Method of and apparatus for weakening selected portions of adhesive-coated labels and the like

A label (e.g., a revenue stamp) for the application to a closed and filled hinged-lid packet for cigarettes or the like has a first part provided with an elongated weakened portion which is to overlie the abutting sloping edges of one lateral wall of the main section and the corresponding lateral panel of the lid in the closed position of the lid, and a second part overlying portions of the rear wall of the main section and of the rear panel of the lid at opposite sides of the elongated transversely extending hinge which pivotally connects the rear panel to the rear wall. The weakened portion is formed by a perforating, scoring, piercing, material removing or other suitable implement which is adjustably mounted on a support adjacent to an arcuate path for a succession of labels at the periphery of a rotary conveyor. One side of each label is coated with an adhesive subsequent to weakening and preparatory to attachment to a hinged-lid packet.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
This application claims the priority of Application No. 197 26 376.3 filed 
in Germany on Jun. 21, 1997, the subject matter of which is incorporated 
herein by reference. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to improvements in methods of and apparatus for 
manipulating labels (such as revenue stamps) prior to the application to 
containers of the type known as hinged-lid packets. Such containers are 
utilized by numerous manufacturers for the confinement of arrays of plain 
or filter cigarettes or other types of rod-shaped smokers' products. As a 
rule, the products are draped into an inner envelope of metallic or 
plastic foil, and the thus obtained block-shaped commodities are confined 
in hinged-lid packets. A filled packet is thereupon sealed as a result of 
confinement in a normally transparent outer envelope of cellophane or the 
like. It is further customary to apply a label to selected pairs of 
coplanar portions of the main section and the lid of a packet prior to 
confinement in the outer envelope. 
The main section of a hinged-lid packet (which is normally made of strong 
paper or lightweight cardboard) comprises a bottom wall, a rear wall, a 
front wall and two trapezoid lateral walls. The lid includes a rear panel 
which is pivotally connected to the rear wall of the main section by an 
elongated transversely extending hinge (such as a weakened (e.g., creased) 
elongated straight portion of a blank which has been converted into a 
packet), a top panel, a front panel and two trapezoid lateral panels which 
are coplanar with and have sloping edges abutting the adjacent 
complementary sloping edges of the respective lateral walls of the main 
section when the lid is closed. 
A first part of the label is glued to portions of the rear wall and the 
rear panel so that it overlies at least a portion of the hinge, and a 
second part of the label is glued to a portion of one lateral wall and to 
a portion of the respective lateral panel so that an elongated portion of 
the second part overlies at least a portion of each of the neighboring 
sloping edges on the one lateral wall and the respective lateral panel in 
the closed position of the lid. When a purchaser desires to gain access to 
the contents of a packet, such person must remove the transparent outer 
envelope and thereupon pivots the lid to open position. This results in 
partial destruction of the label because the label tears along the 
elongated portion which overlies the aforementioned sloping edges in the 
closed position of the lid. 
It is desirable to weaken a label along the aforementioned elongated 
portion of the second part. Such weakening reduces the tensile strength of 
the label in the region of the elongated portion to thus ensure that the 
very first pivoting of the lid to open position does not necessitate the 
exertion of a pronounced force. Secondly, the appearance of a packet 
subsequent to initial pivoting of the lid to the open position is more 
pleasing to the eye if the second part of the label is torn along the 
predetermined (weakened) elongated portion. 
Heretofore known proposals to weaken selected portions of the labels are 
not entirely satisfactory, not only because the weakening must be carried 
out by resorting to rather complex apparatus but also because the 
weakening takes up substantial amounts of time and is not always 
sufficiently accurate and/or pronounced to ensure predictable tearing of 
an applied label only in the region where the label must break in order to 
afford access to the contents of a packet confining a group of plain or 
filter cigarettes or the like. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method of 
weakening selected portions of labels in a highly predictable and 
reproducible manner and with a high degree of accuracy. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a method which can be carried 
out in conjunction with one or more additional treatments of labels so 
that it is not necessary to predictably mount and/or otherwise prepare 
(e.g., convey) a label for the sole purpose of weakening a selected 
portion prior to attachment of the label to a packet while the lid is 
maintained in the closed position. 
A further object of the invention is to provide a method which can be 
practiced in a highly satisfactory manner regardless of the exact 
configuration and/or exact size of the labels or analogous commodities. 
An additional object of the invention is to provide a method which renders 
it possible to select the extent and/or the locus of predictably weakening 
a label within a wide range and with little loss in time. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved 
apparatus for the practice of the above outlined method. 
A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which can be 
associated with or incorporated into existing machines for the making, 
filling and sealing of hinged-lid packets for smokers' products and the 
like. 
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which is 
designed to subject a series of rapidly advancing blanks of paper or the 
like to a series of successive treatments including a treatment which 
involves a predictable weakening of selected portions of the blanks in 
accordance with the above outlined method. 
An additional object of the invention is to provide a packet forming, 
filling and sealing machine which embodies the above outlined apparatus 
for weakening selected portions of labels or analogous commodities of 
paper, plastic sheet material or the like. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide a simple, compact and 
inexpensive apparatus which can be readily adjusted for the purpose of 
changing the loci of weakened portions of labels or like objects which are 
to be attached (e.g., by means of a suitable adhesive substance) to 
selected portions of hinged-lid packets for arrays of rod-shaped smokers' 
products or the like. 
A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which can be 
readily adjusted to select the nature and/or the extent of reducing the 
tensile strength of a series of rapidly advancing labels or like 
commodities in a machine for the making, filling and sealing of hinged-lid 
packets. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved 
combination of conveying and weakening means in an apparatus of the above 
outlined character. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
One feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a method 
of weakening an elongated portion of a flexible label which is to be 
applied to a packet composed of (a) a main section including a rear wall 
and a trapezoid lateral wall extending at right angles to the rear wall, 
and (b) a lid which is pivotable relative to the main section between open 
and closed positions. The lid comprises a rear panel which is connected to 
the rear wall of the main section by an elongated hinge and is coplanar 
with the rear wall of the main section in the closed position of the lid. 
The lid further comprises a trapezoid lateral panel which is coplanar with 
and adjacent the lateral wall of the main section in the closed position 
of the lid. The lateral wall and the lateral panel have sloping elongated 
edges which are adjacent each other in the closed position of the lid. The 
application of the label to the packet is such that a first part of the 
applied label overlies portions of the rear wall and rear panel as well as 
at least a portion of the hinge, and that a second part of the applied 
label overlies portions of the lateral wall and lateral panel and that the 
weakened portion overlies at least a portion of each of the neighboring 
edges in the closed position of the lid. The improved method comprises the 
steps of advancing the label in a predetermined direction along a 
predetermined path, and weakening the elongated portion of the label in 
the course of the advancing step. 
The weakening step preferably includes contacting the advancing label with 
a suitable tool. For example, the weakening step can comprise at least one 
of the treatments including cutting, piercing, scratching, scribing, 
scoring notching, perforating, slitting and material removing. 
The advancing step can include moving the label along an arcuate path by a 
rotary conveyor and pneumatically attracting the label to the rotary 
conveyor. 
If the weakening step includes contacting the advancing label with a tool 
(such as, for example, a perforating implement), the method can further 
comprise the step of adjusting the position of the conveyor relative to 
the implement and/or vice versa to thus effect at least one of (a) a 
change of the extent of weakening of the elongated portion of the label 
and (b) a change of the position of the elongated portion on the label. 
The method can further comprise the step of coating one side of the label 
with a suitable adhesive, e.g., upon completion of the weakening step. 
Such method can further comprise the step of attaching the adhesive-coated 
label to a closed packet so that the weakened elongated portion of such 
label at least partially overlies the elongated edges of the lateral wall 
and the lateral panel of the main section and the lid of such packet. 
For example, the label can constitute a revenue stamp or it can contain a 
trademark and/or the name of the manufacturer of the contents of the 
packet. 
As already pointed out hereinabove, the method can comprise one or more 
steps in addition to the advancing and weakening steps; for example, such 
additional step(s) can include at least one treatment (e.g., coating with 
an adhesive) while the label advances along the predetermined path. 
The weakening step preferably includes reducing the tensile strength of the 
elongated portion of the label to such an extent that the label tears or 
breaks only along the weakened portion during a first (initial) pivoting 
of the lid to its open position. 
The novel apparatus comprises means for advancing the label in a 
predetermined direction along a predetermined path, and means for 
weakening the elongated portion of the advancing label in the 
predetermined path. 
The means for weakening can comprise means for subjecting the elongated 
portion of the advancing label to at least one of a plurality of different 
treatments such as, for example, cutting, piercing, scratching, scribing, 
notching, slitting, perforating, other material removing, and so on. 
The means for weakening can comprise at least one tool, e.g., a rotary 
tool. Such apparatus can further comprise means for supporting the at 
least one tool in a position of contact with the label in the 
predetermined path but out of actual contact with the advancing means. 
The advancing means can comprise a rotary conveyor having a peripheral 
surface and means for pneumatically attracting the label to the peripheral 
surface of such conveyor. The means for attracting can include suction 
ports in the peripheral surface of the conveyor. 
As already mentioned above, the means for weakening can comprise at least 
one tool, such as a perforating or scoring or creasing implement. Such 
apparatus can further comprise a support for the tool and means for 
adjustably securing the tool to the support adjacent a portion of the 
predetermined path. For example, the support can include a rotary shaft. 
The securing means can comprise means for releasably holding the at least 
one tool in any one of a plurality of different positions relative to the 
advancing means to thus select any one of a plurality of different 
weakened portions to be provided on the label in the predetermined path. 
The advancing means can comprise a rotary drum-shaped conveyor which is 
arranged to advance a series of equidistant labels along the predetermined 
path and past the weakening means. A peripheral surface of such 
drum-shaped conveyor can be provided with a plurality of label-supporting 
platforms which are spaced apart from each other in a circumferential 
direction of the peripheral surface. 
The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention 
are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved apparatus 
itself, however, both as to its construction and the mode of utilizing and 
operating the same, together with numerous additional advantageous 
features and attributes thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of 
the following detailed description of certain presently preferred specific 
embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIG. 1 shows a hinged-lid packet 1 which is normally made of relatively 
stiff paper or lightweight cardboard and comprises a main section 
including a rear wall 7, two trapezoid lateral walls 6 (only one can be 
seen in FIG. 1), a bottom wall (not shown) and a front wall (not shown). 
The lateral wall 6 extends at right angles to the rear wall 7, and its 
width is a fraction of that of the rear wall. The lid 2 is shown in the 
closed position and is yieldably held in such closed position by a label 9 
(e.g., a revenue stamp) which is weakened at 11 in the apparatus and in 
accordance with the method of the present invention. 
The lid 2 comprises a rear panel (shown but not referenced) which is 
pivotably connected to the top portion of the rear wall 7 by an elongated 
transversely extending hinge 3 (such as a straight weakened portion of the 
converted blank which constitutes the packet 1), a top panel (not 
referenced), a front panel (not shown in FIG. 1), and two trapezoid 
lateral panels 8 (only one can be seen in FIG. 1) which are coplanar with 
the respective lateral walls 6. When the lid 2 is closed, the sloping 
lower edge of each lateral panel 8 abuts or is closely or immediately 
adjacent the equally sloping top edge of the respective lateral wall 6 (as 
at 4). 
The label 9 which is shown in FIG. 1 is bonded to the main section as well 
as to the lid 2 of the packet 1 in the following way: A (normally major) 
first part of the label 9 overlies portions of the rear wall 7 of the main 
section and of the rear panel of the lid 2 so that it also overlies at 
least a portion of the hinge 3. The rear panel of the lid 2 is coplanar 
with the rear wall 7 of the main section of the packet 1 when the lid is 
maintained in the closed position of FIG. 1. A second part of the label 9 
overlies a portion of the illustrated lateral wall 6 and a portion of the 
illustrated lateral panel 8, and this second part of the label has an 
elongated weakened portion 11 overlying at least a part of the region 4 
where the sloping edges of the wall 6 and the panel 8 abut or are closely 
adjacent each other. 
The label 9 must break (i.e., it must be torn) along the elongated portion 
11 before the lid 2 can be pivoted to the open position in which it 
affords access to the contents of the packet 1, e.g., an array of twenty 
plain or filter cigarettes in a customary so-called quincunx formation 
wrapped into an (inner) envelope of metallic or plastic foil. 
In accordance with the method of the present invention, the elongated 
weakened portion 11 is formed in an apparatus of the type shown in FIGS. 2 
to 4 or in an analogous apparatus. The illustrated apparatus 12 includes a 
preferably exchangeable and preferably adjustable tool or implement which 
can subject a series of labels 9 to any one of a plurality of different 
treatments including perforating, creasing, scratching, scoring, slitting, 
piercing, cutting, material removing and/or many others. All that counts 
is to ensure that the tensile strength of a label 9 in the region of its 
elongated portion 11 is reduced to an extent which is necessary or 
desirable to guarantee that the initial pivoting of the lid to the open 
position results in a predictable tearing of the label along the weakened 
elongated portion 11. This renders it possible to pivot the lid 2 at 3 to 
an extent (e.g., through a little more than 90.degree.) which is necessary 
to ensure convenient access to the inner envelope and to the cigarettes 
within such envelope. 
The apparatus 12 which is shown in FIS. 2 to 4 comprises a rotary 
drum-shaped conveyor 13 serving as a means for advancing a succession of 
equidistant label blanks along an arcuate path and in a predetermined 
direction (clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 2). The peripheral surface of the 
conveyor 13 is provided with a set of equidistant platforms having suction 
ports (not specifically shown) forming part of means for pneumatically 
attracting the label blanks to the top lands of the respective platforms. 
Successive blanks are fed into or located in the range of suction ports 
provided in the oncoming platforms of the conveyor 13 at a location 
upstream of an adjustable implement or tool 16 (e.g., a perforating tool) 
which is adjacent the path of movement of successive blanks and provides 
such blanks with elongated weakened portions 11, e.g., by providing the 
corresponding portions of the blanks with rows of perforations in a 
distribution and of a size sufficient to ensure adequate reduction of 
tensile strength so that, when properly applied to a packet 1, each of the 
thus obtained labels 9 reliably breaks or tears along such weakened 
portion 11 in response to the application of a force in a direction to 
pivot the lid 2 from the closed position (shown in FIG. 2). 
Each perforated label which advances (clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 2 or 3) 
beyond the weakening (perforating) station for the tool 16 is coated with 
a film of a suitable adhesive and is thereupon applied to the oncoming 
pocket 1 (a row of such pockets can be seen in the lower part of FIG. 2). 
A rotary drum-shaped conveyor for labels and means for coating one side of 
each of a series of labels with a film of adhesive are described and shown 
in published German patent application No. A 41 33 404. The disclosure of 
this publication is incorporated herein by reference. This publication 
further shows the means for supplying labels to a rotary conveyor. 
FIG. 3 shows the details of a presently preferred support for and a 
presently preferred adjustable mounting of the tool or implement 16 
adjacent the path of advancement of successive label blanks past the 
perforating station. The tool 16 is mounted on a rotary shaft 22 (best 
shown in FIG. 4) which receives torque from a suitable prime mover (such 
as the prime mover of a cigarette packing machine) by way of a pinion 33. 
The shaft 22 supports a holder 18, and the tool 16 is adjustably affixed 
to the holder 18 by at least one threaded fastener 17. The holder 18 has a 
collar 19 which abuts a collar 21 at the adjacent end of the shaft 22. As 
can be seen in FIG. 3, the collar 19 has elongated arcuate slots 24 for 
the shanks of threaded fasteners 23 which extend into tapped bores of the 
flange 21 to thus maintain the holder 18 and the tool 16 in a selected 
position relative to the shaft 22 and the conveyor 13. The fasteners 23 
can be loosened to permit angular adjustments of the holder 18 and tool 16 
about the axis of the shaft 22. 
The flange 19 of the tool holder 18 is further provided with a centrally 
located cylindrical stub 24' which extends through the flange 21 and into 
a centering socket 26 in the adjacent end portion of the shaft 22; this 
ensures that the flange 19 remains coaxial with the shaft 22 in each 
angular position of the holder 18. 
That end portion of the shaft 22 which is adjacent the collar 19 is 
rotatably mounted in an antifriction ball bearing 27 installed in a 
stationary or adjustable housing 31 and held in a predetermined position 
by a cover 28 which is separably secured to the housing 31 by threaded 
fasteners 29. The housing 31 is secured to a wall 30 through which the 
shaft 22 extends. 
The improved apparatus 12 renders it possible to adjust the position of the 
tool 16 relative to the label blanks on the conveyor 13 for the purpose of 
selecting the locations of the weakened portions 11. Furthermore, and if 
the illustrated perforating tool 16 is replaced with a different 
perforating tool or with a severing, creasing or other suitable tool, 
adjustments of the tool relative to the shaft 22 can also serve to select 
the intensity of the weakening action (e.g., by inserting one or more 
shims or washers between the flanges 19 and 21). 
The position of the perforating portion 33 of the illustrated tool 16 
relative to the peripheral surface of the conveyor 13 is or can be 
selected in such a way that the perforating portion 33 can come close to 
but does not actually contact the conveyor 13 during weakening of 
elongated portions 11 on successive label blanks being advanced toward the 
oncoming packets 1. This prolongs the useful life of the conveyor 13 as 
well as of the tool 16. 
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of 
the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, 
readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, 
from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential 
characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of the above outlined 
contribution to the art of manipulating labels or the like and, therefore, 
such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the 
meaning and range of equivalence of the appended claims.