FR2774070A1 - Production of self-adhesive labels to be peeled off a carrier strip - Google Patents

Abstract

For the prod. of printed and adhesive labels, the printed labels are cut to size and are self-adhesive through laying on a siliconized support to be wound on spools slightly larger than the label size for continuous mechanical coating with a watery adhesive. While still non-adhesive, the labels are stacked in the same orientation, and adhesive is applied to one surface of the support material which is presented to the label stack without contact, and towards the rear surface of the top label in the stack. The separation of the labels (1) from the stack is by a mechanism (8) which applies a series of intermittent pressure actions on the uncoated side (32) of the support strip (3), while it is held lightly over the label magazine (2). The momentary pressures on the support strip (3), over a zone slightly longer than the label (1) length, pick up the labels from the top of the stack as the carrier strip (3) is advanced over the magazine (2). The intermittent pressure unit (8) has a plate (81), pref. of the same dimensions as the label (1), resting lightly on the uncoated side (32) of the carrier strip (3) when in the rest position. The plate (81) is moved to and fro, in a stroke action, to press the coated side (31) of the carrier (3) against the rear surface of the top label (1) in the stack and lift it clear to be carried onwards with the carrier strip (3) movement while the plate (81) has returned to its rest position. The reciprocating stroke movement for the pressure plate (81) is through cams or electromagnets, to give successive pressures on the carrier (3).

Description

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING LABELS OR THE LIKE
ADHESIVE AND DEPOSITED ON A COIL.

 The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing self-adhesive articles such as labels, counter-labels, collars of all shapes and all kinds regularly arranged on a support strip on a reel.

 The invention also relates to a machine implementing the method in particular for producing traditional labels printed in sheets cut individually and made adhesive by deposition on a silicone or similar support wound in a reel.

 In the field of product labeling and more particularly for high speed labeling of containers in all their forms, it is now necessary to use adhesive labels arranged in repetitive series on a support strip facilitating their takeoff before transfer to each container. According to a usual arrangement of labeling machines, the support strip is wound on a reel; However, the manufacture of adhesive labels on reels can only be done using very specific equipment using rotary or semi-rotary machines whose cost is dissuasive for the vast majority of printers. This is why they looked for solutions to make reels of adhesive printed labels using their traditional know-how, consisting in printing the labels in sheets followed by a classic unit cutting operation, then the printed labels. are made self-adhesive and finally placed on a silicone support strip wound on a reel.

 To this end, we have already devised devices for rewinding self-adhesive labels from individual labels coated with aqueous glue, the opening times of which are practically infinite, and then placed on a support made of non-stick material.

This is for example the case of European patent EP-600,872 which has the drawback of requiring complicated equipment such as feeders, destackers, and other transfer clamps with the risk of marking the label on the gripper sockets. Numerous devices have also been proposed for manufacturing self-adhesive labels from individual printed labels; generally a strip of silicone paper is unwound to a label application station. A deposit of aqueous glue is carried out beforehand on the strip exactly at the places provided for receiving each label in order to avoid any glue overflowing; this is the case for example of European patent EP-080,365 which provides positioning sensors for rigorously placing each label on the strip which is then reeled.

 All these systems depositing the adhesive on a silicone strip at a precise location necessarily resort to the use of placers or feeders, which inevitably introduce uncontrollable positioning defects generally resulting in poor quality of the final labeling or even malfunctions. in high-speed container labeling systems.

Other solutions have also been proposed to solve this problem: on a strip of silicone paper or the like, glue is continuously applied; a member for depositing individual labels applies these to the strip which is necessarily wider than the individual label in order to avoid any defect in coating the back of the label. A lateral or circumferential slitting operation, moreover, is then provided to release the parts of the support strip comprising the excess glue on either side or around each label. This is for example the case of the method and the apparatus described in the European patent
EP 098.092. It is easy to understand all the drawbacks of such prior solutions, that is to say that they are extremely expensive when recourse is had to position sensors and / or to transfer tongs for correctly placing the labels on the silicone supports or even when devices for slitting said support are provided for eliminating excess glue, that is to say that they offer only very specific solutions exactly suited to a category or a unique form of label and therefore require very heavy investments.

 To remedy all of these drawbacks, a method and a machine are proposed according to the invention implementing it for depositing labels on a support previously glued over its entire surface without the unstacking, placing, or feeder system, advantageously using the tackifier. the adhesive and by wiping off the residual glue using a discharge tape. Such a particularly simple system furthermore guarantees total adhesion of the back of the labels or the like without lack of adhesive on the periphery of the same labels, whatever their shape and size.

In this regard, and in accordance with a first subject of the invention, the process for the manufacture of adhesive labels, or similar articles, previously printed in sheets, cut out individually and made self-adhesive by deposition on a silicone support or similar, wound in a reel of width slightly greater than the label and mechanically coated continuously with aqueous glue, is remarkable in that, the labels not yet adhesive being stacked in the same direction, one on the other, the succession of the following stages
the support is completely glued beforehand on one of its faces which is then brought without contact to the right of the stack of labels, facing the back of the first label then,
- thanks to a transient transverse action either on the non-glued side of the support in the direction of said label or on the label or better on the stack of labels, in the direction of the glued side of the support and thanks to the stickiness of the glue the other side of said support, the label adheres to it which carries it outside the stack, advantageously over a length slightly greater than that of the label then,
- the glued side of the support and the label which adheres to it are pressed together against a discharge band covering the label and the glued parts of the support which overflow from the label so that the excess glue around each label is transferred to the discharge tape which is then mechanically separated from the support from which it removes the excess adhesive then,
- the glued support scrolling again or continuously, and thanks to a new transient transverse action, we capture a new label, extract it and drag it onto the support which is discharged of its excess glue, according to an advantageously cyclic operation .

 Another essential object of the invention is a machine implementing the succession of the preceding steps for the manufacture of self-adhesive labels or similar articles presented on a support strip wound in a reel, conventionally comprising a silicone support dispenser or the like. roller, means for coating aqueous glue on the whole face of said support coming opposite the back of the labels which one wishes to make adhesive, a store of such printed labels, stacked in the same direction one on the other and means for re-winding said support strip after positioning the labels on said coated face of the support; this machine is remarkable compared to the prior art in that the unstacking of the labels is obtained according to a first essential variant by means providing a fugitive transverse support on the side not coated with glue of the support kept stretched slightly above the unstacking area of the store where the face to be coated is constantly presented with a label using conventional stack mounting means, and in the direction of the latter so as to extract it by simple elastic contact and bring it by a longitudinal displacement of the support parallel to the surface of the unstacking zone over a distance slightly greater than its length to allow engaging a new transverse pulse extract and bring a new label according to an advantageously continuous operation.

 According to another possible variant of the machine, the unstacking of the labels is obtained by a transverse and fleeting movement of the magazine generated by a conventional cam or eccentric mechanism for example, bringing the back of the label, which is constantly present at the outlet of the unstacking zone using conventional stack mounting means, in contact with the glued face of the facing support, maintained by its other face in back pressure on a fixed plate, advantageously of the size of the label and preferably positioned for that its front edge coincides with the downstream edge of the label, which is thus extracted from the magazine to be brought by a longitudinal displacement of the support parallel to the surface of the unstacking zone over a distance slightly greater than its length to allow initiate a new transverse action of the store, extract and bring a new label according to an advantageously continuous operation.

 In accordance with another essential characteristic of the machine, it is also remarkable in that the discharge band is driven with the support provided with the labels between two pressure rollers, which can advantageously be used for driving and tensioning the support, which simultaneously provide complete adhesion of the labels to the support before the latter is wound up on the storage reel, and the plating of the discharge tape on the face of the support comprising the excess glue which are thus transferred to said tape , which is then removed from the support and naturally discarded, as will be specified below, the discharge band is removed by a reel which comes to tension said band as soon as it leaves the pressure rollers in a direction different from that of the support in such a way that the discharge band moves away from the support, entraining the excess adhesive.

 We understand all the advantages of such a machine which, unlike rotary presses known in the prior art, can be a particularly inexpensive table machine to produce; it is quite obvious that thanks to the process according to the invention, the machine provides a total coating of the label, regardless of its shape and size. In addition, the positioning of the label on the support strip is extremely simple and in any case very precise insofar as it requires no feeder or transfer tools. We also understand that such a machine is alone capable of producing very small series and allows mixing at will on the same reel of different adhesive labels insofar as it suffices to carry out the mixing in the organization of the stack d label in the store. Of course, thanks to this material it is also possible to make stocks of old or classic labels awaiting adhesion, for example for transplanting. Finally, the machine according to the invention is of course capable of rendering adhesive all flexible supports, paper, cardboard, plastic, canvas, and more generally all rigid supports with "screen" outlet; one could even deposit labels in "flag" with overlapping of the labels or even thanks to a coating timer realize the leaching in full, in band or in reserve, giving the possibility of adhesive only the bands of covering of the label.

Other characteristics and advantages will emerge more clearly from the description which will be given of a machine according to the invention given by way of preferred example, although not limiting, with reference to the appended drawings in which
FIG. 1 is a schematic view in elevation of a machine for manufacturing self-adhesive labels on a roll implementing the method of the invention,
- Figure 2 shows a bottom view of the glued side of the support strip according to all the manufacturing steps according to the invention for the clarity of this figure, have been deleted, the label store and the mother reels distributing the support strip and the discharge strip.

 - Figures 3 are a partial schematic representation of the original unstacking system according to its three main states: system at rest (Figure 3a); system in working position (Figure 3b); system showing the positioning of the strip and the label at the end of the cycle (Figure 3c).

 In accordance with FIG. 1, the machine implementing the method of the invention for the manufacture of labels 1 printed on a sheet and arranged in a stack in the same direction one on the other in a unstacking magazine 2, awaiting d 'be transferred to a silicone or similar support strip 3 stretched between a mother reel 4 delivering said blank strip 3 and a take-up reel 5 directly usable in container labeling systems for example. According to the execution of FIG. 1, we have chosen to have the magazine 2 below the support strip 3 but it is obvious that any other arrangement of said magazine could be suitable insofar as, at any time, the back of a pre-printed label can be presented in front of the support strip 3 under the conditions which will be detailed later; according to this variant, moreover, the magazine 2 is conventionally equipped with a stack raising device making it possible, in a known manner, to constantly present a label 1 at the correct altitude, that is to say on the unstacking zone of the magazine 2. A coating system 6 by lip nozzle, spray gun or projection is provided in line with the support strip 3 so that its underside 31 (FIG. 1) is completely coated with glue 7 from a side edge to the other, conventionally represented in FIGS. 1 and 3 by a dotted line and by hatching in FIG. 2.

 A fugitive transverse thrust device 8 is provided at right and above the coated support 3 when the latter is stretched parallel to the unstacking zone of the magazine 2 without contact, for example between the take-up reel 5 and the tensioner 9 (FIG. 1). The pushing device 8 constitutes the unstacking system according to the invention; it will be detailed later.

 After unstacking, the support 3 carrying the label 1, passes through two tangent pressure rollers 11 and 12 and provided at least in area, with an elastic material capable of driving on the one hand the support 3 thanks for example to the motorization of one of the two rollers and, on the other hand, to perfect the application of the label 1 on the silicone-coated support 3 before storage on the coil 5. In addition and according to another fundamental characteristic of the invention , an advantageously continuous discharge strip 13 from a mother reel 14 is inserted at the point of tangency of the two pressers 11 and 12, which is recovered on a storage reel 15 after discharge of the excess glue 16, removed as it will be said later, of the support 3 after passage between the two pressure rollers 11 and 12.

 In accordance with FIGS. 2 and 3, each step of the process for manufacturing self-adhesive labels on a reel will now be specified, in accordance with the invention.

 The support strip 3 is a strip of silicone paper or the like known for its low adhesion capacity for the currently available aqueous adhesives, whether these be cold adhesives or adhesives of the "Hot Melt" type, the opening times are almost infinite, unlike older thermoplastic adhesives whose opening times were only a few seconds or fractions of a second.

The silicone strip 3 is chosen according to the size and shape of the labels 1 which it is desired to make self-adhesive; for this purpose, the width of the support 3 will in principle be strictly greater than the width of the label 1. Drawn from a mother reel 4 as has been said (position A in figure 2), the support 3 is entirely coated with glue 7 on only one of its faces (position B in Figure 2) which will be by linear movement brought to the back of the first label 1, waiting on the unstacking area of the magazine 2, the support being stretched between the rollers 11 and 9 in such a way that said glued side has no natural contact with the label 1 pending on the unstacking zone (position C in figure 2).

 At this instant and thanks to the system 8, a fugitive transverse thrust is carried out on the upper surface 32 not coated with the support 3 bringing fugitively into contact the glued face 31 of the support 3 with the back of the label 1 which, from this done, will remain attached when the transverse thrust of the system 8 ceases.

At this instant, the support 3 which can continue to scroll towards the pressing rollers 11,12, (position D in figure 2) will cause the label 1 thus hung outside the unstacking zone thus allowing a new identical input operation. to the first. It is quite obvious that the scrolling of the support 3 can be continuous or alternating when it is subjected to the transverse thrust making it possible to unstack as just said the label 1. Note that according to a preferred variant of execution, the system 8 can be easily produced by a simple plate 81 whose transverse movement is for example provided by an electromagnet 82, ensuring the reciprocating movement shown in FIGS. 3: in FIG. 3a showing the approach of the coated face 31 of the support 3 facing the back of the labels stacked in the magazine 2, the plate 81 is at rest slightly above the support 3, so that the plate 81, the support 3 and the back of the label 1 are in parallel planes without contact. FIG. 3b represents the situation of the glued support 3 pushed back along the arrow T towards the back of the label 1 until it comes into contact with it which will therefore adhere to the support 3 thanks to the tackiness of the glue 7. It will be noted that the downstream edge (in the direction of travel of the support 3) of the plate 81 of the pushing device 8 advantageously coincides with the edge of the label to be extracted from the magazine 2 in order to avoid detachments at the entry of the pressers 11, 12; with reference to FIG. 3c, the pushing device 8 is inverted and the plate 81 returns to its position, linearly along the arrow R allowing the support 3 to return to its normal position stretched between the rollers 9 and 11 as in FIG. 3a; at this instant, the label 1 adheres to the support 3 thanks to the glue 7, and the support 3 continuing to scroll or resuming its route to the next step drives the label thus collected outside the store 2; it will be noted here that it matters little whether or not the plate 81 has the same dimensions as the label 1, insofar as it is only important that this label is removed from its magazine and brought properly onto the support strip 3 as it has been said.

 When the label 1 is extracted thanks to the mechanism which has just been described, the stack of labels in the magazine 2 rises by a height equivalent to the thickness of the label previously extracted thanks to a stack raising system known per se (according to arrow M in FIG. 3c).

 The support assembly 3 and the label 1, extracted unstacked as we have just said in position C of FIG. 2 then driven linearly towards the reel 5, then enters position D of FIG. 2 where the adhesion of the label 1 to the support 3 will be completed by pressing between the two pressure rollers 11 and 12 arranged tangentially as said; the area of the support 3 not covered by the label 1 is obviously coated with residual adhesive 16 which it is necessary to wipe before putting the labels stuck on their silicone support 3 on a reel 3. For this, when the the adhesion of the label to its support 3 is perfected between the two pressure rollers 11,12 a discharge strip 13 provided by the mother reel 14 (FIG. 1) is inserted between the labels 1 and the lower presser 12; the discharge coil 13 is advantageously constituted by a simple strip of paper at least the same width as the silicone support strip 3; when the strip of paper 13 comes into contact with the excess glue 16 around the label 1 on the face 31 of the support 3, the excess glue is transferred to the strip 13 pressed by the two rollers 11 and 12. The strip 13 is then detached from the support 3 at the outlet of the line of tangency of the pressure rollers 11,12 (position E in figure 2) taking with it the excess adhesive 16 all the more easily detached from the support 3 as it is made of silicone material. To carry out this operation continuously, provision will simply be made to tension the discharge band at the outlet of the pressers 11, 12 by providing, for example, for placing the take-up reel 15 of the discharge band 13 clearly below the band 3 in order to create an automatic plucking. Naturally, after use, the discharge strip 13 comprising the excess adhesive 16 is purely and simply discarded.

 According to a last characteristic of the machines according to the invention, the adjustment of the different lengths of labels to be made adhesive is obtained by moving the magazine 2 in the direction opposite to the pressure rollers 11 and 12, while remaining parallel to the plate 81 of so that the front edge of the stack of labels 1 is always plumb with the edge of the plate 81. The advance of the silicone-coated and coated support 7 is adjusted accordingly, all the other elements of the machine remaining fixed.

 It goes without saying that many other arrangements could be made to implement the method of the invention, for example by replacing the electromagnet actuator for pulling the labels against the support 3 coated with glue by a cam system. or equivalent, the support 3 being able to scroll continuously as well as progress by successive leaps following a step slightly greater than the length of the label; similarly, one could perfectly imagine arranging the magazine 2 so that the unstacking zone is below the stack of pre-printed labels, reversing of course all the functions which have been described in the main variant.

Be that as it may, all of these modifications which fall within the normal capacities of those skilled in the art would not depart from the scope of the invention.

Claims (10)

 1 - Method for manufacturing adhesive labels, or similar articles, previously printed in sheets, cut out individually and made self-adhesive by depositing on a silicone or similar support, wound in a coil of width slightly greater than the label and mechanically coated continuously with aqueous glue, characterized in that, the labels not yet adhesive being stacked in the same direction, one on the other, the succession of the following steps is carried out  the support is completely glued beforehand on one of its faces which is then brought without contact to the right of the stack of labels, facing the back of the first label then,  - thanks to a transient transverse action either on the non-glued side of the support in the direction of said label or on the label or better on the stack of labels, in the direction of the glued side of the support and thanks to the stickiness of the glue the other side of said support, the label adheres to it which carries it outside the stack, advantageously over a length slightly greater than that of the label then,  - the glued side of the support and the label which adheres to it are pressed together against a discharge band covering the label and the glued parts of the support which overflow from the label so that the excess glue around each label is transferred to the discharge tape which is then mechanically separated from the support from which it removes the excess adhesive then,  - the glued support scrolling again or continuously, and thanks to a new transient transverse action, we capture a new label, extract it and drag it onto the support which is discharged of its excess glue, according to an advantageously cyclic operation .  2 - Machine implementing the method according to the preceding claim for the manufacture of adhesive labels (1) or the like on a support strip (3) wound in a reel (5), comprising a distributor (4) of silicone or similar supports in rolls, means for coating (6) aqueous glue (7) of the entire face (31) of said support (3) coming opposite the back of the labels (1) which one wishes to make adhesive, a store ( 2) such printed labels, stacked in the same direction on one another and means for re-reeling (5) of said support strip (3) after positioning of the labels (1) on said coated face (31) of the support , characterized in that the unstacking of the labels (1) is obtained by means (8) providing a fugitive transverse support (T) on the uncoated face (32) of the support (3) kept stretched slightly above the unstacking zone of the store (2) where the face to be coated is constantly presented label (1) by means of conventional stack mounting means (M), and in the direction thereof so as to extract it by simple elastic contact and bring it by a longitudinal displacement of the support (3) parallel to the surface of the unstacking zone over a distance slightly greater than its length to allow a new transverse pulse (T) to be engaged, extract and bring a new label (1) according to an advantageously continuous operation.  3 - Machine according to claim 2 characterized in that the means (8) of fugitive transverse support on the face (32) not coated with the support (3) consist of a plate (81) advantageously of the size of the label (1) positioned in line with the unstacking area of the magazine (2), means so that said plate (81) is held in the so-called rest position (R) slightly peeled off above the uncoated face (32) of the support (3) and so that it is subjected in the so-called working position (T) to a reciprocating linear movement parallel to itself and of direction perpendicular to the support (3) causing it to push said support briefly until contact with the back of the label (1) awaiting unstacking and rapid return to the rest position (R).  4 - Machine according to claim 3 characterized in that the alternating linear movement of the plate parallel to itself, is given by a cam system, with electromagnets or the like, actuated to successively pull the labels on the support (3 ) scrolling continuously.  5 - Machine implementing the method according to claim 1 for the manufacture of adhesive labels (1) or the like on a support strip (3) wound in a reel (5), comprising a distributor (4) of silicone or similar supports in rolls, means for coating (6) aqueous glue (7) of the entire face (31) of said support (3) coming opposite the back of the labels (1) which one wishes to make adhesive, a store ( 2) such printed labels, stacked in the same direction on one another and means for re-reeling (5) of said support strip (3) after positioning of the labels (1) on said coated face (31) of the support , characterized in that the unstacking of the labels (1) is obtained by a transverse and fleeting movement of the magazine (2) generated by a conventional cam or eccentric mechanism for example, bringing the back of the label, which constantly presents itself in exit from the unstacking zone using conventional means stack rise plates (M), in contact with the glued face (31) of the support (3) facing it, held by its other face (32) against pressure on a fixed plate (81), advantageously the size of the 'label (1) and preferably positioned so that its front edge coincides with the downstream edge of the label, which is thus extracted from the magazine to be brought by a longitudinal movement of the support (3) parallel to the surface of the area unstacking over a distance slightly greater than its length to allow a new transverse action (T) of the magazine (2) to be initiated, extract and bring a new label (1) according to advantageously continuous operation.  6 - Machine according to any one of claims 3,4 or 5 characterized in that after unstacking, the support (3) which drives the label (1) having an excess of glue around it, is wiped by a discharge band (13).  7 - Machine according to claim 6 characterized in that the discharge strip (13) is a quality paper strip such that the aqueous adhesive adheres more easily than on the support strip (3) silicone or the like.  8 - Machine according to any one of claims 6 or 7 characterized in that the discharge band (13) is driven with the support (3) loaded with labels (1) between two pressure rollers (11,12) coming -outre the drive and the tension of the support which it is thus advantageous to carry out, simultaneously perfecting the adhesion of the labels to the support (3) before the winding of the latter on the storage reel (5), and counter tighten the discharge strip (13) on the face (31) of the support comprising the excess glue (16) which are thus transferred to said strip (13) which is then removed from the support and discarded.  9 - Machine according to claim 8 characterized in that the removal of the discharge band (13) is effected by a reel (15) which comes to tension said band (13) as soon as it exits the pressure rollers (11,12) according to a direction different from that of the support (3) so that said strip (13) moves away from the support (3), causing the excess glue (16).  10 - Machine according to any one of claims 2 to 9 characterized in that the coating means (6) of aqueous adhesive (7) of one (31) of the faces of the support strip (3) consist of lip nozzles or spray guns dispensing either cold glues or Hot-Melt type glues.