CA2235582A1

CA2235582A1 - Separator for linerless labels

Info

Publication number: CA2235582A1
Application number: CA002235582A
Authority: CA
Inventors: John E. Traise
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Moore Business Forms Inc
Priority date: 1995-10-31
Filing date: 1996-10-28
Publication date: 1997-05-09
Also published as: JPH11514618A; PT858422E; EP0858422B1; WO1997016369A1; BR9611413A; CN1075031C; DE69612392D1; CN1201435A; DE69612392T2; EP0858422A1; US5862968A; MX9803415A; NZ321813A; US5853117A; AU7523396A; AU708026B2

Abstract

Linerless labels are cut or burst from a web (W) by passing the web (W) through infeed and outfeed pairs of rolls (12, 14; 30, 32) with a separator device located therebetween. Each roll pair includes a friction surface for engaging the slick smooth surface (S) of the web and another roll with a silicone elastomeric or plasma-coated surface for engaging substantially without gripping the exposed adhesive side (A) of the linerless label web (W).
In the cutting mode, a rotary blade severs (42) the web against a fixed blade (40) to form the label. The infeed rolls (12, 14) are backed up after each cut to break the adhesive bond between the web (W) and the fixed blade (40) and then reverse to advance through the cutting position and into the outfeed rolls (30, 32) for a subsequent cutting operation. The outfeed rolls (30, 32) continue to advance the cut linerless label to a receiving station. In a bursting mode, the web (W) is perforated and a roller breaker bar (80) is disposed between the infeed and outfeed rolls (12, 14; 30, 32) to break the web (W) along the perforations to form the linerless label.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a hand~ing system for linerless labels and particularly relates to a cutting or burstiing system for separ;~ting linerless labels wiith egposed adhesive on one side from a web thereof.

:BAC~:GROUND

There are many prior art pieces of equipment for detachiing or bu~ g continuous business forms in general (see, for e~nple, Reissue Patent No. 30398 cmd U.S. Patent No. 3,741,461), as well as la apparatus for bursting conventiional labels with release sheets from a fanfollded stack, such as illustrated in U.S. Patents Nos. 5,100,0~0 and 4,375,189. Separating linerless labels, however, from a web of labels with the adhesive e~posed along one side and a slick surface on the opposiite side presents different problems and the typical equipment 20 for det~hin,, or bursting continuous business forms or b~ iug conve~l~ional labels with release sheets is not appropriate for det~ching linerless labels.

DISCLOSURE OF TH~ INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided a separation device for procP!;.sing linerless labels from a web typically ~mzln ,~in,, from a roll of linerless label material, the web having adhesive e~posed along one side and a slick surface along the opposite 30 side. The mechanism of the present invention forms the label from the web b y a cutting or bursting operation. In either mode, the cut or WO 97/16369 PCT/US96/]7210 burst position is controlled by a ~le~ .Led hming mark on the label web. For e~ample, when cutting, the hming mark on the web controls the cut line position. When bu~ g successive labels from the web, the hming mark is used to initiate the bursting mechanism. Thus, the 5 web of labels is preprinted with a hmin g mark and, in the case of b LLI ~ L, I .g, is additionally preperforated in synchronization with the timing mark. Note that mOEginal punchings are not used with the label stock or with the separation mechanism to advance the web through the merh~ni.sm Generally, the separating mechanism hereof includes a pair of infeed rolls which are maintained in pressure contact with the label web passing through the nip of the rolls. The upper roll is a high friction elastomer or grit roll for positively contacting the slick surface 15 of the label web, while the lower roll has either a silicone elastomer-covered or non-stick pl~.~m~-covered surface which is non-cohesive with the adhesive side of the label web. The infeed rolls are driven by a first motor responsive to a controller which, upon reading the timing mark, stops the infeed rolls in position for the 20 cutting operation. A pair of outfeed rolls, disposed downstream from the infeed rolls, are operated by a second motor independently of the first motor driving the infeed rolls. Between the infeed and outfeed roll pairs is a cutting me- h ~ni.cm comprised of a cylinder mounting a transversely e~tending blade, preferably in a slight heli~ orientation 26 relative to the a~is of the cylinder, and mounted on one side of the web preferably in opposition to the slick upper side of the web. A fi.~ed cutting blade lies preferably on the opposite side of and below the web.
The cylinder-mounted cutting blade may rotate a full 360~ to cut the web or may be oscillated between successive cuts through the web. In 30 either case, the web is cut from one side edge to the other because of the heli~ confiD~ration of the movable blade. A wicking roll is provided to oil the movable blade and prevent the build-up of adhesive along the blades.

In operating the separator mefrh~fni~m of the present invention 5 in a cut;ting mode, the infeed and outfeed rolls are d~Liven in svnchronism and the movable cutting blade rotates in position to effect the cut; through the web fro.m one side edDe to the opposite side edge.
To cut, the infeed and outfeed rolls are stopped in a position locating the web for a transverse cut; at a predetermined longit~lf~'in~fl locat;ion 10 along the web in ~fligT?fment ~ith the fi~ed blade. Following the cut, the infeed rolls are backed or reversed to a slight de~,ree to break the fugiti~7e adhesive bond of the web from the fiYed blade of the cut-off merh~.~rfi.~m, while thLe outfeed roll pair are advanced forwardly to discharge the cut label. Altfernatively, both infeed and outfeed rolls 1~ may be stopped after the cut to hold the cut label in cut position and then the outfeed rolls can be pro~ ..ed to rotate at a second rotational speed, effecting a clean transfer of the severed label to a receiving device and without the need for cooperation with the infeed pair of rolls. While the cut cylinder may rotate 360~, an alternative 20 formL of the invention provides for the cut cylinder to oscillate between a home position and a cut position.

In a bursting mode, and instead of a rotary pivotal cylindrical cutter r oll with a cutting blade, a smooth breaker bar is used in 25 conjunction with the perforated web. The outfeed rolls can be acceleraLted upon s~n.S;ng th~e timing mark to effect separation of the labels ~ong the perforations against the breaker bar.

In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, 30 whereill there is provided a separator having a pair of infeed rolls with a ILip therebetween, a pair of outfeed rolls ~ith a nip therebetween and a separating member between the pairs of rolls, a method of separating linerless labels disposed in a web wherein the web has a first surface that will not readily adhere to adhesive on a second surface thereof, c~ ,;sing the steps of (a) advancing a leading 5 portion of the web through the nips of the infeed and outfeed pairs of rolls in a first direction and past the separating member between the pairs of rolls with the second surface facing away from the separating member as the web moves in the first direction, (b) sPn.sin~ timing marks on the web and (c) sequentially separating the web into 10 linerless labels by moving the separating member to engage the web in response to periodically sensing the timing marks.

In a further preferred embodiment according to the present application, there is provided apparatus for det~china linerless labels 1~ from a web having a slippery surface coating on one side and an adhesive coating e~posed along its opposite side comprising a pair of infeed rolls rotatable about para~lel a~es and forming a nip therebetween, with at least one roll thereof ha~ing a high friction surface for engaging the slippery coated side of the web and another 20 roll thereof having a substantially non-stick surface for contact with the ~he~sive coating of the web, a pair of outfeed rolls rotatable about axes parallel to one another and to the a~es of the infeed rolls with at least one roll thereof having a substantially non-stick surface for contact with the ~lhesive coating, a separation device between the 2;: pairs of infeed and outfeed rolls for separating the web into linerless labels, a sensor for sensing a mar~ on the web and providing an output signal in response thereto and means responsive to the output signal for act~ ng the separation device for forming the linerless labels.

WO 97116369 PCT/US96tl7210 Accordingly, it is a priInary object of the present invention to provicle a novel and i~u~ed separator merh~nicm for separating ]Linerless labels from a web thereof in a manner which achieves higher throughput, improved r~ hility and longer life for the system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE D~AWINGS

FIGURE 1 is a schemLatic side elevation~l view of a separator accorcLing to the present invention;
FIGURE 2 is a schemLatic end elevational view of the infeed rolls;

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational view illLu~l~aLil,g the cutting 15 merh~lni.~m on a cut roller;

FIGURES 4 and 5 are illu~l~dLve of the helicallLy oriented cutting blade at the be~inn;n g and end of the cut, respectively;;

FIGURE 6 is a s~hPm~ic illustration of the infeed rolls b~rl~ng up to break the fugitive ~ e~ive bond between the cut label and the web; ~nd;

FIGURE 7 is a schematic illLustration of a separator hereof in a 25 bl2rstL~Lg mode.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring now to the clrawings, particularly to Fi~Jure 1, there is 30 illustrated a separator, generally ~e~ ted 10, according to the present inventiLon, for forming diLscrete linerless labels from a web W of label material. The separator may be employed in a cuttinO mode or in a bursting mode. In either mode, the web of labels is provided with ~1e~ ted timing marks T along one side for purposes of controlling the cutting or bursting position of the web, as ~i~l become apparent 6 from the ensuing description. Thus, the hming marks are used to initiate the separating merh~ni.sm In the bursting mode, the web W
of labels has transversely e~tending lines of perforation whi ch are severed on bu~ g to form discrete linerless labels. As illustrated, the web W is preferably taken from a roll R of web material. The web, 10 as illustrated, has an e~posed adhesive surface A along its underside and a slippery surface, i.e., a .si1icnne-coated surface, along its upper side. The slippery surface does not readily adhere to the a&esive surface when the web is in roll form. As indicated previously, marOainal punching is not used with the label stock.
The separator merh~ni.sm 10 includes a pair of input rolls 12 and 14 t~finin,a, a nip through which the web W is passed. The rolls are mounted for rotation between a pair of opposed frames 16, only one being illustrated in Figure 1, and are maintained in pressure 20 contact with web W by means of a garter spring 18. Spring 18 extends about the end a~les 20 and 22 of the rolls 12 and 14, respectively, and a dead post 24. The dead post 24 ret~ins the spring on the assembly while facilitating removal of either roll 12 or 14 for j~m clearance or clez?ning. As illustrated, a motor M1 is mounted on a side fr~me 16 26 and includes a pulley or belt 26 for connection with the rollers 1~ and 14 for driving the rollers in forward and reverse directions as described below. The upper roll 12 preferably has high friction elastomer or grit roll surface for effectin~, positive contact with the slick silicone-coated side of the web W. The lower roll 14 has either a 30 silicone elastomer or a non-stick pl~m~ surface, both of which effect little or no cohesion with the a&esive A along the underside ~f the CA 0223.,.,82 1998 - 04 - 22 label ~veb W. It will be appreciated that the orientation of the web and infeed. rolls can be reversed. with t~he a&esive on top of the web in contact with the roll 14 ancl the slick surface on the bottom of the web in contact with the roll 12.

A pair of outfeed rolls 30 and 32 are ~imil~rly positioned downstre~m from the infeed rolls 12 and 14 and define a nip between whic]h t]he cut labels are ad ranced for disp~n~ing from the separator 10. T.he rolls 30 and 32 are mounted ~~imil~rly as the infeed rolls, 10 employing a garter spring~ '34. T]he outfeed rolls 30 and 32 are driven by a separate motor ~2 through a pulley arrangement 36. The rolls 30 and 32 are of substantia~ly identical constrllction with the rolls 12 and 1~1, respectively, of the infeed rolls.

16 Between the infeed rolls and the outfeed rolls, there is provided a cy3inder assembly 37 on which is mounted a fi~ed blade 40 in opposition to a cyliLnder 38 C~yiLIg a blade 42 movable with the cyliLnder 38. The blade 40 serves as a fi~ed anvil in opposition to the movable blade 42, the f~ed and movable blades 40 and 42 e~tending 20 along the underside and upper sides of the web W, respec tively.
Cylinder 38 is mounted for rotation about an a~is in the opposite supporting walls 16 and is driven by a separate motor M3. As illustrated in Fip,ure 3, movable blade 42 forms a heli~ angle with the a~cis of rotation of cylinder 38. Consequently, the cutting proceeds 25 with the cooperation of movable and f~ed blades 42 and 40, respec:tively, from the high end of the blade (the left side of Figure 3) to the low end of blade 42 (the right side of blade 42 in Figure 3), assu~Ling clockwise rotation of the cylinder 38 in Figure 1. Thus, cutting is effected from one side edge of the web to its opposite side 30 edge, with low incremental cutting pressure a~ainst the label being severed. Thus, discrete rotation of the cylinder 38 from a home position illustrated in Figure l through an initial cut position illustrated in Figure 4 to the complete cut position illustrated in Figure 6 is necessary to effect a through-cutting of the web.

The cylinder 38 is mounted for complete 360~ rotation which facilitates the oiling of the blade by a wicking cylinder 50. The wicking cylinder includes a felt roll assembly 52 having an outside diameter which slightly interferes with the periphery of the rotary blade 42 as it sweeps past the felt roll ~2. The felt roll 62 is supported 10 on ball bearings and is not driven. Oiling is accomplished by a series of oil drip positions co.. ,~. ising passages ~3 through a top bar 54.
AltPrn~t.ively, the cylinder 38 may be mounted for oscillatory motion about its axis. Osrill~tory motion is preferred for improved cycle times where label lengths are relatively short.
1~
As illustrated in Figure l, there is provided an optical reader 60 for s~n.cin~ the timing marks T as they pass a predetermined position.
An oul~ul signal from the optical reader 60, responsive to sensing a timing mark, is input to a controller C which, in turn, controls the 20 operation of motors Ml, M2 and M3.

With the web W in the position illustrated in Fig,ure 1 extending between the nips of both the infeed and outfeed roll pairs, the roll pairs are driven in synchronism by motors Ml and M12, respectively.
25 Upon sPn.cin~ the passage of a timing mark T, the controller stops the motors Ml and M2 so that the cut cycle may proceed. With the motor M3 lotaLil.g the cut cylinder 38 through 360~ or osrill~1~ng the movable blade 42, the blade 42 cooperates with the fixed blade 40 to sever the web W at a location providing a predetermined length of cut 30 label. Following the cut, the motor Ml is reversed by the controller C.
This reverses or backs up the infeed rollers 12 and 14 to break the CA 0223.,.,82 1998 - 04 - 22 fugitivl~ bond of the adv~n~in~ web W from the fi~ed blade 40, whiLe the outfeed roDLs are again advanced by operation of motor M2 to discharge the cut label from t;he separator 10. Once the fugitive bond is broken, the motor M1 rev,erses direction to rotate the infeed rolLs in 5 a direction to advance the web W through the cutting assembly and the outfeed rolLs. Thus, the outfeed rolLs may be driven at one rotatio:nal speed for infeeding, m~t~ing the speed of the infeed rolLs, braked to then hold the cut :Label in its cut position and rotated at a second rotationaL speed folLowing cut-off tO effect clean transfer of the 10 severed label to a receiving means, not shown, and without the need to cooperaLte with the infeed roUs 12 and 1~. By independently controlling the motors M1 and M2, the infeed and outfeed roUs can be advanced essentia~Ly on f~Pn-~nd for predetermined interva]Ls as desirecL.
1~
][n the bu~ Lg mode of operation as illLustrated in Fi~,~re 7, essentiaUy the same basic merh~ni.~m is employed. In the bursting mode, however, a breaker bar 80 is substituted for the rotatable blade.
The fi~ed blade 40 may remain in place or be replaced with a smooth 20 edged arbor against which the adv~nring web wou]Ld impinge, whi]Le the rotary breaker bar processes to effect separation. In this form, however, the web is manufactured with transversely e~tending perforaLtions such that the discrete labels are formed by bre~king the perforaLtions separating t~Le label from the web. In the Lul~liLLg 26 operation, the movement of the web need not be stopped when forming each discrete label. That is, the bursting operation may be continuous.
AdditiLonally, the b~L~LiLLg operation may use the controller to speed up the outfeed rolls once the hming mark has been sensed to effect LilLg of the label from the web along the line of perforations.

W~ile the invention has been described in conrlection with what is presently considered to be the most pr~c~l and preferred embo-liment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the col.Ll~y~ is intended 5 to cover various mo~;fic~ion.q and equivalent a~angements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. In a separator having a pair of infeed rolls with a nip therebetween, a pair of outfeed rolls with a nip therebetween and a separating member between the pairs of rolls, a method of separating linerless labels disposed in a web wherein the web has a first surface that will not readily adhere to adhesive on a second surface thereof, comprising the steps of:

(a) advancing a leading portion of the web through the nips of the infeed and outfeed pairs of rolls in a first direction and past the separating member between the pairs of rolls with the second surface facing away from the separating member as the web moves in the first direction;

(b) sensing timing marks on the web; and (c) sequentially separating the web into linerless labels by moving the separating member to engage the web in response to periodically sensing the timing marks.

2. A method according to Claim 1 wherein the labels of the web are separated by lines of perforation and wherein step (c) includes bursting the labels between the infeed and outfeed pairs of rolls along the lines of perforations by moving the separating member.

3. A method according to Claim 1 wherein the separation member includes a cutting blade mounted for movement about an axis and has a length at least as great as the width of the web of labels and wherein step (c) includes cutting the web by displacing the cutting blade about said axis to cut discrete labels from the web.

4. A method according to Claim 3 including rotating the cutting blade substantially one complete revolution between sequential cuts along the web.

5. A method according to Claim 3 including oscillating the cutting blade about said axis between successive cuts along the web.

6. A method according to Claim 3 including engaging the cutting blade against a wicking element to clean the blade, thereby at least minimizing adhesive build-up from the labels on the blade.

7. A method according to Claim 3 including stopping the advancing web prior to cutting the web to form each linerless label.

8. A method according to Claim 7, wherein the dispenser includes a fixed cutting blade, and further including the step of, following cutting the web to form a label, reversing the direction of rotation of the infeed rolls to displace the web relative to the fixed cutting blade in a second direction opposite said first direction.

9. A method according to Claim 8 including, while said web is being displaced in said second direction, operating the outfeed pair of rollers to advance a cut label in said first direction.

10. A method according to Claim 3 wherein the dispenser includes a fixed cutting blade and the movable blade has a helix angle about said axis, and including the further steps of stopping the web prior to cutting the web and progressively cutting the web from one side edge thereof to an opposite side edge and against said fixed blade by moving the helically mounted blade about said axis.

11. Apparatus for detaching linerless labels from a web having a slippery surface coating on one side and an adhesive coating exposed along its opposite side comprising:

a pair of infeed rolls rotatable about parallel axes and forming a nip therebetween, with at least one roll thereof having a high friction surface for engaging the slippery coated side of the web and another roll thereof having a substantially non-stick surface for contact with the adhesive coating of the web;

a pair of outfeed rolls rotatable about axes parallel to one another and to the axes of said infeed rolls with at least one roll thereof having a substantially non-stick surface for contact with the adhesive coating;

a separation device between said pairs of infeed and outfeed rolls for separating the web into linerless labels;

a sensor for sensing a mark on the web and providing an output signal in response thereto; and means responsive to said output signal for actuating said separation device for forming the linerless labels.

12. Apparatus according to Claim 11 wherein the web has transversely extending perforations at spaced longitudinal positions along the web, said separation device including a breaker bar movable toward and away from the web to burst the web along the perforations into linerless labels.

13. Apparatus according to Claim 11 wherein said separation device includes a fixed cutting blade and a cutting blade pivotal about an axis and cooperable with said fixed cutting blade to cut the we into discrete linerless labels.

14. Apparatus according to Claim 13 wherein said pivotal cutting blade is rotatable in one direction and sequentially cuts linerless labels from said web upon substantial completion of each full revolution thereof, respectively.

15. Apparatus according to Claim 13 wherein said pivoted cutting blade oscillates between home and cutting positions to cut the linerless labels from the web.

16. Apparatus according to Claim 13 wherein said pivotal cutting blade is mounted at a helix angle relative to its pivotal axis whereby said pivotal blade and said fixed blade cooperate to cut the web progressively from one side to its opposite side.

17. Apparatus according to Claim 13 wherein said infeed rollers are reversed in rotation upon cutting a linerless label from the web to back the web away from the fixed cutting blade.

18. Apparatus according to Claim 17 wherein the outfeed and infeed pairs of rollers are driven by independently actuated outfeed and infeed motors, respectively, said outfeed motor being operable to rotate the outfeed pair of rollers in a direction to remove the cut linerless label from the apparatus said infeed motor being operable to reverse the direction of rotation of the infeed rollers to back the web away from the fixed cutting blade after the web has been cut to form each linerless label.