GB2280659A

GB2280659A - Adhesive labels

Info

Publication number: GB2280659A
Application number: GB9316429A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Anthony Shaw Abram; Michael John Abram; Norman John Abram
Original assignee: John W Hannay and Co Ltd
Current assignee: John W Hannay and Co Ltd
Priority date: 1993-08-06
Filing date: 1993-08-06
Publication date: 1995-02-08
Also published as: GB9316429D0

Abstract

In an array of labels presented on a pulpable paper substrate 1 in a manner suitable for printing, the labels 2 are removably attached to the substrate by means of a releasable pressure-sensitive adhesive. The adhesive may comprise low tack microspheres applied all over one surface of each label or at least around the periphery of that surface. As shown in Figure 3, a continuous tape (not including a substrate) comprises a series of separable labels 2 having applied to at least a portion of one surface thereof a releasable pressure-sensitive adhesive 3. Alternatively a pad of labels may have such adhesive on the underside of each label, covering substantially all that surface but with a perforated strip section having no adhesive to facilitate removal from the pad. <IMAGE>

Description

LABELS This invention relates to means for labelling articles and particularly provides a plurality of labels presented for printing in a standard laser printer, for example, said labels being supported by a plain paper substrate.

Prior art labels eg for application of an address to an article usually have a pressure sensitive film of adhesive protected for subsequent use by being affixed to sheets of release paper for example silicone coated paper. Use of silicone coated backing paper facilitates removal of the adhesive labels without lessening the tack or adhesive capability. However, not only is the silicone coated backing paper expensive to manufacture but it is not pulpable and as such not recyclable. Thus it is highly desirable to find a less expensive backing paper which can also be recyclable without loss in performance as a backing sheet.

An object of the present invention is to obviate or mitigate the aforesaid disadvantages.

According to this invention a plurality of labels are presented as an array on a substrate in a manner suitable for printing addresses or other information by means of a printer such as a laser-jet printer of the type commonly used in offices, wherein the label is removably attached to the said substrate by means of a releasable pressure-sensitive adhesive comprising low tack microspheres.

Suitable adhesives are described in U.S.-A 4 166 152 and U.S.-A 4 495 318 which documents are hereby incorporated by reference.

Preferably the substrate is a standard paper sheet eg A4 plain paper of the type suitable for use in office printers.

The adhesive may be applied at least around the periphery of the label, but more preferably is applied over substantially the whole surface to be contacted by the substrate.

Alternatively the labels may be mounted in the form of a continuous tape enabling reeling of the said tape to provide a substantially continuous series of labels. The advantage of this arrangement is that the labels may be passed through the printer at high speed from one reel to another. This arrangement may be operated with or without locator traction holes in the side edges of the reel and with or without backing paper.

The invention will be illustrated by way of example but it will be understood by those in the art that other variants of the method may be applied and other materials utilised without departing from the scope of the invention.

Figure 1 - schematic view of an array of labels presented on a substrate; Figure 2 - schematic view of a label; and Figure 3 - schematic view of a plurality of labels mounted in the form of a continuous tape.

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a substrate 1 generally shown as rectangular but may be of any suitable shape and is preferably of standard paper size such as A4 or continuous paper for use in a printer such as a laser-jet printer of the type commonly used in offices. An array of labels 2 is provided on the substrate.

The labels are formed of paper. One side of the labels are coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive 3 which allows them to be releasably mounted on the substrate without damaging the substrate. The labels 2 may be mounted in any desired positions on the substrate 1 in order to be accommodated in any printer or typewriter.

Figure 2 shows a schematic view of a label 2 on which the adhesive 3 is applied around the periphery of the label 2.

Alternatively the adhesive 3 may be applied to substantially the whole surface. The label 2 is shown as generally rectangular but may be of any suitable dimensions.

In use the labels 2 are attached to the paper substrate 1 and then processed through a standard printer. Once printed with the addresses the labels can then be removed from the paper substrate 1 and then applied to an envelope etc.

The advantage of this method of labelling is that the paper substrate 1 can be re-used as photocopy or typing paper or it can be recycled once the labels have been removed.

Furthermore, the envelope itself can be re-used by removing the old label and applying a new one.

Alternatively figure 3 shows a plurality of labels (as shown in figure 2) mounted in the form of a continuous tape wherein each label 2 is attached to the lower portion of the previous label 2.

In this embodiment the pressure-sensitive adhesive can be applied either to the top edge of each label or to substantially the whole underside of the label 2 thereby allowing the labels 2 once printed to be easily separated by hand or machine.

The labels (as shown in figure 3) may be passed through a printer for continuous printing without the use of a separate substrate thereby reducing the printing costs and paper waste.

A further advantage is that the labels 2 may be attached to a mailshot thus avoiding the need for an envelope but allowing the recipient to remove the label without damage to the mailshot.

In a further embodiment a pad of labels is provided in which the labels have pressure-sensitive adhesive applied to substantially the whole underside of the label. Each label is provided with a perforated strip section having no adhesive to facilitate removal of the labels from the pad. The labels are then applied to envelopes, mailshots etc and the perforated strip section is removed.

Claims

1. An array of labels presented on a pulpable paper substrate in a manner suitable for printing wherein the labels are removably attached to the said substrate by means of a releasable pressure-sensitive adhesive.

2. An array of labels according to Claim 1 wherein the releasable pressure-sensitive adhesive comprises low tack microspheres.

3. An array of labels according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the substrate is a standard paper sheet such as A4 plain paper of a type suitable for use in office printers.

4. An array of labels according to Claims 1-3 wherein the pressure-sensitive adhesive is applied at least around the periphery of one surface of each label.

5. An array of labels according to Claims 1-3 wherein the pressure-sensitive adhesive is applied over substantially the whole of one surface of each label.

6. A continuous tape comprising a substantially continuous series of separable labels having applied to at least a portion of one surface thereof a releasable pressure-sensitive adhesive.