EP2127897A1 - Adhesive application station and method for releasing adhesive - Google Patents

Abstract

The adhesive application station (100) has a head element (1) serving as the delivery of free-flowing adhesive (5), which has an outlet opening (131), through which the adhesive is delivered on the printed matter. A rotary conveyor element (111) is arranged within a feed chamber (112) provided in the head element, by which the adhesive fed to the feed chamber is conveyed to the slit type outlet opening. An independent claim is included for a method for supplying adhesive for adhesive application station.

Description

The invention relates to an adhesive application station and a method for dispensing adhesive according to the preamble of patent claims 1 and 10, respectively.

Adhesive application stations are used in various industrial fields, in particular for binding stacked printed products.

From [1], EP 1 172 230 A2 there is known an adhesive application station which serves to bind stacked printed products by means of a flowable adhesive. This adhesive application station contains an application head with a sliding surface serving for the transfer of the printed products. This sliding surface is bounded on both sides by one stop each serving to guide the printed products and has an outlet slot from which adhesive can emerge. The outlet slot is associated with a metering, by means of which the outlet slot can be opened or closed. During operation of the adhesive application station, in each case the back sides of stacked printed products are pulled over the sliding surface and acted upon by the adhesive emerging from the outlet slot.

In the apparatus shown in [1], the adhesive is provided in a pressure vessel into which a plunger is insertable, whereby a pressure is generated by means of which the adhesive is displaced from the pressure vessel through the outlet slot. The pressure vessel is refilled at regular intervals with adhesive. By means of the dosing shaft, the pressure vessel can be opened and closed and the adhesive flow can be controlled accordingly.

A disadvantage of this device is that a relatively large amount of adhesive is stored in the pressure vessel, which is to be protected from external influences, in particular moisture, and is always kept at the same operating temperature, so that no changes in the properties, in particular the viscosity occur. The loading and unloading of the pressure vessel at startup and end of operation are also associated with high costs. A further disadvantage is that the flow of adhesive is difficult to control by means of the metering shaft. On the one hand can be generated with the plunger only a relatively low pressure, so that after opening the dosing of the adhesive begins to flow slowly through the exit slot. After closing the metering, however, it is possible that adhesive remains in the region of the outlet opening, which can result in quality defects in the printed products and impurities at the adhesive application station. For example, adhesive left in the exit slot can harden and clog the glue channel. Furthermore, the adhesive flow is difficult to control because it depends on the particular condition of the adhesive, the exact rotational angle of the metering and the pressure generated by the plunger. The adhesive application station known from [1] is therefore designed for uninterrupted operation during which larger series of printed products are processed.

The present invention is therefore based on the object to provide an improved adhesive application station and an improved method for dispensing adhesive.

The adhesive should be fed to the adhesive application station in a simple manner and can be removed again. An aging of the adhesive stored in the adhesive application station should be avoided.

The adhesive should also be delivered regardless of the operating time of the glue application station, always in the same high quality.

Furthermore, the adhesive application station should be able to deliver the adhesive optimally adapted to the conveying process, preferably individually according to the wishes of the user, to the conveyed printed products.

When dispensing the adhesive, soiling of the adhesive application station and thereby irregularities of the adhesive delivered to the printed products and corresponding maintenance and correction work should be avoided.

Furthermore, the application of a precisely defined amount of adhesive in thin layers should be possible.

To prevent premature crosslinking, e.g. When using PUR, the adhesive should be optimally protected against external influences before application to the printed product.

This object is achieved with an adhesive application station, which has the features specified in claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in further claims.

The adhesive application station provided in particular for binding printed products has a head element serving to deliver flowable adhesive with an outlet opening, through which the adhesive can be transferred to the printed product.

According to the invention, at least one rotating conveying element, which is connected via a coupling element to a drive unit which can be controlled by means of a control unit, is located within a conveying space provided in the head element arranged. By means of the conveying elements, the adhesive supplied to the conveying space is conveyed to the subsequent, preferably slot-like, outlet opening towards the conveying space.

In a preferred embodiment, the outlet opening is provided with a closure element, optionally a metering element, such as its own metering shaft.

By arranged close to the outlet opening conveying elements, it is possible to deliver the adhesive sequentially or continuously in precisely metered amounts, without changing the closure element to the printed product. By means of the conveying elements, in addition, a high pressure and thus a high adhesive flow, for example, of up to one liter per minute can be achieved. This makes it possible to provide printed products reliably and in high clock frequencies with adhesive. It is particularly advantageous that pressure changes and flow changes within fractions of a second can be realized. With the adhesive application station according to the invention, therefore, series of similar and in particular also dissimilar printed products can be optimally processed, wherein the adhesive delivery between two printer products is preferably interrupted.

In a preferred embodiment, the conveying elements consist of screws, screws or wheels, in particular gears, which are preferably operable in the forward and reverse. It can be promoted to the exit slot in the flow continuously adhesive. At the end of a deposition sequence ejected adhesive which has not been transferred to the printed product, can be sucked by returning the conveyor elements back into the pumping chamber, thereby remaining on the printed products adhesive tabs are also avoided as adhesive residues in the outlet channel. After completion of the adhesive delivery, the adhesive application station is therefore automatically back in one orderly state in which the operation can be interrupted for a long time without glue in the outlet area dry out and can hinder the resumption of operation.

By sucking back the adhesive in front of the closure element closing off the outlet opening, impairment of the adhesive due to external influences can be largely avoided. In addition, by vibration-like forward and backward movements of the conveying elements, the viscosity of the adhesive can be influenced. In the case of short service lives, crosslinking of the adhesive prior to application to the printed product can thereby be prevented.

In a further preferred embodiment, the delivery chamber, the inner dimensions of which preferably correspond at least approximately to the dimensions of the delivery elements, are connected via a line to an adhesive container. Alternatively, the delivery chamber can also adjoin an adhesive chamber. By the size of the conveying elements adapted delivery chamber, a sufficiently large delivery pressure of the adhesive can be generated. Since, with a small difference between the size of the delivery chamber and the size of the conveying elements, only a small amount of adhesive is present in the delivery chamber, it is immediately forwarded to the exit slot and not mechanically stressed by the delivery elements for an excessively long time. By the adhesive is conveyed on the outside by means of the conveying elements according to the first-in first-out principle, it is ensured that the adhesive is always subjected to the same effects and thus always delivered in the same quality. Cyclic processing of a subset of the adhesive, ie circulation of the adhesive through the system until the time of dispensing, is avoided. Since the pumping chamber only serves to accommodate the respectively conveyed adhesive, it is further ensured that always one Supply of fresh glue takes place. Aging of a relevant amount of adhesive within the delivery chamber is avoided.

Preferably, the conveying elements and the drive form a modular conveyor segment, which can be coupled in a simple manner with the head element or integrated into this. Preferably, however, the conveying elements are provided in a conveyor segment, which is connected in one piece with the other elements of the head element or by means of connecting parts, such as screws. The delivery segment, optionally the metering pump, can produce a delivery pressure in the range between 1 bar and 200 bar, preferably between 10 bar and 50 bar. Due to the high delivery pressure of the conveyor segment, the adhesive can be applied very quickly from the exit slot to the printed product with short start-up times. This allows accurate positioning of the adhesive on the printed product.

In a further preferred embodiment of the outlet slot by means of a closure element, such as a metering or a slide, optionally closable. Closing the outlet slot prevents the adhesive in the adhesive application station from coming into contact with ambient air and thus prematurely crosslinking before application to a printed product.

Preferably, at least one heating element is provided in the region of the delivery chamber or the adjacent adhesive chamber. Depending on the adhesive used, it is in a non-flowable state at room temperature and must therefore be liquefied prior to application to the printed product by heating and preferably adjusted to a suitable viscosity. The adhesive temperature is preferably selected according to the processed adhesive.

In a further preferred embodiment, at least one sensor connected to the control unit is provided, by means of which at least one measurement variable relevant to the work process is detected, which is subsequently taken into account by the control program.

Preferably, sensors are provided, by means of which measured variables of the adhesive application station, chemical and physical properties of the adhesive, as well as states of the delivery process can be detected.

On the basis of the measured variables determined by the sensors, it is possible for the control unit to record all relevant parameters of the adhesive application station and the working process and to control the intended actuators accordingly. By means of a corresponding programming, the control unit can respond to a wide variety of influences and conditions, such as the temperature of the adhesive application station, the temperature or the current flow of the adhesive, as well as the outside temperature, if appropriate the air humidity, in such a way that an optimal application of adhesive is achieved on the printed products.

Preferably, by means of the programmable control unit, heating elements, the closure element and the drive unit, optionally by flow and return, controllable such that the adhesive receives its optimum properties, in particular the required viscosity and in exactly defined amounts, preferably in selectable layer thickness, optionally sequentially can be applied to the printed product. By sequential application, a reduced amount of adhesive can be applied to selected areas of the printed product. As a result, the printed product is less stiff and is easier to open. In addition, adhesive is saved.

For preferably individually controlled release of adhesive to the individual printed products and to avoid the release of adhesive in periods in which no printed product is present, it is determined by means of sensors, preferably light barriers or mechanical buttons, whether a printed product is in a position or is guided, can be applied in the adhesive. This can be done in many different ways taking into account kinematic laws. For example, the front and the back of the printed product are detected with a light barrier. It is also possible to detect only one end of the printed product and to calculate the presence of the printed product at the delivery point on the basis of the conveying speed and the length of the printed products. Furthermore, a sensor may be provided which detects the identification data associated with the printed product and supplies it to the control unit, which emits adhesive in the manner provided for the identified printed product. This is of particular interest when individual books are to be printed and produced according to the wishes of a customer.

Fig. 1

eine erfindungsgemässe Klebstoffauftragsstation 100 mit einem Kopfelement 1, welches ein mit Förderelementen 111 versehenes Fördersegment 11 aufweist, mittels dessen Klebstoff 5 aus einem Klebstoffbehälter 51 gefördert und über einen kurzen Transportweg zu einem an der Oberseite des Kopfelements 1 vorgesehenen Austrittsschlitz 131 fördert, von dem der Klebstoff 5 an Druckerzeugnisse 2 abgegeben wird;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung eines Kopfelements 1 mit einem Fördersegment 111 mit einem Förderraum 112, in dem in Form von Zahnrädern vorliegende Förderelemente 111 drehbar angeordnet sind, die den Förderraum 112 bis auf den für den Klebstofftransport erforderlichen Raum ausfüllen;

Fig. 3

das Kopfelement 1 vom Figur 1 von oben gesehen, mit justierbaren Seitenführungen 8, durch die der mittels einer steuerbaren Dosierwelle 7 abschliessbare Austrittsschlitz 131 beidseits begrenzt und die Druckerzeugnisse 2 geführt werden;

Fig. 4

in Schnittdarstellung das in das Kopfelement 1 integrierte oder damit verbundene Fördersegment 11 mit zwei im Förderraum 112 vorgesehenen Förderelementen 111, zwischen denen der Klebstoff 5 gefördert wird;

Fig. 5

in Schnittdarstellung das Kopfelement 1 mit dem darin integrierten Förderraum 111, in dem der Klebstoff 5 gefördert und an die unmittelbar daran angrenzende Dosierwelle 7 abgegeben wird;

Fig. 6

eine schematische Darstellung von vorzugsweise einsetzbaren Sensoren 30 und vorzugsweise einsetzbaren Aktuatoren 40, die mit der Steuereinheit 4 verbunden sind;

Fig. 7

ein vorzugsweises Profil der Abgabe des Klebstoffes 5 an ein einzelnes Druckerzeugnis 2.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to drawings. Showing:

Fig. 1

an adhesive application station 100 according to the invention with a head element 1 which has a conveying segment 11 provided with conveying elements 111, by means of which adhesive 5 is conveyed from an adhesive container 51 and conveyed via a short transport path to an exit slot 131 provided at the top of the head element 1, from which the adhesive 5 is delivered to printed products 2;

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of a head element 1 with a conveyor segment 111 with a delivery chamber 112, in which in the form of gears present conveying elements 111 are rotatably arranged, which fill the delivery chamber 112 to the space required for the adhesive transport;

Fig. 3

the head element 1 from FIG. 1 seen from above, with adjustable side guides 8, by which the lockable by means of a controllable metering shaft 7 exit slot 131 bounded on both sides and the printed products 2 are guided;

Fig. 4

a sectional view of the integrated into the head element 1 or affiliated conveyor segment 11 with two provided in the delivery chamber 112 conveyor elements 111, between which the adhesive 5 is conveyed;

Fig. 5

in sectional view, the head element 1 with the integrated delivery chamber 111, in which the adhesive 5 is conveyed and delivered to the immediately adjacent thereto dosing shaft 7;

Fig. 6

a schematic representation of preferably usable sensors 30 and preferably usable actuators 40 which are connected to the control unit 4;

Fig. 7

a preferential profile of the delivery of the adhesive 5 to a single printed product 2.

FIG. 1 shows an inventive adhesive application station 100, which serves to bind stacked printed products 2 by means of a flowable adhesive 5. The adhesive application station 100 has a head element 1, which in FIG. 2 schematically in a side section and in FIG. 3 in a preferred embodiment is shown from above.

The head element 1 is provided on its upper side with a sliding surface 132 serving for the sliding transfer of the printed products 2, in which a slot-like outlet opening 131 extends transversely to the conveying direction of the printed products 2. From the outlet opening 131 of the adhesive 5 is discharged continuously or sequentially, preferably individually to the printed products 2. For this purpose, the head element 1 has a conveying segment 11 with a conveying space 112, in which rotating conveying elements 111 are provided, by means of which the adhesive 5 entering the conveying space 112 is conveyed to the outlet opening 131.

The slot-like outlet opening 131 is associated with a controllable closure element 7, by means of which the outlet opening 131 can be opened and completely or partially closed. The closure element 7, preferably a metering shaft provided with a slot 71, is preferably moved by means of an actuator 42 controlled by the control unit 4.

The conveyor elements 111 are mechanically connected by a coupling element 113 in the form of a shaft to the drive unit 43 and form a conveyor segment 11. In further embodiments, the conveyor elements 111 may also be connected by a gear or a chain with the drive unit 43. In advantageous embodiments, a preferably controllable coupling unit 114 may be provided which connects the shaft 113 fixed or optionally with the drive unit 43. The conveying elements 111 can therefore be set in motion by the engagement of the drive unit 43 or by the actuation of the coupling unit 114 (with the drive unit 43 running). Also possible is a parallel control, in which the conveyor elements 111 are set in motion, for example, by actuation of the coupling unit 114 and stopped by the stoppage of the drive unit 43.

If the drive shaft 43 driven by the drive shaft 43 is provided with a flywheel, the promotion of the adhesive can be set practically without delay in motion. In FIG. 1 It is shown that the drive unit via a control channel A and the possibly existing, controllable coupling unit 114 via a control channel B is controllable. In simpler embodiments, no or a non-controllable coupling unit 114 is provided.

In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 the adhesive 5 is conveyed from an adhesive container 51 via a preferably provided with at least one heating element 41 transfer segment 12 into the delivery chamber 112 and further, again through the transfer segment 12 to an exit segment 13 of the head element 1, and there discharged through the outlet opening 131 provided therein ,

The segmentation of the header 1 can be implemented physically or only organizationally. That is, the head element 1 may consist of an aggregate of modular segments 11, 12, 13, ... or may comprise said segments 11, 12, 13, ... in one piece, the head element 1 preferably comprising at least two shells can be easily coupled together. The drive 43, preferably an electric motor, can likewise be integrated into the conveyor segment 11, which can thereby form an autonomous module, eg an independent metering pump. In FIG. 2 It is shown that the head element 1 can form a unitary block in which actuators 40, such as heating elements 41, and sensors 30, such as temperature sensors 35, can be introduced. Like this in FIG. 1 is shown, preferably also sensors 331 are provided, by means of which the conveying process can be monitored, are fed by the printed products and carried away. For example, sensors are provided by means of which the arrival and Residence time of the printed products 2 at or above the outlet opening 131, where appropriate, the conveying speed can be determined so that the control unit 4, the actuators 40 can operate such that adhesive 5 individually and only within the periods in which a printed product 2 passes over the outlet opening 131 , is delivered to this. It is also possible that the adhesive 5 is delivered in a specific program sequence to a single printed product 2. For example, the adhesive 5 is only applied to the back of a stacked printed product 2 within individual sections. This achieves in a particularly advantageous manner that the printed product 2 is firmly bound and still retains its flexibility in areas where no adhesive 5 has been applied.

Due to the controllability of the conveying elements 111 further significant advantages result. The flow of the adhesive 5 can be controlled virtually arbitrarily. The flow rate can be increased or decreased linearly or stepwise, wherein a reversal of the flow direction can be realized. For the delivery of the adhesive 5, a specific, individually adapted to a printed product adhesive release profile can be provided, as shown in FIG. 7 is shown. If the arrival of a printed product 2 is expected for the time t1, the adhesive flow is preferably started shortly before, so that the adhesive 5 can be dispensed at the outlet 131 in time upon the arrival of the printed product 2. It can be provided that immediately after the arrival of the printed product 2, a higher adhesive flow is present, and this is lowered after a short period to a normal value. After the time t2, at which the printed product 2 leaves the outlet opening, the adhesive flow is inverted, so that the outlet channel 135 and the slot 71 of the metering shaft 7 is emptied again.

It is preferably provided that the connection and / or disconnection of the adhesive flow can take place within a few milliseconds.

This can also be advantageously achieved by actuating a controllable coupling unit 114 instead of or in addition to the control of the drive unit 43.

During operation of the adhesive application station 100, in each case the back of the stacked printed products 2 is pulled over the slot-like outlet opening 131, so that the exiting adhesive 5 can enter the back zone of the stacked printed product 2, or segments thereof, in a well-dosed manner.

The adhesive application station 100 is controlled and monitored by the control unit 4. Preferably, heating elements 41 are provided at several locations of the adhesive application station 100 to condition the adhesive 5, particularly to achieve and maintain a desired viscosity. PUR adhesives reach their optimum viscosity at approx. 150 ° C and should be applied to a printed product 2 after the single reflow, as their chemical and physical properties change on cooling. The conditioning of the adhesive 5 can also be achieved or supported by means of vibration of the conveying elements 111.

FIG. 3 shows the head element 1 seen from above, with adjustable side guides 8, limited by the lockable by means of a controllable metering shaft 7 exit slot 131 on both sides and the printed products 2 are performed. As a result, different printed products 2, such as books, catalogs, brochures or booklets, can be precisely guided past the exit slot 131. Perhaps the adhesive application station 100 sequences of different printed products 2, such as books with different dimensions, supplied to which the side guides 8 are preferably automatically adjusted by means of an actuator 45. Alternatively, the side guides 8 can also be manually adjusted by means of a mechanical device 81.

In a preferred embodiment, all process parameters for a printed product 2 can be set individually. Preferably, the process parameters associated with a printed product 2 are read by means of reading devices, such as optical readers, e.g. Bar code readers, or RFID readers, an information storage (e.g., a bar code label or RFID tag) located on the supplied printed product 2. Alternatively, the required information may be stored in a central computer and, if necessary, transmitted to the control unit 4. It is also possible that each printed product 2 is assigned only an identification code, which is read and linked in the control unit 4 with the associated process parameters.

The lateral guides 8 are adjustable to the width of the printed products 2 and preferably also limit the width of the outlet opening 131, so that no excess adhesive 5 can emerge on the sides of the printed products 2, which forms so-called glue cords, which are subsequently either from the printed products 2 or have to be removed from the adhesive application station 100.

FIG. 4 shows a conveyor segment 11 in a detailed view. The conveyor segment 11 has two rotatably mounted toothed wheels 111, which serve as conveying elements 111. The gears 111, at least one of which is coupled to the drive unit 43, interlock with one another in such a way that adhesive 100 is detected and conveyed in the remaining gaps. From The two gears 111 may be connected to both or only one with a drive unit 43.

In FIG. 4 Furthermore, it is schematically shown that a plurality of conveyor segments 11 can also be provided, to which, for example, different adhesives 5 are supplied. This makes it possible to optionally dispense different adhesives 5 to the printed products and / or to mix different adhesives 5 as needed. Each of the conveyor segments 11, 11 ', 11''is preferably associated with its own drive 43, which is controlled by the control unit 4.

FIG. 5 shows the head element 1 in a sectional view with a closure element 7. The sectional profile divides the conveyor segment 11 in two halves, which is why only one gear 111 is shown in the delivery chamber 112. In contrast to FIG. 1 the conveyor segment 11 is here arranged directly at the metering shaft 7 or at the outlet opening 131.

The closure element 7 serves for airtight closure of the outlet opening 131 or the delivery chamber 112 and is shown in the closed position. The closure element 7 is configured as a metering shaft and provided with a longitudinal slot 71. If the longitudinal slot 71 of the rotating about its longitudinal axis metering shaft 7 is aligned in a plane with the exit slot 131, the adhesive 5 can escape from this. After rotating the metering shaft 7 by 90 °, the exit slot 131 is sealed, so that ambient air and moisture can not enter the delivery chamber 112 and change the properties of the adhesive 5.

The closure element 7 can be designed differently. For example, it can also be mounted as a slide in or at the exit slot 131. The closure element 7 is preferably closed when the adhesive application station 100 is idle. During operation of the Adhesive application station 100, the advantages of the inventive solution to bear, according to which the adhesive 5 is controlled by means of the conveying elements 111.

As a closure element 7 elastic lips can be provided in a preferred embodiment, which are separated from each other under pressure of the supplied adhesive 5 and then rest against each other and the outlet opening 131 close tightly.

In FIG. 5 Furthermore, two printed products 2A, 2B are shown, one of which has been provided with an adhesive application 21, which consists of a sequence of separate adhesive surfaces.

FIG. 6 shows sensors 30 which detect values and states of the adhesive application station 100 and the operating process and forward them to the control unit 4 as well as actuators 40 which are controlled by the control unit 4 in order to optimally control the operating process.

By means of the sensors 30, measurement quantities can be detected, such as sizes 31 of the printed product, e.g. the width 311, the weight 312, the temperature 313, the material 314; Sizes of the adhesive, such as viscosity 321, temperature 322; Sizes 33 of the work process, such as the position 331 and the movement 332 of the printed products 2; Sizes of the environment, such as the ambient temperature 341 and the humidity 342; and / or state variables of the adhesive application station 100, such as functional states 351, temperatures 352, the supply voltage 353, etc.

The control unit 4 takes into account the measured values and states and determines the optimum output values for the actuators 40.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

100

Adhesive application station

1

header

1

Delivery segment, dosing pump

111

rotating conveyor elements, gears

112

delivery chamber

113

coupling element

114

clutch unit

12

transfer segment

13

exit segment

131

exit slot

132

sliding surface

2

Printed Media

21

adhesive pattern

30

sensors

31

Quantity printed matter

311

Wide print product

312

Weight printed matter

313

Temperature printed matter

314

Material printed matter

32

Measured variable adhesives

321

Viscosity adhesive

322

Temperature adhesive

33

Quantity of work process

331

Position printed product / photocell

332

Movement printed matter

34

Measurements environment

341

ambient temperature

342

humidity

35

Quantity State of the device

351

Age

352

maintenance intervals

353

modules

4

control unit

40

actuators

41

Heating glue, heating element

42

Position of closure element / drive of dosing shaft

421

Pressure hose for opening the dosing shaft

421

Pressure hose for closing the dosing shaft

43

Operation delivery segment, delivery segment dosing pump

431

Control of order sequences

432

Control of forward and backward movements

433

Control of the return at the end of a sequence

434

Control amount of glue at the beginning of a job sequence

44

Control the promotion of movement printed matter

441

Position printed product

442

Speed printed product

45

Actuator for driving the lateral guide

5

adhesive

51

adhesive container

7

Closing element, metering shaft

71

Slot in the dosing shaft

8th

lateral guidance

81

manual drive of the lateral guide

Claims (13)

Adhesive application station (100), in particular for binding printed products (2), with a head element (1) serving to deliver flowable adhesive (5), which has an outlet opening (131) through which the adhesive (5) is applied to the printed product (2 ) is deliverable, characterized in that at least one rotating conveyor element (111) within a head element (1) provided delivery chamber (112) is arranged, by means of which the delivery chamber (112) supplied adhesive (5) to the preferably slot-like outlet opening (131) can be conveyed and that is connected via a coupling element (113) directly or via an optionally provided coupling unit (114) to a drive unit (43), the drive unit (43) and / or the coupling unit (114) being connected to a control unit (4). connected and actuated by this is or are. Adhesive application station (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the conveying elements (111) screws, screw conveyors or wheels, in particular at least two cooperating gears, which are preferably operable in the forward and reverse. Adhesive application station (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the delivery chamber (112) whose internal dimensions preferably at least approximately correspond to the dimensions of the conveying elements (111) is connected via a line with an adhesive container (51) or that the delivery chamber ( 112) adjoins an adhesive chamber provided in the head element (1). Adhesive application station (100) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the conveying elements (111) and the drive unit (43) are part of a conveyor segment (11), preferably a metering pump in the form of a module, which is partially or completely received in the delivery chamber (112) and / or in the adhesive chamber and / or by means of which a delivery pressure in the range between 1bar and 200bar, preferably between 10bar and 50bar, can be generated. Adhesive application station (100) according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the outlet opening (131) by means of a closure element (7), such as a Dosierwelle or a slider, manually or by means of a controlled by the control unit (4) actuator (42) is lockable. Adhesive application station (100) according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that at least one heating element (41) in the region of the conveying space (112) or provided for the transfer of the adhesive (5) channels is arranged. Adhesive application station (100) according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that at least one sensor (30) connected to the control unit (4) is provided, by means of which a) at least one measured variable (31) of the printed products, in particular width (311), weight (312), temperature (313 and / or material (314); and / or b) at least one measured variable (32) of the adhesive, such as viscosity (321) and / or temperature (322); and or c) at least one measured quantity (33) of the working process (33), such as position (331) and / or movement (332) of the printed products (2), in particular with respect to the outlet slot (131); and or d) at least one measured variable (33) of the environment (34), in particular ambient temperature (341) and / or atmospheric humidity (342); and or e) at least one measured variable (35) of the state of the device
is detectable Adhesive application station (100) according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that the drive unit (42) and / or the coupling unit (114) by the control unit (4) is controllable such that the adhesive (5) of the corresponding moving conveyor segments (111) a) is continuously deliverable to apply several printed products with adhesive (5); and or b) is deliverable sequentially with a certain amount and / or for a certain period of time to individually apply adhesive (5) to a particular printed product; and or c) is selectively conveyed in the forward direction or in the backward direction to fill or empty the outlet opening (131); and or d) is oscillatory movable to keep the viscosity of the adhesive constant or to change as desired. Adhesive application station (100) according to one of claims 1-8, characterized in that at least one connected to the preferably programmable control unit (4) a) actuator (41) for heating the adhesive (5); and or b) actuator (42) for the control of the closure element (7); and or c) actuator (44) for conveying the printed products (2); and or d) actuator (45) for the adjustment of guide elements (8);
is provided. Method for dispensing adhesive for an adhesive application station (100) according to one of Claims 1-9, characterized in that the control unit (4) controls the coupling unit (114) and / or the drive unit (43) such that the delivery of the adhesive (5 ) by the at least one conveying element (111), if necessary, in the desired direction continuously or in selectable sequences and / or in the required amount is set. A method according to claim 10, characterized in that the control unit (4) controls the conveying elements (111) such that the adhesive flow upon arrival of a printed product (2) at the outlet opening (131) with the required discharge amount set in motion and leaving the outlet opening (131) is stopped again. A method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the control unit (4) controls the conveying elements (111) such that the adhesive flow at the beginning of the adhesive discharge in pulses during a short period of time with an increased discharge amount and / or upon completion of the adhesive delivery impulsively during a short period of time in the opposite direction. A method according to claim 10, 11 or 12, characterized in that the adhesive (5) from the adhesive container (51) or from the adhesive chamber directly, without circulation in the system, to the outlet opening (131) is conveyed.

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