Linerless label applicator
First Claim
1. An applicator for applying to an article a linerless label having an adhesive exposed along one side thereof, comprising:
- a label feed device including a pair of nip rollers having a plurality of circumferentially extending, axially spaced grooves forming circumferentially extending, axially spaced ribs along the outer surfaces of said rollers for engaging and displacing the label in a downstream direction upon rotation of said rollers, the ribs of one of said rollers having circumferentially extending plasma-coated surfaces for engaging at least the side of the label having the exposed adhesive;
a plurality of feed fingers disposed along at least the side of the web of labels having the exposed adhesive and located within the grooves of said one roller for engagement with and to facilitate transport of the web through the rolls; and
an applicator head for applying the label to the article.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A linerless label in web form is fed by a pair of nip rollers to a cutting device for forming discrete linerless labels subsequently applied to a product by an applicator head. The nip rollers have circumferentially extending, axially spaced ribs in registry with one another. The roller in opposition to the adhesive on one side of the web is a pressure roller having the rib surfaces plasma-coated to preclude the adhesive from sticking to the roller. Fingers with plasma coating extend through grooves between the ribs of the bottom rollers and underlie the web as it is driven by the rollers to the cutting device. Vacuum pressure is applied to an applicator head downstream of the cutting device to retain the discrete label on the head until applied to a product moving below the head. Throughout the operation, the plasma-coated surfaces prevent the adhesive from sticking to the machine components and the accumulation of adhesive residue on the machine.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An applicator for applying to an article a linerless label having an adhesive exposed along one side thereof, comprising:
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a label feed device including a pair of nip rollers having a plurality of circumferentially extending, axially spaced grooves forming circumferentially extending, axially spaced ribs along the outer surfaces of said rollers for engaging and displacing the label in a downstream direction upon rotation of said rollers, the ribs of one of said rollers having circumferentially extending plasma-coated surfaces for engaging at least the side of the label having the exposed adhesive; a plurality of feed fingers disposed along at least the side of the web of labels having the exposed adhesive and located within the grooves of said one roller for engagement with and to facilitate transport of the web through the rolls; and an applicator head for applying the label to the article. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An applicator for applying linerless labels to articles wherein the linerless labels are provided in a continuous web having an adhesive exposed along one side thereof, comprising:
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a label feed device including a pair of nip rollers having a plurality of circumferentially extending, axially spaced grooves forming circumferentially extending, axially spaced ribs along the outer surfaces of said rollers for engaging and displacing the web of linerless labels in a downstream direction upon rotation of said rollers, the ribs of one of said rollers having circumferentially extending surfaces formed of a non-stick material for engaging at least the side of the web of linerless labels having the exposed adhesive; a plurality of feed fingers disposed along at least one side of the web of labels and located within the grooves of said one roller to facilitate transport of the web through the rolls, said fingers having surfaces formed of a non-stick material in opposition to said one side of said web; a pair of knife edges with at least one knife edge mounted for movement toward and away from another of said knife edges for cutting labels from the web; an applicator head for applying the labels to the articles; said head including a platen having a vacuum applied thereto to releasably adhere the separated labels to the platen; and means for moving said platen toward and away from articles to be labelled for applying the labels to the articles. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification