Method for applying a label to a molded packaging of truncated cone shape, tooling enabling the implementation of said method.

Abstract

Title: Method for applying a label to a molded packaging of truncated cone shape, tooling enabling the implementation of said method The method for applying a label supporting decoration and / or information on the conical or truncated conical periphery of a molded packaging (2) made of a biodegradable material of the natural fiber type, consists of carrying out the following operations: positioning the packaging (2) to be decorated on a mandrel (1) mounted axially on a pivot (10), unstacking a heat-sealable label (4) and applying it to the peripheral wall (21) of said packaging (2), maintaining the label (4) in contact with the packaging (2), rotating the packaging support mandrel (1), diffusing heat to carry out the heat sealing, removing said mandrel (1) and releasing the decorated packaging (2). Figure for the abstract: Fig 8

Description

Title of the invention: Method for placing a label on a molded packaging of truncated cone shape, tooling enabling the implementation of said method.

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for placing a decorative and / or information support label on the conical or truncated conical periphery of a molded packaging made from a biodegradable material, as well as the tooling allowing the implementation of said method.

[0002] Traditionally, the reproduction of information and / or decorations on packaging consists of placing on at least one wall of the latter, a label stuck or applied by offset or screen printing.

[0003] On plastic packaging, the labels can be adhesive, or they can be placed in the injection mold of said packaging using the so-called IML (In mold labeling) technology.

[0004] For ecological reasons, plastic packaging now tends to be replaced by packaging molded from natural fibers, that is to say molded from a material comprising natural fibers, said material being able to be in particular biodegradable, compostable, such as for example paper pulp.

[0005] These packages meet more ecological criteria, however this generates new disadvantages. Thus, the roughness, irregularity and surface energy of the wall(s) prevent labels from being satisfactorily stuck.

[0006] To overcome this drawback, it is possible to treat the wall(s) of a paper pulp packaging, for example, to modify its surface condition and allow a label to adhere well, but this involves a complex and costly additional step.

[0007] It is also possible to use an offset printing process, but the material from which the packaging is made absorbs the ink, while here again the uneven surface condition impairs the clarity of the reproduction.

[0008] Thus, a method was devised for placing a decorative and / or information support label on the conical or truncated cone-shaped edge of a molded packaging made from a biodegradable material, in particular paper pulp, where, in addition, said information support does not constitute an obstacle to biodegradability.

[0009] This method makes it possible, for example, to decorate the peripheral wall, entirely or partially, of a package with a single label.

[0010] This invention is particularly suitable in the case of a paper label, or a multi-layer label comprising a paper layer.

[0011] The method of placing a decorative and / or information support label on the conical or truncated conical periphery of a molded packaging made from a biodegradable material of the natural fiber type, according to the invention, is characterized in that it consists of carrying out the following operations: - positioning of the packaging to be decorated on a mandrel mounted axially on a pivot, - unstacking of a heat-sealable label and placing it on the peripheral wall of said packaging, - keeping the label in contact with the packaging, - rotating the packaging support mandrel, - diffusing heat to achieve heat sealing, - removing said mandrel and releasing the decorated packaging.

[0012] According to a first embodiment of the method according to the invention, after unstacking, the label is positioned upside down on a label support mandrel mounted to pivot axially and is held there, then the two mandrels are brought into contact, at least one is made to rotate, and the label is transferred from the support mandrel to the packaging while diffusing heat without contact.

[0013] According to an additional characteristic of the first embodiment of the method according to the invention, the label is held on the label support mandrel by suction.

[0014] According to a second particular embodiment of the method according to the invention, after, or simultaneously with, the placement of the label on the peripheral wall of the packaging, said label is indexed and secured punctually to said packaging to hold it thereon.

[0015] According to an additional characteristic of the second embodiment of the method according to the invention, the point-by-point attachment of the label to the peripheral wall of the packaging is carried out by punching.

[0016] According to another additional characteristic of the second embodiment of the method according to the invention, the diffusion of heat for carrying out the heat sealing is obtained by bringing the label covering the packaging into contact with a hot support mandrel mounted to pivot axially, simultaneously with the rotation of the mandrel which carries said packaging.

[0017] The present invention also relates to a tool allowing the implementation of the method, and which is characterized in that it comprises: - an axially pivoting packaging support mandrel, - a means of gripping and feeding said packaging to said support mandrel, and of securing it to said support mandrel, - a means of loading and unstacking heat-sealable labels, - a means of gripping and handling a label and bringing it into contact with the outer wall of said packaging, - a heat diffusion means capable of heat-sealing said label around the edge of said packaging, - a means of depositing and removing said decorated packaging.

[0018] According to a first embodiment of the tool according to the invention, it comprises on the one hand a second mandrel, adapted to support and retain a label arranged upside down, namely heat-sealable face towards the outside, mounted axially pivoting, and movable towards and away from the packaging support mandrel, so as to be able to come into contact with the packaging and roll over it, depositing the label there; and on the other hand heat diffusion means arranged close to the meeting zone of said mandrels.

[0019] According to an additional characteristic of the first embodiment of the tooling according to the invention, the second mandrel, adapted to support and retain a label, is equipped with suction means designed to retain said label.

[0020] According to another additional characteristic of the first embodiment of the tool according to the invention, the heat diffusion means consist of a heating lamp.

[0021] According to a second embodiment of the tool according to the invention, the means for bringing the label into contact with the peripheral wall of the packaging comprises means for indexing and punctual attachment of said label to said packaging.

[0022] According to an additional characteristic of the second embodiment of the tooling according to the invention, the means for indexing and punctual securing of the label on said packaging consist of punching means.

[0023] According to an additional characteristic of the second embodiment of the tool according to the invention, it comprises a second mandrel, comprising means for keeping it hot, mounted axially pivoting, movable towards and away from the packaging support mandrel, so as to be able to come into contact with the packaging and roll over the label to heat seal it.

[0024] The advantages and characteristics of the method and the tooling according to the invention will emerge more clearly from the description which follows and which refers to the appended drawing, which represents two non-limiting embodiments thereof.

[0025] In the attached drawing:

[0026] [Fig. 1] represents an installation allowing the implementation of the method according to the invention, as described in Figures 2 to 9,

[0027] [Fig.2] [Fig.3] [Fig.4] [Fig.5] [Fig.6] [Fig.7] [Fig.8] [Fig.9] represent views schematics illustrating successive steps of a first embodiment of the method according to the invention,

[0028] [Fig.10] [Fig.11] [Fig.12] [Fig.13] [Fig.14] [Fig.15] represent schematic views illustrating successive steps of a second embodiment of the method according to the invention.

[0029] With reference to [Fig. 1], it can be seen that the tooling allowing the implementation of the method according to the invention essentially comprises a means A for gripping packages 2 to be processed, a label loader B, a label manipulator C and a means D for applying and securing a label to a package 2.

[0030] The gripping means A comprises a multiplicity of mandrels 1, in this case four, each mounted on a shaft 10, the set of shafts 10 mounted in a cross, being carried by the end of an axis 11 motorized in rotation to take different positions allowing the handling of the packaging 2, its presentation to the means D for applying and securing a label, and the evacuation of the labeled packaging.

[0031] The mandrels 1 are of a shape adapted to the interior of the packaging 2 which comprises a base 20 and a truncated peripheral wall 21.

[0032] The first step of the method, illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, consists of adapting the packaging 2 onto a mandrel 1. In [Fig.2] this operation is carried out in a horizontal movement because the axis of the mandrel 1 is horizontal, but it could be otherwise.

[0033] In [Fig.4] it can be seen that the tooling, in particular the means D for applying and securing a label, comprises a mandrel 3, intended to carry a label 4, the one which must be stuck on the wall 21 of the packaging 2. The mandrel 3 has an external wall 30 of truncated cone shape, with the same conicity angle as that of the packaging 2, and it incorporates a suction system, shown diagrammatically by nozzles 31 distributed on the surface of the external wall 30, allowing, after unstacking, to retain the label 4 on the surface by its informative face, to leave its opposite face 40 visible externally which is heat-sealable.

[0034] In this [Fig.4] we can see the step during which the label 4 is wound onto the mandrel 3.

[0035] With reference to figures 5 or 6, which show two variants, and [Fig.7], it can be seen that the next step consists of bringing the mandrel 3 carrying the label 4 and the packaging 2 carried by the mandrel 1 closer together, until the face 40 of the label 4 comes into contact with the wall 21 of the packaging 2.

[0036] The approach is carried out laterally by a pivoting movement, [Fig.5], or by rectilinear translation, [Fig.6]. It will also be noted that the movement is relative, it can be carried out through one or other of the mandrels 1 and 3.

[0037] With reference to [Fig.8], it can be seen that the rotation of the two mandrels 1 and 3 allows the transfer of the label from the mandrel 3 onto the packaging 2, while a heat diffusion means 5 activates the heat sealing of the face 40 applied to the wall 21 of the packaging 2, leaving the informative and decorative face 41 visible.

[0038] It should be noted that only one of the two mandrels 1 and 3 can be motorized while the other is driven by the first.

[0039] In [Fig.9], we can see the removal of the packaging 2 on the wall 21 of which is attached label 4.

[0040] In Figures 10 and 11, it can be seen that the second embodiment of the method according to the invention uses partly the same tooling as the first embodiment, namely a mandrel 1, mounted axially pivoting on a shaft 10, of a shape adapted to that of a packaging 2 which comprises a base 20 and a frustoconical peripheral wall 21. The first step is identical, it also consists of adapting the packaging 2 on the mandrel 1.

[0041] In [Fig. 12], we can see that after unstacking the label 4, it is secured to the wall 21 of the packaging 2, informative face 41 towards the outside, by rotating the mandrel 1, after having punctually secured the label 4 to the wall 21, the punctually secured the label 4 to the wall 21 is carried out, without limitation, by punching, the marks 6 of which can be seen.

[0042] With reference to [Fig. 13], one can see the mandrel 7 of the means D for applying and securing a label, in this case of a shape similar to the packaging, at least of the same angle of conicity, and which incorporates heating means designed to be capable of heating at least the frustoconical outer wall 70.

[0043] The next step consists of bringing together the mandrel 1 carrying the packaging 2 and the mandrel 7, according to a kinematics similar to that of the first embodiment and shown in figures 5 or 6.

[0044] In [Fig. 14] the mandrel 7 and the mandrel 1 carrying the packaging 2 are brought together until the wall 70 comes into contact with the wall 21, not visible, bearing the label 4, then by rotating one or the other of the mandrels or both, the mandrel 7 transmits its heat to the label 4 and more particularly to the glue on the face 40, also not visible, of the latter in order to carry out the heat sealing.

[0045] After that, it is sufficient to remove the packaging 2, before starting the process again, as shown in [Fig.l]5.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for placing a decorative and / or information support label on the conical or truncated periphery of a molded packaging (2) made from a biodegradable material of the natural fiber type, consisting of carrying out the following operations: - positioning the packaging (2) to be decorated on a mandrel (1) mounted axially on a pivot (10), - unstacking a heat-sealable label (4) and placing it on the peripheral wall (21) of said packaging (2), holding the label (4) in contact with the packaging (2), - rotating the packaging support mandrel (1), - diffusing heat to carry out the heat sealing, removing said mandrel (1) and releasing the decorated packaging (2), characterized in that after, or simultaneously with, the placing of the label (4) on the peripheral wall (21) of the packaging (2), said label (4) being indexed and secured punctually to said packaging (2) to hold it on this one.

2. Method according to the invention of claim 1, characterized in that the punctual attachment of the label (4) to the peripheral wall (21) of the packaging (2) is carried out by punching.

3. Method according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the diffusion of heat for carrying out the heat sealing is obtained by bringing the label (4) covering the packaging (2) into contact with a hot support mandrel (7) mounted to pivot axially, simultaneously with the rotation of the mandrel (1), which carries said packaging (2).

4. Tooling for implementing the method according to claim 1, comprising: - a packaging support mandrel (1) mounted axially pivoting, - a means (A) for gripping and feeding said packaging (2) to said support mandrel (1), and for securing said support mandrel (1), - a means (B) for loading and unstacking heat-sealable labels (4), - a means (C) for handling and gripping a label (4) and bringing it into contact with the outer wall (21) of said packaging (2), - a means (5; 7) for diffusing heat capable of heat-sealing said label (4) around the perimeter of said packaging (2), - a means of depositing and removing said decorated packaging (2), characterized in that the means for bringing the label (4) into contact with the peripheral wall (21) of the packaging (2) comprises means for indexing and punctual securing of said label (4) on said packaging (2).

5. Tooling for implementing the method according to claim 4, characterized in that the means for indexing and punctual securing of the label (4) on said packaging (2) consist of punching means.

6. Tooling for implementing the method according to claim 4 or claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a second mandrel (7), comprising means for keeping it hot, mounted axially pivoting, movable towards and away from the packaging support mandrel, so as to be able to come into contact with the packaging (2) and roll over the label (4) to heat seal it.

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