WO2008146107A1

WO2008146107A1 - Labelling band and method of production of such labelling band

Info

Publication number: WO2008146107A1
Application number: PCT/IB2008/000956
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vincenzo Battista
Original assignee: DELES IMBALLAGGI SPECIALI Srl; FINLOGIC Srl
Current assignee: DELES IMBALLAGGI SPECIALI Srl; FINLOGIC Srl
Priority date: 2007-05-30
Filing date: 2008-04-11
Publication date: 2008-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 2009-11-30
Also published as: ITMI20071102A1

Abstract

A labelling band (1) comprises only one support (2) adapted to receive at least one attachable portion (3a, 3b) in a removable manner and supports at least two attachable portions (3a, 3b) comprising attachable portions (3a, 3b) of a different geometric conformation and/or different material, respectively.

Description

LABELLING BAND AND METHOD OF PRODUCTION OF SUCH LABELLING BAND

D e s c r i p t i o n

The present invention relates to a labelling band, to be used in assembly and identification operations of complex goods made up of several pieces/parts, as well as to a method of production of such a labelling band.

It is known that during assembling of different complex items (such as electronic instruments or machinery parts), labelling of each of the different parts of these items may be necessary; labelling can meet different purposes, such as correct identification of the different parts, affixing of a mark certifying execution of a quality control or of a "sealing" the function of which is to protect the use conditions for which there is a guarantee for the final consumer.

The labelling operations mentioned above are usually- carried out at the same moment; in other words, it is necessary to label different pieces or parts almost simultaneously, and it is therefore necessary that the number of the available labels be the same as that of the labelling operations to be executed.

At this point it is to be observed that for carrying out the labelling operations, different types of labels may be required as regards sizes, reproduced contents/messages and constituent materials (paper, polymeric or metallic materials) .

The just described known art has some drawbacks, in particular in terms of promptness and logistic aspects — ? —

of the operation itself.

Generally, affixing of the different labels takes place manually; either positioning (also in an automated manner) of a single label each time or positioning of individual identical attachable portions each time is carried out; this is time-consuming or at all events involves use of different machines and of different rolls of adhesive labels, thus bringing about complications for supplies.

Further unfavourable aspects of the process management and the logistics based on labels of known type can be summarised as follows: - presence of several types of labels to be managed in the magazines;

- increase in the^" installation costs due to the fact that for each label a printer is required;

- decay 'of the quality of the finished product due to the possibility of label exchange by the operators

(which involves that mistakes in labelling are more likely to occur) .

Accordingly, the present invention aims at conceiving a labelling band and accomplishing a method of producing the same that are able to obviate the drawbacks set out above .

In particular, the present invention aims at conceiving a labelling band that can be used in labelling operations/operations for affixing seals or quality controls, which are carried out with very reduced operating times and do not require use' of complicated machinery or great skill by the working staff. In addition, the present invention aims at producing a labelling band that can be made also starting from already available semifinished products, with a minimum impact in terms of re-organisation of the production process and with use of simple and cheap machinery.

The foregoing and further aims are achieved by a labelling band and a method of production of such a labelling ^' band in accordance with the present invention, having the features shown in the appended claims and illustrated hereinafter in an embodiment thereof given by way of non-limiting example and with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the labelling band in accordance with the present invention; and

- Figs. 2, 3 and 4 show two diagrammatic views of production plants capable of implementing the method of production of the labelling band seen in Fig. 1 and in accordance with the present invention.

With reference to the drawings, the labelling band of the invention is generally denoted at 1 and substantially comprises a support 2 adapted to receive at least one attachable portion; advantageously, the labelling band of the present invention is of such a nature that support 2 carries at least two attachable portions 3a^ 3b of different geometric conformation and/or different material.

Within the scope of the present invention, the "attachable portions" therefore are formed of elements adapted to be used as labels; these attachable portions consist of webs and/or thin sheets of a continuous material (i.e. without pre-notches or separation lines) or having a suitable shape or pre-punching. In turn, the mentioned at least two attachable portions 3a, 3b (that can also be more than two in number, as explained in the following) comprise two or more series respectively (or a variety) of labels disposed along respective extension axes: depending on current requirements, these attachable portions 3a, 3b (that, as said, can comprise series or a variety of labels) have different sizes and/or relative spacings and/or constituent materials.

In order to ensure correct positioning of the labels, also present is at least one layer of adhesive material 4 which is interposed between support 2 and said attachable portions 3a, 3b; according to a particular aspect of the present invention, the labelling band 1 can even comprise a plurality of layers of adhesive material 4 having sizes and/or constituent materials different from each other and associated with a respective attachable portion.

In other words, it is possible to arrange different types of adhesives depending on the corresponding types of attachable portions/series of labels.

In a particularly appreciable embodiment of the present invention, the labelling band shown in Fig. 1 is structured as follows:

- first of all a support 2 made of paper of the "glassine" type is present, which paper is preferably supercalendered and/or monosilicone-treated (according to current expressions in this technical application field) ;

- then a first attachable portion 3a made of paper of the "vellum" type (the base colour of which can be white, for example) is present; acting on this first attachable portion is a first layer of adhesive 4a based on permanent acrylic material modified in an aqueous emulsion (structurally, this first layer of adhesive 4a is interposed between support 2 and the first attachable portion 3a) ;

- then a second attachable portion 3b made of a vinyl film (preferably white in terms of "base colour" and semilucent) is present, on which a second ^' layer of adhesive 4b of the "permanent type and based on an acrylic material in an aqueous emulsion" operates (which is structurally interposed between support 2 and the second attachable portion 3b) ; and finally

- a third attachable portion 3c is present which is made of a polyester film (preferably having an opaque silver "base colour"), on which a third layer of adhesive 4c operates (which is structurally interposed between support 2 and the third attachable portion 3c) .

It is to be noted with reference to the non-binding embodiment shown in Fig. 1 and just described, that the different attachable portions 3a, 3b and 3c are disposed in mutual side by side relationship along support 2, but if necessary the extension direction of each attachable portion relative to the surface of support 2 can be differentiated both in terms of course

(of the rectilinear, curved, winding type and so on) and in terms of length (for instance, a given attachable portion can be as long as the length of the support, or can be interrupted before the end of one of the two base sizes of the support itself) .

Still with reference to the embodiment in Fig. 1, it will be recognised that the "vellum" paper is ideal for heat-transfer print while the permanent acrylic adhesive material modified in an aqueous emulsion is adapted for a wide range of applications and in a wide range of temperatures.

Nevertheless the white semilucent vinyl film advantageously has low resistance to working and can be used to make safety labels.

On the other hand, the adhesive of the permanent type based on acrylic material in emulsion has excellent features in terms of initial adhesion, a very low minimum application temperature (about 10⁰C) and excellent resistance to light radiation.

At the same time, the opaque silver polyester film has optimal features in terms of tensile strength, resistance to tearing and dimensional stability, and can be conveniently submitted to a treatment known in the application field of the present invention with the commercial name of "TOP COATING - Series CP) .

Correspondingly, the permanent acrylic adhesive in an aqueous emulsion has good adhesion to non-polar surfaces and optimal conversion properties.

As regards support, it is possible to note that the "glassine" paper (that as previously seen can be super- calendered and/or treated with monosilicone and can have a base colour known in the particular field with the term of "larch") performs a protective function for labels in all fields in which they are worked by means of automatic-application machines and in addition it is particularly adapted for automated dispensing through photoelectric cell.

It is also an objet of the present invention a method of production of a labelling band, which comprises the following steps:

- initially, preparing a support 2 and at least two (or more) attachable portions 3a, 3b; - advantageously, subsequently associating both attachable portions 3a, 3b (or all portions, if they are more than two) with the sole support 2.

Conveniently, the associating step is carried out in such a manner as to bring the attachable portions 3a, 3b in mutual side by side relationship along support 2.

In more detail, it is possible to see that the step of preparing at least two attachable portions 3a, 3b first of all comprises a sub-step of arranging at least two rolls of labels (each of which comprises a respective backing or mounting layer and a single attachable portion placed on the mounting itself) and also comprises a subsequent sub-step of separating each of the individual attachable portions from the respective rolls.

Obviously, the mountings of the "individual" rolls are discarded.

Depending on current requirements, the present method further comprises a step of preparing at least one (or a plurality) of layers of adhesive material 4, which will be conveniently interposed between support 2 and the attachable portions 3a, 3b.

Depending on the type of labelling band that is wished to be obtained, the just described method (as hereinafter claimed) can involve some different operating sub-steps. For instance, if a single type of adhesive is wished to be used, it is possible to put into practice the method implemented by the machinery shown in Fig. 2; in this embodiment the method comprises the following steps:

- preparing a support 2 by unrolling it from a first roll 5;

- preparing a layer of adhesive material 4 by spreading it on said support following unrolling from the first roll 5 (and immediately downstream of the unrolled roll

5);

- arranging the at least two attachable portions 3a, 3b, by unrolling them from at least one second and one third roll 6, 7 (that, as previously described, will be rolls containing a single attachable portion for each of them, respectively: possibly, a fourth roll 8 can be present, if three different attachable portions are wished to be provided) ; this unrolling of the second and third rolls is carried out after the step of arranging the adhesive layer 4; and finally

- the at least two attachable portions 3a, 3b are associated with support 2 by carrying out rolling (or an equivalent procedure) of said portions on support 2, so that the layer of adhesive material 4 is interposed between the attachable portions 3a, 3b and the support 2 itself.

In the alternative embodiment described above reels can be advantageously produced with a machine capable of making the support adhesive "by sectors" (i.e. with a machine selectively laying the layer of adhesive material only on some areas of support 2, thereby avoiding the adhesive being laid on those parts of the support that do not receive/carry the attachable portions) and having a system of simultaneous unwinding and coupling of different faces.

If, on the contrary, a labelling band is wished to be made in which different adhesive materials (both in terms of laying area and chemical composition) are required for the different attachable portions, the method of the invention can be implemented with the machinery diagrammatically shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

In this case, the method comprises the following steps: - a support 2 is provided by unrolling from a first roll 5;

- at least two attachable portions previously provided with adhesive 3a, 3b are prepared by separation of the labels from respective mountings wound on rolls 9, 10, 11; these separation operations of the second and third rollers are carried out after the step of arranging the layer of adhesive 4;

- the mountings of the attachable portions previously- provided with adhesive 3a, 3b are collected on waste rollers 12, 13 and/or 14;

- two or more attachable portions previously provided with adhesive 3a, 3b (and possibly 3c or more) are associated with support 2 by carrying out rolling (or an equivalent procedure) of the latter on support 2, so that each of the respective layers of adhesive 4a, 4b and/or 4c is interposed between the attachable portions previously provided with adhesive 3a, 3b and the support 2 it-self.

In this alternative embodiment of the method therefore it is not necessary to contemplate laying of the adhesive as it has already been "spread" on the attachable portions previously provided with adhesive.

Still with reference to the second alternative embodiment of the method, it will be recognised that it may be convenient to provide for use of material already provided with adhesive, separation of same from the respective films (previously referred to as "mountings") and coupling ,to a support (that can be paper of the "glassine" type, as previously described, having a density varying between 60 g/m and 80 g/m) .

In the hitherto described different possible methods of putting the invention into practice, laying of the adhesive on support 2 can advantageously be carried out so as to foresee "clear" regions on the support 2 itself, where the adhesive is not laid; these regions correspond to those parts of the support for example that are not covered with the attachable portions, and therefore must not be sticky.

As already said, the "attachable portions" described can consist of sheet-like elements not yet edged or sheet-like elements previously punched; obviously, if previously punched elements are used, a sub-step of punching and/or shaping the true labels can be provided starting from non-shaped attachable portions or portions obtained from "continuous" material, in particular after the step of associating attachable portions with the support.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, it is also possible to contemplate a step of aligning and/or synchronising laying of the attachable portions on the support; this aligning and/or synchronising step has the technical task of maintaining a correct longitudinal (i.e. along the extension axis of support 2) and/or transverse (i.e. along the perpendicular to the extension axis of support 2) alignment, so that a correct relative positioning of the different attachable portions 3a, 3b and/or 3c is maintained in terms of side-by-side arrangement and also at the same time so that the correct positioning is maintained in view of a possible collective punching (which is carried out after the step of associating the attachable portions with the support) .

Operatively, this alignment and/or synchronisation step is carried out by suitable control units 15, 16, 17 and

18 (or more generally, as many control units as there are different attachable portions to be laid on the sole support) , which are operatively active on the attachable portions before the step of associating the same with support 2, following the operating modalities shown in Fig. 4.

The invention enables important advantages to be achieved.

First of all, the particular construction architecture of the labelling band allows different pieces of attachable portions to be arranged simultaneously, and at the same time enables different materials to be provided for the attachable portions; this great variety of shapes and materials is clearly an operative advantage when different labels are to be affixed onto an assembled item or an item under assembling.

Moreover, the present structure of labelling band allows easy handling also by unskilled staff and at all events can be used in suitable label rolling _,up/assembling machinery, also of known type.

Secondly, the labelling band of the invention can be easily and quickly prepared also from "individual" label webs already available on the market without particular cost increases, by virtue of a simple and quick method of production; this helps in ensuring a low final cost of the labelling band.

In both the described variants of the method, the labelling bands thus produced can be printed and punched by normal machines in use in labelling workshops; in particular, the second variant of the method is based on machinery that can be conveniently- integrated in line with a machine for label printing and punching.

Finally, the present invention enables implementation of a production method that is very flexible in terms of variety of items and very advantageous in terms of low production and sale costs of the labelling band itself.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. A labelling band comprising a support (2) adapted to receive at least one attachable portion in a removable manner, characterised in that said support (2) carries at least two attachable portions (3a, 3b) of different geometric conformation and/or different material.

2. A labelling band as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said at least two attachable portions (3a, 3b) comprise series/ varieties of labels disposed on respective longitudinal extension axes.

3. A labelling band as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said at least two attachable portions (3a, 3b) have different sizes and/or relative spacings and/or constituent materials.

4. A labelling band as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that it further comprises at least one layer of adhesive material (4) interposed between the support (2) and said at least two attachable portions (3a, 3b), the labelling band (1) preferably comprising a plurality of layers of adhesive material (4) having sizes and/or constituent materials that are different from each other and associated with a respective one of said attachable portions .

5. A labelling band as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises: - a support (2) preferably made of "glassine" paper preferably super-calendered and/or mono-silicone- treated; - a first attachable portion (3a) made of preferably white "vellum" paper, a first layer of adhesive material (4) based on a permanent acrylic material modified in an aqueous solution being more preferably- interposed between the support (2) and the first attachable portion (3a) ;

- a second attachable portion (3b) made in the form of a semilucent preferably white vinyl film (4b) , a second layer of adhesive material (4b) of the "permanent type based on an acrylic resin in emulsion" being more preferably interposed between the support (2) and the second attachable portion (3b) ; and

- a third attachable portion (3c) made in the form of a preferably opaque silver polyester film, a third layer of adhesive material (4b) being more preferably interposed between the support (2) and the third attachable portion (3c), said first, second and third attachable portions (3a,

3b, 3c) being brought into mutual side by side relationship along the support (2).

6. A method of production of a labelling band, comprising the following steps:

- preparing a support (2) and .

- preparing at least two attachable portions (3a, 3b), characterised in that it further comprises a step of associating said at least two attachable portions (3a, 3b) with said sole support (2), said associating step being preferably carried out so as to bring said at least two attachable portions (3a, 3b) in mutual side by side relationship along the support (2).

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that said step of preparing at least two attachable portions (3a, 3b) comprises: - a sub-step of arranging at least two rolls of labels, each of said rolls comprising a respective mounting layer and a single attachable portion placed on said mounting; and

- a subsequent sub-step of separating each of said individual attachable portions from said rolls.

8. A method as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterised in that it further comprises a step of preparing at least one and preferably a plurality of layers of adhesive material (4) interposed between the support (2) and said at least two attachable portions (3a, 3b).

9. A method as claimed in anyone of claims 6 to 8, characterised in that it comprises the following steps: - preparing a support (2) by unrolling from a first roll (5); preparing a layer of adhesive material (4) by carrying out spreading on said support following said unrolling; - arranging at least two attachable portions (3a, 3b) by unrolling from at least one second and one third roller (6, 7), said unrolling of the second and third rolls being carried out after the step of preparing the layer of adhesive material (4); and - associating the at least two attachable portions (3a, 3b) with the support (2) by carrying out rolling of the latter on the support (2), the layer of adhesive material (4) being interposed between the attachable portions (3a, 3b) and the support (2).

10. A method as claimed in anyone of claims 6 to 8, characterised in that it comprises the following steps:

- preparing a support (2) by unrolling from a first roll (5); - preparing at least two attachable portions previously provided with adhesive (3a, 3b) by separation of the labels themselves from respective mountings wound on rolls (9, 10), said separation of the second and third rolls being carried out after the step of preparing the layer of adhesive material (4);

- collecting on waste rolls (12, 13, 14) the mountings of the attachable portions previously provided with adhesive (3a, 3b); and

- associating the at least two attachable portions previously provided with adhesive (3a, 3b) with the support (2) by carrying out rolling of the latter on the support (2), the layer of adhesive material (4) being interposed between the attachable portions previously provided with adhesive (3a, 3b) and the support (2) .

11. A method as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims 6 to 10, characterised in that the step of laying the layer of adhesive material (4) on the support (2) takes place in such a manner as to foresee clear regions on the support (2), where the adhesive is not laid, said regions preferably corresponding to parts of the support that are not covered with the at least two attachable portions (3a, 3b) .

12. A method as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims 6 to 11, characterised in that it further comprises a step of aligning and/or synchronising laying of the at least two attachable portions (3a, 3b) on the support (2), said aligning and/or synchronising step being adapted to keep correct longitudinal and/or transverse alignment of the at least two attachable portions (3a, 3b) in terms of side by side arrangement and/or being adapted to keep correct positioning of the at least two attachable portions (3a, 3b) in view of a possible collective punching, said collective punching being preferably carried out after the step of associating said at least two attachable portions (3a, 3b) with the support (2) .