|
(11) | EP 0 249 242 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (54) | Manual labelling apparatus |
| (57) A manual labelling apparatus comprising (A) a pay-off section (114) for delivering
a label-holding sheet (12) having labels (11) provisionally attached strippably to
its surface, the labels (11) containing pressure-sensitive microcapsules (4) and having
a function of handling time and temperature upon rupture of the microcapsules (4),
(B) a driving roller device (115) for delivering the label-holding sheet (12) from
the pay-off section (114), (C) a pressure applying means (121, 122, 123) for applying
pressure sufficient to rupture the microcapsules (4) in the labels (11) to the sheet
(12) delivered by the driving roller device (115), (D) a stripping means (116) for
stripping the labels (11) from the sheet (12) delivered by the driving roller device
(115) when the sheet (12) is wrapped around, and reversed past, the front end portion
(116a) of the stripping means (116), (E) a label applicator means (117, 118) for applying
each of the labels (11) to an object at a position corresponding to the front end
(116a) of the stripping means (116), (F) a gripping section (112), and (G) a manual
lever (113) positioned in relation to the gripping section (112), the lever (113)
being fixed pivotably to the body (11) of the apparatus and adapted to rotate the
driving roller device (115) when manually actuated pivotably. |
[0001] This invention relates to a manual labelling apparatus for applying labels to objects to be labelled from a label-holding sheet to which they are provisionally attached in succession. Particularly, it relates to a labelling apparatus for applying color-changeable labels which contain a pressure-sensitive microcapsular layer and have a function of changing in color depending upon temperature-time relations after rupture of the microcapsules.
[0002] A manual labelling apparatus used in retailers such as department stores and supermarkets is adapted to deliver intermittently by a manual lever operation, a tape-like label-holding sheet having labels provisionally attached thereto, wrap the sheet around a front end portion of a stripping plate which is positioned immediately before an applicator roller, allow it to travel in an opposite direction, strip the labels one by one from the label-holding sheet, and press the label which has moved to a position immediately beneath the applicator roller to an object to be labelled.
[0003] In the distribution chain of fresh perishable foods, food packs are generally preserved at predetermined low temperatures. However, the retailers or consumers, for example, cannot easily determine the propriety of the handling of such chilled foods in the individual steps of the whole distribution chain, and have no way but to rely upon the suppliers.
[0004] Color-changeable labels which can accurately display and record temperature changes in the distribution chain have been developed and gained commercial acceptance for labelling perishable food packs which require chill preservation. As shown in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings, a color-changeable label is comprised of a base sheet 1 such as a paper sheet or a synthetic resin film, a developer layer 2 containing a developer 2a, a spacer layer 3 for controlling the developing time and a microcapsular layer 5 containing pressure-sensitive microcapsules 4 holding a dye-precursor and a substance having a predetermined melting point (the contents of the capsules are indicated by 4a) formed in this order on the surface of the base sheet 1, and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 6 on the back of the base sheet 1. The color-changeable label is provisionally attached strippably to a separable layer 8 on a label-holding sheet 7. The developer 2a and the dye precursor do not react at a temperature below the melting point of the aforesaid substance having a predetermined melting point, and unless the microcapsules are ruptured, no color forming reaction occurs. When the microcapsules 4 are ruptured and the label is exposed to a temperature above the melting point of the aforesaid substance, the substance melts, and the liquid containing the melted dye precursor passes through the spacer layer 3 over a predetermined time and reaches the developer layer 2. In the developer layer 2, the developer 2a and the dye precursor react to form a color. This color reaction permits simple and convenient indication of improper temperature control. Hence, in applying the color-changeable labels, it is necessary to activate them by rupturing the microcapsules 4 prior to application to commodity packs. It has been desired therefore to develop a manual labelling apparatus equipped with a microcapsule rupturing mechanism.
[0005] The microcapsules 4 are produced by emulsifying a solution of a colorless or pale-colored coloration aid (dye precursor), such as 4,4ʹ-bis(N-dimethylamino)-4ʺ-ethoxytriphenylmethane, 3-diethylamino-6-methyl-7-anilino-9-(2ʺ-ethylphenylcarboxamide)phenylxanthine and 3-dibutylamino-7-(o-chloroanilino)fluolane, in a hydrophobic organic solvent having a predetermined melting point, such as ethyl myristate (m.p. 12°C), ethyl palmitate (m.p. 24°C) and heptyl caprylate (m.p. -20°C), to form an o/w emulsion, and covering the droplets of the emulsion with a thin film of a natural or synthetic polymer such as gelatin, urea/formaldehyde resin and melamine/formaldehyde resin. Generally, they are minute synthetic capsules produced by methods known in the art such as the complex coacervation method, the interfacial polymerization method and the in-situ polymerization method, and usually having a size of 1 to 100 micrometers, preferably 2 to 20 micrometers, more preferably 3 to 10 micrometers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an object of this invention to provide a manual labelling apparatus equipped with a pressure applying mechanism for rupturing microcapsules contained in labels.
[0007] Another object of this invention is to provide a manual labelling device equipped with a rupturing mechanism which can uniformly press the surface of a label entirely or partially and rupture microcapsules in the label easily and accurately without degrading the appearance of the label itself.
[0008] Further objects of this invention along with its advantage will become apparent from the following description.
[0009] According to this invention, the above objects and advantages of this invention are achieved by a manual labelling apparatus comprising
(A) a pay-off section for delivering a label-holding sheet having labels provisionally attached strippably to its surface, said labels containing pressure-sensitive microcapsules and having a function of handling time and temperature upon rupture of the microcapsules,
(B) a driving roller device for delivering the label-holding sheet from the pay-off section,
(C) a pressure applying means for applying pressure sufficient to rupture the microcapsules in the labels to said sheet delivered by the driving roller device,
(D) a stripping means for stripping the labels from said sheet delivered by the driving roller device when the sheet is wrapped around, and reversed past, the front end portion of the stripping means,
(E) a label applicator means for applying each of the labels to an object at a position corresponding to the front end of the stripping means,
(F) a gripping section, and
(G) a manual lever positioned in relation to the gripping section, said lever being fixed pivotably to the body of the apparatus and adapted to rotate the driving roller device when manually actuated pivotably.
Figure 1 is a rough side sectional view of one embodiment of the manual labelling apparatus of this invention;
Figure 2 is a rough perspective view showing the state of a label-holding sheet having labels provisionally attached thereto as it is reversed at the front end portion of the stripping means and the labels are stripped from it; and
Figure 3 is a sectional view of a label-holding sheet to which labels are provisionally attached.
[0010] The manual labelling apparatus of this invention will now be described in detail with reference to Figure 1.
[0011] A body 111 of the apparatus has a gripping section 112, and a manual lever 113 is pivotably fixed to the body 111 in relation to the gripping section 112. A pay-off section 114 is provided for receiving a roll of a tape-like label-holding sheet 12 having labels 11 provisionally attached thereto strippably. The label-holding sheet 12 is adapted to be delivered by a driving roller device 115 provided in the body 111 of the apparatus.
[0012] The driving roller device 115 is comprised of a driving roller 115a and a pair of idler rollers 115b and 115c, and ahead of the driving roller device 115 is provided a stripping plate 116 whose front end portion 116a is formed in an acute angle. The front end portion 116a of the stripping plate 116 projects beyond the front portion 111a of the body 111 of the apparatus, and an applicator roller 117 is mounted on the body 111 of the apparatus in proximity to the upper part of the projecting part of the front end portion 116a. A supporting member 118 for the applicator roller 117 is provided.
[0013] The driving roller 115a of the driving roller device 115 is driven intermittently only in a direction in which the label-holding sheet is delivered by the turning operation of the manual lever 113, and for transmitting the rotation of the driving roller 115, a known gear interlocking mechanism 130 having a fan-like gear is ordinarily utilized. Alternatively, it may be driven by using a stepping motor which is switched on and thus sets in motion by the turning operation of the manual lever 113.
[0014] Intermediate between the driving roller device 115 and the applicator roller 117 is provided a rupture mechanism 121 which comprises a solenoid 122 and an actuating rod 123 and can rupture pressure-sensitive microcapsules contained in the color-changeable labels. When the solenoid 122 is energized, the actuating rod 123 descends and its lower portion 123a stamps the color-changeable labels. The solenoid 122 is energized through a power supply 124 provided within the body 111 of the apparatus or by an external power supply. The action of the solenoid 122 is synchronized with the intermittent delivering action of the label-holding sheet 12 and controlled such that the actuating rod 123 can accurately stamp the presure-sensitive microcapsules contained in the labels 11 on the sheet 12 at a right stop position. Specifically, the solenoid 122 is energized , for example, by a switch which is turned on an off in synchronism with the turning operation of the manual lever 113.
[0015] With the above construction, the label-holding sheet 12 is delivered by the operation of the manual lever 113, and as soon as the label 11 on the label-holding sheet 12 comes to a position immediately below the rupturing mechanism 121, the rupturing mechanism 121 operates. In the illustrated embodiment, the actuating rod 123 descends and stamps the label 11 to rupture the pressure-sensitive microcapsules contained in the label 11. By repeating this operation, the labels 11 on the label-holding sheet 12 are successively struck and when the travelling label-holding sheet is reversed past the front end portion 116a of the stripping plate 116, the label 11 is stripped from the label-holding sheet 12 by the reaction force at the time of reversing with its rear end portion left on the sheet 12 (see Figure 2). The label can thus be applied to the object by the applicator roller 117. The label-holding sheet 12ʹ which is travelling after reversing is taken up by the driving roller 115a and the idler roller 115c and released out of the body 111 of the apparatus.
[0016] While in the above embodiment, a mechanism based on the solenoid method has been described as the rupturing mechanism 121, it should be understood that a mechanism comprising a pair of press rollers, a mechanism comprising an impact dot matrix printer, and a mechanism comprising a striking hammer utilizing the force of a spring may also be employed as the rupturing mechanism 121. In Figure 1, the reference numeral 119 represents a release opening provided in the body 111 of the apparatus, and 120, a return spring attached to the manual lever.
[0017] The manual labelling apparatus of this inven tion has the advantage that the label applying operation can be performed easily. It is very effective for quality control of commodity in retailers at the other end of the distribution chain. Many troubles which may be caused by insufficient quality control can be prevented. Furthermore, for rupturing microcapsules, rupturing means incorporated in conventional manual labeling apparatuss can be built easily at low cost. The manual labelling apparatus of the invention also has a great utilitarian value.
(A) a pay-off section (114) for delivering a label-holding sheet (12) having labels (11) provisionally attached strippably to its surface, said labels (11) containing pressure-sensitive microcapsules (4) and having a function of handling time and temperature upon rupture of the microcapsules (4),
(B) a driving roller device (115) for delivering the label-holding sheet (12) from the pay-off section (114),
(C) a pressure applying means (121, 122, 123) for applying pressure sufficient to rupture the microcapsules (4) in the labels (11) to said sheet (12) delivered by the driving roller device (115),
(D) a stripping means (116) for stripping the labels (11) from said sheet (12) delivered by the driving roller device (115) when the sheet (12) is wrapped around, and reversed past, the front end portion (116a) of the stripping means (116),
(E) a label applicator means (117, 118) for applying each of the labels (11) to an object at a position corresponding to the front end (116a) of the stripping means (116),
(F) a gripping section (112), and
(G) a manual lever (113) positioned in relation to the gripping section (112), said lever (113) being fixed pivotably to the body (111) of the apparatus and adapted to rotate the driving roller device (115) when manually actuated pivotably.