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US 6,471,802 B1Granted
Labeling apparatus and method
AssigneeGerro Plast GmbH
InventorJimmy D. Williamson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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 vacuum 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.
Claims32
A method for applying labels to articles comprising the steps of
- (a) feeding a web of label material from a supply reel, said label material having a first side and a second side, said first side having printed indicia defining a repetitive pattern having a mark;
- (b) providing (i) a vacuum drum rotating at a constant number of revolutions per minute and (ii) a second drum operating at a constant number of revolutions per minute, one of said drums having one or more knives and the other of said drums functioning as an anvil;
- (c) applying adhesive to said second side;
- (d) engaging said web to said vacuum drum and moving said web between said vacuum drum and said second drum to successively cut said web into labels, said cuts being made through both said web and newly applied adhesive;
- (e) sensing each said mark prior to said mark reaching said vacuum drum;
- (f) causing a variation in speed of movement of a length of said web containing the sensed mark prior to the repetitive pattern containing such mark reaching the area of engagement between said knives and said anvil to cause said web to slip relative to said vacuum drum;
- and
- (g) carrying said labels on said vacuum drum into engagement with said articles.
5 more elements
A method for applying labels to articles comprising the steps of
- (a) feeding a web of label material from a supply reel, said label material having a first side and a second side, said first side having printed indicia;
- (b) providing (i) a rotating vacuum drum and (ii) a second drum, one of said drums having one or more knives;
- (c) applying adhesive to at least a portion of said second side;
- (d) immediately thereafter engaging said web to said vacuum drum and moving said web between said vacuum drum and said second drum to successively cut through said adhesive and said web to form labels, said cutting being made while said adhesive is in a condition to affix said labels to said articles;
- and
- (e) carrying said labels on said vacuum drum and into engagement with said articles.
3 more elements
A method for labeling containers comprising the steps of
- (a) feeding a web of label material from a supply reel, said label material having a first side and a second side, said first side having printed indicia;
- (b) providing (i) a rotating drum, said rotating drum having a circumferential outer wall and a plurality of vacuum applicator plates, said vacuum applicator plates having a label engagement surface and being mounted for (1) rotation with said drum and (2) movement radially from a retracted position at which said label engagement surface is generally aligned with said outer wall to an extended position outwardly from said outer wall, and (ii) a second drum having knives positioned for operable engagement with said vacuum applicator plates and said web;
- (c) applying adhesive to said second side;
- (d) immediately thereafter moving said web between said rotating drum and said second drum to successively cut through said web and adhesive to form labels;
- (e) supporting each label on a vacuum applicator plate;
- (f) extending each of said vacuum applicator plates with a label supported thereon;
- and
- (g) affixing said labels to containers.
5 more elements
A method for preparing labels with 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, said label material having a first side and a second side;
- (b) providing a vacuum drum rotating at a constant number of revolutions per minute and a second drum operating at a constant number of revolutions per minute, one of said drums having one or more knives and the other of said drums functioning as an anvil;
- (c) engaging said web to one of said drums and moving said web between said one drum and the other of said drums to successively cut said web into labels;
- (d) causing a variation in speed of movement of a length of said web, prior to engagement of said web between knives and said anvil, wherein further said first side of said label material is provided with printed indicia defining a repetitive pattern having a mark, each said mark being sensed by a scanner prior to said mark reaching said vacuum drum, the variation in speed being caused by the scanner concerning a length of said web containing the sensed mark prior to the repetitive pattern containing such mark reaching the area of engagement between said knives and said anvil, wherein the web, following dispensing from the supply roll is fed through a label feed and print registration station,
- characterized in that the web is then further fed to a glue application assembly, wherein adhesive is applied to said second side of said web prior to engaging said web to said vacuum drum and cutting is performed through the newly applied adhesive as well as the web such that each label has adhesive completely to each end thereof, whereby each newly cut label, supported on the said vacuum drum, successively engages a container while its adhesive is in condition for adhering to the container.
2 more elements
A method for applying labels to articles comprising the steps of
- (a) feeding a web of material from a supply, said web having a first side and a second side,
- (b) applying adhesive directly to one of said sides,
- (c) successively cutting said web immediately following the application of said adhesive to form labels, and
- (d) applying labels to articles immediately following said step of cutting while said adhesive is in condition to adhere said labels to said articles.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.