EP1136972B1

EP1136972B1 - Plant for producing water transferable labels realised on a hygroscopic paper support

Info

Publication number: EP1136972B1
Application number: EP01106669A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gianmario Bonomo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-03-20
Filing date: 2001-03-16
Publication date: 2006-02-22
Anticipated expiration: 2021-03-16
Also published as: IT1315297B1; ITVI20000047A1; EP1136972A2; EP1136972A3; ATE318438T1; DE60117313D1

Abstract

A plant for producing water transferable labels realised on a hygroscopic paper support, which are used in particular for identifying ceramic products, such as sanitary equipment and the like, through an image, such as a bar code, which is printed on the surface of the same product through the known sweating process undergone by the ceramic material at high temperatures. In particular, such plant is characterised in that it is fed with a hygroscopic paper tape wound on a reel and carrying the images to be transferred printed in series. Moreover, in the proximity of each image to be transferred there is provided an opaque mark, which is read by the photoelectric cells arranged along the entire plant for synchronising the operation of the same. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to the realisation of a method and plant for producing water transferable labels applied on a hygroscopic paper support.
For the identification of a product, the use of particular graphic symbols is well known, and among them the most widespread is the so-called "bar code", which is printed on a label, successively applied on the same product, or directly printed on the surface of the same product.
Specifically, in ceramic products in general, such as for example sanitary equipment, the bar code is reported on the product surface through the use of a water transferable label, on which there is printed the identification bar code and which is applied on the ceramic product before the baking of the same product.
With the heat of the baking, the film forming the label base evaporates, whereas the inked image of the bar code, contained into it, through the sweating process undergone by the ceramic material when subject to high temperatures, indelibly prints on the surface of the same ceramic product. Such a technique is described in US-A-829131. The film containing the bar code is provided to the producer of the ceramic products adhering to a hygroscopic paper support.
For its specific chemical and physical properties, the use of hygroscopic paper has a dual function: that of making the film that forms during the realisation step of the same label stick to it, thus holding it, and that of allowing a quick detachment of the same label from the paper support, so as to apply it on the product to be marked by simply immersing the whole into the water for a few seconds.
Purpose of the present invention is that of providing a method and a plant for producing water transferable labels with hygroscopic paper support, which should be of easy construction and high productivity, and where the feeding of the product to be machined should be continuous through a tape wound on a reel.
Further purpose of the invention is that of realising a label which should allow the fast forwarding and centering of the tape during machining.
The plant of the invention operates with the following operating steps, in a sequence:

feeding of the hygroscopic paper support into which there are printed the images of the bar codes in a succession, on one or more sided rows;
application of one layer of collodion on each single image of the bar code printed on the feeding paper support;
evaporation of the volatile substances contained in the collodion layer applied on the paper support;
drying of the applied collodion layer so as to form a film adhering to the paper support, at each image of the bar code printed on said paper support;
tempering of the paper support for re-imparting the correct degree of humidity to the same so as to allow it to recover its original plane configuration, after the same had slightly warped with the drying;
cutting of the paper support in successive portions, each containing a label;
stacking and packaging of the single labels provided with paper support;

a feeding unit of the paper product,

a unit for applying the collodion layer, at the plastic state, at each image of the bar code present on the paper tape, said unit consisting of a serigraphic machine;
a heated and ventilated tubular section tunnel for making the volatile substances contained in the collodion evaporate and for imparting a first hardening to the films applied at each image of the bar code printed on the paper tape;
a drying chamber for the final hardening of the collodion films applied at.each image printed on the paper tape;
a chamber for tempering the paper product that forms the support of the films;
a cutter for separating the single labels provided with paper support;
a conveyor belt for stacking and packaging the single separate labels.

A further feature of the invention consists in providing for the bar code to be laterally associated to an opaque mark, such as a stamp, which can be read by the photoelectric cells arranged along the entire plant for the purpose of guaranteeing, besides the regular advancement and centering of the moving tape, also the exact duration of the halts of said tape which are necessary for allowing the application and the following drying of the collodion layer.
These and other features of the invention shall appear more clearly from the description of a possible embodiment of the same, made by way of a non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings. In such drawings:

Figure 1 shows a schematic elevation view of the plant of the invention;
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the paper tape with the bar codes printed on it, before the treatment;
Figure 3 shows the labels separate from the collodion provided with the hygroscopic paper support, at the end of the treatment;
Figure 4 shows a detailed view of the label with bar code of the invention ;
Figure 5 shows a sectioned view, according to line V-V of figure 4, of the label of the invention.

As it can be seen in the figures, the feeding of the machine occurs through a tape 1 made of a hygroscopic paper material, on which there are printed the bar codes 2, arranged in a series.
Tape 1 is provided to the plant wound on a reel 3, and the advancement occurs through the side holes 4 that are hooked by tractors 5, present along the entire path of the same tape.
Immediately downstream of reel 3 there is present a serigraphic machine 6 which applies a collodion layer, in the form of a liquid and syrupy substance, on and at each image 2 of the bar code.
Afterwards, tape 1 slides into a rectilinear tubular section tunnel 7, where it comes into contact with a hot air flow at the temperature of 50°/70° C and in counter current, which causes the evaporation of the volatile substances contained in the collodion, and imparts a first hardening of the collodion layers for forming film 8.
Afterwards, the tape slides into a first heated chamber 9, wherein film 8 is almost totally dried.
Afterwards, tape 1 slides into a second heated chamber 10 wherein - at a temperature of about 25°/30°C and with a humidity degree of about 60% - the hygroscopic paper material tape is tempered and films 8 adhering to the above paper support material are totally dried.
Afterwards, a cutter 11 provides to separating tape 1 into single portions 12, each containing a label 13.
Finally, a conveyor belt 14 provides to stacking and storing the single portions 12 into store 15.
A possible construction variant provides for the tape in output from the second heated chamber 10 to be rewound on a reel.
The advancement of tape 1 is stabilised through compensation stores 16.
As it can be seen in figures 4 and 5, in the proximity of each bar code the invention provides for the printing of an opaque mark 17 on the paper support, which is read by the photoelectric cells, not shown, arranged along the entire plant for synchronising the operation of the same.
The above descriptions highlights the advantages of the plant of the invention, where the bar codes - provided with opaque mark - are provided to the machine through a roller wound on a reel, which at the end of the machining allows obtaining a stack of labels on paper support arranged in a numerically progressive way, thus allowing the ordered application of the same on the products to be marked.
Of course, other embodiments are possible besides that illustrated, such as for example, the production of labels representing trademarks or other types of images, or it is possible to provide for the printing of two or more parallel rows of progressive images on the tape, all of that without departing from the scope of the following claims.

Claims

METHOD FOR PRODUCING WATER TRANSFERABLE LABELS REALISED ON A HYGROSCOPIC PAPER SUPPORT, which are used in particular for identifying ceramic products, such as sanitary equipment and the like, through an image, such as a bar code (2), which is printed on the surface of the same product through the known sweating process undergone by the ceramic material at high temperatures,
said method comprising the following operating steps, in a sequence
- feeding of the hygroscopic paper support into which there are printed the images (2), such as bar codes;

- application of one layer of collodion on each single image (2) of the bar code printed on the feeding paper support;

- evaporation of the volatile substances contained in each collodion layer applied on the paper support;

- drying of the applied collodion layer so as to form a film (8) adhering to the paper support, at each image (2) of the bar code printed on said paper support;

- tempering of the paper support for re-imparting the correct degree of humidity to the same so as to allow it to recover its original plane configuration, after the same had slightly warped with the drying;

- cutting of the paper support in successive portions (12), each containing a label;

- stacking and packaging of the single labels provided with paper support.
PLANT FOR THE REALISATION OF THE METHOD ACCORDING TO CLAIM 1, characterised in that it comprises the following mechanisms, arranged in succession:
- a feeding unit of the paper product, consisting of a hygroscopic paper tape (1) wound on a reel which carries bar codes (2) printed in a series and is laterally provided with drafting holes.

- a unit (6) for applying a collodion layer, at the plastic state, at each image of the bar code (2) present on the paper tape (1);

- a heated and ventilated tubular section tunnel (7) for making the volatile substances contained in the collodion evaporate and for imparting a first hardening to the collodion layer applied at each image of the bar code printed on the paper tape;

- a drying chamber (9) for the final hardening of the collodion layer applied at each image printed on the paper tape, so as to form a film (8);

- a chamber (10) for tempering the paper product that forms the support of the films;

- a cutter (11) for separating the single labels (13) provided with paper support;

- a conveyor belt (14) for stacking and packaging the single separate labels.
PLANT FOR PRODUCING WATER TRANSFERABLE LABELS REALISED ON A HYGROSCOPIC PAPER SUPPORT, according to claim 2, characterised in that in the proximity of each image (2), such as a bar code, on the same paper support tape (1) there is printed an opaque mark (17), which is read by the photoelectric cells arranged along the entire plant for synchronising the operation of the same.
PLANT FOR PRODUCING WATER TRANSFERABLE LABELS REALISED ON A HYGROSCOPIC PAPER SUPPORT, according to claim 22, characterised in that the support tape is laterally provided with holes (4) for the draft through rotating tractors (5).
PLANT FOR PRODUCING WATER TRANSFERABLE LABELS REALISED ON A HYGROSCOPIC PAPER SUPPORT, according to claim 2, characterised in that the application of the collodion layer at each image of the bar code is realised through a serigraphic machine (6).
PLANT FOR PRODUCING WATER TRANSFERABLE LABELS REALISED ON A HYGROSCOPIC PAPER SUPPORT, according to claim 2, characterised in that the evaporation tunnel (7) of the volatile substances contained in collodion is impinged by a hot air current at the temperature of 50°/60° C and in counter current with respect to the paper tape advancement direction.
PLANT FOR PRODUCING WATER TRANSFERABLE LABELS REALISED ON A HYGROSCOPIC PAPER SUPPORT, according to claim 2, characterised in that the chamber (10) for tempering the paper tape is maintained at a temperature of about 25°/30°C and with a humidity degree of about 60%.
PLANT FOR PRODUCING WATER TRANSFERABLE LABELS REALISED ON A HYGROSCOPIC PAPER SUPPORT, according to claim 2, characterised in that the hygroscopic paper tape (1) provided with the labels is wound on a reel (3).
PLANT FOR PRODUCING WATER TRANSFERABLE LABELS REALISED ON A HYGROSCOPIC PAPER SUPPORT, according to claim 2, characterised in that it is provided with at least two compensation stores (16) for adjusting the advancement motion of the paper tape.
PLANT FOR PRODUCING WATER TRANSFERABLE LABELS REALISED ON A HYGROSCOPIC PAPER SUPPORT, according to claim 2, characterised in that at least two parallel lines of images arranged in progression are printed on the paper support tape.
PLANT FOR PRODUCING WATER TRANSFERABLE LABELS REALISED ON A HYGROSCOPIC PAPER SUPPORT, according to claim 2,
characterised in that the images printed on the paper tape can represent a trademark, a logo or any other graphic sign.