Apparatus and Process for Cutting Adhesive Labels

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016016323-A1
Application number	US-201514867294-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 28, 2015
Priority date	Jul 14, 2008
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for die cutting label stock comprising a facestock, an adhesive and optionally a liner to form labels where a liner of the linered pressure sensitive adhesive label stock may be a thin or ultrathin liner.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of forming a cut adhesive backed label on a liner, comprising:
providing a web of label stock comprising a facestock having a first side and a second side, an adhesive layer adhered to a first side of the facestock and, optionally, a release liner adhered an exposed surface of the adhesive layer; when a liner is present, feeding the web of label stock to a separator station, wherein the separator separates the liner from the facestock and adhesive layer; when a liner is not present or following separation of the liner from the facestock when present, feeding the facestock and adhesive layer to a cutting station to form a plurality of cut adhesive backed labels and a surrounding matrix, wherein the cutting station comprises a flexible rotary die and an anvil roller wherein the flexible rotary die comprises a die plate that is fastened to a mounting cylinder, wherein the adhesive is cooled prior to entering the cutting station or the flexible rotary die is chilled, or a combination of both, wherein the cooling is to such a degree so as to reduce the tack of the adhesive to the die; when a release liner is present, relaminating the previously removed release liner to the cut adhesive backed labels and matrix or, optionally, laminating a new release liner to the cut adhesive backed labels; wherein a solid material fills an air gap formed between the die plate and the mounting cylinder wherein the solid material has a greater thermal conductivity than air.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the adhesive layer is cooled by passing the facestock and the adhesive layer through a chilling zone after the liner, if present, has been separated from the web of label stock and prior to feeding the facestock and the adhesive layer to the cutting station.

3 . A method of forming a cut adhesive backed label on a liner, comprising:
providing a web of label stock comprising a facestock having a first side and a second side, an adhesive layer adhered to a first side of the facestock and, optionally, a release liner adhered an exposed surface of the adhesive layer, wherein the release liner has a thickness of less than or equal to 0.00626 mm; when a liner is present, feeding the web of label stock to a separator station, wherein the separator separates the liner from the facestock and adhesive layer; when a liner is not present or following separation of the liner from the facestock when present, feeding the facestock and adhesive layer to a cutting station comprising a die and an anvil in an orientation such that the adhesive of the adhesive layer contacts the die wherein a plurality of cut adhesive backed labels and a surrounding matrix is formed, wherein the die is a rotary die, wherein the cutting surface of the die is lubricated using a flexographic printing plate cylinder; when a release liner is present, relaminating the previously removed release liner to the cut adhesive backed labels and matrix or, optionally, laminating a new release liner to the cut adhesive backed labels.

4 . The method of claim 3 wherein the die is coated with a material which prevents the adhesive of the adhesive layer from adhering to the die.

5 . A method of forming a cut adhesive backed label on a liner, comprising:
providing a web of label stock comprising a facestock, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer adhered to the facestock and a release liner adhered to the adhesive layer, wherein the release liner has a thickness less than or equal to 0.00626 mm; feeding the web of label stock to a cutting station to form a plurality of cut adhesive backed labels and a surrounding matrix on the release liner, wherein the cutting station comprises a die and an anvil, and the anvil comprises an elastic, polymeric material; stripping the matrix from the cut adhesive backed labels and matrix on the liner; and winding the cut adhesive backed labels on the liner into a roll.

6 . The method of claim 5 wherein the distance between the die and the anvil is controlled to prevent cutting the release liner.

7 . A method of forming a cut adhesive backed label on a liner, comprising:
providing a web of label stock comprising a facestock, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer adhered to the facestock and a release liner adhered to the adhesive layer, wherein the release liner has a thickness less than or equal to 0.00626 mm; feeding the web of label stock to a cutting station to form a plurality of cut adhesive backed labels and a surrounding matrix on the release liner, wherein the cutting station comprises a die and an anvil, and the die is a rotary die and a die bridge provides an automatic adjustment of the force applied to each side of the die to a set point force; stripping the matrix from the cut adhesive backed labels and matrix on the liner; and winding the cut adhesive backed labels on the liner into a roll.

8 . A method of forming a cut adhesive backed label on a liner, comprising:
providing a web of label stock comprising a facestock, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer adhered to the facestock and a release liner adhered to the adhesive layer, wherein the release liner has a thickness less than or equal to 0.00626 mm; feeding the web of label stock to a cutting station to form a plurality of cut adhesive backed labels and a surrounding matrix on the release liner, wherein the cutting station comprises a die and an anvil, and the distance between the die and the anvil is controlled to prevent cutting the release liner, wherein the anvil comprises an elastic, polymeric material; stripping the matrix from the cut adhesive backed labels and matrix on the liner; and winding the cut adhesive backed labels on the liner into a roll.

9 . The method of claim 8 wherein the distance between the die and the anvil is controlled with an electrostatic controller.

10 . A method of forming a cut adhesive backed label on a liner, comprising:
providing a web of label stock comprising a facestock having a first side and a second side, an adhesive layer adhered to a first side of the facestock and, optionally, a release liner adhered an exposed surface of the adhesive layer, wherein the release liner has a thickness less that 0.0254 mm; when a liner is present, feeding the web of label stock to a separator station, wherein the separator separates the liner from the facestock and adhesive layer; when a liner is not present or following separation of the liner from the facestock when present, feeding the facestock and adhesive layer to a cutting station to form a plurality of cut adhesive backed labels and a surrounding matrix, wherein the cutting station comprises a flexible rotary die and an anvil roller wherein the flexible rotary die comprises a die plate that is fastened to a mounting cylinder; wherein the adhesive is cooled prior to entering the cutting station; wherein cooling is done selected from any of cooling the flexible rotary die or the anvil roller, or by passing the facestock through chilling zone, or by using a liquid coolant or a combination thereof; wherein the cooling is to such a degree so as to reduce the tack of the adhesive to the die; when a release liner is present, relaminating the previously removed release liner to the cut adhesive backed labels and matrix or, optionally, laminating a new release liner to the cut adhesive backed labels.

11 . The method of forming a cut adhesive backed label on a liner as claimed in claim 10 , a lubricant is applied to the die or the anvil.

Assignees

• Avery Dennison Corp

Inventors

• Green Alan
• Benoit Dennis R

Classifications

• B26F1/44

  Cutters therefor; Dies therefor · CPC title

• B26D7/10 Primary

  by heating (with Laser B23K26/00; severing by heating B26F) · CPC title

• G09F2003/0267

  die cut · CPC title

• B26F2001/4427

  combining cutting and forming operations · CPC title

• B26D7/08 Primary

  Means for treating work or cutting member to facilitate cutting (tensioning band cutters B26D1/48) · CPC title