초록 ▼

A system and method for rapidly labeling a blow-molded hollow container made of a plastic composition subject to out-gassing after de-molding. Otherwise, conventional high speed silk screen labeling technology and processing is employed shortly after container fabrication de-molding in order to accu

A system and method for rapidly labeling a blow-molded hollow container made of a plastic composition subject to out-gassing after de-molding. Otherwise, conventional high speed silk screen labeling technology and processing is employed shortly after container fabrication de-molding in order to accurately deposit a continuous liquid layer of conventional silk screen ink over an external container surface area designated for application thereon of a self-adhering pre-printed label. The label is rapidly and accurately transfer applied over the silk screen coated area immediately after the same has dried, and even while out-gassing is still occurring from the de-molded container. However, the protective ink barrier coating prevents formation of bubbles beneath the label. Those gases in the container wall resident beneath the label-affixed area can then nevertheless out-gas by migrating out of the container internal wall surface. Also, labeling may be silk screen imprinted on the container surface in a designated label-receiving area, and/or on non-designated surface area concurrently with barrier coating of the designated area. A gas-blocking clear ink barrier layer may be silk screened over the silk screen imprinting, and then the label applied over the gas-blocking layer of clear ink when dry. The label may be "peelable" for customer rebate return without thereby altering the labeling information remaining on the container. The pre-printed label may be a replicate of the label-covered imprinting so that the "trade dress" need not be altered by the peelable label, and so that the container surface area available for permanent labeling is maximized.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A system for applying a label to a fabricated plastic article that comprises:(a) means for fabricating an article of molded plastic material that is characterized by out-gassing from the material at its surface for a given out-gassing period of time subsequent to fabrication, (b) means constructe

1. A system for applying a label to a fabricated plastic article that comprises:(a) means for fabricating an article of molded plastic material that is characterized by out-gassing from the material at its surface for a given out-gassing period of time subsequent to fabrication, (b) means constructed and arranged relative to said article fabricating means for applying onto a designated exterior-surface portion of the article shortly after fabrication thereof a continuous layer of quick-drying liquid that dries very quickly to thereby rapidly form a solidified barrier layer that is gas permeation resistant, and (c) means constructed and arranged relative to said layer applying means for adherently applying a label onto said layer prior to completion of said out-gassing period of time but shortly after solidification of said layer and such that said solidified layer underlies substantially all of the underside surface of the label and thereby sufficiently impedes out-gassing from the plastic material of the article through the solidified layer that bubbling of gases beneath the adhered label is prevented, and wherein the plastic article comprises an empty open container of molded plastic material, wherein said fabricating means comprises a blow molding machine operable such that out-gassing occurs from the material of the container at its surfaces for said time period subsequent to de-molding of the container from the machine, and wherein said layer applying means and said label applying means are constructed and arranged successively directly in line respectively with and immediately downstream of the product output of said molding machine de-molding operation and layer applying means and are operationally synchronized with one another and with said blow molding machine to be respectively sequentially operable to apply said layer and then apply said label immediately subsequent to the de-molding operation and prior to completion of said out-gassing period of time.