| WO/1988/001566 | CORRUGATED BOARD COATING METHOD AND APPARATUS |
| WO/1998/028127 | MANUFACTURE OF CORRUGATED BOARD |
| JP2005313645 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING CORRUGATED CARDBOARD TO VACUUM AIDED SYSTEM |
| CLAIMS 1. A device (10) for drying material during a corrugated board (100) production process comprising: a heating section providing increased evaporation of liquid from said corrugated board (100); a traction section located after the said heating section; a conveyor belt (300) with a section thereof in contact with said corrugated board (100); at least one pair of moving rollers (200) at a location above and substantially close to said corrugated board ( 100); at least one pair of fixed rollers (220) positioned to keep the board away from the conveyor belt (300); a scraper (400) adapted to remove material from the at least one fixed roller (220); and a means of directing the conveyor belt (300) to said corrugated board, wherein the conveyor belt (300) is lifted between said heating section and said traction section by the action of the said one pair of moving rollers (200 and one pair of fixed rollers (220). 2. A device (10) for drying material during a corrugated board (100) production process according to claim 1, wherein the means of directing the conveyor belt (300) to said corrugated board (100) comprises a pair of rollers (240, 260) spaced apart and in contact with opposing sides of the conveyor belt (300). 3. A device (10) for drying material during a corrugated board (100) production process according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the moving pair of rollers (200) can be removed to allow for maintenance of the surface below the said conveyor belt (300). 4. A device (10) for drying material during a corrugated board (100) production process according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the scraper (400) is adapted to remove waste material from the conveyor belt (300). 5. A device (10) for drying material during a corrugated board (100) production process according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a pressure applying means for providing contact between the conveyor belt (300) and the corrugated board (100). 6. A device (10) for drying material during a corrugated board (100) production process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the scraper (400) further comprises a layer of material to reduce any or a combination of noise, friction and wear. 7. A device (10) for drying material during a corrugated board (100) production process according to claim 6, wherein the layer of material is felt. 8. A method for drying material during a corrugated board (100) production process comprising the steps of: heating the corrugated board (100); joining layers of the corrugated board (100) by applying pressure on opposing sides via a conveyor belt (300) system; and separating the conveyor belt (300) from the corrugated board (100) after the heating. |
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to a belt lifting device used during the production of corrugated board.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the production of corrugated board, the segment of a corrugator line (machine producing corrugated board from paper rolls) between the double glue machine and the slitter scorer is known as the double baker. The function of the double baker is to press the single facer (comprised of one flat paper call liner and one corrugated paper call fluting paper) into contact with one or two other single facer and with the outer liner (the flat paper that will be on the outside of the box), to pull the board throughout the machine, and finally to dry the glue as well as the board.
History of double-baker technology:
The first corrugator lines were produced before the 2 nd world war. The double baker of the times used steel rollers to press a cotton belt into contact with the board. Under the board, steel chests heated with steam produced the heat necessary to dry the glue and the layers of paper. This original technology still exists and is used in many existing machines.
In the early 80', Langston (USA) produced a machine using an air hood to press down on the belt. This technology disappeared at the end of the decade because it was not improving the board dryness sufficiently.
In 1993, two new technologies arrived into the market, one from Simon Handling System (SHS) of England and one from Interfic of USA. The SHS product was known as SHORT PRESS. With this technology, the weight rollers are replaced with a pressure system comprising an airbag inserted into an aluminium box. The bottom part of the box is closed by flat stainless steel chains. When the airbag is inflated, it presses down on the flat chains. The chains press on the belt and the belt on the board. This system gives a larger surface of pressure with less specific (per square cm) pressure. The advantages of this system are: better heat transfer less board crush (higher board calliper and stronger boxes) better production control (every unit can be controlled independently and pressure can be adjusted.
The Interfic product is called THERMOBAR. With this technology, the weight rollers are replaced with a pressure system composed of ski-like stainless steel plates (shoes). Those plates are attached to a bar that can be moved up and down by the mean of 2 air cylinders. Between the bar and the shoes is a spring. When the bar moves down, it compresses the springs and therefore presses the shoes press on the belt and the belt on the board. This system gives a larger surface of pressure with less specific (per square cm) pressure. The advantages of this system are: better heat transfer less board crush (higher board calliper and stronger boxes) - better production control (every unit can be controlled independently)
During the drying phase of the corrugated board production process, the challenge is to evaporate as much water (steam) as possible to get a board as dry and as stable as possible at the end of the machine. On all existing systems, the board is covered by the belt from entrance to exit of the double baker. Even with a substantially permeable belt, the board cannot freely evaporate and as board grade and the speed increases, the finished product is wet and soft. Even when the heat and pressure is increased to a maximum, the water is still trapped and the board remains wet. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for lifting of a belt during a corrugation board production process. A first pair of rollers known as a moving roller, set a few millimeters above the board surface to position the board in close proximity to the pressure applying means. This pair of rollers can be lifted when the machine stops by means of two air cylinders so that the operator can clean the hot-plate surface below the belt. A second pair of rollers also known as a fixed roller is set to keep the belt as far as possible from the board surface (upper level). A scraper blade is constantly cleaning this pair of rollers from pollution deposited on the belt such as wet starch, dust, paper. Just before the entrance of a traction section, two other rollers direct the belt from an upper level to the board surface level.
The present invention also relates to a device for lifting of a belt during a corrugated board production process comprising: a heating section providing increased evaporation of liquid from said corrugated board; a traction section located after the said heating section; a conveyor belt with a section thereof in contact with said corrugated board; at least one pair of moving rollers at a location above and substantially close to said corrugated board; at least one pair of fixed rollers positioned to keep the board away from the conveyor belt and then to direct the conveyor belt to said corrugated board; a scraper adapted to remove material from the at least one fixed pair of rollers; wherein the conveyor belt is separated from the corrugated board between said heating section and said traction section.
The pressure system used in this invention are, flat stainless steel chains loaded with ballast bars (steel bars cut at the require shape).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 shows an overall view of the device in an embodiment of this invention.
Figure 2 shows a roller in an embodiment of this invention. Figure 3 shows a scraper in an embodiment of this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
It should be noted that the following detailed description is directed to an apparatus and method for an improved corrugated board production process and is not limited to any particular size, shape or configuration of any individual parts of the device or the device as a whole.
Referring to Figure 1, there is shown below a pick up head surface a pair of moving rollers (200), set a few millimeters above the board surface to position the board in close proximity to the pressure applying means, and to lift a conveyor belt (300). A pair of fixed rollers (220) is set to keep the belt (300) as far as possible from the board surface (upper level). A scraper blade (400) is constantly cleaning the pair of fixed rollers (220) and belt (300). Just before the entrance of a traction section, the pair of fixed rollers (220) direct the belt from an upper level to the board surface level.
A pair of moving rollers (200), set a few millimeters above the board surface to position the board in close proximity to the pressure applying means. This pair of moving rollers (200) can be lifted when the machine stops by means of two air cylinders so that the operator can clean the hot-plate surface below the belt. A second pair of rollers also known as a fixed roller (220) is set to keep the belt as far as possible from the board surface (upper level). A scraper blade (400) is constantly cleaning the pair of fixed rollers (220) from pollution deposited on the belt such as wet starch, dust, and paper. Just before the entrance of a traction section, the pair of fixed rollers (220) direct the belt from an upper level to the board surface level.
There is also provided a heating section providing increased evaporation of liquid from said corrugated board (100); a traction section located after the said heating section; a conveyor belt (300) with a section thereof in contact with said corrugated board (100); a moving pair of rollers (200) at a location above and substantially close to said corrugated board (100); a fixed pair of rollers (220) positioned to keep the board (100) away from the conveyor belt (300); a scraper (400) adapted to remove material from the fixed pair of rollers (220); a means of directing the conveyor belt (300) to said corrugated board (100) comprising a pair of rollers (220, 240) spaced apart and in contact with opposing sides of the conveyor belt (300) wherein the conveyor belt is separated from the corrugated board (100) between said heating section and said traction section.
Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown a pair of moving rollers (200) in an embodiment of this invention. This pair of moving rollers (200) is set a few millimeters above the board surface to position the board in close proximity to the pressure applying means. This pair of moving rollers (200) can be lifted when the machine stops by means of two air cylinders so that the operator can clean the hotplate surface below the belt.
Figure 3 shows a scraper (400) in an embodiment of this invention. This scraper (400) is adapted to clean the pair of fixed rollers (220) and belt (300) by removing material deposited on the belt such as wet starch, dust, and paper.
While several particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated, it should now be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are intended to embrace such changes, modifications, and areas of application that are within the spirit and scope of this invention.