Typewriting machines – Sheet or web – For feeding web record-medium
Reexamination Certificate
1996-02-02
2001-02-13
Hilten, John S. (Department: 2854)
Typewriting machines
Sheet or web
For feeding web record-medium
C400S611000, C400S613000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186684
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for winding a printed roll of linerless labels and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for winding a printed roll of linerless labels from an unprinted roll of linerless direct thermal or thermal transfer ribbon labels.
Conventional labels generally include a pressure sensitive adhesive fixed to the non-printing side of the substrate that is mounted on a liner, which has been coated with a release coating. The liner acts as a support for transport, printing and storage, and after the label is removed from the liner, it must be disposed of.
Preprinted labels are processed using a printing unit that unwinds the rolled unprinted labels, prints a repeating pattern on the labels and dispenses the printed labels to a rewinding unit. The rewinding unit has a main body section and a rotatable shaft and rewinds the labels into a printed roll for subsequent customer use. The main body of the rewinder is used as a side guide to ensure that the rewound roll is even. Alternative rewinding units include plastic disks that are placed on each side of the rewinding roll for added evening of the roll.
Linerless labels are known to have advantages over conventional pressure sensitive labels. The linerless label has tis substrate face coated with a release coating and its substrate back with a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA), and is wound in a roll configuration so that the PSA is in contact with the release coating, and the release coating faces outwardly. The linerless construction offers advantages and lower costs due to substantial material reduction, elimination of disposal concerns and costs associated with release coated liners, and in providing approximately twice as many labels per roll. One such linerless label is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,851,383. The labels described in that patent have a thermosensitive layer with dye for forming color images, and a silicone release coating. It is necessary to provide a barrier layer between the silicone release layer and the thermosensitive material, which increases the costs of production of the linerless labels.
Because the structure of the linerless labels sticks to itself when wound in a roll, the roll will not slide off itself, and side guides for rewinding are not necessary. In particular, side guides contribute potential catch points for the media's adhesive. Once the media catches, bubbles and wrinkles may be induced in the rewound roll.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an apparatus and method for winding a printed roll of linerless labels from an unprinted roll of linerless labels.
This and other objects and advantages of the invention are achieved by providing an apparatus for winding a printed roll of linerless labels from an unprinted roll of linerless labels. The apparatus includes a thermal printer that processes the unprinted roll of labels; a rewinder disposed in a vicinity of the thermal printer, wherein the rewinder winds the printed roll after the unprinted roll is processed by the thermal printer; and a base plate supporting the rewinder, wherein the base plate is configured to position the rewinder in a predetermined position relative to the thermal printer.
The thermal printer may include a sensor such as a reflective sensor that senses a sense mark on the unprinter roll of labels to register thermal printing. The base plate may be offset from the thermal printer by a predetermined amount of, for example, about 0.375″.
The rewinder is preferably provided with a rotatable shaft extending from a rewinder main body. The rotatable shaft supports the printed roll, wherein the base plate is positioned relative to the thermal printer such that when the printed roll is wound on the rewinder, the printed roll is spaced from the rewinder main body by, for example, about 0.375″.
The thermal printer may be provided with one of a location hole and a location post, wherein the base plate is provided with the other of the location hole and the location post. The base plate is positioned relative to the thermal printer by the location hole and the location post. An additional one of the location hole and the location post may further be provided that alternatively positions the base plate relative to the thermal printer.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for winding a printed roll of linerless labels, the printed roll being dispensed from a printed roll dispenser. The apparatus includes a rewinder disposed in a vicinity of the dispenser and including a rotatable shaft, wherein the rewinder winds the printer roll on the shaft; and a base plate supporting the rewinder, wherein the base plate is configured to position the rewinder in a predetermined position relative to the dispenser.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of winding a printer roll of linerless labels from an unprinted roll of linerless labels using the apparatus of the invention. The method includes positioning the base plate and the rewinder offset relative to the thermal printer; and winding the printed roll onto the rewinder while maintaining the printed roll spaced from a main body of the rewinder.
The positioning step may include positioning the base plate about 0.375″ offset relative to the thermal printer, and the winding step may include winding the printing roll onto the rewinder while maintaining the printed roll spaced about 0.375″ from the main body.
In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of dispensing linerless labels. The method includes (a) providing a supply of linerless labels having a thermosensitive coating on a first side and an adhesive coating on a second side; (b) feeding the supply of linerless labels through a printer; (c) configuring the printer to process a predetermined number of linerless labels; (d) printing on one of the first and second sides of the linerless labels to produce at least a first batch; (e) winding the first batch of printer linerless labels with a rewinder; and (f) removing the first batch of printer linerless labels from the rewinder for subsequent application. Preferably, steps (c) through (e) are practiced to produce a second batch of linerless labels.
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Bane John C.
Boreali Jeffrey J.
Hilten John S.
Moore Business Forms Inc.
Nixon & Vanderhye
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