IES86822B2 - A label for thermal transfer printing - Google Patents

Abstract

A label (1) for thermal transfer printing comprises a base sheet (2) having an inner face (3) and an outer face (4). An adhesive coating (5) covers the inner face (3) and demountably secures the inner face (3) to a peel-off backing sheet (6). A clear print-receiving layer (8) overlies and is bonded by clear adhesive (9) to the outer face (4) of the base sheet (2). A perforated central fold line bisects the base sheet (2) and associated print-receiving layer (8). Thus, information can be printed on the print receiving layer (8). Then the base sheet (2) can be peeled away from the backing sheet (6), and folded about the central fold line, to overlap and adhesively secure opposite halves of the inner face (3) of the base sheet (2) on either side of the central fold line together, to form an information displaying label. <Figure 2>

Description

“A Label for Thermal Transfer Printing” Introduction This invention relates to a label for thermal transfer printing.

In large retail chains, in particular food retailers and the like, a considerable amount of signage is required for products on display and the signs are changed on a regular basis. Generally, signage is centrally ordered by a head office from printers and then distributed to the various stores in the retail chain. All of this might take a number of days. However, if the signs are lost or damaged in the particular store, there is a need to re-order signage which is inconvenient because of the delay, or hand-make signs in situ which generally does not fit in with and detracts from the overall display. Also, because of the time delay involved, it is not convenient if the store wants to make special offers on a particular day to clear down stock for example by the best before date.

The present invention is directed towards overcoming these problems.

Summary of the Invention According to the invention, there is provided a label for thermal transfer printing, including: a base sheet, the base sheet having an inner face and an outer face, an adhesive coating on at least a portion of the inner face of the base sheet demountably securing the inner face of the base sheet to a peel-off backing sheet, and a print-receiving layer overlying and bonded to the outer face of the base sheet.

In one embodiment of the invention the print receiving layer is a resin based film. -2In another embodiment of the invention the print receiving layer is transparent.

In another embodiment the print receiving layer is bonded to the outer face of the base sheet by a water based acrylic permanent adhesive.

In another embodiment the water based acrylic permanent adhesive is operable within a temperature range of -30°C to 100°C without delamination.

In another embodiment of the invention the label is provided with a fold line which bisects the base sheet.

In another embodiment of the invention the fold line comprises a line of weakness.

In another embodiment of the invention the fold line is formed by a line of perforations in the base sheet.

In another embodiment of the invention the outer face of the base sheet has a plain surface.

In another embodiment of the invention the outer face of the base sheet has indicia printed thereon.

In another embodiment of the invention the print receiving layer is bonded to the base sheet by a clear adhesive.

In another embodiment of the invention the label is formed from a water resistant material.

In another embodiment of the invention the base sheet comprises a polypropylene sheet.

In another embodiment of the invention the base sheet has a thickness in the range 100-400 microns. -3In another embodiment of the invention the base sheet has a thickness in the range 180-220 microns.

In another embodiment of the invention the print receiving layer is a polypropylene film.

In another embodiment of the invention the print receiving layer has a thickness in the range 50-60 microns.

In another embodiment of the invention a whole of the inner face of base sheet is coated with adhesive.

In another aspect, the invention provides a label, including: a base sheet, the base sheet having an inner face and an outer face, an adhesive coating on at least a portion of the inner face of the base sheet demountably securing the inner face of the base sheet to a peel-off backing sheet, the outer face of the base sheet forming a print-receiving face of the label, and a fold line which bisects the base sheet.

In one embodiment of the invention the fold line comprises a line of weakness in the base sheet.

In another embodiment of the invention the fold line is formed by a line of perforations in the base sheet.

In a still further aspect, the invention provides a method for preparing a label comprising a base sheet having an inner face coating with adhesive and demountably secured to a peel-off backing sheet, comprising the steps: -4printing information on an outer face of the base sheet, peeling away the base sheet from the backing sheet, and folding the base sheet in half about a fold line bisecting the base sheet and overlapping and adhesively securing opposite halves of the inner face on either side of the fold line together.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be more clearly understood by the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a label according to the invention; Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the label; Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a roll of labels according to the invention; Fig. 4 to Fig. 6 are various views showing steps in preparation of a label for use; Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of the label; Fig. 8 is a rear elevational view of the label; and Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a printing machine printing labels of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments • ( Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a label according to the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The label 1 comprises a base sheet 2 having an inner face 3 and an outer face 4. An adhesive coating 5 covers the inner -5face 3 and demountably secures the inner face 3 to a peel-off backing sheet 6. A printreceiving layer 8 overlies and is bonded by adhesive 9 to the outer face 4 of the base sheet 2. A perforated transverse fold line 10 bisects the base sheet 2 and associated print-receiving layer 8. Thus, information can be printed on the print receiving layer 8. Then the base sheet 2 can be peeled away from the backing sheet 6, as shown in Fig. 4, and folded about the fold line 10, as shown in Fig. 5, to overlap and adhesively secure opposite halves of the inner face 3 of the base sheet 2 on either side of the fold line 10 together, to form an information displaying label 12, as shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8.

The base sheet 2 as shown in the drawings is of generally rectangular shape, however, it will be appreciated that the base sheet 2 may be provided in any suitable desired shape. The base sheet comprises polypropylene material which preferably has a thickness of about 180-220 microns.

The adhesive coating 5 which covers the inner face 3 of the base sheet 2 is preferably an adhesive that can withstand freezing conditions of the type that might be encountered in freezer display cabinets and storage units in retail outlets.

The top print-receiving layer 8 comprises a clear polypropylene film having a thickness of about 50-60 microns. This print-receiving layer 8 is bonded by a clear adhesive 9 to the base sheet 2 that assists in preventing any clouding when the two materials are combined. The clear adhesive 9 preferably comprises a water based acrylic permanent adhesive suitable for operating temperatures in the range -30°C to 100°C without delamination.

While Fig. 1 shows a single base sheet 2 mounted on an associated peel-off backing sheet 6, in practice generally a plurality of the labels 1 will be provided on a roll 20 as shown in Fig. 3. In this case the backing sheet 6 is formed by an elongate web 21 having a plurality of base sheets 2 mounted spaced-apart thereon.

Referring in particular to Fig. 9, the roll 20 of labels can conveniently be mounted in a thermal transfer printer 25 for printing a desired message on the outer or top surface of the print-receiving layer 8. -6ln use, the roll 20 of labels 1 is mounted in the thermal transfer printer 25. This is connected to an associated computer 26 on which desired messages can be prepared for printing on each label 1 by means of the thermal transfer printer 25. When the message has been printed the web 21 is advanced through an outlet 27 of the thermal transfer printer 25. Then the base sheet 2 can be peeled away from the web 21 forming a backing sheet and folded about the fold line 10 as shown in Fig. 5, overlapping and adhesively securing opposite halves of the inner face 3 on either side of the fold line 10 together as shown in Fig. 6. Thus, conveniently a stiff label having desired messages on a front display side and a rear side of the label can be readily, easily and conveniently prepared. It will be appreciated that new labels can be generated quickly and easily allowing great flexibility as to the content of the message applied to the label.

While thermal transfer printing of labels is well known, to achieve a high quality printed label, typically a number of variables such as substrate, print speed, thermal head energy and foil/ribbon grade may need adjustment to find a particular combination of variables to provide an acceptable quality of label. Even if the perfect combination of variable settings is achieved for say printing white text on a black label, there is no guarantee that the same variable settings will give the same result for say printing blue text on a white label. It will be noted that in accordance with this invention, the provision of the extra print-receiving layer 8 on the base sheet 2 provides a good surface to receive the print in the thermal transfer printer 25 and a much greater consistency and quality of printing can be achieved than is normally the case. Advantageously, this clear over-laminate print-receiving layer 8 provides an invisible yet 100% consistent surface to print on. So, even with variations in the colour and design of the label (base sheet 2), the outer print receiving surface of the print receiving layer 8 is constant and so repeatable high quality results can be achieved each time a label is printed.

If desired the outer face 4 of the base sheet 2 may be printed with a particular colour, or other decoration, logo or the like may be provided on the base sheet 2 before the print receiving layer 8 is applied to the outer face 4 of the base sheet 2.

While the base sheet 2 preferably comprises polypropylene material, other materials such as polyester, polyethylene and board material could work for the base sheet 2, -Ί but these materials do not offer the same rigidity or complete water resistance provided by polypropylene material.

The ribbon/foil used in the thermal transfer printer 25 is a full resin product which 5 chemically bonds to the polypropylene film forming the print-receiving layer 8 of the label 1. It is also envisaged that hybrid wax resin compounds might also work depending on the wax content.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be 10 varied in both construction and detail within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (5)

1. A label for thermal transfer printing, including: a base sheet, the base sheet having an inner face and an outer face, an adhesive coating on at least a portion of the inner face of the base sheet demountably securing the inner face of the base sheet to a peel-off backing sheet, and a print-receiving layer overlying and bonded to the outer face of the base sheet.

2. The label, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the print receiving layer is a transparent resin based film.

3. The label as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the print receiving layer is bonded to the base sheet by a clear adhesive comprising a water based acrylic permanent adhesive suitable for operating temperatures in the range -30°C to 100°C without delamination.

4. The label as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the label is provided with a fold line which bisects the base sheet, the fold line comprising a line of weakness, the base sheet comprises a polypropylene sheet having a thickness in the range of 100-400 microns, and the print receiving layer is a polypropylene film having a thickness in the range 50-60 microns.

5. A label for thermal transfer printing substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.