MXPA01004841A - Labeling apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

Labeling apparatus and method cuts labels from a web of label material after adhesive is applied to the web of material. Under one embodiment heated knives are carried on a vaccum drum which cooperates with a roller functioning as an anvil to cut the web into labels of the appropriate length. A sensor reads a mark of the indicia side of the web and controls movement of the web to assure proper registration. Under a second embodiment, a rotatable drum having a plurality of vacuum plates cooperates with a die cutting roller to cut labels of the desired shape. The cut labels are retained on the vacuum applicator plates which then are extended radially as they rotate to a position to apply the label to a container.

Description

METHOD AND LABELING EQUIPMENT CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of the following provisional applications of United States Patents Serial No. 60 / 111,230 filed on December 7, 1998 and 60 / 111,311 filed on December 7 of 1998.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Labeling machines are used to apply labels to all types of containers, both cylindrical containers and non-cylindrical containers, such as regular or irregular polygons. One type of conventional label is a self-adhesive label, also called a pressure sensitive label, which is carried by a backing strip to a carrier web. Self-adhesive labels are expensive and create a lot of waste. Self-adhesive labels typically used with high density polyethylene (HDPE) containers, such as milk jugs and juice bottles, are separate labels, fixed thereto, unrolled from a supply roll and pulled over a bar or blade causing each label to separate from the carrier frame, carrier frame that is then discarded. Means are then provided for transferring each label to a container. The method described above has several important limitations and disadvantages. First, the carrier frame required for this process adds significant cost to the label that is applied. Second, the die cutting process in a support frame limits the type of label materials that can be used. Third, the label must be detached from the carrier frame at the point of application. This creates limitations in the potential of the line speed, further limits the type of label materials that can be used, such as lightweight materials. In addition, it greatly reduces the accuracy of application to the container. Another type of commonly used label is cut from the continuous label material wound on a roll. The labels made from the continuous label material are cheaper than self-adhesive labels and are often made from thin, stretchable film. By reducing the cost, the film keeps getting thinner. The elasticity of the film can make it difficult to ensure that the labels are cut properly. Conventional labeling machines remove the continuous label material from the roller and feed the label material to a cutting system. The continuous label material is then cut into labels that are transferred onto the circular surface of a vacuum drum, where they are held in place by vacuum. As the drum rotates, the labels pass to a glue roller that applies adhesive to the back surface of the label, which faces outwardly as it is supported on the drum. The label, with the adhesive applied thereto, is released from the drum as it comes in contact with, and is applied to, a container. U.S. Patent Applications Serial Nos. 09 / 024,886 filed February 17, 1998 and 09 / 301,955 filed April 29, 1999 of which the present applicant is a co-inventor, describe an adhesive station and a labeling machine for applying a pressure sensitive label to a container, wherein the adhesive is sprayed on one side of the label material after the label material is served from a web of label material. The method and apparatus described in these prior applications, incorporated herein by reference, eliminates the need for having a backing strip that is commonly used to carry a pressure sensitive label.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a weft label material is fed from a roll or other source of label material to an adhesive applicator station which applies adhesive to the proposed side to adhere to the adhesive. container, specifically, the opposite side to the impression. After application of the adhesive, the web passes through a cutting station where the individual labels are cut as they are supported by vacuum in a rotating vacuum drum. Although it is possible to have the entire surface of the proposed label to give towards the container covered with adhesive, for many applications it is preferred that the adhesive cover only an area of 1/2 to 1 inch adjacent to each end. By cutting the web of label material after the adhesive has been applied thereto, and cutting through the adhesive as well as the weft, it is ensured that each label will have adhesive completely at each end thereof. This assures the union of the labels to the containers of complete form to each end and avoids the problem of "detachment" of the ends of the labels that have an inconsistent application of adhesive. The web of the label material may be any of a variety of materials including, but not limited to, polystyrene foam, or other polymers of foam, polypropylene film, other polymer film, and paper. According to one embodiment, cutters or knives are mounted on the rotating vacuum drum and a second rotary drum acts as an anvil cooperating with the vacuum drum to cut the weft into labels. After cutting, each freshly cut label, supported on the rotating vacuum drum, engages successively in a container as long as its adhesive is in condition to adhere to the container. A second embodiment also uses any suitable label material in the form of a roll, including lightweight label material. The web of label material is fed to an adhesive application station and a rotary die cutter. As the continuous web of hot melt adhesive label material applied to it is fed into the application system, a rotating die cutter passes adjacent and in contact with a transfer rotating backing drum containing vacuum applicator plates . Each label is supported in one of a series of vacuum applicator plates that are mounted on a rotating backing drum. The vacuum applicator plates are mounted for rotation in the drum and can be moved radially from a retracted position when receiving the weft from the adhesive application station and when they are in the cutting station to a radially extended position towards outside, extended position in which each vacuum applicator plate attaches the label to a container. According to the second embodiment, the carriers or blades are mounted on a second rotating drum positioned to cut a label from that portion of the weft which is then aligned with the vacuum applicator plate. The freshly cut labels are then moved successively to a container as long as they are retained in the vacuum applicator plate. As the vacuum applicator plates move successively from the cutting station to the application station, they move radially outward to the extended position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a top, schematic plan view of one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is an enlarged, elevational view of the glue applicator portion of the labeling apparatus of Figure 1. Figure 3 is an enlarged elevation view of the vacuum drum of the labeling apparatus of Figure 1. Figure 4 is an enlarged, top plan view showing the glue applicator, the vacuum drum with its blades cutting a label and a container around to have a label applied thereto. Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing a label that is applied to a container. Figure 6 is a view of a length of the weft of the label material showing a series of repetitive patterns, with a detectable mark on each pattern. Figure 7 is a view of a label showing the cutting ends with the turned corners and the adhesive adjacent each end on the side opposite the printed signals. Figure 8 is a schematic top plan view of another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 is an enlarged view of a portion of the embodiment shown in Figure 8. Figure 10 is a perspective view showing labels that are cut from the weft and showing the skeletal remnant of the weft removed from the cut labels .

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to Figures 1-7, a mode of the labeling apparatus according to the present invention is shown. The apparatus includes a supply roll 10 containing the weft of label material 12 having a first side 13 with printed signs including a mark M and a second side 14 which is intended to receive adhesive for the adhesion of a label 25 to a container. With reference to Figures 6 and 7, there is shown in Figure 6 a length of the frame 12 having repetitive pattern signals P printed on the first side 13, which includes a mark M on each label length that can be read by an explorer. Figure 7 shows a label 25 extending from a leading L end to a trailing end T with signals and a M mark on the first side 13. The label 25 in Figure 7 is shown with a corner of each flipped end to allow the view to the second side 14 and the adhesive A which extends completely to each end L and T. As will be seen from the following description, the weft 12 will have to have the adhesive A applied to the second side 14 before cutting. Therefore, it is clear that the adhesive A will extend completely to each of the front end L and the rear end T. The supply roll 10 can be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction around a shaft 15 supported toward outside of a mounting frame 16. After distribution from the supply roller 10, the weft 12 is fed through a labeling printing and feeding registration station 20, to a glue application assembly 30 and then to a vacuum drum 40 containing a a plurality of blades 41 cooperating with a heated anvil roll 42 for cutting the weft 12, with the adhesive or glue freshly applied thereto, to the labels 25 of the desired length. The individual labels 25 are transported by the vacuum drum 40, with the adhesive facing outwards, to a label application station 44, where each label 25 engages and adheres to a container C moved in engagement with it by a container. star 45. The star 45 successively transports the containers C to a position between the label 25 that is transported in the vacuum drum 40 and an application pad 46 that frictionally engages the containers C causing them to rotate as a result of being captured between the fixed application pad 46 and the rotating vacuum drum 40. The rotating containers C make contact with the second side 14 of the individual labels 25 which are transported by the vacuum drum 40, rotating. With the adhesive on the second side 14 of each label 25 adjacent each end L and T, the labels adhere in this way to the containers C. As the containers reach the outlet end of the application pad 46, they move over the conveyor 50 and are transported from the labeling apparatus. The label feeding and printing registration station 20 includes a feed roller 21 which is driven by a conventional energy means and a brake 23 arranged to couple the feed roller 21 and the second side 14 of the web that gives out of the feed roller 21. The brake 23 is pivotally mounted on a post 24 for movement from an uncoupled position to a position engaged relative to the feed roll 21. An optical scanner 22 is mounted at a remote location to see the first side 13 of the weft 12 and the mark M in each repetitive pattern P. As the weft 12 leaves the supply roll 10, it passes over an intermediate roller 26, a roller oscillating 27 secured to an oscillating arm 28, mounted on pivot and a second intermediate roller 29 before reaching the feed roller 21. The scanner 22 scans the first printed side 13 and detects a specific mark M incorporated in the printed signals in each repetitive pattern P. The scanner 22 in the detection of each mark M operates the brake 23 to momentarily stop the feeder roller 21 and the frame 12. By stopping the movement of the weft 12 in the label feeding station 20, the weft 12 is caused to also momentarily stop in the area of the vacuum drum 40. The scanner 22 is synchronized with respect to the drum 40 and the cutters 41 so that the momentary stopping of the weft 12 occurs as many times the cutters 41 align with the heated anvil roll 42 and thereby cut a label 25 from the frame 12. The vacuum drum 40 is driven with energy at a rate of speed such that its outer engaging surface coupled by the frame 12 moves at the same speed as the normal speed of the frame 12 when the brake 23 is not stopping the movement of the frame 12. As will be appreciated, the actuation of the brake 23 stops the movement of the weft 12 while the vacuum drum 40 moves at a constant rotational speed, which will result in the frame 12 stopping momentarily and slide against the mating surface of the vacuum drum 40. The sliding of the weft 12 relative to the coupling surface of the vacuum drum 40 will obviously occur only in that area of the vacuum drum 40 on the upstream side from the coupling area between the vacuum drum 40 and the blades 41 which engage the heated anvil roll 42, ie, that portion of the weft 12 towards the glue applicator assembly 30 from the heated anvil roll 42. This stopping of the weft 12 relative to the coupling surface of the vacuum drum 40 creates a space between the rear end T of the previously cut label 25 and the end L of the incoming weft which will be the leading end L of the next label which is going to be cut. By creating the space in this way, it is possible, through the scanner 22 and the brake 23 of the label feeding system 20, to ensure that each label 25 will have the desired length in the cut and will have the signals appropriately recorded. The labels of variable lengths can be cut using the same vacuum drum 40 with the same spacing between the blades 21 simply by using a frame 12 having the M marks spaced at a different distance from that of the previously used frame 12. In this way, for example, using the same drum 40 and the cutters 41, it is possible to produce some labels that have a length, for example, of 9 inches and others that have a length of 5 inches., simply by replacing the supply roll 10 containing the web 12 with a new supply roll containing a web with the M marks at a different spacing. As will be appreciated, when the brake 23 is actuated, there will be an elementary stop in the movement of that portion of the frame 12 between the brake 23 and the vacuum drum 40, but not a corresponding stop of the movement in that portion in the frame 12. between the supply roller 21 and the supply roll 10. In order to ensure that tension is continuously placed on the weft 12 in the area between the supply roller 21 and the supply roll 10, the oscillating roller 27, mounted on the swing arm 28 mounted on a pivot, can be moved relative to the intermediate rolls 26 and 29 so as to occupy any slack resulting from the momentary stop caused by the brake 23. A leather band 17 passes around the supply roll 10 and engages the weft wound on the supply roll 10 for placing some resistance to rotation of the supply roller 10 as is well known in the art. One end of the band 17 is fixed to the frame 16 and the other end of the leather band is fixed to a tensioning means, such as a spring that attaches itself to the frame 16. After leaving the system 20 of label feeding, the weft 12 passes around three intermediate rollers 31 before it reaches the glue applicator assembly 30. With specific reference to Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5, the glue roll assembly 30 includes a hollow glue roller 32 mounted on a shaft 35 extending from a housing 36 of the roller support mounted on a support 43. The glue roller 32 has a gnarled surface 33 and an internal heater 37 for maintaining the outer gnarled surface 33 substantially at the same temperature as the glue, preferably a temperature in the range of 275 to 320 ° F using a melt adhesive , hot, like glue. An example of a suitable hot melt adhesive is one manufactured by National Adhesive of Bridgewater, New Jersey and sold as its Easy Melt item item No. 34-5598. Glue is distributed to the outer gnarled surface 33 of the glue roller 32 by a glue stick 38 having an exit groove 39. The glue stick 38 is supported on a mounting plate 61 and is flexibly pushed against the glue roller 32 by a pair of compression springs 62. The glue is pumped into the glue stick 38 through an inlet and hose passage 34 which communicates with the exit slot 39. In addition to distributing the adhesive to the glue roll 32, the glue stick 38, which is made of brass, functions to scrape the excess glue from the knotted surface 33 before that portion of the glue roll 32 reaches the screen portion. proposal to receive the glue. The excess glue cleaned by the glue stick 38 is captured in the glue tray 51 which directs the excess glue to a glue and hose return tube 52 for transport to a recycling collector. • The glue applicator assembly 20 also includes a compression roller 54 mounted on a shaft 55 supported on a pressure arm 56 by a bearing 57 and a pair of collars 58. An air cylinder 59 is secured to the end of the arm 56 of pressure opposite the bearing 57 and functions to move the compression roller 54 from a position spaced from the glue roller 32 as shown in FIG. 4 when labeling containers are not distributed to a position coupled to the glue roller 32 as shown in FIG. shows in Figure 5 when the containers are being distributed to the vacuum drum 40. Both the glue roller 32 and the compression roller 54 are driven. The compression roller 54 has a cylindrical surface 64 with an elongated depression 65 formed therein that is parallel to the axis of rotation of the compression roller 54. Positioned in depression 65 is a rubber compression pad 66, the outer surface of which extends radially outward beyond the cylindrical outer surface 64, a distance in the order of 0.025 inches. The length of the compression pad 66 and the height of the cylindrical outer surface 64 is slightly less than the width of the weft 12 so as to prevent the adhesive from inadvertently reaching the signals on the first side 13. As can be seen by the sight of the Figure 4, any time that the rubber compression pad 66 is out of alignment with the glue roll 32, there will be a slight gap 68 between the second side 14 of the weft and the surface of the glue roll 32. As discussed previously, the operation of the scanner 22 and the brake 23 when operated upon seeing the mark M is such as to momentarily stop the frame 12 during the cutting interval of a label 25 of the weft 12 when one of the knives 41 they align with the anvil 42. Since both the glue roller 32 and the compression roller 54 are driven, the presence of the gap 68 during the momentary pause of the movement of the frame 12 will result in the frame 12 sliding against the outer cylindrical surface 64 of the compression roller 54. In this way, it is important that the rotation of the compression roller 54 is synchronized with the scanner 22 and the brake 23 to be out of engagement with the glue roller 32 during the interval of any stopping of the frame 12. With reference to the Figure 3 shows the details of the vacuum drum 40 and the heated anvil drum 42. The vacuum drum 40 is mounted for rotation in a central post 70 which extends through an upper support housing 71 and is supported in a lower support assembly 72. The drum 40 has an outer coupling surface 75 for coupling the first side 13 of the weft 12 and after cutting, the coupling of the freshly cut label 25. A plurality of passages 76 extend from the coupling surface 75 and communicate with a vacuum valve 73. A plurality of blades 41, preferably 3, are mounted on the vacuum drum 40 and have cutting edges 77 that are cut. they extend radially outwardly beyond the coupling surface 75 at a distance sufficient to cut through the weft 12 to form the labels 25.

The heated anvil roll 42 can be heated by a plurality of cartridge heaters 48 and mounted for rotation in a separate parallel relationship with the coupling surface 75 of the vacuum drum 40 in a position to be engaged by the edge 77 of cutting each blade 41 as it encounters the anvil roll 42 with the weft 12 between them in each rotational cycle to thereby serve a label 25 from the weft 12. The vacuum valve 73 can be operated to apply vacuum through the passages 76 during those portions of the rotational cycle when the frame 12 initially couples the vacuum drum 40 as it arrives from the glue application assembly 30 and continues applying this vacuum to retain the labels 25 on the engagement surface 75 up to the moment in which the label engages a container C in position 44 of label-point application at which the vacuum will cease. A description of the application of vacuum, positive pressure, or vacuum or positive pressure during certain rotational cycles is provided in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09 / 024,886 filed on February 17, 1998. If As desired, the vacuum drum 40 and / or the blades 41 can be heated.

With reference to Figures 8 through 10, a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. According to this embodiment, there is provided a supply roll 110 containing a weft 112 of label material having a first side 113 with printed signals and a second side 114 which is proposed to receive the adhesive for the adhesion of a cut label from frame 112 to a container. The supply roller 110 can be rotated in a counterclockwise direction in a shaft 115 mounted on the mounting frame of the label roller. After distribution from the supply roller 110, the web 112 is fed through a label feed station 120, to a glue application assembly 130 and then to a rotary transfer or backing drum 140 containing a plurality of vacuum applicator plates 141 that receive the labels 125 cut from the frame 112 by knives 152 in a heated roller 151 The label feeding station 120 includes a feed roller 121 which is driven by a conventional energy means and a brake 123 positioned to couple the feed roller 121 and the second side 114 of the weft 112 that gives out of the roller 121 of feeding. The brake 123 is rotatably mounted on a post 124 for movement from an uncoupled to an engaged position relative to the feed roller 121. An optical scanner 122 is mounted at a remote location to see the first side 113 and the frame 112 and a mark on each repeating pattern. As the frame 112 leaves the supply roller 110, it passes over an oscillating roller 127 secured to an oscillating arm 128 mounted on a pivot and a pair of intermediate rollers 129 before they reach the scanner and the feed roller 121. The scanner 122 scans the first printed side 113 and detects a specific mark incorporated in the printed signals in each repeating pattern. The scanner 122 operatively controls a differential transmission connected to the feed roller 121 and in the detection of each mark, momentarily accelerates or decelerates the feed roller 121 and the speed of movement of the frame 112 in order to ensure proper registration of the signals with the cutters or blades 152. In contrast to the embodiment of Figures 1-7, in which the frame 12 stops momentarily at the instant of the cut, according to the present embodiment, the frame 112 moves continuously to through the label feeding station 120, the glue application assembly 130 and the rotatable transfer and backrest drum 140. Although as noted above, its movement can be accelerated or decelerated momentarily to ensure proper registration with the cutters or blades 152, its movement is continuous. The glue application assembly 130 is similar to that described with reference to the embodiment of Figures 1-7 with one notable exception. According to the embodiment of Figures 8-10, since the label 125 is die cut to a shape that can be a non-rectangular shape, thereby leaving a skeletal frame 154, it is desirable that the second full surface 114 be Cover with adhesive. Accordingly, the compression roll 154 shown in Figure 8 has a cylindrical surface which continuously pushes the weft 112 against the glue roll 132. The weft 112 with the glue applied to the second complete surface 114 is then moved to the rotatable drum 140 with its vacuum applicator plates 141. Each of the vacuum applicator plates 141 is mounted on a cam-driven shaft 142 for movement from a retracted position in which the individual labels 125 can be cut from the frame 112 to an extended position for fixing each label 125 in a container C. As the drum rotates, a camming device 157 associated with each shaft 142 moves in a slot 158 of a cam member to control the extent of radial movement of each shaft 142 and its applicator plate 141 of vacuum, associated. The degree of extension of each vacuum applicator plate 141 from the surface of the drum 140 provides a means for changing and adjusting the distance of separation between the labels 125 as they are cut by die from the frame 112 for the correspondence of the separation of the incoming C containers to be labeled.

Briefly after the coupling of the weft 112 to the rotating drum 140 and the vacuum applicator plates 141, the weft 112 is transported to the cutting station 150 where individual labels 125 are cut. The cutting station 150 includes a rotatable roller 151 which it has mounted thereon a plurality of blades 152 that are formed to die cut individual labels 125 to a specific shape from the frame 112 to leave a skeletal frame 154 that is wound on a waste collection roll 155. The blades 152 mounted on the rotatable roller 151 are positioned relative to the vacuum applicator plates 141 of the rotating drum 140 to successively cut a label 125 from the weft 112 while the die cutting knife 152 this label is aligned with a vacuum applicator plate 141. The vacuum applicator plate 141, during the period of alignment with the blade 152, also functions as an anvil against which the weft 112 is captured between the latter and the blade 152 to facilitate cutting. The roller 151 has a plurality of blades 152, preferably four, equally spaced around the roller 151 and extending outwardly at a short distance, about 1/8 inch from its cylindrical outer surface 153. The portions of the roller 151 that are within each closed shape defined by each of the blades 152 are hollowed out at least 1/4 inch from the cutting edge of each blade in order to prevent excessive heat from the roll 151 to reach the frame 112 in 125 labels that are cut by die of this. The roller 151 on the blades 152 can be heated to minimize the possibility of gluing the glue to the blades 152 as a result of the die cutting of the weft 112 through the newly applied adhesive. Instead of or in addition to heating the roller 151, a silicone spray can be directed to each of the blades 152 immediately before the blades 152 reach the area of engagement with the frame 112 and cut a tag therefrom so as to of minimizing sticking of glue to the blades 152. After removal of the skeletal web 154, each individual label 125 is supported to the vacuum applicator plate 141 with the adhesive of the second side 114 facing outward. In contrast to the embodiment of Figures 1-7 in which the frame 12 momentarily stops during cutting, according to the present embodiment, the frame 112 moves continuously. As an applicator plate 141 carrying a label 125 that rotates in the rotatable drum 140 reaches the position of the hand at ten o'clock in its rotation as shown in Figure 9, it moves by cams in a radially outward manner to an extended position such that it will couple a container C thus passing on a conveyor 160 in the twelve o'clock position shown in Figure 9. In the coupling of the label 125 with the container C, the vacuum is released from the plates 141 of vacuum applicator and container C with label 125 adhered to it continues its movement on conveyor 160 to the next processing station.

A main advantage of the present embodiment of Figures 8-10 is that the labels are transferred directly from the rotating vacuum drum in which they are die cut from the weft to a container. This is in contrast to the conventional labeling machine that requires the labels (as opposed to the web of the label material) to move in separate rotating drums before reaching a proposed container for labeling. This feature allows the modality of Figures 8-10 to have higher inline speeds than is possible with conventional machines. Many modifications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, if desired, the adhesive can be sprayed on the weft 12 or 112. In the United States Patent Application Serial No. 09 / 024,886 filed on February 17, 1998, a spraying and receiving system for recycling the adhesive is disclosed. Additionally, other types of cutting devices known in the industry could be used to cut the labels of the weft with the adhesive applied thereto. Examples of these alternative cutting devices include a modified steel rule die and laser cut. Accordingly, the scope of the present application should be determined only by the scope of the claims. •

Claims (24)

1. REI INDICATIONS 1. A method for preparing labels with pressure-sensitive adhesive within an apparatus for application to containers, comprising the steps of: (a) feeding a web of label material from a supply reel of the apparatus, the label material having a first side and a second side; (b) providing a vacuum drum that rotates at a constant number of revolutions per minute and a second drum that operates at a constant number of revolutions per minute, one of the drums having one or more blades and the other of the drums that it works like an anvil; (c) coupling the frame to one of the drums and moving the frame between one drum and the other of the drums to successively cut the screen into labels; (d) causing a variation in the speed of movement of a length of the weft, before the coupling of the weft between the knives and the anvil, wherein the first side of the label material is provided with printed signals defining a repetitive pattern having a mark, each mark is perceived by an explorer before the mark reaches the vacuum drum, the variation in speed is caused by the scanner that is related to a length of the frame containing the mark perceived before it the repetitive pattern containing the mark reaches the coupling area between the blades and the anvil, wherein the frame, after distribution from the supply roll is fed through a label recording and feeding station, characterized in which the web is additionally fed to a glue application assembly, where adhesive is applied to the second side of the web before the coupling of the web. Weave the vacuum drum and make the cut through the newly applied adhesive as well as the weave such that each label has adhesive completely at each end thereof, whereby each freshly cut label, supported on the vacuum drum , is successively engaged in a container as long as its adhesive is in a condition to adhere to the container.
2. 2 . The method according to. claim 1, characterized in that the scanner operatively controls a transmission connected to the feed roller to momentarily accelerate or decelerate the feed roller and thus the speed of the movement of the web.
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a brake is provided to momentarily stop the movement of that portion of the frame between the brake and the scanning drum.
4. The method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the glue applicator assembly includes a compression roller to be moved from a separate position from a glue roll to a position coupled to the glue roll.
5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the rotation of the compression roller is synchronized with the scanner to be out of engagement with the glue roller during the interval of stopping of the screen.
6. The method according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein one of the drums is heated.
7. The method according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein means are provided to prevent or minimize the adhesive sticking to the blades.
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein a lubricant is applied to the blades.
9. 9. The method according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the labels carried by the vacuum drum move successively in engagement with the containers.
10. The method according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the vacuum drum is provided with a plurality of vacuum application plates, the applicator plates mounted for radial movement from a retracted position when aligned with the second drum to an extended position for coupling with the containers.
11. The method according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the blade defines a closed shape for cutting a label that conforms to the shape.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the area of the second drum within the closed shape that is recessed from the edges to prevent excessive heat transfer to the labels during the die cutting step.
13. The method according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that each label is supported on a vacuum applicator plate.
14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that each of the vacuum applicator plates is extended with a label supported thereon for a fixation of the label to a container.
15. The method according to claim 14, further including the step of varying the distance away from the vacuum plates from the outer wall when in the extended position and attaching a label to the container.
16. 16. Apparatus for preparing labels with pressure sensitive adhesive for application to containers, comprising: (a) means for feeding a web of label material from a supply spool, the label material having a first side and a second side; (b) a rotating vacuum drum; (c) a second drum; (d) blades in one of the vacuum drum or the second drum; and (e) a means for causing a variation in the speed of movement of a length of the weft, before the coupling of the weft between the blade and the anvil, whereby additionally the first side of the label material is provided. with printed signals that define a repetitive pattern that has a mark, a scanner is provided to perceive each of the marks before the mark reaches the vacuum drum, the variation in speed is caused by the scan that is related to a length of the weft containing the mark received before the repetitive pattern containing this mark reaches the coupling area between the blades and the anvil and after the supply roll, a label recording and feeding station is provided, characterized in that additionally after the supply roll the adhesive application assembly is provided to apply adhesive to the second side of the adhesive. Weft prior to coupling the weft by the vacuum drum and which a knife cuts through the newly applied adhesive as well as the weft such that each label has adhesive completely at each end thereof, whereby each freshly cut label , supported on the vacuum drum, is successively coupled to a container when its adhesive is in condition to adhere to the container.
17. 17. The apparatus according to claim 16, further including a heating means in one of the drums.
18. 18. The apparatus according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that it is operatively controlling a transmission connected to the feed roller to momentarily accelerate or decelerate the feed roller and thereby speed the movement of the web.
19. The apparatus according to one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that a brake is provided to momentarily stop the movement of that portion of the frame between the brake and the scanning drum.
20. The apparatus according to one of claims 16 to 19, characterized in that the adhesive application assembly includes a compression roller, which can be moved from a separate position of a glue roll to a position coupled to the glue roll.
21. The apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that the rotation of the compression roller, included in the adhesive application assembly, is synchronized with the scanner so as to be out of engagement with the glue roller during the interval of stopping of the adhesive. plot.
22. 22. The apparatus according to one of claims 16 to 21, further including a plurality of application plates or applicator plates in the vacuum drum, the applicator plates mounted for radial movement from a retracted position when aligned with the second drum. to an extended position for coupling with the containers.
23. The apparatus according to one of claims 16 to 22, wherein the second drum is heated and provided with knives, each of which defines a closed shape for die cutting of a label that conforms to the shape.
24. 24. A label formed according to the method set forth in claims 1 to 15.