APPARATUS FOR THE PLACEMENT OF A SECOND MATERIAL PIECE ON A PAPERBOARD CUTOUT AND METHODS THEREOF

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and systems for applying a second-piece material to a paperboard cutout that includes a conveyor belt used for transporting the paperboard cutouts, a vacuum belt, at least two metering rolls, a first roller and second roller in a spaced apart and planar relationship, a nip roller positioned adjacent the second roller, and a cutting device. The vacuum belt proceeds over the first roller and the at least two metering rolls meter the second-piece material thereon, the vacuum belt proceeds through a valley between the first roller and second roller, at a predetermined time, the nip roller continues to pull the vacuum belt and the metering rolls pull back slightly and pulling the second-piece material taught and causing the second-piece material to contact the cutting device, and thus cutting the second-piece material.

Claims

1. An apparatus for applying a second-piece material to a paperboard cutout, comprising: a vacuum belt; a nip roller; at least two metering rollers; a first roller and a second roller in a spaced apart relationship; and a cutting device positioned in-between the first roller and the second roller.

2. The apparatus for applying a second-piece material to a paperboard cutout according to claim 1, wherein the cutting device contains a serrated blade.

3. The apparatus for applying a second-piece material to a paperboard cutout according to claim 1, wherein the cutting device contains a removable blade.

4. The apparatus for applying a second-piece material to a paperboard cutout according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum belt is positioned over the first roller and second roller.

5. The apparatus for applying a second-piece material to a paperboard cutout according to claim 1, wherein the second-piece material is metered by the at least two metering rollers.

6. The apparatus for applying a second-piece material to a paperboard cutout according to claim 1, wherein the second piece material is a plastic film.

7. An apparatus for applying a second-piece material to a paperboard cutout, comprising: a conveyor belt; a vacuum belt; at least two metering rolls; a first roller and second roller in a spaced apart and planar relationship; a nip roller positioned adjacent the second roller; and a cutting device whereby the vacuum belt proceeds over the first roller and the at least two metering rolls meter the second-piece material thereon, the vacuum belt proceeds through a valley between the first roller and second roller, at a predetermined time, the nip roller continues to pull the vacuum belt and the metering rolls pull back slightly and pulling the second-piece material taught and causing the second-piece material to contact the cutting device, and thus cutting the second-piece material.

8. The apparatus for applying a second-piece material to a paperboard cutout of claim 7, wherein the cutting device is a serrated knife.

9. The apparatus for applying a second-piece material to a paperboard cutout of claim 7, wherein the second-piece material is a plastic film.

10. The apparatus for applying a second-piece material to a paperboard cutout of claim 7, further comprising a gluing manifold, whereby the gluing manifold deposits an adhesive on the paperboard cutout prior to the conveyor belt conveying the paperboard cutouts in close proximity thereto.

11. The apparatus for applying a second-piece material to a paperboard cutout of claim 7, further comprising a UV light for curing an adhesive used to engage the second-piece material to the paperboard cutout.

12. A process for applying a second-piece material to a paperboard cutout, comprising: providing a conveyor belt used for transporting the paperboard cutouts, a vacuum belt, at least two metering rolls, a first roller and second roller in a spaced apart and planar relationship, a nip roller positioned adjacent the second roller, and a cutting device; conveying paperboard cutouts along the conveyor belt; metering a second-piece material through at least two metering rolls and onto the vacuum belt; transporting the vacuum belt and second-piece material over the first roller and the second roller, including a valley disposed between the first roller and second roller; stopping the metering rolls at a predetermined time and backing up the metering rolls a slight amount; causing the second-piece material to become taught and move upwards rapidly from the valley and coming in contact with the cutting device, which cuts the second piece material; and applying the second-piece material to the paperboard cutout.

13. The process for applying a second-piece material to a paperboard cutout of claim 12, wherein the cutting device is a serrated knife.

14. The process for applying a second-piece material to a paperboard cutout of claim 12, wherein the second-piece material is a plastic film.

15. The process for applying a second-piece material to a paperboard cutout of claim 12, further comprising a gluing manifold, whereby the gluing manifold deposits an adhesive on the paperboard cutout prior to the conveyor belt conveying the paperboard cutouts in close proximity thereto.

16. The process for applying a second-piece material to a paperboard cutout of claim 12, further comprising a UV light for curing a UV activated adhesive.

17. The process for applying a second-piece material to a paperboard cutout of claim 12, further comprising an antistatic ion bar.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The present invention is illustrated and described herein with reference to the various drawings, in which like reference numbers denote like method steps and/or system components, respectively, and in which:

[0025] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] FIG. 2 is a perspective view the cutting sequence within the vacuum device;

[0027] FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the cutting sequence within the vacuum device;

[0028] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the gluing manifold;

[0029] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the gluing manifold;

[0030] FIG. 6 is a view of the apparatus and process for the application of second-material pieces to paperboard cutouts and a gluing manifold; and

[0031] FIG. 7 is a side-view of the cutting apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] The present invention may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed invention. Any and all patents and other publications identified in this specification are incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.

[0033] Also, as used in the specification including the appended claims, the singular forms a, an, and the include the plural, and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from about or approximately one particular value and/or to about or approximately another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent about, it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment.

[0034] The present invention relates to an apparatus and process for the application of second-material pieces to paperboard cutouts for use on folding cartons with window cutouts. The paperboard cutout contains a window designed to allow the consumer to view the actual contents of the package. During production, a second-material piece is adhered around the window. An adhesive is applied around the window and a second-material piece is placed upon the adhesive. It is an object of the present invention to apply the second-material piece in an expeditious and accurate manner.

[0035] Referring now specifically to the figures, an improved apparatus for the placement of a second-material piece on a paperboard cutout and method thereof is illustrated in FIGS. 1-7 and is shown generally at reference numeral 10. Paperboard cutouts 12 are drawn off a storage container (not shown) and conveyed over a conveyor belt 14 and through a gluing manifold 16, as illustrated in FIG. 6. Once the paperboard cutouts 12 exit the gluing manifold 16 they pass under a vacuum device 17, which applies the second-material piece, such as a plastic film 18, over a window within the paperboard cutout 12.

[0036] The apparatus 10 contains an expeditious cutting apparatus 11 and process for cutting the plastic film 18, as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, and 6. The plastic film 18 is drawn off a roll 21 and metered out by an accumulator 22. The plastic film 18 enters the cutting apparatus 11 and is pulled through a pair of metering rolls 19 and onto a vacuum belt 20. The cutting apparatus is contained within the vacuum device 17. The vacuum belt 20 pulls the film 18 onto the vacuum belt 20 and through the metering rolls 19, which may be driven by a servo motor (not shown). Adjacent to the metering rolls 19 is a first roller 22 and second roller 24. The vacuum belt 20 is drawn over the first roller 22, wherein the plastic film 18 is deposited on the vacuum belt 20. The vacuum belt 20 extends within a valley between the first roller 22 and second roller 24. In this valley, the vacuum belt 20 extends below the bottom portion of the first roller 22 and second roller 24, and as a consequence the plastic film 18 on the vacuum belt 20 also extends below the first roller 22 and second roller 24 via suction.

[0037] During use, as the vacuum belt 20 pulls the film 18 between the metering rolls 19. The film 18 is deposited on the vacuum belt 20 and continues down the valley between the first roller 22 and the second roller 24. The film 18 and vacuum belt 20 are pulled between a nip roller 26 and the second roller 24. Once a desired amount of film 18 has been drawn, the metering rolls 19 stop and back up a slight amount, while the nip roller 26 continues to pull the film 16, causing the film 16 to rise out of the valley in a taught position.

[0038] A cutting device 28 is positioned above the valley. Preferably, the cutting device 28 contains a serrated blade that is easily replaceable within the system 10. As the film 16 rises out of the valley, it is snapped taught across the blade of the cutting device 28, cutting the film 18, as shown in FIG. 3. During the cutting process, a portion of the film 18 is still engaged to the vacuum belt 20, and after the cut has been administered to the film 18, the film 18 continues down the vacuum belt 20. The process is repeated numerous times.

[0039] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the film 16 is deposited on the paperboard cut-outs 12. The gluing manifold 16 is illustrated in FIG. 4. The gluing manifold 16 consists of at least one or a plurality of extrusion guns 30 that extrude an adhesive on the paperboard cutouts 12. As illustrated, the gluing manifold 16 consists of two extrusion gun banks that are staggered, such that each lane is in a spaced-apart relationship to create enough spacing for a solid seal when needed. By way of example only, the extrusion gun banks may be spaced apart from between 1 mm to about 12 mm (including all points in-between). It should be noted that the system 10 may include one or more extrusion gun banks, including between about one and about twenty extrusion gun banks, including all points in-between. During use and depending upon the desired deposition of adhesive, two guns fire solid lines onto the paperboard cutout 12 while the guns situated between these two guns fire dots in two predisposed places, creating two horizontal lines. The pattern illustrated in FIG. 4 is designed to go with the window configuration as shown on the paperboard cutouts 12 in FIG. 1. The glue deposited on the paperboard cut-out 12 is designed to be positioned around the window and prior to the film 18 being deposited on the paperboard cutout 12, for adhering the film 18 to the paperboard cutout and around the window.

[0040] FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative gluing manifold 16. In this embodiment, one or more extrusion guns are staggered such that each lane is spaced-apart. Two or more extrusion guns deposit adhesive in a solid line or dotted lines while the extrusion guns are situated between fire dots in two places, such that it creates two horizontal lines along a lead and trail edge. When the adhesive is compressed to the film, it creates a solid seal. For odd shaped openings with chamfered corners, logo emblems or other character edges, the extrusion guns can be easily programmed to create dots and dashes of lines in areas to secure the film tightly and control the carton substrate to the film without a complex flexo pad.

[0041] The apparatus 10 may also include a sensor (not shown), such as a reflective eye or laser sensor, for sensing the paperboard cutouts 12. The sensor rhythmically checks the presence and times the presence of the paperboard cutouts 12. The sensor assists in the timing of the film 18 application and matches the speed of the film 18 application with the speed of the paperboard cutouts 12 that are progressing under the vacuum belt 20. Additionally, the sensor may detect if a paperboard cutout 12 is missing and stop the application of the film 18, but restart the application of the film 18, once another paperboard cutout 12 is detected. The sensor or in another embodiment sensors can auto-detect the carton edge plus the window opening position. This can automatically set the lead edge and trail edge of the adhesive and film. Cartons or substrates with variable size and position of openings could run through in a consecutive stream and an auto-detect scenario will place film and adhesive only where required. One such application would be multiple openings along the same substrate. These could be same or different sized. The auto-detect scenario would place films and adhesives over the openings at optimal lengths.

[0042] An accumulator 22 or another way of collecting the film in-between the continuous unwind and the intermittent discharge may be incorporated with the vacuum device 17. The film is fed into the accumulator 22, wherein an ultrasonic sensor 36, senses the position of the film and amount of film deposited in the accumulator 22 from the roll 21. The film is drawn from the accumulator 22 and into the vacuum device 17.

[0043] A UV light 24 may be positioned downstream the vacuum belt 20. The adhesive 26 that is deposited by the gluing manifold may be a UV cured adhesive. This adhesive is particularly useful when an inadvertent drop of the adhesive is deposited on an area of the paperboard cutout 12 that is not attended. The adhesive will cure after passing through the UV light 24.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 7, an antistatic ion bar 34 may be positioned adjacent the vacuum belt for dispersing static electricity. The antistatic ion bar 32 produces negative and positive ions, or may just product negative ions or positive ions. The ions are dispersed such that the ions contact the film for removing static electricity that may build up during operation.

[0045] While the second-piece material has been described herein as a plastic film, it is noted that other materials may consist of the second-piece material. Such materials mas consist of wrapping paper, laminate, or the like.

[0046] The paperboard may be corrugated, plastic, or any other flat blank with a window opening.

[0047] Although the present invention has been illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present invention and are intended to be covered by the following claims.