Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Methods – Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-06
2001-08-14
Mayes, Curtis (Department: 1734)
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Methods
Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
C156S270000, C156S278000, C156S280000, C156S289000, C156S291000, C156S305000, C156S324000, C428S041800, C428S041900, C428S042200, C428S042300, C428S343000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273987
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing self-adhesive labels.
It is common to provide successive labels on a strip of backing paper, and to apply those labels using a machine which peels the labels one-by-one from the backing strip and applies them to respective products. In preparing such a strip of labels, a strip of silicone coated backing paper is first provided with a coating of adhesive over a front side thereof. A labelling strip is then adhered to this side of the backing paper, the labelling strip being printed with successive labels over its front surface, and then divided (typically by die cutting), to form individual rectangular labels (each label being separated from the next label by a dividing line extending across the labelling strip) The adhesive transfers from the backing paper to the rear surfaces of the labels to enable each label, when removed from the backing paper, to adhere to its intended product.
I have now devised a method of manufacturing a strip of self-adhesive labels, which enables the labels to be of any desired shape.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method of forming a strip of self-adhesive labels, comprising providing a backing strip having a labelling strip superimposed over and secured to it, then dividing the labelling strip into successive labels and waste regions, the waste regions of the labelling strip being more firmly secured to the backing strip than the labels.
Preferably the waste regions form one or more webs which extend continuously along the length of the labelling strip. Thus, because the waste regions of the labelling strip are more firmly bonded to the backing strip than the labels, then the waste material may be used to help carry the labels through labelling machinery. This overcomes a common problem associated with existing label strips, which is that during the label application process, the backing strip is prone to breakages. Also, the arrangement is desirable where there is a risk of labels being inadvertently removed from the backing strip together with the waste material.
It will be appreciated by bonding the waste material to the backing strip to help carry the labels through the labelling machinery, the thickness of the backing strip may be greatly reduced. Despite this reduction in thickness of the backing strip, the combined strip remains far stronger, and therefore less prone to breakages, than would be the backing strip alone. As the overall thickness of the strip of labels is correspondingly reduced, a greater number of labels may therefore be carried on a roll of the same diameter. Thus, in a labelling plant, roll changes will be required much less frequently. In such a labelling plant, labels are applied to their intended products by removing them individually from the backing strip, leaving the waste material in place.
Preferably the successive labels are formed on the labelling strip by printing onto the rear and/or front surface of the labelling strip. Preferably adhesive is applied either to the rear surface of the labelling strip or to the front surface of the backing strip, before the labelling strip is superimposed over the backing strip. Preferably the adhesive is applied in-line with the printing process. Preferably the labelling strip is superimposed over the backing strip, in-line with the printing and adhesive-application processes. Preferably the step of dividing the labelling strip (into successive label and waste regions) is carried out in-line with the step of superimposing the labelling strip over the backing strip. The dividing step may be carried out for example by die cutting or by laser cutting.
During manufacture of the strip of labels, preferably the backing strip is coated with a release agent (e.g. silicone) over discrete portions of its surface which correspond to individual labels of the labelling strip, the release agent coating extending at least over areas of the backing strip which correspond with areas of the labelling strip which are immediately adjacent the peripheral edges of the respective labels. Preferably the areas of release agent extend beyond the peripheral edges of the labels, to provide a degree of tolerance for the die-cutting operation.
It will be appreciated that, as only a relatively small proportion of the surface area of the backing strip is coated with a release agent, the backing strip is more suitable for re-cycling.
In addition, or as an alternative to providing coatings of release agent, an adhesive may be applied to the waste regions of the labelling strip which is stronger than the adhesive applied to the label regions, or a solvent may be applied to the waste regions which causes these to bond to the backing strip, or the waste regions may be bonded to the backing strip by a welding process, e.g. using heat and pressure, or laser welding.
It will be appreciated that the waste regions of the labelling strip may be bonded to the backing strip over discrete areas only of the waste regions.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the front surface of each label is coated with contact adhesive so that, upon contacting an article to be labelled, the front surface of each label will adhere to that article and be peeled from the backing strip. This arrangement has the advantage of allowing the labelling strip to be used in high speed continuous label application machines, which at present involve the use of hot melt adhesive applied to the labels in-line with label-application.
Preferably the step of coating the front surface of each label with adhesive is carried out in-line with the step of dividing the labelling strip (into successive label and waste regions;). Preferably the rear surface of the backing strip is coated with a release agent (e.g. silicone) so that the strip of labels may be wound upon itself. Preferably the step of coating the rear surface of the backing strip with release agent is carried out immediately prior to the step of applying adhesive to the rear surface of the labelling strip or to the front surface of the backing strip. Preferably, prior to its release, each label is only partially adhered to the backing strip. Discrete areas of the rear surface of the labelling strip, which correspond to label regions, may be coated with a release agent (e.g. silicone) so that, having been released from the backing strip, there is no adhesive carried upon the rear surfaces of the labels. In this case, the step of coating discrete areas of the rear surface of the labelling strip with silicone would preferably be carried out in-line with the step of superimposing the labelling strip over the backing strip.
In each of the above embodiments, the labelling strip preferably comprises a plastics material, which is preferably transparent to enable printing applied to its rear surface to be visible, and may comprise a heat-shrinkable plastics material, so that the individual labels are heat-shrinkable after their application to intended products.
Preferably the backing strip also comprises plastics material, this arrangement being desirable in that it allows the waste regions and backing strip to be simultaneously recycled.
It will be appreciated that the individual labels which are formed may be of any desired shape.
Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a strip of self-adhesive labels which comprises a backing strip having a labelling strip superimposed and adhered to it, the labelling strip being divided into successive labels and waste regions, the waste regions being more firmly secured to the backing strip than the labels.
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patent: 5741381 (199
Mayes Curtis
Schindler Edwin D.
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