Apparatus and Process for Cutting Adhesive Labels

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for die cutting label stock comprising a facestock, an adhesive and optionally a liner to form labels where a liner of the linered pressure sensitive adhesive label stock may be a thin or ultrathin liner.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for forming a cut adhesive backed label on a liner comprising:
 an optional separator station for separating a liner from a facestock and adhesive layer;   a cutting station for forming a plurality of cut adhesive backed labels and a surrounding matrix from the facestock and the adhesive layer, wherein the cutting station comprises a flexible rotary die and an anvil wherein the flexible rotary die comprises a die plate that is fastened to a mounting cylinder, and a means for cooling the adhesive prior to cutting the facestock and adhesive.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a laminator which is oriented for relaminating the release liner to the cut adhesive backed labels and matrix. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a stripper which is oriented for stripping the matrix from the cut adhesive backed labels and matrix on the liner 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising means for winding the cut adhesive backed labels on the liner into a roll. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a solid material fills an air gap formed between the die plate and the mounting cylinder wherein the solid material has a greater thermal conductivity than air. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the die plate is mechanically fastened to the mounting cylinder. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus  claim 1  wherein the mounting cylinder is magnetized. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a lubricator. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the lubricator comprises a flexographic printing plate. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the anvil is an elastic polymeric anvil. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising means to control the distance between the die and anvil to prevent cutting the release. 
     
     
         12 . A system for producing cut adhesive backed labels on a liner comprising:
 a) a web of label stock comprising a facestock having a first side and a second side, an adhesive layer adhered to a first side of the facestock and, optionally, a release liner adhered to an exposed surface of the adhesive layer;
 i) an apparatus for forming a cut adhesive backed label on a liner of a web of labelstock as set forth in a) comprising an optional separator station for separating a liner if present from a facestock and adhesive layer; and 
 ii) a cutting station for forming a plurality of cut adhesive backed labels and a surrounding matrix from the facestock and the adhesive layer, wherein the cutting station comprises a flexible rotary die and an anvil wherein the flexible rotary die comprises a die plate that is fastened to a mounting cylinder, and a means for cooling the adhesive prior to cutting the facestock and adhesive. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  further comprising a laminator which is oriented for relaminating the release liner to the cut adhesive backed labels and matrix. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12  further comprising a stripper which is oriented for stripping the matrix from the cut adhesive backed labels and matrix on the liner 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12  further comprising means for winding the cut adhesive backed labels on the liner into a roll. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12  wherein a solid material fills an air gap formed between the die plate and the mounting cylinder wherein the solid material has a greater thermal conductivity than air. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the die plate is mechanically fastened to the mounting cylinder. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the mounting cylinder is magnetized. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12  further comprising a lubricator. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the lubricator comprises a flexographic printing plate. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the anvil is an elastic polymeric anvil. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 12  further comprising means to control the distance between the die and anvil to prevent cutting the release. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the release liner, if present, has a thickness of less than 1.2 mils (0.030 mm).