AU728474B2

AU728474B2 - Process for manufacturing forms and form obtained by this process

Info

Publication number: AU728474B2
Application number: AU50380/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Michel Balleret; Xavier Rousseau; Christian Vennink
Original assignee: Moore North America Inc
Current assignee: Moore North America Inc
Priority date: 1997-01-09
Filing date: 1998-01-07
Publication date: 2001-01-11
Anticipated expiration: 2018-01-07
Also published as: DE69703146D1; EP0853005B1; ES2150740T3; DE69703146T2; CA2226863A1; ATE196448T1; AU5038098A; EP0853005A1

Abstract

A method of manufacturing labels with a basic information field, and a number of fields of fixed or variable data on peel-off labels involves preparing and printing a web of paper or similar material on one side with the basic information field (1), together with the variable elements for the label sheet (12a,13a) and for the separate labels (12b-12f,13b-13f), with a lateral gap between them for spacing on the web to give the sheets and labels. The other side of the web is covered by a layer of silicone (8) and at least one layer of adhesive (10) in place at the labels to be held at the web. One strip of the web is turned over to place the printed labels at the layers of silicone and adhesive. Also claimed is a label with a base sheet (2) to carry at least one variable description (12a,13a) and a cladding (9) over at least part of the sheet surface. At least one label (11a-11e) is held by a layer of silicone and adhesive, defined by cutting through the cladding, with further variable data labels (2b-2f,13b-13f) identical to the variable descriptions at the base sheet. The sheet and the cladding are from the same paper web.

Description

/UU/U11 28/5/91 Regulation 3.2(2)

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Application Number: Lodged: .r *8 a8 *8 a *aa.8 S 8 Invention Title: PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING FORMS AND FORM OBTAINED BY THIS PROCESS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us -1- Process for manufacturing forms and form obtained by this process The present invention relates to the manufacture of forms composed of a sheet and of at least one peelable part forming a self-adhesive label.

Frequently, there is a need to be able to identify articles by, for example, a number, a bar code or the like and to transfer this information onto other documents making it possible, for example, to accomplish tasks relating to the management of the articles, such as their storage, their entry S. 10 into the accounting system, their assigning to a dispatch note, etc.

*Conventionally, such information was transferred by hand onto the documents relating to the article, an operation which was often subject to copying errors.

~Some time ago, more suitable forms were therefore created, these 15 including a base sheet to which is optionally attached at least one other sheet which can be detached, and on which base sheet are provided several easily *oooo.

peelable self-adhesive labels. These labels each bear the same identification information, such as an uncoded number and/or a bar code, the base sheet also carrying the same information. Under these conditions, the base sheet may be attached to the article and the labels may serve as elements for identifying the article, which may then be stuck onto other documents serving, for example, for management of the article from the storage and accounting standpoints.

Another application of such forms is their use in a medical-analysis laboratory, each sample from a patient, identified by a form, having to be split into several specimens to be examined which may then be precisely identified by attaching to each specimen a label coming from one and the same form.

-2- Such a form may thus comprise various items of information, such as numbers, corporate-name particulars, addresses, items of information for identifying the articles on which they are stuck, etc. These items of information or "messages" may be termed "fixed messages" and "variable messages". An item of information which, in a given series of forms, does not change from one form to another is called a "fixed message", while a "variable message" is different for each form in the same series.

These messages must be printed both on the base sheet of the form and on the self-adhesive labels and possibly also on other sheets, if this is a form making up a set comprising several detachable additional sheets.

In accordance with an example of a current process for *manufacturing these forms, a first strip of a siliconized support material, on which first strip is deposited an adhesive, and a second strip of paper, are taken. This two-strip complex provided with adhesive is then printed recto and verso with fixed and/or variable messages. If variable messages are to be S.printed both recto and verso, two separate printing passes are therefore necessary for the printing. Next, in order to obtain self-adhesive labels, it is necessary to cut these out from the strip of paper. The forms may then be delimited from one another by lines of perforation extending transversely with respect to the superposed strips and the product obtained may be packaged as a concertina-folded assembly or as a reel. In use, the labels may thus be easily separated from the siliconized support.

During the printing operation, it is of course important that the variable messages printed recto coincide in the length direction with the same variable messages printed verso so that, after printing, there may be found, on a region corresponding to a given form, the same variable messages on all the recto and verso elements of the form.

However, it turns out that concordance of the variable messages on the recto and verso of the reeled or concertina-folded complex requires 3 constant verification during the second printing pass. This verification work can be performed for a reasonable cost only if the verifier checks only the beginning and end of the complex, the verification operation being extremely expensive if the verifier has to check each form in the complex. However, instances of nonconcordance of the variable messages may be also occur between the beginning and end of the complex.

The invention aims to remedy the abovementioned drawbacks of the prior art and to avoid any necessity of correcting faults in coincidence of the variable messages on the various recto and verso elements of the forms.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a process from manufacturing forms of the type including a base sheet to which is fastened at least one peelable label, by means of a silicone layer and of an adhesive layer, the said layers being superposed, the said sheet and the said label being each provided with at least one so-called variable message which differs from one form to another, this process being characterized in that a) an elongate web of paper or similar material is prepared; b) printed on one side of this web and in each region corresponding to a form are both at least the variable message intended from the said sheet of this form and at least the variable message intended for the said label of this form, the two variable messages being spaced apart in the transverse direction of the said web, two longitudinal strips, assigned respectively to the sheets of the forms and to the labels of the latter, being materialized on the said web; at least one silicone layer and at least one adhesive layer are deposited on the side of the said web opposite that bearing the said variable 25 messages at the place where the said label has to be fastened to the said web; o0 d) and one of the said strips is turned over the other strip so as to Oloo o superpose the strip assigned to the labels and the said silicone and adhesive 0.0 layers, it being possible to carry out operations b) and c) in any order.

:According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a form S 30 manufactured in accordance with the first aspect of the invention or anyone of its preferments and characterised in that it includes a base sheet which includes at S least one variable message specific to this form and a flap superposed on this ase sheet over a least part of its surface and attached to this base sheet by means of a silicone layer and of an adhesive layer the said layers being superposed, at least one label being delimited by cutting into the said flap and bearing a variable message on the said base sheet the material from which the said sheet is made and that from which the said flap is made both coming from one and the same web of paper.

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-4- By virtue of these characteristics, because of the fact that the printing of the variable messages is carried out on one and the same web of paper and that, when turning one of the longitudinal strips over the other longitudinal strip, these messages may be maintained in perfect registration in the length direction and each form will always bear identical variable messages on the two strips. There is therefore no possibility of having a fault in the coincidence of these messages.

Preferably, the subject of the invention is also a form obtained by the process such as that just defined.

Other characteristics and advantages of the preferred embodiments of the invention will appear in the course the description which follows, this being given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a form produced using the process according to the invention; Figure 2 is also a perspective view of the form according to the invention, some of its elements being partially detached therefrom, while others are revealed by a cut-away; Figure 3 is a partial sectional view of a form according to the invention; U U 20 Figure 4 illustrates, by means of a highly diagrammatic U perspective view, certain operations performed during the implementation of the manufacturing process according to the invention; Figure 5 is a highly diagrammatic elevational view of a plant for :implementing the process according to the invention; and 25 Figure 6 is a highly diagrammatic view illustrating an alternative way of implementing the process according to the invention.

wFigures 1 to 3 will first of all be described, these showing, solely by *way of example, a form which can be produced using the manufacturing 1 process according to the invention. It is denoted by the general reference 1.

The form 1 first of all comprises a base sheet 2 which may be produced from any material in web form, such as a mechanical paper of suitable grammage, a kraft paper or possibly a plastic film. Attached to this base sheet 2 may be additional sheets 3 and 4 mounted in a detachable manner on the base sheet 2, for example by their lateral edges, the sheet 4 constituting in this example the top of the form. Such additional sheets may also be provided below the other side of the form.

The margins 5a and 5b may receive Caroll-type sprocket holes 6, well known in this art for transporting a series of forms which are attached to one another by perforated lines 7 and can be separated along these perforated lines. oo..

side of each sheet facing the top in Figure 1 will be called eeoC.

recto and the opposite side will be called verso.

The verso of the base sheet 2 is divided into two regions 2a and 2b.

The two regions 2a and 2b may bear printed information formed by fixed and ~variable messages in the sense in which these terms are explained hereinabove.

i In the region 2a of the base sheet, the verso of the latter bears a *oo0 silicone layer 8. In the example described, this region occupies a little less than 20 one quarter of the total surface area of the sheet 2. However, it will be noted that the size of the region 2b compared to that of the entire form is not critical and is only dictated by the requirements of use of the form and by the fixed and variable messages which it has to bear.

The siliconized region 2b is covered, at least partially, with a flap 9 bearing on its side facing the sheet 2 an adhesive layer 10 by means of which the flap 9 adheres to the base sheet 2. The area of this adhesive layer 10 is slightly greater than that of the silicone layer 8, this being moreover divided into several regions 11a to 11e corresponding to perimetric cuts which, in this example, have a rectangular general shape. These:regions each delimit a -6peelable label. There are, solely by way of example, five of these regions. Of course, the arrangement of the silicone layer, the adhesive layer and the cuts may be the other way around.

All the sheets of the form, including the flap 9, may bear a plurality of uncoded preprinted fixed messages (not illustrated in the drawings) such as form fields, identification particulars, texts relating to the use of the form, corporate name, etc.

The form may also have various variable messages differing from one form to another. Such a message may first of all be an uncoded serial number (No. 9 in the figures), optionally and preferably, accompanied by a coded identification which can be read by a machine, such as a bar code, for example.

These variable messages occur several times on the form and, with regard to the serial number and the code, are necessarily identical for one and the same form. In the example shown, these variable messages are on at least the base sheet 2, at 12a (uncoded serial number) and 13a (bar code), and on the labels 11a to lie, respectively at 12b to 12f and at 13b to 13f.

Furthermore, the form includes identified messages 14a to 14e which are in fact fixed messages, since they are identical from one form to another but different within the same form. In the example shown, these fixed messages, representing the numbers 1 to 5, are serial numbers of the actual labels in the form, enabling them to be distinguished from one another.

Those skilled in this art will understand that, within the scope of the invention, a form may include a great number of messages, whether they be fixed or variable, depending on the requirements of use of the form. The invention is therefore in no way limited by the nature of these messages or by their content or by their graphics or by other properties which they may optionally exhibit.

-7 It is important to note that the form 1 includes a base sheet 2 and a flap 9 which are produced from the same material, this being an essential characteristic of the invention which will appear more clearly hereinbelow on reading the description of the manufacturing process according to the invention.

A preferred embodiment of this manufacturing process will now be described with more particular reference to Figures 4 and A web 15 of material, such as paper, kraft paper or possibly a plastic film, is first of all subjected to a printing process during which all the fixed and variable messages of the sheet 2 and of the flap 9 are provided thereon in a single printing pass on one and the same side of the web. This therefore has a width corresponding to slightly more than the sum of the width of the sheet 2 and of the flap 9 of a form. This procedure may be implemented using any known printing process, rotary printing being preferred.

During this operation, each region of the web 15 corresponding subsequently to a form will thus comprise, side by side in the width direction, the messages on the recto of the sheet 2 and those on the verso of the flap 9.

During printing of the web, this may be wound on a reel 16 (Figure 20 5) which may be transported or temporarily stored, awaiting subsequent treatment.

0 00 60 0 0 of 441J Q)l 1 The reel 16 is placed in the plant for implementing the process of the invention, where the preprinted web 15 will be unreeled therefrom.

Downstream of the position of the reel 16, the web will receive, on its side opposite the printed side, firstly a silicone layer (17, Figure 4) which is applied thereto by a nozzle 18 which is placed across the web 15 and has an outlet whose width corresponds to the width of the labels lla to lie. It should be noted that, according to an alternative form, the silicone layer 17 may be -8affixed before the printing, during the printing or, as shown, after the printing.

Placed downstream of the nozzle 18 is a nozzle 19 by means of which an adhesive layer 20 is deposited on that side of the web 15 on which the silicone layer 17 has just been deposited. This nozzle 19 is also placed across the web, but its outlet is offset transversely with respect to the outlet of the nozzle 18.

Next, the web passes through a-folding station 21 equipped with three rollers 21a, 21b and 21c, for example, enabling the web to be folded lengthwise in such a manner that the adhesive layer 20 covers the silicone layer 17, thus forming a lateral fold 22 in the web 15 (see also, in Figure 1, that ••part of the form 1 shown in dot-dash lines).

In order for the web 15 to be folded lengthwise satisfactorily, it is important that it be correctly tensioned from the reel 16. The plant comprises for this purpose a paper take-up device, symbolized at 23 in Figure 5, making it possible to maintain the necessary tension in the web on the upstream side.

Downstream of the paper take-up station 23, the web is optionally provided with Caroll-type sprocket holes 6 on both its margins in a punching station symbolized at 24. For the margin on the side where the fold 22 is located these sprocket holes are placed on the inside of a cutting line 25 (see Figure 1) from along which the fold 22 will be removed from the web 15. The cutting may be carried out in a station 26 placed downstream of the punching station 24.

Still downstream, the process subsequently consists in making a "mid-depth" cut in order to delimit the regions 11a to 11e corresponding to the labels of the form 1. During this operation, the cutting knife will only cut into the thickness of the flap 9 to the corresponding side of the web 15, (which in Figures 4 and 5 is the top side of the lengthwise-folded web 15). The "middepth" cutting work is carried out in a station: 27. In an alternative -9embodiment, in which the form has only a single label, the incision operation is superfluous.

Next, in a station 28, additional sheets, such as the sheets 3 and 4 shown in Figures. 1 to 3 may be joined to the web 15. The latter is then provided with transverse lines of perforation extending between the forms (the station is not shown in the figures), it being possible for these forms to be detached from one another in order to be dispatched as a stack or else to remain attached in order to be dispatched as a reel or in the form of a concertina-folded stack.

From the foregoing detailed description, it will be understood that the variable messages which were discussed above and which have been printed in perfect longitudinal coincidence on the as-yet unfolded web, will preserve this longitudinal coincidence throughout all the subsequent operations, firstly because the web 15 is made as a single piece and then, after separating off the fold 22, because the then separate two strips of the web will be adhering to each other. An offset in the variable messages in the length direction of the web is thus impossible, each form thus being always provided with its correct variable messages. o Figure 6 shows an alternative way of implementing the process of i 20 preferred embodiments of the invention which has the advantage of being able to join the strip of the web intended to form the labels laterally at any point on the other strip of the web.

Figure 6 shows a web 15A preprinted, on the side not visible in the *oo* figure, with fixed and variable messages as in the case of the web 15 in Figures 4 and 5. This web firstly undergoes a lengthwise cutting operation in a cutting station 30 by means of which a longitudinal incision 31 is made in the web 15A. A strip 15A-a, intended to form the base sheets 2 of the forms 1, and a strip 15A-b, which will form the flaps 9 thereof, are thus formed.

Upstream of the incision station 30, a silicone layer 32 having a width corresponding to that of the labels is deposited on that part of the web which will subsequently form the strip The latter passes through a flow-regulating station 33, known per se, after which an adhesive layer 34 is deposited on the strip superposed with the silicone layer 32.

The other strip 15A-b of the web 15A is brought into a turningover station 35 in which this strip is turned over, the printed messages lying initially on the lower face in Figure 6 lying, after leaving this station 35, on the top, the strip being positioned laterally in such a manner that it covers the adhesive layer 34 deposited on the strip V The station 35, by slightly delaying the strip 15A-a with respect to the strip 15A-b, allows precise compensation for the delay caused by the latter passing through the turn-over station

Claims

1. Process for manufacturing forms of the type including a base sheet to which is fastened at least one peelable label, by means of a silicone layer and of an adhesive layer, the said layers being superposed, the said sheet and the said label being each provided with at least one so-called variable message which differs from one form to another, this process being characterized in that: a) an elongated web of paper or similar material is prepared; b) printed on one side of this web and in each region corresponding to a form are both at least the variable message intended for the said sheet of this form and at least the variable message intended for the said label of this form, the two variable messages, being spaced apart in the transverse direction of the said web, two longitudinal strips assigned respectively to the sheets of the forms and to the labels of the latter, being materialized on the said web; c) at least one silicone layer and at least one adhesive layer are deposited on the said of the said web opposite that bearing the said variable messages at the place where the said label has to be fastened to the said web; d) and one of the said strips is turned over the other of the said strips so as to superpose the said strip assigned to the said labels and the said silicone and adhesive layers it being possible to carry out operations b) and c) in any Sg order.

2. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the said superposition operation includes in folding one of the said longitudinal strips over the other of the said longitudinal strips along a longitudinal folding line. ao..

3. Process according to claim 2, characterized in that it further includes in separating the folded edge from the said web after the said folding operation. a

4. Process according to claim 2, characterized in that it includes tensioning th the said web during the folding operation. K~~7i o, Process according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes in making an incision in the said web in order to form the said longitudinal strips, in turning on of the said strips over the other of the said strips and in subsequently bringing them together by their facing sides.

6. Process according to claim 5, characterized in that while the said strips are being brought together, one of them is positioned away from the edges of the other strip.

7. Process according to any one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it also includes attaching at least one additional web to the said web in order to provide each form with at least one additional sheet.

8. Form manufactured by the process as defined in any one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it includes a base sheet which includes at least one variable message specific to this form and a flap superposed on this base sheet over a least part of its surface and attached to this base sheet by means of a silicone layer and of an adhesive layer the said layers being superposed, at least one label being delimited by cutting into the said flap and bearing a variable message on the said base sheet the material from which the said sheet is made and that from which the said flap is made both coming from one and the same web of paper. a

9. Form according to claim 8, characterized in that several labels are e° delimited in the said flap and in that each of the said labels bears a serial number. Form according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the said variable w messages comprise an uncoded number. coco

11. Form according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the said v mi °variable messages comprise bar codes. a.oo.. 13

12. Form according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that it also includes fixed messages on the said sheet and/or the said flap.

13. Form according to any one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that it also includes at least one additional sheet attached to the said base sheet on that side of the latter which is opposite the said flap.

14. A process for manufacturing forms substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings. A form substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings DATED this 12 th October, 2000 MOORE NORTH AMERICA INC. WATERMARK PATENT TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS UNIT 1, "THE VILLAGE" RIVERSIDE CORPORATE PARK

39-177 DELHI ROAD NORTH RYDE NSW 2113 P8841AU00 PNF:SLG:CA S 0@ a go *a *oo 0