Cluster of a plurality of precut individual self-adhesive labels

Abstract

 Self-adhesive labels are wound on a reel, arranged in form of a self-supporting helix or are stacked without any carrier tape. A cluster of a plurality of precut individual self-adhesive labels (3) each having a self-adhesive coat on one face and a release surface on the opposite face, the labels in the cluster being arranged in a stepped manner such that each label is in partial overlap with at least one other label.

Description

[0001] The present invention concerns self-adhesive labels destined for mechanical serial application to substrates that are to be labelled such as bottles, jars, packs and the like.

[0002] Known self-adhesive labels for mechanical application are prepared in form of laminated strips usually wound on reels and each comprising a plurality of aligned individual labels spaced from each other and bearing a self-adhesive coating on the back side mounted on a continuous carrier tape with a silicon coat, e.g. so-called silicon paper, to which the labels are applied in a readily removable fashion. Such strips are produced from a laminate consisting of an upper tape on which a plurality of labels is printed and a lower, silicon coated carrier tape. On such laminate the unprinted portions of the upper sheet are cut away by precision die cutting which does not affect the carrier tape, the waste around and between the labels is removed and the resulting strips consisting of discrete labels applied to a carrier tape is wound on a reel. In the course of application, each individual label is applied to its substrate while the carrier tape, e.g. silicon paper, is removed and has to be disposed of.

[0003] This known construction of strips of self-adhesive labels for mechanical application gives rise to ecological problems due to the need to dispose of the silicon coated carrier tape and is also wasteful in that the silicon paper accounts for about 30-50% of the costs of raw materials.

[0004] In an attempt to overcome these problems it has already been proposed to provide continuous strips of self-adhesive labels in which the back side with the self adhesive coat is not covered by a carrier tape and instead the front side has a transparent silicon coat so that in the wound state each winding sticks only loosely to the one below. While this construction indeed avoids the need for a silicon coated carrier tape such as a silicon paper, it complicates considerably the design of the automatic labelling machine so that on balance this kind of solution proved to be inadequate.

[0005] It is the object of the present invention to provide a new manner by which a plurality of self-adhesive labels are held together in forms suitable for mechanical appliation, without any carrier tape or sheet.

[0006] In the following description and claims the term "cluster" will be used in relation to a plurality of self-adhesive labels held together regardless of shape. Thus, a cluster may be in the form of a strip, a stack, a helix and the like.

[0007] In accordance with the present invention there is provided a cluster of a plurality of precut individual self-adhesive labels each having a self-adhesive coat on one face and a release surface on the opposite face, the labels in the cluster being arranged in a stepped manner such that each label is in partial overlap with at least one other label.

[0008] The release surface may be of any suitable material that readily releases the labels and then enables their severance, silicon being a typical example. Such surface may be in form of a separate layer or a coat.

[0009] In the labels according to the invention the self-adhesive coat may either be on the back side or on top, depending on the kind of desired application. For example, where the label is to be applied on the outer face of a pack, jar or bottle the adhesive coat will be on the back side. Where, however, the label is to be applied to the inside of a transparent container the self-adhesive coat will be on top of the label. In either case, that face which when the label is applied faces the onlooker may, if desired, carry some information e.g. non-verbal and/or verbal marking, as known per se. If desired, this face may be covered by a so-called face material and a coat of self adhesive material or release material, as the case may be, is put on the latter.

[0010] In a cluster according to the invention the first and last labels are in partial overlap with only one other label while all the remaining labels of the cluster are in partial overlap with two flanking labels.

[0011] Due to the fact that one face of each label bears a self-adhesive coat while the opposite one bears a release coat, the overlapping portions of two neighbouring labels stick together in such a fashion that the stack retains its configuration during shipping and handling while each label is readily severable for the purpose of application.

[0012] For better understanding the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the annexed drawings, it being understood that it is not limited thereto. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of a reel having wound thereon a strip shaped cluster of labels according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of another embodiment of a reel having mounted thereon a strip shaped cluster of labels according to the invention;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic top view of cluster of labels according to the invention in form of a self-supporting helix;

Figs. 4 and 5 are diagrammatic illustrations of two embodiments of label clusters according to the invention in form of stacks;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic cross-section through a single label for making a cluster of labaels according to the invention;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic section of two consecutive self-adhesive labels in a cluster in the form of a strip wound on a reel in accordance with the embodiment of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic illustration of one of the manners of application of labels from a cluster according to the invention; and

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic elevation of a further embodiment of a reel having wound thereon a strip shaped cluster of labels according to the invention; and

Fig. 10 is a section along line X-X of Fig. 9.

[0013] Referring first to Fig. 1, there is shown a cluster of self adhesive labels according to the invention in form of a strip 1 wound on a reel 2 with the lateral end portion of each individual label 3 partly overlaying that of the one behind it.

[0014] In the embodiment of Fig. 2 on the other hand where again a cluster of self adhesive labels according to the invention in form of a strip 4 is wound on a reel 5, the lateral end portion of each individual label 6 partly underlies that of the one behind it.

[0015] In the embodiment of Fig. 3 the cluster of self adhesive labels according to the invention is in shape of a helix 7 in which each individual label 8 overlaps a neighbouring one along a longitudinal end portion, the arrangement being mutually arranged in the manner of a king that may be equated to the fashion in which playing cards are held in the hand of a player.

[0016] The cluster of self adhesive labels according to the invention according to Fig. 4 is in form of a stack 9 in which the individual labels are arranged in a staggered fashion while in the embodiment of Fig. 5 in which the cluster of self-adhesive labels according to the invention is again in form of a stack 11, individual labels 12 are in stepped arrangement.

[0017] A typical structure of an individual self adhesive label adapted to form part of a cluster according to the invention, is shown in Fig. 6 and it comprises a main label body 13 having one face coated with a self adhesive layer 14 and the opposite face with a layer 15. Layer 15 may optionally carry printed information and is covered by a release surface 16, e.g. of silicon. If desired the layer sequence may be modified in that the self-adhesive layer is the top one while the release surface 16 is the bottom layer.

[0018] Optionally the printed layer in either of the above configurations may be covered by a face material. In the first above configuration the face material bears on top the release surface while in the second configuration it bears the adhesive layer.

[0019] In the embodiment of Fig. 7 the structure is similar but in this case the release coat or surface 19 is shown to have a depending skirt portion so that the printed layer 18 is also protected laterally. Here the label and self adhesive coat are shown in form of a single layer 17. The labels of Fig. 7 form part of a strip shaped cluster of the kind shown in Fig. 1.

[0020] Attention is now directed to Fig. 8 which shows diagrammatically a manner in which a cluster of the kind shown in Fig. 1 is used for the application of individual labels to a substrate. As shown, a tape-shaped cluster 21 is unwound stepwise from a reel 22 and the terminal label 23 is applied to a substrate 24, e.g. a can. For performance of this application the first suction device holds the one but last label 23 "while applicator 26 pushes the terminal label 23' onto the substrate 24, as signified by means of arrow 27. Applicator 26 has also suction facilities in order to ensure that the terminal label 23' remains in contact with the applicator until the label is stuck on substrate 24. When the application to the substrate 24 is completed the substrate is removed and a new one is positioned instead, the reel 22 is further unwound by one further step so that the penultimate label 23'' now becomes the terminal one and the operation is repeated.

[0021] As will be readily understood by persons versed in the art, the design of the applicator machine must depend on the shape of the self-adhesive label cluster according to the invention.

[0022] In some cases it may be desirable to incorporate in a cluster of self-adhesive labels according to the invention a continuous thread or narrow strip which is attached to the self adhesive coat whereby the severance of the labels from each other is facilitated.

[0023] Such an embodiment is diagrammatically illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10. Basically, that embodiment is similar to the one in Fig. 2 and corresponding parts are designated by the same numerals. As shown, the cluster 4 comprises a continuous thread 28 located underneath the self-adhesive coat 29 of each label 6. In the assembled cluster 1 thread 28 is wound on reel 5 between the labels.

[0024] Thread 28 may be coated with or made from release material.

Claims

1. A cluster of a plurality of precut individual self-adhesive labels (3,6) each having a self-adhesive coat (14,17) on one face and a release surface (16,19) on the opposite face, the labels in the cluster being arranged in a stepped manner Such that each label is in partial overlap with at least one other label.

2. A cluster according to Claim 1 wherein said release surface is a separate layer (16).

3. A cluster according to Claim 1 wherein said release surface is a coat (19).

4. A cluster according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 being in the form of a strip (1,4)in which lateral end portions of each two neighbouring labels partly overlap, mounted on a reel.

5. A cluster according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 being in the form of a self-supporting helix (7) in which longitudinal end portions of each two neighbouring labels partly overlap.

6. A cluster according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 being in form of a stack (9) in which the labels are arranged in a staggered fashion.

7. A cluster according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 being in form of a stack (11) in which the labels are arranged in a stepped fashion.

8. A cluster according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 in which that face of each label which when the label is applied faces the onlooker, is covered by a face material which bears a coat of self adhesive material.

9. A cluster according to any one of Claims 1 to 7 in which that face of each label which when the label is applied faces the onlooker, is covered by a face material which bears a release surface.

10. A cluster according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein that face of each label which when the label is applied faces the onlookers, carries printed information.

11. A cluster according to any one of Claims 1 to 10 wherein the release coat (19) comprises a depending skirt covering the edges of the layer underneath.

12. A cluster according to any one of Claims 1 to 11, wherein a continuous thread or narrow strip (28) is attached to the self-adhesive coat of each label so as to extend between the labels, whereby the severance of the labels from each other is facilitated.

Drawing