FR2843911A1 - Plastic film embossing procedure and machine, e.g. for making Braille labels, has film unrolling, embossing and cutting stages - Google Patents

Abstract

The procedure, designed to make labels with embossed information, e.g. in the form of Braille characters, from a roll (3) of plastic film with a paper backing layer, consists of a stage in which the film is unrolled, an embossing stage producing relief dots, and a cutting stage to separate labels from the film layer. In the embossing stage the film is passed between two cylinders, one of which has spikes to create the embossed points, the spikes being on a support attached to the cylinder by magnetism. The other cylinder has a coating of a material that matches the relief points.

Description

Method and device for manufacturing a film presenting information

  The present invention relates to the field of printing, and more particularly to the field of labels intended to be affixed to any type of support, and in particular to the packaging of products or

directly on the products.

  The present invention relates to a method and a device for manufacturing a film presenting information in relief of the braille type intended to produce

  labels, said film being arranged on a reel.

  Braille is a writing system using combinations of raised dots, thus allowing blind or partially sighted people to read with

fingers.

  The relief writing can be obtained using 20 different techniques. Are used in particular the technique of embossing consisting of mechanically deforming the element to be highlighted, and the screen printing technique of depositing by heating drops (microbeads) of varnish or ink on the element to be put in relief, thus forming a relief on the surface of said element by the addition of said microbeads. The embossing technique consists more precisely in carrying out a step-by-step pressing of the element 30 to be highlighted. Conventionally used on thick paper, and more particularly cardboard, this technique is used in particular in the pharmaceutical industry

  for embossing drug packaging.

  Such a technique is however not suitable for printing houses using printing presses

rotary type.

  With regard to the screen printing technique, labels already presenting braille type information are already known from the prior art.

  In particular, in European patent application EP0898262, a system is proposed making it possible to apply to packaging, and in particular to perishable products, lettering intended for blind people, said lettering being associated with the corresponding conventional alphanumeric lettering. The system relates more particularly to self-adhesive labels bearing information relating to the expiration dates of the products on which are affixed.

said labels.

  There is also proposed, in European patent application EP1162588, a system making it possible to provide visually impaired persons with information relating to a pharmaceutical product. The system consists of affixing a label to the packaging of the medicaments, said label presenting a material with a tactile image with information in relief transcribing the duration and

  the dosage of the corresponding drugs.

  However, the use of the screen printing technique has the drawback of requiring, after the deposition of varnish or ink microbeads, a drying step before winding the paper thus put into reels.

in relief.

  In addition, the microbeads deposited on the paper have a certain brittleness in the face of

  repeated contact with fingers.

  The present invention intends to remedy the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a new method of manufacturing a film presenting information in Braille lettering, said film being intended to produce labels making it possible to inform blind or partially sighted people about the products purchased. To do this, the present invention is of the type described above and it is remarkable, in its broadest sense, in that said method comprises successively at least: - a step of unwinding said film, - a step of embossing of said film so as to produce raised points on the thickness of said film

forming Braille characters.

  Preferably, said method further comprises a step of cutting said embossed film in order to

to form at least one label.

  Advantageously, the embossing step consists at least of passing said film between two cylinders (Cl, 20 C2), said cylinder Cl comprising pins intended to form the relief on said film, said pins being

  arranged to form Braille characters.

  Advantageously, a support is provisionally fixed on said cylinder Ci, said support 25 carrying said pins intended to form the relief on

said film.

  Advantageously, the fixing of said support on

  said cylinder Ci is produced by magnetization, said cylinder C1 being metallic and said support being magnetic, or vice versa.

  Advantageously, said cylinder C2 is covered with a coating having a shape complementary to the relief formed by said pins of said

cylinder Cl.

  Advantageously, said coating consists of an outer layer of rigid material, said outer layer having holes arranged so as to correspond with said pins of said cylinder Ci, and an inner layer of elastic material, said inner layer making it possible to to accompany the deformation of said film.

  Advantageously, said cylinder Ci is full.

  In a variant of the invention, the method 10 comprises, prior to the embossing step, a step

printing said film.

  In another variant of the invention, the

  the method further comprises a step of surface treatment of said unwound film in order to improve the adhesion of the ink during the printing of said film.

  Advantageously, said film is made of polyester.

  In a first embodiment of

  the invention, said film placed on a reel has on one side a permanent adhesive layer covered with a peelable protective layer.

  In another embodiment of the invention, the method further comprises, prior to the cutting step, a step of permanently gluing said film in order to form an adhesive layer, said adhesive layer being covered with a layer protective peelable. The labels obtained from said film

  supported by an adhesive layer covered with a protective layer are advantageously subjected to a step 30 of coil winding.

  The present invention also relates to a device for implementing the method of manufacturing a film described above, said device successively comprising a

  unfolding of said film and at least one embossing station.

  Preferably, said device comprises in

  in addition to a station for cutting said film.

  Advantageously, said embossing station comprises at least two cylinders (C1, C2), said cylinder C1 supporting pins arranged so as to form

Braille characters.

  Advantageously, a support is fixed on said cylinder C1, said support carrying said pins.

  Advantageously, said support is fixed to said cylinder C1 by magnetization, said cylinder Ci being metallic and said support being magnetic, or vice versa. Advantageously, said cylinder C2 is

  covered with a coating consisting of an outer layer of rigid material, said outer layer having holes arranged so as to correspond with said pins of said cylinder C1, and an inner layer of elastic material.

  Advantageously, said embossing station

includes an engine cylinder.

  Advantageously, said embossing station is arranged on a rotary press. The present invention also relates to a film presenting information in relief of the braille type produced by the implementation of the method described above, said film comprising on its thickness points in relief forming characters in Braille. The present invention also relates to a label presenting information in relief of the braille type produced using the manufacturing method previously described, said label comprising on its thickness points in relief forming characters in Braille.

  Preferably, said label comprises a front layer formed from said embossed and cut film and an adhesive layer.

  Advantageously, said front layer is made of polyester.

  Advantageously, said front layer is transparent.

  Advantageously, said front layer is printed. Advantageously, said adhesive layer is permanent. Advantageously, said adhesive layer is

  covered by a peelable protective layer.

  The invention will be better understood using the

  description, given below for purely explanatory purposes, of one embodiment of the invention, with reference to

  appended figures: - Figure 1 illustrates a sectional view of a label manufacturing device presenting information in relief of the braille type according to the invention; FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the embossing station of the device of FIG. 1; - Figure 3 illustrates a front view of the metal tool used to form the embossing of the labels; and - Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of a pin used for embossing the labels, said pin being disposed on the tooling

Figure 3.

  FIG. 1 illustrates a device (1) for manufacturing labels intended to be affixed to a

product or product packaging.

  Said labels have the particularity of providing blind or partially sighted persons with information in relief relating to the products on which the labels will have to be affixed. Said labels are obtained from a laminated strip of paper (2), having a thickness of approximately 0.130 millimeter and of considerable length, arranged in a reel (3), said strip of paper (2) being made up of: front film of synthetic material, preferably polyester, about 0.050 millimeter thick; - a permanent adhesive layer covering said front film; and - a peelable protective layer disposed on said adhesive layer, said protective layer

  having a thickness of approximately 0.060 millimeter.

  Preferably, said front film is

  transparent, in particular so as not to alter the aesthetic appearance of the packaging on which said label is affixed.

  It is of course obvious that the invention is not however limited to a front film of synthetic material, moreover transparent. Any material

  allowing embossing can be used (paper, ...).

  The adhesive layer contains a rubber component. Thus, a constant adhesion is maintained, whatever the uses (extreme temperatures, high humidity) and whatever the type of surface of the products or the packaging of products on which said labels will be affixed.

  (rigid or flexible surface, smooth or granulated surface, ...).

  Other types of adhesives may of course be used, such as, for example, acrylic-based adhesives. Said protective layer is preferably a

  supercalendered glassine paper or equivalent.

  Thus, in the context of affixing said label to the product, the packaging of the corresponding product, said protective layer is easily separated from said

adhesive layer.

  The device (1) according to the invention, illustrated in FIG. 1, successively comprises: - an unwinding station (4) intended to unwind said strip of paper (2) arranged in a reel (3), - four stations printing (5) intended for printing said strip of paper (2), - an embossing station (6) of said strip of paper (2), which is described later, a cutting station (7), intended for cutting the front film constituting said strip of paper (2), so as to form said labels embossed on said protective layer, - a station (8) responsible for winding the remainder of the cut, and - two winding stations (9) of said protective layer on which said labels rest. If FIG. 1 shows a device (1) for manufacturing labels according to the invention having four printing stations (5), it is obviously obvious that the number of printing stations (5) is not limited to four. As required, the device (1) 35 may include a lower or higher number of printing stations (5). In addition, it is quite possible that only the information in relief is necessary. The device (1) for manufacturing labels may therefore, in this configuration of the invention, not include a printing station (5). It is the same with regard to the reel winding station (9) of labels resting on

said protective layer.

  FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the embossing station (6) constituting the production line for said labels, said embossing station (6) being placed on a rotary machine following the stations

printing (5).

  After having successively undergone a step of unwinding at the unwinding station (4), a printing step comprising four printing levels disposed respectively on four printing stations (5), said strip of paper (2) undergoes a step

  embossing at the embossing station (6).

  Said embossing step consists in printing on said strip of paper (2) a relief so as to form characters, words or shapes recognizable by

  blind or partially sighted people.

  To do this, said embossing station (6) per 25 point consists of three cylinders arranged horizontally with respect to each other: a driving cylinder and two cylinders (Cl, C2) in contact, having parallel axes one with respect to each other, between which passes said printed strip of paper (2). A support (10) is provisionally fixed on said cylinder C1, said support (10) carrying pins (11) intended to form a relief on said strip of paper (2) during its passage between said cylinders

(Cl, C2).

  Advantageously, said cylinder Ci is magnetic and said support (10) metallic (or vice versa), so as to allow the fixing of said support (10) on said cylinder Ci by simple magnetization. 5 Said pins (11) are arranged on said metal support (10) so as to form words and / or shapes which can be understood by blind people

or visually impaired.

  By way of example, the metal support (10), 10 represented in FIG. 3, has pins (11) arranged so as to transcribe (in Braille) the term

" dried sausage ".

  It is understood that these same terms may be, depending on the size of said label to be produced, repeated as many times as necessary on said

metal support (10).

  Likewise, it is also understood that

  the use for the designation of a product may be extended to the description of the composition of said product, to information relating to the consumption of said product

  product (expiry date, packaging date, place of provenance, etc.), etc. Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view

  a pin (11) of said metal support (10).

  The cylinder C2 (FIG. 3), also called "counterpart", is provided with a coating (12) comprising two layers (not shown): - an outer layer made of a metallic material having holes corresponding to the 30 locations o embossing must be carried out, and an internal layer disposed in contact with the body of said cylinder C2, said internal layer being made of a material having elasticity and resilience characteristics so that said internal layer returns to its initial shape after the embossing operation of said paper strip (2). In a variant of the invention, said cylinder C2 is provided with a coating (12) consisting of a single layer meeting the same requirements as said coating (12) consisting of said layers described above. In this embodiment of the invention, said coating (12), comprising a layer or two, 10 has a shape complementary to the relief formed by said pins (11) of said metal support (10). It is however obvious that the invention is not limited to this configuration, said cylinder C2 possibly having a coating consisting of a sufficient plurality of holes 15 so as to allow the transcription of any word

formed by said pins (11).

  Once the embossing has been carried out, said strip of paper (2) is drawn towards the cutting station to be michair in order to proceed with the cutting operation of said front film constituting said strip of paper (2), the cutting operation consisting of a transverse and transverse cut or a single transverse cut. At the end of this operation, said labels presenting relief information are formed, said labels comprising a front layer constituted by said embossed and cut film, as well as an adhesive layer, said adhesive layer resting on said peelable protective layer. The embodiment described above presents a method and a device (1) for manufacturing labels in Braille from a strip of paper (2) arranged in a reel (3), said strip of paper (2) being 35 initially consisting of a front film, an adhesive layer and a peelable protective layer. It is of course obvious that said labels can be produced from the only front film placed on a reel (3), the method according to the invention then comprising an additional operation, prior to the cutting operation of said front film, consisting of permanent gluing of said front film in order to form an adhesive layer, said adhesive layer being covered by the

peelable protective layer.

  The invention is described in the foregoing by way of example. It is understood that the person skilled in the art is able to produce different variants of the invention

  without going beyond the scope of the patent.

  The invention described applies in particular to the field of food. It can also apply to any other field requiring product distinction or requiring information from the

consumer (drugs, ...).

Claims (30)

  1. A method of manufacturing a film having information in relief of the braille type and intended for producing labels, said film being arranged in a reel (3), characterized in that said method successively comprises at least: - a step of unwinding of said film, a step of embossing said film so as to produce relief points on the thickness of said film forming Braille characters.   2. A method of manufacturing a film according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a step of cutting said embossed film, in order to form at minus a label.   3. A method of manufacturing a film according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the embossing step consists at least of passing said film between two cylinders (Cl, C2), said cylinder Ci supporting pins (11) intended to form the relief on said film, said pins (11) being arranged so as to form characters in Braille. 25 4. Method of manufacturing a film according to the   claim 3, characterized in that a support (10) is provisionally fixed on said cylinder C1, said support (10) carrying said pins (11) intended to form the relief on said film.   5. A method of manufacturing a film according to claim 4, characterized in that the fixing of said support (10) on said cylinder C1 is carried out by magnetization, said cylinder C1 being metallic and said   support (10) being magnetic, or vice versa.   6. A method of manufacturing a film according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that said cylinder C2 is covered with a coating (12) having a shape complementary to the relief formed   by said pins (11) of said cylinder Cl.   7. A method of manufacturing a film according to claim 6, characterized in that said coating (12) consists of an outer layer of rigid material, said outer layer having holes arranged so as to correspond with said pins 15 ( 11) of said cylinder C1, and of an internal layer of elastic material.   8. Method of manufacturing a film according to   any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that said cylinder Ci is a full cylinder   9. Method of manufacturing a film according to   any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said method further comprises, prior to the embossing step, a step of printing said film.   10. Method of manufacturing a film according to   any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said method further comprises a step of surface treatment of said unwound film.   11. Method of manufacturing a film according to   any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in   that said film is polyester. 35 12. Method of manufacturing a film according to   any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that said film comprises on one side a permanent adhesive layer covered with a protective layer   peelable. 13. Method of manufacturing a film according to   any one of claims 2 to 11, characterized in that said method further comprises, prior to the cutting step, a step of permanent gluing   said film to form an adhesive layer, said adhesive layer being covered with a peelable protective layer. 14. A method of manufacturing a film according to claim 12 or claim 13, characterized in that said method comprises a step of winding reel of said labels obtained following the cutting operation of said film. 20 15. Device for implementing the   method of manufacturing a film presenting information in relief of the braille type according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that said device (1) successively comprises a station   unwinding (4) of said film and at least one station embossing (6) of said film.   16. Device according to claim 15, 30 characterized in that it further comprises a station for cutting (8) of said film.   17. Device according to claim 15 or claim 16, characterized in that said embossing station (6) comprises at least two cylinders (Cl, C2), said cylinder Cl supporting pins (11) arranged   so as to form characters in Braille.   18. Device according to claim 17, 5 characterized in that a support (10) is fixed on said cylinder Ci, said support (10) carrying said pins (11). 19. Device according to claim 18, 10 characterized in that said support (10) is fixed to said cylinder C1 by magnetization, said cylinder C1 being metallic and said support being magnetic, or vice versa. 20. Device according to any one of   Claims 17 to 19, characterized in that said cylinder C2 is covered with a coating (12) consisting of an outer layer of rigid material, said outer layer having holes arranged so as to correspond with said pins (11) of said cylinder C1,   and an inner layer of elastic material.   21. Device according to any one of   Claims 15 to 20, characterized in that said embossing station (6) comprises a driving cylinder (13).   22. Device according to any one of   claims 15 to 21, characterized in that said station   embossing (6) is arranged on a rotary press. 30 23. Film presenting information in   relief of the braille type produced by the implementation of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that over its thickness there are 35 raised dots forming characters in braille.   24. Label presenting information in   relief of the braille type produced from the manufacturing process according to any one of the preceding claims 2 to 14, characterized in that it has, on its thickness, raised dots forming characters in Braille.   25. Label according to claim 24, 10 characterized in that said label comprises a front layer formed from said embossed and cut film and an adhesive layer.   26. Label according to claim 25, 15 characterized in that said front layer is made of polyester. 27. The label of claim 25 or the   claim 26, characterized in that said front layer is transparent.   28. Label according to any one of   claims 25 to 27, characterized in that said   embossed front layer is printed. 25 29. Label according to any one of   previous claims 25 to 28, characterized in that   said adhesive layer is permanent.   30. Label according to any one of   Claims 25 to 29, characterized in that said adhesive layer is covered by a protective layer peelable.