Linerless labels and label cutting equipment

Abstract

To provide a linerless label in which label pieces in a fixed shape are continuously connected in a conveyance direction, and a label cutting device that allows cut-out of the label pieces from the linerless label.SOLUTION: A linerless label is such that a label piece in a predetermined shape with one face as a printing face and the other face as a pasting face is defined as one unit, and the label pieces are continuously connected in a conveyance direction. A boundary part between the label pieces is provided with a cutting allowance in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction. The width in the conveyance direction of the cutting allowance is formed to be a width allowing displacement of the cutting position of a cutter. Consequently, a slight displacement of the cutting position of the cutter does not affect the label piece in the predetermined shape, and thus the commercial value of the print-out label piece is not lost even when the label piece is pasted on a commodity.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a linerless label with a predetermined cutting position and a label cutting device that can cut out a single label piece at that cutting position. [Background technology]

[0002] So-called linerless labels, which do not use a liner, are widely used for a variety of products because the cutting position of the label can be changed depending on the amount of printing. However, there are also linerless labels that have label pieces of a fixed shape connected in the conveying direction, such as the label disclosed in the following patent document.

[0003] With such linerless labels, the labels must be cut at the boundary between label pieces of a fixed shape, so even a slight deviation in the cutting position will result in label pieces of a different shape being issued, and if these are affixed to a product, the value of the product itself will be compromised. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-2441 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a new linerless label that can solve this problem and a label cutting device that can cut the label at a predetermined position. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The linerless label of the present invention has one side as a printing surface and the other side as an adhesive surface. Cross section of a kamaboko A belt-shaped linerless label in which label pieces of the same shape are connected continuously in the conveying direction as a single unit, A cutting margin is provided at the boundary between each of the label pieces in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, The width of the cutting margin in the conveying direction is formed to a width that allows for deviation of the cutting position of the cutter. 、 A plurality of slits parallel to the conveying direction are provided on the downstream side of each label piece in the conveying direction across the entire width in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. It is a backingless label.

[0007] This allows the cutter to cut even if the cutting position is slightly off. Cross section of a kamaboko Since the shape of the label piece is not affected, even if the printed label piece is affixed to a product, the value of the product is not impaired.

[0008] Further, the cutting margin is provided with plane-symmetric notches in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, and a region sandwiched between the plane-symmetric notches is provided with a plane-symmetric notch in a direction parallel to the conveying direction. , longer than the width of the cutting margin The sheet is characterized in that a plurality of slits are provided in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction.

[0009] This allows adjacent label pieces to be cut at the notched parts that are symmetrical to each other, so even if the cutting positions are slightly misaligned, Cross section of a kamaboko It does not affect the shape of the label strip. A plurality of slits parallel to the conveying direction are provided on the downstream side of each label piece in the conveying direction across the entire width in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. When the issued label is attached to a packaged product, the label is torn from the slit when the product's packaging film is torn. Therefore, it is ideal as a label to be attached to a packaged rice ball, for example.

[0010] The label cutting device according to the present invention is a cutter for linerless labels in which a plurality of label pieces are continuously connected in the conveying direction via notches in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, a cutter that cuts the linerless label; a conveying mechanism disposed upstream of the cutter and configured to convey the linerless label to the cutter; a sensor disposed between the conveying mechanism and the cutter to detect the notch; a control unit that operates the cutter based on a notch detection signal from the sensor, The control unit is characterized in that it operates the cutter at a timing when the notch detected by the sensor reaches a cutting position of the cutter.

[0011] As a result, the linerless label is cut at the notched portions provided between the label pieces as cutting margins, so that the label pieces cut out from the linerless label are always label pieces of a predetermined shape. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, Cross section of a kamaboko Even for linerless labels in which label pieces of a certain shape are connected continuously in the conveying direction, the label pieces can be cut using the cutting margin that serves as the boundary between the front and rear label pieces in the conveying direction. Moreover, because the cutting margin has a width that allows for deviation, even if the cutting position is slightly off, it does not affect the cut label piece, which has the advantage of not causing any problems that reduce the value of the product to which it is affixed. Furthermore, the downstream edge of each label piece in the conveying direction (the bottom edge of the kamaboko-shaped label piece) has multiple slits parallel to the conveying direction across the entire width in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, so even if the product packaging film is torn off-center, the label piece can be torn from the slit at the off-center position. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] A plan view of a portion of a linerless label in which label pieces with a cross section shaped like a kamaboko (fish cake) are continuously connected in the conveying direction. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a label piece cut from the linerless label; [Figure 3] 3 is a schematic diagram of a label cutting device that issues the label strips of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] (Configuration of linerless label L) The linerless label L shown in Fig. 1 is a belt-like label piece LP of a predetermined shape, with one side (front) as a printing surface and the other side (back) as an attachment surface, which is continuously connected in the conveying direction F as a unit to be attached to a product (not shown). In other words, the label piece LP is a kamaboko-shaped ofThis is a linerless label. At the boundary B between adjacent label pieces LP, a cutting margin CR is provided in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction F, and the width W of the cutting margin CR in the conveying direction is set to a width that allows for deviation of the cutting position of the cutter C, which will be described later, for example, a width of 2 mm.

[0015] The cutting margin CR is provided with plane-symmetrical notches N in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction F, and in the region of the cutting margin CR sandwiched between the plane-symmetrical notches N, multiple slits S parallel to the conveying direction F are provided in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction F. Specifically, multiple slits S are provided at approximately 1 mm intervals, but these slits S are arranged so as not to overlap with the central end E of the notches N. Meanwhile, the slits S are also formed in the linear portion of the label piece LP formed in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction F. Furthermore, the notches N have linear portions parallel to the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction F. In other words, the central end E of the notch N forms a rectangle with the front and rear label pieces LP and the cutting margin CR. The notches N are also formed at regular intervals for each label piece LP.

[0016] Figure 2 shows a label piece LP cut from a linerless label L. In this figure, the upper left and right corners of the label piece LP are cut into arcs with a radius of approximately 1 cm, and the lower left and right corners are also cut small, forming a shape similar to the cross section of a kamaboko (fish cake) on a plate. This is to prevent the upper left and right corners from protruding from the triangular rice ball when the label piece LP is affixed to, for example, an isosceles triangular packaged rice ball.

[0017] The slit S is formed so that when the label piece LP is attached to, for example, a wrapped rice ball, if the wrapping film of the rice ball is torn in the vertical direction, the label piece LP is also torn in the vertical direction from the slit S. The slit S is formed so as not to overlap with the central end E of the notch N. RThis is to prevent the label piece LP from breaking at the end E. The spacing of the slits S at the boundary part B between the label pieces may be configured to be different from the spacing of the slits S formed elsewhere. Specifically, the spacing of the slits S formed at the boundary part B between the label pieces is made narrower than the spacing in other parts. This makes it easier for consumers to tear the label piece LP from an article to which the label piece LP is attached.

[0018] (Control operation of label cutting device 1) In Figure 3, the label cutting device 1 includes a cutter C that cuts the linerless label L, a conveying mechanism 2 that is positioned upstream of the cutter C in the label conveying direction and feeds the linerless label L to the cutter C, a sensor 3 that is positioned between the conveying mechanism 2 and the cutter C and detects the notch N formed in the linerless label L, and a control unit 4 that operates the cutter C based on a notch detection signal from the sensor 3.

[0019] The cutter C has a well-known configuration, for example, made up of a movable blade that moves linearly back and forth and a fixed blade, but it may also be configured so that the fixed blade moves back and forth at the same time.

[0020] The transport mechanism 2 is composed of a print head 20 and a platen roller 21 that transports the linerless label L by pressing it against the print head 20. The print head 20 is set so that the printing surface of the linerless label L contacts the print head 20, and the attachment side, i.e., the adhesive side, of the linerless label L contacts the platen roller 21. Therefore, a release agent is applied to the surface of the platen roller 21 to prevent the adhesive on the attachment side of the label from sticking.

[0021] The sensor 3 has a well-known configuration, consisting of a light projector 30 that emits a beam and a light receiver 31 that receives the beam. The sensor 3 is preferably attached in a position close to the central end E of the notch N in Fig. 1, floating above the linerless label L. In other words, the sensor 3 detects light that passes through the label piece LP at the central end E of the notch N.

[0022] The control unit 4 is configured with a microcomputer and is equipped with a soft timer that starts timing in response to a detection signal from the sensor 3. This soft timer starts timing when the notch N is detected by the sensor 3 and is programmed to time up just before the notch N reaches the cutting position of the cutter C. Specifically, the timer is configured to time up just before the travel time calculated by dividing the distance the linerless label travels from the detection position of the sensor 3 to the movable blade by the conveyance speed of the linerless label has elapsed. The control unit 4 is programmed to operate the movable blade of the cutter C when the timer times out. This causes the linerless label L to be cut at a predetermined position within the cutting margin CR at the notch N. In other words, the label is cut at a predetermined position within the width W of the cutting margin CR in the conveyance direction. Note that in the above example, the control unit 4 controls the drive of the cutter C over time, starting from the timing when the sensor 3 detects the detection signal. However, the control unit 4 may also control the drive of the cutter C when the label has been conveyed a predetermined label length from the timing when the sensor 3 detects the detection signal.

[0023] In FIG. 3, the linerless label L is attached to the roll receiving section 5 in a rolled state, and the linerless label L unwound from the label roll LR is fed to the pinch roller PR via multiple guide rollers GR1 and GR2, and is then fed to the platen roller 21 at a constant speed by the pinch roller PR.

[0024] The label cutting device 1 may have an input unit for inputting information about the product to which the label piece LP is to be attached. In this case, the control unit 4 changes the cutting position within the cutting margin CR in the notch N based on the product information input by the input unit. Specifically, the control unit 4: The cutting position may be set downstream in the conveying direction, or may be set upstream in the conveying direction. It is okay to set it.

[0025] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and other embodiments can be adopted within the scope of the invention described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0026] 1 Label cutting device 2. Transport mechanism 3 sensors 4. Control section C cutter L linerless label LP label piece F Conveying direction B Boundary between label pieces CR cutting allowance W Width in the conveying direction N notch S slit

Claims

[Claim 1] A belt-shaped, linerless label in which label pieces each having a cross section shaped like a kamaboko fish cake with a plate attached, one side of which is a printing surface and the other side of which is an attachment surface, are continuously connected in the conveying direction as a single unit, A cutting margin is provided at the boundary between each of the label pieces in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, The width of the cutting margin in the conveyance direction is formed to a width that allows for deviation of the cutting position of the cutter, A plurality of slits parallel to the conveying direction are provided on the downstream side of each label piece in the conveying direction across the entire width in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, The cutting margin is provided with notches that are symmetrical with respect to a plane perpendicular to the conveying direction, a plurality of slits parallel to the conveying direction are provided in a region sandwiched between the plane-symmetrical notches in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction; Furthermore, the slits are not provided at positions corresponding to both ends of the area sandwiched between the plane-symmetrical notches on the downstream side of the label piece in the conveying direction. Matless label.

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