WO2004094131A1

WO2004094131A1 - Method and device for the production of a tape comprising adhesive labels

Info

Publication number: WO2004094131A1
Application number: PCT/FR2004/000892
Authority: WO
Inventors: Denis Carriere; Bertrand Olivier
Original assignee: Techmay
Priority date: 2003-04-17
Filing date: 2004-04-09
Publication date: 2004-11-04
Also published as: FR2853852B1; FR2853852A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a tape comprising adhesive labels, according to which an adhesive laminate comprising at least one front film strip, a layer of adhesive material, and a base film strip (1) are provided, semi-perforating cuts delimiting a label body (4) and a skeleton are performed, and the front film strip is stripped such that said skeleton is removed. The inventive method is characterized in that a coating (6) which covers a surface encompassing at least one peripheral zone that extends on both sides of a peripheral edge (37) of each label body is applied directly to the top face of the label body such that the coating forms a peripheral margin (17) which extends all around the label body. Said coating margin makes it possible to neutralize the undesirable effects of running by covering up the runs of adhesive material, which can appear around the label body.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MANUFACTURING A TAPE OF ADHESIVE LABELS

The invention relates to a method and an installation for manufacturing a tape of adhesive labels, and in particular a tape of non-adhesive adhesive labels. It is particularly advantageous in the context of the manufacture of labels intended to be stuck on irregular surfaces such as the surface of an automobile tire rubber, the surface of a carpet, the surface of a gas cylinder, the surface of a chipboard ... The invention extends to the label tapes obtained.

A label tape is generally packaged in an accordion or screen, folded in a zigzag, or in a reel, wrapped around a mandrel. Such a label tape is generally produced from an adhesive complex comprising at least two superposed strips of film, between which extends a layer of adhesive material, of which:

a strip of a first film, called front film, from which the labels are cut, said front film having a face, called back side, intended to carry the layer of adhesive material and a face, said front face, intended to carry generally printed information, - a strip of a second film, called support film, having one side, called the front side, non-stick intended to receive the adhesive back side of the labels.

Note that the term "film" is not limited to synthetic films but generally designates a flexible and continuous material, in strip or thin panel, such as a synthetic film, a paper, a metallic film. .. It can also be a complex film formed by a superposition of flexible and continuous materials, which superposition achieves a continuous stretch in strip or panel of small thickness (it is similar to a simple film). In particular, the front film may consist of a strip of paper and a strip of synthetic film superimposed and glued together. The manufacture of such an adhesive complex comprises, in known manner, a step of assembling the front film strip and the support film strip, preceded by a step of applying the layer of adhesive material, either directly on the back side of the front film, or on the non-stick front side of the support film. In the latter case, the adhesive material is transferred by pressure to the reverse side of the front film during the assembly of the two films.

It should be noted that the front film strip is extended unfolded on the support film strip (with interposition of the layer of adhesive material).

The manufacture of a label tape from such an adhesive complex generally comprises a half-flesh cutting step during which only the front film strip and the layer of adhesive material are cut in order to form the labels.

The labels produced are preferably non-contiguous in order to facilitate the subsequent operations of automatic removal (labeling). When this is the case, the half-flesh cutting also delimits, between the labels and on the longitudinal edges of the ribbon, longitudinal and transverse lines of front film and layer of adhesive material, which form a so-called skeleton grid. The method for manufacturing the label tape then comprises, after the cutting step, an additional step, called weeding, consisting in removing the skeleton so that only the labels remain applied to the strip of support film.

Once the label tape is made, it is rewound or folded for final packaging and marketing. The steps of winding or folding, as well as the various embarrassments undergone by the tape prior to these steps, cause compression of the label tape and its layer of adhesive material. The adhesive material thus compressed overflows along the lateral edges of the tape and, where appropriate (if the labels are not contiguous), along the peripheral edge of each label, forming drips with undesirable consequences. These drips cause in particular: a joining of the facing faces of the wound or folded tape; frequent jams of devices downstream of weeding due to the adhesion of the edge of the labels to the cylinders of these devices; loss of labels, some of them adhering to the cylinders, peeling off from the tape; harmful fouling or even irreversible deterioration of the machines used (cutting tools, winders, then labellers ...); the appearance of beads of adhesive material around the labels which increase the diameter of the reel ... These drips are particularly disastrous in the case of an adhesive material with high adhesive power.

The formation of these drips, known under the name of creep, constitutes a problem, not only during the manufacture of the label tape, in particular in all the stages of manufacture after the weeding of the front film, but also during the use of said tape, especially during removal steps (labeling). Depending on its size, which mainly depends on the texture of the adhesive material and the grammage (quantity) expected, creep sometimes makes it impossible to automatically remove the labels using conventional labeling machines.

The creep of the adhesive material is amplified in the case of labels intended to be stuck on irregular surfaces. In fact, for a label to be able to adhere effectively to an irregular surface, the adhesive material which it carries must be in sufficient quantity to be able to fill the roughness of the irregular surface so as to create a bond between the front film and the surface. irregular almost anywhere on the label. This is why labels for irregular surfaces have a particularly thick layer of adhesive material. In addition, the adhesive materials usually used in this case are chosen for their high adhesive power. They generally have a viscous and unstable texture (this texture is changeable according to the atmospheric conditions of temperature, hygrometry ...), which not only makes their application difficult on the front film or the support film (during the manufacture of the adhesive complex) , but also makes the consequences of creep disastrous.

This viscous texture to the point of forming threads, as well as the significant grammage (or thickness) of adhesive material necessary in the case of labels for irregular surfaces, are moreover often incompatible with an application of said material by techniques of coating or printing (screen printing, flexography ...). The problem of the creep of the adhesive material in the manufacture of labels is already mentioned in FR 960.839, which recommends, on the one hand, to provide non-gummed longitudinal zones (that is to say free longitudinal reserves adhesive) on the support strip, coating with "rubber" (adhesive material) the entire surface of the support strip and scraping the gum deposited in the longitudinal zones. The non-erased longitudinal zones are chosen so as to each extend between two longitudinal rows of labels, so that each label adheres to the support strip in a central zone and has opposite longitudinal edges devoid of rubber. FR 960.839 recommends on the other hand to cut the label paper by means of "pressing knives", so that the longitudinal edges of the labels thus cut are folded towards the support strip, in an area free of rubber, and form folded edges enclosing the rubber between the label and the support strip.

The problems of leakage and drying of the rubber are thus avoided along the longitudinal edges of the labels, at the cost, however, of particularly delicate and expensive preparatory operations for the support strip (production of the non-gummed areas), and constraints relating to the choice cutting means.

This is not the case, however, risks of leakage and drying of the rubber along the transverse edges of the labels. The transverse cuts made in the label paper are, in fact, in erased areas. The presence of the rubber prevents the transverse edges of the labels from being folded back towards the support strip by the pressure knives. Along these transverse cuts, the rubber is exposed, unprotected, at the edge of the label, and the problems linked to the creep of the rubber remain intact. The invention aims to provide a method and an installation for the manufacture of a non-contiguous or easily separable label tape which makes it possible to avoid the problems associated with the creep of the adhesive material, including when the latter is applied. in a layer of significant thickness or grammage (e).

In particular, an object of the invention is to provide label tapes which can be used in conventional labelers and which do not have no adhesive material drips around the labels. The invention thus aims to allow the automatic removal of labels with a high grammage of adhesive material.

The invention further aims to achieve these objectives with a method and an installation which are simple and economical. The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a tape of adhesive labels, in which:

- an adhesive complex is used comprising at least one strip of a first film, known as a front film, having a reverse side capable of carrying a layer of adhesive material, a layer of adhesive material, a strip of a second film, known as a film support, having a non-stick front face intended to receive the adhesive back face of the labels,

- Half-flesh cuts are made in the adhesive complex passing through the front film strip and the layer of adhesive material so as to delimit separate non-contiguous portions, called label bodies, between and around which extends a continuous portion in the form of a grid, called a skeleton,

- Then, we tape the front film strip and the layer of adhesive material so as to separate the skeleton of the label bodies remaining applied to the support film strip and thus obtain a label body tape. The method according to the invention is characterized in that a coating covering a surface, called a covered surface, is applied directly to the front face of the label body tape, comprising at least, for each label body, a peripheral zone extending on either side of a peripheral edge of the label body going all around said body, so that the coating forms a peripheral margin projecting all around the label body. A label according to the invention therefore comprises a label body, a layer of adhesive material on the back side thereof and a coating on the side of its front side.

The invention also relates to an installation for manufacturing a tape of adhesive labels, successively comprising: - a dispensing device able to deliver an adhesive complex comprising at least 4 a strip of a first film, said front film, having a back side capable of carrying a layer of adhesive material, a layer of adhesive material, a strip of a second film, said support film, having a front side anti- adhesive intended to receive the adhesive back side of the labels,

- a cutting device, called the first cutting device, suitable for making, in the adhesive complex, half-flesh cuts through the strip of front film and the layer of adhesive material so as to delimit separate non-contiguous portions, called body label, between which and around which extends a continuous grid-shaped portion, called a skeleton,

- a weeding device, said first weeding device, suitable for weeding the front film strip and the layer of adhesive material so as to separate the skeleton from the label bodies remaining applied to the support film strip and thus obtain a label body ribbon. The installation according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises a coating device, suitable for applying, directly to the front face of the label body tape, a coating covering a surface, called a covered surface, comprising at least for each label body, a peripheral zone extending on either side of a peripheral edge of the label body going all around said body, so that the coating forms a peripheral margin projecting all around the body label.

Note that the terms "front side of the label body tape" denote the face formed by the front side of the label bodies, that is to say by the front side, possibly printed, of portions of front film. of the adhesive complex, and by the exposed parts (after the front film and the adhesive material layer have been stripped) of the front face of the support film.

In known manner, the front film and the layer of adhesive material are cut together, so that the label body and the layer of adhesive material which it carries have almost identical front dimensions (width and length) immediately after their cutting. . In other words, the adhesive material is substantially flush with the peripheral edge of the body. label at the outlet of the first cutting device, as well as at the outlet of the first weeding device. Note however that small beads of adhesive material may possibly appear (depending on the texture of this material) over a very small width around the label body during the cutting and weeding operations, but that these small beads remain without common measurement with seams - wide by several micrometers - appearing due to the compression of the label tape during the winding or folding operations in previous installations.

According to the invention, after the front film and the layer of adhesive material have been stripped, each label body is at least partially covered with a coating, which extends at least over an area straddling the peripheral edge of the body label. The coating thus covers at least one peripheral zone of the front face of the label body, and also forms a projecting peripheral margin (in a frontal plane) all around the label body. According to the invention, the function of said margin is to cover the drips, in particular generated by compression of the label tape during its rewinding, for example, in order to neutralize the effects of creep. It thus effectively prevents the joining of the facing faces of the wrapped or folded label tape, and prevents fouling of the various devices of the installation or of the devices subsequently used (labeling machines, etc.). Because it hides the drips of adhesive material, the peripheral coating margin also allows the application of a higher grammage of adhesive material. It also offers the possibility of printing the labels - after completion of the coating -, in particular by laser printing techniques or hot transfer. Because they give off strong heat which softens the adhesive material and increases creep, these techniques cannot be used with prior labels. The invention also allows the use of adhesive materials hitherto unused since they are also incompatible with laser printing and hot transfer techniques.

Note that the coating is applied to the front side of the label body tape, and therefore to the front side in front film of each body. label (by covering at least one peripheral zone thereof), and that no object is interposed between this front film and the coating.

Advantageously and according to the invention, the width of the peripheral coating margin is in particular chosen as a function of the thickness of the front film and of the thickness or grammage of the layer of adhesive material, so as to be both minimal. and sufficient to cover the drips which may appear after the weeding of the front film and of the adhesive material. It is also possible to provide a peripheral margin of sufficient width to present a portion extending beyond said drips and adhering to the support film so as to enclose and contain the layer of adhesive material in a space delimited by said margin portion, the support film and the peripheral edge of the label body.

It should be noted that, according to the invention, the application of the coating to the label body tape is advantageously carried out immediately after the weeding of the front film strip and layer of adhesive material. The freshly ribbed label body tape therefore does not pass through any device except the coating device.

Advantageously and according to the invention, the coating is applied to a discontinuous covered surface in a longitudinal direction, so that, for each pair of consecutive labels in the longitudinal direction, the peripheral margins of the two labels are not contiguous. The coating device according to the invention is adapted to do this.

As a variant, the coating is applied to a continuous covered surface in the longitudinal direction, then, for each pair of consecutive labels in the longitudinal direction, at least one transverse half-flesh cut is made through the coating between the two bodies. corresponding label so as to allow the dissociation of said labels (that is to say so as to allow the dissociation of their peripheral coating margin). The coating device according to the invention is adapted to do this.

The transverse cut performed can extend over the entire dimension in the transverse direction of the coating of the two labels, so as to completely and immediately dissociate their peripheral margins. Alternatively, the or the cut (s) made extends over only a portion of this transverse dimension, in order to facilitate the subsequent dissociation of the margins -and therefore of the labels- during the subsequent removal operations (labeling). In particular, transverse cuts are made forming dotted lines over the entire transverse dimension of the coating; alternatively, a partial cut is made on a fraction of this transverse dimension from a lateral edge of the coating, so as to form a primer for the dissociation of the labels.

It should be noted that the peripheral margins for coating two labels which are consecutive in the transverse direction, are indifferently made contiguous or non-contiguous. Indeed, such a tape, having a plurality of labels in the transverse direction (that is to say having a plurality of longitudinal rows of labels), is preferably cut in the longitudinal direction before it is wound, so forming a plurality of independent tapes each carrying only one longitudinal row of labels, which can be used in conventional labelers.

The coating can be limited to a covered surface comprising, for each label body, the peripheral margin projecting all around the label body and a thin peripheral zone on the front face of the label body, which allows " hang "on the label body the peripheral coating margin.

As a variant, the covered surface comprises the entire front face of each label body. In other words, for each label body, a coating is applied which completely covers the label body and protrudes slightly around it so as to enable the layer of adhesive material to be enclosed by covering the drips. The coating device is in this case suitable for applying a coating to a covered surface comprising the entire front face of each label body. Such a coating has the double advantage of neutralizing the effects of creep and of bringing greater rigidity to the label, which facilitates the subsequent operations of automatic removal. In a first version of the invention, a polymeric synthetic material, such as a varnish, is deposited by printing, as a coating. suitable for forming, for each label body, a continuous flexible and non-brittle film. Note that the polymeric material is deposited in an amount sufficient to form a continuous film on the edge of the label body. In other words, the material printed on the support film around the label body must "join" the material printed on the front side of the label body so as to "anchor" the peripheral coating margin on the body of the label. 'label. The quantity of printed polymer material must be chosen taking into account possible partial absorption of said polymer by the drips of adhesive material which may appear around the label body. The polymeric material can be printed either on a coating area limited to the contour of the label body, or on a coating area integrating the entire front face thereof.

The coating device according to the invention comprises, in this first version, a printing device suitable for depositing such a material by printing. In a first embodiment of this first version, the polymeric material is printed so that the peripheral margins of two consecutive labels in the longitudinal direction are non-contiguous, whatever the pair of consecutive labels considered.

In a second embodiment of this first version, the polymer material is printed so that the peripheral margins of two consecutive labels in the longitudinal direction are contiguous, regardless of the pair of consecutive labels considered, and at least one cross-sectional mid-cut through the printed polymer material is made between the two label bodies, as explained above. The coating device then comprises, downstream of the printing device, a cutting device suitable for making such cuts.

In a second version of the invention, a strip of an adhesive film, known as a laminating film, adapted to adhere to the front of the film is applied to the front side of the label body tape, as a coating. front. In this second version of the invention, the coating device comprises a device, called lamination device, suitable for applying such a lamination film to the front side of the label body tape.

It should be noted, taking into account the relative regularity of the front face of a front film (such as the front films usually used for making labels), that a low grammage (10 to 20 g / m ² ) of a low-adhesive adhesive is sufficient for the laminating film to adhere to the front face of the front film. Such an adhesive, present on the laminating film in small quantities, does not pose any problem of creep.

Note also, given the non-stick nature of the front side of the support film, that the adhesion of the laminating film to the support film is less, and in particular less than its adhesion to the front film, which must be sufficient for the film coating to be an integral part of the label and inseparable from the label body, at least until the label removal and labeling operations, and preferably over the entire life of the label . The weak adhesion of the laminating film to the support film facilitates the subsequent deposition operations, in that the peripheral coating margin around each label body forms a primer for peeling the label.

In a first embodiment of this second version, for each pair of consecutive labels in the longitudinal direction, at least one transverse half-cut is made, crossing the strip of laminating film between the two corresponding label bodies (on all or over a portion of the width of the strip of laminating film), so as to allow immediate or subsequent dissociation of said labels. The coating device then comprises, downstream of the laminating device, a cutting device suitable for making such cuts.

In a second embodiment of this second version of the invention:

- Half-flesh cuts are made crossing the strip of film-coating film around each label body so as to delimit separate non-contiguous portions, called lamination, each covering a label body and forming the peripheral margin of said body d 'label (as defined above), between which and around which extends a continuous portion in the form of a so-called skeleton grid; each label body, thus provided on its back side with a layer of adhesive material and covered on its front side with an overflowing filming, forms a label, - then, we strip the film film strip so as to separate the skeleton of the labels remaining applied to the strip of support film and thus obtaining a ribbon of labels.

The coating device according to the invention comprises in this case, downstream of the laminating device: - a cutting device, called the second cutting device, suitable for making semi-flesh cuts cutting through the strip of film coating film around each label body so as to delimit distinct non-contiguous portions, termed film coatings, each covering a label body and forming the peripheral margin of said label body, between which and around which extends a continuous grid-shaped portion called skeleton; each label body, thus provided on its back side with a layer of adhesive material and covered on its front side with an overhanging film, forms a label,

- A weeding device, said second weeding device, suitable for weeding the strip of laminating film so as to separate the backbone of the labels remaining applied to the strip of support film and thus obtain a label tape.

In this second version of the invention (whether it is the first or the second embodiment), the only device through which the body tape of the freshly spread label is crossed is the film-coating device. The latter preferably comprises means for distributing the strip of laminating film, arranged at a distance from the label body strip in longitudinal travel, and at least one application cylinder, pressed against the traveling strip and around which the strip of laminating film runs, wedged between the tape and said application cylinder. None of the components of the laminator therefore come into contact with the label body tape. At the outlet of this device, the ribbon is entirely covered with a strip of film-coating. Then the second cutting device makes half-flesh cuts in areas devoid of adhesive material, with the exception of the adhesive carried by the back side of the laminating film itself, which, in any event, is present very small quantity, is chosen so as not to spin or creep and poses no problem of creep. At the outlet of the second cutting device, the label bodies provided with their layer of adhesive material are enclosed between their lamination and the support film. The entire installation according to the invention and machines subsequently crossed by the label tape according to the invention (labeling machine for example) is therefore preserved from damage related to creep. Advantageously and according to the invention, the method and the installation for manufacturing label tapes also have one or more of the following characteristics:

- Using a lamination film coated on its reverse side with an adhesive material, and a lamination device suitable for applying such a film. A thin thickness of adhesive material is sufficient to stick the laminating film on the label body tape,

- As a variant, a fusible lamination film is used, and said film is glued to the front face of the label body tape by heating. The film-coating device is suitable for delivering such a film, and includes heating means, such as a heating cylinder, for bonding said film to the front side of the tape,

- The installation comprises at least one printing device arranged upstream of the coating device, and preferably upstream of the first cutting device. It is thus possible to print inscriptions on the front face of the label bodies before the production of the coating, and preferably before the cutting of said label bodies, while the layer of adhesive material is enclosed between the strip of support film and the front film strip, in order to avoid any fouling of the printing device,

a film of lamination or a translucent polymer material, and preferably a transparent material, is used, leaving visible, where appropriate, the inscriptions printed on the label body, - alternatively or in combination, inscriptions are printed on the front side of the labels after application of the coating. To this end, in the case where the coating covers all or a major part of the label body and therefore forms the front face of the label, a film or a polymeric material capable of receiving inscriptions by printing is used. This feature allows a user of the label tape, upon request and according to his needs, either to print all of the desired inscriptions himself on blank labels supplied, or to print additional inscriptions on supplied labels. partially printed. In the first case (labels supplied blank), it is therefore possible to use, for the manufacture of the blank labels, any front film, taking into account that this is not printed and provided that some of its characteristics, such as its resistance or its thickness, are adapted, in combination with those of the coating produced, to the destination of the labels. In the second case (labels supplied partially printed), a front film suitable for printing is used if the inscriptions printed by the label supplier are printed on the label bodies (before the coating is produced), or any front film if these inscriptions are printed on the coating of the labels (after completion thereof). All of these inscriptions can be printed by laser or by hot transfer. Printing of inscriptions on the covering can thus be provided during the manufacture of the label tape, within the installation according to the invention, by means of at least one printing device arranged downstream of the printing device. lamination or polymer material printing device. In the case of laminated labels, this step of printing inscriptions can take place immediately after the application of the strip of laminating film, or after the mid-cut of the laminating film and before its weeding, or even after the weeding of said film,

- using a film coating or a polymeric material capable of filtering ultraviolet. In this case, the coating is preferably applied to a covered surface incorporating all of the label bodies, with a view to their protection against ultraviolet rays and an increase in the life of the labels (the printed inks which they carry being preserved premature fading and deterioration), - use is made of a frontal film chosen from: papers, and in particular coated papers and wove papers; synthetic films, and in particular polyethylene films, polyester films, polyvinyl chloride films, polypropylene films; fabrics, woven or non-woven; foams, compressible or not; metallic films ..., and in general, all films that can be used to make a label; it may be a complex film formed by a superposition of extended (unfolded) films chosen from the preceding group, bonded together so as to form a strip,

- use is made of a laminating film chosen from: papers, and in particular coated papers and wove papers; synthetic films, and in particular polyethylene films, polyester films, polyvinyl chloride films, polypropylene films; fabrics, woven or non-woven; foams, compressible or not; metallic films ..., and in general, all films that can be used to make a label and capable of adhering to the front film with a low grammage of conventional adhesive; it can also, optionally, be a complex film as described above;

- note that, in the case of a label having a label body in a particularly thin (front) film of the synthetic film type, and a lamination in a thicker (film-coating) film of the paper type -which gives the label its main characteristics of resistance, thickness ... and is possibly suitable for receiving printed inscriptions (by the user or by the manufacturer) -, the front film essentially has the function of weeding the layer of adhesive material,

- an adhesive complex is used whose layer of adhesive material has a thickness of between 10 and 100 μm - and in particular greater than 40 μm - or a surface mass (called grammage) of between 10 and 100 g / m ² - and in particular greater at 40 g / m ² -. By eliminating the problems associated with creep, the invention allows the manufacture of labels provided with a very thick adhesive layer, and in particular greater than that of known labels. It is therefore particularly advantageous for the production of labels for irregular surfaces, - the ribbon of labels obtained is wound up. To this end, the installation includes a winder downstream of the coating device, - The first cutting device is of the rotary cylinder type; alternatively, it is of the flat cut type. Similarly, the second cutting device is of the type with rotary cylinders or, alternatively, with flat cutting. Within the installation, it is possible to combine a first flat cutting device and a second rotary cutting device, or vice versa, or to use only devices of the same type.

The invention extends to a label tape obtained by a method according to the invention, by means of an installation according to the invention. In particular, the invention extends to a label tape comprising: 4 a plurality of labels each comprising a label body made of a first film, called a front film, having a back side carrying a layer of adhesive material, the label bodies being non-contiguous, a strip of a second film, called support film, carrying the labels, the support film having a front non-stick surface receiving the adhesive back side of the labels, characterized in that each label comprises , directly on the front face (in front film) of the label body, a coating which covers at least one peripheral zone extending on either side of a peripheral edge of the label body making all around said label body, which covering forms a peripheral covering margin projecting all around said label body.

Advantageously and according to the invention, the peripheral margins for coating two consecutive labels in the longitudinal direction are non-contiguous, regardless of the pair of consecutive labels considered.

As a variant, the peripheral margins of two consecutive labels in the longitudinal direction are contiguous and are delimited by at least one transverse cut through the coating between the two corresponding label bodies.

In a first version of the invention, the coating of each label is made of a polymer synthetic material, such as a varnish, deposited by printing and forming a continuous flexible and non-brittle film. In a second version of the invention, the coating of each label is an overflowing coating, in adhesive film, adhering to the front face of the label body, which it completely covers.

Advantageously and according to the invention, the label tape has one or more of the following characteristics:

the coating of each label covers the entire front face of the label body; as a variant, it covers only a peripheral zone of the front face of the label body (and moreover forms a peripheral margin projecting from said face), - the front face of the label body of at least one label , and preferably of each label, carries printed inscriptions,

- alternatively or in combination, the front side, and in particular the coating, of at least one label, and preferably of each label, bears printed inscriptions, - the coating of at least one label, and preferably of each label, is able to filter ultraviolet,

each label has a label body in a front film belonging to the group of papers, and in particular coated papers and wove papers; synthetic films, and in particular polyethylene films, polyester films, polyvinyl chloride films, polypropylene films; fabrics, woven or non-woven; foams, compressible or not; metallic films ..., and in general, all the films that can be used to make a label; it may be a complex film formed by a superposition of extended films (unfolded) chosen from the preceding group, bonded together so as to form a strip; each label has a lamination in a lamination film belonging to the group of papers, and in particular coated papers and wove papers; synthetic films, and in particular polyethylene films, polyester films, polyvinyl chloride films, polypropylene films; fabrics, woven or non-woven; foams, compressible or not; metallic films ..., and in general, all the films that can be used to make a label capable of adhering to the front film with a low grammage of conventional adhesive; it can also be a complex film as described above;

each label comprises a layer of adhesive material with a thickness of between 10 and 100 μm - and in particular greater than 40 μm - or of surface mass (called grammage) between 10 and 100 g / m ² - and in particular greater than 40 g / m ² -,

- the label tape is in the form of a reel. The invention also relates to a tape for adhesive labels and to a method and an installation for manufacturing such a tape, characterized in combination by all or some of the characteristics mentioned above and below.

Other objects, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description which refers to the appended figures representing preferential embodiments of the invention given solely by way of nonlimiting examples, and in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an installation according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of part of an installation according to the invention,

FIG. 3 is a view in longitudinal section of a label of a ribbon according to the invention manufactured in an installation such as that illustrated in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a top view of part of the label tape according to the invention illustrated in FIG. 3,

- Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a label of a tape according to the invention manufactured in an installation such as that illustrated in Figure 2. Note that the accompanying figures are only schematic views and, qu 'as such, the proportions were not necessarily respected. In particular, the width of the peripheral coating margin of the illustrated labels has been exaggerated (relative to the thicknesses of the films) for clarity. FIG. 1 illustrates an installation according to the invention, crossed by strips of film or tape, scrolling in their longitudinal direction in the direction indicated by arrow D. For the sake of simplicity, the means (in particular IT) of control and the drive means of the various devices of the installation are neither shown nor described. Such an installation comprises, from upstream to downstream (depending on the direction of travel): - a dispensing device 18, consisting of a unwinder, delivering an adhesive complex 100 formed by a strip 1 of a support film and a strip 3 of a front film between which extends a layer of adhesive material 2. The front film is, for example, a polypropylene film 80 μm thick; the support film is, for example, a 45 g / m ² paper having a silicone front side 12 (and therefore non-stick) and any back side 13; the adhesive material 2 is, for example, a so-called "hotmelt" material (hot applicable) based on rubber and forms a layer of 45 g / m ² ,

- A guide device 34, for laterally adjusting the position of the adhesive complex 100 for alignment with the various devices of the installation. This guide device is optionally associated with a balance (not shown) allowing the tension of the adhesive complex 100 to be adjusted,

a series of printing devices 35, making it possible to print inscriptions on the front face of the front film strip, at locations corresponding to the label bodies subsequently cut out from the front film. These printing devices 35 are associated with devices 36 (ultraviolet lamps for example) for drying the printed inks,

- A first cutting device 19 (see also FIG. 2), comprising on the one hand a rotary upper cylinder 191 for cutting, provided with cutting threads on its peripheral face suitable for making half-flesh cuts, through the front film 3 and the layer of adhesive material 2, delimiting label bodies 4 each provided with a layer of adhesive material of substantially the same front dimensions, and a skeleton 27 of front film and adhesive material. The first cutting device 19 further comprises a lower rotary cylinder 192 against the back pressure, opposite the upper cutting cylinder 191. The cylinders 191 and 192 are arranged so that, at all times, the edge of the thread of the upper cylinder situated in the plane of the axes of the cylinders, is at a distance from the peripheral face of the lower cylinder equal to the thickness of the support film 1,

- A first weeding device 20 making it possible to remove the skeleton 27 of front film and of adhesive material and to package it for storage before destruction or recycling. During this weeding operation, only the label coφs 4 and the layer of adhesive material which they carry remain on the strip of support film, so that there is, at the outlet of the first weeding device 20, a ribbon 29 of label costs,

a coating device comprising a device 31 (illustrated in FIG. 1) for printing a varnish 9, optionally comprising means for drying (ultraviolet or other) of the varnish, at the outlet of which a ribbon of labels is obtained 32. The printing device 31 can be replaced by a coating device 30 as illustrated in FIG. 2, which is described below. The printing device 31 is capable of depositing a thickness of varnish on the front face of the label cost ribbon. The printing device is programmed to deposit the varnish on a printing surface (covered surface) limited, for each label cost, to a peripheral zone 14 thereof, in order to obtain labels 8 such as 'illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. The printed varnish covers the edge of the label coφs and forms a hanging edge 15 on the front side of the label coφs 4 and, in extension thereof, a peripheral margin 16 on the support film 1 around the label cost. As a variant, it is possible to program the printing device 31 so as to deposit the varnish on a printing surface comprising all of the front sides of the label coφs. The varnish used is chosen for its resistance and elasticity properties which make it possible to obtain a resin film 9 (crosslinked varnish) continuous flexible and non-brittle, capable of forcing the adhesive material to spread, if necessary (under the effect of the various stresses - tension, compression, gravity ... - undergone by the ribbon), between the support film 1 and the peripheral margin 16 of resin. The width of this margin is provided to cover the drips of adhesive material liable to form, - a rewinder 25, making it possible to wind the label tape around an axis for its final packaging and its marketing. The coating device 30 of the installation illustrated in FIG. 2 comprises, from upstream to downstream:

a laminating device 22 comprising, inter alia, an upper rotary distribution cylinder 223, delivering a strip 5 of laminating film, an upper rotary cylinder 221 for applying the strip of laminating film to the front face of the ribbon of label coφs 29, associated with a rotary lower back pressure cylinder 222. The application cylinder 221 is preferably a heating cylinder or is associated with a heating device arranged immediately downstream of said cylinder, to allow the use of fusible lamination films, - a second cutting device 23, comprising d on the one hand, a rotary upper cutting cylinder 232, provided with cutting threads on its peripheral face adapted to make medium-flesh cuts through the strip of laminating film 5, so as to delimit film layers 6 and a skeleton 28 of film filming. The second cutting device 23 further comprises a lower rotary cylinder 231 against the back pressure, opposite the upper cutting cylinder 232. The cylinders 231 and 232 are arranged so that, at all times, the edge of the thread of the upper cylinder situated in the plane of the axes of the cylinders, is at a distance from the peripheral face of the lower cylinder equal to the thickness of the support film 1. The films defined by these cutouts each cover the total surface of a label coφs 4 as well as a thin peripheral strip all around said label coφs. In other words, they each have a shape similar to that of the label coφs, but of slightly larger dimensions so as to form a peripheral coating margin 17 extending beyond the peripheral edge 37 of the label coφs 4 (see FIG. 5), - a second weeding device 24 making it possible to remove the skeleton 28 of laminating film and to rewind it for storage before destruction or recycling. At the outlet of this second weeding device 24, a ribbon of labels 32 is obtained formed of a strip of support film 1 carrying a succession of labels 7. Each label 7 (see FIG. 5) comprises a label coφs 4, a layer of adhesive material 2 carried by the reverse side 11 of the label shell, and a coating 6 covering both the front side 10 of the label shell and a portion, all around the label cost, of the front face 12 of the support film. The lamination 6 forms in particular a peripheral margin 17 of coating, projecting from the peripheral edge 37 of the label cost, of sufficient width to allow the drips 38 to be covered with adhesive material. In the example illustrated, the margin is moreover wide enough to present an end portion 17a beyond said drips 38, which adheres to the support film 1 and encloses the adhesive material.

It goes without saying that the invention can be the subject of numerous variants with respect to the embodiments previously described and represented in the figures. In particular, the invention is not limited to the manufacture of label ribbons having only one longitudinal row of labels, such as those illustrated. The first cutting device, and if necessary the second cutting device, can be adapted to make cuts defining several longitudinal rows of labels. In addition, the cutting devices with rotary cylinders, as illustrated, can be replaced by flat cutting devices (cutting press with vertical reciprocating movements, in coordination with means of sequential advancement of the bands or ribbons).

Furthermore, the distribution device at the inlet of the installation can integrate means for applying an adhesive material to a film strip (support film or front film) and means for assembling films in order to produce, within the installation itself, the adhesive complex.

Furthermore, the coating device according to the invention is not limited to a printing device or to a film-laminating-cutting-weeding device. Any other means capable of applying a coating on a surface of the front face of the ribbon of label co telles as defined above, is in accordance with the invention. In particular, it is possible to deposit on each label coφs, by coating, by usual means of automatic removal, a transparent or printed label from a usual label tape.

In addition, the coating obtained can be continuous in the longitudinal direction, with the exception of cutouts formed between the labels in order to allow their dissociation during the automatic removal operations.

Claims

1 / Method for manufacturing a tape of adhesive labels, in which - an adhesive complex (100) is used comprising at least one strip (3) of a first film, called front film, having a reverse side (11) suitable for carrying a layer of adhesive material, a layer (2) of adhesive material, Φ a strip (1) of a second film, called support film, having a front side (12) non-stick intended to receive the back side adhesive labels,

- Half-cuts are made in the adhesive complex (100) passing through the front film strip and the layer of adhesive material so as to delimit separate non-contiguous portions (4), called label coφs, between which and around which extends a continuous portion (27) in the form of a grid, called a skeleton,

- then, we tape the front film strip and the layer of adhesive material so as to separate the skeleton (27) from the label coφs (4) remaining applied to the support film strip (1) and thus obtain a tape ( 29) of label co ,s, characterized in that a coating (6, 9) covering a surface, called covered surface, comprising at least each label coφs (4), a peripheral zone (14) extending on either side of a peripheral edge (37) of the label co faisants all around said coφs, so that the coating forms a peripheral margin (17, 16) projecting all around said label cost.

2 / A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the coating (6, 9) is applied to a discontinuous covered surface in a longitudinal direction, so that, for each pair of consecutive labels in the longitudinal direction, the peripheral margins (17, 16) of the two labels are not contiguous. 3 / A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the coating (6, 9) is applied to a continuous covered surface in a longitudinal direction, then, for each pair of consecutive labels in the longitudinal direction, less a transverse half-flesh cut through the coating between the two label coφs so as to allow the dissociation of said labels.

4 / Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the covered surface comprises the entire front side (10) of each label coφs (4). 5 / Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that one deposits by printing, as a coating (9), a polymeric synthetic material, such as a varnish, capable of forming, for each coφs label (4), a continuous flexible and non-brittle film.

6 / Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that:

- a strip (5) of an adhesive film, called lamination film, capable of adhering to the front face of the front film, is applied to the front side of the label cost ribbon, as a coating

- Then, for each pair of consecutive labels in the longitudinal direction, at least one transverse half-flesh cut is made crossing the strip of laminating film between the two label coφs so as to allow the dissociation of said labels.

Il Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: - a strip (5) of an adhesive film, called film, is applied to the front side of the ribbon of label coφs film-coating, able to adhere to the front face of the front film,

- Then, half-flesh cuts are made crossing the strip of laminating film around each label coφs so as to delimit separate non-contiguous portions (6), called lamination, each covering a label coφs and forming the peripheral margin of it, between which and around which extends a continuous portion (28) in the form of a so-called skeleton grid, each label cost, thus provided with a layer of adhesive material on its back side and covered on its front side with overflowing filming, forming a label (7)

- Then, we strip the film coating film so as to separate the skeleton (28) of the labels (7) remaining applied to the support film band and thus obtain a ribbon (32) of labels.

8 / A method according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that one uses a film coating coated, on one reverse side, with an adhesive material. 9 / Method according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that one uses a fusible lamination film, and in that said film is glued to the front side of the label co rubans ribbon by heating .

10 / Method according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that we print inscriptions on the front side (10) of label coφs before cutting.

11 / Method according to one of claims 5 to 10, characterized in that one uses a film coating or a translucent or transparent polymeric material (e).

12 / A method according to one of claims 5 to 11, characterized in that one uses a lamination film or a polymeric material capable of receiving inscriptions by printing.

13 / A method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that one prints inscriptions on the front side of the labels after application of the coating. 14 / A method according to one of claims 5 to 13, characterized in that one uses a film coating or a polymeric material capable of filtering ultraviolet.

15 / A method according to claims 1 to 14, characterized in that one uses a strip (3) of a front film chosen from papers, and in particular coated papers and wove papers; synthetic films, and in particular polyethylene films, polyester films, polyvinyl chloride films, films made of polypropylene; fabrics, woven or non-woven; foams, compressible or not; metallic films.

16 / A method according to claims 1 to 15 and according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that one uses a strip (5) of a laminating film chosen from papers, and in particular coated papers and wove papers; synthetic films, and in particular polyethylene films, polyester films, polyvinyl chloride films, polypropylene films; fabrics, woven or non-woven; foams, compressible or not; metallic films.

17 / A method according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that an adhesive complex is used whose layer (2) of adhesive material has a thickness of between 10 and 100 μm or a surface mass of between 10 and 100 g / m ² .

18 / A method according to claim 17, characterized in that the layer (2) of adhesive material has a thickness greater than 40 microns or a surface mass greater than 40 g / m ² .

19 / Installation for the manufacture of a tape of adhesive labels, successively comprising:

a dispensing device (18) capable of delivering an adhesive complex (100) comprising at least 4 a strip (3) of a first film, known as a front film, having a back side capable of carrying a layer of adhesive material, 4 a layer (2) of adhesive material,

4 a strip (1) of a second film, called support film, having a non-stick front face intended to receive the adhesive back face of the labels, - a cutting device (19), said first cutting device, suitable for making, in the adhesive complex, half-fleshed cutouts crossing the front film strip and the layer of adhesive material so as to delimit distinct non-contiguous portions, called label coφs, between which and around which extends a continuous portion in grid form, called skeleton, - a weeding device (20), said first weeding device, suitable for weeding the front film strip and the layer of material adhesive so as to separate the skeleton from the remaining label costs applied to the support film strip and thus obtain a label cost ribbon, characterized in that it comprises a coating device (30, 31), suitable for applying, directly to the front side of the label cost ribbon, a coating covering a surface, called a covered surface, comprising at least, for each label cost, a peripheral zone extending on either side of a peripheral edge of the label co faisants all around said coφs, so that the coating forms a peripheral margin projecting all around said label coφs.

20 / Installation according to claim 19, characterized in that the coating device (30, 31) is adapted to apply the coating on a discontinuous covered surface in a longitudinal direction, so that, for each pair of consecutive labels according to the longitudinal direction, the peripheral margins of the two labels are not contiguous.

21 / Installation according to claim 19, characterized in that the coating device (30, 31) is adapted to apply the coating on a continuous covered surface in a longitudinal direction, then make, for each pair of consecutive labels in the direction longitudinal, at least one transverse half-flesh cut through the coating between the two label coφs so as to allow the dissociation of said labels. 22 / Installation according to one of claims 19 to 21, characterized in that the coating device (30, 31) is adapted to apply the coating on a covered surface comprising the entire front side of each label coφs.

23 / Installation according to one of claims 19 to 22, characterized in that the coating device (31) comprises a printing device suitable for depositing by printing, as coating (9), a polymeric synthetic material, such that a varnish, capable of forming, for each label cost, a continuous flexible and non-brittle film.

24 / Installation according to one of claims 19 to 22, characterized in that the coating device successively comprises: a device, known as a laminating device, adapted to apply to the front face of the ribbon of label coφs, as a coating, a strip of an adhesive film, said film of laminating, capable of adhering to said front face of the front film,

- a cutting device suitable for making, for each pair of consecutive labels in the longitudinal direction, at least one transverse half-cut through the strip of film coating between the two label coφs so as to allow the dissociation of said tags.

25 / Installation according to one of claims 19 to 22, characterized in that the coating device (30) successively comprises: - a device (22), said film-coating device, suitable for applying to the front side of the ribbon of coφs a label, as a coating, a strip of an adhesive film, known as a laminating film, capable of adhering to said front face of the front film,

a cutting device (23), called the second cutting device, suitable for making half-flesh cuts cutting through the strip of lamination film around each label coφs so as to delimit distinct non-contiguous portions, called lamination, each covering a label coφs and forming the peripheral margin thereof, between which and around which extends a continuous portion in the form of a grid, called skeleton, each label coφs, thus provided with a layer of material adhesive on its back side and covered on its front side with overflowing film coating, forming a label,

- a weeding device (24), said second weeding device, suitable for weeding the strip of laminating film so as to separate the backbone of the labels remaining applied to the strip of support film and thus obtain a label tape .

26 / Installation according to one of claims 24 or 25, characterized in that the lamination device (22) is suitable for applying a lamination film coated, on one reverse side, with an adhesive material.

27 / Installation according to one of claims 24 to 26, characterized in that the film-coating device (22) is adapted to deliver a film of fusible lamination, and includes heating means for bonding said lamination film to the front side of the label cost ribbon.

28 / Installation according to one of claims 19 to 27, characterized in that it comprises at least one device (35) for printing upstream of the first cutting device.

29 / Installation according to one of claims 19 to 28, characterized in that it comprises at least one printing device downstream of the film-coating device or of the polymer material printing device.

30 / Label tape, comprising: 4 a plurality of labels (7, 8) each comprising a label core (4) in a first film, called front film, having a back side (11) carrying a layer of adhesive material, the label coφs (4) being non-contiguous, 4 a strip (1) of a second film, called support film, carrying the labels, the support film having a non-stick front face (12) receiving the adhesive back side of the labels, characterized in that each label (7, 8) comprises, directly on the front side of the label cost, a coating (6, 9) which covers at least one peripheral zone (14) extending on either side of a peripheral edge (37) of the label co faisants all around said coφs, which coating forms a peripheral coating margin (17, 16) projecting all around said label coφs.

31 / Label tape according to claim 30, characterized in that the peripheral coating margins (17, 16) of two consecutive labels in the longitudinal direction are non-contiguous.

32 / Label tape according to claim 30, characterized in that the peripheral coating margins of two consecutive labels in the longitudinal direction are contiguous and are delimited by at least one transverse cut through the coating between the two label coφs.

33 / Label tape according to one of claims 30 to 32, characterized in that the coating (6) of each label covers the entire front side of the label coφs. 34 / label tape according to one of claims 30 to 33, characterized in that the coating (9) of each label is made of a polymer synthetic material, such as a varnish, deposited by printing and forming a continuous film flexible and not brittle. 35 / label tape according to one of claims 30 to 33, characterized in that the coating (6) of each label is an overlapping film, in adhesive film, adhering to the front face of the label coφs, that it completely covers.

36 / Label tape according to one of claims 30 to 35, characterized in that the front face (10) of the label coφs of each label carries printed inscriptions.

37 / Label tape according to one of claims 30 to 36, characterized in that the coating (6, 9) of each label carries printed inscriptions. 38 / Label tape according to one of claims 30 to 37, characterized in that each label has a label coφs (4) in a front film belonging to the group of papers, and in particular coated papers and wove papers ; synthetic films, and in particular polyethylene films, polyester films, polyvinyl chloride films, polypropylene films; fabrics, woven or non-woven; foams, compressible or not; metallic films.

39 / Label tape according to one of claims 30 to 38 and according to claim 35, characterized in that each label has a film coating (6) in a film coating belonging to the group of papers, and in particular coated papers and wove papers; synthetic films, and in particular polyethylene films, polyester films, polyvinyl chloride films, polypropylene films; fabrics, woven or non-woven; foams, compressible or not; metallic films.

40 / label tape according to one of claims 30 to 39, characterized in that each label comprises a layer (2) of adhesive material with a thickness between 10 and 100 μm or a surface mass between 10 and 100 g / m ² .

41 / Label tape according to claim 40, characterized in that each label comprises a layer (2) of adhesive material with a thickness greater than 40 μm or a surface mass greater than 40 g / m ² .