GB2399070A

GB2399070A - Self-adhesive labels

Info

Publication number: GB2399070A
Application number: GB0305248A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Brown
Original assignee: Leading Edge Labels Ltd
Current assignee: Leading Edge Labels Ltd
Priority date: 2003-03-07
Filing date: 2003-03-07
Publication date: 2004-09-08
Anticipated expiration: 2023-03-07
Also published as: GB0305248D0; GB2399070B

Abstract

A self-adhesive label comprises an upper label section 1 printed on both sides and a lower label section 2 also printed on both sides. A coating of pressure sensitive adhesive 7 is applied either to the under surface of the upper label section or the upper surface of the lower label section and a coating of a release agent 8 is applied to that label section surface which is not coated with pressure sensitive adhesive other than an end portion thereof thereby to define a hinge 9 created by the pressure sensitive adhesive applied directly to the label section end portion. The length and width dimensions of the upper label section are slightly less than those of the lower label section to expose lengthwise and widthwise margins of the lower label section when the two label sections are adhered together, no adhesive or release agent being present on these margins. A plurality of such labels on a supporting web may be produced by laminating layers together and die cutting.

Description

. À e À À e À Àe eee

SELF ADHESIVE LABELS

The invention relates to self-adhesive labels, to a backing sheet including a plurality of such labels and to methods of producing a succession of such labels on a backing sheet.

In one aspect, the invention provides a self-adhesive label which comprises an upper label section printed on both sides and a lower label section also printed on both sides, a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive applied either to the under surface of the upper label section or the upper surface of the lower label section and a coating of a release agent applied to that label section surface which is not coated with pressure sensitive adhesive other than an end portion thereof thereby to define a hinge created by the pressure sensitive adhesive applied directly to the label section e portion, the length and width dimensions of the upper label section being slightly less than those of the lower label section to expose lengthwise and widthwise margins of the lower label section when the two label sections are adhered together, no adhesive or release agent being present on these margins.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view diagrammatically illustrating a label in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a view from above of the label shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section taken lengthwise through a label in accordance with the invention; Figure 4 is a plan view of labels located on a backing web; À . . À À À À À À À . À À À À À À À À À À À À Figure 5 is a plan view of a backing web during die cutting to remove waste material; and Figure 6 is a side view of a web of labels in accordance with the invention during a die cutting process.

As will be seen from Figures 1 to 3, a self-adhesive label in accordance with this invention comprises an upper label section 1 and a lower label section 2. The outer and inner surfaces 3, 4, 5, 6 of both the upper and lower labels have consumer related information on them. Alternatively, only some of these surfaces may carry printed information. The upper label section 1 is attached to the bottom label section 2 by a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive 7. This adhesive layer is applied to the inner surface 4 of the upper label section 1 by a printing technique. The inner surface 5 of the lower label section 2 is coated with a release agent, for example a silicon release layer 8. The presence of the silicon release layer enables the upper label section to be peeled back to expose the neighbouring inner surfaces 4, of the label sections. The label therefore comprises a total of four printed sides each containing inter alla consumer related information. The label is simply re-sealed by applying pressure to the upper top label section 1 against the lower label section.

As will be seen from Figure 3, an area 9 at or towards one end of the lower label section is left clear of silicon release agent. Thus, a permanent bond between the two label sections is created by the adhesive 7. The bond acts as a hinge and prevents detachment of the upper label section from the lower label section in use.

The length of the upper label section 1 is less than that of the lower label section 2 to leave an area 10 through which the lower label can be seen. The purpose of this area 7 is to provide a finger tab 11 to enable the upper label section to be readily peeled away from the lower label section to À À e À À À À expose the printed information. Without this feature the label can be difficult to open.

The described configuration enables labels in accordance with the invention to be produced such that each label can be applied to a conical surface of a can or other container by wipe-on method of label application with the upper label section being openable around the surface curve.

To further enhance the ease of opening of the label an adhesive deadener may be applied by a printing technique to the inner surface 4 of the upper label section 1 along the outer rim of the finger tab 11.

The finger tab 11 is designed to enable a continuous succession of labels to be produced as shown in Figure 4 and can be positioned on either the leading or trailing edge of the label with the hinge on the label edge opposite to that where the finger tab 11 is positioned.

The invention also provides for a method of producing a succession of self-adhesive labels as described. The method comprises the sequential steps of printing a required message or design onto the inner and outer surfaces 5, 6 of the lower label section 2, printing the silicon release layer onto the inner surface 5 of the lower label section 2, die cutting the label shape of the lower label section 2, printing a required message or design onto the inner and outer surfaces 3, 4 of the upper label section 1, laminating the two layers together, die cutting the shape of the upper label section 1, and stripping waste material from the upper and lower label sections.

To enable the finger tab 11 to be on the leading or trailing edge of the label, the label is die cut twice. Firstly the lower label section 2 is die cut on its own but without stripping out waste sections between the label. The ce À À e c c e e upper label section is then laminated to the bottom label section ensuring that the two layers are aligned. The upper label section is then die cut.

In order for the upper label section to be a different size to that of the lower label section, the second die cut is designed to that it only cuts the top layer of the material and does not cut into the lower label section.

The finger tab area and waste material of the upper label section and the waste material between neighbouring labels on the lower label section is finally stripped out as waste. This last step can be achieved in one of two ways.

Firstly, The silicon release layer can be pattern printed as shown in Figures 5 and 6. Figure 6 shows a cross section of the upper and lower label sections after the die cut is performed. Figure 5 shows the label from above.

By using the silicon release layer, the waste of the upper label section adheres to the waste of the lower label section only at the point at which the bottom label waste is within the waste material that requires removing.

Hence, when the top label waste is lifted, it brings with it the lower label section waste. Hence, both are removed simultaneously.

Secondly, the lower label section can be fully coated with a release layer in all the waste areas. Thus, when the upper label section is laminated to the lower label section there is no permanent bond in any of the waste areas. This enables the waste to be removed as a two-stage process. Firstly the waste is removed between the upper label section. The silicon coating prevents this waste sticking to the waste on the lower label section if left in position. Secondly, the waste is removed from the lower label section via a second waste material removal.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing is merely exemplary of selfadhesive labels in accordance with the invention and that various e ee. ace

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modifications can readily be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A self-adhesive label which comprises an upper label section printed on both sides and a lower label section also printed on both sides, a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive applied either to the under surface of the upper label section or the upper surface of the lower label section and a coating of a release agent applied to that label section surface which is not coated with pressure sensitive adhesive other than an end portion thereof thereby to define a hinge created by the pressure sensitive adhesive applied directly to the label section end portion, the length and width dimensions of the upper label section being slightly less than those of the lower label section to expose lengthwise and widthwise margins of the lower label section when the two label sections are adhered together, no adhesive or release agent being present on these margins.

2. A label as claimed in claim 1 wherein the release agent is a silicon release layer.

3. A label as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein an adhesive deadener layer is applied to the inner surface of the upper label section along one margin of the upper label section.

4. A label as claimed in claim 3 wherein the deadener layer is applied by a printing technique.

5. A method of producing a label as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 as one of several such labels on a web of supporting material comprising the sequential steps of printing a required message or design onto the inner and outer surfaces of the lower label section, printing the silicon release layer onto the inner surface of the lower label section, die cutting the label shape of the lower label section, printing a required message or design onto the inner and outer surfaces of the upper label section, laminating the two layers together, die cutting the shape of the upper label section, and stripping waste material from the upper and lower label sections.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein die cutting of the upper label section is achieved without removing waste sections between succeeding labels.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 comprising the further sequential steps; of die cutting the lower label section, laminating the upper label section to the lower label section, and die cutting the upper label section.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the lower label section is coated with a release layer over all waste areas whereby when the label sections are laminated no permanent bond is created in the waste areas.

9. A self-adhesive label substantially as herein described and as described with reference to the accompanying drawings. ;

10. A method of producing a self-adhesive label substantially as herein described and as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.