Sector: woodworking machines, hot glues, paperbacks for books, gluing machines for bookbinding

Product: gluing – edge banding machines

This type of equipment requires:
– A temperature control
– Soft start and/or ramp on set point (not soak)
– In many cases, PLCs for sequences.

Advantages of using a K or Kube series instrument
Using a standard instrument simplifies the PLC program.
As far as temperature control is concerned, there are two critical moments:
A) the switch on
B) periods of “non-work”

A) When switched on, the cold glue CANNOT be heated at 100% power for a long time, as the glue would deteriorate (burns) in the immediate vicinity of the heating element, while the rest of the glue would still be solid.
In electromechanical machines a timer was used which selected a pre-heating set point for a programmed time.
The solution of a pre-heating set point does NOT guarantee that the maximum temperature of the heater is always acceptable for the glue used.
Secondly, the duration of the pre-heating remains constant whatever the “starting” temperature.
On the contrary, the soft-start ensures that the temperature of the heater is not excessive and can be programmed to turn off automatically when the temperature of the glue reaches a predetermined value.
Of particular interest is the automatic deactivation because it allows to reduce the preheating times to a minimum, but above all, it allows to avoid long waits in the event of “hot starts”.

B) At the working temperature the glue oxidizes rapidly and drips from the “dispenser”.
For these reasons, when the machine does not work for a certain time, it is advisable to bring the temperature of the dispenser to a lower value.

When a new panel is detected before the end of the first soak, the time count restarts from the beginning and the set point remains unchanged (Pr.S1).
If no panel is detected for a programmed time, the instrument goes to the Pr.S2 set point (standby temperature) and remains at that temperature until a new panel is detected.
The arrival of a new panel brings the instrument back to operating at the working temperature (Pr.S1)

C) Additional functions
C.1) If you are using the K30 N (ask our sales department) it is also possible to check the “minimum level of glue”.
This system allows, through a simple additional thermocouple, to signal when the level inside the fuser drops below a desired level, displaying a simple alarm or activating an “automatic recharge”.
In some cases, it is also possible to make the instrument, in addition to signaling the anomaly, automatically switch off the heater to avoid damage to the system.
C.2) Again in the case of using a K30, it is possible to use a customizable display panel that allows it to be mounted flush with the cabinet (under an overlay).
This solution allows the control panel to be easily cleaned  as well as a complete aesthetic freedom.
C.3) Finally, the “parameter promotion” allows the manufacturer to freely define the HMI of the machine itself.

D) Also …..
The possibility of setting an alarm threshold linked to the calculation of hours/days worked allows you to define the methods and times of periodic maintenance (e.g. oil change every N hours worked, emptying the collection tank, cleaning filters, etc.) based on the amount of work actually performed and not on absolute time.