GB2119746A

GB2119746A - Labelling plastics objects, such as plastics containers

Info

Publication number: GB2119746A
Application number: GB08311398A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gerard Millet
Original assignee: Millet Marius & Cie
Current assignee: Millet Marius & Cie
Priority date: 1982-05-04
Filing date: 1983-04-27
Publication date: 1983-11-23
Also published as: CH652677A5; GB2119746B; FR2526566B1; IT8367474A0; DE3314263A1; DE3314263C2; GB8311398D0; NL8301398A; IT1162852B; BE896420A; FR2526566A1

Abstract

A process for the labelling of plastics objects, such as a plastics container (1), wherein the label (2) is made from a material which can be thermosealed and wherein all or part of the edges of the label (2) are fixed to the container (1) by thermosealing. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Process for the labelling of plastics objects, such as plastics containers The invention is concerned with a process for the labelling of plastics objects and articles, such as plastics containers.

For labelling containers, the use of strips of labels coated with glue, or an adhesive of the permanent type, on their rear surface has, in general, been adandoned, because of high production costs and the reduced rates of fabrication which they entail.

In fact, the manipulation of these strip-labels coated with glue or an adhesive, is delicate and does not permit rapid rates of production to be achieved.

It has therefore been envisaged that this glued label be replaced by a sheath made of flexible material, and cut, or pre-cut, to the desired length; the sleeve thus obtained is placed around the can, according to the quality of the material used, it is: either thermally contracted in order to obtain a hold on the article, or during its positioning, because of its flexibility, it is stretched and the memory of the material when freed from the positioning tension, causes it to hold fast to the sides of the can.

However, this type of labelling is difficult, and the positioning and hold on the can are, in many cases, considered to be uncertain, even defective.

The present invention has, in particular, the aim of overcoming these disadvantages.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a process for the labelling of a plastics object, such as a plastics container, wherein all or part of the edges of a label, which is made from a material which can be thermosealed, are fixed to said object by thermosealing.

According to one embodiment of the invention, two opposite edges of the label are fixed by thermosealing, along the generative edges of a container or object of plastic material.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the container is surrounded by the label in such a way that two of its opposite edges are superimposed along the same generative edge of the container, and the two superimposed edges of the label are sucessively, or simultaneously fixed together and to the can, by thermosealing.

The invention is described further, by way of example oniy with reference to the appended drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates, in perspective, a first method for fixing a label onto a can; Figure 2 is a sectional view long A-A of the can shown in Figure 1, provided with its label; Figure 3 is a view, in perspective, of another method of applying the process of the invention; Figure 4 is a section along B-B , of the can in Figure 3, provided with its label, and Figure 5 is a view, in perspective, of a can provided with another type of label.

The present invention thus has the aim of labelling objects, containers, and in particular, cans, in a way which can be carried out at a rapid rate, with the use of an economical label, and thus at lower cost, while ensuring a very firm fixation of the label to the container.

The process consists of the use of a label made from a material which can be thermosealed, the decoration and inscriptions on this label being either printed on one of its surfaces, or arranged in a sandwich between two layers of this thermo seaiable material.

In the case where the decoration and the inscriptions are applied to one of the surfaces of the strip, they may be applied either to the surface of the label which comes in contact with the wall of the container, if the label is made of transparent material, or in contrast, to the opposite surface if this label is made of opaque material.

According to the invention, objects, and containers, such as cans, are used which are made of plastics material, and all or part of the edges of the label are fixed to the container by thermosealing.

Of course, the plastics material which forms the object or the container, must be selected from those which are compatible with the material of the label, for thermosealing.

In the example as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the can is of generally parallelopiped shape and is to receive a label of thermosealable material 2, coming off a roll of printed strip which forms the labels and which is cut during welding.

The length of this label is slightly greater than the perimeter of the can 1, 50 that it completely surrounds it and so that the two extreme edges 2 and 22 are superimposed along a generative edge X-X of the parallelopiped can.

The operation of thermosealing is carried out by means of a heating matrix, and is intended to achieve, successively or simultaneously, the assembly by thermosealing of the two superimposed ends 2, and 22, to each other and against the wall of the can.

This labelling operation can be carried out at a rapid rate by cutting the end 2, of the label 2, along the generative edge X-X of the can, and then winding the label around this can in the direction of the arrow F, the end 22 then being applied against the end 21.

Of course, the two edges of the label 2, can also be placed side-by-side if the cutting of the label corresponds to the perimeter of the can, and in this case, the two edges 21 and 22 are fixed either simultaneously or successively, against the adjacent generative edges of the can.

In the example shown in Figure 1, the can has two rims 11, 12 which between them delineate a tubular section 13, the size of which corresponds to that of the label 2.

This arrangement prevents snagging of the label during manipulation or transportation of the can.

In the example shown in Figures 3 and 4, a square can 3 is provided with a label 4, the length of which is less than that of the perimeter of the can.

In this case, the two extreme edges 4, and 42 are fixed to two different and spacially-separated generative edges of the can by thermosealing, and this permits a handle to be added while still labelling the four surfaces of the container.

The two longitudinal edges 43, 44 of the label, may also be fixed by thermosealing using heating pincers rotating about an immobile or reversing can.

The process according to the invention, also allows certain parts of the label to be fixed to the can by thermosealing, in order to conform with various safety standards imposed by legislation, these parts of the label carrying, for example, inscriptions relating to advice or precautions to be taken during use of the product contained in the can.

In the example shown in Figure 5, the label is fixed to the can 6, so that it only covers a part of one of its lateral surfaces, this label being fixed to the can along the whole of its periphery.

Furthermore, if this appears to be necessary or desirable, these labels can be fixed locally to the cans by thermosealing according to points or lines distributed over the surface of the label.

Claims

1. A process for the labelling of a plastics object, such as a plastics container, wherein all or part of the edges of a label, which is made from a material which can the thermosealed, are fixed to said object by thermosealing.

2. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein two opposite edges of the label are fixed by thermosealing along generative edges of the plastics object.

3. A process as claimed in claim 2, wherein the object is surrounded by the label in such a manner that two opposite edges of the label are superimposed along the same generative edge X-X of the object, and wherein the successive or simultaneous fixation of the two superimposed edges of the label, to each other and onto the object, is carried out by thermosealing.

4. A process for labelling of objects, such as containers, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.