EA039151B1 - Method for producing labels with a holographic image - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing labels for bottled wine and vodka products, which include both a holographic image and images made by printing inks. The holographic image produced on the label is a holographic image of a relief-phase hologram (RPH) and is viewed on one side of the label as a direct holographic image, and on the other side in the form of its mirror image. Ink-printed images demonstrate, as a rule, consumer information and are located both on the front and on the back of the label. The technical effect achieved due to the method includes improvement in design of such labels due to combining a holographic image with images made with printing inks, improvement in the quality of a holographic image because it is produced in the form of a holographic RPH image by embossing in a polymer layer that lies on a reflective metal layer. These techniques provide also a high degree of protection of the holographic image against mechanical impact and counterfeiting.

Description

(57) The invention relates to a method for making labels for bottled liquor products that include both a holographic image and images made with printing inks. The holographic image obtained on the label is a holographic image of a relief-phase hologram (RPH) and is viewed on one side of the label as a direct holographic image, and on the other as its mirror image. Images that are made with printing inks carry, as a rule, consumer information and are placed both on the front and on the back of the label. The technical result achieved by using this method is to improve the design of labels produced by this method by combining a holographic image with images made with printing inks, to improve the quality of the holographic image due to the fact that it is obtained in the form of a holographic RFG image by embossing in a polymer layer, which lies on a metallic reflective layer. These techniques also provide a high degree of protection of the holographic image from mechanical influences and counterfeiting.

This method is intended for the production of labels for bottled wine and vodka products, which include both a holographic image and images made with printing inks. Labels made by this method, being placed on bottled wine products, are available for review from the front and back sides of the label, and their main purpose is to draw the attention of consumers to the products on which they will be placed. Labels made by this method have reliable protection against counterfeiting.

The use of holographic images in label design has become widespread with the widespread introduction of CAST & CURE technology, which has become a practice in this century. Translated into Russian, CAST & CURE means: the formation of a holographic relief (CAST) with its simultaneous curing (CURE). The essence of this technology is disclosed below based on its description on the website of VINFOIL™ (Netherlands), namely on the website [1]. The CAST & CURE technology is the finishing operation of label production. For labels produced using this technology, their subsequent contact with the cylinders of the printing units is not recommended in order to avoid damage to the holographic relief located outside the label. On the printed surface of the labels, which are made on flexographic printing machines, a continuous layer or locally UV-curable varnish is applied and a UV-transparent film with a holographic relief (relief to varnish) is applied and pressure is applied to the film to fill the holographic relief with UV-curable varnish . Simultaneously, UV radiation is directed through the film with the holographic relief to cure the resulting holographic relief on the labels. After curing the relief on the labels, the film with the holographic relief is taken out of contact with the labels, the created holographic relief remains on the labels, and the film with the holographic relief is rolled up for reuse. The holographic relief in this case is not protected from mechanical influences, and therefore follows the above recommendation to limit subsequent contacts of the holographic relief after its application.

The disadvantages of CAST & CURE technology include the impossibility of positioning the holographic image relative to the image formed by printing inks. The holographic embossed film used in the CAST & CURE technology contains as a holographic image a continuous pattern that is randomly superimposed on the ink image. Therefore, it is not possible to highlight and emphasize the holographic element as an integral part of the label design. In addition, the security against forgery of such a label is low, since commercially available films with a holographic relief of wide availability are used to form a holographic image;

low quality of the holographic image obtained by the CAST & CURE technology, since it depends on the reflective properties of the underlying layers, and these layers are formed with printing inks that do not have sufficient reflective properties;

inability to view the holographic image obtained using the CAST & CURE technology from the front and back sides of the label, since this technology forms a holographic image with a one-sided view. This also affects the design of labels and causes their low security against counterfeiting;

insecurity of the holographic image from external mechanical influences.

The objective of the proposed method for manufacturing labels with a holographic image is to improve the design of labels, improve the quality of the holographic image and the degree of protection of the holographic image from mechanical stress, as well as increase the security of the labels and, accordingly, the products on which they will be placed, from counterfeiting.

The problem is solved by the claimed method of manufacturing labels with a holographic image, which includes the following steps.

At stage a), the design of the front and back sides of the label is developed, combining on them the pattern of the holographic image and the patterns of images made by printing inks, taking into account that the holographic image obtained on the label is a holographic image of a relief-phase hologram (RPH) and is viewed on one from the mentioned sides of the label in the form of a direct holographic image of the RFG, and on the other - in the form of its mirror image. Such property of the RFG holographic image is hereinafter referred to as the mirror two-sidedness of the RFG holographic image. Thus, the mirror two-sidedness of the RFG holographic image means the possibility of its two-sided view, namely from the front and back sides of the label, while the direct holographic image is viewed on one side of the label, and its mirror image is viewed on the other side.

The design of the front and back sides of the label is necessary for the following reasons. Forming, for example, a holographic RFG image on the front side of the label, in particular, two storks, on the reverse side of the label we see these storks in a mirror image, and this is normal. At the same time, forming a holographic RFG image on the front side of the label in the form of text or digital information containing, for example, the name of the manufacturer

- 1 039151 alcoholic beverages, we will get a mirror holographic image on the reverse side, which will look awkward. Therefore, when developing a label design, it must be taken into account that in the manufacture of a label by the claimed method, printing inks must be used to obtain printed images. Printing inks are applied to the reverse side of the label, covering the awkward elements of the RFG mirror holographic image and forming a direct printed image in its place, for example, duplicating the name of the alcohol production company indicated on the front side. Thus, on the front side of the label, made in accordance with the claimed method, there is a holographic image (company name), which is duplicated with printing inks on the reverse side. This example is one of the many possibilities that can be used when designing a label given the mirror double-sidedness of the RFG holographic image.

The label design can also provide for other holographic RFG images on either side of the label, but they are set in such a way that their consideration from the front and back sides is not contradictory. The design of the front side of the label includes images made with printing inks that carry the necessary consumer information about the product (capacity, strength, etc.). Images printed with inks on one side of the label do not have a mirror image on the other side, i.e. do not have a mirror double-sidedness.

At step b) a matrix is made for embossing the RFG holographic image according to the design of the front and back sides of the label, and at the same time, mark A is provided next to the RFG holographic image. The matrix has a one-sided holographic relief, determined by the relief-phase hologram of the holographic image. The use of this matrix ensures the formation of RFG and, accordingly, a direct holographic image on one side of the label and the presence of its mirror image on the other side of the label.

At step c), a roll of the base holographic foil is taken, containing a detachable base, a release layer, a polymer layer and a reflective metal layer, it is installed with the possibility of rewinding from roll to roll, and holographic RFG images with marks A are embossed with the said matrix in the polymer layer. The holographic image of the RFG is formed in the polymer layer of the base holographic foil. The depth of the holographic relief is 0.2-0.6 microns. The reflective metal layer, whose thickness is an order of magnitude smaller, is located equidistantly on the holographic relief. Therefore, the RFG holographic image formed in this way is viewed from the front side in the direct image and mirrored from the reverse side. The quality of the adhesive with residual tack, which is used to attach the label to the bottle, and the quality of its application to the label are maintained at such a high level that the reverse side of the label practically does not interfere with its viewing, especially if there is a holographic RFG image on it.

Then, in step d), the reflective metal layer of the holographic foil obtained in step b) is printed on the marks A of the images to be made with printing inks according to the design of the reverse side of the label. As a result of performing these actions, mirror holographic images of RFG are covered with printing ink from the reverse side of the labels, which, according to the design of the reverse side of the label, should not be present on it. As a result, a roll of holographic foil is obtained containing a detachable base, a release layer, a polymer layer with holographic RFG images, and a reflective metal layer with images made with printing inks.

At step e) take a roll of self-adhesive material containing a substrate, glue with residual stickiness, a transparent polymer base, install it with the possibility of rewinding from roll to roll and apply a primer on a transparent polymer base. The primer is needed to ensure the adhesion of the UV curable adhesive applied to it in the next step.

In step e) the UV curable adhesive is applied to the primer of the transparent polymer base and the holographic foil obtained in step d) is transferred onto it so that the reflective metal layer faces the primer with the UV curable adhesive, the UV curable adhesive is cured and removed. detachable base with a release layer of holographic foil.

The UV-curable adhesive, after transferring the holographic foil to it, repeats the holographic relief of the RFG and, after curing, stabilizes the holographic relief of the RFG, protecting it from mechanical influences both at the subsequent stages of label manufacture and during its use on products.

At stage g) on the polymer layer with holographic RFG images, marks B and control marks C are printed on marks A, and at stage h) on marks B, images are printed on the polymer layer with holographic images of RFG, which must be made with printing inks according to the design of the front side labels, and control their placement relative to the RFG holographic images by control marks B.

As a result of step h), holographic RFG images are covered with printing ink from the front side of the label, which, according to the design of the front side of the label, should not be present on it.

- 2 039151

After that, at step i), the labels are cut down along the marks B to the substrate of the self-adhesive material, the flash is removed along with the marks A, B and control marks C, and labels with a holographic RFG image are obtained, which also contain images made with printing inks.

This method is illustrated by the drawing, which schematically shows in cross section a label with a holographic image of RFG obtained as a result of this method.

In the presented drawing, the following notation is used:

- images made with printing inks on the front side of the label;

- polymer layer with a holographic RFG image;

- reflective metal layer of holographic foil;

- images made with printing inks on the reverse side of the label;

- UV cured adhesive;

- primer;

- transparent polymer base of self-adhesive material;

- glue with residual stickiness;

- self-adhesive backing.

The claimed method is illustrated by the following example of manufacturing a label with a holographic RFG image.

In this example, the manufacture of labels with a holographic RFG image is considered, on which the product name in the form of letter elements must be made both on the front and back sides of the label, and on both sides of the label the product name must be made in the form of a holographic RFG image. Of course, the name of the product in the form of letter elements, which are made on the front and back sides of the label with a holographic image of the RFG, should be located on different parts of the label.

Therefore, when developing the design of the front and back sides of this label, an image of the mentioned letter elements was provided in the form of a holographic RFG image on the front side and an image that should be made with printing inks on the back side in place of the mirror image of the mentioned letter elements on the front side.

Conversely, an image was provided to be printed ink on the front side of the label, in place of the mirror image of the product name, made in the form of a holographic RFG image on the reverse side.

According to the drawing of the holographic image of the RFG, a matrix was made for embossing the holographic image of the RFG, and a mark A was provided on the matrix next to the holographic image of the RFG.

Next, we took a roll of base holographic foil, which contains a detachable base (in this example, a film of polyethylene terephthalate with a thickness of 20 microns), a release layer (wax with a thickness of 0.5 microns), a polymer layer (in this example, polymethyl methacrylate with a thickness of 1 microns) and a reflective metal layer (in this example, sputtered aluminum with a thickness of 60 nm). The roll was installed on a holographic embossing machine with the possibility of rewinding from roll to roll, and the holographic image of the RFG and mark A were embossed with the above-mentioned matrix in the polymer layer of the base holographic foil (the rewind speed was 20 m/min). This roll was transferred to a flexographic printing machine and printed according to the marks A on the reflective metal layer 3 of the image with 4 printing inks according to the design of the reverse side of the label. The printing speed was 60 m/min. As a result, a roll of holographic foil was obtained containing a detachable base, a release layer, a polymer layer 2 with holographic RFG images, and a reflective metal layer 3 with images 4 made with printing inks.

Then they took a roll of self-adhesive material containing a substrate 9 of self-adhesive material (in this example, polyethylene terephthalate 30 microns thick), glue 8 with residual stickiness (10 microns thick), a transparent polymer base 7 (in this example, polypropylene 50 microns thick) and installed it on a flexographic printing press, primer 6 was applied to the transparent resin base 7 (application speed was 60 m/min).

After that, on the next section of the flexographic printing machine, a UV-curable adhesive was applied to the primer 6 of the transparent polymer base 7 and transferred to it a holographic foil containing a detachable base, a release layer, a polymer layer 2 with holographic images and a reflective metal layer 3 with images 4 made by printing inks , so that the reflective metal layer 3 with the images 4 faces the primer 6 with the UV adhesive. After that, said adhesive was cured with UV radiation, a UV-cured adhesive 5 was obtained, and the release base with the release layer of holographic foil was removed.

On the next section of the flexographic printing machine, they printed on the polymer layer 2 with a holographic image of the RFG along marks A, outside the dimensions of the label, marks B and control marks C.

The next section of the flexographic printing machine printed on the polymer layer 2 with a holographic RFG image on marks B of the image 1, made with printing inks,

- 3 039151 according to the design of the front side of the label. The control of their placement relative to the RFG holographic images was carried out by control marks V.

On the next section of the flexographic printing machine, the labels were punched along marks B to the substrate of self-adhesive material 9, the flash was removed along with marks A, B and control marks C. As a result, labels with a holographic RFG image were obtained, which also contain images made with printing inks.

The technical result achieved when using this method in relation to the prototype (CAST & CURE technology) discussed above is the improvement in the design of labels made by this method, due to the positioning and combination of the holographic image with images made by printing inks, improving the quality of the holographic image placed on the label, protecting the holographic relief from mechanical influences, as well as increasing the security of labels from counterfeiting.

The improvement in the design and quality of the labels is due to the fact that the holographic image according to this method is obtained by embossing using a matrix made on the basis of a specially developed design of the front and back sides of this label and the fact that the holographic image is obtained in the form of a holographic RFG image, which is provided with a two-sided view. The high quality of the holographic RFG image on a label produced by this method is also due to the fact that it is embossed in a polymer layer that lies on a metal reflective layer. The implementation of the original holographic RFG image on the labels with a two-way view also determines the high security of the labels from counterfeiting.

Claims (1)

a) develop the design of the front and back sides of the label, combining on them the drawing of the holographic image and the drawings of the images to be made with printing inks, taking into account that the holographic image obtained on the label is a holographic image of a relief-phase hologram (RPH) and is viewed on one of the mentioned sides of the label in the form of a direct holographic image of the RFG, and on the other - in the form of its mirror image; b) a matrix is made for embossing the RFG holographic image according to the design of the front and back sides of the label, and at the same time, a mark A is provided next to the RFG holographic image; c) take a roll of the base holographic foil containing a detachable base, a release layer, a polymer layer and a reflective metal layer, install it with the possibility of rewinding from roll to roll and emboss RFG holographic images with marks A next to it with the said matrix in the polymer layer; d) printing on the reflective metal layer of the holographic foil obtained in step c) according to marks A of the image, which must be made with printing inks according to the design of the reverse side of the label, and a roll of holographic foil is obtained containing a detachable base, a release layer, a polymer layer with holographic images of RFG and a reflective metal layer with images made with printing inks; e) take a roll of self-adhesive material containing a substrate, glue with residual stickiness, a transparent polymer base, install it with the possibility of rewinding from roll to roll and apply a primer on a transparent polymer base; f) applying a UV-curable adhesive to the primer of a transparent polymer base and transferring the holographic foil obtained in step d) onto it so that the reflective metal layer faces the primer with the UV-curable adhesive, curing the UV-curable adhesive and removing the detachable base with a release layer of holographic foil; g) printed on a polymer layer with holographic RFG images on marks A, marks B and control marks C; h) printing on the polymer layer with holographic RFG images by marks B of the image, which must be made with printing inks according to the design of the front side of the label, and controlling their placement relative to the holographic RFG images by control marks C; i) labels are cut out along marks B to the substrate of self-adhesive material, the flash is removed together with marks A, B and control marks C and labels with a holographic image of RFG are obtained, which also contain images made with printing inks.