Apparatus And Process To Apply Adhesive During Labeling Operations

Abstract

A labeling apparatus and method for applying individual labels onto individual objects moving along a conveyor includes a label delivery mechanism configured to hold a plurality of the labels and operable to deliver individual ones of the labels adjacent to the conveyor. A non-contact adhesive spray applicator including at least one nozzle having a plurality of individual adhesive discharge orifices may be positioned and arranged to discharge adhesive from the orifices onto either the labels or the objects such that the labels may be respectively adhered to the objects.

1 . A labeling apparatus for applying individual labels onto individual moving objects, comprising:
 a magazine-fed labeling mechanism configured to hold a plurality of the labels and operable to deliver individual ones of the labels; and   a first non-contact adhesive applicator including at least one nozzle, said nozzle having a plurality of individual adhesive discharge orifices;   said nozzle positioned and arranged to discharge adhesive from said orifices onto either the labels or the objects, such that the labels may be respectively adhered to the objects;   said plurality of orifices of said nozzle linearly aligned and configured to discharge filaments of adhesive to form a column of closely spaced adhesive filament patterns.   
     
     
         2 . The labeling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first adhesive applicator has a cycle time of less than about 9 milliseconds. 
     
     
         3 . The labeling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first adhesive applicator applies adhesive to at least 800 labels per minute. 
     
     
         4 . The labeling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first adhesive applicator includes a mechanism that draws residual amounts of the adhesive back into said orifices upon shut-off. 
     
     
         5 . The labeling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said nozzle is configured to discharge adjacent filaments of adhesive into a pattern that widens as said filaments move away from said orifices. 
     
     
         6 . The labeling apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said nozzle is configured to discharge adjacent, swirling filaments of adhesive from said orifices. 
     
     
         7 . The labeling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first adhesive applicator includes a plurality of nozzles, each nozzle having a plurality of orifices for discharging the adhesive. 
     
     
         8 . The labeling apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of nozzles are independently operable. 
     
     
         9 . The labeling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said nozzle comprises two individual rows of adhesive discharge orifices with a plurality of adhesive discharge orifices in each row. 
     
     
         10 . The labeling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said nozzle is configured to discharge filaments of adhesive to form a column of closely spaced adhesive filament patterns in a generally back and forth pattern. 
     
     
         11 . The labeling apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a conveyor configured to carry the objects adjacent to said label delivery mechanism;   wherein said first adhesive applicator is mounted adjacent to said conveyor and is adapted to discharge adhesive onto the objects.   
     
     
         12 . The labeling apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a second adhesive applicator mounted adjacent to said conveyor;   wherein said first adhesive applicator is adapted to discharge adhesive onto the objects in areas corresponding to leading edges of the labels and said second adhesive applicator is adapted to discharge adhesive onto the objects in areas corresponding to trailing edges of the labels.   
     
     
         13 . The labeling apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a second adhesive applicator mounted adjacent to said label delivery mechanism;   wherein said first adhesive applicator is adapted to discharge adhesive onto the objects in areas corresponding to leading edges of the labels and said second adhesive applicator is adapted to discharge adhesive onto trailing edge portions of the labels.   
     
     
         14 . The labeling apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a second adhesive applicator mounted adjacent to said label delivery mechanism;   wherein said first adhesive applicator is adapted to discharge adhesive onto the objects in areas corresponding to trailing edges of the labels and said second adhesive applicator is adapted to discharge adhesive onto leading edge portions of the labels.   
     
     
         15 . The labeling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first adhesive applicator is mounted adjacent to said label delivery mechanism and is configured to apply the adhesive to the labels while the labels are being held by said label delivery mechanism. 
     
     
         16 . The labeling apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a second adhesive applicator mounted adjacent to said label delivery mechanism;   wherein said first adhesive applicator is adapted to discharge adhesive onto leading edge portions of the labels and said second adhesive applicator is adapted to discharge adhesive onto trailing edge portions of the labels.   
     
     
         17 . The labeling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said adhesive applicator is configured to dispense adhesive with a coating weight in the range of about 0.002 to about 0.02 grams/cm 2 . 
     
     
         18 . The labeling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said adhesive applicator is configured to dispense adhesive in a pattern that covers 75% to 100% of an area to approximate a pattern that would be applied by a contact slot nozzle or a wheel coater. 
     
     
         19 . A labeling apparatus for applying individual labels onto individual objects moving along a conveyor, the labels each having a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion, the objects each having a portion corresponding to the leading edge portion of the labels, the apparatus comprising:
 a magazine-fed labeling mechanism configured to hold a plurality of the labels and operable to deliver individual ones of the labels adjacent to the conveyor;   a non-contact adhesive applicator including at least one nozzle having a plurality of individual adhesive discharge orifices, said nozzle positioned and arranged to discharge adhesive from said orifices onto either the leading edge portion of each label or the portion of the objects corresponding to the leading edge portion of each label; and   a contact adhesive applicator positioned and arranged to discharge adhesive onto the trailing edge portion of each label so that the labels may be respectively adhered to the objects.   
     
     
         20 . The labeling apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the contact adhesive applicator is a slot gun. 
     
     
         21 . A nozzle for use in non-contact application of adhesive to a substrate, the nozzle comprising:
 a nozzle body;   a first plurality of adhesive dispensing orifices arranged in a first row in said nozzle body;   a first plurality of process air discharge orifices associated with each of said first plurality of adhesive dispensing orifices and configured to cause discharged process air to move adhesive filaments discharged from said first plurality of adhesive dispensing orifices in a generally back and forth pattern;   a second plurality of adhesive dispensing orifices arranged in a second row alongside said first row in said nozzle body; and   a second plurality of process air discharge orifices associated with each of said second plurality of adhesive dispensing orifices and configured to cause discharged process air to move adhesive filaments discharged from said second plurality of adhesive dispensing orifices in a generally back and forth pattern.   
     
     
         22 . A method of adhering individual labels to individual objects, comprising:
 moving the individual objects along a conveyor;   positioning the labels adjacent to the conveyor;   intermittently applying adhesive from a plurality of orifices in a nozzle of a non-contact adhesive applicator onto the objects; and   adhering the individual labels respectively onto the individual objects.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the adhesive is dispensed with a coating weight in the range of about 0.002 to about 0.02 grams/cm 2 . 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the adhesive is dispensed in a pattern that covers 75% to 100% of an area to approximate a pattern that would be applied by a contact slot nozzle or a wheel coater.