DEVICE FOR PRODUCING PACKAGING MATERIAL FROM PAPER

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for producing packaging material from two paper webs, wherein shaped regions are created from at least one of the paper webs, the shaped regions projecting beyond the paper web and each being limited by a closed circumferential line in the paper web plane, and the paper webs, at their ends facing each other, consist exclusively of paper and are free of adhesive and connecting synthetic auxiliary material, in particular free of plastics film, and preferably after preconditioning of the paper webs are pressed against each other in such a way that, in connecting portions between the shaped regions, paper fibers of the one paper web are connected to paper fibers of the other paper web and the paper webs limit closed cavities in the region of the shaped regions.

Claims

1. A device for producing packaging material from paper, with means for feeding at least one first paper web and one second paper web to an embossing region and to a pressing region downstream of the embossing region in the feed direction of the paper webs, with an embossing apparatus arranged in the embossing region of the device for embossing the first paper web, wherein the embossing apparatus is designed and set up in such a way that shaped regions are created from the first paper web and project beyond the first paper web and each being limited by a closed circumferential line in the paper web plane of the first paper web, with a pressing apparatus arranged in the pressing region of the device for press-fitting the paper webs free of adhesive and connecting synthetic auxiliary material, in particular free of plastics film, wherein the pressing apparatus is designed and set up in such a way that, in connecting portions between the shaped regions, paper fibers of the first paper web are connected to paper fibers of the second paper web, and wherein the paper webs limit closed cavities in the region of the shaped regions, and with preconditioning means arranged in the feed direction upstream of the embossing region and/or the pressing region with at least one preconditioning apparatus for preconditioning the first paper web and/or the second paper web for embossing the first paper web or press-fitting the paper webs together.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one preconditioning apparatus is designed and set up for applying or introducing a preconditioning liquid, which is or contains preferably water, onto or into at least one of the paper webs.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one preconditioning apparatus is designed and set up for spraying, nebulizing or evaporating a preconditioning liquid in such a way that the preconditioning liquid is sprayed, nebulized or evaporated onto the associated paper web.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one preconditioning apparatus, in particular a preconditioning apparatus associated with the first paper web, is designed and set up for steaming the associated paper web with steam.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein each of the paper webs is associated with a separate preconditioning apparatus for separate, in particular, different preconditioning of the paper webs.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first paper web is associated with a first preconditioning apparatus which is arranged on the feed path of the first paper web to the embossing region, and wherein the second paper web is associated with a second preconditioning apparatus which is arranged on the feed path of the second paper web to the pressing region.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one preconditioning apparatus, in particular, a preconditioning apparatus associated with the second paper web, is designed and set up for introducing or applying a preconditioning liquid, preferably water, that contains cellulose fibers or cellulose particles, wherein the cellulose fibers or cellulose particles preferably are or contain microcellulose and/or nanocellulose, in particular, cellulose microfibers (CMF) and/or cellulose nanofibers (CNF).

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein a roller arrangement with an embossing roller, which is rotatably mounted about an embossing roller axis of rotation and has embossing projections on its circumferential surface for forming the shaped regions in the first paper web, is arranged in the embossing region, wherein the embossing roller is engaged with a counter roller which is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation parallel to the embossing roller axis of rotation and has embossing recesses on its circumferential surface which are designed to be complementary to the embossing projections of the embossing roller.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein a press roller which is rotatably mounted about a press roller axis of rotation is arranged in the pressing region and which, for press-fitting the first paper web with the second paper web, cooperates with a rotatably mounted counter roller, the axis of rotation of which is parallel relative to the press roller axis of rotation and spaced apart in such a way that a press roller gap is formed between the press roller and the counter roller for press-fitting the first paper web with the second paper web away from the shaped regions in the connecting portions of the paper webs.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the counter roller of the embossing roller and the counter roller of the press roller are formed by a common counter roller, such that the roller arrangement has three rollers that are operatively engaged with one another.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the counter roller axis of rotation is arranged on a straight connecting line between the embossing roller axis of rotation of the and the press roller axis of rotation of the.

12. The device according to claim 9, wherein a preferably motor-driven adjustment apparatus is associated with the press roller for setting the gap width of the press roller gap along a linear axis running radially relative to the press roller axis of rotation.

13. The device according to claim 8, wherein a heating device for heating the respective rollers is associated with the embossing roller and/or the counter roller and/or the press roller for setting the temperature of the rollers preferably separately.

14. The device according to claim 8, wherein at least one temperature sensor is associated with the embossing roller and/or the counter roller and/or the press roller, respectively, for detecting the temperature of the respective roller.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein drying means for drying the paper webs, that were press-fitted against each other in the pressing region, are arranged in the feed direction between the pressing region and the storage means for the finished packaging material.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the drying means has at least two drying apparatuses, which are spaced apart from one another in the feed direction.

17. The device according to claim 15, wherein at least one drying apparatus is designed as an infrared radiation device and at least one drying apparatus is designed as a hot-air drying apparatus.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the press roller consists of an elastic, flexible material, in particular, silicone, at least on its circumferential surface.

19. A method for producing packaging material from paper, wherein at least one first paper web and at least one second paper web are fed to an embossing region and a pressing region downstream of the embossing region in the feed direction of the paper webs, wherein shaped regions are created from the first paper web in the embossing region by means of an embossing apparatus, the shaped regions projecting beyond the first paper web, and wherein each is limited by a closed circumferential line in the paper web plane of the first paper web, wherein the paper webs, free of adhesive and connecting synthetic auxiliary material, in particular, free of plastics film, are press-fitted against each other in the pressing region by means of a pressing apparatus in such a way that, in connecting portions between the shaped regions, paper fibers of the first paper web connect to paper fibers of the second paper web, and the paper webs limit closed cavities in the region of the shaped regions, and wherein, in preparation of the embossing action in the embossing region or press-fitting action of the paper webs in the pressing region, the first paper web and/or the second paper web are/is preconditioned.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein at least one of the paper webs is preconditioned by introducing or applying a preconditioning liquid thereto, which is preferably water or contains water.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the preconditioning liquid is sprayed, nebulized or evaporated onto the associated paper web.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein the first paper web is steamed with steam for preconditioning the same.

23. The method according to claim 19, wherein the paper webs are preconditioned by means of separate preconditioning apparatuses in particular, they are preconditioned differently.

24. The method according to claim 19, wherein the first paper web is preconditioned by means of a first preconditioning apparatus, which is arranged on the feed path of the first paper web to the embossing region, and the second paper web is preconditioned by means of a second preconditioning apparatus, which is arranged on the feed path of the second paper web to the pressing region.

25. The method according to claim 19, wherein at least one paper web, in particular, the second paper web, is preconditioned by introducing or applying a preconditioning liquid thereto, preferably water, which contains cellulose fibers or cellulose particles, preferably microcellulose and/or nanocellulose, in particular, cellulose microfibers (CMF) and/or cellulose nanofibers (CNF).

26. The method according to claim 19, wherein a roller arrangement with an embossing roller, which is mounted rotatably about an embossing roller axis of rotation, is used in the embossing region, and which has embossing projections on its circumferential surface for forming the shaped regions in the first paper web, wherein the embossing roller is engaged with a counter roller which is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation parallel relative to the embossing roller axis of rotation and has embossing recesses on its circumferential surface which are designed to be complementary to the embossing projections of the embossing roller.

27. The method according to claim 19, wherein a press roller, which is rotatably mounted about a press roller axis of rotation, is used in the pressing region, and which, for press-fitting the first paper web with the second paper web, cooperates with a counter roller, the axis of rotation of which is spaced apart from the press roller axis of rotation in such a way that a press roller gap is formed between the press roller and the counter roller for press-fitting the first paper web with the second paper web, away from the shaped regions, in the connecting portions of the first paper web.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein a common counter roller is used as the counter roller of the embossing roller and as the counter roller of the press roller, such that the roller arrangement has three rollers that are operatively engaged with one another.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the counter roller axis of rotation is arranged on a straight connecting line between the embossing roller axis of rotation and the press roller axis of rotation.

30. The method according to claim 27, wherein a press roller with a preferably motor-driven adjustment apparatus is used for setting the gap width of the press roller gap along a linear axis running radially relative to the press roller axis of rotation.

31. The method according to claim 27, wherein the embossing roller and/or the counter roller and/or the press roller is/are heated.

32. The method according to claim 27, wherein the temperature of the embossing roller and/or the counter roller and/or the press roller is/are measured.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the paper webs, press-fitted against each other in the pressing region, are dried, in the feed direction, between the pressing region and a storage space for the finished packaging material.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the paper webs, press-fitted against each other, are dried in several stages by at least two drying apparatuses spaced apart from one another in the feed direction.

35. The method according to claim 33, wherein the paper webs, press-fitted against each other, are dried by means of at least one drying apparatus designed as an infrared radiation device and by at least one drying apparatus designed as a hot air drying apparatus.

36. The method according to claim 19, wherein a press roller is used which consists of an elastically flexible material, in particular, silicone, at least on its circumferential surface.

37. (canceled)

38. A packaging material made of paper, with a first paper web and with a second paper web, wherein shaped regions are created from at least one paper web, the shaped regions projecting beyond the paper web and each being limited by a closed circumferential line in the paper web plane, characterized in that the paper webs, on their surfaces facing one another, are made exclusively of paper and press-fitted against each other free of adhesive and connecting synthetic auxiliary material, in particular free of plastics film, preferably after preconditioning of the paper webs, in such a way that in connecting portions between the shaped regions, paper fibers of the first paper web are connected to paper fibers of the second paper web and wherein the paper webs limit closed cavities in the region of the shaped regions.

39. The packaging material according to claim 38, characterized in that the circumferential line limiting a shaped region is, in each case, circular or approximately circular, such that the shaped regions are formed like spherical surfaces.

40. The packaging material according to claim 38, characterized in that shaped regions are created from both paper webs and that the paper webs are connected to one another in such a way that shaped regions in one paper web are arranged opposite corresponding shaped regions in the other paper web.

41. The packaging material according to claim 38, characterized in that the shaped regions form a regular pattern, in particular, they are arranged in rows and/or columns.

42. The packaging material according to claim 38, characterized in that the paper webs consist of recycled paper.

43. The packaging material according to claim 42, characterized in that the recycled paper has at least one, in particular all of the following characteristic parameters: specific basis weight/grammage [ISO 536]: 60-140 g/m2 water absorption according to Cobb60 [ISO 535]: 26-113 g/m2 roughness according to Bendtsen [ISO 8791-2]: ?300 ml/min bursting strength [ISO 2758]: 160-240 kPa SCT INDEX in cross direction [ISO 9895]: 1.1-1.9 kN/m.

44. The packaging material according to claim 38, characterized in that the connecting portions between the shaped regions are designed in a web-like manner.

45. The packaging material according to claim 38, characterized in that the paper webs are compressed at least in sections in the connecting portions.

46. Use of recycled paper for the production of a packaging material, which has at least one paper web from which shaped regions are created, which project beyond the paper web and are each limited by a closed circumferential line in the paper web plane, wherein the recycled paper has at least one, in particular all of the following characteristic parameters: specific basis weight/grammage [ISO 536]: 60-140 g/m2 water absorption according to Cobb60 [ISO 535]: 26-113 g/m2roughness according to Bendtsen [ISO 8791-2]: ?300 ml/min bursting strength [ISO 2758]: 160-240 kPa SCT INDEX in cross direction [ISO 9895]: 1.1-1.9 kN/m.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0077] In the figures:

[0078] FIG. 1 shows, highly schematically and sketch-like, a first exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention for the production of packaging material,

[0079] FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1

[0080] FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1,

[0081] FIG. 4 shows a schematic radial view of a roller arrangement of the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1,

[0082] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the roller arrangement according to FIG. 4,

[0083] FIG. 6 shows a sectional view along line A-A in FIG. 5 of the roller arrangement according to FIG. 4,

[0084] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of an embossing roller of the roller arrangement according to FIG. 4,

[0085] FIG. 8 shows a counter roller of the roller arrangement according to FIG. 4 in the same representation as FIG. 7,

[0086] FIG. 9 shows a sketch of the structure of an exemplary embodiment of a web tension sensor of the device according to FIG. 1,

[0087] FIG. 10 shows the structure of a system control of the device according to FIG. 1 in the form of a block diagram,

[0088] FIG. 11 shows a top view of a web of an exemplary embodiment of a packaging material according to the invention in the form of bubble wrap,

[0089] FIG. 12 shows a section through the packaging material according to FIG. 11 in the area of the shaped region on greatly larger scale than FIG. 11, and

[0090] FIG. 13 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention in a representation similar to FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0091] A first exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention for producing packaging material from paper is explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10.

[0092] FIG. 1 shows, highly schematically and sketch-like, an exemplary embodiment of a device or system according to the invention for the production of packaging materials made of paper whose functionality is briefly described as follows:

[0093] From storage rolls 2, 4, a first paper web 6 and a second paper web 8, which are also referred to as webs for short below, are fed into a roller arrangement 10 via deflectors. The first paper web therein forms an embossing web from which shaped regions 11 are created by means of the roller arrangement 10, while the second paper web forms a smooth carrier web that carries the embossing web in the finished packaging material and that is, for this purpose, press-fitted with the embossing web by means of the roller arrangement 10. For the embossing action, the embossing web is preconditioned in the feed direction, upstream of the roller arrangement 10, at reference numeral 12, by means of steaming the same with steam.

[0094] For example and in particular, steam at a temperature of between 100? C. and about 150? C. can be used.

[0095] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the paper webs 6, 8 are made of recycled paper. According to the invention, however, the paper webs 6, 8 can also be made of any other suitable paper, depending on the respective requirements and circumstances.

[0096] In the feed direction, before the roller arrangement 10, at reference numeral 14, the carrier web is preconditioned by spraying it with a liquid containing cellulose fibers or particles, in particular, nanocellulose, preferably in the form of cellulose nanofibers (CNF).

[0097] The roller arrangement 10 has an embossing roller (positive roller) 16 which is engaged with a counter roller (negative roller) 18. The paper web 6 is embossed between the rollers 16, 18 to form the shaped regions. The embossing roller 16, the counter roller 18 and a press roller are also referred to as rollers for short below.

[0098] The press roller 20 is engaged with the counter roller 18, wherein the paper webs 6, 8 are press-fitted against each other between the counter roller 18 and the press roller 20, in a manner that is free of adhesive and connecting synthetic auxiliary material, in particular free of plastics film.

[0099] The paper webs 6, 8, press-fitted against each other, which form the packaging material according to the invention in the manner of bubble wrap, are fed to a storage means 22 in the form of a storage roll for the finished bubble wrap-like packaging material made exclusively of paper, wherein a multi-stage drying apparatus with three dryers 24, 26 and 28 is arranged within the feed path. The dryer 24 therein is an IR radiator, while the dryers 26 and 28 are hot air dryers.

[0100] The structure of the device is as follows:

[0101] The device has means for feeding at least the first paper web 6 and the second paper web 8 to an embossing region 30 and a pressing region 32, which is downstream of the embossing region 30 in the feed direction of the paper webs.

[0102] The feed direction or conveying direction of the paper webs 6, 8 or of the press-fitted paper webs 6, 8 is marked in FIG. 1 by arrows 34, 36, 38 and 40.

[0103] An embossing apparatus 31 for embossing the first paper web is arranged in the embossing region 30 in such a way that shaped regions 11 are created from the first paper web 6, which project beyond the first paper web 6 and are each limited by a closed circumferential line in the paper web plane of the first paper web 6. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the closed circumferential line is circular or approximately circular.

[0104] A pressing apparatus 33 is arranged in the pressing region 32 for press-fitting the paper webs 6, 8 together, and doing so free of any adhesives and connecting synthetic auxiliary materials, in particular, free of plastics film, in such a way in such a way that in connecting portions between the shaped regions paper fibers of the first paper web 6 connect with paper fibers of the second paper web 8 and the paper webs 6, 8 limit closed cavities in the region of the shaped regions.

[0105] Preconditioning means with at least one preconditioning apparatus for preconditioning the first paper web 6 and/or the second paper web 8 are arranged in the feed direction upstream of the embossing region 30 and/or the pressing region 32.

[0106] According to the invention, at least one preconditioning apparatus is designed for introducing or applying a liquid, in particular, a preconditioning liquid consisting of water or containing water, into or onto at least one of the paper webs 6, 8. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, reference numeral 12 denotes a preconditioning apparatus for applying or introducing water in the form of steam onto or into the first paper web 6 in order to precondition it for the embossing action in the embossing region 30.

[0107] According to the invention, at least one preconditioning apparatus is designed and set up for spraying, nebulizing or evaporating a preconditioning liquid in such a way that the preconditioning liquid is sprayed, nebulized or vaporized onto the associated paper web.

[0108] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, a separate preconditioning apparatus is associated with each of the paper webs 6, 8 for separate, in the illustrated exemplary embodiment different, preconditioning of the paper webs 6, 8.

[0109] In detail, the first preconditioning apparatus 12 is associated with the first paper web 6 and arranged on the feed path of the first paper web to the embossing region 30. and a second preconditioning apparatus 14 is associated with the second paper web 8 and arranged on the feed path of the second paper web 8 to the pressing region.

[0110] The first preconditioning apparatus 12, associated with the first paper web 6, is designed in the illustrated exemplary embodiment for steaming the first paper web with steam at a temperature of between 100? C. and approximately 150? C.

[0111] The second preconditioning apparatus 14, associated with the second paper web, is designed and set up for applying or introducing a preconditioning liquid into or onto the second paper web 8, wherein the preconditioning liquid in the illustrated exemplary embodiment is water containing cellulose fibers or cellulose particles, wherein the cellulose fibers or cellulose particles preferably are or contain microcellulose and/or nanocellulose, in particular, cellulose microfibers (CMF) and/or cellulose nanofibers (CNF). The content of cellulose fibers in the preconditioning liquid is chosen in such a way that it can be sprayed and is sprayed onto the second paper web 8.

[0112] A roller arrangement 10 with an embossing roller 16, which is rotatably mounted about an embossing roller axis of rotation 15, is arranged in the embossing region 30 and which embossing roller 16 has embossing projections on its circumferential surface for forming the shaped regions 11 on the first paper web 6, wherein the embossing roller 16 being engaged with a counter roller 18, which is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation 19 parallel to the embossing roller axis of rotation, and which has embossing recesses in its circumferential surface which are designed to be complementary relative to the embossing projections of the embossing roller 16.

[0113] A press roller 20, which is rotatably mounted about a press roller axis of rotation 21, is arranged in the pressing region 32, and which, in order to press-fit the first paper web 6 with the second paper web 8, cooperates with a counter roller 18, the axis of rotation of which is parallel relative to the press roller axis of rotation and spaced apart in such a way that a press roller gap is formed between the press roller 20 and the counter roller 18 for press-fitting the first paper web 6 with the second paper web 8 away from the shaped regions 11 in the first paper web 6.

[0114] The press roller 20 has a smooth circumferential surface and consists of an elastically flexible material on its circumferential surface; in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, this is silicone.

[0115] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the counter roller of the embossing roller 16 and the counter roller of the press roller 20 are formed by one common counter roller, namely counter roller 18, in such a way that the roller arrangement 10 has three operatively connected or operatively engaged rollers 16, 18, 20. It can be seen that, in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the embossing roller 16 forms the embossing apparatus 31 together with the counter roller 18, and the press roller 20 forms the pressing apparatus 33 together with the counter roller 18.

[0116] It can be seen that, in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the counter roller 18 and the press roller 20 are in a direct press engagement with each other, i. e. without the interposition of conveyor sections for the first paper web 6 that is embossed by means of the embossing roller 16. In this way, the paper webs 6, 8 are press-fitted against each other, while the shaped regions 11 created from the first paper web by means of the embossing roller 16 are still in the embossing recesses of the counter roller 18. As a result, the roller arrangement 10 consisting of the rollers 16, 18 and 20 forms a combined embossing and pressing station.

[0117] As can be seen from FIG. 1, in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the axis of rotation 19 of the counter roller 18 is arranged on a connecting line between the embossing roller axis of rotation 15 and the press roller axis of rotation 21.

[0118] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the press roller 20 has preferably associated thereto a motor-operable adjustment apparatus for setting the gap width of the press roller gap along a linear axis running radially relative to the press roller axis of rotation 21 in the exemplary embodiment. The adjustment apparatus also enables disengaging the press roller 20 from the counter roller 18 when a packaging material is to be produced that consists exclusively of a single web provided with shaped regions, i.e. exclusively an embossing web without a carrier web.

[0119] Furthermore, according to the invention, a heating device for heating the respective roller is associated with the embossing roller 16 and/or the counter roller 18 and/or the press roller 20. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, a separate heating device is associated with each of the rollers 16, 18, 20 so that the temperature for each of the rollers 16, 18, 20 can be set separately. To this end, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the respective roller 16 or 18 or 20 is preferably associated with the embossing roller 16 and/or the counter roller 18 and/or the press roller 20. It is advantageous herein when both the heating device, for example in the form of at least one electric heating rod, and the temperature sensor are integrated in the respective roller 16 or 18 or 20, as is the case in the illustrated exemplary embodiment. In this way, the structural setup of the device according to the invention is simplified.

[0120] According to the invention, drying means for drying the paper webs 6, 8 that are press-fitted against each other in the pressing region 32 are arranged in the feed direction between the pressing region 32 and a storage means in the form of a storage roll 22 for the finished packaging material.

[0121] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the drying means have at least two drying apparatuses spaced apart from one another in the feed direction or conveying direction, wherein at least one drying apparatus is designed as an infrared radiation drying apparatus and at least one drying apparatus is designed as a hot-air drying apparatus. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, a drying apparatus 24 disposed immediately downstream of the pressing region 32 is designed as an infrared radiation drying apparatus, while two drying apparatuses 26, 28 in the feed direction or conveying direction downstream of the drying apparatus 24 can be designed as hot-air drying apparatuses.

[0122] The web tension of the individual paper webs 6 and 8 and/or the paper webs press-fitted against each other is monitored by suitable sensors according to the respective requirements and circumstances. This is explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 9.

[0123] Rollers 16, 18 and 20 can be made of any suitable material. In particular, the circumferential surfaces of the rollers 16, 18 and 20 can be made of a different material than the respective roller body, or they can be coated with another material. In particular, the press roller 20 can be made of an elastically flexible material, in particular, silicone, at least on its circumferential surface, as is the case in the illustrated exemplary embodiment. In contrast, the embossing roller 16 and the counter roller 18 can be made of a dimensionally stable material, for example metal, at least on their circumferential surface.

[0124] Rollers 16, 18 and 20 can each be driven in rotation independently of one another by means of a separate rotary drive device. The same applies for the storage rolls 2, 4 and 22, which can also each be driven in rotation independently of one another by means of a separate rotary drive device. The control of the rotary drive devices associated with the rollers 16 or 18 or 20 and the storage rolls 2 or 4 or 22 is explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 11.

[0125] FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, while FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of the exemplary embodiment.

[0126] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the device has a frame 46 on which its various assemblies and components are arranged.

[0127] The first preconditioning apparatus 12 has a housing 48. Excess water that remains after the first paper web 6 has been steamed with water is collected in the housing 48 or sucked off as steam and can be drained off and then reused or disposed of. Since the excess water is free of chemical additives, it can be disposed of in the sewage system without polluting the environment.

[0128] In a manner corresponding thereto, the second preconditioning apparatus 14 has a housing 50. Excess preconditioning liquid that remains after the second paper web 8 has been preconditioned is collected in the housing 50 and can be drained off and then reused or disposed of Since the preconditioning liquid in the illustrated exemplary embodiment consists exclusively of water with added cellulose nanofibers and is therefore free of chemical additives, it can also be disposed of in the sewage system without polluting the environment.

[0129] Reference numeral 52 in FIGS. 2 and 3 denotes a housing in which the roller arrangement 10 is accommodated.

[0130] Reference numerals 54 and 56, respectively, denote housings in which the hot-air drying apparatuses 26 and 28 are accommodated, respectively. Liquid removed from the webs 6, 8 during drying in the hot-air drying apparatus 26, 28, which can consist of water in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, can escape from the housings 54, 56, which, for this purpose, are open in each case at their front and rear ends in the feed direction.

[0131] As explained above with respect to the preconditioning apparatuses 12, 14, the resulting liquid can also be disposed of in the sewer system without polluting the environment.

[0132] Reference numeral 58 denotes a web tension sensor, arranged in the feed direction between the storage roll 2 and the first preconditioning apparatus 12, for sensing or measuring the web tension of the first paper web 6. The structure of the web tension sensor 58 will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 10. In corresponding manner, a web tension sensor is associated with the second paper web and is denoted by reference numeral 60. The web tension sensor 60 is constructed in the same way as the web tension sensor 58 and is therefore not explained in more detail.

[0133] All system parameters of the device and/or system, in particular, the feed rate or conveying rate of the paper webs, the web tension, the speed and temperature of the rollers 16, 18 and 20 and the operating parameters of the preconditioning apparatuses 12, 14 and the drying apparatuses 24, 26 and 28 are controlled by a central system control, which will be explained in more detail further below with reference to FIG. 11.

[0134] The roller arrangement 10 and its embossing roller 16 and the counter roller 18 are shown in different views in FIGS. 4 to 8.

[0135] FIG. 4 shows a radial view of the roller arrangement 10.

[0136] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the roller arrangement 10.

[0137] FIG. 6 shows a radial sectional view of the roller arrangement 10 along line A-A depicted in FIG. 4.

[0138] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the embossing roller 16, wherein embossing projections can be seen that are provided on the circumferential surface of the embossing roller 16 and project beyond the circumferential surface, of which only one embossing projection is provided, with the reference numeral 42, in FIG. 7. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the embossing projections 42 are designed in the manner of a sphere or a spherical surface. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, successive rows of embossing projections 42 are arranged in the circumferential direction of the embossing roller 16 on its circumferential surface, with successive rows in the circumferential direction being arranged relative to one another in such a way that the embossing projections are arranged as staggered. The shape, geometry and number of embossing projections can be chosen within a wide range of limits according to the respective requirements and circumstances.

[0139] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the counter roller 18, wherein the embossing recesses 44 of the counter roller 18 can be seen.

[0140] It can be seen from FIGS. 5 and 6 that the press roller 20 has a smooth circumferential surface. FIG. 9 shows a schematic, sketch-like view of the web tension sensor 58. The web tension sensor 58 has three rotatably mounted, non-driven deflection rolls 62, 64, 66, whose axes of rotation 68 or 70 or 72 in FIG. 10 extend into the drawing plane and are arranged at the corner points of a triangle. The deflection rolls 62 and 66 are fixedly mounted, while the deflection roll 64 is movably mounted along a linear measurement axis 74 in the direction of a double arrow 76. The deflection roll 64 therein can be pretensioned by spring means into an initial position, shown as an example in FIG. 9. If, starting from this starting position, the web tension of the first paper web 6 increases, the deflection roll 64 in FIG. 9 moves upwards. This movement can be detected via a force transducer, for example, using strain gauges, or in some other way and supplied as a sensor output signal from the web tension sensor 58 to a central controller of the device, which will be explained in more detail below.

[0141] FIG. 10 shows the structure of a central system control of the device, which has a control device 78, in the form of a block diagram. The control device 78 can be designed in a variety of ways, with a combination of hardware and software in accordance with the respective requirements and circumstances, for example and in particular, as a programmable logic controller (PLC).

[0142] A rotary drive device 80, 82, or 84 that is controllable by the control device 78 is associated with the storage rolls 2, 4 for the webs 6, 8 and the storage roll 22 for the finished packaging material. During operation of the device, the control device 78 controls the speed of the rotary drive devices 80, 82, 84 in such a way that the desired web tension of the paper webs 6, 8 is set. For this purpose, the web tension sensors 58, 60 are in signal transmission connection with the control device 78.

[0143] A rotary drive device 86, 88, or 90 that is controllable by the control device 78 is associated with each of the rollers 16, 18, 20. During operation of the device, the control device 78 controls the speed of the rotary drive devices 86, 88, 90 in such a way that the rollers 16, 18, 20 for embossing the first web 6 in the embossing region 30 and for press-fitting the webs 6, 8 in the pressing region 32 run in sync.

[0144] To heat the rollers 16, 18, 20, a heating device 92 or 94 or 96 is associated with them, which is preferably integrated in the respective roller 16 or 18 or 20 and, for example and in particular, can be formed by at least one electric heating rod integrated in the respective roller 16 or 18 or 20.

[0145] To detect the temperature, a temperature measuring device 98, 100, 102, which is preferably also integrated into the respective roller 16 or 18 or 20, for example, in the form of a temperature sensor, is associated with each of the rollers 16, 18, 20. The temperature measuring devices 98, 100, 102 are in signal transmission connection with the control device 78. During operation of the device, the control device 78 controls the temperature of the rollers 16, 18, 20 by appropriately controlling the heating devices 92, 94, 96. The temperature can be controlled, in particular, in such a way that the temperature of embossing roller 16 is higher than the temperature of counter roller 18, and the temperature of counter roller 18 is higher than the temperature of press roller 20, so that there is a temperature gradient from the embossing roller 16 to the press roller 20.

[0146] Reference number 104 in FIG. 10 denotes a motorized adjustment apparatus for setting the gap width of the press roller gap along a linear axis running radially relative to the press roller axis of rotation 21. The motorized adjustment device is also controllable by the control device 78, for example, to adjust the gap width of the press roller gap to paper webs of different thicknesses or to disengage the press roller 20 from the counter roller 18 if the device is to be used for producing packaging material that exclusively consists of a single embossing web provided with shaped regions without a carrier web.

[0147] By means of a method according to the invention, using the device according to the invention, a packaging material according to the invention is produced in the manner of a bubble wrap.

[0148] In FIG. 11, a blank 106 of a corresponding bubble wrap-like packaging material is shown as an example, where it can be seen that the packaging material is provided with nub-like shaped regions 11 arranged in a grid-like manner. The structural composition of the packaging material according to the invention is similar to that of conventional bubble wrap made of plastic, but differs from it in that it is made exclusively of paper or cellulose.

[0149] It can be seen from FIG. 11 that the shaped regions 11 in the paper web plane of the embossing web 6 are each limited by a closed circumferential line, which is circular or approximately circular in the illustrated exemplary embodiment.

[0150] FIG. 12 shows a section through the packaging material on a greatly enlarged scale compared to FIG. 11. It can be seen that the embossment 11 in the first paper web 6 with the smooth second paper web 8 delimits an enclosed cavity 108. Away from the embossments 11, the paper webs 6, 8 are press-fitted against each other in web-like connecting sections 110, 112.

[0151] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the paper webs 6, 8 are made of recycled paper that has at least one, in particular, all of the following characteristic parameters: [0152] specific basis weight/grammage [ISO 536]: 60-140 g/m2 [0153] water absorption according to Cobb60 [ISO 535]: 26-113 g/m2 [0154] roughness according to Bendtsen [ISO 8791-2]: ?300 ml/min [0155] bursting strength [ISO 2758]: 160-240 kPa [0156] SCT INDEX in cross-direction [ISO 9895]: 1.1-1.9 kN/m

[0157] Depending on the respective requirements and circumstances, other types or grades of paper can also be used for the paper webs 6, 8. The paper webs 6, 8 therein can, in particular, be made of the same type of paper. However, according to the invention, it is also possible to use different types of paper for the paper webs 6, 8.

[0158] FIG. 13 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention, which differs from the first exemplary embodiment primarily in that, in the feed direction or conveying direction of the webs 6, 8, the pressing region 32 of the device is spaced apart from the embossing region 30. Due to the spatial distance between the pressing region 32 and the embossing region 30, the embossing roller 16 and the press roller 18 do not have a common counter roller in this exemplary embodiment. Rather, the counter roller 18 is associated with the embossing roller 16 and a separate counter roller 114 is associated with the press roller 20.

[0159] While, in the first exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 10, the rollers 16, 18, 20 of the roller arrangement 10 form a combined embossing and pressing station, the second exemplary embodiment has an embossing station (embossing roller 16/counter roller 18) and a pressing station (press roller 20/counter roller 114) spaced apart from the embossing station in the feed direction or conveying direction.