[0001] This invention relates to a labelling apparatus and method.
[0002] Most labelling systems in general use at the present time utilise pre-gummed labels,
i.e., labels which have previously been coated with an adhesive. Such pre-gummed labels
are very expensive compared to plain paper labels, i.e., labels which have not been
pre-coated with adhesive.
[0003] The present invention has as its object to provide a labelling apparatus and method
which utilises relatively cheap plain paper labels cut from a roll of label material
and which comprises simple but effective means for transporting the labels.
[0004] The present invention provides labelling apparatus comprising a supply of label material
in the form of a roll of that material, a cutter unit to which the label material
is fed from the roll for labels to be cut in the label material, stationary support
means for the cut portion of the label material, an adhesive applying station operable
to apply adhesive to the labels whilst the cut portion of the label material is supported
by the stationary support means, a label applying station, means for moving the cut
portion of the label material to which adhesive has been applied from the adhesive
applying station to the label applying station over the stationary support means,
means for successively transporting articles to be labelled to the label applying
station, and means at the label applying station for applying the labels with adhesive
thereon to the articles. The apparatus may comprise rewind means to which the web
or matrix from which the labels have been cut is attached for rewinding.
[0005] The present invention also provides a method of applying labels to articles comprising
the steps of feeding label material from a roll thereof to cutter means operable to
cut labels in the label material, feeding the cut label material to stationary support
means, applying adhesive to the labels whilst the cut label material is supported
by the stationary support means, feeding the cut label material having adhesive applied
to the labels over the stationary support means to a label applying station, and applying
the labels with adhesive thereon to the articles at the label applying station.
[0006] The cut label material may be retained in engagement with the stationary support
means by vacuum means as it moves thereover. The labels to which adhesive has been
applied may be applied to the articles by first peeling the labels from the remainder
of the label material and then applying them to the articles. Alternatively, the labels
may be applied to the articles directly from the label material as the latter reaches
the label applying station. In this case, air jets may be provided in the stationary
support means at one or more predetermined locations for blowing each label from the
remainder of the label material to the required article. Thus the stationary support
means forms part of the label applying station.
[0007] The means for applying adhesive to a surface of each label may be of any suitable
kind and may comprise, for example, one or more spray nozzles for spraying adhesive
onto a surface of each label or one or more jet printing nozzles.
[0008] Where the adhesive is applied using one or more jet printing nozzles then these may
be of the drop-on-demand or continuous drop kind. Where the jet printing means is
of the drop-on-demand kind then it may comprise a plurality of jet printing nozzles
each of which is adapted to direct single individual droplets of adhesive onto said
surface of a label and control means for selectively and individually controlling
said nozzles so that droplets of adhesive can be directed onto said surface of a label
in a required predetermined pattern. If the jet printing means is of the continuous
kind then the means may comprise one or more nozzles each adapted to produce a continuous
single stream of droplets of adhesive and electrostatic or other suitable means for
directing the individual droplets of adhesive to selected positions on a said surface
of a label or to a drain or gutter.
[0009] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the adhesive applying
means comprises means for directing a continuous stream of drops of a said liquid
in a direction to traverse and not impinge on a surface to which the liquid is to
be applied, means for effecting relative movement between a said stream of drops and
a said surface in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the stream
of drops, means for selectively electrically charging the drops of liquid in said
stream, and means for establishing a steady electric field about the path of travel
of said stream of drops for deflecting the electrically charged drops onto said surface.
[0010] The means for applying the labels with adhesive thereon to said articles may be of
any suitable kind and may comprise, for example, a plurality of air jets for blowing
the labels onto the articles, a wrap-around belt, suitable reciprocating means, or
the like.
[0011] Further transport means may be provided for transporting the labels with adhesive
thereon from said adhesive applying station to said label applying station.
[0012] Labelling apparatus in accordance with the invention will now be described in greater
detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of the apparatus,
Figure 2 is a view to a larger scale of a portion of Figure 1,
Figure 3 is a view generally similar to that of Figure 2 but showing an alternative
embodiment, and
Figure 4 is a view from below of Figure 3.
[0013] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the labelling apparatus comprises a roll of label material
1 which may be plain paper, a cutter unit 2 in the form of a pair of rollers 3, 4,
the roller 3 being profiled at 5 to cut the desired label shape in the web of label
material 6 on being fed from the roll 1 to the cutter unit 2. The web 6 is taken from
the roll 1, around a guide roller 7 and between a pair of pinch drive rollers 8 to
the cutter unit 2. A print registration sensor 9 is provided immediately prior to
the cutter unit 2 as is conventional.
[0014] From the cutter unit 2 the web of cut label material is taken to stationary support
means in the form of a box 11 which is closed save for a perforate front plate 12
over which the cut label material moves. The pressure within the box 11 is held below
atmospheric pressure by a suction fan unit 13, whereby the cut label material is held
in engagement with the outer face of the front plate 12. The box 11 has an end portion
14 which is removable in order that an end portion of a size appropriate to the size
of label being handled can be employed. An adhesive applying station 15 is provided
having means for applying adhesive to the labels whilst the latter are in engagement
with the box front plate 12.
[0015] A grid and air jet assembly 16 is located closely adjacent the end portion 14 of
the box 11, the grid 17 of the assembly receiving the individual labels as they are
peeled from the cut portion of label material, the remaining web portion or matrix
18 of label material being attached to a driven roll 19 which serves not only to rewind
the matrix but also to transport the cut portion of label material over the front
plate 12 of the box 11. The labels, such as indicated at 21 in Figure 1, are peeled
from the cut portion of the label material by virtue of the matrix 18 being taken
around a relatively small diameter roller 22. In as much as a label when peeled from
the matrix 18 will tend to curl downwardly from the leading edge, two air jets 23
are provided to prevent this curling and to assist in the transfer of the label to
the grid 17 on which it is held by vacuum in the conventional manner. Also in a conventional
manner, air jets 24 (Figure 2) of the assembly 16 are positioned in a predetermined
manner such that when actuated, the label 21 is blown from the grid 17 to an article
(not shown) which is brought close to the label. Thus the gird and air jet assembly
16 forms part of a label applying station.
[0016] The matrix 18 is taken to the rewind roll 19 from the peeler roller 22 via two rollers
25 and 26 one or both of which may be a tension roller.
[0017] Turning now to Figures 3 and 4, there is shown a portion of an alternative embodiment,
Figure 3 being a view generally similar to that of Figure 2, namely a view of the
end portion of the stationary support means. In this embodiment the air jet and grid
assembly 16 is dispensed with and the end portion of the stationary support means
forms part of the label applying station. The stationary support means is in the form
of a box 27 as in the embodiment of Figure 2 and is again closed save for a perforate
front plate 28. The box 27 is shown horizontal rather than inclined as in Figures
1 and 2.
[0018] A suction fan unit 29 provides the subatmospheric pressure within the box 27 to retain
the web or matrix of cut label material 31 in contact with the outer surface of the
box front plate 28. As seen in Figure 3, the web 31 has labels 32 already cut therein
with adhesive having been applied thereto. As before, the web 31 is pulled over the
box front plate 28 by a rewind roll (not shown) to which the matrix is attached downstream
of a roller 33 provided at the end of the box 27. At this end of the box 27, selected
apertures 34 in the front plate 28 are fitted with air jets 35 which when actuated
blow the label 32A thereunder onto an article (not shown) which has been brought into
the vicinity in known manner. Figure 5 shows the web or matrix 31 of label material
with cut labels 32 still retained therein and other labels removed on being applied
to articles, having apertures 36 in the matrix.
[0019] The stationary support, such as the box 11, for the cut portion of label material
replaces the previously used roller, conveyor or other movable components, whereby
the present invention dispenses with moving parts to decrease the cost of production
and also the cost of maintenance of the labelling apparatus. The embodiment of Figures
3 and 4 affords further savings in construction and maintenance costs by dispensing
with the air jet and grid assembly, thus giving rise to a significant advance in the
art.
1. Labelling apparatus comprising a supply of label material (6,31) in the form of
a roll (1) of that material, a cutter unit (2) to which the label material (6,31)
is fed from the roll (1) for labels (21,32) to be cut in the label material (6,31),
stationary support means (11,27) for the cut portion of the label material (6,31),
an adhesive applying station (15) operable to apply adhesive to the labels (21,32)
whilst the cut portion of the label material (6,31) is supported by the stationary
support means (11,27), a label applying station (16,27), means (19) for moving the
cut portion of the label material (6,31) to which adhesive has been applied from the
adhesive applying station (15) to the label applying station (16,27) over the stationary
support means (11,27), means for successively transporting articles to be labelled
to the label applying station, and means (24,35) at the label applying station for
applying the labels (21,32) with adhesive thereon to the articles.
2. Labelling apparatus according to claim 1, comprising vacuum means (13, 29) for
retaining the cut label material (6,31) in engagement with the stationary support
means (11,27).
3. Labelling apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said stationary support
means (11,27) comprises a box (11,27) which is closed except for a perforate front
plate (12,28) over which the cut label material (6,31) moves.
4. Labelling apparatus according to claim 3, wherein suction fan means (13,29) is
provided for reducing the pressure within said box (11,27).
5. Labelling apparatus according to any one of. the preceding claims, comprising rewind
means (19) for rewinding the label material matrix (18,31) after the labels (21,32)
have been removed thereform.
6. Labelling apparatus according to claim 5,0 wherein said rewind means comprises a driven roll (19) which serves both for rewinding
the label material matrix (18,31) and for transporting the cut portion of the label
material (6,31) over the stationary transport means (11,27).
7. Labelling apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said
label applying station comprises a perforate grid (17,28) with which the labels (21)
or label material (31) are(is) held in contact by vacuum pressure and-air jet means
(24,35) for transferring the labels with adhesive thereon from the grid (17,28) to
an article to be labelled.
8. Labelling apparatus according to claim 7, comprising means (22) for separating
the labels (21) from the label material matrix (18).
9. Labelling apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said grid (28) is part of the
stationary transport means (27) and wherein said air jet means (35) is adapted to
transfer the labels (32) directly from the label material matrix (31) to an article
to be labelled.
10. Labelling apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said
adhesive applying station (15) comprises at least one jet printer for applying adhesive
to the labels (21,32).
ll. A method of applying labels (21,32) to articles, comprising the steps of feeding
label material (6,31) from a roll (1) thereof to cutter means (2) operable to cut
labels (21,32) in the label material (6,31), feeding the cut label material (6,31)
to stationary support means (11,27), applying adhesive to the labels (21,32) whilst
the cut label material (6,31) is supported by the stationary support means (11,27),
feeding the cut label material (6,31) having adhesive applied to the labels (21,32)
over the stationary support means (11,27) to a label applying station, and applying
the labels with adhesive thereon to the articles at the label applying station.
12. A method according to claim 11, which comprises maintaining the cut label material
(6,31) in contact with the stationary support means (11,27) by applying vacuum pressure
through a perforate support surface of the stationary support means.