Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2 ~ 3
METHOD OF MAKING I~BEL-EQUIPPED FORM
BACROUND AND SUM[MARY OF INVENTION:
This invention relates to a method of making
a label-equipped sheet and, more particularly, to a
sheet or form wherein the label is die cut from base
stock constituting the sheet and held in place by a
pressure sensitive adhesive-equippad release liner
until needed for use.
It has become increasingly desirable to
provide sheets generally and business forms
particularly of minimal thickness for ease in
processing through computer printers, especially table
top personal computers with associated printers. One
approach to achieve this has been to die cut the form
itsel~ to provide a removable label. This art is well
known for die cut labels generally in u.S. Patents
3,914,483 and 4,246,058 and for business forms in U.S.
Patents 4,379,573 and 5,011,559.
However, with the processing of sheets such
as business forms through printers and the subsequent
converting of the connected foxms into a roll or a
zig-zag pack, it has become increasingly difficult to
remove the label from the form.
According to the invention, an area of the
release liner adjacent one longitudinally-extending
segment of the die cut is provided free of adhesive.
This then provides a readily finger-nail liftable
unattached portion of the label.
The concept of omitting adhesive along an
- 2 ~
edge of an attached member is well known in the art as
exemplified by ~.S. P~te~ts 3,926,113; 4,526,405 and
4,664,416. Notwithstanding this prior art teaching,
the art has not seen fit to provide a method for
making a finger engageable longitudinally extending
portion in a label die cut in a sheet, particularly a
business form.
The details of the inventiYe method and
construction can bg seen in the ensuing
specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING:
The invention is described in conjunction
with the accompanying drawing, in which --
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view,partially in perspective of a continuous web such as
business form string featuring one version of the
invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view such as
would be seen along the sight line 2-2 applied to FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view
(essentially schematic) of apparatus employed in the
practice of the inventive method;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a
nozzle advantageously employed in the practice o~ the
invention;
FIGS. 5 and 6 are views similar to FIG. 1 but
showing modified versions of the invention;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view such as
would be seen along the sight line 7-7 applied to FIG.
6; and
1 1 3
-- 3
FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but for
the practice o~ the invention in connection with the
FIG. 6 version.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION:
Referring to FIG. 1, the numeral 10
designates generally a string of interconnected
business form lengths of the general type seen in
co-owned Patent 4,664,416. One form length is
designated 11 with the adjacent preceding length being
designated lla and the following length llb. It will
be understood that the form lengths are produced
continuously and conveniently converted to rolls or
zig-zag folded packs for shipment. Lines of
transverse perforation 12 define the ends of each form
length. The entire string is equipped with line holes
13 defining a control punch margin 14 at least along
one longitudinally extending side 15. Mormally,
however, line holes and there~ore control punch
margins, are provided along both longitudinal sides
for better control of the web during both manufacture
and subsequent processing through the computer printer
-- as seen in the '416 patent. However, for
simplicity of presentation, the other control punch
margin has been omitted from FIG. 1 and when the base
stock web is just a sheet, both margins are usually
omitted, as would be the case with snap-out forms.
The form length 11 is equipped with a release
liner 16 (usually a silicone coated ply) which can be
better appreciated ~rom a consideration of FIG. 2.
There, the release liner ply 16 has one face 17
-- 4
equipped with pressure sensitive adhesive 18 and
adher~d to one surface ls of the generally rectangular
form length of sheet 11. The adhesive ]8 is provided
in two spaced apart areas 20 and 21 (see FI&. 2) to
provide a band 22 where there is no adhesive on the
liner ply 16 and therefore no adhesive on the
confronting surface 19 of the form sheet ll. It will
be appreciated that the adhesive will transfer with
the sheet ll when the sheet and liner are separated.
In FIG. l, a label generally designated 23 is
provided by a closed perimeter die cut 24 in the form
sheet ll and one segment 25 of the closed perimeter
die cut 24 is aligned with, i.e., overlies the band 22
-- see also FIG. 2. Thus, a readily finger liftable
unattached portion of the label is provided as seen in
the lower left in FIG. l.
It is believed that the invention can be
better understood by describing the method of
producing the label equipped form and this is set
forth following in connection with FIGS. 3 and 4.
The Inventive Method
Referring first to FIG. 3, the symbol W
designates a web proceeding along a longitudinally
extending path designated by an arrow P. The path
normally is provided by side ~rames (not shown) and
which carry the various processing rolls. Provided
adjacent the path P is a roll 26 of release web
material such as the previously mentioned siliconed
ply. The liner ply 27 is unwound Erom the roll 26 by
means of an infeed 28 consisting of draw rolls and
2 ~ 3
-- 5
proceeds past a nozzle 2~ for applying pressure
sensitive adhesive to the face 17 thereof.
Thereafter, the liner ply 27 passes around a
vacuum roll 30 for engagement with a knife 31 of a
cutoff roll 32. By rotating the vacuum cylinder 30 at
a speed faster than the speed of the liner ply 27,
spaced apart patches 16 of liner material are applied
to the web W being advanced along the longitudinal
path P.
Downstream of the point at which the patches
or plies of liner material 16 are applied to the web
W, the web W is subjected to a die cutting operation
as at 33O This is brought about by the operation of a
knife roll 34 bearing against an anvil roll 35 so as
to cut the closed perimeter 24 only in the web W and
not in the liner patch 16. It will be appreciated
that the closed perimeter die cut 24 is within the
confines of the release liner 16 -- see FIG. 1.
The band 22 wherein the liner ply 16 and web
W are not equipped with pressure sensitive adhesive 18
is advantageously developed through the use of the
noz~le 29 seen in FIG. 4. There, the nozzle has a
relatively elongated outlet 36 which intermediate its
length is blanked o~`f by blanking means 37 so as to
develop the spaced apart areas of adhesive 20, 21.
In summary, by providing a split stream of
adhesive 18 to provide two spaced areas, 20, 21, a
non covered band 22 is provided in a series of equally
longitudinally spaced liners 16. ~he closed perimeter
die cut 24 has a line segment 2~ overlying the
uncovered band 22 so as to provide the finger liftable
- 6 ~ 3
portion generally designated F in FIG. 1.
Version of FIG. 5
The showing in FIG. 5 dif~ers essentially
from that of FIG. 1 in having a continuous liner ply
116 applied to the form lengths 111, llla, lllb, etc.
This is readily achieved by passing the liner ply 116
directly from the adhesive applying unit to the web W
-- without the transverse cutting and speed-up
pr~vided by the vacuum cylinder 30 and cutoff roll
32. HowPver, the nozzle 29 still applies adhesive in
two areas as at 120 and 121 to provide a band 122
which is not covered by adhesive and which extends
- along the entire length of the business form string
110 .
For each form length 111, there is provided a
plurality of closed perimeter die cuts 12A which, as
in the illustration in FIG. 1, have segments 125
overlying the band 122.
Advantageously, the bands 22 or l22 are
positioned adjacent to but spaced from one side edge
138 of the liner 16, 116. A second or parallel side
edge is provided at 39 or 139 with the remainder o~
the liner being defined by a second pair of end edges
as at 40 and 41 -- see FIG. 1.
Version of FIG. 6
The version of FIG. 6 differs from that of
FIG. 5 in the means for providing an area of the
release liner adjacent the die cut segment which is
~ree of pressure sensitive adhesive. This is done by
removing a longitudinal strip of the base stock which
_ 7 _ 2 ~ X~ ~ ~ 3
carries with it the previously laid-down adhes.ive --
avoiding the need for blanking menas 37 in the nozzle
29.
The showiny in FIG. 6 again has a continuous
liner ply 216 applisd to the ~orm lengths 211, 211a,
21Ib, etc. This again is readily achieved by passing
the liner ply 216 directly from the adhesive applying
unit 229 to the web W -- as by passing around idler
roll 230 (see FIG. 8). Here~ however, the nozzle 229
applies adhesive along the entire length and width of
the release liner ply 216.
Again, for each form length 211, there are a
plurality of labels 223 provided a plurality of closed
perimeter die cuts 224 which have aligned, generally
linear segments 225.
As before, the form length 211 i5 equipped
with a release liner 216 as seen in FIG. 7. There,
the release liner 216 has one face 217 equipped with
pressure sensitive adhesive 218 and adhered to one
surface 219 of the generally rectangular form length
of sheet 211.
As seen in FIG. 8, the now-coupled continuous
webs W and 216 follow the path P to the die cutter
233. There, the knife roll 234 in addition to cutting
the closed perimeter 224 also cuts continuous
longitudinally extending lines 242 and 243 -- see the
bottom left of FIG. 6. This develops a strip 244
which is removed from the base stock web W and wound
into a roll 245 or other means ~or disposal. This
then leaves a band 222 of adhesive-~ree liner -- so
~'V~13
-- 8
both the sheet and the adhesive have longitudinally
extending discontinuities.
As a consequence, there is a free edge 243 of
the label 223 which can be readily engaged by a finger
nail for easy peeling ofP of the label.
While in the foregoing specification a
detailed description of the invention has been set
down for the purpose of illustration, many variations
in the details hereingiven may be made by those
skilled in the art without departing from ths spirit
and scope of the invention.
$ ~ ~ ~. 3
7. The method of claim 1 in which said
pressure sensitive adhesive applying step including
applying pressure sensitive adhesive to one
face of an edge-equipped liner in two spaced-apart
areas to provide a longitudinally extending,
non-covered band adjacent to but spaced from said
release liner one edge by delivering a split stream of
adhesive from a transversely elongated nozzle equipped
with blanking means intermediate the ends of said
nozzle to provide said longitudinally extending band
of said release liner free of said pressure sensitive
adhesive.
8. The method of claim 1 in which said die
cutting ~tep includes also a pair of continuous
longitudinally extending spa~ed cuts one of which
includes said segment and de~ining a strip, and
continuously removing said strip and the
adhesive associated therewith and discarding said
strip.
