GB2189768A

GB2189768A - Pressure sensitive labels in block form

Info

Publication number: GB2189768A
Application number: GB08610660A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Michael Lacy
Original assignee: Avery International Corp
Current assignee: Avery Dennison Corp
Priority date: 1986-05-01
Filing date: 1986-05-01
Publication date: 1987-11-04
Anticipated expiration: 2006-05-01
Also published as: EP0244265B1; GB8610660D0; GB2189768B; DE3762405D1; EP0244265A1

Description

GB 2 189 768 A 1 SPECIFICATION be described, byway of example, with

reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Pressure sensitive labels in block form Figure 1 diagrammatically illustrates one stage in the manufacture of blocks of labels according to the This invention is concerned with labels for 70 present invention; and application to products generally but especiallyto Figure2 diagrammatically illustrates the cans and bottles. application of labels according to the present Labels have previously been proposed that have a invention to containers of circular cross-section.

pressure sensitive adhesive layer on one side Figure 1 diagrammatically illustrates the formation thereof, the layer being protected, priorto 75 of blocks of labels 10 from a continuous label stock application of the label to a product, by a backing 12. The continuous stock 12 may be performed by a sheet. Such labels have proved popular despite the series of conventional, in-line operations in which complication and waste inherent in the use of the the label base material isfirstly printed with the label backing sheet. design on itsfrontface, and then presented forthe It is an object of the present invention to provide 80 application thereto of a release coating on its front labels that have a pressure sensitive adhesive layer, face and a pressure sensitive adhesive coating to its that do not require a backing layer and that are in a rearface, the application of the coatings being form enabling them to be simply applied to a associated with respective curving operations if product. necessary. By suitable choice of adhesive and It is also an object of the present invention to 85 release coatingsthe precise method bywhich the provide a method of making such labels. continuous stock 12 is produced may be varied, but The present invention is a block of labels essentiallythe stock 12, when it reaches the last comprising superimposed labels each having a process stage illustrated in Figure 1, comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive coating on the backface base 15 on which the labels are printed and having a thereof and a release coating on thefrontface 90 release coating 16 on itsfrontface and a pressure thereotthe adhesive coating overlying the release sensitive adhesive coating 17 on its rearface.

coating of the adjacent label. As shown in Figure 1 the continuous stock 12 is The present invention is also a method of making a passed to a die cutting station in which a number, in blockof labeisfrom a continuous label stock having this embodimenttwo, of hollow dies 20 are actuated a frontface on which the labels are printed, a release 95 to cooperatewith a cutting base 21 to cutthe printed coating on thefrontface and a pressure sensitive labeisfrom the stock 12, operation of the dies being adhesive coating on the rear face thereof, the registered with the position of the labels bysuitable method comprising using a hollow die to cut labels means, in this embodimenta lightscanning device in succession from the label stock such that each 23 viewing the labels on the incoming stock 12.

label when cut enters the die and pushes previously 100 As each label is cut by a die 20, it enters the die and cut labels further into the die, and removing from the pushesfurther into the die the label previously cut by die the block of superimposed labels, adjacent labels the die so that a stack 22 of labels is built up in the die.

having an adhesive coating contacting a release As the adhesive coating 17 on the rearface of each coating. label adheres slightlyto the release coating 16 on the The present invention is further a method of 105 frontface of the previously cut label, the stack 22 of applying labels to articles of circular cross section labels can be removed from the die as a unitary block comprising locating a block of labels as defined in which greatly facilitates subsequent handling and is the second last preceding paragraph to project advantageous in simplifying the subsequent laterally into a line of articles for engagementwith application of the labelstothe appropriate goods as the peripheral surfaces of the articles,the adhesive 110 it dispenseswith the unrolling, cutting, and surface of the end label adjacentthe line being individual label handling operations associatedwith exposed, and rolling the articles pastthe block of the application of labels from reels. It may be labels so that each article engages the exposed desirable to protectthe exposed adhesive layer at adhesive layer of the end label and peels that label the end of the stack by means of a release liner off the blockto expose the adhesive layer of the next 115 during handling and transport.

label to the next article. Referring nowto Figure 2, there is illustrated one The present invention is additionally apparatusfor method of applying to containers of circular applying labels to articles of circular cross section cross-section, such as cans or bottles, labels from a comprising a guide spaced from one flight of a block 22 of labels. The containers 30, seen in Figure 2 continuous belt to define therewith a feed path in 120 in plan view, are fed towardsthe labelling station 35 which the articles are engaged between the guide between guide rails 31 and 32, one guide rail 31 and the belt, means for driving the flight of the belt in being replaced in the vicinity of the station 35 by a a feed direction to roll the articles along the guide, continuous rubber belt 36 entrained round and a label holderforfeeding a block of labels as drive/pulley wheels or rollers and which is driven so defined in the third last preceding paragraph 125 that its innerflight 37, which engagesthe containers laterally into the feed path so that the adhesive 30, is moving in the direction of feed. The belt 36 is coatings on the labels are presented in succession to driven by a motor 39. The spacing between the inner the peripheral surfaces of successive articles as they flight 37 of the belt 36 and the guide rail 32 is such pass the label holder. thatthe containers 30 are trapped between the belt An embodiment of the present invention will now 130 and the rail and arethus forced to roll on the guide 2 GB 2 189 768 A 2 rail 32 pastthe labelling station 35.Atthe labelling lineof articles for engagement with the peripheral station 35 is a label holderor magazine comprising a surfacesof the articles,the adhesive surface of the hollowguide38 in which a label block22 is end label adjaceritthe line being exposed, and downwardly biased. rolling the articles pastthe block of labels sothat The guide supportsthe block22 sothat it projects 70 each articles engagesthe exposed adhesive layerof laterally intothefeed path and exposesthe adhesive the end label and peelsthat label off the blockto layer on thefirst label tothe periphery of the next exposethe adhesive layerof the next label tothe container. Thus as each container30 rolls pastthe nextarticle.

end of the magazine itengagesthe adhesive layerof 6. Apparatus for applying labels to articles of the label at the end of the block and, asthe adhesion 75 circular cross- section comprising 'a guide spaced of adhesive layer to the container g reatly exceeds the from one flight of a continuous belt to define adhesion of the release layer to the adhesive layer of therewith a feed path in which the articles are the next label in the block, peelsthe end.label from engaged between the guide and the belt, means for the block and leaves the labelling station with its driving the flight of the belt in a feed direction to roll label correctly in position. 80 the articles along the guide, and a label holderfor In a modification of the method illustrated in feeding a blockof labels as claimed in claim 1 Figure 2,the block22 is inverted so that itisthe laterally intothefeed path sothatthe adhesive release coating of each label that is in turn exposed coatings on the labels are presented in succession to atthe end of the guide 38. In this case a fixed vacuum the peripheral surfaces of successive articles asthey roller beneath the guide 38 peels the labels in 85 pass the label holder.

succession from the block and deposits them, 7. A method of applying labels to articles adhesive side down, on articles passing the roller on comprising providing a suction roller, locating a the other side of the rollerfrom the guide 38,the block of labels as claimed in claim 1 such thatthe velocity of the articles passing the roller matching release coating of the end label of the block engages the peripheral velocity of the roller as it contacts the 90 the periphery of the roller, rotating the rol ler and articles. This method has the advantage that it can applying suction thereto to peel the end label from apply labels to non-circular articles. the rest of the block, and passing articles pastthe Thus, by using the block of labdis it is possible to rollerto receive from the roller respective successive achieve very high labelling speeds with very simple labels.

equipment compared with conventional labelling methods.

Clearly modifications may be made to the embodiment described. Forexample,the belt36 Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by Croydon Printing Company (U K) Ltd,9187, D8991685.

could be made of a material otherthan rubber Published by The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A l AY, provided onlythat it is biased into engagementwith from which copies maybe obtained.

the containers 30.

Claims

1. A block of labels comprising superimposed labels each having a pressure sensitive adhesive coating on the back face thereof and a release coating on the front face thereof, the adhesive coating overlying the release coating of the adjacent label.

2. A block of labels as claimed in claim 1, in which the exposed adhesive coating on the label at one end of the stack is protected by a release liner.

3. A method of making a block of labeisfrom a continuous label stock having a front face on which the labels are printed, a release coating on thefront face and a pressure sensitive adhesive coating on the rear face thereof, the method comprising using a hollowdieto cut labels in successionfrorn the label stocksuch thateach label when cutentersthedie and pushesthe previouslycut labels further into the die,and removing from thediethe blockof superimposed labels, adjacentlabels having an adhesive coating contacting a release coating.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, in which the die cuts the label stockf rom the rear face through to the front face thereof.

5. A method of applying labels to articles of cirularcross-section comprising locating a blockof labels as claimed in claim 1 to project laterally into a