GB2392453A

GB2392453A - A sheet of paper with a weakened region along one edge

Info

Publication number: GB2392453A
Application number: GB0219875A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Albert Frederick White; Garry Ralph Wright
Original assignee: Tungate Print & Packaging Ltd
Current assignee: Tungate Print & Packaging Ltd
Priority date: 2002-08-27
Filing date: 2002-08-27
Publication date: 2004-03-03
Anticipated expiration: 2022-08-27
Also published as: GB0219875D0; GB2392453B

Abstract

A sheet of paper or the like material comprises a weakened region alongside at least one edge. The weakened region may be provided by perforations 42 or by a fold line. A method of manufacturing the sheet of paper or the like material is also disclosed and comprises providing a roll of paper; cutting the roll of paper into a plurality of stripes; and weakening an edge region of each strip of paper. The weakened region allows the paper to crumple thereby preventing paper cuts to fingers or thumbs.

Description

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Title: Sheet Material Description of Invention

5 This invention relates to sheet material. In particular, although not exclusively, this invention relates to sheet material such as paper, plastics material and laminated material, all of which will hereinafter be referred to as paper or the like material for convenience.

One problem which all regular users of paper or the like material will be 10 familiar with is its tendency to produce paper cuts. Since paper is relatively thin its edges are sharp and, when run along skin, can produce a painful cut which bleeds profusely.

Although generally regarded only as a nuisance, this problem can become a health and safety hazard. For example, in the airline industry, one 15 use of paper is to label baggage with bar codes which provide information on its starting point, route and destination. These labels, which comprise a backing layer and a face layer are printed from a roll of labels at the check -in desk and attached to luggage by airline staff. If the labels are carelessly handled by airline staff paper cuts are common. Each such incident must be 20 treated and reported, which leads to an unacceptable level of sick time and bureaucracy. Currently, when tearing off the printed label from its roll, the check-in staff must ensure that they grasp the label by its front and back surfaces, taking care not to touch the sides of the label, effectively the sides of the backing 25 layer, or they will risk being cut. The staff must be trained specifically in how to handle the labels.

In addition members of the public, who do not receive such training, may cut themselves on the face layer or the backing layer while moving their baggage around the airport, or when removing the labels after use.

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À.e:: À: . .... .... ...DTD: According to a first aspect of this invention there is provided a sheet of paper or the like material comprising a weakened region alongside one edge.

Thus, if the user grasps the sheet of paper or the like material at the edge region the paper or the like material will tend to bend or collapse rather than cutting 5 into the user's skin.

The weakened region may be provided by perforations. Alternatively the weakened region may be provided by a fold line. Many other ways of providing a weakened region are possible, for example the paper may have a different thickness in the edge region to the rest of the paper.

10 The weakened region may be in any part of the paper which will ensure that the paper crumples upon impact. The weakened region may be less than 7.5 mm, possibly less than 5 mm, conveniently less than 2.5 mm, and preferably less than 1 mm from the edge of the paper or the like material.

The weakened region preferably runs continuously alongside the edge of 15 the paper or the like material. This ensures that the user will not easily be cut wherever they grasp the paper or the like material.

Conveniently the weakened region comprises a strip, which is preferably generally parallel to the edge of the paper or the like material.

A label may also be provided comprising a layer of paper or the like 20 material as described above. The label may comprise a layer of face paper, a layer of an adhesive, and a layer of backing paper, the layer of backing paper comprising the weakened region. In this case the weakened region is preferably substantially contiguous with an edge of the face paper. This ensures that, when the paper bends, the exposed "edge" has the effective thickness of two 25 layers of backing paper and one layer of face paper, greatly reducing the risk of paper cuts. The label may further comprise a layer of release agent.

A baggage tag may also be provided as described above.

À À; À À; À

The sheet of paper or the like material, the label and the baggage tag may conveniently be provided in a roll, thus this invention extends to a roll comprising a plurality of sheets as described above.

According to a second aspect of this invention there is provided a 5 method of manufacturing a sheet of paper or the like material comprising: providing a roll of paper or the like material; cutting the roll of paper or the like material into a plurality of strips; and weakening an edge region of each strip of paper or the like material. Preferably each strip is subsequently re-rolled, for use.

10 The weakening may be provided by the application of perforations in the edge region. Alternatively the weakening may comprise impressing a fold line in the edge region.

The edge region may be less than 7.5, or less than 5 mm from the edge of the paper or the like material. Conveniently the edge region is less than 2.5 15 mm from the edge of the paper or the like material. Preferably the edge region is less than 1 mm from the edge of the paper or the like material.

Preferably the weakening runs continuously alongside the edge of the paper or the like material.

The weakening preferably is in the form of a strip. In this case, the strip 20 is preferably generally parallel to the edge of the paper or the like material.

The sheet of paper or the like material may comprise a label. In this case, the label preferably comprises a layer of face paper, a layer of an adhesive and a layer of backing paper, the weakening being provided in the layer of backing paper. Conveniently the label further comprises a layer of a 25 release agent.

The label may be in the form of a baggage tag.

An embodiment of this invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

:;:;:'ed::e FIGURE 1 a shows schematically a front view of a prior art baggage tag;

FIGURE lb shows schematically a rear view of the baggage tag of Figure la; Figure to shows schematically a section view through the baggage tag of 5 Figure la; FIGURE 2a shows schematically a front view of a baggage tag which is an embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 2b shows schematically a rear view of the baggage tag of Figure 2a; 10 FIGURE 3 shows schematically several intermediate stages in the manufacture of the baggage tag of Figure 2a, specifically: FIGURE 3a shows schematically a length from a roll of label material; FIGURE 3b shows schematically a length from a roll of label material after a first cutting stage; 15 FIGURE 3c shows schematically a length from a roll of label material after a second die cutting stage; and FIGURE 4 shows schematically a top view of a cutting roller which could be used in the manufacture of the baggage tag of Figure 2.

An example of a prior art baggage tag is indicated generally at 10 in

20 Figures la, lb and lo. As seen most clearly in Figure lc the baggage tag is a label which comprises a layer of backing paper 12, a layer of a release agent 14, conveniently a silicon compound, a layer of an adhesive 16 and a layer of face paper 18 onto which a bar code may be printed.

Figure la is a front view of the baggage tag, showing the different 25 portions of the face paper layer 18. The tag comprises a main portion 20, three "bingo tickets" 22 and an passenger portion 24.

A corresponding rear view of the baggage tag is shown in Figure lb, showing the different features of the backing paper layer 12. These comprise a transverse perforation 26, a wavy line 28 and a tag separator 30. The transverse

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perforation 26, when the tag is looped around the handle of an item of baggage, defines the area from which the backing layer is removed so that the tag may be looped around the handle and stuck to itself without sticking to the luggage.

The wavy line 28 defines the separation between the main portion 20 and the 5 passenger portion 24 of the tag. The tag separator 30 comprises a series of large perforations which separate each tag from its neighbours on a roll.

The face layer 18 of each tag is narrower than the backing layer 12 of each tag since, if they were the same width, rolls of the tags would stick together during transit. Having a narrower face layer separates the adhesive 10 layers 16 in adjacent rolls.

To dispense each tag from its roll airline staff frequently grasp the tag between a finger and thumb by moving these digits in the direction of arrow A, and then pull the tag in the direction of arrow B. Such a grasp is precarious and, should the roll become stuck, the user's fingers are likely to move along 15 the edge of the tag, which consists solely of the narrow backing layer, and thus suffer a paper cut.

Figures 2a and 2b show front and rear views respectively of a baggage tag 40 which is an embodiment of the invention. The tag is, in general, similar to the prior art tag described above and identical reference numerals have been

20 used to indicate identical parts. Only the differences between the tags will be described further.

As may be seen in the Figures each tag 40 comprises two weakened regions provided by longitudinal rows of perforations 42, 44, one row disposed towards each longitudinal edge of the backing paper layer 12. Each row of 25 perforations 42, 44 is preferably contiguous with a longitudinal edge of the face paper 18 in a plane orthogonal to the plane of the Figures.

Each row of perforations 42, 44 is continuous strip and lies generally parallel to the edge of the backing paper layer 12. In this embodiment the backing paper is approximately 55 mm wide (indicated by dimension X in the

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À... A...e.. Figures), and the perforations are approximately 1.5 mm from the edge of the backing paper layer 18 (indicated by dimension Y on the Figures).

When a user grasps the label between a finger and thumb in direction A, therefore, the backing paper layer collapses due to the presence of the 5 weakened region. The edges of the backing paper layer fold along the line of the perforations and the user's digits are in contact with two layers of the backing paper layer (provided by the fold) and one layer of thickness of the face paper layer, as well as the release layer and adhesive layers. Thus, should the dispensing roll stick and the user's fingers slide along the length of the tag 10 40, they are much less likely to suffer a paper cut than from a typical prior art

baggage tag 10.

The tag 40 may be manufactured from a roll of label material, a length from which 50 shown in Figure 3a. Each roll is 330 mm wide and provides sufficient material for six strips of labels. A description of the initial two stages

15 in the manufacturing process follows. The face paper layer 18 of the roll 50 is die cut in the first stage. The labels, each of which is conventionally 211/4" (53.975 mm) long is passed between two cutting rollers, as is standard practice in the industry. This first cut produces the various portions of the face paper layer 18, as shown in Figure 3b. The excess material of the face paper, known 20 as the "skeleton" is wound onto another roller, thereby being separated from the main roll.

In a second stage the backing paper layer 12 is cut in a similar manner.

A top view of a roller 60 suitable for cutting the backing paper layer is shown in Figure 4. The roller comprises a central cylindrical core 62 from which an 25 annulus 64, comprising a series of sharp teeth, projects. Twelve of these annul) are required to provide two rows of perforations 42, 44 for each label 40. The roller 60 has other cutting edges which provide the other features of the backing paper layer of the label.

À ee e esee he e eee e e e ee e ee e e ee e e e e ee e ee e e ee e eee seesee see ee After the cutting stages the face and backing paper layers of the label are printed and then the roll is separated first into two rolls of three rows of labels and then into six individual rolls, the paper being cut between two rows of perforations 5 In this way a sheet of paper having a collapsible edge may be manufactured without compromising on throughput or speed of manufacture.

In the present specification "comprises" means "includes or consists of"

and "comprising" means "including or consisting of".

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following

10 claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

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1. A sheet of paper or the like material comprising a weakened region alongside one edge.

5 2. A sheet of material according to Claim 1 in which the weakened region

is provided by perforations.

3. A sheet of paper or the like material according to Claim 1 in which the weakened region is provided by a fold line.

4. A sheet of paper or the like material according to any preceding claim in which the weakened region is less than 7.5, conveniently less than 5 mm from the edge of the paper or the like material.

15 5. A sheet of paper or the like material according to Claim 4 in which the weakened region is less than 2.5 mm from the edge of the paper or the like material. 6. A sheet of paper or the like material according to Claim 5 in which the 20 weakened region is less than 1 mm from the edge of the paper or the like material. 7. A sheet of paper or the like material according to any preceding claim in which the weakened region runs continuously alongside the edge of the paper 25 or the like material.

8. A sheet of paper or the like material according to any preceding claim in which the weakened region comprises a strip.

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9. A sheet of paper or the like material according to Claim 9 in which the strip is generally parallel to the edge of the paper or the like material.

5 10. A label comprising a layer of paper or the like material according to any preceding claim.

11. A label comprising a layer of face paper or the like material, a layer of an adhesive, and a layer of backing paper or the like material according to any 10 of Claims 1 to 9.

12. A label according to Claim 11 in which the weakened region is substantially contiguous with an edge of the face paper or the like material.

15 13. A label according to Claim 11 or Claim 12 further comprising a layer of release agent.

14. A baggage tag according to any of Claims 10 to 13.

20 15. A roll comprising a plurality of sheets according to any preceding claim.

16. A method of manufacturing a sheet of paper or the like material comprlsmg: providing a roll of paper or the like material; 25 cutting the roll of paper or the like material into a plurality of strips, and weakening an edge region of each strip of paper or the like material.

17. A method according to Claim 16 in which the weakening is provided by the application of perforations in the edge region.

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...........CLME: 18. A method according to Claim 16 in which the weakening comprises impressing a fold line in the edge region.

5 19. A method according to any of Claims 16 to 18 in which the edge region is less than 7.5, conveniently less than 5 mm from the edge of the paper or the like material.

20. A method according to Claim 19 in which the edge region is less than 10 2.5 mm from the edge of the paper or the like material.

21. A method according to Claim 20 in which the edge region is less than 1 mm from the edge of the paper or the like material.

15 22. A method according to any of Claims 16 to 21 in which the weakening runs continuously alongside the edge of the paper or the like material.

23. A method according to any of Claims 16 to 22 in which the weakening is in the form of a strip.

24. A method according to Claim 23 in which the strip is generally parallel to the edge of the paper or the like material.

25. A method according to any of Claims 16 to 24 in which the sheet of 25 paper or the like material comprises a label.

26. A method according to Claim 25 in which the label comprises a layer of face paper, a layer of an adhesive and a layer of backing paper, the weakening being provided in the layer of backing paper.

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a.-. ... 27. A method according to Claim 26 in which the label further comprises a layer of a release agent.

5 28. A method according to any of Claims 25 to 27 in which the label comprises a baggage tag.

29. A sheet of paper or the like material substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

30. A roll of paper or the like material substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

31. A method of manufacturing a sheet of paper or the like material 15 substantially as hereinbefore described.

32. Any novel feature or combination of features hereinbefore described and / or shown in the accompanying drawings.