Precise adhesive tracking

The Sapphire XP applicator head, the EcoBead Inspect application pattern generator and the ATS (Adhesive Tracking System): the latest Nordson Corporation developments featured at interpack.

Nordson hot melt applicator devices for the tank-less ProBlue Liberty range, with integrated ATS adhesive tracking system (Photo: Nordson).

The US Nordson Corporation, a global leader in the production of adhesive technologies, illustrated at interpack the characteristics and advantages of its most recent systems, developed in order to enhance the efficiency of gluing processes.

For greater safety on the line. The ATS is integrated into the application system of the tried-and-tested ProBlue and ProBlue Liberty ranges, and it will also be available as an aftermarket kit from May this year, for the precise measurement of the amount of adhesive actually required for the product. Tolerance limits can be set to ensure that a warning signal is sounded if too much or too little is applied.  This can also trigger a stop to the line. This enables the tracking system to optimise the use of adhesive, and it reduces waste. In addition it identifies age and batch related changes in adhesive viscosity as well as defects in individual units within the application system. The ATS also enables an extensive analysis of the data to be carried out, and produces documentation through a number of interfaces.  

Bead length control. The successful introduction of EcoBead application pattern management a few years ago has led to significant hot melt savings at the same quality level, by replacing longer adhesive beads with several shorter ones.
The device is very compact and can be connected on a “plug and play” basis between the machine controls and the hot glue applicator head. In addition to adhesive savings, the updated and evolved EcoBead Inspect model offers up to 60 percent more functionality in the monitoring of bead positioning and length. This individual measurement process is carried out by a compact sensor element which is mounted directly on the applicator, enabling the system to be built into packing machines with very limited space available.  

High speed applications. The Sapphire XP electric applicator range. will be available on the market from the middle of 2017 and offers extremely quick and precise application of adhesive beads or points in less than 0.5 ms, even at higher glue viscosities. High speed cartoning lines are ideally suited to the deployment of these units.