EP2483169B1 - Method for affixing self-adhesive labels to product containers - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for applying on its underside with adhesive coated self-adhesive labels on product containers, wherein the cut to the desired final shape labels without carrier web or other intermediate layers are bundled into a stack, the labels are slightly offset from each other so that an edge strip the adhesive-coated label side of the respective upper label is exposed and the adhesive-coated side of this label otherwise removably adheres to the adhesive-free upper side of the immediately adjacent self-adhesive label, that for applying the upper self-adhesive label first the edge strip is fixed on a product container and then the entire label is simultaneously detached from the label stack and with its adhesive-coated side is glued over the entire surface of the product container.

Such a method is known from EP 0 460 649 known.

Self-adhesive labels are of considerable importance in many areas, as the product containers themselves can be kept neutral and thus can be used by many manufacturers as well as various products that ultimately become distinguishable by the manufacturer and / or product label. Product containers are understood to mean all forms of glass containers, bottles, plastic containers or cans. A fundamental task is to perform the labeling uniformly, both in terms of the shape and design of the label itself, as well as their mounting location. The labels should be attached to the product container without wrinkles and creases and with good adhesion.

Conventional self-adhesive labels are made of so-called. Adhesive composites consisting of a label top material or possibly several composite materials with one-sided adhesive application and siliconized carrier material made of paper or a plastic film.

In practice, a material web is usually first prepared, one side of which has an adhesive layer and the other side by means of a printing device printed with product or manufacturer information. This material web is wound up for better handling into a roll. In order to prevent the individual layers of the material web wound into a roll from sticking to one another as a result of the adhesive layer and the self-adhesive material web adhering to feed rollers, pressure rollers or other parts in the printing unit, the self-adhesive material web on the side of the adhesive layer is covered with a carrier material web. It is to glue the self-adhesive labels on the product container necessary to detach the carrier material web. For this purpose, devices known from the prior art for applying the self-adhesive labels to product containers have a feed device which effects a detachment of the self-adhesive label from the carrier web and simultaneous application of the label to the product container. In this application, the carrier material serves as a means of transport and protection for the adhesive and the adhesive label. The siliconized carrier material enables easy detachment of the label at a dispenser edge. However, the use of a substrate web has several disadvantages:

First, the carrier foil freed from the adhesive labels must be wound up and disposed of as special waste. Thus, in addition to the costs for the carrier film, further disposal costs are incurred. In addition, the use of the carrier film leads to an increase in volume of the adhesive label roll prior to application.

The disadvantages mentioned led to the development of carrier-less self-adhesive labels, which are referred to as so-called. Linerless labels. For these labels, one label side is siliconized and the opposite side is coated with an adhesive. The pressure can basically be applied to any of the mentioned pages. The siliconized side prevents the roll of label tape from sticking to the adhesive side.

The advantage, namely the saving of the carrier and cover material, the smaller volume of the rolled-up labels and the cheaper manufacturing and processing costs and the saving of disposal costs are faced with a number of disadvantages. First, the possible shapes of the labels are limited to rectangular formats. In addition, it is difficult to automatically apply the individual printed self-adhesive labels separated from the self-adhesive web to a product, since during application it must be ensured that the self-adhesive label does not adhere to any other component of a device but only to the product. The principle possible application of the self-adhesive labels after separation by hand is laborious and expensive. In addition, the application speeds are severely limited.

In the DE 197 12 524 A1 an applicator for carrier-less adhesive self-adhesive labels is proposed with a separation unit in which in the feed direction of the self-adhesive material web after the separation unit an applicator unit connects, which detects the self-adhesive label on its adhesive-free side and applied to the product body. For this purpose, work is carried out by means of a negative pressure detecting the self-adhesive label holding device. But even this form of automation is not without problems, since the risk of wrinkling or creasing can not be ruled out when taking the separated self-adhesive label, which is then taken over with the application. Also, misalignments of the label in the holding device can lead to erroneous applications.

An even bigger problem is that the labels stringed together to form a tape must be cut off exactly at the cutting lines provided, which requires an exactly timed cut. In most cases, a fixed cutting device is used, through which the material web consisting of self-adhesive labels is passed cyclically until the intended interface has reached the cutting device. The material web is briefly stopped for cutting, whereby the cut label is separated and provided for application. Due to the interrupted for the cutting process conveying the labels results in a lower product throughput. In addition, in such a stop-and-go operation, a high material wear and a high energy demand.

In the WO 2009/030893 A1 a self-adhesive label tape is proposed, which has perforated predetermined breaking points between the individual images, which allows a mechanical separation of the respective first label on a web. The separation can for example already be effected by the zugeförderte first label of a web with a product container, initially adhered to an edge, which is conveyed away with a larger conveying speed than the next label is conveyed. By this measure, although false cuts in the separation of the self-adhesive labels prevented However, this advantage is due to increased investment costs in the application systems compared to the classic self-adhesive dispensers. In order to ensure a clean, repeatable easy separation of the labels from each other, an exact formation of the perforation line is also required. If the peel force that can be applied in the system is not sufficient for separation along the perforation line or if it is insufficiently formed, this leads to a process malfunction which, if appropriate, results in mislabelling of a single product container, but at worst results in a necessary interruption of the labeling process. However, there is still a significant limitation of the label form, to a rectangular format.

A method for applying self-adhesive labels, which are arranged offset to one another and wound into a roll, is in the previously filed but post-published WO 2010/101101 A1 discloses, after which the self-adhesive label is inflated onto the product using an air nozzle.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method for applying on its underside with adhesive coated self-adhesive labels on product containers, can be provided with the any label forms and processed and thus a trouble-free application is possible.

This object is achieved by the method according to claim 1.

The self-adhesive labels have a surface with a silicone coating and a bottom surface with an adhesive coating so that self-adhesive labels on top of one another can easily be pulled off the silicone-coated side of the adjacent label. Unlike the prior art, the cut to the desired final shape labels without carrier web or other intermediate layers are bundled into a stack, the labels are slightly offset from each other, so that an edge strip of the adhesive-coated label side of each upper label is exposed and the adhesive-coated side Incidentally, on the adhesive-free top of the immediate adjacent self-adhesive labels releasably adheres. This scale-like arrangement has the advantage that the respective upper or front label can be grasped at its edge strip and pulled off the label stack without the risk there is insufficient separation. The labels may have any shape designs, in particular oval and circular shapes or other polygonal shapes. Preferably, the label stack of the individual adhering labels can be wound into a round body, wherein according to a further embodiment of the invention, the core of a fixed roller, for. B. may consist of cardboard material.

The label stack according to the invention can be applied to product containers for applying the self-adhesive labels in such a way that the edge strip with the adhesive-coated side is first fixed on a product container and then the entire label is simultaneously detached from the label stack and adhesively bonded to the product container with its adhesive-coated side. This sticking can preferably be done in a rolling motion.

In this method, the advantage of already isolated labels is thus exploited, which can be easily detached from the adjacent label due to the silicone coating.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the detachment of the respective upper label by a relative movement of the label stack is introduced to the product container so that first the free edge strip comes into contact with the product body to be labeled, fixed there by a roller and by a movement apart of the label stack and of the product container, remove the label from the label stack and at the same time fix it on the product container, d. H. is glued on. This method has the advantage that it can be carried out fully automatically with high clock speeds. The sticking of the self-adhesive label on the product container is accompanied by the detachment of the same self-adhesive label from the label stack. In this sticking and peeling the label is under a tensile stress, which avoids wrinkles on the label.

The product container to be labeled can be moved on a linear path in a translatory or rotational direction, preferably on a carousel. In both Cases the product container is fixed at the top or bottom, so that always go through the same trajectory and a sufficient resistance to a pressure roller or roller used for pressing the self-adhesive label is supplied.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the stack of labels or at least the edge strip of the respective upper label is cyclically advanced in a linear guide in order to bring each of the edge strips with the product container in contact. The linear guide forms an angle of 110 ° to 140 ° with the path through which the product containers at the labeling station pass. H. that the self-adhesive labels form an acute angle just before sticking with the product, which facilitates the adhesion of the edge strip.

The label stack or its guide and each of the product container at the labeling run during the gluing relative to each other pivotal movements, with which the product container pivots in the direction of the adhesive-coated surface and is pivoted away again after gluing. This variant is particularly suitable for such product containers, the surface to be labeled is flat or only slightly convex.

The device which can be used for carrying out the method consists essentially of a linear guide, with which the label stack is advanced in cycles and also a product container guide, which cooperate such that the respectively advanced label of the label stack led to the surface of the product container, there, preferably by means of a Fixed pinch roller and glued over the entire surface when conveying the product container.

Fig. 1a

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines teilweise von einer Rolle abgerollten Etikettenstapels,

Fig. 1b

eine Teilquerschnittsansicht entlang der Schnittlinie A-A in Fig. 1a,

Fig. 2a

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Zuführeinrichtung und eines Produktbehälters im Augenblick des Fixierens des Randstreifens,

Fig. 2b

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Applikationseinrichtung mit Andrückwalze zu Beginn des Anklebeprozesses und

Fig. 2c

dieselbe Anordnung am Ende des Applikationsprozesses.

Further embodiments are advantages of the present invention and will be explained with reference to the drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1a

a perspective view of a partially unrolled from a roll label stack,

Fig. 1b

a partial cross-sectional view along the section line AA in Fig. 1a .

Fig. 2a

a perspective view of a feeder and a product container at the moment of fixing the edge strip,

Fig. 2b

a schematic side view of an application device with pressure roller at the beginning of the gluing process and

Fig. 2c

the same arrangement at the end of the application process.

How out Fig. 1a and 1b can be seen, form individual labels 10, 11, 12 and 13 ... a label stack, in which the individual labels are arranged offset from one another, so that edge portions 101, 111, 121, 131 ... the adhesive-coated underside exposed, whereas the remaining adhesive-coated Adhered bottom on the nearest adjacent foil. The upper side 102, 112, 122, 132 ... of the respective labels is silicone-coated and thus easily removable from the adhesive-side.

The labels 10, 11, 12, 13, ... can be printed on the top or bottom side. A series of self-adhesive labels 10, 11, 12, 13, ... in the mentioned and illustrated scale-like arrangement is wound into a roll 15, which may possibly have a hard cardboard core 16.

The degree of mutual displacement of the individual labels, by means of which an adhesive underside 101, 111... Is uncovered, is essentially determined by the fact that this edge region must be large enough to provide sufficient fixation of this edge region on the product container, in which sufficient adhesive force to detach the label from the label stack, possibly accompanied by a simultaneous full-surface fixation of the label base on or on the product container. The labels, which in the present case have straight side edges 103 and 104 and curved edges 105, can in principle be any circular, oval or other polygonal shapes, so that the previous limitation of the linerless labels is omitted on a rectangular shape.

A variant of the application of the individual labels on product containers is Fig. 2a to 2c refer to. By means of a guiding and advancing device 20, the label stack 21 is advanced, so that the adhesive-applied edge region 101 (see Fig. 2a ) comes into contact with the product container 22. The fixation of this edge region can be supported by means of a roller 23, which is rotatable counterclockwise in the example shown. The product container 22 is continuously moved or swiveled in the direction of the arrow 24, wherein the label 10 is completely adhered to the surface of the product container 22 via a supporting rolling movement of one or more rollers. After that, the next label feed starts, which brings the label 11 in the position in which the label 10 in Fig. 2b is shown, so that this label 11 is fixed to the product container 25 in a corresponding manner by advancing in the direction of the arrow 26. The speed of movement of the product container 22 and 25 and the other product container can be the same over the entire supply and adhesive line or experience a brief acceleration in the labeling station, if this requires the juxtaposition of the labels and the length of the edge strip 101.

In another embodiment variant, it is likewise possible to apply the product container to be coated in each case to an adhesive-coated side which is exposed over the entire surface (see Fig. 1b ), where they bring into contact with the label and to replace the last label 13 by a rolling movement and simultaneous removal of the product container from the label stack 10 to 13. In this case, it is preferable to apply the silicone-coated, partially exposed edge surface (see Fig. 1 b) a pressure roller guided, which favors the fixation of the underlying edge region on the opposite side of the product container as well as the detachment of the label 14 from the label stack.

Claims (6)

1. Method for applying self-adhesive labels to product containers, which self-adhesive labels are coated with adhesive on their underside, the labels (10, 11, 12, 13, ...) which are cut to the desired final shape being bundled without carrier strip or other intermediate layers to form a stack (21), the labels being arranged offset slightly with respect to one another in such a way that an edge strip (102) of the adhesive-coated label side of the respectively top label lies exposed and the adhesive-coated side of the said label otherwise adheres releasably to the adhesive-free top side (112) of the immediately adjacent self-adhesive label (11), and that, in order to apply the top self-adhesive label, first of all the edge strip (101) is fixed on a product container (22) and subsequently the entire label (10) is detached at the same time from the label stack and is adhesively bonded over the full area of its adhesive-coated side on the product container, characterized in that the label stack or its guide and the product containers perform pivoting movements relative to one another at the labelling station.
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the application of the label to a product body is completed in a rolling movement.
3. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the detaching of the respectively top label is introduced by a relative movement of the label stack onto the product container in such a way that first of all the free edge strip comes into contact with the product body, is fixed there by a roller, and the label is pulled off from the label stack by way of a movement of the label stack and the product container away from one another and is fixed on the product container at the same time.
4. Method according to Claim 3, characterized in that the product containers (22, 25) to be labelled are moved on a track in a linearly translational or circularly rotational manner, preferably on a carousel.
5. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the label stack or at least the edge strip of the respectively top label is displaced in a linear guide in a synchronized manner, in order to bring in each case the edge strip into contact with the product container.
6. Method according to Claim 5, characterized in that the linear guide forms an angle of from 110° to 140° with the track which is run along by the product containers at the labelling station.

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