Labeling technology

A label is a strip of paper or other material on a container or merchandise with a product description and artwork printed on it, or a product description and artwork printed directly on the container or object, such as in a bucket, bag, plastic bottle, or glass container. On the instructions and drawings. The main contents of the label include manufacturers, product names, trademarks, components, quality characteristics, usage methods, quantity of packaging, items to be noted for storage, and other advertising pattern texts.
The function of the label is to introduce the goods and make them easy to use; sometimes the use of selected patterns and prints serves to promote merchandise and expand sales.
First, the type of label 1. According to its function points (1) Trademarks Trademarks are brands of goods. The design and use of trademarks involves aesthetics, product promotion and sales knowledge, and trademark regulations. Under the unified management of the Trademark Office, trademarks must be registered and used only after obtaining permission, and they are also protected by law.
(2) The tag is a kind of label that is affixed or hung on the transport package. Contents include: transportation number, consignor, consignee, delivery station, arrival station, cargo name and quantity, etc. Generally made of paper, plastic or metal sheet.
(3) Tag tag is an activity tag. It is usually made of cardboard, plastic, metal, etc. It is hung on the goods with a line, rope, metal chain, etc., and a brief description and drawings of the product are printed on it. Some product certifications are also tagged with goods.
(4) Other labels In addition to the above three functions, there are many other functional labels. Such as certificate of conformity, number and name of inspector, price, etc.
2. According to the method of placing on the goods (1) Adhesive labels are made of sheet material, generally paper, which is die-cut after printing. The glue can be finished when the label is manufactured. When the label is used, the glue is wetted with water and then it can also be glued during use.
(2) Heat-sensitive labels When manufacturing labels, apply a layer of hot-melt plastic on the back of the label. When used, the label is heated to melt the plastic coating and then attached to the commodity. The heat-sensitive label is more expensive than the adhesive label, but it is easy to use and can be adapted to the needs of high-speed labeling, and is particularly suitable for use as a label for closures. The packages, such as the wrapped cookies, have a label on each end and close the mouth.
(3) Pressure-sensitive labels A pressure-sensitive adhesive is applied to the back of the label, and then adhered to a silicone-coated release paper. When used, the label is removed from the release paper and attached to the product. Pressure-sensitive labels can be made individually, or they can be adhered to a roll of release paper at the time of manufacture for high-speed labeling machines.
(4) Hanging labels are made of paperboard, thin fiberboard or metal cards, and are attached to merchandise by wire ropes or wire ropes; sometimes the labels are tied to luxury consumer goods or gifts with colored ribbons.
(5) Inserting the label The label is placed in a transparent package and does not need to be fixed. The customer can see the label through the transparent packaging material.
(6) Labels directly printed on packages or packaging containers Labels on glass containers can be printed with ceramic dyes, heated and melted at high temperatures after printing, and remain on the surface of containers to become permanent labels. This method can be used for recyclable beverage bottles, eliminating the need for labeling and label removal processes; it is also used for glass bottles containing certain drugs because these drugs are misused if they lose their labels. Life is dangerous.
Second, the label of the form of the label in a variety of forms, commonly used for the rectangular, round or oval, in addition to a variety of special-shaped. Most canned labels are rectangular, and the labels are printed on the roll material in mass production around a week. During operation, one side of the label is cut and fastened. The label of the roll is also used for medicine packaging. Avoid mislabeling. Labels for bottled goods are produced on the shoulders and bottleneck of the bottle, in addition to being rectangular (affixed to the front, back or around the circumference). Other shaped labels are cut into individual pieces for use, with the exception of pressure sensitive labels.
Third, the label material 1. paper. General paper, coated paper, and composites of foil and paper can be used to make labels. However, the printability and stickiness of the paper must be considered. Therefore, the label paper should be selected according to the printing method and the adhesive, and the printing method must be determined according to the requirements of the label pattern and the printing cost. After the label is printed, a glossy and transparent protective film is often applied to protect the pattern from abrasion and gloss.
2. Metal foil and its composite materials. Such materials can produce special decorative effects such as metallic luster or raised patterns. In addition, when the labeled container is often required to be immersed in ice, this material is also used in order to keep the label firmly attached to the container.
3. plastic. Except for the sleeve label made of a shrink film, the generally attached label is not made of plastic. Sometimes a transparent plastic film label is used instead of the label directly printed on the container. In addition hanging labels can be printed with hard plastic sheets.
Fourth, labeling process and equipment labeling process due to the type of label and the use of different equipment, and slightly different. Can be divided into two categories: cold glue and hot melt adhesive labeling and pressure sensitive label paste.
1. Labeling processes and equipment using cold glue and hot melt adhesives (including thermal labels) can be simply divided into four steps: (1) Placing labels (stacked or reeled) into the rack or (2) Use a suction cup, compressed air, or secondary adhesive to remove a label; (3) Apply a rubber roll on the back of the label, or apply several vertical and horizontal directions. It can be glued on the container; (4) Press the coated label on the container with a pressure plate, compressed air, belt or brush until it is firmly attached and released.
The simplest labeling machine is pallet type. Firstly, glue is used to spread the glue on the tray, and then a label is stuck on the container in the frame of the loading material. Then, the label is pressed on the container, and at the same time, the pallet is picked up and removed from the container. , ready for the next coating. After the pressure plate has pressed the label for a certain period of time, the label is firmly attached and the pressure plate is reset. This type of labeling machine is a simple mechanical type, but it can be labeled in parallel with several lines at the same time, so high productivity can also be achieved. The disadvantage is the need to apply a thicker and sticky layer of glue, sometimes the glue will be squeezed out, affecting the appearance of the goods; the reliability of removing the label and the labeling operation is poor, thereby increasing the downtime.
The more advanced one is the vacuum drum labeler. In the evenly distributed labeling inlets around the applicator drum, because the inside of the drum is under negative pressure, when the drum turns under the vibrating storage label frame, a label is sucked and driven to continue to rotate forward. The rubberizing roller applies glue and the container is conveyed to the labeling position by the screw separating shaft. At this moment, the label is just engaged with the rubberized label, and then the label is pressed and conveyed forward by pressing the belt and the pressing strip. This machine can get a better label appearance and more labeling efficiency can be connected to the production line. The disadvantage is that the technical level of operation and maintenance is relatively high, but the vacuum drum labeler is the only machine that can be labeled with hot melt adhesive.
Vacuum and mechanical bonding are newly developed labeling machines. The vacuum suction port on the take drum is used to suck the label out of the storage frame and cooperate with the roller to push the label into the labelling roller and send it to the rubberizing roller for glue application. Then, it is sent to the labeling position and the container with spiral separation shaft. Engaging labeling. The belt is then pressed against the strap to press the label and send it out of the production line. The machine features high speed labeling and can use a variety of adhesives for labeling.
2. Pressure-sensitive label sticking process and equipment Pressure-sensitive labels are pre-applied, supplied in rolls, with high labeling speed, easy operation, accurate labeling, and high efficiency, so they are widely used. There are three basic paste processes for pressure-sensitive labels:
(1) Rolling method As shown in Fig. 14-11, the label is affixed on the separating paper when printed, and there is a certain distance between the labels and rolled into a roll. When labeling, one end of the release paper is wound on a drum. When the drum rotates, it first passes through the labeling roller and presses the label on the container. The position of the pressure mark should match the position of the container accurately; the linear speed of the separation paper movement should be synchronized with the speed of the container conveyor belt. This method is suitable for labeling on the plane.

(2) When stamping, the stamping head sucks the label from the release paper and moves it to the labeling position. When the operator or the automatic labeling machine gives the signal, the punching head presses the label onto the container. This method is suitable for use on surfaces with deep recessed products or when the labeling mechanism is close to the surface of the product. See Figure 14-12.
(Figure 14-12)
(3) There are many small holes on the bottom surface of the labeling head of the air jet method, and the inside is equipped with vacuum and jet devices. When labeling, the labeling head sucks the label from the release paper onto the container with a vacuum, then starts the air injection tube to blow the label onto the container and compress it. This method can be affixed to rectangular and shaped labels, and can be labeled on curved or concave surfaces. See Figure 14-13.

(4) The punching method is a combination of punching and spraying in the above three basic methods. The stamping head is used to suck the label from the release paper and send it to the labeling position. The punching head moves slightly but does not touch the label. The container is then blown with air onto the container and compacted. This method is generally used for small film labels, and is especially suitable for applications where the paste is limited and the container is not easily accessible. See Figure 14-14.

Each of the above methods has a corresponding labeling machine to achieve, and they are all automated and efficient, with continuous and intermittent types. In addition, two special labeling machines with excellent performance are introduced.
(5) The continuous labeler has two reels that can be used interchangeably. The labeling head is relatively wide, and the bottom end face is divided into two parts, which can be labeled separately. Place two label rolls above both sides of the labeling head. When working on the right, wait on the left. Once the reel break occurs on the right side, when the labeling is abnormal or the label is used up, the left side can be started immediately to continue labeling, and the machine does not have to stop. The speed of the machine is large, but the replacement of used reels or different types of label reels when shutting down has a significant impact on production efficiency. See Figure 14-15 for its operation.

(6) Multi-column labeling machine Two or more labels are divided into multiple columns on one machine and pasted at the same time. This method can increase the output several times or several times without increasing the speed of the machine. As shown in Figure 14-16, there is a transport belt with vacuum suction. Several labels are sucked from the label release paper and then sent to the labeling position, just in line with the container in place. The labeling method is used The air jet method, stamping method or rolling method.

Labeling equipment includes manual tools, semi-automatic and fully automatic labeling machines. When selecting, the type and labeling process of the label should be selected according to the size, shape, material, batch size and the required labeling speed of the package or container. Then determine the labeling machine. In principle, the labelling machine should be suitable in speed, high in efficiency, simple in operation and accurate in labeling position.