GB1002838A - Improvements in or relating to the manufacture of labels - Google Patents

Abstract

1,002,838. Labels. R. C. MALBY. May 12, 1964 [May 21, 1963; April 29, 1964], Nos. 20201/63 and 17794/64. Heading B8F. [Also in Division B6] In a method of producing sheets of labels adhesively attached to a backing sheet for subsequent removal, the labels are formed by etching away the separating regions from a parent sheet of material which is provided with an etching resist in the label regions and constituting part of the finished labels. In one method, the labels are formed from a sheet 1, Fig. 3, of anodized aluminium or aluminium alloy impregnated with coloured dyes to form the label markings. The faces of the label regions are first covered with temporary masks 4, Fig. 4, of water-insoluble ink, paint or lacquer, resistant to acid attack, so that the unmasked anodized surfaces 2, 2a, in the separating regions may be removed by etching with hydrofluoric acid leaving exposed areas of aluminium. The temporary mask 4 is then removed by a solvent and the sheet 1 attached to a backing sheet 5, Fig. 7. The exposed areas of aluminium are then removed by a further etchant, such as ferric chloride, which does not attack the anodized surfaces 2 of the label face and leaves the separate labels 6, Fig. 10, attached to the backing sheet 5. In a modification the parent sheet of metal, plastic or other material may be coated with ink, paint of lacquer in the label face regions only and overprinted. The coating acts as an etching mask so that the parent sheet may be attached to a backing sheet 5 and a single etching operation carried out to separate the labels. Fixing holes and other openings may be formed in the labels during the etching processes.