Method and system for manufacturing label kits comprised of carrier sheets having labels of specific shape removably retained thereon

• US 7,871,479 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2006
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Duramark Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Duramark Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Garland, William
• Primary Examiner(s): SELLS, JAMES D
• Application Number:
  US11/403,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20060233995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,740 Days
• Field of Search: 156/64, 156/247, 156/248, 156/250, 156/252, 156/253, 156/267, 156/268, 156/269, 156/270, 156/277, 156/387, 156/510
• US Class Current: 156/64
• 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: G09F 3/10 by an adhesive layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1056 Perforating lamina
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1057 Subsequent to assembly of laminae
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/108 Flash, trim or excess removal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1082 Partial cutting bonded sandwich [e.g., grooving or incising]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1084 of continuous or running length bonded web
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1085 One web only
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/12 Surface bonding means and/or assembly means with cutting, punching, piercing, severing or tearing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1476 Release layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1495 Adhesive is on removable layer

Abstract

A method for the manufacture of label kits is described. Each kit comprises one or more of carrier sheets having one or more labels of specific shape and containing specific information associated with a specific product or parts thereof on which they are to be affixed. The labels have an adhesive backing removably retained on a surface of the carrier sheet. The method uses a digital printer and a laminator die-cutting machine which is computer controlled with the data being automatically printed and labels automatically cut into a web whereby to form detachable labels, some having a UV protected clear or opaque synthetic or paper surface material face sheet. The carrier sheets are cut from the web and individually placed or stacked into kits or piles to form label kits containing a predetermined number of such labels associated with a specific product or part with the carrier sheets potentially containing a tracking code identifying the specific kit to the product.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing label kits, each kit comprising a plurality of carrier sheets having one or more labels of specific or different shape and comprising specific information associated with a specific product or a part thereof, said labels having an adhesive backing removably retained on a surface of said carrier sheet, said method comprising the steps of:

i) inputting in a computer controlled digital printer, data relating to said specific or different shape and specific information of said labels in association with one or more of said carrier sheets;

ii) inputting a tracking code data identifying said specific product or part thereof;

iii) printing said data relating to said specific information and tracking code on a rear or top surface of one of a continuous clear or opaque face sheet as it is moving through said printer, said data being printed at specific locations associated with said carrier sheet;

iv) repeating said step (iii) in continuity and depending on input data relating to the number of carrier sheets to be printed along said face sheet and contained in said kit;

v) applying a continuous liner sheet with an adhesive layer on said face containing said printed data to create a laminated label;

vi) die-cutting said labels according to said data relating to said specific shape of said labels above said top surface of said release liner; and

vii) delineating or perforating, die cutting or marking for future cutting said continuous release liner sheet with said die-cut labels into individual carrier sheets.

2. A method of manufacturing label kits as claimed in claim 1 wherein said step (vii) of delineating comprises one of slitting, die cutting, perforating or marking for future cutting or perforating.

3. A method of manufacturing label kits as claimed in claim 1 wherein said face sheet is one of a synthetic of paper based or paper face sheet.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein after said step (vi) there is further provided the step of removing a cut-out matrix of said face sheet and adhesive backing surrounding said labels whereby said individual carrier sheet is comprised of said release liner sheet with said labels adhesively removable from said top surface of said release liner sheet.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein there is further provided the step of inputting in said computer controlled digital printer data relating to one or more print sense marks to print same on said face sheet to activate said die cutting of said step (vi).

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein there is further provided the step of inputting in said computer controlled digital printer data relating to a sheet mark to print same on said face sheet to activate a digital die cutting device to effect said step (vii).

7. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein after said step (vii) there is provided the step of (viii) discharging said individual carrier sheets in one of a sheeter, slitting, die cutting, perforating or marking for future cutting device where a batch of a predetermined number of said sheets is formed, and (ix) discharging said batch to form a label kit or a part of a label kit.

8. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein said computer control digital printer is comprised of one or more color printing heads, and wherein there is further provided the step of inputting color selection data in association with said other data for designation of selected ones of said color printing heads.