Labelling system and method

A process for providing cut labels for labelling a series of containers with labels providing images to be displayed, comprising the steps of:

• providing an elongated flexible label base carrying a series of images printed thereon and wound into a supply roll, said images including registration indicia along the elongated label base, said registration indicia being located along said elongated label base corresponding to locations to be cut across said elongated label base;
• passing said label base through means for sensing said registration indicia and through a cutter;
• sensing input data from two sources, namely:
• (1) sensing a first registration indicia with said means for sensing said registration indicia to provide first location data to a digital means for processing data;
• and thereafter sensing a subsequent second registration indicia with said means for sensing said registration indicia to provide second location data to said digital means for processing data;
• and,
• (2) sensing a cutter position of said cutter to provide cutter position data to said digital means for processing data;
• calculating a first label length with said digital means for processing data based on said sensed first location data and said sensed second location data;
• driving a controlled speed motor in response to signalling from said digital means for processing to advance said elongated label base through said cutter at a first base feed rate corresponding to said first label length and to said cutter position;
• determining an anticipated location of a third registration indicia with said digital means for processing data based on said location data and said first label length;
• sensing a third registration indicia with said means for sensing said registration indicia to provide actual third location data to said digital means for processing data;
• comparing said anticipated location of the third registration indicia with said actual third location data with said digital means for processing data to determine a first registration variance;
• modifying said calculated first label length with said digital means for processing data based on said first registration variance to establish a calculated second label length;
• modifying said first base feed rate to a second base feed rate by signalling said controlled speed motor with said means for processing data to synchronize the label feed rate and said cutter;
• and,
• sequentially cutting singular labels with said cutter at said predetermined locations to be cut on said elongated flexible label base.

A process for labelling a series of containers with a labels providing images to be displayed, comprising the steps of:

• providing an elongated flexible label base consisting essentially of a single-ply transparent film having a thickness of less than about two mils and having an inside surface and an opposite outside surface;
• first printing a plurality of sequenced printed images along said elongated flexible label base on the inside surface of said film, wherein the printed images are reverse printed on the inside surface in a mirror image of the images to be displayed on the containers;
• printing a substantially opaque coating over the inside surface of said film at least on portions of said film not printed with said printed image wherein essentially all of the inside surface of the transparent film is coated with a print coating to provide substantial opacity across essentially all of the label;
• sequentially cutting singular labels having a printed image thereon from said elongated flexible label base;
• wrapping and adhering the cut labels around an outside surface of the container with the reverse printed image being located between the transparent film and the container, wherein said printed image is viewable through the single-ply film as the displayed image and the opaque coating obstructs viewing of the container through the film, wherein said sequentially cut labels have registration indicia along their inside surface, and further comprising the step of machine reading said registration indicia, wherein said registration indicia comprise a series of printed marks on said inside surface.

A process for labelling a series of containers with a labels providing images to be displayed, comprising the steps of:

• providing an elongated flexible label base consisting essentially of a single-ply transparent film having a thickness of less than about two mils and having an inside surface and an opposite outside surface;
• first printing a plurality of sequenced printed images along said elongated flexible base on the inside surface of said film, wherein the printed images are reverse printed on the inside surface in a mirror image of the images to be displayed on the containers;
• printing a substantially opaque coating over the inside surface of said film at least on portions of said film not printed with said printed image wherein essentially all of the inside surface of the transparent film is coated with a print coating to provide substantial opacity across essentially all of the label;
• sequentially cutting singular labels having a printed image thereon from said elongated flexible label base;
• wrapping and adhering the cut labels around an outside surface of the container with the reverse printed image being located between the transparent film and the container, wherein said printed image is viewable through the single-ply film as the displayed image and the opaque coating obstructs viewing of the container through the film, wherein said sequentially cut labels have registration indicia along their inside surface, and further comprising the step of machine reading said registration indicia, wherein said registration indicia comprise a series of light transmissive windows which allow light transmission through said single-ply film.