Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Layer or component removable to expose adhesive – Ornamental – decorative – pattern – or indicia
Reexamination Certificate
2002-02-28
2004-10-12
Nolan, Sandra M. (Department: 1772)
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Layer or component removable to expose adhesive
Ornamental, decorative, pattern, or indicia
C428S040100, C428S041700, C428S040500, C428S034400, C428S035700, C428S036900, C428S332000, C428S914000, C156S230000, C156S240000, C134S010000, C134S029000, C134S038000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06803085
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an ink only label, which is removable from a substrate to which it has been applied by washing with water or an aqueous alkaline solution and to a transfer label comprising a backing layer and the ink only label which is releasably attached to the backing layer.
The invention also relates to a container provided with an ink only label according to the invention and to a method of removing the ink only label from such a container.
More in particular the present invention is directed to a label for returnable plastic containers such as crates and more specifically to decorative promotional and/or informational labels suitable for use on plastic crates. Still more particularly, the invention is directed to a label composite which applies only the inks of the graphics to a polymeric substrate, having the ability to be removed from the substrate, without destructive treatment of the substrate surface, so that the substrate can be relabelled.
It is known in the packaging technology art to label containers such as plastic crates by providing a non-removable permanent image by a silk screen method. Such labels offer a highly durable finish with two or three color availability. This technique however offers limited colors, lacks the improved graphics that other labelling techniques offer, is not flexible in its ability to have graphic changes to meet market strategies leading to large inventories of obsolete units, tends to show signs of wear after about four trips (typical crate life expected at 60 return trios and is relatively expensive as compared to other label techniques.
When removable inks are to be applied to re-usable plastic crates by a screen printing or a tampon printing process, the inks have to be applied in the bottling plant, such as a brewery, which may lead to problems with respect to registration. Upon removal from the crates by means of crate washers, the inks will be dissolved in the washing liquid and in this way contaminate the crate washers. Furthermore the speed of application is limited, and curing of the inks requires a lot of space and long storage times prior to delivery.
A second way of labelling containers encompasses gluing printed paper labels to containers such as plastic crates or bottles at the time of filling and sealing. This type of label however offers little resistance to label damage from handling and exposure to moisture (wrinkling). Furthermore, paper labels are difficult to remove from crates, and tend to clog the crate washers available today. Upon removal of paper labels from plastic crates, a glue residue may be left on the crates.
A third technique for labelling containers, in particular glass bottles is based on the principles described in WO 90/05088. This method of labelling bottles provides a durable, highly impact resistant label and yet permits high definition label printing. A transfer label comprising a removable backing layer is provided which backing layer is reverse printed with a vinyl or acrylic ink which is cured and overprinted with adhesive. The label is applied to the container with its adhesive surface in contact therewith. The backing layer is separated from the transfer layer of the label for instance by the application of heat to either the container, the label or to both. The labelled container is then applied with a coating which is subsequently cured. The cured coating provides the required degree or impact resistance and durability. The disadvantage of permanently attached labels, is that when these labels get scratched or otherwise damaged, they cannot be easily removed from the bottles. Further, it is not possible to provide the same containers each time with new and/or different labels, which is desirable for promotional activities.
The need for returnable bottles and crates is a direct result of industry preference and government legislation with regard to returnable (refillable) containers in various parts in the world in lieu of one way packaging. In this type of recycling environment a whole new market has been created for the handling of packaged beverage containers. This is presently true of both refillable PET and glass bottle containers. Certain countries, European in particular, have invested large sums of money in the creation of distribution systems that rely heavily on the returnable crate concept.
Typically the only product presentation in such a recycling (refillable) market is that which can be printed on the exterior of the crate. Due to handling, space and storage considerations the only marketing, name brand, promotional, UPC code or other informational presentation is that which is printed on the exterior of the crate. The reason is that typically the crates are stacked at commercial outlets such as grocery stores with only the side and end panels showing. As such, the presentations on the said panels of the crates are the only distinguishing features from one product to another.
In the use of returnable crates it would be very interesting to be able to use one uniform crate for various different products or brands. However, this is only possible if there exists an easy and inexpensive method of providing an image or imprint on the crate, which is also easily removed after the crate is returned to the bottling line for refilling.
On the other hand, it is important that the label image or imprint on the crate is durable, especially during transport, storage and is durable even when subjected to humid conditions.
Accordingly it is an object of the invention to provide a label for a returnable plastic crate creating an imprint, or image on at least one of its surfaces, which is durable, scratch, wear, weather and moisture resistant during use, but which is easily removable during the crate washing operation upon return to the filler.
It is also an object of the invention that the label on the plastic container shall be impervious to handling contact and ambient storage conditions both outdoor and indoor.
It is also an object of the invention that the label, if desired, be readily and completely removed in the standard crate washer used when the plastic container is returned to the beverage plant for refilling.
It is also an object of the invention that the properties of the label with respect to removing it can be controlled, so that the label will not be removed or damaged in standard crate washing operations, but only under specific, more severe crate washing operations.
It is an object of the present invention that the labels incorporate a full range of graphics, from a simple one color up to a full photographic reproduction.
Finally it is also an object that the method be simple and low cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other objects are achieved by the ink-only label according to the present invention, said label at least consisting of an adhesive layer, an ink-only image layer and optionally a protective layer, wherein the label, when applied to a substrate, has a water permeability coefficient, as defined herein, which is sufficient to enable fast removal of the label from the substrate with water or an aqueous alkaline solution, without destructive treatment of the said substrate.
In order to provide the desired removal characteristics it has been found essential to control the water permeability characteristics of the label when applied to the substrate surface, such as a crate surface. On the one hand the water permeability must be sufficiently high to provide a speedy removal of the label through break-up and/or swelling of the material when immersed in or sprayed with water. On the other hand it should not be so high that the label becomes removed when subjected to normal ambient conditions. In effect the water permeability characteristics have been fine-tuned to provide a label that meets the criteria defined herein above.
The water permeability coefficient is defined as the amount of water that the label takes up, as a fraction of the dry weight of the label within a period of three hours, immersion at 20° C. The coeffi
Blom Patrick Johannes
Brandt Thomas Lynn
Rosens Erwin Anton
Heineken Technical Services B.V.
Miggins Michael C.
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