MXPA00001406A - Labelling process with double-faced labelling web - 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

PROCEDURE FOR FEEDING A LABELING AND LABEL SUPPORT INSTALLATION The present invention relates to a method of continuous labeling of objects, in particular flasks or other containers, such as are used particularly within fields as varied as cosmetics, pharmacy, home or the agri-food field.

In general, within the field of labeling, the labels are stuck on a face of a support, plastic or paper, wound on a core, and which serves to continuously feed a feeding facility at the level from which the samples are transferred. labels to the objects that it is about to label. At the exit of the labeling installation, the support is wound on an axis and discarded or recycled.

Typically, one of the faces of the support is siliconized, to allow easy removal of the labels during their passage to the labeling facility. Such a support has a thickness that is generally of the order of 50 to 60 μm. The labels are usually made of polyethylene, in which case they can EF- '32638 have a thickness between 80 and 100 μm. They can also be made of polypropylene, in which case they can have a thickness comprised between 50 and 60 μm. The temporary fixing of the label on the support is carried out by means of an adhesive layer whose thickness can be of the order of 20 μm. A "sandwich" whose total thickness is of the order of 160 μm is made.

Such methods have a number of drawbacks. A first drawback is linked to the environment, due to the difficultly recyclable nature of the support, once it has been removed from the labels it holds.

In addition, the relatively small number of labels that can be wound on a support requires frequent roller changes, which are expensive in machine times, in labor and in waste resulting from unused spool ends, particularly due to imperatives linked to the automatic changes of coils.

Finally, materials such as polyethylenes or polypropylenes, for making the labels, need in the printing, a "TOP COATING" or corona effect treatment, in order to be able to print them in an optimal and lasting way.

US-A-5 679 199 describes a labeling process according to which two bands of labeling material are superimposed and passed to a labeling facility, where they are separated. In each of the bands thus separated, the labels in the required shape and dimensions are cut out by means of a laser beam. Prior to the application of the label on an appropriate object, an adhesive layer of the label is reactivated by UV or IR. Such a process suffers essentially from the same drawbacks as those cited with reference to the prior art devices. The laminate formed by the two overlapping bands has an important thickness, which limits the number of labels per roll. The labels are not applied on one and / or the other of the support faces, but are formed by the support itself, and are therefore intended to be directly cut into the support. Therefore, the process is complicated, time consuming and expensive to complete.

Therefore, one of the objects of the present invention is to perform a continuous feeding procedure of a labeling installation, which allows to solve in whole or in part, the problems described above with reference to the ordinary procedures.

In particular, an object of the invention is to carry out such a procedure that allows to substantially reduce the frequency of changes of rollers in the feeding installations of the labeling devices.

Another object of the invention is to make it possible to use materials that offer greater compatibility with respect to the environment.

Another object of the invention is to carry out a method of feeding a labeling device, in which the labels are made with a material identical to that which constitutes the support on which they are wound.

Still another object of the invention is to allow, for the realization of the labels, the use of materials that offer better characteristics of ease of printing.

Other objects will appear in the detailed description that follows.

Thus, according to the invention, these objects are achieved by performing a continuous feeding procedure of a labeling chain of objects, particularly flasks, comprising the following steps: a) in a first feeding installation, arranging a support in the form of band, and on whose two faces are sticky self-adhesive labels; b) dragging the support so that it is passed through a first labeling installation fed by said objects, the labeling of the objects being carried out in the first installation using the labels applied on the first side of the support; and c) dragging the support through a second labeling installation, different or not from the first one, with the labeling of the objects in the second installation being carried out using the labels, which are applied on the second side of the support.

Thus, the number of labels wound on the support is significantly increased, thereby limiting the volume of material capable of harming the environment.

The fact of placing more labels on the same support allows the use of materials that can be more expensive but offer much better characteristics, particularly as regards 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 that can be deposited on the support. With a total thickness of the support (including labels) that can thus be divided by two or three, compared to ordinary supports, a number of labels is available on the support that can be up to five times higher than the number of labels of the supports used in ordinary procedures.

Preferably, in the first feeding installation, the support is wound on an axis, to form a roller. At the exit of the first labeling installation, the support can be wound on an axis to be reconfigured in the form of a roller, which will then be placed in a second feeding facility, intended to feed the second labeling installation. As an alternative, it is possible to foresee that at the exit of the first labeling installation, the support is dragged directly towards the second labeling installation.

In the second pass, the roller carrying the labels can be placed again in the same feeding facility of the same labeling device that was used in the first pass. As an alternative, in an industrial structure with several labeling machines, in the second pass, the roller formed at the exit of the first labeling installation can be placed on another feeding installation to feed another labeling installation.

The labels arranged on the first face of the support can be identical to the labels arranged on the second face of the support.

In this case, the second labeling installation is preferably fed by objects other than those that have already been labeled in the first pass, each of the objects then being covered with a single label.

As an alternative, the labels arranged on the first side of the support will be different from the labels arranged on the second side of the support, the second labeling installation being fed by the objects that have been labeled in the first pass, so that each one is labeled of said objects by means of a label of each of the faces of the support. Thus, in the case of a bottle with two main faces, a first label is placed on the "front" of the bottle, and a second label on the "back" of said bottle.

According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the labels of the first side of the support - are misaligned along the axis of the strip, in relation to the labels arranged on the second face of the support. Such an offset arrangement generates, in printing, a minor weakening of the support by the cutting tool. Furthermore, at the time of placement, when the label separates from the first side of the support, the label of the second side of the support is protected more importantly, since no fold or other marking has been generated on the label of the support. the second side Preferably, the axial misalignment is such that the labels of the first face of the support are substantially centered in the axial space separating two adjacent labels from the second face of the support.

According to an alternative of the above embodiment, the labels of the first face are superimposed with those of the second face. In fact, in the case of labels of different format, a minor weakening of the support is produced by the cutting tool. In addition, in the placement, it is easier to join the labels of the two sides of the band, when the coil is changed.

According to another advantageous embodiment, the labels of the first face of the "head up" support are arranged, the labels of the second face of the support being disposed "head down". This embodiment is particularly adapted to the configuration of a support that bears on one side a label intended for the front of the object to be labeled, and on the other hand, a label for the back of the same object that is to be labeled . Indeed, after turning the web, after the labeling of a first face of the object in a first labeling installation with the first label, the second label remains in good configuration with respect to the second face of the object to be labeled. .

Advantageously, the labels are made of polyethylene terephthalate. Such labels can have a thickness comprised between 10 and 40 μm, and preferably between 25 and 36 μm. By thus reducing the thickness of the label with respect to ordinary labels, its transparency is substantially increased. In addition, the use of polyethylene terephthalate to make the labels allows not to use printing treatments, corona or top-coating type in order to improve its ease of printing and the behavior of the clip.

The support can be constituted by a material, particularly paper or a thermoplastic, and whose two faces are covered by a layer of silicone.

Preferably, the labels will be made with a material identical to the one that forms the support.

Also preferably, the support will be made of polyethylene terephthalate. The polyethylene terephthalate allows to compensate the loss of rigidity linked to the reduced thickness of the support with respect to the thickness of the ordinary supports.

The support can have a thickness comprised between 10 and 40 μ, and preferably, between 23 and 36 μm. Thus, with a thickness of adhesive comprised between 10 μm and 20 μ, a support can be made whose total thickness, including the thickness of the two "layers" of "labels" can vary between 60 μm and 150 μm, and preference, between 95 μm and 140 μm.

According to another aspect, the invention also relates to a label holder intended for the continuous feeding of a labeling installation, said support having the form of a band, and comprising a first face and a second face facing the first, characterized because it will comprise self-adhesive labels, glued on each of said first and second faces.

Preferably, the support is made with a material identical to that constituting said labels. advantageously, said material is a polyethylene terephthalate.

The invention consists, apart from the provisions set forth above, in a number of other provisions that will be detailed below, with reference to non-limiting examples of embodiment, described with reference to the appended figures, among which: Figure 1 represents the first step of label support by the labeling facility; Figure 2 represents the second step of the label support by the labeling facility; Figure 3 represents a second embodiment of the method described with reference to figures 1 and 2; and Figure 4 illustrates a particular embodiment of a label holder according to the present invention.

The labeling device represented schematically in Figure 1 comprises three main facilities: a feeding facility 1 on labels; a labeling facility 2, fed at one time with labels and with objects to be labeled, and a recovery or re-wrapping facility 3, of the support from which the labels have been taken.

The label feeding installation comprises a shaft 9 on which a roller 4 of a support 5 made of PET is mounted in free rotation, whose two faces are covered with self-adhesive labels 6, 7, regularly spaced along the support 5 According to this embodiment, the labels 6 are identical to the labels 7.

The support 5 is directed towards the labeling installation 2, following a path imposed by a certain number of guide rollers 10, 16. The feeding installation is also stocked with bottles 8, on which the labels must be applied. A guide roller 11 ensures the exact positioning in position of the label holder 5 relative to the bottles 8, so that the label is located on the bottle 8, in exactly the right place. The support 5 is oriented so that, when this first step takes place, the labels 7 are transferred to the bottles 8. The support 5 then leaves the supply installation with a face free of labels and a face bearing the labels 6. After a tour of the guide rollers 12 and 13, the support 5 is again wound on an axis 14, to return to be configured in the form of a roller 15, leaving the labels 6 of the last winding formed on the outside of the roller.

Such an assembly is obviously regulated by a certain number of motors, mechanisms and synchronization, guiding and regulating automatisms, which are well known and which, therefore, do not need additional detailed description. Such mechanisms are not subject of the present invention.

In figure 2, the roll 15, formed after passing through the labeling installation 2, is located on the unwinding axis 9 of the feeding device 1 of the machine of figure 1. The support 5 is dragged towards the installation of feeding 2, which is again provided with jars 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, released from all its labels, is then rolled again in the recovery place 3. The formed roll 17 can then be discarded or recycled.

By way of specific example, we will say that the support 5 is formed by a layer of polyethylene terephthalate of approximately 30 μm. The labels 6, 7 are also made with polyethylene terephthalate, and have a thickness of approximately 25 μm. Each label has on its face located in front of the support, an adhesive layer with a thickness of approximately 15 μm. The support thus formed has a total thickness of approximately 110 μm.

Figure 3 illustrates a labeling process in which the labels of each of the faces of the support 5 are applied on objects (identical or different) in the course of a single step. According to this embodiment, the strip 5, coming from an unwinding device 1 is routed to a first labeling device 2, fed by objects to be labeled 8, in particular bottles. In this labeling device, the labels 7 that are on the first face of the support 5 are applied on a first face (front) of a bottle 8. The band 5 is then directed towards a band return device 52, where, by means of a rewind roller mechanism, the web returns before feeding a second labeling facility 2 ', at which level the bottles 8 coming from the first labeling device 2, are presented in such a way that a second side remains ( reverse) disposed so as to receive the labels 6 present on the second face of the support. The band 5, freed from the labels it carried on its two faces, is directed towards a winding device 3. The displacement and guidance of the support 5 through the different devices are carried out by means of a number of thrust units of band 53, 55 and of band traction units 54, 56. Likewise, there are provided detectors for the presence of labels 50, 51 to synchronize the different operations. The detachment of the label from the support, inside the labeling installations, is achieved by making the support 5 make a relatively closed angle, and this by means of an organ having a sharp edge 57, 58, commonly called "plate". of position ".

According to an alternative of the embodiment described with reference to the preceding figure, the second labeling device 2 'is fed with objects other than those supplying the first installation 2. In this hypothesis, the labels 7 present on the first side of the support, are preferably identical to the 6 present on the second face.

In figure 4, the support has been represented inside a labeling installation, at the moment of its coincidence with the position plate 57. Due to the axially misaligned arrangement of the labels 6 and 7, when the label 7 leaves the support 5 to be transferred to an object (not shown), the label 6 remains in homogeneous support on a flat part of the position plate, and consequently, there is no risk of it being bent or suffering any damage. According to this embodiment, the labels 6 are substantially centered on the space separating two adjacent labels 7.

In the detailed description above, we have made reference to preferred embodiments of the invention. It is clear that variants can be provided without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed below.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant, to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the description of the invention.

Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following:

Claims (22)

1. A process of continuous feeding in a chain of labeling of objects, in particular of bottles, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a) in a first feeding installation, arranging a support, in the form of a band, and on both of which faces are left glued self-adhesive labels; b) moving the support to make it pass through a first labeling installation fed by said objects, the labeling of the objects being carried out in the first labeling installation, using the labels applied on the first side of the support; and c) moving the support to make it pass through a second labeling installation different or not from the first one, the labeling of the objects being carried out in the second labeling installation using the labels applied on the second side of the support.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that, at the exit of the first labeling installation, the support is wound on an axis, to form a roll intended to be located in a second feeding device, different or not from the first, for the feeding of the second labeling facility.

3. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that, at the exit of the first labeling installation, the support is directly moved towards the second labeling installation.

4. A feeding method according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the labels arranged on the first face of the support are identical to the labels arranged on the second face of the support.

5. A method according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the second labeling installation is fed with objects other than the objects that have been labeled in the first labeling installation.

6. A feeding method according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the labels arranged on the first side of the support are different from the labels arranged on the second side of the support, the second labeling facility being fed with the objects labeled in the first pass, so that each of said objects is labeled with a label of each of the faces of the support.

7. A process according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the labels are made with polyethylene terephthalate.

8. A method according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the labels have a thickness comprised between 10 and 40 μm, and preferably, 25 and 36 μm.

9. A method according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the support is constituted by a material, particularly paper or a thermoplastic, and whose two sides are covered by a layer of silicone.

10. A method according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the labels are made with a material identical to the material that forms the support.

11. A process according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the support is made of polyethylene terephthalate.

12. A process according to any of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the support has a thickness comprised between 10 and 40 μm, and preferably, between 23 and 36 μm.

13. A label holder intended for the continuous feeding of a labeling installation, said support having the form of a band comprising a first face and a second face, opposite to the first, characterized in that it comprises self-adhesive labels glued on each side. the first and second faces mentioned.

14. A support according to claim 13, characterized in that the labels of the first face of the support are centered on the labels of the second face of the support.

15. A support according to claim 13, characterized in that the labels of the first face of the support are misaligned along the geometric axis of the band, in relation to the labels arranged on the second face of the support.

16. A support according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the axial misalignment is such that the labels of the first face of the support are centered in the axial space that separates two adjacent labels from the second face of the support.

17. A support according to any of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that the labels of the first face of the support are arranged "head up" and because the labels of the second face of the support are arranged "head down".

18. A support according to any of claims 13 to 17, characterized in that the labels of the first side of the support are intended to label a first face of an object to be labeled, the labels of the second side of the support being intended to label another face of said object that is about labeling.

19. A support according to any of claims 13 to 18, characterized in that the labels of the first face of the support are identical to the labels of the second face of the support.

20. A support according to any of claims 13 to 19, characterized in that the labels of the first side of the support are different from the labels of the second side of the support.

21. A support according to any of claims 13 to 20, characterized in that the support is made with a material identical to the material forming said labels.

22. A support according to claim 21, characterized in that said material is a polyethylene terephthalate.