GB2053140A - Multi-panel label with removable panel - Google Patents

Abstract

Described is a label 10 having plurality of panels 11, 12, 13, at least one of the panels 12 being removable after the label is adhesively affixed to a container so that a record can be conveniently kept of the use of the product within the container. As an example the label comprises three adjacent panels 11, 12, 13 separated by perforations, the center panel 12 having backing paper 14 covering the adhesive 16 whereby the center panel can be removed after the label is affixed to a container. The backing paper extends beyond the width of the panel to form a tab 15 for removal of the center panel. The labels may be in the form of a roll 18, the backing paper 14 being provided with two lines of perforations 20, and diecuts 22. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Multi-panel label with removable panel This invention relates to labels.

In the use and dispensation of products such as drugs it is necessary to keep records of such use.

This can be done by keeping records which record the dispensation of such drugs or by removing the label from the container of drug and filing the label in the record of the patient to whom the drug was dispensed. When this is done however, the drug container no longer includes an identifying label and additionally, removal of the label is often times difficult. Inventory control is another area in which a record of product use or sale must be kept.

According to the invention, there is provided a label including a plurality of panels, at least one of said panels being removable, said label comprising: a plurality of adjacent panels, each of said panels separably attached to the next adjacent panel by releasable means extending across the width of said panels, one side of said panels having printed matter thereon, the opposed side having an adhesive coating thereon for affixing said panels and said label to another object, at least one of said panels having a releasable backing paper covering the adhesive coating whereby said panel will not adhere to the object to which said label is attached, whereby said panel is removable from the remainder of said label, said releasable backing paper extending between the releasable means forming said panel and having a width greater than the width of said panel to form a tab extending from said panel to facilitate removal of said panel, the backing paper covering all of the adhesive coating on said panel, each of said removable panels having nonremovable panels on each side thereof when the label is affixed to an object.

Described is a label having any number of panels with one or more of the panels having the backing paper left in tack when applied to a container.

Perforations separate the panels with the removable panels including a tab formed by the backing paper to facilitate removal thereof. With a three panel label for example, the backing paper is removed from the two end panels as the label is attached to a container. The center panel which still has the backing paper attached is thus removable simply by lifting the tab and tearing the panel through the perforations. The backing paper can then be peeled from the removable panel which can be attached or fixed to another container or object thereby providing a convenient record. As an example of use, the label can be attached to a container of a drug or medicament.When prescribed to a patient in a hospital the removable center portion can be removed from the container, the backing paper peeled away and the label affixed to a patient record as a convenient mans of recording the medication being received by the patient. At the same time the container of drug will retain more or less permanent identification of its conents by means of the other panels which are affixed thereto. Another use is as a record assembly for use in inventory control whereby a removable panel can be retained for record purposes when a product is sold or used.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the present invention in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a three panel label; Figure 2 is an elevational view of a container having a three panel label attached thereto, one of said panels being removable; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a plurality of three panel labels in roll form; Figure 4 is an illustration of a portion of the web of the label roll illustrating removal of the backing paper from two of the three panels; Figure 5 is a top plan view illustrating equipment for removal of the backing paper from two of the three panels prior to application of the label to a container; Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the equipment of Figure 5 illustrating the flow of label and backing paper; and, Figure 7 illustrates the peeling blade for lifting the backing paper from the label prior to application.

Referring to the drawings there is shown in Figures 1-3 an embodiment illustrative of the label of the present invention. Figure 1 illustrates a label 10 including three adjacent panels, 11, 12, 13 one panel 12 of which has the backing paper 14 attached thereto, the width of the backing paper 14 being greater than the width of the label 10 thereby providing a tab 15 for convenient removal of the panel 12. Each panel is separably attached to the adjacent panels, each removable panel 12 having non-removable panels 11,13 on each side thereof.

Pressure sensitive adhesive 16 is applied to one side of the label 10. Figure 2 illustrates a container 17 having the label 10 affixed thereto with the center panel 12 in tack.

Figure 3 illustrates a plurality of labels 10 in roll form, the roll 18 comprising a length of web 19 of labels 10 attached to the backing paper 14. The web 19 includes perforations 20 extending the length thereof in the backing paper 14 to form the panels 11,12 and 13, each of the labels 10 being affixed to the releasable backing paper 14 by the pressure sensitive adhesive 16. Diecuts 22 are made in the center panel 12 transverse to the perforations 20 to thereby form the tab 15 and isolate the panel 12 and attached backing paper 14.

Referring to Figures 4-7, removal of the backing paper 14 from the panels 11 and 13 of the label 10 preparatory to application of the label 10 to the container 17, is illustrated. Figure 4 illustrates the web 19 which is fed through the separating equipment 23 for removal of the strips 24, 25 of the backing paper 14 from the label 10. As can be seen in Figures 5 and 6, the web 19 is passed over the peel blade 26 in the equipment 23 to remove the strips 24, 25 of the backing paper 14 from the end panels 11,13 of the label 10. The label roll 18 is made by conventional methods whereby a plurality of press- ure sensitive labels 10 are applied to the backing paper 14 of the desired width and the perforations 20 and diecuts 22 thereafter made therein.Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the web 19 comprising the labels 10 and backing paper 14 having the perforations 20 and diecuts 22 therein is passed over the inclined face 27 of the peel blade 26 with the strips of backing paper 24,25 thereby being peeled or removed from the end panels 11, of the label 10 and passing over the flat face 28 opposite the inclined face 27 of the peel blade 26 in a direction opposed to the travel of the label 10 and center strip 29. The strips of backing paper 24,25 removed from the end panels 11, 13 of the label 12 continue over the capstan roll 30 and idler roll 31 and thereafter are accumulated in rolls for disposal (not shown).Referring to Figure 6 the web 19 with the strips of backing paper 24, 25 removed and thereby containing only the pressure sensitive label 10 with the center strip 29 attached continues in the direction indicated wherein it is picked up by the vacuum grid 32. Thereafter the pressure sensitive label 10 is affixed to the container 17 buy a conventional label applicator such as described in U.S. Patent No. 3,093,528. Upon application the diecuts 22 permit separation of each individual label 10 from the web 19.

As an example of use, the label can be attached to a container 17, of drug or medicament. For such use the end panel 11 could contain the manufacturer's name and perhaps identify the hospital and prescribing physician. The center panel 12 could iadentify the manufacturer and list the product name of the drug, the lot number, the expiration date and the dose. The other end panel 13 would contain information identical to that of the center panel 12. When the drug is dispensed to a patient, the center panel 12 would be removed by griping the tab 15 and removing the center panel by shearing the perforations 20. The remaining strip of backing paper 29 would then be peeled away and the center panel 12 is affixed to the patient record as a convenient means of recording the medication being received by the patient.

Claims (6)

1. A label including a plurality of panels, at least one of said panels being removable, said label comprising: a plurality of adjacent panels, each of said panels separably attached to the next adjacent panel by releasable means extending across the width of said panels, one side of said panels having printed matter thereon, the opposed side having an adhesive coating thereon for affixing said panels and said label to another object, at least one of said panels having a releasable backing paper covering the adhesive coating whereby said panel will not adhere to the object to which said label is attached, whereby said panel is removable from the remainder of said label, said releasable backing paper extending between the releasable means forming said panel and having a width greaterthan the width of said panel to form a tab extending from said panel to facilitate removal of said panel, the backing paper covering all of the adhesive coating on said panel, each of said removable panels having nonremovable panels on each side thereof when the label is affixed to an object.

2. The label of Claim 1 wherein said releasable means comprises perforations.

3. The label of Claim 2 wherein said adhesive coating is a pressure sensitive adhesive.

4. The label of Claim 3 including three panels, the center panel thereof being removable when the label is affixed to an object.

5. A plurality of labels in roll form said roll comprising a plurality of spaced-apart labels positioned on a web of releasable backing paper, two spaced-apart perforations extending the length of said web and through said labels to thereby form three adjacent panels in said labels and three adjacent strips in the web, said labels being affixed to the web of backing paper by means of a pressure sensitive coating on one side thereof, the opposed side having printed matter thereon, spaced diecuts positioned in the center strip of the web on opposed sides of the center panel of the label, said diecuts being spaced a distance greater than the width of the label to form a tab on one side thereof, whereby when applied to an object, the center strip will remain affixed to the center panel of the label so that said center panel can be removed by gripping said tab.

6. Multi-panel labels substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.