-dimensional codes are protected by the flaps (402a-b, 404a-b) of the package (500). The method according to claim 3 or 4 (S100).
  6. A method (S200) for operating a roll-feed type packaging machine (600) using a computer system (646), Step (S202) receiving a reel (602) having a web (118) of the packaging material, and the web (118) comprising a sequence (206a-b) of sections (204a-c) of the web (118) having different decorations (200a-b) printed according to the method of any one of claims 1 to 5, The steps include: (S204) unwinding the web (118) from the reel (602), The steps include supplying the web (118) using a web supply device (638) (S206), Step (S208) of estimating and tracking the position of the web (118) based on the control data provided to the web supply device (638), Step (S210) to compensate for tracing errors, Step (S212) of determining the position of the web (118) based on the control data provided to the web supply device (638) downstream of the web buffer stations (636a to d), Downstream of the web buffer stations (636a to d), the step (S214) of registering different decorations (200a to b) for sections of the web (118) using image capturing devices (640a to e), and the image capture devices (640a to e) are positioned along the web path located downstream of the web buffer stations (636a to d), Step (S216) to identify the deviation between the position based on the control data of the web (118) and the different decorations registered by the image capturing device (640a to e), Step (S218) adjusts the position based on the control data taking into account the identified deviation, A method comprising (S200).
  7. The step (S220) further comprises downloading data from the electronic device (606) on the reel (602), wherein the data includes information regarding the number of sections (204a-c) per sequence (206a-b) of the web (118). The method according to claim 6.
  8. The aforementioned different decorations (200a-b) include different two-dimensional codes, The method according to claim 6 or 7.
  9. The aforementioned different two-dimensional codes constitute different data matrix codes. The method according to claim 8.
  10. The web buffer stations (636a to 636d) are located upstream and/or downstream of the automatic splicing unit (ASU) (616), and/or upstream and/or downstream of the injection molding station (620) for forming an opening device on the web (618). The method according to any one of claims 6 to 9.
  11. A printing plate cylinder (112) for printing decorations (200a-b) onto a web (118) of packaging material, wherein the printing plate cylinder (112) is The invention comprises at least two printing plates (114a-d), the printing plates (114a-d) having different printing patterns (202a-b), and providing sequences (206a-b) of sections (204a-c) of a web (118) having different decorations (200a-b), each section of the web (118) being arranged to be converted into a food-filled package (500) in a roll-feed filling machine (600), and capable of compensating for tracing errors of the web (118) inside the packaging machine (600). Printing plate cylinder (112).
  12. The aforementioned different printing patterns (202a-b) include different two-dimensional codes, The printing plate cylinder (112) according to claim 11.
  13. The packaging machine (600) is A reel receiver (604) is positioned to receive a reel (602) that holds a web (118) of packaging material, and the web (118) includes a sequence (206a-b) of sections (204a-c) of the web (118) having different decorations (200a-b). A web supply device (638) is arranged to supply the web (118) into the packaging machine (600) along the web path, To compensate for planned or unplanned outages in the web path, web buffer stations (636a to 636d) are arranged to hold a portion of the web (118) for a certain period of time, The system includes an image acquisition device (640a-f) located downstream of the web buffer station (636a-d), the image acquisition device (640a-f) being configured to register different decorations (200a-b) of sections (204a-c) of the web (118), and a computer system (646) that controls a web supply device (638) using control data and tracks the web (118) by estimating the position of the web (118) based on the control data, Using the control data, the position of the web (118) based on the control data is estimated, the deviation between the position of the web (118) based on the control data and the different decorations (200a to b) captured by the image capturing device (640a to f) is identified, and the position based on the control data is adjusted so that the deviation is compensated for. Packaging machine (600).
  14. The system includes an electronic device reader (608) configured to acquire data from an electronic device (606) provided on the reel (602), wherein the data includes information regarding the number of sections (204a to c) for each sequence (206a to b). The packaging machine (600) according to claim 13.
  15. The control circuit (900) includes a processor (902), a memory (904), and a transceiver (906), and the processor (902) is In response to control data for the web supply device (638) in the packaging machine (600), the position of the web (118) section downstream of the web buffer stations (636a-d) is estimated based on the control data. In response to registered different decorations (200a to b) captured by image capture devices (640a to e) positioned at web path locations downstream of the web buffer stations (636a to d), the deviation between the position based on the control data and the position based on the decoration determined by the image capture devices (640a to e) based on the registered different decorations (200a to b) is identified. If a deviation is detected, adjust the web tracking by compensating for the identified deviation. Control circuit (900).

Description

This invention relates to packaging technology. More specifically, it relates to a method and system for tracking the web of packaging material in a roll-feed packaging machine. Today, roll-feed packaging machines are widely known in the food industry. For example, the Tetra Pak Brik® machine, sold by Tetra Pak, is commonly used in food production lines for milk and juice. However, the concept of roll-feed packaging machines is applied not only to carton packaging but also to packaging made from other materials, such as plastics and other polyethylene-like materials. The roll-feed packaging machine defined herein receives a reel of packaging material and unwinds the material to form a web. To avoid stopping the machine due to the need to replace a reel with a new one, so-called automatic splicing is employed. That is, the packaging material from the new reel is connected to the packaging material on the existing reel. This allows for continuous operation of the machine. This is particularly important in food packaging machines, where machine startup must follow strict procedures to avoid compromising food safety. The packaging materials received by the packaging machine are decorated. This decoration is typically printed using flexographic or offset printing techniques, but for small-batch production, digital printing is also an option. When using digital printing, it's possible to add package identifiers, such as QR codes (registered trademarks), to the packaging material, whether for overall decoration or partial decoration. Providing package identifiers offers several advantages. For example, it facilitates traceability. Because packages can be identified at any time using readers such as QR code reader apps on mobile phones, it's possible to know when and where the package was manufactured. It also allows for accurate identification of affected packages, reducing waste associated with recalls due to food products not meeting quality standards. This improved accuracy reduces the number of discarded packages, which is beneficial from both an economic and environmental perspective. While the use of package identifiers such as QR codes (registered trademarks) has improved traceability, this improvement in traceability comes with additional costs. When printing packages individually (e.g., using flexographic printing for some decorations and digital printing for others), additional equipment is required compared to the currently dominant flexographic printing method. Due to these additional costs, packages with package identifiers are currently produced in small quantities. Embodiments of the present invention will be described illustratively with reference to the attached schematic diagrams. This is a schematic diagram of the process of printing decorations onto the web of packaging material.This diagram shows how to print a sequence containing sections with different decorations to the web.This figure shows a more detailed example of a section with a weakening line.This diagram shows an example of a section after filling and sealing, which is called an intermediate product.This figure shows the example in Figure 4 folded into a package.This is a schematic diagram of a packaging machine.This is a flowchart showing how to create a web.This is a flowchart showing how to operate a roll-feed packaging machine.This is a diagram of the control circuit. Referring to Figure 1, the printing system 100 is shown. As shown, ink 102 is supplied to an ink tray 104. Using a fountain roller 106, the ink 104 is supplied from the ink tray 104 to an anilox roller 110. Excess ink 104 is removed using a doctor blade 108. From the anilox roller 110, the ink 104 is transferred to a plate cylinder 112 to which several printing plates 114a to d are attached. In the illustrated example, four printing plates 114a to d are used. By using the printing plates 114a to d and the plate cylinder 112 in combination with the impression cylinder 116, printing can be applied to the web 118 of the packaging material. As shown, printing can be applied to the first surface 120 of the web 118. The first surface 120 of the web 118 may form the outside of the package, i.e., the part facing the external environment, in a later step, while the second surface 122 of the web 118 may form the inside of the package, i.e., the part facing the food. While the printing system 100 uses so-called flexographic printing, other printing systems using one or more plate cylinders 112 equipped with printing plates 114a to d may also be used. Figure 2 shows another example of the plate cylinder 112. In this example, the plate cylinder is provided with two printing plates 114a and 114b. As shown in the figure, by using different printing patterns 202a and 114b on the printing plates 114a and 114b, it is possible to provide different decorations 200a and 114b. In this example, decorations 200a and 114b are simple decorations that only draw a two-dimensional code. Howeve