Dispenser for self-sticking mark-strips

Abstract: A dispenser is composed by supply-, transportation- (1,2) and cutting-rolls (5) which is applied to supply self-sticking tape, to cut and then deliver self-sticking strip to the teartape and/or packing material, at the starting point of the teartape of in packing-foil packed articles like packages of cigarettes. The applicated packing material can be of different types of material, as long as the self-sticking strip can attach itself to this material.

Description: The invention relates to a process for applying a mark in the region of a gripping end of a pull strip of a packaging foil which serves for wrapping, in particular, cigarette packs, wherein a self-adhesive marking piece is severed from an endless marking strip, wherein the severed marking piece is then continuously fed to the packaging foil and wherein the severed marking piece is then pressed against the packaging foil in the region of the gripping end. The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out the above mentioned process. Theme of the invention is the application of self-sticking marking-strips positioned at the beginning of the teartape of an in packing-foil packed article like a pack of cigarettes, what by means of an in-line working machine, assembled to and driven by a packing-machine, will be realised. Teartape will be applicated at an in packing-foil packed article like a pack of cigarettes to strip of the relevant article of it's packing-foil by the user. After the selfsticking strip has been attached to the packing foil, the u-shape knive will cut the packing foil and the tape at regular distances, by which a place of application arises, what will serve later on as a starting point when user will strip of the article from it's packing-foil. Normally the teartape will be attached by means of an in-line placed teartape dispenser which continuously attaches the tape to the packing-foil. By this packing-method the above mentioned starting point will remain unmarked. A package with an overwrap made of plastic and with a tear-out strip and an adhesive pull tab ist shown in US 3,379,364. The pull tab will be applicated on the tear-out strip. This operation is not shown in detail but has to be carried out with high accuracy to avoid pasting over. Another method to attache teartape to the packing-foil is to use the "cross feed-system". With this method a strip will be cut of from a roll, which is provided with a marking-line on one sinde, and be delivered to the packing-foil and by means of a heating machine attached to the packing-foil. This cross-feed system knows a lot of disadvantages: The system is only applyable to one type packing-machine For every length of packing-foil one needs a matchable width of the roll with the marking-line Quality-problems in connection with the possition of the tape and the heating during attachment. Limited speed Becomes quickly filthy Requires lots of maintenance and is difficult to advance It is an object of this invention to avoid all above mentioned disadvantages. In order to achieve this object, the process according to the invention is characterized in that the marking piece is applied to the packaging foil first and the pull strip is applied afterwards, such that the marking piece is positioned in the region of the gripping end between packaging foil and pull strip. This object is also achieved by the apparatus according to claim 1. The advantage of the invention can be reached by delivering self-sticking marking-tape at the starting position by means of an in-line working machine. By application of self-sticking marking-tape the heating-element can fall into decay. By keeping the process of "adding the marking-tape" separately from "the supply of the proper teartape" the last-mentioned can be supplied in-line and also continuously. If than self-sticking tape will be applicated, the heating-machine will be superfluous. By replacement of the cross-feed system higher production-speed can be reached and the maintenance will for the biggest part fall into decay. By using the driving gear of the packing-machine and a transportation-proportion of 1:1 between this packing-machine and the dispenser, the marking strips will automaticaly be delivered with an equal interval independent from the length of these intervals. The invention will be illustrated on the basis of the drawings: Figure 1 is the front-view Figure 2 is a cross-section The mechanism operates as follows: The self-sticking marking-tape is continuously supplied by means of the roll "1" and a press-roll "2". After the driving rolls the marking tape will be pulled at the vacuum-disk by vacuum. A stationary timing-disk "4" at the back-side of the vacuum-disk "3" will appoint the position where vacuum is present. The outline speed of the vacuum-disk "3" on which the marking strip with the not-sticking side of the tape is sucked onto, has the same speed as the one of the packing-foil. The transportation-proportion of the vacuum-disk "3" and the supply-roll "1" appoints the transportation-length of the tape. Halfway vacuum-disk "3" a rotating knive "5", which has the same number of revolutions as the disk "3", will cut the tape. The cut tape will by means of the vacuum-power remain at the disk and be accelerated equally to the speed of the vacuum-disk "3". At the upper point the self-sticking side of the marking-strip gets in contact with the packing-foil, by which the timing-disk "4" will take care of releasing the vacuum. Herethrough the marking-strip will be taken over by the packing-foil, right at the position where the U-shape knife cuts later on a starting point. With a transportation-proportion of approximately 1:8 the supply-roll "1" will continuously supply marking-tape to the vacuum disk "3".

Claims: Process for applying a mark in the region of a gripping end of a pull strip of a packaging foil which serves for wrapping, in particular, cigarette packs, wherein a self-adhesive marking piece is severed from an endless marking strip, wherein the severed marking piece is then continuously fed to the packaging foil and wherein the severed marking piece is then pressed against the packaging foil in the region of the gripping end, characterized in that the marking piece is applied to the packaging foil first and the pull strip is applied afterwards, such that the marking piece is positioned in the region of the gripping end between packaging foil and pull strip. Process as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the marking piece is applied to the packaging foil with a self-adhesive side of the former. Process as claimed in Claim 1 to 2, characterized in that the endless marking strip is pulled off a reel by means of a vacuum disk and in that the marking piece is severed from the marking strip by means of a severing knife. Process as claimed in one or more of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the vacuum disk (3) and the rotating knife (5) are driven at the same rotational speed. Apparatus for applying a mark in the region of a gripping end of a pull strip of a packaging foil which serves for wrapping, in particular, cigarette packs, comprising a supply roll (1,2) for continuously feeding a self-adhesive marking strip, means for severing a marking piece from the marking strip and applying it to the packaging foil, characterized in that arranged downstream of the supply roll (1,2) is a vacuum disk (3) which holds the marking strip at its non-adhesive side by means of vacuum pressure and upon whose circumference the marking piece is severed from the front end of the marking strip, and that means are provided for transferring the marking piece from the vacuum disk (3) to the packaging foil, specifically to the region of the packaging foil that serves to form the gripping end, so that the marking piece is positioned in the region of the gripping end between packaging foil and pull strip. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, characterized in that a rotating cutting knife (5) is provided for severing the marking piece from the marking strip. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the vacuum disk (3) has small openings at its circumference which can be subjected to a vacuum at periodic distances. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 7, characterized in that a vacuum can be applied to the small openings with the help of a timing disk (4). Apparatus as claimed in one or more of Claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the cutting knife (5) and the vacuum disk (3) are driven at the same rotational speed. Apparatus as claimed in one or more of Claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the circumferential speed of the vacuum disk (3) corresponds approximately to the conveying speed of the packaging material. Apparatus as claimed in one or more of claims 5 to 10, characterized in that the gear ratio of a drive shaft of a rotating cutting knife (5) for cutting a lip into the packaging material and the vacuum disk (3) is always 1:1. Apparatus as claimed in one or more of Claims 5 to 11, characterized in that the marking strip is fed from a spool via two supply rolls to the vacuum disk (3). Apparatus as claimed in one or more of Claims 5 to 12, characterized in that the rotating knife (5) for severing the marking pieces is arranged opposite to the vacuum disk (3).

Inventors: LUITEN ROELOF, LUITEN, ROELOF
Applicants: FOCKE & CO, FOCKE & CO. (GMBH & CO.)
Application year: 1995
Main classification: B65B61
IPC codes: B31B1, B65B61