GB1585903A

GB1585903A - Self-adhesive label

Info

Publication number: GB1585903A
Application number: GB4396877A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: DUDZIK ETIFIX
Current assignee: DUDZIK ETIFIX
Priority date: 1976-08-07
Filing date: 1977-10-21
Publication date: 1981-03-11
Also published as: DE2635643B2; DE2635643A1; DE2635643C3

Description

(54) SELF-ADHESIVE LABEL (71) We, ETIFIX GEBRUDER DUDZIK, an Offene Handelsgesellschaft organized under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany of D-7441, Neckartailfingen, Im Hägleskies, Federal Republic of Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- The invention relates to a self-adhesive label comprising a pressure-sensitive, waterremovable adhesive layer and a printable and/or inscribable layer of a cellulose-containing or textile material.

Self-adhesive labels of this type should be capable of being removed easily by immersing the labelled object in water. However, there is often the danger that water droplets may form on the label due to condensation or perspiration and may accidentally remove the label. In order to prevent this, it is known to use a water-impermeable, well-sized paper or plastics material as a printable layer material. On the other hand, this has the result that when labelled objects are immersed in water to remove the label the water can penetrate only gradually to the adhesive layer from the side edges, with the result that large labels in particular are released only slowly and, frequently, that they can only be released manually with the help of mechanical aids. A further disadvantage is that the labels when removed remain in the water and may block up the water outlets and drains.

The object of the invention is to provide a self-adhesive label of the type mentioned that can dissolve completely in water but nevertheless is resistant to water in droplet form such as due to condensation or perspiration.

The invention provides accordingly a selfadhesive label comprising a pressure-sensitive, water-removable adhesive layer, and a printable and/or inscribable layer of a cellulosecontaining or textile material which has a water-dissolvable fibrous structure and has applied thereto a transparent coating that is not wetted by water but is water-permeable.

With the invention, small amounts of water will form pearl-like water droplets on the water-repellent coating but will not wet the surface and thus will not destroy the underlying layers. On the other hand, if the labelled article is dipped or intensively sprayed with water, water can penetrate the coating and reach the underlying layers. These absorb water fully and their structure breaks down.

The coating is thus also destroyed from inside and is suspended in the form of small particles in water.

The printable layer with the water-dissolvable fibrous structure may, for example, consist of unsized paper or a non-woven material. A pore-sealing intermediate layer may conveniently be situated between the printable layer and the adhesive layer, and should have a certain degree of shape retention and a water-dissolvable structure.

A coating having the requisite properties can be obtained, for example, with an oilcontaining colourless varnish layer having a layer thickness that varies over the surface.

The layer thickness conveniently varies in a grid-like manner with a mesh interspacing of an order of magnitude of 1/100 mm. The layer thickness preferably varies in the ratio of about 1: 2 to 1:10.

In many areas of application it may happen that fairly large amounts of water can reach the labelled object without the label coming off. This may occur in the case of labelled beer barrels, for example, if a barrel is sprayed with beer during filling or if a leak develops, or if the barrels are exposed to rain water in the open or during transportation.

In order also to meet these strict requirements, the invention also provides a selfadhesive label comprising a pressure-sensitive, water-removable adhesive layer, and a printable and/or inscribable layer of a cellulose-containing or textile material which has a water-dissolvable fibrous structure and has applied thereto a transparent coating which is water-resistant at relatively low temperatures up to a limiting temperature and which at higher temperature3 has a water-releasable and/or water-dissolvable and /or water-permeable structure. The limiting temperature is conveniently in the range of approximately 30--60"C, preferably in a range between 40 and 50"C.

The coating conveniently consists of a material that, below the limiting temperature, seals the pores of the layer to be printed and encloses its fibres in a water-tight manner.

It may consist of a material that has a softening or melting point in the region of the limiting temperature. These material properties may, for example, be provided by a wax or a wax composition whose softening point or melting point lies above the limiting temperature but below 100"C. Further groups of substances that may be used for the coating include linseed-oil varnishes as well as colour binding agents, in particular water-glass, which become soft or brittle and therefore water-permeable at fairly high water temperatures.

In order to protect the label against any undesired lateral penetration of water, it is preferred that the coating laterally overlap the edges of the label. The coating is conveniently applied in a thin layer on the label, for example by a printing process using a screen printing block, immediately after printing or inscribing the printable layer.

On account of their special properties, self-adhesive labels according to the invention are particularly suitable for labelling beverage containers, especially beer barrels of aluminium, drink, beverage and medicinal bottles, as well as glassware. In this connection, the labels are pressed, with their adhesive layer, against the surface ofthe object in question. The labels are removed during cleaning with hot water, in which they dissolve without forming any residue. The removal and dissolving process can be accelerated by adding a water softening agent. On the other hand, the droplets of water that are formed by condensation on cooled barrels or drinking glasses do not constitute any danger for the labels.

The self-adhesive labels according to the invention may also be used to label textile products, and will dissolve completely without residue during the first washing in warm water.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an enlarged diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a portion of a nonprinted and uncoated self-adhesive label; Figure 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a portion of a printed and coated self-adhesive label; Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of a screen printing block for printing the surface layer; and Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 of a modified embodiment of a self-adhesive label.

The self-adhesive label 1 shown in the drawings comprises a layer 11 which consists of a cellulose-containing or textile material and has a fibrous structure that dissolves in water. Examples of suitable materials are an unsized paper or a non-woven material.

The layer 11 is joined by a pore-sealing intermediate layer 12 to a pressure-sensitive and water-dissolvable adhesive layer 13. The intermediate layer 12 may, for example, consist of a lacquer-type material that dissolves in water and should preferably have a certain degree of form retention. The labels 1 stick by means of their adhesive layer 13 to a silicone-containing carrier paper 2, from which they can easily be removed.

The unused labels shown in Figure 1 may be printed or inscribed on their surface 11 with printing ink 14 as shown in Figure 2.

They then receive a transparent, e.g. colourless coating 15 which also overlaps the side edges at 16.

In the case of the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the coating has a variable layer thickness. The coating material is not waterwettable as such, and has a repellent effect on water droplets. On the other hand, when the label is immersed in water the water can penetrate the coating, especially at the places of small layer thickness, and reach the underlying layers 11, 12 and 13. These then gradually absorb water and their structure dissolves. In this connection, the coating is also destroyed from the inside and is suspended in the form of small particles in the water. The water-wetting effect can be improved and the dissolution can be accelerated by adding water-softening chemicals.

The coating 15 consists of oil-containing lacquer applied to the layer 11 as a crossrunning and transverse-running hairline screen or grid having a mesh interspacing of about 1/100 mm, using a screen printing block 3 (Figure 3). Depressions 32 to receive the lacquer to be applied are provided on raised portions 31 of the screen, formed as a high pressure plate. In the printing, the lacquer on the label surface flows away laterally from the points of application and forms a sealed layer, which, however, depending on the viscosity of the lacquer and the drying rate, has a more or less strongly defined varying layer thickness. In practical embodiments thickness variations of at least 1 : 2, and in extreme cases of 1 : 10, were obtained. A ratio of 1: 3 to 1: 4 has been found to be particularly advantageous, the minimum layer thickness being adjusted empirically so that a sufficient water permeability is still guaranteed for wetting purposes.

In the case of the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the coating 151 consists of a material that is resistant as such to cold water and is water-impermeable. On the other hand, at a limiting temperature, which may, for example, be between 30--60"C and is preferably between 40--50"C, a certain softening, water-solubility or brittleness of the layer material occurs, with the result that water can reach the underlying layers 11, 12 and 13.

In a similar manner to the embodiment described above, these layers gradually absorb water and their structure breaks down.

In this case too the coating is destroyed from the inside if it has not previously dissolved or become destroyed in the water.

For the coating 151 waxes may, for example, be used that are relatively strong and water-repellent at temperatures up to 30 60"C, and whose softening point or melting point is above this temperature but below the boiling point of water. The desired properties may be established by means of a composition of various waxes.

Favourable results were also obtained in practice using coatings of linseed-oil-based varnishes, as well as binder layers based on water-glass.

The range of application of the described labels includes all water-resistant products in which, as in the case of article tickets and price tickets, it is desired to be able to remove the label without any danger of damaging the product. Such products include, inter alia, industrial and consumer glasses, such as bottles of all types and drinking glasses, and also ceramics products. The use of such labels is particularly advantageous in the case of beverage containers and drink and medicinal bottles on whose surface water may condense if the surface is cooled below the ambient temperature. Moreover, the labels can also be considered for use as data and information carriers for temporary, important information which is intended to be no longer visible after a certain time.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A self-adhesive label comprising a pressure-sensitive, water-removable adhesive layer, and a printable and/or inscribable layer of a cellulose-containing or textile material which has a water-dissolvable fibrous structure and has applied thereto a trans parent coating that is not wetted by water but is water-permeable.

2. A self-adhesive label comprising a pressure-sensitive, water-removable adhesive layer, and a printable and/or inscribable layer of a cellulose-containing or textile material which has a water-dissolvable fibrous structure and has applied thereto a trans parent coating which is water-resistant at relatively low temperatures up to a limiting temperature and which at higher tempera tures has a water-releasable and/or water dissolvable and/or water-permeable structure.

3. A self-adhesive label according to Claim 1, wherein the coating has a layer thickness that varies over its surface.

4. A self-adhesive label according to Claim 3, wherein the coating has the form of a grid with a line inter-spacing of the order of magnitude of 1/100 mm.

5. A self-adhesive label according to Claim 3 or 4, wherein the layer thickness varies in a ratio of approximately 1 : 2 to 1:10.

6. A self-adhesive label according to any one of Claims 3 to 5, wherein the coating consists of an oil-containing colourless lacquer.

7. A self-adhesive label according to Claim 2, wherein the limiting temperature is in the range of approximately 30--60"C, preferably 40--50"C.

8. A self-adhesive label according to Claim 2 or 7, wherein the coating consists of a solid material that, below the limiting temperature, seals the pores of the printable layer and covers or encloses the fibres in a water-tight manner.

9. A self-adhesive label according to Claim 2, 7 or 8, wherein the coating material has a softer.iag or melting point in the vicinity of the limiting temperature.

10. A self-adhesive label according to any one of Claims 2 and 7 to 9, wherein the coating consists of a wax or a wax composition.

11. A self-adhesive label according to any one of Claims 2 and 7 to 9, wherein the coating consists of a linseed-oil varnish.

12. A self-adhesive label according to any one of Claims 2 and 7 to 9, wherein the coating contains a colour binder, in particular water-glass.

13. A self-adhesive label according to any one of Claims 1 to 12, wherein the coating overlaps the label edges.

14. A self-adhesive label according to any one of Claims 1 to 13, wherein the printable layer consists of unsized paper.

15. A self-adhesive label according to any one of Claims 1 to 13, wherein the printable layer consists of a non-woven material.

16. A self-adhesive label according to any one of Claims 1 to 15, wherein a pore-sealing and preferably form-retaining intermediate layer which has a water-dissolvable structure is situated between the printable layer and the adhesive layer.

17. A method of producing a selfadhesive label as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 16, which comprises applying the coating to the printable and/or inscribable layer by means of a screen printing block after the said layer has been printed or inscribed.

18. A method of producing a selfadhesive label as claimed in any of Claims 2 and 7 to 16, which comprises forming the coating by applying to the label a coating material in rapidly liquefying state.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. water-impermeable. On the other hand, at a limiting temperature, which may, for example, be between 30--60"C and is preferably between 40--50"C, a certain softening, water-solubility or brittleness of the layer material occurs, with the result that water can reach the underlying layers 11, 12 and 13. In a similar manner to the embodiment described above, these layers gradually absorb water and their structure breaks down. In this case too the coating is destroyed from the inside if it has not previously dissolved or become destroyed in the water. For the coating 151 waxes may, for example, be used that are relatively strong and water-repellent at temperatures up to 30 60"C, and whose softening point or melting point is above this temperature but below the boiling point of water. The desired properties may be established by means of a composition of various waxes. Favourable results were also obtained in practice using coatings of linseed-oil-based varnishes, as well as binder layers based on water-glass. The range of application of the described labels includes all water-resistant products in which, as in the case of article tickets and price tickets, it is desired to be able to remove the label without any danger of damaging the product. Such products include, inter alia, industrial and consumer glasses, such as bottles of all types and drinking glasses, and also ceramics products. The use of such labels is particularly advantageous in the case of beverage containers and drink and medicinal bottles on whose surface water may condense if the surface is cooled below the ambient temperature. Moreover, the labels can also be considered for use as data and information carriers for temporary, important information which is intended to be no longer visible after a certain time. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A self-adhesive label comprising a pressure-sensitive, water-removable adhesive layer, and a printable and/or inscribable layer of a cellulose-containing or textile material which has a water-dissolvable fibrous structure and has applied thereto a trans parent coating that is not wetted by water but is water-permeable.

19. A method of producing a self

adhesive label as claimed in any of Claims 2 and 7 to 16, which comprises forming the coating by applying to the label a coating material in the form of a suspension or emulsion.

20. A self-adhesive label according to any one of Claims 1 to 16 when used for labelling beverage vessels, in particular beer barrels of aluminium, drinking and medicinal bottles, as well as glass and ceramics products.

21. A self-adhesive label according to any one of Claims 2 and 7 to 16 when used for labelling textile products.

22. A self-adhesive label substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.