Label Stacking Machine and Method

• US 10,059,090 B1
• Filed: 04/18/2016
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronic Imaging Services, Inc. (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Electronic Imaging Services, Inc. (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Inventors: Browning, Paul, Bethards, Gene, Aten, Scott, LeFevre, Brian, Cross, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Gray, Linda Lamey
• Application Number:
  US15/131,202
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B26F 1/20 with tools carried by a rotating drum or similar support B26F1/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B26F 1/384 using rotating drums
• CPC Class Codes: B26F 1/44 Cutters therefor; Dies therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B26F 2001/4481 having special lateral or edge outlines or special surface shapes, e.g. apertures
• CPC Class Codes: B31D 1/0075 by assembling, e.g. by laminating B31D1/0012 - B31D1/0068 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B31D 1/021 Making adhesive labels having a multilayered structure, e.g. provided on carrier webs
• CPC Class Codes: B31D 1/026 Cutting or perforating B31D1/022 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B31D 1/027 involving, marking, printing or coding
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2037/268 Release layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2519/00 Labels, badges
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/0046 characterised by constructional aspects of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/0076 characterised in that the layers are not bonded on the totality of their surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/025 Transfer laminating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/1018 using only vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/1292 selectively, e.g. in stripes, in patterns B32B37/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/0004 Cutting, tearing or severing, e.g. bursting; Cutter details cutting in general B26D; laminating combined with punching or perforating B32B38/04; removing all or part of the layers B32B38/10; cutting in combination with laying up and registration B32B38/185 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/1858 using vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 57/04 by suction or magnetic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 23/038 by rollers
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/331 Skewing, correcting skew, i.e. changing slightly orientation of material
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/51538 : Die-cutting
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/192 : Labels carrying webs or liners B65H2701/194
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 35/0013 : and applying the article or the web by adhesive to a surface B65H35/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 35/0073 : Details
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 37/04 : for securing together articles or webs, e.g. by adhesive, stitching or stapling adhering replacement to expiring web during change of web roll B65H19/18
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2003/0255 : laminated
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/02 : Forms or constructions layered products B32B
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/03 : of security seals means for indicating unauthorised opening of container closures B65D, e.g. B65D27/30, B65D55/02; theft deterrent tags E05B73/0017
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/10 : by an adhesive layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1052 : with cutting, punching, tearing or severing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1062 : Prior to assembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1075 : of plural laminae from single stock and assembling to each other or to additional lamina
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1761 : Stacked serially
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1768 : Means simultaneously conveying plural articles from a single source and serially presenting them to an assembly station

Abstract

A method of making a pad of labels comprises: printing display information on a top surface of a substrate; affixing a first layer of lamination material to a bottom surface of the substrate; affixing a second layer of lamination material to the top surface of the substrate, the second layer of lamination material having a release coating applied to a top surface thereof; applying an adhesive strip to a bottom surface of the first layer of lamination material, the adhesive strip being covered by a liner material; cutting the substrate having first and second layers of lamination material affixed into at least one label; removing the liner material to expose the adhesive strip after cutting the substrate into at least one label; and arranging the labels into a pad of labels.

Claims

1. A method of making a pad of labels comprising:

providing a substrate having printed display material on a top surface of the substrate, a first layer of lamination material on a bottom surface of the substrate, a second layer of lamination material having a release coating on the top surface of the substrate, and an adhesive strip on the bottom surface of the substrate, the adhesive strip being covered by a liner material;

cutting the substrate having first and second layers of lamination material affixed into at least one label;

removing the liner material to expose the adhesive strip;

transporting the at least one label to a stacking station;

lifting the at least one label from the stacking station by applying a vacuum force to a top surface of the at least one label;

moving the at least one label over a stack of labels; and

releasing the vacuum force to the top surface of the at least one label to arrange the at least one label into a pad of labels.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein transporting the at least one label includes using a transfer conveyor having non-stick coated rollers.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

blowing air onto the at least one label during transporting of the at least one label to the stacking station.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the stacking station includes at least one recess that aligns with the adhesive strip to prevent the adhesive strip from contacting the stacking station.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the vacuum force is applied using a robot arm, the robot arm including a pick-head having a foam pad.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the foam pad includes a plurality of apertures.