The present disclosure relates to a finishing system for labels when the label content has been printed onto a continuous web. The finishing system receives the printed web, and then simultaneously cuts around the perimeters of a plurality of labels oriented across a width of the web. A laminate film optionally can be applied over the printing. The web is slit into multiple narrower webs after a waste matrix is removed.
Currently, finishing stations for high speed production of labels comprise a rotary die that will cut out the individual labels as the die rotates. This has a requirement for providing fixed dies that must be built for each unique label, shape and size. Time and die costs are prohibitive for jobs of a small number of labels.
At the present time there are also single knife x-y plotters for label finishing machines, and while these machines require no dies, and can run a variety of label shapes under computer control without requiring additional set up times, they are very slow and one knife must trace the outline of every label.
USPTO Backgrounds
USPTO Backgrounds