GB2478966A

GB2478966A - Shaped label peel and present mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2478966A
Application number: GB1005010A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Andrew Beadman; Kevin Andrew Auton; Jeremy Peter Clements
Original assignee: Cambridge Design Partnership LLP; Brady Worldwide Inc
Current assignee: Brady Worldwide Inc
Priority date: 2010-03-25
Filing date: 2010-03-25
Publication date: 2011-09-28
Anticipated expiration: 2030-03-25
Also published as: GB201005010D0; GB2478966B

Abstract

A peel and present or beak mechanism has a shaped label stock support channel, and a shaped peeling edge, particularly when provided as a V-shaped dip towards the centre of the channel. In this manner a shaped rigidity may be furnished to labels passing over the peeling edge, as they separate from a backing liner upon which they are carried. For very thin labels, this may stop the label from curling during dispensing, long enough to be applied to an item, such a small container with curved walls. A compensatory shaping, such as a V- shape which this time rises towards the centre of the separation edge, may be provided, on the path over which the used backing sheet passes after dispensing, to balance variances in tension across the width of the peeling edge, due to shaping.

Description

I

Apparatus for Labelling

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a peel-and-present mechanism for use in apparatus for labelling such as a label stock cartridge or cassette, or a label printer; and to corresponding methods.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Traditional label peel and present mechanisms use a number of methods to separate the label from its liner these include: -Using the stiffness of the label to overcome the strength of the adhesive to the liner material when the liner is peeled over a straight edge Using a scraper to lift the label from the liner e Using excessive tension on the liner material to pull the liner around a sharp angle When the labels are very thin, floppy or pre-curled' the low stiffness of the label can result in reliability issues when a label is pulled around th leading edge without peeling away from the liner or excessive tension leading to tears and breaks in the liner.

There is a particular problem in labelling tubes of very small diameter, for example of the type employed for clinical samples such as blood samples. This is because the labels need to be very thin to wrap well around a curved surface of small radius of curvature, and to stay wrapped at sample storage temperatures which may, for example, be around -80°C. Moreover such labels may be "pie-curled", for example by means of layers with different in-built stress, in order that the labels naturally curl around the sample tube on removeable from their backing tape ("liner"); an example of such label stock is the B-490 Freezer Bondz (TM) label stock from Brady Corporation, UK.

Background prior art can be found in the following documents: US 4,626313; US 6,231,253; US 2602719; US 3330207; US 3415706; US 3468739; US 3530028; US 3586878; US 3941278 Label dispensing machine; US 4435243 Deposit information labelling mechanism for ATM envelope depositing equipment; US 4560087 Label peeling device for label issuing machine; US 4626313 Manual label applicator; US 4826558 Electrically-operated labeller; US 5009739 Hand-held labeller; US 5040461 Label printing and dispensing apparatus; US 5108534 Apparatus and method for peeling a sheet or layer from a workpiece; US 5169474 Apparatus and method for de- laminating a composite laminate structure; US 5209374 Label dispenser for self-adhesive labels arranged on separate sheets; US 5395174 Apparatus for printing labels; US 5427460 Label printer and label strip feed mechanism therefore; US 5478428 Label separator and method for separating a label from a backing; US 5520776 Method and apparatus for delaminating a laminate; US 5658416 Method and apparatus for peeling a laminate; US 5713679 Apparatus for selectively dispensing liner-type and linerless-type labels; US 5716492 Tape cutter and self-adhesive label peeler; US 5718525 label printer and dispenser; US 5730816 Selective label stripping method and apparatus; and US 5800669 Labeller; US4089730; GB1563892A; and in particular in CA1032907A.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is therefore provided a peel and present mechanism for use with apparatus for labelling, said peel and present mechanism being configured to peel labels from label stock having a backing liner, said peel and present mechanism comprising a first, label stock carrying face bounded by a label-detachment edge wherein in use said label stock passes in a longitudinal direction over said label stock carrying face and around said label-detachment edge to peel and present labels, and wherein said label stock carrying face has a bent or shaped transverse surface profile in a transverse direction perpendicular to said longitudinal direction.

In preferred embodiments the peel and present mechanism is such that, in use, said label stock is bent in said transverse direction whereby, as said label stock passes over said-label detachment edge, said longitudinal direction of said label stock defines a projected path for a label peeled from said label stock by said label-detachment edge.

Broadly speaking, the inventors have recognised that a label, in particular a thin label, can be made temporarily stiffer by curving or folding the label stock so that the labels have a tendency to continue to project in the longitudinal direction defined by the label stock carrying face as the backing liner is drawn around the label detachment edge.

The bent transverse surface profile may comprise one or more curves or "V"-shapes and, in principle any transverse surface profile which is not a straight line should be effective, for example a simple curved bow shape. However in some preferred embodiments wherein the label detachment edge is a sharp edge (for example defined by a pair of faces which meet along an edge) with a V-shaped transverse profile.

These features provide significant advantages in starting and controlling label peel, which is especially important for the thin labels used when labelling tubes of small diameter. Providing the sharp edge in combination with a V-shaped profile facilitates starting the label peel: For thin labels there is a tendency for labels to remain attached to their backing -the backing tape is relatively thick and the labels are very thin and flexible and absent these features have a tendency to simply follow their backing tape (liner) along its path.

Preferably the label stock carrying face is indented so that the bent transverse surface profile rises towards longitudinal edges of the label stock carrying face as in this way the labels are peeled away from the backing first at their edges, more specifically their front corners rather than in the middle thus facilitating label release.

In preferred embodiments a label stock guide is also provided, positioned over the label stock carrying face and having a complimentary bent transverse surface profile to that of the label stock carrying face to thereby define a slot for guiding the label stock. This assists in the operation of the peel and present mechanism. The label stock guide may, but need not necessarily be attached to the peel and present mechanism.

In preferred implementations of the mechanism the label detachment edge is bent when viewed along a third axis perpendicular to both the longitudinal direction and to the transverse direction. Preferably this bending is such that a path length along the label stock carrying face and over the label detachment edge is substantially constant over at least a portion of the width of the label stock carrying face in the transverse direction, preferably over a width equal to a width of the label stock intended for use with the mechanism. This can be understood by considering a label-detachment edge which is not bent in this way for example an edge which is left by cutting a transverse section through the label stock carrying face. In travelling over such an edge the backing liner would have less far to travel at the centre of the U-or V-shaped indention than when travelling over the raised edges, thus straining the label stock, For very narrow or flexible label stock this may not be a problem, but, preferably, the label detachment edge has a profile which, when viewed along the third axis, approximately or substantially matches a scaled version of the transverse surface profile of the label stock carrying face (the scaling factor depends upon how far back on itself the backing liner is folded as it travels around the label detachment edge, that is on the angle between the portion of the label stock travelling towards the label detachment edge and the portion of the backing liner travelling away from the label detachment edge after a label has been peeled off).

In some preferred embodiments however the apparatus includes an automatic label stock centring mechanism to automaticaHy centre the label stock on the label stock carrying face. Thus in some preferred embodiments the label detachment edge is shaped such that a path length along said label stock carrying face and over said label-detachment edge is (slightly) longer in a centre of said label stock carrying face than to either side (that is than at locations towards either longitudinal edge of the label stock carrying face).

The label stock carrying face may be provided on what may be termed a beak of the peel and present mechanism. In some embodiments the peel and present mechanism may be generally triangular or wedge-shaped with one face defining the label stock carrying face; in this way the peel and present mechanism may be integrally formed from a single piece of material such as a metal or polymer. Alternatively the beak of the peel and present mechanism may be fabricated as a suitably shaped plate, for example a metal plate, attached to a mount within the apparatus for labelling. Thus the beak of the peel and present mechanism may comprise a projecting metal surface or plate, shaped as described above.

The peel and present mechanism may be built into a label stock cartridge or cassette, in particular so that the beak comprises part of the label outlet of the device.

Alternatively the mechanism may be built into a label printer. In either case, in some preferred embodiments the label stock is preferably held in tension over the label detachment edge, for example by a take-up spool or by a pair of rollers following the peel and present mechanism (in a direction of travel of the label stock/backing liner).

Thus in a related aspect the invention provides a method of peeling labels from label stock and presenting the peeled labels along a defined projected path, the method comprising: stiffening said label stock by curving or folding said label stock in a longitudinal direction; and transporting said label stock in tension along said longitudinal direction and around a label detachment edge such that said labels detach from a backing liner of said labelling stock and continue in said longitudinal direction, said longitudinal direction defining said projected path, whilst said backing liner travels on away from said projected path; and preferably further comprising approximately or substantially equalising tension across a width of said labelling stock by shaping said label detachment edge to compensate for said curving or folding of said labelling stock.

In a further related aspect the invention provides apparatus for peeling labels from label stock and presenting the peeled labels along a defined projected path, the apparatus comprising: means for stiffening said label stock by curving or folding said label stock in a longitudinal direction; means for transporting said label stock in tension along said longitudinal direction and around a label detachment edge such that said labels detach from a backing liner of said labelling stock and continue in said longitudinal direction, said longitudinal direction defining said projected path, whilst said backing liner travels on away from said projected path; and wherein said detachment edge is shaped to compensate for a curve or fold in said labelling stock defined by said stiffening means, in particular to thereby approximately or substantially equalise tension across a width of said labelling stock.

In the above described method and apparatus preferably the detachment edge is shaped to approximately or substantially match a scaled version of a curve or fold in said labelling stock defined by said stiffening means. However it is further preferable that the detachment edge is shaped such that a tension in a longitudinally central region of said label stock is (slightly) greater than a tension in said label stock to either side of said longitudinally central region. This helps to provide an automatic centring mechanism for the label stock.

In embodiments the apparatus is configured for labelling a curved surface having a radius of curvature of less than 15mm, and the label detachment edge is a sharp edge with a Vshaped transverse profile as previously described. Then the apparatus may further comprise means for applying the label to the curved surface and, preferably, means for capturing a peeled label between the curved surface and a pinch roller. In embodiments the pinch roller grips the tube and an adhesive side of the label sticks to the tube such that rotation of the tube pulls the label back and applies the label to the tube. Optionally the apparatus may further comprise a moveable clamping roller for holding the tube in place and/or at least one roller following the label detachment edge in a direction of travel of the backing liner for tensioning said label stock over the label detachment edge.

Thus preferred embodiments of the above described methods and apparatus are particularly useful for labelling a curved surface having a radius of curvature of less than 15mm, 10mm or 7mm. Similarly embodiments of the above described methods and apparatus are particularly useful for peeling very thin labels, for example having a thickness of less than 150pm, 100pm, 80pm or 6Opm, in particular plastic labels (such as polyester labels) and/or "pre-curled" labels. Such techniques are particularly useful for labelling clinical/biological sample tubes, especially labelling for storage at less than 0°C, -20°C, -40°C, -60°C or -80°C and/or that are suitable for exposure to liquid nitrogen temperatures (-1 96°C).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects of the invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures in which: Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a profiled edge peel and present device according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows an end view showing a profiled peeling' edge; Figure 3 shows an isometric view highlighting equal path lengths of label across the liner; Figure 4 shows an isometric view showing a male convex clamp for additional forming of the labels and liner; Figure 5 shows a top view of the peel and present mechanism showing straight projection of the label; Figure 6 shows an outline view of a label printer incorporating the mechanism; Figure 7 shows a close up view of the labeller mechanism; Figure 8 shows a label stock path through the printer; and Figure 9 shows an automatic label stock centring mechanism according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Broadly speaking, we will describe a peel and present system 10 for a label printer or other labelling system for separating labels from backing liner and presenting the labels to a user or secondary mechanism. The apparatus passes the label and liner between profiling faces 12 or edges to enhance the shape of the label and liner 14 prior to peeling. The backing strip 16 is then peeled around a specially profiled edge 20 and collected on a spool. The label 18 continues in a controlled straight trajectory from the profiled edge without flopping. A profile surface 24 is provided on a return path for the liner.

Referring to Figures 1 to 5 a preferred embodiment of the invention works by introducing a profile into the label and liner material to change the shape of the label, temporarily increasing the stiffness of the label enabling it to separate from the liner material. The change of shape is enabled by a special profile on the leading edge of the peel mechanism to enable equal path lengths along the length of the liner minimising stress and preventing jamming and tearing.

In this design the label and liner are formed past a profiled face 12 (curved or angled) increasing the second moment of area of the label and liner and therefore the stiffness.

This increase in stiffness enables the peeling and presenting of very thin, floppy or pre curled" labels to be promoted away from the backing strip or liner and projected in a straight line.

The liner is folded backwards over a specifically profiled leading edge 20 which maintains the path length of the backing strip at all points across the liner material. In Figure 2 dashed line 22 shows a line of transverse section across the label stock carrying face. In Figure 3 dashed lines 26 show paths of equal length due to the geometry of the peeling' curve (label detachment edge). If the liner is peeled back along a simple plane then due to the interaction between a non flat-surface and an angled plane the formed edge could create excessive tension parts of the liner leading to jamming and tearing. To overcome this problem the leading edge of the peeling mechanism is profiled to minimise the stress in the liner and therefore reducing the risk of jams and tearing. An additional aid to promote the forming of the label and liner without unnecessary tension is the use of an additional convex or male profile clamp (label stock guide) 28 to maintain the stiffer shape of the liner and label.

Figure 6 shows the peel and present mechanism 10 in one possible application for labelling tubes. The label printer 60 comprises a roller mechanism 62, a tube detection system 64, a backing liner and label holder 66 and a backing liner storage post 68. As the labels are presented by the novel mechanism presented above they are fed into the further mechanism holding and rotating a tube or vial. As the tube rotates the leading edge of the label is pinched onto the surface of the tube and as the tube rotates the label is applied around the circumference of the tube. Figure 7 shows a close up of this particular mechanism and Figure 8 shows the vertical view of the label path. Figure 7 shows a label liner drive roller 70 to push the liner into the peel and present mechanism; a peel and present beak 72; a drive roller 74 to maintain tension on the liner and pull this through the beak; a drive roller 76 for the tube rotating system; a pinch roller 78 to apply the peeled label to the tube; a tube lifting mechanism 80; a clamping roller mechanism 82; and a barcode reader 84 mounted vertically below the tubes. Figure 8 shows drive roller 70 pushing the label liner into the peel and present mechanism 10, driver roHer 74 pulling the label through the peel and present mechanism, peel and present edge 20 to separate the label from the liner and project the label into the roller mechanism 62; and a print head 86 to apply information to the label. The operation can be described in the following order. The label and backing liner are pulled by a pinch roller towards a print head where the label is printed. The same pinch roller then feeds the label stock towards the peel and present beak.

The geometry of the beak shapes the label into the stiffer form and the backing label is peeled back over the novel edge profile described in this patent. The backing liner is pulled away by a second pinch roller and stored on a spool. The label itself with its new shape and increased stiffness is projected forwards in the original trajectory that it took into the beak. The increased stiffness allows a significant projection of the label (about 15mm) into the tube rolling mechanism where it meets the tube. In this case the tube has been hand inserted into a system of three rollers to define a fixed position for the tube to rotate. Different tube diameters are accommodated by one movable clamping roller. The tube is driven to rotate by one drive roller and the label is projected between the tube and another pinch roller. The pinch grips the tube and then the adhesive side of the label will stick to the tube. The rotation of the tube pulls the label through the mechanism smoothing and applying the label to the tube. Once the label is applied, the clamping roller retracts and the tube can be removed from the mechanism. An additional component in this mechanism is a barcode reader underneath the tube which can read a barcode present on the tube. This barcode information can then be linked in a database to the information printed on the label.

Referring now to Figure 9, this shows an example of a peel-and-present mechanism incorporating an automatic label stock centring or self-tracking mechanism to automatically centre or track the label stock on the label stock carrying face. The path length at the centre of the web (label backing stock) travelling across the label stock carrying face is marginally longer than the outside. To apply this to the beak of Figure I there a small geometry change to lengthen the central path length (Lcentrai). This will marginally increase tension and stress on the material but if the length increase remains small and the stress within the elastic limit of the material then there will not be sufficient force to tear or jam the label backing stock. This improvement increases the stability of the beak and improves placement tolerances of any printing on the label.

No doubt many other effective alternatives will occur to the skilled person. It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the described embodiments and encompasses modifications apparent to those skilled in the art lying within the spirit and scope of the claims appended hereto.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A peel and present mechanism for use with apparatus for labelling, said peel and present mechanism being configured to peel labels from label stock having a backing liner, said peel and present mechanism comprising a first, label stock carrying face bounded by a label-detachment edge wherein, in use, said label stock passes in a longitudinal direction over said label stock carrying face and around said label-detachment edge to peel and present labels, and wherein said label stock carrying face has a shaped transverse surface profile in a transverse direction perpendicular to said longitudinal direction such that, in use, said label stock is bent in said transverse direction wherein, as said label stock passes over said-label detachment edge, said longitudinal direction of said label stock defines a projected path for a label peeled from said label stock by said label-detachment edge.
2. A peel and present mechanism as claimed in claim I wherein said shaped transverse surface profile rises towards longitudinal edges of said label stock carrying face.
3. A peel and present mechanism as claimed in claim I or 2 wherein said shaped transverse surface profile has a bowed or V-shaped profile.
4. A peel and present mechanism as claimed in claim 3 wherein said bowed or V-shaped profile defines an indentation in said label stock carrying face.
5. A peel and present mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said label-detachment edge is bent when viewed along a third axis perpendicular both to said longitudinal direction and to said transverse direction.
6. A peel and present mechanism as claimed in claim 5 wherein said label detachment edge is bent such that, when viewed along said third axis, a profile of said label detachment edge approximately matches a scaled version said shaped transverse surface profile of said label stock carrying face.
7. A peel and present mechanism as claimed in any one of claims I to 6 wherein said label detachment edge is shaped such that a path length along said label stock carrying face and over said label-detachment edge is longer in a centre of said label stock carrying face than to either side.
8. A peel and present mechanism as claimed in any one of claims I to 6 wherein said label detachment edge is shaped such that a path length along label stock carrying face and over said label-detachment edge is substantially constant over at least a portion of a width of said label stock carrying face in said transverse direction.
9. A peel and present mechanism as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a label stock guide positioned over said label stock carrying face and having a complementary bent transverse surface profile to said label stock carrying face to define a slot therebetween for guiding said label stock.
10. Apparatus for labelling comprising the peel and present mechanism of any preceding claim.
11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 including at least one roller following said peel and present mechanism in a direction of travel of said backing liner for tensioning said label stock over said label-detachment edge.
12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said apparatus is a label cartridge or cassette.
13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said apparatus is a label printer.
14. A peel and present mechanism as claimed in any one of claims I to 9 or apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 13 in combination with said label stock.
15. A method of peeling labels from label stock and presenting the peeled labels along a defined projected path, the method comprising: stiffening said label stock by curving or folding said label stock in a longitudinal direction; and transporting said label stock in tension along said longitudinal direction and around a label detachment edge such that said labels detach from a backing liner of said labelling stock and continue in said longitudinal direction, said longitudinal direction defining said projected path, whilst said backing liner travels on away from said projected path; and further comprising substantially equalising tension across a width of said labelling stock by shaping said label detachment edge to compensate for said curving or folding of said labelling stock.
16. A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein said substantial equalising of said tension across said width of said labelling stock comprises shaping said label detachment edge such that a tension in a longitudinally central region of said label stock is greater than a tension in said label stock to either side of said longitudinally central region.
17. A method of labelling a curved surface having a radius of curvature of less than 15mm, the method comprising peeling labels from labelling stock as claimed in claim or 16, capturing a said peeled label in one or more pinch rollers, and applying said label to said curved surface.
18. A method as claimed in claim 15, 16 or 17 wherein said label detachment edge is a sharp edge with a V-shaped transverse profile.
19. A method as claimed in claim 17 or 18 further comprising capturing a said peeled label between said curved surface and a pinch roller; wherein said curved surface is the surface of a tube, and wherein said pinch roller grips the tube and an adhesive side of the label sticks to the tube and rotation of the tube pulls the label and applies the label to the tube.
20. A method as claimed in claim 19 further comprising holding said tube in place using a moveable clamping roller.
21. Apparatus for peeling labels from label stock and presenting the peeled labels along a defined projected path, the apparatus comprising: means for stiffening said label stock by curving or folding said label stock in a longitudinal direction; means for transporting said label stock in tension along said longitudinal direction and around a label detachment edge such that said labels detach from a backing liner of said labelling stock and continue in said longitudinal direction, said longitudinal direction defining said projected path, whilst said backing liner travels on away from said projected path; and wherein said detachment edge is shaped to compensate for a curve or fold in said labelling stock defined by said stiffening means to thereby substantially equalise tension across width of said labelling stock.
22. Apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein said detachment edge is shaped to approximately or substantially match a scaled version of a curve or fold in said labelling stock defined by said stiffening means.
23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 21 or 22 wherein said detachment edge is shaped such that a tension in a longitudinally central region of said label stock is greater than a tension in said label stock to either side of said longitudinally central region.
24. Apparatus as claimed in claim 21, 22 or 23 for labelling a curved surface having a radius of curvature of less than 15mm, wherein said label detachment edge is a sharp edge with a V-shaped transverse profile.
25. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 21 to 24 for labelling a curved surface having a radius of curvature of less than 15mm, further comprising means for capturing a said peeled label between said curved surface and a pinch roller, and means for applying said label to said curved surface.
26. Apparatus as claimed in claim 24 or 25 wherein said curved surface is the surface of a tube, and wherein said pinch roller grips the tube and an adhesive side of the label sticks to the tube such that rotation of the tube pulls the label back and applies the label to the tube.
27. Apparatus as claimed in claim 26 further comprising a moveable clamping roller for holding said tube in place.
28. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 21 to 27 including at least one roller following said label detachment edge in a direction of travel of said backing liner for tensioning said label stock over said label detachment edge.
29. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 21 to 28 wherein said apparatus is a label stock cartridge or cassette or a label printer.
30. A peel and present mechanism or apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to one or more of the accompanying Figures.