GB2439211A

GB2439211A - Synthetic material used for label

Info

Publication number: GB2439211A
Application number: GB0711484A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rick Smith
Original assignee: Field Group PLC
Current assignee: Field Group PLC
Priority date: 2006-06-17
Filing date: 2007-06-14
Publication date: 2007-12-19
Anticipated expiration: 2027-06-14
Also published as: EP2033173A1; GB2439211B; WO2007148055A1; GB0711484D0; GB0612032D0

Abstract

A label assembly is provided which includes a release sheet 12 and a self-adhesive label 10 made of a synthetic material, such as a polyethylene film, adhered directly to the release sheet 12. The label 10 adheres by a combination of permanent and releasable adhesive which is either applied to portions of the release sheet or to the label 10 such that no base label or carrier label is required. Product information may be printed on the synthetic material, such that no additional over-laminate layer is required to protect the leaflet or booklet. This enables the finished label to be produced with minimum components. Also disclosed is a corresponding method of manufacture of the label.

Description

LABEL ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE

The invention relates to a label arrangement, and a method for producing the same.

In particular, the invention relates to a self-adhesive multi-laminar label arrangement comprising a leaflet or booklets including information relevant to the product to which the label is to be applied.

In the current market conditions, there is a growing requirement to provide consumers with increased product information. This need can stem from legal requirements (for example for pharmaceutical products), and for exported goods, the requirement is to provide repeats of the same information in various languages.

The need for information has been addressed by providing "leaflet" labels, in which information provided on a self-adhesive product label (carrier label) is supplemented with a folded leaflet carried on the base label. The leaflet may be provided with a front cover flap which is releasably adhered, either to the carrier label, or to the product itself, to provide the user with repeated access to the information contained within the leaflet.

In an alternative arrangement, a self-adhesive cover, or "over-laminate" layer (generally a clear film) is provided over the leaflet to protect the leaflet and to provide resealable access to the leaflet's contents. The over-laminate layer may adhere either to the carrier label, or extend beyond the carrier label and adhere to the release sheet.

One problem with these existing label arrangements is that once opened, the leaflet or booklet is prone to damage, particularly where the product to which it is applied is used outside. For example, labels applied to agrochemical products are often used out in the field, where they are exposed to wet and muddy conditions. While the over-laminate layer provides a degree of protection for as long as the label assembly is sealed, once opened, the label can disintegrate if the label gets wet, and the information contained therein is lost. This can have serious consequences, as the leaflet often contains important safety information.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improvement in relation to one or more of the matters discussed above and/or to provide improvements generally.

According to the present invention there is provided a label assembly comprising a release sheet and a self-adhesive label component; characterised in that the label component comprises a printed synthetic material, and wherein the label component adheres directly to the release sheet.

in an embodiment, the label component comprises a folded leaflet or booklet which is produced from synthetic material, such as a polyethylene or a polypropylene film. This is releasably adhered directly to the layer of release material, such as a web of silicone-coated carrier material. In an embodiment, the label component is adhered to the release by a pressure sensitive adhesive. During the manufacturing process, the adhesive may be applied either to the release sheet and/or to the label component.

In a preferred embodiment, the synthetic material is a co-extruded polyethylene film comprising a plurality of layers. In one arrangement, the film comprises three layers. In this way, the layers of the film can be selected to have the required characteristics, so, for example, the middle layer may be selected as a stiffener, and the two outer layers selected to provide good print surfaces.

In an embodiment, regions of both permanent and releasable adhesive are provided. In an embodiment a pattern coating of permanent pressure sensitive adhesive and resealbie adhesive is applied to the release sheet. The self-adhesive label component may comprise leaflets or booklets which is printed with information relevant to the product to which it is to be applied.

By providing a multi-laminar arrangement comprising a release sheet and a label component which adheres directly to the release sheet, no base label or carrier label is required. In addition, by printing the required product information directly on the synthetic material which forms the label component, no additional over-laminate layer is required to protect the leaflet or booklet. Using a synthetic material for the leaflet component enables the label assembly to be a simple product with a minimum number of elements. This results in cost savings both in terms of materials used, and in the number of steps in the manufacturing process.

As has been discussed above, a prior art over-laminated paper leaflet is still prone to water damage, as the over-laminate layer only protects the top face of the leaflet, and water can still attack the edges. By providing a synthetic printed leaflet, the label assembly is more robust, having improved rip resistance and water resistance. In addition, when applied to a HDPE container, it is recyclable.

A further advantage of providing the label component directly on the release is that this there is no requirement to apply a release varnish to the carrier label, to enable the leaflet to be opened and resealed. Also, there is no die-cutting process in-line, because the individual label components can be cut to shape before they are applied to the release sheet. This leads to a further reduction in the number of manufacturing steps.

The label component may comprise a longitudinal strip divided into a series of panels by transverse fold lines and printed with information, or a booklet glued (or wire stitched) at the spine to give individual pages. In an embodiment, it has been found to be advantageous to print the material from the reel and then to fold it on a reel-fed folder, rather than to print and fold from sheet material. This has been found to reduce any build up of static resulting from the handling of the synthetic material.

In an embodiment, the label component may be perforated so that the portions of the leaflet (including, for example, user instructions) can be torn away, leaving the remainder of the leaflet adhered to the product container (for example, for product identification purposes). There is a cost advantage of using the back page of the leaflet as an identification label, saving material, printing, cutter and die-cutting costs.

They type of adhesive used to adhere the label component to the release backing may be selected according to the intended use and application of the label. in an embodiment, an aggressive permanent adhesive, such as a hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive, typically used to bond plastic to plastic is preferred, to ensure a that the synthetic label component is firmly attached to the release backing web as the assembly passes through the label applicator machinery.

A further advantage of the use of a very aggressive permanent adhesive is that when the applied, the label is permanently applied to the product, including plastic containers (typically HDPE). If a less aggressive adhesive is used, then it may be possible to peel the label from the container, in view of the inherent strength of the synthetic material.

In an embodiment, the top sheet of the label component may extend beyond the remaining folds, and adhere to a resealable adhesive applied to the release sheet.

Alternatively, the label portion is held closed by the application of adhesive applied as the label component is formed from a synthetic sheet on the folding machine. One portion of the label forms a top sheet which is held by the adhesive to one of the lower folds of material.

By careful selection of appropriate adhesives and release sheet materials, the adhesive provided on the release sheet will be transferred to the label, when the label assembly is applied to the product, rather than being retained on the release sheet.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method for producing labels comprising the steps of: providing an web of release material to form a release sheet; applying pressure sensitive adhesive to discrete portions of the release sheet; disposing a succession of label components in registration with the adhesive coating on the release sheet; and characterised by: each label component comprising a printed synthetic material, and each label component adhering directly to the release sheet.

Preferably, a plurality of like self-adhesive label assemblies are carried in succession on a length of release backing material, which can be wound on a reel. The label assemblies on the reel are applied to containers, when required, using conventional label applicator machinery.

In a further aspect of the invention, the adhesive is applied to a face of the label component, which is then applied to the release sheet. This is an alternative to applying the adhesive to the release sheet and then applying the label components to the adhesive on the sheet.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following illustrative drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a leaflet assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a section view of the label arrangement of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing an apparatus for making labels in accordance with the present invention.

As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, a leaflet component 10 is provided on a backing of release material 12, comprising a silicone coated paper web. The label component 10 is releasably adhered directly to the release material 12 by adhesive layer 14, thereby avoiding the need for separate carrier labels, as are used in prior arrangements.

The label component 10 is manufactured from a wholly syiithetic material, such as expanded polyethylene film. A leaflet component 10 comprises a single sheet which is divided into three panels. The width of the first panel 16 is greater than that of the remaining two 18, 20, so that in use, this panel forms a front cover sheet which extends beyond the remaining sheets and releasably adheres to a pattern of adhesive 14 on the release web 12.

One or both of the remaining fold lines 22, 24 may be provided with perforations. In use, the front panel can be peeled back to provide the user with access to the folded label 10, which can then be resealed. Panels 16, 20 can be removed, if required, by tearing along the lines of perforations, leaving the base panel 20 adhered to the product.

The use of a synthetic material for the label components avoids the need for an over-laminate layers, which are used to protect leaflets made from conventional label stock.

The use of this material also avoids the need to use a release varnish to enable the leaflet to be repeatedly opened and then resealed.

A synthetic material, such as co-extruded polyethylene film has been found to have properties to provide the print quality and folding characteristics of paper, while also providing the strength and moisture resistant qualities, previously provided in prior art labels by a separate over-laminate layer.

Figure 3 shows the method used to manufacture labels according to the present invention. A reel 30 of release backing material 12 is provided. The reel is unwound along a pathway to a printing station, or under adhesive coating heads, 32 at which a permanent adhesive pattern and a resealable adhesive pattern 14 are printed or applied to the upper surface of the web 12. The adhesive is applied to discrete areas of the release sheet 12, corresponding to the intended position of the label components 10.

When the adhesive is applied by printing on a printing press, the web 12 is then passed under a UV light to cure to a tacky adhesive. The tack of the adhesive can be tuned by varying the power of the UV light. If a hot melt adhesive is used, this can be applied either in-line 33 on a printing press, or off-line on a stand alone system.

The adhesive 14 may be applied by providing full coating (continuous) in the regions where the label is to be applied, or in a pattern, stripe or bead extrusion. The adhesive type can be either peelable or permanent, or a combination of the two. Because the adhesive bond is greater to the synthetic material of the label component 10 than the silicone coated release material 12, the adhesive 14 will transfer to the label portion 10, when the label is applied to the product.

Alternatively, an adhesive coating could be applied to the back page of the label component 10 before it is placed on the release backing sheet 12. In a further alternative, a self adhesive material could be used, which has a strip pattern coating of pressure sensitive adhesive running continuously along the web direction.

Once the adhesive has been applied, the adhesive is sandwiched between two silicone coated release backing papers (not shown), which have different release values. In this way, the adhesive will stay on the bottom web 12 when the top paper is removed, by winding it onto a reel.

Label components in the form of folded booklets are loaded into a hopper feed unit 34.

The release backing web 12, with adhesive 14 on upper surface, is passed under the hopper feed unit and a label component is applied. The web then passes to an application roller 36 and the assembly is pressed against the release backing material 12, before being wound onto a supply roll 38.

When labelling containers, the leaflets on the supply roll are removed from the backing material 12 as the reel 38 is unwound, and these are then applied directly to the containers using conventional labelling machinery.

Claims

CLAIMS

I. A label assembly comprising a release sheet and a self-adhesive label component; characterised in that the label component comprises a printed synthetic material, and wherein the label component adheres directly to the release sheet.

2. A label assembly according to claim I wherein the label component comprises a folded leaflet or booklet.

3. A label assembly according to claim I or 2 wherein the label component comprises a polyethylene film.

4. A label assembly according to claim 3 wherein the film comprises a co-extruded polyethylene film comprising a plurality of layers.

5. A label assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the at least a portion of the label component adheres to the release layer by a region of permanent pressure sensitive adhesive and at least a portion adheres to a region of resealable adhesive.

6. A label assembly according to claim 5 wherein the permanent adhesive comprises a hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive.

7. A label assembly according to claim 5 or 6 wherein the adhesive is applied at least to the release sheet.

8. A label assembly according to claim 5 or 6 wherein the adhesive is applied at least to the label component.

9. A label assembly according to any one of claims 5 to 8 wherein a portion of the label component extends beyond the remaining folds to adhere to a resealable adhesive applied to the release sheet.

10. A label assembly according to any one of claims I to 8 where in one portion of the label component forms a top sheet which is held closed by a region of releasable adhesive provided on one of the lower folds of the label component.

11. A label assembly according to any one of the preceding claims characterized by the absence of a carrier label between the label component and the release sheet and/or the absence of an over-laminate layer covering the printed label component.

12. A method for producing labels comprising the steps of: providing an web of release material to form a release sheet; applying pressure sensitive adhesive to discrete portions of the release sheet; and/or to discrete portions of the label component; disposing a succession of label components in registration with the adhesive coating on the release sheet; and characterised by: each label component comprising a printed synthetic material, and each label component adhering directly to the release sheet.

13. A method according to claim 12 comprising the step of applying both a permanent adhesive and a releasable adhesive to discrete portions of either the release sheet and/or the label component.

14. A label assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

15. A method for producing labels substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.