Boardrunner glue dispensing technology

Paperboard Packaging, Nov, 2002 by Louie Hollmeyer

As the corrugated industry intensifies its demands for quicker machine setups and better production capacity, Valco Cincinnati, Cincinnati, is responding with several innovations in extrusion gluing products for flexo folder-gluers.

Now under the Flexoseal[R] brand name, Valco introduces the Boardrunner[TM] glue station, featuring all-electric glue dispensing technology.

Valco's new Flexoseal Boardrunner glue station uses a floating applicator head to adjust to any standard size board without operator intervention. The applicator head remains in contact with the board at all times with minimal pressure applied to the board. This takes "weight" off the valve, allowing the glue applicator to adjust seamlessly with the board.

In addition, a new patent-pending ball-bearing support bracket keeps the board in contact with the valve briefly after glue application to eliminate ticks and splatter.

The Boardrunner also incorporates Flexoseal's "quick disconnect" for changeover from top-down to bottom-up gluing. A laser beam is used by the Boardrunner to detect product. Even if a board flutters, the laser remains accurate and a precise glue pattern results. Due to the Boardrunner's "weightless contact," it will not skew boards by applying too much contact pressure from the glue head. Board slides easily through the station, even on machines where the product is not under the firm control of drive belts.

The biggest production boost comes from eliminating glue station adjustments when changing over to boards with different flute sizes. And because the glue station requires no adjustments, the Boardrunner increases capacity by enabling higher production rates, while eliminating waste and reducing setup times.

900-Series Valve

The new all-electric 900-Series valve is for low-maintenance, high-speed performance. Even at the highest cycle-rates, the rugged 900 valve minimizes maintenance and downtime due to rebuilds and valve changeout.

With the 900 valve, higher fluid pressures can be attained, allowing the usage of more viscous adhesives. Pattern-trailing is eliminated at top speeds, making even higher speeds obtainable. The new valve also provides superior glue volume control, which produces flat ribbon/bead glue patterns for quick compression of glue laps.

A retrofit package that includes new valve modules is available for upgrades. The new valve can be used with all Valco Cincinnati pattern controls.

CGS-40 Gate Sensor

The CGS-40 gate sensor is precise, even at the highest production rates for glue pattern detection.

Due to the gate-style design and non-contact configuration, no adjustments are necessary when running top or bottom glue laps. The sensor can detect very short glue beads on short tabs due to the uniquely designed sensing window.

Increased sensitivity and switching speed provides greater reliability and faster throughput. So reliable is the CGS-40 that it eliminates the need for sensitivity adjustments, operator intervention and adhesive additives for inspection.

This piece was submitted by Louie Hollmeyer, director of marketing, Valco Cincinnati, Cincinnati. For more information, call 513/874-6550, e-mail sales@valcocincinnatiinc.com or visit www.valcocincinnatiinc.com.

RELATED ARTICLE: Key features.

* Will not skew boards

* Can handle any board thickness or slot configuration

* Increases capacity by enabling higher production rates

* Eliminates waste and reduces setup time