IES950909A2 - A laminated label construction and method - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a method of constructing a printed laminated label and a label made by the method. The label is made by feeding a base film of the label, in ribbon form, from a supply reel through a plurality of printing presses. The base film is printed in up to four colours. A sequential number or code is then printed on each label location on the ribbon. An overlaminating film is bonded to the base film over the printed surface. The labels are die-cut to shape, and the ribbon is wound up onto a take-up reel. In the label construction, the sequential numbering is protected by the overlamination. The base film and laminating film are preferably polyesters. <Fig. 3>

Description

A LAMINATED LABEL CONSTRUCTION AND METHOD Technical Field The invention relates to a laminated label construction and method. More particularly, the invention concerns a product identification and information label, for example, bearing an unique identification number. Such labels are used in the electronics and computer industries.

Background Art Conventional laminated label constructions are printed on sheets. Subsequently, an overlamination is applied, and serial numbers and the like are then printed in a sequential number printing operation on the protective lamina. This has the disadvantage that the printed serial number is not protected by the lamina.

Object of the Invention It is an object of the invention to provide a method for printing and constructing a laminated label in which the print is protected by a protective lamina.

Sumaarv of the Invention Accordingly, the invention provides a method of constructing a printed laminated label comprising feeding a base film of the label, - 2 950909 in ribbon form, from a supply reel through a plurality of printing presses, printing the base film in one or more colours, printing a sequential number or code on each label location on the ribbon, bonding an overlaminating film to the base film over the printed surface, die-cutting the labels to shape, and winding up the ribbon onto a take-up reel.

The invention also provides a laminated label construction comprising a base film having an adhesive backing layer on an undersurface of the base film, and printed matter, including an unique sequential numbering, printed on an upper surface of the base film, and an overlaminating film adhered to the upper surface of the base film over said printed matter.

Preferably, the base film is a computer-printable polyester film, and the overlaminating film is a clear or translucent polyester film.

Brief Description of the Drawings An embodiment of the invention is hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein : Figure 1 is a front view of a laminated label construction of the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the label of Figure 1, to an enlarged scale; and Figure 3 is a side view of apparatus for printing and constructing the label.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2, these show a label construction 1 of the invention, in this case for use as a product identification for a mouse control of a computer. 950909 - 3 The label 1 comprises a base film 2, which suitably is a computer-printable polyester film. The film has an adhesive backing 3, provided with a release liner designed to meet end use requirements.

The film 2 may be flood coated to match the colour of the product to which it is to be attached.

Suitably, the film 2 is an polyester matt topcoated film, such as that supplied by Flexcon Inc., under the trade name Compucal II PM200.

The thickness of the film 2 is of the order of 2 mils (50 microns). Suitably, the adhesive backing 3 is an acrylic adhesive, for example on L44 adhesive as supplied by Flexcon Inc.

An identification code 4, such as a serial number or other printed matter, is printed onto the top surface of the base film 2, as hereinafter described. A transparent polyester film 5 is then overlaminated onto the base film 2 by means of an adhesive coating 6.

Suitably, the polyester film 5 is an overlaminating film, for example having a thickness of 2.0 mils (50 microns). A suitable film is that supplied by Flexcon Inc. under the trade name Flexmark OM-IOO-CM. Suitably, the film 5 is coated with an acrylic (UVR) L23 pressure-sensitive adhesive 6.

The method of making the label construction is now described with reference to Figure 3.

Unlike conventional methods using sheet printing, the method of the invention uses a reel to reel flat screen printing process.

A reel 8 contains a supply of the base film 2 in the form of a ribbon 9. The ribbon 9 is conveyed, under tension, through an in-line printing, laminating, numbering and die-cutting apparatus by means of a rewind mechanism 10, at the opposite end of the line, which rewinds the processed ribbon onto a take-up reel 11. - 4 - 9509 0 9 The ribbon 9 first passes, in sequences through four flat screen printing presses 12,13,14 and 15, to provide for four colour printing. Information, designs, logos and the like are printed on the labels in one, two or more colours in well known manner.

After the ribbon leaves each of the presses the print is dried by driers 16, which may be UV driers.

The printed ribbon 9 then passes to a hot stamp numbering machine 17 where an unique sequential number or other code is hot stamped on each label.

The overlaminating film 5, having the adhesive backing 6, is then laminated to the ribbon 9 by a laminating machine 18. The laminating machine 18 employs rollers to apply the lamina. The overlamination thus protects the number which has been previously applied by the numbering matching 17.

From the lamination machine 18 the ribbon is passed to a die cutting machine 19. The die cutting machine cuts the label construction to the desired shape. However, the release liner retains the die cut labels in ribbon form so that they can be wound-up on a take-up reel 11.

If desired, the overlaminating film 5 can be over printed subsequently.

Claims (5)

1. A method of constructing a printed laminated label comprising feeding a base film of the label, in ribbon form, from a supply reel through a plurality of printing presses, printing the base film in one or more colours, printing a sequential number or code on each label location on the ribbon, bonding an overlaminating film to the base film over the printed surface, die-cutting the labels to shape, and winding up the ribbon onto a take-up reel.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sequential numbering is printed by means of hot stamp numbering.

3. A laminated label construction comprising a base film having an adhesive backing layer on an undersurface of the base film, and printed matter, including an unique sequential numbering, printed on an upper surface of the base film, and an overlaminating film adhered to the upper surface of the base film over said printed matter.

4. A label construction as claimed in claim 3 wherein the base film is a computer-printable polyester film, and the overlaminating film is a clear or translucent polyester film.

5. A method of construction a laminated label substantially as hereinbefore described with reference or, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.