Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Methods – Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-02
2003-11-18
Osele, Mark A. (Department: 1734)
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Methods
Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
C156S268000, C156S269000, C156S270000, C156S511000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06649011
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method of producing adhesive die-cut articles from an endless web, having at least one internal cut-out which may contain a filler material, the web having a carrier layer with at least one adhesive layer. The adhesive die-cut articles can be single-sided or double-sided adhesive sealing rings or labels provided with holes. They may also be die-cut articles in the manner of the products obtainable from Beiersdorf under the name “Power-Strips”, which are additionally provided with a cut-out.
2. Description of the Prior Art
According to the prior art, appropriately shaped cut-outs are introduced into such objects, to be produced from web material, by means of a so-called hollow punch (also referred to as a complete tool). The material stamped out in the process is forced upwards in the punch. After the cut-out has been stamped out many times, it is necessary to free the material-filled punch mechanically of the stamped-out material. This entails interruptions to the continuous execution of a process. A further disadvantage is the fact that such a complete tool is a mechanically sophisticated device, which is therefore quite susceptible to faults and also expensive.
The adhesive die-cut articles can preferably be locally, regionally or systemically acting plasters with a backing layer, an adhesive layer and a reservoir of active ingredient which, until they are applied, are provided with a detachable protective layer.
Forms of medication to be applied to the skin and having the appearance of traditional plasters are known, containing medicaments which are to be discharged to the skin and, for example, are known as corn plasters. Such a system can contain one or more medicaments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a method which permits the production of adhesive die-cut articles with an internal cut-out, that is, a “hole”, from an endless web, whilst avoiding the use of a hollow punch.
In addition, the invention is based on the object of providing adhesive die-cut articles with an internal cut-out. A further object of the invention is to provide adhesive die-cut articles in the form of plasters which contain active ingredient and have an internal cut-out filled with filler material.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The object is achieved by a method of producing adhesive diecut articles
11
with internal cut-outs
3
from an endless web
1
, the web having a carrier layer
4
and at least one adhesive layer
5
, which, according to the invention, is characterized by:
a) die-cutting the contour
17
of the internal cut-out
3
from an adhesive layer
5
and, if appropriate, from a matrix layer
6
, but the carrier layer
4
not being punched through,
b) die-cutting the external contour of the adhesive die-cut articles
11
from the adhesive layer
5
and, if appropriate, from the matrix layer
6
this external contour
10
of the adhesive die-cut article not having any common point with the contour
17
of the internal cut-out
3
,
c) deflecting the carrier layer
4
over a pull-off edge, cut-out die-cutting residues
7
of the internal cut-out being pulled off together with the unsevered carrier layer
4
,
d) transferring the web, freed from the carrier layer
4
and cut-out die-cutting residues
7
of the internal cut-out, or transferring the individual die-cut articles, to a protective film
8
.
In this case, instead of the pull-off edge
12
, a pull-off roller can also be used, which constitutes a technical equivalent. For the purpose of clarification: the cut-out die-cutting residues
7
constitute the material which, after it has been removed from the endless web
1
, leave behind the internal cut-outs
3
, that is, the holes, in the said web.
Further steps in the production of the plaster which contains active ingredient and is filled with filler material are:
e) filling the internal cut-out
3
with filler material
2
and laminating on a covering film
9
,
f) die-cutting the contour of the external plaster shape, separating the die-cut articles and stripping off the die-cutting residues.
The production method according to the invention is surprisingly uncomplicated, can be carried out without so-called hollow punches and is consequently extremely cost-effective.
One configuration of the method provides for the steps to be carried out in the sequence a) to d), if appropriate as far as f). However, differing from this, it can also be carried out in the sequence b), a), c), d), if appropriate additionally e) and f).
A further simplification is that the steps a) and b) are carried out simultaneously with each other, for example using a reciprocating punch or a cutting roll. These die-cutting tools then have a surface structure with cutting edges which have the external contour of the die-cut articles and the contour of the internal cut-out.
Finally, the operations can be carried out in the sequence a), c), d), b), if appropriate in addition e) and f).
The steps a) to d) can be carried out simultaneously, so that the method proceeds continuously at constant or variable speed. However, the method can also proceed discontinuously, specifically if the use of a reciprocating punch makes it necessary to stop the endless web
1
. Preference is given to such a discontinuous method if the additional step e) is relatively time-consuming.
A further advantageous variant of the method is characterized in that the internal cut-out
3
in the adhesive layer
5
is die-cut through the matrix layer
6
and together with the latter.
The geometric shape of the internal cut-out
3
is unimportant. Preference is given to a circular shape. The important fact is that the thickness of the adhesive layer
5
and, if appropriate, of the matrix layer
6
are together less than the maximum extent of the internal cut-out
3
in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction.
An adhesive die-cut article produced by the method is characterized by:
a) an adhesive layer
5
with an internal cut-out
3
and
b) a redetachable protective film
8
which covers the adhesive layer
5
and the internal cut-out
3
.
In addition, this adhesive die-cut article can have a matrix layer
6
. This matrix layer can have an internal cut-out which is congruent with (has an identical two-dimensional shape to) the internal cut-out
3
in the adhesive layer
5
.
The adhesive die-cut article can have a covering layer
9
adhering to the adhesive layer
5
or to the matrix layer
6
located above the latter. The internal cut-out
3
can, if appropriate, be filled with a filler material
2
, which is preferably a compound containing an active ingredient.
Filler materials
2
considered are flowable or pourable preparations, that is to say liquid, semi-solid, gel-like, pasty, powdery or fusible materials or mixtures. The ingredients considered are, for example, topically (local and/or regionally) and/or systemically active pharmaceutical active ingredients, including salicylic acid, lactic acid, 5-fluoruracil, capsaicin, acetyl-salicylic acid, nonoic acid vanillyl amide, etc.
Suitable materials for the adhesive layer
5
are natural or synthetic polymers with contact-adhesive properties, which are known to those skilled in the art, for example polyacrylates, polyisobutylenes, silicones, rubber, SIS block copolymers, etc. If necessary, the adhesiveness must be matched to the requirements by the addition of adhesive resins (“tackyfiers”).
Natural and synthetic polymers are likewise preferably considered for the matrix layer
6
, such as polyacrylates, polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polybutylenes, polyurethanes, poly-l-butenes, polyisobutene, rubbers, silicon rubbers, cellulose, chemical pulp, paper, cotton, acetylcellulose, celluloid, viscose, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl ether, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers (EVA) and the like. These materials, and consequently the matrix layer
6
, are non-adhesive. They may be present as a compacted material, foam, fabric
Genich Paul
Hardt Frank
Hochberg D. Peter
LTS Lohmann Therapie-Systeme AG
Mellino Sean
Osele Mark A.
Vieyra Katherine R.
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