Abstract: A method and device is disclosed for continuously decorating packages with convex surfaces is disclosed. The device includes a driveable continuous transport conveyor with uniformly spaced, driveable and rotating receiving means for the packages. It also includes a driveable continuous carrier conveyor with uniformly spaced decorations, and a contact region which forms a transfer location, having a region of the transfer location means for applying pressure onto the carrier conveyor in the direction of the packages and means for heating the decoration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for labeling a metallic container, such as an aluminum collapsible tube (empty and open-ended for filling by the purchaser) with a flexible label, which is especially suited to short production runs and in such a manner that the label is bonded to the container such that it is able to withstand physical abuse without peeling or breaking away from the container. Both the label and unlabeled container may be manufactured in advance and stored until needed. The container comprises an enamel coating which is bonded to the surface of the container, the coating comprising an adhesive which is activated within a predetermined temperature range, and the label comprises a transparent film having reverse printing on the lower surface thereof. The enamel coating is heated to a temperature within the activating temperature range to cause the adhesive to activate. The lower surface of the label is contacted to the heated enamel coating under sufficient pressure to cause the label to bond thereto.

Abstract: A multilayer film useful for making plastic adhesive labels for glass substrates such as glass bottles. The multilayer films contain a base layer, an adhesive layer, and optionally an intermediate layer to improve interlayer bonding between the base layer and the adhesive layer. The adhesive layer comprises a heat-activated thermoplastic adhesive that is not tacky at room temperature. Films of the present invention are sufficiently non blocking at room temperature so as to not require the use of a separate release liner. The film can be utilized in conventional graphics printing operations and made into labels. Labels made from films of the present invention can be thermally adhered to glass substrates and exhibit sufficient adhesion to glass substrates to withstand washing/rinsing, filling, and pasteurization processes utilized in the bottling industry.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hot-melt resin composition which comprises 1 to 30% by weight of a compound represented by the general formula (1)Q-(X-A)n (1)(wherein X is a urethane or urea group, Q is a group with a valence of n, A is a univalent group, one of Q and A being an isocyanate residue and the other being an amine or alcohol residue, and n is an integer of 1 to 3) and 70 to 99% by weight of a thermoplastic polyurethane resin (B); a method of producing a powder form of said hot-melt resin composition; and a hot-melt resin powder composition which comprises said powder-form hot-melt resin composition.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying correction strips with encodable indicia to bank checks and similar documents and for removing previously applied correction strips from checks and reapplying a new correction strip to such a check. The apparatus includes feed mechanism for feeding checks without previously applied correction strips and with previously applied correction strips along parallel feed paths which merge to a common feed path provided by plural endless flexible belts. A rotatable drum is interposed in the common feedpath and is disposed in proximity to a heater element engageable with a heat activatable adhesive band portion of the correction strip for applying the adhesive band to the front lower face of bank checks and similar documents. A rotary cutter is disposed in one of the parallel feed paths for cutting a previously applied correction strip from the lower edge of a check.

Abstract: An apparatus for attaching leaves of a film of a plastic material to laid flat workpieces made of a film of plastic material, consists of a frame with a plate or a table over which the workpieces are continuously conveyed by means of a conveyor device. In a gap of the table plate, there is arranged a pair of conveyor rollers mounted in the frame, and having a roller gap substantially aligned with the table surface; the bottom roller of the pair is a counterpressure roller and the top roller is a suction cylinder. A conveyor cylinder cooperating with the suction cylinder successively delivers the leaves to the suction cylinder. A fishtail nozzle directed towards the roller gap blows heated air into the roller gap in a controlled manner so as to weld the leaf to the workpiece. The suction roller prevents the conveyor cylinder from being heated by the hot air in an inadmissible manner.

Abstract: A method of making an object wherein known sheets having a curable prim receiving coating (epoxy and polyamide particles) on one surface and pressure-sensitive adhesive on the other surface (normally used for attaching the printed and cured sheet to a wall or other surface) are wrapped around the object to be marked and the overlapping ends of the sheet are temporarily secured by an overlap bond between the pressure-sensitive adhesive and the curable coating. Subsequent curing of the coating fixes the indicia printed thereon and cures the bond to fix the sheet in position. Preferably, the pressure-sensitive adhesive (e.g. acrylic polymer will interact with the curable coating on curing.

Abstract: A method of attaching an adhesively backed carton address label by vigorous rubbing over the label surface with a curved-wire device that does not snag, causing frictional heat to supplement the adhesion of the label rear surface to the carton.

Abstract: A device for sealing folders, parcels, and the like. The device comprises a handle which carries at its free end a metal plate containing an image to be printed, a thermoelectric element for heating the plate, and a heat accumulator for maintaining the temperature of the plate. An adhesive thermolabile tape comprises a semi-transparent film of cellulose acetate carrying on one of its faces a layer of colored adhesive material. The film is "scorched" by the action of the seal so as to display in an indelible way, the image of the latter.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for applying heat-sensitive adhesive tape, such as frontal diaper tape, of the type having a layer of heat sensitive adhesive material to a web moving at high speed, such as a web of water-resistant material designed for use as the outer layer of disposable diapers. The apparatus comprises a tape-feed wheel for preheating and feeding the tape to the apparatus from a supply of generally continuous tape, and a tape-applying wheel in rolling engagement with the web for applying tape fed to it from the tape-feed wheel to the web. The tape-applying wheel includes vacuum passageways for providing suction through a circumferential surface of the tape-applying wheel to hold the tape thereon, and a heating mechanism for heating the tape to an elevated temperature at which the heat-sensitive adhesive is tacky and for maintaining the tape at the elevated temperature until it is applied to the web.

Abstract: In a magnetic disk cartridge, a magnetic disk sheet is accommodated in a casing in such a way that it may be rotated. A heat-sensitive adhesive is provided on one side of a raw sheet material composed of the same material as wear-resistant members which are to be bonded to the casing. The raw sheet material is cut into wear-resistant members and each of the wear-resistant members is heated in order to melt the heat-sensitive adhesive while the wear-resistant member is supported with a suction force. Then the wear-resistant member is released while the heat-sensitive adhesive is in a molten state, and it is pressed against the central portion of the inner surface of the casing. Thus the casing has a wear-resistant member bonded to a central portion of the inner surface of the casing.

Abstract: A wrapper to be wrapped around a stack of disc-like tablets includes a portion carrying a layer of heat-activatable adhesive, which is activated just prior to wrapping the wrapper around the stack to secure it in position on the stack. The heat activation is provided by a short, hot blast of air directed onto a surface of the wrapper opposite that on which the heat-activatable layer is located, whereby the applied heat must travel through a portion of the wrapper to reach the adhesive layer and activate it. The air blast is heated by heaters which include elongated heat exchangers having rectangular grooves or slots extending along the length of their outer surfaces, through which grooves the air blast is constrained to travel for efficient, rapid heating.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed which applies hot melt tape to substrates such as cartons or boxes which are fed through the apparatus in a timed, spaced manner. The requirement of applying the tape to each spaced carton is met by integrating the feeding and cutting of the tape to the timing of the carton or box feeding machine. The tape is applied to a predetermined location with a desired cut length determined by the configuration of the apparatus. The apparatus can be mounted on existing machines such as folder gluers or mounted on dedicated machines.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for applying heat-sensitive adhesive tape, such as frontal diaper tape, of the type having a layer of heat sensitive adhesive material to a web moving at high speed, such as a web of water-resistant material designed for use as the outer layer of disposable diapers. The apparatus comprises a tape-feed wheel for preheating and feeding the tape to the apparatus from a supply of generally continuous tape, and a tape-applying wheel in rolling engagement with the web for applying tape fed to it from the tape-feed wheel to the web. The tape-applying wheel includes vacuum passageways for providing suction through a circumferential surface of the tape-applying wheel to hold the tape thereon, and a heating mechanism for heating the tape to an elevated temperature at which the heat-sensitive adhesive is tacky and for maintaining the tape at the elevated temperature until it is applied to the web.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of applying wrap-around labels to bottles or containers where the label is formed into a complete sleeve with a heat-sealed seam on the container as the containers are moved in a linear path on a conveyor. The bottles and conveyor pass between a continuously moving set of retractable, electrical heat-seal bars and vacuum label handling heads. The vacuum heads receive individual labels from a strip supply of labels and carry the labels into position opposite a bottle on the conveyor. The label is folded about the bottle and the opposed heat-seal bar is advanced into contact with the overlapped edges of the label and held there for a time sufficient to complete the full height heat seal of the label. The heat bar is contoured to the same shape as the external profile of the container over the label height.

Abstract: A thermal printer and label applicator includes a transport system for moving linerless thermosensitive paper from a stack or roll thereof to a printing station and a cutting station. Thermal print head at the printing station is provided to imprint a preselected heating pattern in the linerless thermosensitive paper in order to form desired visible images thereon. A cutter is provided to separate the linerless thermosensitive paper into individual labels, and a vacuum system transports the separated individual labels from the cutting station to an adhesive activation station and thereafter to a label ejection station. At the adhesive activation station, the adhesive is activated and thereafter a vacuum/blower system at the label ejection station causes airborne transport of the individual separated labels onto goods which have been placed in receiving position by a conveyor system. Operation of the thermal printer and label applicator is coordinated by a control system.

Abstract: In an in-molding process of forming plastic containers wherein a label is located inside the blow mold and then a parison is blown outwardly in the mold so that the heat from the parison and the pressure generated by the blow medium activates adhesive on the label to bind the label on the blown container side wall, the method of eliminating undesirable label panel deformation which comprises controlling the moisture of the label such that the shrinkage of the label matches the shrinkage of the plastic side wall against which the label is placed.

Abstract: A thermal printer and label applicator includes a transport system for moving linerless thermosensitive paper from a stack or roll thereof to a printing station and a cutting station. Thermal print head at the printing station is provided to imprint a preselected heating pattern in the linerless thermosensitive paper in order to form desired visible images thereon. A cutter is provided to separate the linerless thermosensitive paper into individual labels, and a vacuum system transports the separated individual labels from the cutting station to an adhesive activation station and thereafter to a label ejection station. At the adhesive activation station, a heater is provided to activate a delayed action adhesive on the label and thereafter a vacuum/blower system at the label ejection station causes airborne transport of the individual separated labels onto goods which have been placed in receiving position by a conveyor system.

Abstract: A method of bonding a label having a thermosensitive adhesive provided on the under surface thereof which comprises providing a label from a supply roll, severing same therefrom and delivering such to a heat transferrable conveyor, providing heat to said conveyor, both during travel and interruptions thereof, for rendering said label tacky, peelingly removing said tackified label from said conveyor in timed relation to an article or object traveling thereby for disposition thereon. Apparatus for accomplishing the series of operations in the above-described method for rendering a thermosensitive adhesive equipped label tacky and automatically applying same to the object to be labeled.

Abstract: In a method of shrinking screw caps (2) on to the mouths (1) of containers (13), the screw caps are acted upon by a hot gas jet (7, 8) from nozzles (3, 4), along a feed path (6), from both sides. The flow axes (7, 8) are displaced relative to each other so that there are no pressure build-up and stagnation effects. The resulting advantageous temperature pattern at the nozzles means that savings in heating output can be attained. In addition, there is no longer any need for the bottles to be rotated about their own axis (10).

Abstract: In a label-applying machine for applying labels adapted to be rendered adhesive by an application of heat, a vacuum picker for removing the labels one at a time from the magazine and moving them to a transfer position, a vacuum gripper finger at the transfer position for taking the labels from the picker and moving them to a position for application to containers supported for movement along a predetermined path, said gripper fingers being heated to render the labels tacky during movement from the transfer position to the containers for spotting the labels on the containers, and wipers situated along the path of travel of the containers beyond the place of spotting of the labels for pressing the labels against the sides of the containers, and means for heating the wipers to cause the labels to be adhesively attached to the containers.

Abstract: An applicator is disclosed for applying pieces of tape having a fibrous surface on one side and a heat-activatable adhesive on the other side onto a receptor. The tape may be hook and loop-fastening tape and the applicator utilizes an applicating pad having wire bristles which engage the fibrous tape surface. The wire bristles support the tape such that the same may be moved into contact with a heater and then moved to apply the tape to a surface. The pad serves to uniformly affix the tape to the surface and the bristles will penetrate the fibers and force the backing and adhesive onto the surface to which the tape is to be applied. The tape may be applied to the brush and then cut to lengths or predetermined lengths of tape may be placed onto the brush.