Patent Application
20060032591
The invention relates to a device and method for applying labels to a flower pot.
Such a method is generally known in the art. Labels are either inserted into the substrate material in the pot or are affixed to the actual pot by gluing.
In the first case the labels do not have to be self-adhesive, but stringent requirements are imposed on the stiffness of said label in order to make insertion into the substrate possible. In this case there is, moreover, the risk that the labels are lost during transport or shift into an undesirable position.
When applying self-adhesive labels the labels are supplied on a roll, which roll is provided with a carrier layer to which the self-adhesive labels are affixed. At the time of application, label and carrier layer are separated and the carrier layer is removed as waste and the label separated off in this way is pressed onto the flowerpot and stuck thereto. The label is prevented from becoming detached from the flowerpot in this way.
Although such a self-adhesive label is adequate, the costs are high and the waste produced with this method is undesirable. It is also not easily possible to change the printing on the label shortly before applying the label or when applying it.
WO 02/44029 discloses a label applicator machine with which adhesive is applied to a container, followed by the application of a label.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,871 discloses an applicator device for adhesive.
EP 0 934 844 discloses an installation for applying self-adhesive labels.
The aim of the present invention is to provide an installation with which, on the one hand, labels can be affixed to a flowerpot in a guaranteed manner and, on the other hand, the costs per label are low, wherein it is easily possible to make changes to the label until just before the time of application.
It is a further aim of the invention to provide a method allowing connection of the labels applying labels to a flowerpot. According to a first aspect of the invention a device is provided for applying labels to a flower pot comprising a label applicator station, a conveyor for moving a series of flowerpots past said applicator station, a stock of labels and means for separating a label from the stock, and applicator means for applying a separated label to a flowerpot, wherein an adhesive applicator station with a stock of hot melt adhesive is arranged upstream in the direction of movement of said flowerpots with respect to said label applicator station, wherein said applicator station has means for positioning labels on a flowerpot, constructed such that part of said labels is arranged protruding above the rim of the flowerpots.
According to a further aspect of the invention a method is provided for applying a label to a flowerpot comprising the provision of a stock of labels, separating a label from said stock, moving a series of flowerpots, in each of which a plant has been placed, in a direction of movement past an application location and applying a separated label to a flowerpot moving past said application location, wherein upstream of said application location in the direction of movement of said flowerpots hot melt adhesive is applied to each flowerpot to be provided with labels and in that at the application location said label is applied to the flowerpot covering said hot melt adhesive, wherein said label is applied in such a way that part thereof protrudes beyond said flowerpot.
In the art it is known per se to apply labels to containers with the aid of hot melt adhesive. However, despite the fact that the need for a less expensive and more flexible method for applying labels to pot plants has already existed for a long time, there is no indication to be found in the literature for carrying this out for pot plants as well. Surprisingly, it has been found that good adhesion of the label can be obtained via the hot melt adhesive even when the pots are slightly soiled. With the present invention it is easily possible to attach labels to the pots in a guaranteed manner so they protrude above the pot to some extent.
After all, increasingly more stringent requirements are being imposed on the positioning of labels. To date many push-in labels are used that are pushed into the substrate for the plant. It has been found that it cannot be guaranteed under all circumstances that such a pushed-in label actually also remains inserted in the substrate. Moreover, the wording on the label can easily become inaccessible because of the plant.
Other methods of affixing are also found to be unsuccessful.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention the label is provided with an opening, the dimensions of which correspond to the rim of the pot. During application the flat label is curved to some extent because this is pressed against the outer periphery of the pot and glued. At the rim the label does not have to follow the curvature of the rim because the label is not in contact with the rim at this location because of the presence of the opening. As a result it is possible to prevent the label becoming damaged when adjacent pots bump into one another and, moreover, further localising of the label with respect to the pot rim is obtained.
Preferably the hot melt adhesive is applied to at least two locations on the flowerpot. Preferably these two locations are above one another. The hot melt adhesive used can be any type of adhesive known in the art. In certain applications a type of adhesive is preferably used by means of which it is possible to remove the label easily from the pot without leaving residues on the pot and optionally to affix it again at a later point in time.
Because the label is affixed to the pot in a guaranteed manner it is possible to realise special constructions. One such construction comprises a label that partially protrudes beyond the pot. A label that partially protrudes above a flowerpot is mentioned as an example. As a result the beneficial effect that is obtained in the case of labels that are inserted in the substrate is produced, that is to say the label is close to the plant. On the other hand, as a result of the gluing technique it is possible to ensure that the label remains in that position, even under severe transport conditions.
Such a construction is possible only with the technique described above. After all, if the label were to be self-adhesive, a sticky part would protrude beyond the pot and would rapidly become contaminated or lead to an undesired result in some other way. Labels protruding above a pot are particularly attractive for pot plants.
With the present invention it is possible to apply printing to the label or to make further changes just before the label is applied. It is also possible to take labels from different stocks, switching rapidly, and to apply different labels to pots containing different plants or with different destinations.
The present invention also relates to a flowerpot provided with a label affixed thereto, wherein said flowerpot comprises a plastic container with a plant arranged therein, wherein said label is affixed to said flowerpot using hot melt adhesive.
The invention furthermore relates to an installation for applying labels to a flowerpot, comprising a label applicator station, a conveyor for moving a series of flowerpots past said applicator station, a stock of labels and means for separating a label from the stock, and applicator means for applying a separated label to a flowerpot, wherein an adhesive applicator station with a stock of hot melt adhesive is arranged upstream in the direction of movement of said flowerpots with respect to said label applicator station.
The adhesive applicator means can comprise any construction known in the art. Preferably spray nozzles are used that are located some distance away from the flowerpots moving past them. Strips of adhesive can be applied to the flowerpot as it moves past. It has been found that in combination with the labels a particularly high speed for the application of labels can be achieved. The speed at which the labels are ultimately placed on the pots determines the speed of the system.
Furthermore, a pressing device for additionally pressing the labels firmly onto the pot can be located downstream of the station where the labels are applied. In principle, however, such a pressing station is not necessary if the hot melt adhesive is suitably chosen.
Here labels are understood to be any information carrier. Such an information carrier can bear information with regard to the plant or the care thereof as well as information on the origin, advertising information, price information and the like.
In
It can be seen from
The pot plant concerned then moves in the direction of arrow 25 to the label applicator station. The various features are illustrated further in
With shaft 7, the label applicator device 5 makes a rotary movement in the direction of arrow 27 (
On retraction and with the application of vacuum, a label will be taken from store 17. On the same retraction from the flowerpot and on removing the vacuum, the label will remain on the hot melt adhesive.
In order to be certain that the labels are firmly affixed to the pot concerned, there is a pressing device 20 that presses the label onto the pot with a rapid pressing or striking movement.
A special embodiment of the label, which is indicated by 13, is shown in
Although the invention has been described above with reference to a preferred embodiment, variants that fall within the scope of the appended claims will be immediately apparent to those skilled in the art.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1026731 | Jul 2004 | NL | national |
