GB2081217A

GB2081217A - Elongate material wound packages

Info

Publication number: GB2081217A
Application number: GB8022868A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Harland Machine Systems Ltd
Current assignee: Harland Machine Systems Ltd
Priority date: 1980-07-12
Filing date: 1980-07-12
Publication date: 1982-02-17

Abstract

A roll of tape or other elongate material has an inner end portion (4) which is folded back on itself so that its free end (9) becomes accessible before the roll is completely unwound. The free end (9) of the folded-back end portion can be spliced to the leading free end (11) of a fresh roll whilst tape is still being fed from the first roll. Such splicing may be performed automatically using apparatus having rotary supports (13, 14) for the rolls and guides such as air jets and suction heads (16, 21) for the tape ends. The tape may comprise peel-off labels on a web of easy-release backing material and the roll may be used in an automatic labelling machine. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Elongate material packages This invention relates to packages of elongate material and is particularly although not exclusively concerned with packages of web material especially strips of labels as used in automatic labelling machines.

One known kind of automatic product labelling machine utilises pressure-sensitive adhesive backed labels carried on a backing tape. In use, the tape is advanced through a labelling station where labels are peeled successively from the tape and are applied to products. The labelcarrying tape may be supplied in the form of a roll and this facilitates both manufacture and use thereof. However, as the roll becomes unwound, it is difficult to splice the leading free tape end of a fresh roll onto the trailing free tape end of the first said roll without interrupting machine operation, in so far as such trailing end does not become readily accessible until the first roll is virtually completely unwound.It is also known to use a label-carrying tape which is supplied in the form of a multiple folded (e.g. fan folded) package and, with this arrangement, in so far as the trailing free tape end is accessible at all times, splicing can be readily effected without interrupting machine operation.

However, problems can arise with such multiple folded packages with regard to their manufacture and use.

An object of the present invention is to provide a package of elongate material which can be manufactured and used (for elongate material feed purposes) in a simple and convenient manner and with which splicing of a trailing free end thereof as the package becomes depleted in use to the leading end of a fresh package can be effected easily and conveniently and without undue interruption in feed of the elongate material.

According to one aspect of the present invention therefore there is provided a package of elongate material in the form of a roll having inner and outer material end portions thereto, characterised in that the inner end portion is folded back on itself such that the free end thereof becomes accessible on unrolling of the material and before the roll is completely unwound. Such package can be manufactured and elongate material can be fed therefrom in a particularly simple and convenient manner, and also, having regard to the accessibility of the said free end of the inner portion of the elongate material, splicing of such free end to a free end of a further package of elongate material can be readily effected during such feed of the elongate material and without requiring undue interruption thereof.

Thus, and in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of feeding elongate material from successive packages thereof, wherein a trailing free end of a first said package is spliced to a leading free end of a further said package as the first said package becomes depleted, characterised in that the first said package is as described above in the first aspect of the invention and said splicing is effected with the said free end of the inner end portion thereof as such free end becomes accessible and before the first said package is completely unwound. Preferably, although not necessarily, the further said package is also a package according to the first aspect of the invention.

It is visualised that the invention will find particular application in the context of automatic product labelling whereby the package of the first aspect of the invention will comprise a roll of labels, and the method of the second aspect of the invention will be performed in an automatic labelling machine. Reference is made to our copending British Patent Application No. 2035255 for a description of a suitable labelling machine using pressure-sensitive adhesive backed labels applied to a backing tape.It is however to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to this field of application and the package and method of the invention may be utilised in the context of other kinds of labels (such as self-supporting gummed labeis) or any other kind of elongate materials of any suitable form including strips, sheets, wires, cords, yarns made from any suitable material including paper, plastics, fabric, textile material and used for any suitable purpose with any suitable kind of machine or equipment.

With the method of the invention the material ends may be spliced as aforesaid using any suitable technique depending on the nature of the material. Thus, for example, in the case where the material comprises a tape, such as an easy release backing tape carrying pressure-sensitive adhesive backed labels, splicing may be effected by joining the free ends, preferably in edge-to-edge abutment, with a small piece of adhesive tape.

With regard to the package of the invention, the roll of elongate material is preferably wrapped around a core which may be a cardboard tube or any other suitable structure.

The length of the folded-back inner end portion of the package of the invention may be selected as appropriate in accordance with requirements. It is however desirable that such length should be greater than the inner circumference of the roll, preferably being at least twice and most preferably several times such circumference, in order to ensure that there is adequate time for splicing to be effected between first appearance of the free end of the inner end portion and complete unrolling of the package, having regard to the rate at which the material is fed from the roll.

The splice may be effected by hand although preferably automatic splicing equipment is used.

Thus, and in accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for use in performing the aforesaid method of the second aspect of the present invention, said apparatus comprising a first rotary support for the first said package adapted to permit unrolling of elongate material therefrom for feed purposes, a second support for a further package adapted to permit feed of elongate material therefrom, and automatic splicing means operable to effect splicing of the free end of the inner portion of the first said package as this becomes accessible to the leading end of the said further package.

Such automatic splicing means may comprise guides, such as air jets, suction heads and the like, which act to direct the said free end of the inner portion of the first package to a position where it can be held for splicing purposes.

The said second support may also be a rotary support in the case where the further package is of like form to the first said package, and such supports may be bodily interchangeable following splicing to facilitate repeated successive splicing operations using successive packages of like form.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows end portions of two label-carrying tapes spliced together end-to-end; Figs. 2 to 5 are diagrammatic representations both in perspective and in end view of four different packages according to the invention: Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic representation of four stages in the splicing of label-carrying tapes in accordance with one embodiment of the method of the invention; and Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of one form of splicing apparatus for use in performing the method of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows end portions of two label-carrying tapes 1 , 2. Each tape 1, 2 is a thin flexible web formed from paper or other material which is coated or otherwise treated so as to demonstrate easy release properties at least on a label-carrying face thereof. On such face there is a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart pressure-sensitive adhesive backed paper labels 3. The labels may be of a common kind or of two or more different kinds and may be appropriately shaped and printed as desired. The spaces between successive labels may be of the same or different predetermined dimensions as required.

Each label-carrying tape 1, 2 is supplied wrapped in the form of a roll around a central core 8 (Fig. 6) which may be a cardboard tube. As indicated in Figs. 2 to 5, the inner end portion 4 of the tape 1, 2 is folded back on itself within the roll.

The length of the folded-back portion 4 is equal to several times the circumference of the core. As shown in Figs. 2 to 5, the folded-back portion may be inside or outside the adjacent tape portion 5 and the label-carrying face may be inside or outside the fold.

In use, two such reels 6, 7 (comprising the tapes 1, 2 rolled around the cores 8) are mounted on rotary supports 13, 14 in a labelling machine (which may be of the kind described in British Patent Application No. 2035255). One reel 6 (comprising the tape 1) is utilised to feed the labels 3 thereon to a labelling station (not shown) whereat such labels 3 are peeled from the tape 1 (by passing the tape through a sharp bend around a dispensing edge) and are then applied to products to be labelled. As such reel 6 becomes depleted, and shortly before the tape 1 is completely unrolled, the free (trailing) end 9 of thet folded-back portion 4 emerges as shown at the left in Fig. 6. As feed of the tape 1 continues, this > end 9 is directed to a splicing mechanism 10 as also is the free (leading) end 11 of the tape 2 of the other reel 7.Such free ends 9, 11 are spliced together in edge-to-edge abutment (as shown in Fig. 1) by application of a piece of transparent adhesive tape 12 to the ends 9, 11. Such adhesive tape may be of square or rectangular form or, alternatively, may be of any other suitable shape.

After formation of the splice, the tape 1 unroils completely from the reel 6 and feed continues as tape is drawn from the reel 7.

As shown in Fig. 7, the reel supports 13, 14 may be mounted so as to be bodily interchangeable at diametrically opposite positions with regard to a central splicing mechanism 1 5. Such mechanism 1 5 comprises a vacuum head 1 6 which faces two guide rollers 17, 18 and a solenoid-operated pressure plate 19.

The leading end 11 of the fresh reel 7 is fed between the head 16 and one roller 17 up to a displaceable stop 20, and the piece of jointing tape 12 is held on the pressure plate 1 9 (by suction). The trailing end 9 of the spent reel 6 is directed by an air jet 21 towards a web guide 22 and hence between the roller 1 8 and the vacuum head 1 6 up to the stop 20. The pressure plate 1 9 is advanced to apply the jointing tape 12 to the tape ends 9, 11 the stop 20 being displaced backwards to permit this. After splicing, the tapes 1, 2 are separated from the mechanism 15 and the reel supports 13, 14 are bodily interchanged by rotating same around the mechanism 1 5.

Successive reels can be spliced together as described above without interrupting feed of labelcarrying tape.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of example only.

Claims

1. A package of elongate material in the form of a roll having inner and outer material end portions thereto, characterised in that the inner end portion is folded back on itself such that the free end thereof becomes accessible on unrolling of the material and before the roll is completely unwound.

2. A package according to claim 1 , wherein the elongate material comprises a tape.

3. A package according to claim 2, wherein the tape comprises a plurality of labels.

4. A package according to claim 3, wherein said labels are pressure-sensitive adhesive-backed labels removably supported on a web of backing material.

5. A package according to any one of claims 1 to 4, having an inner core member around which the elongate material is wrapped.

6. A package according to claim 5, wherein the said core member is a cardboard tube.

7. A package according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the length of the said inner end portion is greater than the inner circumference of the roll.

8. A package according to claim 7, wherein the said length is at least twice the said circumference.

9. A package according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the said inner end portion is inside the adjacent portion of the elongate material.

10. A package according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the said inner end portion is outside the adjacent portion of the elongate material.

11. A package substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

12. A method of feeding elongate material from successive packages thereof, wherein a trailing free end of a first said package is spliced to a leading free end of a further said package as the first said package becomes depleted, characterised in that the first said package is as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, and said splicing is effected with the said free end of the inner end portion thereof as such free end becomes accessible and before the first said package is completely unwound.

1 3. A method according to claim 12, wherein the said further package is also a package according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

14. A method according to claim 12 or 13, as performed in an automatic labelling machine.

15. A method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein said elongate material comprises a tape and said splicing is effected by joining the free ends with adhesive tape.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the free ends are joined edge-to-edge.

1 7. A method according to any one of claims 12 to 1 6, wherein splicing is effected before complete unrolling of the first said package.

1 8. A method according to claim 12, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 9. Apparatus for use in performing the methods of claim 12, said apparatus comprising a first rotary support for the first said package adapted to permit unrolling of elongate material therefrom for feed purposes, a second support for a further package adapted to permit feed of elongate material therefrom, and automatic splicing means operable to effect splicing of the free end of the inner portion of the first said package as this becomes accessible to the leading end of the said further package.

20. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said automatic splicing means comprises guides which act to direct the said free end of the inner portion of the first package to a position where it can be held for splicing purposes.

21. Apparatus according to claim 19 or 20, wherein said second support is also a rotary support.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein both said supports are bodily interchangeable following splicing.

23. Apparatus according to claim 19, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Fig. 7 of the accompanying drawings.