EP0787533A1

EP0787533A1 - Gumming device

Info

Publication number: EP0787533A1
Application number: EP96113189A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mario Spatafora
Original assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche ACMA SpA
Current assignee: Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche ACMA SpA
Priority date: 1995-08-24
Filing date: 1996-08-16
Publication date: 1997-08-06
Also published as: ITBO950403A0; IT1279608B1; ITBO950403A1

Abstract

A gumming device (1) presenting a box frame (2) defining a chamber (3) partially housing a gumming roller (5) supplied with an adhesive substance; the frame (2) supporting a humidifying device (16) for feeding a jet of humidifying fluid into the chamber (3) to maintain the adhesive substance inside the chamber (3) in the fluid state.

Description

The present invention relates to a gumming device.
More specifically, the present invention relates to a gumming device of the type comprising a box frame defining a chamber; a gumming roller housed partially inside the chamber and fitted in rotary manner to the frame; and means for feeding an adhesive substance onto the outer surface of the roller.
In general, the adhesive substances used on gumming devices of the above type are relatively fast-drying, so that even a relatively short stoppage in the operating cycle of the machines featuring such devices involves a further stoppage to clean and service the gumming devices.
It is an object of the present invention to perfect the above known gumming devices to eliminate the aforementioned drawback.
According to the present invention, there is provided a gumming device comprising a box frame defining a chamber; a gumming roller housed partially inside said chamber and fitted in rotary manner to said frame; and supply means for feeding an adhesive substance onto an outer surface of said roller; characterized by also comprising a humidifying device for feeding a humidifying fluid into said chamber to maintain the adhesive substance inside the chamber in the fluid state.
The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows a schematic cross section of a non-limiting embodiment.
Number 1 in the accompanying drawing indicates a gumming device comprising a box frame 2 defining a chamber 3 with a top opening 4; and a gumming roller 5 fitted to frame 2 inside chamber 3 so as to rotate about a longitudinal axis 6, and presenting a substantially cylindrical outer surface 7 partially engaged inside opening 4 and supplied with an adhesive substance (not shown) by a supply device 8. On the side facing roller 5, device 8 is defined by a substantially cylindrical surface 9 facing surface 7 and defining, with surface 7, a supply channel 10 for said adhesive substance; and device 8 also comprises a supply conduit 11 communicating at one end with a known source (not shown) of said adhesive substance, and at the other end with channel 10.
Device 1 also comprises a scraper element 12 fitted to frame 2 and substantially contacting surface 7 to partly remove said adhesive substance from surface 7; and a tank 13 for collecting the adhesive substance and located beneath element 12. Tank 13 presents a top opening 14 facing surface 7 of roller 5, and a bottom drain conduit 15 communicating with a known device (not shown) for recovering the adhesive substance.
Device 1 also comprises a humidifying device 16 for feeding atomized water 17 into chamber 3 to increase the humidity inside chamber 3 and so prevent the adhesive substance on the surfaces of the elements inside chamber 3 from drying. More specifically, on account of the relatively high temperature inside chamber 3, water 17 vaporizes and saturates chamber 3 with steam, which, on contacting the adhesive substance, subsequently condenses in the form of minute drops of water, which are gradually absorbed by the adhesive substance to moisten and keep it fluid.
Device 16 comprises a reservoir 18 containing water 19 and located outside chamber 3; at least one spray nozzle 20 housed inside chamber 3 and connected to reservoir 18 by a supply conduit 21; a pump 22 for feeding water 19 from reservoir 18 along conduit 21; and a compressor 23 for feeding compressed air along a further conduit 24 connected to nozzle 20 and so atomizing water 19.
Device 16 also comprises a timer 25 connected to pump 22 and compressor 23, and for operating pump 22 and compressor 23 at given time intervals, during both operation and stoppage of gumming device 1, to maintain a constant humidity value inside chamber 3 and prevent the adhesive substance on the surfaces of the elements inside chamber 3 from drying.
Alternatively, timer 25 may be replaced by a known central control unit 25' also connected to a sensor 26 housed inside chamber 3 and for detecting the humidity value inside chamber 3 and activating control unit 25' whenever the detected humidity value falls below a given reference value.

Claims

A gumming device comprising a box frame (2) defining a chamber (3); a gumming roller (5) housed partially inside said chamber (3) and fitted in rotary manner to said frame (2); and supply means (8) for feeding an adhesive substance onto an outer surface (7) of said roller (5); characterized by also comprising a humidifying device (16) for feeding a humidifying fluid (19) into said chamber (3) to maintain the adhesive substance inside the chamber (3) in the fluid state.
A device as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that said humidifying device (16) comprises at least one spray nozzle (20) for atomizing said humidifying fluid (19) inside said chamber (3).
A device as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said humidifying device (16) comprises a pump (22) for supplying said humidifying fluid (19), and a compressor (23) for supplying air, said pump (22) and said compressor (23) presenting respective outlet conduits (21, 24) communicating with said spray nozzle (20).
A device as claimed in Claim 3, characterized in that said humidifying device (16) also comprises a timing device (25) connected to said pump (22) and to said compressor (23), and for activating the pump (22) and the compressor (23) at given time intervals.
A device as claimed in Claim 3, characterized in that said humidifying device (16) also comprises a central control unit (25'); and a sensor (26), which is connected to the central control unit (25'), and is housed inside said chamber (3) to detect a humidity value inside said chamber (3); the central control unit (25') also being connected to said pump (22) and to said compressor (23) to activate the pump (22) and the compressor (23) whenever said humidity value falls below a given reference value.