FR2789971A1 - Bottle labelling procedure using labels attached to both sides of backing strip passes strip through two labelling stations in sequence - Google Patents

Abstract

The procedure consists of passing a backing strip (5) with self-adhesive labels (6, 7) stuck to both sides from a feed station (1) through a first labelling station (2) where labels on one side of the strip are stuck to bottles (8). The backing strip is then taken through a second labelling station where the labels on the other side are attached to a further supply of bottles.

Description

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  The present invention relates to a continuous labeling process for objects, in particular bottles or other packaging, as used in particular in fields as varied as cosmetics, pharmacy, household, or food industry. . Generally, in the field of labeling, the labels are arranged on one face of a support, made of plastic or paper, wound around a core, and which is used to continuously feed a feeding station at the level at which the labels are transferred to the objects to be labeled. At the exit of the labeling station, the support is wound around an axis, and discarded or recycled. Typically, one of the faces of the support is silicone, so as to allow the

  easy peeling of the labels when they pass through the labeling station.

  Such a support has a thickness which, generally, is of the order of 50 μm to 60 μm. The labels are generally made of polyethylene, in which case they can have a thickness of between 80 μm and 100 μm. They can also be made of polypropylene, in which case they can have a thickness of between 50 and 60 μm. Temporary fixing of the label on the support is carried out

  by means of an adhesive layer, the thickness of which may be of the order of 20 μm.

  A “sandwich” is produced, the total thickness of which is around 160 μm.

  Such methods have a number of drawbacks. A first drawback is linked to the environment due to the difficult nature

  recyclable of the support, once it has cleared the labels it supports.

  In addition, the relatively small number of labels that can be wound on a support, requires frequent roll changes, which are costly in machine time, labor, and waste resulting from the end of unused reels, in particular due to the imperatives of the changes

automatic reels.

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  Finally, materials such as Polyethylenes or Polypropylenes, for the production of labels, require treatment, of the "TOP COATING" type or

  corona effect, so that they can be printed optimally and durably.

  It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention to carry out a process for continuously feeding a labeling station, making it possible to solve all or part of the problems discussed above with reference to conventional methods. It is in particular an object of the invention to carry out such a method which makes it possible to substantially reduce the frequency of changes in

  rollers in the feeding stations of the labeling devices.

  It is another object of the invention to make possible the use of materials

  offering better compatibility with the environment.

  It is yet another object of the invention to carry out a method of feeding a labeling device in which the labels are made of a material identical to the material forming the support on which they are wound. It is yet another object of the invention to authorize, for the production of the labels, the use of materials offering better characteristics.

printability.

  Still other objects will appear in the detailed description which follows.

  Thus, according to the invention, these objects are achieved by carrying out a process for continuously feeding a labeling chain for objects, in particular for bottles, comprising the following steps:

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  a) in a first feeding station, have a support in the form of a strip, and on both sides of which are arranged labels; b) driving the support so as to pass it through a first labeling station supplied with said objects during a first pass, the labeling of the objects being carried out using the labels affixed to the first face of the support; and c) driving the support so as, during a second pass, to pass it through a second labeling station, separate or not from the first, the labeling of the objects during this second passage being carried out using the labels

  affixed to the second side of the support.

  Thus, the number of labels wound on the support is appreciably increased, thereby limiting the volume of material likely to be harmful to the environment. Putting more labels on the same media allows the use of materials, which can be more expensive, but offer much better

  characteristics, especially in relation to the environment.

  In addition, the thicknesses of the support can be reduced considerably, which, for a roll of given diameter, further increases, the number of labels being able to be deposited on the support. With a total thickness of the support (including the labels) which can be thus divided by two or by three, compared to the conventional supports, one has on the support a number of labels which can be up to five times higher than the number

  media labels used in conventional processes.

  Preferably, in the first feeding station, the support is wound around an axis, so as to form a roll. At the exit of the first labeling station, the support can be wound around an axis so as to be put again in the form of a roll, which will then be positioned in a second

  feeding station, intended to supply the second labeling station.

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  Alternatively, it is possible to provide that, at the exit from the first labeling station, the support is driven directly to the second labeling station. During the second pass, the label-carrying roller can be repositioned on the same feed station with the same labeling device as that used during the first pass. Alternatively, in an industrial structure with several labeling machines, during the second pass, the roller formed at the outlet of the first labeling station can be positioned on a

  another feeding station to feed another labeling station.

  The labels on the first side of the support can be identical

  labels placed on the second side of the support.

  In this case, the second labeling station is preferably supplied with objects other than those having been labeled during the first pass, each of the

  objects then being covered with a single label.

  Alternatively, the labels arranged on the first face of the support are different from the labels arranged on the second face of the support, the second labeling station being supplied by the objects having been labeled during the first pass, so that each of said objects is labeled by means of a label on each side of the support. Thus, in the case of a bottle with two main faces, there is a first label on the "front" of the bottle,

  and a second label on the "back" of said bottle.

  Advantageously, the labels are made of Polyethylene Terephthalate. Such labels can have a thickness of between 10 to 30 μm, and preferably between 10 and 15 μm. By thus reducing the thickness of the label compared to conventional labels, its transparency is substantially increased. In addition, the use of polyethylene terephthalate to carry out the

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  labels eliminates the need for corona or "top" treatments

  coating "to improve printability and ink hold.

  The support may be made of a material, in particular paper or thermoplastic, and the two faces of which are coated with a layer of silicone. Preferably, the labels are made of a material identical to the material

forming the support.

  More preferably, the support is made of polyethylene terephthalate. Polyethylene terephthalate compensates for the loss of rigidity linked to the reduced thickness of the support compared to the thickness of conventional supports. The support can have a thickness of between 10 and 30 μm, and preferably between 20 and 25 μm. Thus, with an adhesive thickness of between 10 μm and 20 μm, a support can be produced, the total thickness of which, including the thickness of the two "layers" of labels "can vary between 50

  pm and 100 pm, and preferably between 55 pm to 75 pm.

  According to another aspect, the invention also relates to a label support intended for the continuous supply of a labeling station, said support being in the form of a strip, and comprising a first face and a second face, opposite the first, characterized in that it includes labels on each of said

first and second faces.

  Preferably, the support is made of a material identical to the material forming said labels. Advantageously, said material is a polyethylene terephthalate. The invention consists, apart from the arrangements set out above, of a certain number of other arrangements which will be explained below, with regard to

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  non-limiting exemplary embodiments, described with reference to the appended figures, among which: FIG. 1 represents the first passage of the label support in the labeling station; and Figure 2 shows the second pass of the label holder in the

labeling station.

  The labeling device shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1 comprises three main stations: a station 1 for supplying labels; a labeling station 2, supplied with both labels and objects to be labeled, and; a recovery station 3, or rewinding, of the support on which have been

removed the labels.

  The label supply station comprises a shaft 9 on which a roller 4 of a PET support 5 of which the two faces are rotatably mounted

  covered with labels 6, 7, spaced regularly along the support 5.

  According to this embodiment, the labels 6 are identical to the labels 7.

  The support 5 is directed to the labeling station 2, following a path imposed by a number of guide rollers 10, 16. The supply station is also supplied with bottles 8, on which the labels must be affixed . A guide roller 11 ensures the precise positioning of the label support with respect to the bottles 8, so that the label is positioned on the bottle 8, exactly in the right place. The support 5 is oriented so that, during this first pass, the labels 7 are transferred to the bottles 8. The support 5 then leaves the supply station with a face free of labels and a face carrying the labels 6. After a path via the guide rollers 12 and 13, the support 5 is then rewound on a shaft 14, so as to be again put into the form of a roll 15, the labels 6 of the

  last winding formed, being arranged outside the roll.

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  Such an assembly is obviously controlled by a number of motors, mechanisms and automatic synchronization, guidance and regulation systems, which are perfectly known, and therefore do not require

  additional detailed description. Such mechanisms are not the subject of the

  present invention. In FIG. 2, the roller 15, formed at the end of the first passage in the labeling station 2, is positioned on the unwinding shaft 9 of the feeding station 1 of the machine of FIG. 1. The support 5 is driven to the supply station 2, which is again supplied by bottles 8 '. The support is positioned so that the labels 6 come into contact with the bottles 8 ', and are transferred to said bottles. The support 5, cleared of all its labels is then rewound at the recovery station 3. The roll formed 17

  can then be discarded or recycled.

  As a specific example, the support 5 is formed by a layer of polyethylene terephthalate of approximately 25 μm. The labels 6, 7 are also made of polyethylene terephthalate, and have a thickness of approximately 12 μm. Each label has on its face opposite the support, an adhesive layer of a thickness

  about 15 pm. The support thus formed has a total thickness of approximately 80 μm.

  In the foregoing detailed description, reference has been made to modes of

  preferred embodiments of the invention. Obviously there may be variations

  made without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed below.

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Claims (16)

  1. - Process for continuously feeding a labeling chain for objects, in particular for bottles (8, 8 ′), comprising the following steps: a) in a first feeding station (1), place a support (5), in the form of a strip, and on both sides of which are arranged labels (6, 7); b) driving the support (5) so as to pass it through a first labeling station (2) supplied with said objects (8) during a first pass, the labeling of the objects (8) being carried out by using the labels (7) affixed to the first face of the support (5); and c) driving the support (5) so as, during a second passage, to make it pass through a second labeling station (2), distinct or not from the first, the labeling of the objects (8 ′) during this second passage being carried out using the labels   (6) affixed to the second face of the support (5).   2. - Method according to claim 1 characterized in that, at the outlet of the first labeling station (2), the support (5) is wound around an axis (14) so as to form a roll (15) intended to be positioned in a second supply station (1), separate or not from the first, for supplying the second station labeling (2).   3. - feeding method according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the labels (7) disposed on the first face of the support are identical to   labels (6) arranged on the second face of the support.   4. - Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that   that the second labeling station (2) is supplied with objects (8 ') other than   those (8) having been labeled during the first pass. 9 2789971   5. - feeding method according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the labels (7) arranged on the first face of the support (5) are different from the labels (6) arranged on the second face of the support (5), the second labeling station (2) being supplied by the objects (8 ') having been labeled during the first pass, so that each of said objects is labeled by means   a label (6, 7) on each of the faces of the support.   6. - Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that   that the labels (6, 7) are made of Polyethylene Terephthalate.   7. - Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that   that the labels (6, 7) are between 10 and 30 I. m thick, and preferably between 10 and 15 pm.   8. - Method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 characterized in that   that the support (5) is made of a material, in particular paper or   thermoplastic, and both sides of which are coated with a layer of silicone.   9. - Method according to any one of claims 1 to 8 characterized in that   that the labels (6, 7) are made of a material identical to the material forming the support (5).   10. - Method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 characterized in that   that the support (5) is made of polyethylene terephthalate.   11. - Method according to any one of claims 1 to 10 characterized in that   that the support (5) has a thickness of between 10 and 30 μm, and preferably, between 20 and 25 pm.   12. - Support (5) for labels intended for the continuous supply of a labeling station (2), said support being in the form of a strip comprising a first face and a second face, opposite of the first, characterized in 2789971   that it includes labels (6, 7) on each of said first and second faces. 13. - Support (5) according to claim 12 characterized in that the labels (7) of the first face of the support are identical to the labels (6) of the second face. 14. - Support (5) according to claim 12 characterized in that the labels (7)   of the first face are different from the labels (6) of the second face.   15. - Support according to any one of claims 12 to 14 characterized in that   that the support (5) is made of a material identical to the material forming said labels (6, 7).   16. - Support (5) according to claim 15 characterized in that said material is a polyethylene terephthalate.