Labeling Method and Apparatus
AssigneeExxonMobil Oil Corporation
InventorsRichard A. Rehkugler, James A. Johnson, JR., Daniel L. Hinman, Jo Ann H. Squier
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method useful for applying labels to a container, the labels having an activatable adhesive coating on a surface thereon, the adhesive is activated by contact with a low viscosity activator solution from an apparatus comprising at least a label pallet that receives a low viscosity activator solution by contact with a spinning roller, the spinning roller receives at least one stream of the low viscosity activator solution delivered or sprayed by a fluid manifold.
Claims24
A method for applying a label to a container, the label having an activatable adhesive on a surface thereof, the activatable adhesive activated by a low viscosity activator solution, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) supplying the low viscosity activator solution to a fluid manifold;
- (b) continuously delivering at least one stream of the low viscosity activator solution with the fluid manifold to at least a portion of a surface of a spinning roller;
- (c) transferring at least a portion of the low viscosity activator solution from the surface of the spinning roller to a label pallet;
- (d) contacting the activatable adhesive on the label with the low viscosity activator solution on the label pallet to activate the activatable adhesive on the label and produce an adhesive label;
- and
- (e) thereafter, applying the adhesive label to the container.
An apparatus for continuously supplying a low viscosity activator solution to an activatable adhesive on a surface of a label, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a fluid manifold adapted to continuously deliver at least one stream of a low viscosity activator solution;
- (b) a spinning roller having a surface adapted to receive the at least a portion of the stream of the low viscosity activator solution;
- (c) a label pallet having a label pallet surface adapted to transfer a portion of the low viscosity activator solution from the spinning roller surface to the activatable adhesive on the surface of the label.
A method for retrofitting a high viscosity cold glue supply apparatus to continuously supply a low viscosity activator solution to an activatable adhesive on a surface of a label, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) installing a fluid manifold adapted to continuously deliver at least one stream of the low viscosity activator solution on a spinning roller, the low viscosity activator solution having a viscosity in a range of about 5 to 1000 centipoise;
- and
- (b) providing a supply pump adapted to supply the low viscosity activator solution to an inlet of the fluid manifold at a pressure sufficient to deliver the stream of the low viscosity activator solution to the surface of the spinning roller, a spinning roller adapted to receive the stream of the low viscosity activator solution from the fluid manifold, and a label pallet adapted to transfer a portion of the low viscosity activator solution from the spinning roller to the activatable adhesive on the label.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.