U.S. patent application number 10/433436 was filed with the patent office on 2004-02-12 for method and device for producing a packaging material.
Invention is credited to Toft, Nils.
Application Number | 20040026022 10/433436 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 20282295 |
Filed Date | 2004-02-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040026022 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Toft, Nils |
February 12, 2004 |
Method and device for producing a packaging material
Abstract
Press roll (10) for a laminating machine for producing a
packaging material which comprises a carcass layer (42) consisting
of paper or carton, and which carcass layer exhibits crease lines,
through holes, openings or slits (43), which carcass layer
exhibits, on one of its sides, a barrier layer (23), a plastic
lining (31) which is arranged outside the barrier layer, and film
(25) of laminant thermoplast which is arranged between the carcass
layer and the barrier layer, with the said press roll (10)
exhibiting a circular-cylindrical jacket surface having a facing
(40) consisting of an elastic material. According to the invention,
the said facing (40) comprises sections (44, 44') in the jacket
surface, which sections exhibit local deformation ability in
relation to the surrounding facing (40, 44). The invention also
relates to a method for producing packaging material and to
packaging material which has been produced using this method.
Inventors: |
Toft, Nils; (Malmo,
SE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BURNS DOANE SWECKER & MATHIS L L P
POST OFFICE BOX 1404
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22313-1404
US
|
Family ID: |
20282295 |
Appl. No.: |
10/433436 |
Filed: |
June 4, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
December 14, 2001 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/SE01/02779 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
156/244.22 ;
156/244.24; 156/244.27; 156/553; 156/555; 156/582; 264/171.13;
428/537.5; 428/542.8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 27/00 20130101;
Y10T 156/1737 20150115; Y10T 428/31993 20150401; B65H 2404/18
20130101; B32B 37/0053 20130101; Y10T 156/1741 20150115; Y10T
29/4998 20150115; B32B 2553/00 20130101; B32B 5/18 20130101; B32B
37/0023 20130101; Y10T 29/49885 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
156/244.22 ;
264/171.13; 156/244.27; 156/244.24; 156/553; 156/555; 156/582;
428/537.5; 428/542.8 |
International
Class: |
B29C 047/06; B32B
003/10; B32B 029/00; B32B 031/06; B32B 031/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 18, 2000 |
SE |
0004709-2 |
Claims
1. Press roll (10) for a laminating machine for producing a
packaging material in the form of a web of the type which comprises
a carcass layer (42) consisting of paper or carton, and which
carcass layer exhibits crease lines, through holes, openings or
slits (43), which carcass layer exhibits, on one of its sides, a
barrier layer (23), preferably aluminium foil, a plastic lining
(31) which is arranged outside the barrier layer and which
comprises one or more thermoplastic materials, and a film (25)
which consists of laminant thermoplast and which is arranged
between the carcass layer and the barrier layer, with the said
press roll (10) comprising a metal core exhibiting a
circular-cylindrical jacket surface, which jacket surface exhibits
a facing (40) consisting of an elastic material, characterized in
that the said facing (40) comprises sections (44, 44') in the
jacket surface, which sections exhibit local deformation ability in
relation to the surrounding facing (40, 44).
2. Press roll according to claim 1, characterized in that the said
sections (44) are arranged in large number, with an essentially
uniform distribution over the jacket surface.
3. Press roll according to claim 1, characterized in that the said
sections (44, 44') are arranged as, or in, one or more areas (33,
44') which extend as cylindrical segments around the circumference
of the roll (10).
4. Press roll according to any one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the said sections (44) are arranged in a
quantity amounting to 0.5-20 per cm, preferably 1-10 per cm, and
even more preferably 3-6 per cm, in at least one extension
direction in the jacket surface.
5. Press roll according to any one of claims 2-4, characterized in
that a void is present in the spaces (45) between the said sections
(44) or in that a compressible material, having a lower E module
and lower damping than a material of which the said sections
consist, is arranged in these spaces.
6. Press roll according to claim 5, characterized in that an
aggregate volume V.sub.se of the sections (44) is related to an
aggregate volume V.sub.sp of the said spaces (45) between the
sections such that 0.3*V.sub.sp<V.sub.se<10*V.sub.sp,
preferably 0.5*V.sub.sp<V.sub.se<7*V.sub.sp, and even more
preferably V.sub.sp<V.sub.se<5*V.sub.sp.
7. Press roll according to claim 6, characterized in that a maximal
height H of one of the said sections (44) is related to a distance
L such that 0.2*L<H<3*L, preferably 0.3*L<H<2*L, and,
even more preferably 0.5*L<H<1.5*L, where L is the shortest
distance between a bottom of two spaces (45) on each respective
side of the said section (44).
8. Press roll according to any one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the said sections (44) are designed with a
cross section which is circular, triangular, quadrangular or
hexagonal, in that the said sections are designed as elevated
hemispheres or pyramids, or in that the said sections are designed
as extended, wave-shaped or zigzag-shaped profiles.
9. Press roll according to any one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the said facing (40) also comprises through
holes (46) which extend from the jacket surface and down in the
core of the roll (10), the roll also comprising means for creating
a negative pressure in the said core.
10. Press roll according to claim 3, characterized in that each
section consists of a section (44') which is essentially
homogeneous in a direction around the circumference of the roll
(10) and in an axial direction of the jacket surface, preferably
having an extension of 3-15 cm in the said axial direction.
11. Press roll according to claim 10, characterized in that the
said sections (44') are made up of a first elastic, polymeric
material exhibiting a first damping and a first E module, and in
that the surrounding facing (40) is made up of a second elastic,
polymeric material exhibiting a second damping and a second E
module, with the said first damping and the said first E module
being lower than the said second damping and the said second E
module, respectively.
12. Press roll according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that
the said sections (44') consist of insertions in the facing (40),
which insertions exhibit a thickness which constitutes 5-25%,
preferably 7-20%, and even more preferably 8-15%, of an aggregate
thickness of the insertions plus the facing, with the roll (10)
preferably exhibiting, at the said sections (44'), a diameter which
is greater than a diameter at the surrounding facing (40).
13. Method for producing packaging material in the form of a web of
the type which comprises a carcass layer (42) consisting of paper
or carton, which carcass layer exhibits crease lines, through
holes, openings or slits (43), and which carcass layer exhibits, on
one of its sides, a barrier layer (23), preferably aluminium foil,
a plastic lining (31) which is arranged outside the barrier layer
and which comprises one or more thermoplastic materials, and a film
(25) of laminant thermoplast which is arranged between the carcass
layer and barrier layer, with the said barrier layer being brought,
at the same time as the said carcass layer, to adhere to the said
plastic lining and/or to the said film of laminant thermoplast in a
press nip (26; 32), to which the said plastic lining and/or the
said laminant thermoplast is extruded, in molten or semimolten
form, and in the form of a continuous film (25; 31), characterized
in.that the said press nip (26; 32) comprises an press roll (10;
28) in accordance with any one of the preceding claims.
14. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that the said
press nip (26; 32) also comprises a cooling counter roll (41;
29).
15. Method according to either of claims 13 or 14, characterized in
that the said press roll (10; 28) exhibits a peripheral speed of up
to 800 m/min, preferably 300-700 m/min, and even more preferably
400-700 m/min.
16. Method according to any one of claims 13-15, characterized in
that the said press nip (26; 32) exhibits a line load of 20-60
N/mm, preferably 20-50 N/mm, and a press nip length of at least 20
mm, preferably 20-35 mm, and even more preferably 20-30 mm.
17. Packaging material in the form of a laminate of the type which
comprises a carcass layer (42) consisting of paper or carton, which
carcass layer exhibits crease lines, through holes, openings or
slits (43), and which carcass layer exhibits, on one of its sides,
a barrier layer (23), preferably aluminium foil, a plastic lining
(31) which is arranged outside the barrier layer and which
comprises one or more thermoplastic materials, and a film (25) of
laminant thermoplast which is arranged between the carcass layer
and the barrier layer, characterized in that it is produced using
the method according to any one of claims 13-16.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a method for producing
packaging material which is in the form of a continuous laminate
web and is of the type which comprises a carcass layer made of
paper or carton, one side of which exhibits a layer which is
arranged outside the carcass layer and which comprises, on the one
hand, a barrier layer and, on the other hand, a plastic lining
which is arranged outside the barrier layer and which comprises one
or more thermoplastic materials, with the carcass layer being
covered by the said layer along the whole of its surface while the
layer, along selected parts, extends beyond the edges of the
carcass layer. In the present instance, a barrier layer means a
layer which first and foremost constitutes a barrier to oxygen. A
preferred layer consists of a metal foil layer, preferably an
aluminium foil layer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Disposable packaging containers, particularly those for
storing liquids, are frequently produced from a packaging material
which consists of a carcass layer of paper, which layer is covered
with thermoplastic materials and aluminium foil. The packaging
material is frequently supplied in the form of webs which are
reeled on storage reels and which, after having been unrolled from
their storage reel, are converted, by means of folding, into
packaging containers in automatic packaging machines. A commonly
occurring packaging of this type is that which is marketed under
the trade name TETRA BRIK and which is preferably used for liquid
filling material of the milk, fruit juice, etc. type.
[0003] This packaging container is produced in automatic packaging
and filling machines in such a way that the web which is unrolled
from the storage reel is transformed into a tube by the edges of
the web being joined in an overlap seam, after which the tube which
has been formed is filled with the intended filling material and
subdivided into individual packaging containers by means of
repeated transverse seals, which are arranged at a distance from
each other and at right angles to the tube. After the filling
material which has been supplied has been enclosed in this way in
sealed-off parts of the tube, these parts are separated from the
tube by means of cuts made in the said transverse sealing zones.
The subdivided tube parts are then shaped, by means of folding
along crease lines which are arranged in the packaging material, to
form packaging containers of the desired shape, for example a
parallelepipedic shape.
[0004] Packagings of this type are frequently provided with opening
notches in the form of holes, openings or slits which are made in
the packaging material and which are covered with strips which can
be torn off and which are normally termed "pull-tabs".
Alternatively the packaging device is provided with an external
opening device, for example in the form of a plastic pouring spout
having a screw top for resealing, which opening device is only
allowed to penetrate the packaging laminate in connection with the
packaging being opened and the product being used. In this
connection, the packaging laminate is provided with an opening
which consists of a punched-out hole in the carcass layer, over
which hole aluminium foil and thermoplastic layers have been
laminated. Thus, when the filling material consists of a sterile
product, such as sterilized milk, or an acidic product, such as
orange juice, the packaging container is frequently manufactured
from a packaging laminate comprising an aluminium foil layer which
makes the packaging extremely impervious to the penetration of
gases, such as oxygen, which can oxidize the contents and impair
its quality. In order to achieve the desired imperviousness, it is
very important that the aluminium foil layer is not broken or
damaged during the shaping of the packaging or when the packaging
material is being manufactured and, for the function of the tear
strip opening (the pull tab) or the penetrating opening device, it
is of importance that the aluminium foil layer adheres extremely
well to the area around the opening holes since otherwise the
opening operation can easily fail. Thus when a covering strip has
been affixed over the intended opening, this strip can be torn off
in connection with this operation, without, for all that, the inner
lining of plastic and aluminium foil being torn open. When a
penetrating opening device is used, this opening device can fail to
make a clean cut in the aluminium foil and thermoplastic layer,
resulting in frayed edges.
[0005] An object of the invention is, in a simple and effective
manner, to treat and prepare a packaging material web of the
abovementioned type such that the edge of the packaging material
web is effectively sealed off using an upper plastic film or a
plastic film which is arranged around the edge zone. It is known to
seal off liquid-absorbing material edges, which are exposed to the
inside of a packaging container, with bridging thermoplastic strips
or thermoplastic strips which are folded around the edges. It is
also known, for the same purpose, to provide the packaging material
web with what is termed a fixed plastic edge strip, i.e. with a
plastic strip which projects from the edge of a carton web and
which can be folded around the edge and sealed to its opposite
side. Such a "fixed edge strip" is obtained by arranging carton
webs alongside each other, such that they form a slit or gap
between each other, after which the webs and the slits are jointly
covered with a plastic foil or, in certain cases, with a plastic
foil and an aluminium foil, after which the covered webs are
separated by means of a cut made in the slit region, thereby
forming a projecting, fixed strip. A drawback has hitherto been
that it is not possible to obtain adherence, or it is at all events
a poor adherence which is obtained, between, for example, an
aluminium foil layer and a plastic layer in the region of the slits
since the aluminium foil and the plastic layer cannot be pressed
together within the region of the cut and, in particular, not right
up to the boundary edges of the slits due to the varying thickness
of the material and the resulting difficulty for the pressure rolls
to compress the material within the slit region.
[0006] Packaging material of the type which is meant here can be
produced by means of known technology, by applying the different
layers, i.e. the aluminium foil layer, the inner plastic layer,
etc., in several separate lamination operations, to the carcass
layer consisting of paper or carton, and such a lamination
procedure works very well when the carcass layer is not provided
with holes, openings or slits, i.e. regions where the covering
layers extend beyond or past edge zones of the carcass layer. It
has been found that, when an aluminium foil is being layered onto a
carcass layer web consisting of paper or carton, where the carcass
layer is provided with holes, openings or slits, difficulties arise
due to the fact that, in connection with the lamination, where the
binding laminating layer frequently consists of a thin extruded
thermoplastic film, the aluminium foil has to be pressed against
the carcass layer base using an press roll or soft pressure roll in
order to achieve sufficient adherence between the aluminium foil
layer and the carcass layer. Since the aluminium foil layer is as a
rule very thin (from approx. 5 to 10 .mu.m), it comes to be
pressed, by the press roll, against the edges around the opening or
the slits in the carcass layer and partially pressed into the said
holes or openings. Since the perforations have a relatively sharp
edge, there is a risk of the aluminium foil rupturing and, at all
events, the risk arises of the aluminium foil becoming creased
around the edges of the openings or the slits and, as a result,
either being weakened or achieving poor adherence with the carcass
layer precisely in the edge zones of the holes or openings.
Furthermore, the adherence between the plastic layer and the
aluminium foil layer is poor in the region of the said holes or
slits since the pressure of the press roll in the said regions is
limited due to the reduction in the thickness of the material in
the said holes or slits.
[0007] The abovementioned circumstances have constituted a severe
problem which has firstly caused ruptures in the aluminium foil
layer, and consequently caused the gas-tightness of the packagings
to be inadequate, secondly caused the opening function to be
defective due to poor adherence between the aluminium foil layer
and the carcass layer in the edge zones around the openings and
thirdly caused poor adherence between the aluminium foil layer and
the plastic layer along the parts where the aluminium foil layer
and the plastic layer project outside the carcass layer and are
consequently not supported by this layer when being pressed
together.
[0008] The adherence between the aluminium foil layer and the film
of laminant thermoplast which binds the aluminium foil layer to the
carcass layer, and the adherence between the aluminium foil layer
and the plastic lining which is arranged outside this layer (i.e.
the plastic lining which comes to be in direct contact with the
liquid which is to be stored in the finished packaging) are
especially critical. In the region of the said holes or slits, this
adherence is frequently poor since the material exhibits a
reduction in thickness in the holes or slits, which reduction in
thickness results in the pressure of the press nip being lower at
these sites. In other words, the reduction in thickness means that
the press nip, comprising an press roll and a cooled roll, is
unable to press the aluminium foil layer and the different polymer
layers together sufficiently for achieving the requisite adherence
in essentially the whole of the region defined by the hole or the
slit, particularly in the vicinity of the hole edges. This is
expressed as air inclusions adjacent to the edges of the hole or
slit, which in turn means that problems of fracture formation in
the aluminium foil arise, leading to impaired gas-tightness and
consequently problems with asepsis. The air inclusions also result
in it being difficult to tear off or penetrate the membrane
consisting of the aluminium foil and the polymeric films in the
hole/slit, with the ability to open the packaging being restricted
and/or with it not being possible to make a clean cut when
penetrating, resulting in the formation of frayed edges.
[0009] The difficulty of solving the problem of poor pressure in
the press nip in the region of the holes/slits is aggravated by the
fact that it is at the same time necessary, in the press nip, to
pay regard to optimization aspects in relation to the adherence
between the aluminium foil and the different polymer layers in the
regions outside the regions of the holes/slits. The polymeric layer
which is to be laminated to the aluminium foil is extruded in
molten or semi-molten form directly into the press nip and has to
be pressed together by the nip before the temperature of the
polymeric material falls too much, in connection with which the
material solidifies. This means that the line load in the nip is
only effective for laminating during the course of a first,
relatively short, press nip length. A press nip length which
exceeds this effective press nip length only means that the line
load is distributed over a greater area, something which is a
disadvantage since the pressure in the press nip then becomes
lower. For this reason, conventional press rolls are manufactured
with a homogeneous surface facing of relatively high hardness,
normally greater than 80-90 Shore A, giving a short press nip
length. However, this relatively hard, homogeneous surface facing
results in the adherence in the regions of the holes/slits being
poor, as previously discussed.
[0010] Another problem in connection with laminating a polymer film
to a carcass layer consisting of paper or carton, which carcass
layer exhibits through holes, openings or slits, is that the
polymeric material tends to accumulate in connection with these
holes, openings or slits.
[0011] Problems with adherence between the different layers in the
laminate can also arise in association with crease lines in the
carcass layer consisting of paper or carton, with these problems
being similar to those when holes, openings or slits are
present.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The present invention aims to tackle the above complex of
problems. In particular, the invention aims to offer an press roll
which provides, in the hole regions or crease line regions of the
carcass layer, improved adherence between the aluminium foil layer
and one or more polymer layers which abut it, for example a plastic
lining consisting of one or more thermoplastic materials and/or a
film consisting of a laminant thermoplast, which layer(s) is/are
extruded directly into a press nip which comprises the press roll
in accordance with the invention. In this connection, the aim is
that it should be possible to produce a press nip having an
advantageously short press nip length and optimized line load at
the same time as good adherence is achieved in the regions of the
holes. Even in association with high line speeds, high line loads
and short press nip lengths, the press roll according to the
invention should be arranged such that it has time to penetrate
into the hole regions or crease lines to laminate together the
films and layers which are present at these locations.
[0013] These aims are achieved when use is made of the press roll
according to the invention as defined in Claim 1.
[0014] The invention also relates to a method for producing a
packaging material using the press roll according to the invention
and to a packaging material which has been produced using the
method.
[0015] The press roll comprises a metal core having a
circular-cylindrical jacket surface, which jacket surface is faced
with a facing consisting of an elastic material. According to the
invention, the facing comprises sections which are located in the
jacket surface and exhibit local deformation ability in relation to
the surrounding facing. In this present instance, the expression
"local deformation ability" means that a deformation within such a
section is only propagated to the facing material outside of the
section in question to a very limited extent as compared with the
deformation spreading which takes place in an entirely homogeneous
jacket material.
[0016] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the
sections possessing local deformation ability are arranged in a
large number, with what is mainly a uniform distribution over the
whole of the jacket surface.
[0017] According to an alternative embodiment, the sections
possessing local deformation ability are arranged as, or in, one or
more regions which extend as cylindrical segments around the
circumference of the roll in positions which correspond to the
holes, the openings, the slits or the crease lines in the carcass
layer of the packaging material. In this connection, each such
segment can, in accordance with a first variant of this embodiment,
constitute a homogeneous section having local deformation ability,
with the said sections/segments being fashioned from a first
elastic, polymeric material exhibiting a first damping and a first
E-module, and with the surrounding facing being fashioned from a
second elastic, polymeric material exhibiting a second damping and
a second E-module, such that the said first damping and said first
E-module are lower than the said second damping and said second
E-module, respectively. Alternatively, according to another variant
of the embodiment, each such segment around the circumference of
the roll can comprise a large number of sections having local
deformation ability and being distributed mainly uniformly over the
whole of each respective segment.
[0018] As a result of the sections having local deformation
ability, a desired penetration into the hole regions or crease line
regions in the carcass layer is achieved when the carcass layer,
the aluminium foil and the polymeric layer(s) pass through the
press nip at the same time as a desired pressure can be maintained
in the press nip, with the line load being retained, in the regions
outside of the hole regions or crease line regions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The invention will be described in more detail below while
referring to the figures, of which:
[0020] FIG. 1 shows a diagram of a line for laminating packaging
material, which line comprises two press nips at least one of which
uses an press roll in accordance with the invention,
[0021] FIG. 1a shows a packaging material which results from the
line in FIG. 1, as seen in cross section,
[0022] FIG. 2 shows a section through the facing layer of an press
roll according to the prior art, at a press nip against a cooling
roll, with a packaging material having a hole in the carcass layer
being located in the press nip,
[0023] FIG. 3 shows an press roll in accordance with a first,
preferred embodiment of the invention as seen from the side, and
also a section of the facing of this roll at a press nip against a
cooling roll, with a packaging material having a hole in the
carcass layer being located in the press nip,
[0024] FIG. 4 shows the press roll according to FIG. 3 as seen in
perspective and with an enlargement of a region of the facing of
the roll,
[0025] FIG. 5 shows, in perspective, how a majority of the sections
possessing deformation ability in FIG. 4 are able to be deformed
locally at the same time as a smaller fraction of these sections
resists deformation,
[0026] FIG. 6 shows the same principle as in FIG. 5, as seen in a
transverse section through an press roll in abutment against a
cooling roll, in a press nip through which a packaging material
having a hole in the carcass layer is passing,
[0027] FIGS. 7a-m show different variants of patterns in the
facing, which patterns provide location deformation ability in the
jacket surface,
[0028] FIG. 8 shows an press roll in accordance with a second
embodiment of the invention, as seen from the side, and a section
of the facing of this roll, at a press nip against a cooling roll,
with a packaging material having a hole in the carcass layer being
located in the press nip.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0029] The line for producing a packaging laminate of the type
which is referred to here, which line is shown diagrammatically in
FIG. 1, comprises a storage reel 20 containing a web 21 of fibre
material, i.e. paper or carton, which, on one of its sides, can
exhibit a thin coating of a thermoplastic material, for example
polyethylene. A storage reel containing a thin aluminium foil web
23 (5-20 .mu.m) is designated 22 and an extruder for forming a film
of molten laminant thermoplast 25 (preferably polyethylene) is
designated 24. An press roll 10, in accordance with the invention,
interacts, in a press nip 26, with a cooling counter roll 41 having
a steel surface in the laminating machine which is formed from
these elements and also the extruder 24. From this first laminating
machine 10, 41, 24, the packaging laminate, which is now
semifinished, proceeds onwards to a second laminating machine which
comprises a press nip 32, having an press roll 28 and a cooling
counter roll 29, and an extruder 30, which can be arranged to
coextrude a double-sided film 31 consisting of two different
thermoplastic materials. In the second laminating machine 28, 29,
30, the semifinished packaging laminate which comes from the first
laminating machine 10, 41, 24 is laminated together with this
double-sided film 31 on that side of the laminate which exhibits
the aluminium foil. The double-sided film can, for example,
comprise ethylene acrylic acid ester, EAA, which is laminated
closest to the aluminium foil, and low density polyethylene, LDPE,
on the outside of this. During operation of the lamination line
which is shown in FIG. 1, the press roll 10 typically has a
peripheral speed of up to 800 m/min, preferably 300-700 m/min, and
even more preferably 400-700 m/min. The line load in the press nip
26 is typically 20-60 N/mm, preferably 20-50 N/mm, and the press
nip length is at least 20 mm, preferably 20-35 mm, and even more
preferably 20-30 mm. That which takes place in the press nip 26 as
a result of the invention will be described in more detail in
connection with FIGS. 3-8.
[0030] FIG. 1a shows the resulting packaging laminate from the line
in FIG. 1 as seen in cross section. The carcass layer 42 plus its
initial coating layer (decor) 47 correspond to the web 21 in FIG.
1. The designations of the remaining layers are the same as for the
webs/films which are shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1a also illustrates the
problem of air inclusions 48, 49, 50 in the packaging laminate,
which air inclusions can be decreased using the present invention.
The air inclusions 48, 49 on either side of the aluminium layer 23
are most critical for the function of the laminate and are those
which the invention is principally intended to decrease.
[0031] FIG. 2 shows a section through a facing layer 40' of an
press roll in accordance with the prior art, at a press nip against
a cooling roll 41, with a packaging material 42 having a hole 43 in
the carcass layer being located in the press nip. The carcass layer
42, and consequently the side walls of the hole 43, typically
exhibit a height (thickness) of about 0.2-0.5 mm. The hole 43 in
the carcass layer can have any selected form whatsoever and
normally exhibits a largest dimension (diameter or length) of at
least about 10 mm and at most about 30 mm; however, it is also
possible to conceive of smaller holes, for example for drinking
straws. As can be seen, problems arise in the region of the hole 43
due to the fact that the facing layer 40', which is homogeneous and
of a relatively high degree of hardness, is unable to be deformed
locally around the edges of the hole. The facing of the press roll
is therefore unable to satisfactorily penetrate down in the hole
region in order to achieve perfect adherence between the different
laminate layers which are present in this region, thereby leading
to the problems which have been described above.
[0032] FIG. 3 shows a preferred press roll according to the
invention, which roll is generally designated by 10. This roll
typically exhibits an outer diameter of about 200-450 mm, in
connection with which it should, however, be understood that the
invention is not restricted to such diameters. While the core of
the roll consists of a solid metal core, usually made of steel, it
is naturally also possible to conceive of this core not being of a
solid design. A facing 40 consisting of an elastic material (seen
in the section) is arranged on the circular-cylindrical jacket
surface of the core. This facing 40 comprises sections 44
possessing local deformation ability, in accordance with the
invention. More specifically, these sections 44 possessing local
deformation ability are formed by a pattern in the jacket surface
of the press roll 10, i.e. in the outer part of its facing 40 but
not right down to the core of the roll. In this connection, each
section 44 consists of a unit which is free standing/delimited from
the remainder of the facing material.
[0033] In the press nip, a certain number of sections/units
44.sub.1-i, namely as many as correspond to the area of the hole
43, can penetrate down in the hole 43 in order, in the hole, to
produce a pressure on the different lining layers of the packaging
laminate, against the cooling roll 41, which lining layers extend
over the hole 43 in the carcass layer 42 of the packaging laminate.
The sections/units 44.sub.>i which are located outside the area
of the hole 43 are able, instead, to be deformed locally such that
a desired line load is achieved over the remaining areas of the
packaging laminate. Between the sections 44, there are spaces 45
(shown clearly in FIG. 7) in which a void is present.
Alternatively, the spaces 45 are filled with a compatible material,
for example foamed rubber, which provides good adhesion to the
sections possessing local deformation ability. This filler material
expediently exhibits a lower E module and damping than the material
of which the sections consist. Advantages of the spaces 45 being
filled with a filler material are that the risk of damage to the
free standing sections is decreased and that it becomes easier to
remove any molten thermoplast which has happened to end up on the
jacket surface after possible mishaps in the production.
[0034] In FIG. 3, the sections 44 are arranged in areas 33 which
consist of cylindrical segments around the circumference of the
roll, with the positions of the areas 33 corresponding to the
positions of the holes in the carcass layer of the packaging
laminate when the carcass layer runs over the roll. However, it is
also very definitely possible to conceive of the sections 44
covering the whole, or essentially the whole, of the jacket surface
with an essentially uniform distribution (not shown).
[0035] As a result of the jacket surface being profiled in this
way, "deformation space" is created very locally. When the facing
of the roll is deformed locally, the deformation will not be
propagated in the same way as in a conventional, homogeneous jacket
facing but, instead, be restricted locally due to the voids between
the sections being filled by surrounding deformed sections or due
to the filler material between the sections being compressed and
breaking the force of the deformation of the sections. For this
reason, it is possible to create large deformations very locally in
the jacket facing without the surrounding contact surface being
more than marginally affected.
[0036] FIG. 4 shows an press roll in accordance with FIG. 3
together with a magnified part of the facing material. FIG. 5
illustrates how a group of free standing sections 44.sub.1-i is
able, in association with a notional, but not shown, hole in the
carcass layer 42 of the packaging laminate, to resist the
deformation to which the surrounding sections 44.sub.>i in the
facing are subjected. FIG. 6 illustrates how the sections
44.sub.1-i are deformed in the areas around a hole 43 in the
packaging laminate while the sections 44.sub.1-i in the area of the
hole 43 resist deformation, as seen in a cross section through the
press nip between the press roll 10 and the cooling roll 41.
[0037] FIGS. 7a-m show a number of different conceivable patterns
in which the sections 44 are arranged. FIGS. 7a-c illustrate how
the sections can exhibit hexagonal cross sectional profiles, with
the spaces 45 between the sections in FIG. 7a consisting of voids
while the corresponding spaces in FIG. 7b are filled with a
compressible material. FIG. 7c shows how the facing can comprise
through holes 46 which preferably extend right down to the core of
the roll, which core is then expediently at negative pressure.
FIGS. 7d-f show corresponding types of sections, with or without
filler material and through holes, where the sections exhibit
circular cross sectional profiles. FIGS. 7g-h show how the sections
44 can be arranged in a wave or zigzag pattern (with through holes
46 in FIG. 7h), it being possible for the spaces 45 between
sections 44 to consist of voids or be filled with a filler
material. The same applies, in a corresponding manner, to the
design in FIG. 7i, which design corresponds to the cross section
shown in FIG. 7j and shows a diamond pattern in which the sections
44 exhibit quadrangular cross sectional profiles. It is possible to
conceive of other alternative patterns, for example with the
sections consisting of elevated hemispheres, as is illustrated in
the cross sections shown in FIG. 7l and 7m, or pyramids, as is
illustrated in the cross section in FIG. 7k. It will be understood
that it is also possible to conceive of using a number of
geometries which are similar to those shown.
[0038] According to one aspect of the invention, the said sections
44 are arranged in a number amounting to 0.5-20 per cm, preferably
1-10 per cm, and even more preferably 3-6 per cm, in at least one
extension direction in the jacket surface. Furthermore, the
geometry should be such that an aggregate volume V.sub.se of the
sections 44 is related to an aggregate volume V.sub.sp of the said
spaces 45 between the sections such that
0.3*V.sub.sp<V.sub.se<10*V.sub.sp, preferably
0.5*V.sub.sp<V.sub.se<7*V.sub.sp, and even more preferably
V.sub.sp<V.sub.se<5*V.sub.sp. In this connection, any through
holes 46 are not included in the volume V.sub.sp of the spaces 45.
In addition, a maximal height H of one of the said sections 44
should be related to a distance L such that 0.2*L<H<3*L,
preferably 0.3*L<H<2*L, and, even more preferably
0.5*L<H<1.5*L, where L is the shortest distance between the
bottoms of two spaces 45 on each respective side of the said
section 44.
[0039] The advantage of also having through holes 46 in the facing
40 is that this creates an additional expansion space for the
sections 44 when the latter are deformed. If the core of the roll
is additionally under negative pressure and the through holes 46
extend right down in the core, this then achieves an improved
deaeration of the packaging laminate, thereby preventing or
decreasing air inclusions in the laminate.
[0040] FIG. 8 shows yet another alternative embodiment of the
invention in which each locally deformable section 44' consists of
an area or segment which is essentially homogeneous both in a
direction around the circumference of the roll 10 and in an axial
direction of the jacket surface, preferably extending 3-15 cm in
the axial direction. These sections 44' are made up of a first
elastic, polymeric material exhibiting a first damping and a first
E module whereas the surrounding facing 40 is made up of a second
elastic, polymeric material exhibiting a second damping and a
second E module, with the said first damping and the said first E
module being lower than the said second damping and the said second
E module, respectively. Preference is given to the sections 44,
consisting of insertions in the facing 40, which insertions exhibit
a thickness which constitutes 5-25%, preferably 7-20%, and even
more preferably 8-15%, of an aggregate thickness of the insertions
44' plus the facing 40, with the roll 10 preferably exhibiting, at
these sections 44', a diameter which is greater than a diameter in
association with the surrounding facing, meaning that the section
44' projects a short distance outside the surrounding jacket
surface.
[0041] In addition to the improved ability of the press roll to
penetrate down in holes, slits, openings or crease lines in the
packaging laminate, an advantage of the invention is that the nip
force can be lowered in relation to a conventional press roll for
the purpose of achieving the requisite contact surface and local
deformation. An advantage of arranging the locally deformable
sections in segments is that a high local deformation is achieved
where this is required at the same time as the rigidity of the
conventional press roll is otherwise retained. This means that,
while the nip pressure is high in general, it is locally lower in
association with the holes in the packaging laminate, where the
deformation is greater instead.
[0042] The invention is not limited by the above-described
preferred embodiments. Thus, it should be understood, for example,
that the press roll according to the invention can equally well be
used as the press roll 28 in the second laminating machine in FIG.
11 in connection with which the press roll in the first laminating
machine can be of the type according to the invention or of a
conventional type. It should also be understood that the press roll
according to the invention can also be used in lamination lines in
which the order in which the different layers of the packaging
laminate are laminated together is different. In brief, it can be
used when laminating packaging laminates which possess holes,
slits, openings or crease lines in the carcass layer irrespective
of the type of lamination line and irrespective of the order in
which the different layers in the laminate are laminated
together.
* * * * *