JP6195575B2 - Label assembly and method of use - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a label assembly. More particularly, the present invention relates to the design of a label assembly where the label is curl resistant.

  Adhesive labels are widely used for various organizing and communication purposes. In general, adhesive labels have a basic structure with a body or support (sometimes referred to as label stock) with adhesive on the back and are provided on a temporary liner or carrier sheet. . The body may be a single layer or a multilayer structure. The front side surface is usually configured to receive an explanation display by, for example, type, handwriting, printing by a computer printer, or the like. For example, an image receiving layer may be provided on the front side surface of the main body in order to make it easier to arrange a desired explanation display or information. Examples of materials used for the label body include paper, polymer films, fabrics, etc., selected depending in part on the desired performance characteristics of the resulting label. Various adhesives used in label structures are known and are selected depending in part on factors such as desired label performance, intended support, body properties, and the like.

  Many label assemblies currently on the market (sometimes referred to as “label sheets”) peel off individual labels from a carrier sheet or liner, or make each label assembly smaller with the labels adhered to the liner. A die cut label is provided that is removable from the label assembly, either by individualization into the label assembly. These individual labels are either provided on a label assembly that is separable at a tear line, or have already been individualized.

  In normal use, the label must be removed from the carrier sheet or liner and bonded to a support, for example, after an instructional display is formed on one or more labels by a printer, typewriter, handwriting or the like. When the label is removed from the carrier sheet or liner, the label tends to curl. In some cases, the label may even curl to adhere to the label itself. Even the application of partially curled labels can be somewhat difficult and time consuming, requiring considerable dexterity at the hand.

  Despite the many types of known label structures, there is a desire to improve the label structure.

  The present invention provides a label assembly and a method of using the assembly that is quick and simple to produce a label and limits the disposal portion to enhance convenience. The configuration of the label assembly of the present invention enables good printer feed performance in various printing devices and preserves printable margins for product information.

In summary, the label assembly of the present invention includes a carrier sheet having a front main surface and a back main surface, and a plurality of labels releasably bonded onto the front main surface of the carrier sheet. Each label comprises a single label stock with an adhesive on the back side. According to the present invention,
The carrier sheet has at least one enclosure type separation line;
The separation line defines a first carrier portion and a second carrier portion;
The second carrier portion has an area smaller than the area of the label;
The second carrier portion comprises at least one tab extending beyond the outer periphery of the label;
Each label and corresponding second carrier portion is configured to separate from the first carrier portion while at least a portion of the second carrier portion remains releasably adhered to the label.

  In summary, the method of the present invention comprises the steps of removing the matrix from the front major surface, separating the label and corresponding second carrier portion from the first carrier portion by pulling up the tab, the tab of the second carrier portion, and Pulling the second carrier portion away from the label.

  According to another aspect of the invention, the method of the invention comprises the steps of removing the strip from the front major surface, removing the label and the second carrier part from the first carrier part by pulling up the tab, Pulling the tab of the two carrier part and the second carrier part away from the label.

  Typically, an image can be printed on the front side of the label assembly of the present invention by handwriting, a printer (eg, a laser printer or an ink jet printer as commonly used with personal computers).

  An advantage of the present invention is that the label can be easily removed from the label assembly and affixed to the support without curling.

The present invention can be more appropriately described with reference to the drawings.
It is a table | surface (namely, label) side top view of the conventional label assembly. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the conventional label assembly shown in FIG. 1 taken along line 1-1 of FIG. 1 is a plan (ie, label) side plan view of one embodiment of a label assembly of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 4 is a rear plan view of the label assembly shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the label assembly shown in FIG. 3 taken along line 4-4 of FIG. It is a front side top view of one Embodiment of the label assembly of this invention. FIG. 6 is a back plan view of the label assembly shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the label assembly shown in FIG. 5 taken along line 5-5 of FIG. It is a front side top view of one Embodiment of the label assembly of this invention. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the label assembly shown in FIG. 7 taken along line 7-7 in FIG. It is a front side top view of one Embodiment of the label assembly of this invention. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the label assembly shown in FIG. 9 taken along line 9-9 of FIG. It is a front side top view of one Embodiment of the label assembly of this invention. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the label assembly shown in FIG. 11 taken along line 11-11 of FIG. It is a front side top view of one Embodiment of the label assembly of this invention. It is a front side top view of one Embodiment of the label assembly of this invention.

  The drawings illustrate the invention for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting. Many other modifications and embodiments within the scope and spirit of the principles of the present invention may be devised by those skilled in the art. The figures are idealized and are not drawn to scale and are intended for illustrative purposes only.

  An exemplary conventional label assembly is shown in FIGS. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in other figures. Like reference numerals are used throughout the description to refer to similar components and features.

  The label assembly 10 includes a plurality of labels 20, a carrier sheet 30, and an adhesive 24 between the label 20 and the carrier sheet 30. Each of the plurality of labels 20 is separated from an adjacent label and surrounding matrix by a label separation line 28. The adhesive 24 and the separation line 28 allow the user to remove the label 20 from the carrier sheet 30.

  Exemplary label assemblies of the present invention are shown in FIGS. 3, 3a, 4, 5, 5a, and 6 showing the front side, cross-sectional view, and back side of the label assembly 10. FIG. The label assembly 10 includes a plurality of labels 20, a carrier sheet 30, and an adhesive 24 on the back side of the label stock between the plurality of labels 20 and the carrier sheet 30.

  The carrier sheet 30 has a front main surface 30a and a back main surface 30b.

  Each of the labels 20 is defined by and separated from other components of the label assembly (ie, adjacent labels, surrounding matrix, etc.) by a label separation line 28. Although the label assembly 10 is shown without a matrix between the individual labels 20, the label assembly 10 may include a matrix between the abutting labels. Also, although each label assembly 10 is shown with a matrix 26 that completely surrounds the plurality of labels 20, in the present invention, the label assembly 10 need not include a matrix 26 that completely surrounds the labels 20. The carrier sheet 30 includes a carrier sheet separation line 38 that defines a first carrier portion 32 and a second carrier portion 34. The separation line 38 also defines a tab 36 of the second carrier portion 34 that extends beyond the label 20. The adhesive 24, the separation line 28, and the separation line 38 allow the user to remove the label 20 and the second carrier part 34 from the first carrier part 32. Thus, the second carrier portion 34 is easily peeled from the label and ready to be bonded to the support.

  3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 are front views. In the figure, the carrier separation line 38 is indicated by a dotted line in order to show the relationship with the label 20, but as shown in each cross-sectional view, the carrier separation line does not extend to the entire label. Similarly, FIGS. 3 a and 5 a are rear views, and the label separation line 28 is shown in dotted lines to show its relationship with the second carrier portion 34.

  7 and 8 and 9 and 10, respectively, in some other embodiments, the label assembly 10 is releasably bonded to the front major surface 30a of the carrier sheet 30 so that the matrix 26 and the label 20 It includes a strip 42 positioned therebetween.

  Each label assembly may typically comprise a plurality of labels. For example, as shown in FIGS. 3, 5, 7, and 9, each label assembly comprises 11 labels arranged in a predetermined configuration in one column.

  As shown in FIG. 11, in another exemplary embodiment, the label assembly comprises 10 labels arranged in a predetermined configuration with 2 rows of 5 rows.

  FIG. 11 illustrates a label assembly 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The label assembly 10 includes a first column of labels 20 and a second column of labels 20. Each of the first label column and the second label column is disposed or stacked in the longitudinal direction of the label assembly 10. Each label 20 includes a second carrier portion 34 surrounded by a separation line 38 that is substantially under the label. The separation line 38 also defines a tab 36 of the second carrier portion 34 that extends beyond the label 20.

  In use, the label assembly of the present invention is used as follows.

  Initially, a display can be formed on one or more labels as desired, for example, by passing the assembly through a computer printer, handwriting, or decal bonding.

  Next, the matrix 26 is removed from the front major surface 30a along the separation line 28. The tab 36 of the second carrier portion 34 is exposed. By pulling up the tab 36, the label 20 and the second carrier portion 34 are easily removed from the first carrier portion 32. The second carrier portion 34 is removed from the label 20 by pulling the tab 36 away from the label 20. Therefore, the label 20 can be easily prepared for bonding to the support.

  Alternatively, the strip 42 is removed from the front major surface 30 a along the separation line 28. The tab 36 of the second carrier portion 34 of the first label 20 is exposed. By pulling up the tab 36, the first label 20 and the second carrier portion 34 can be easily removed from the first carrier portion 32. The tab 36 of the second carrier portion 34 of the second label 20 is exposed. The second carrier portion 34 is removed from the first label 20 by pulling the tab 36 away from the label 20. Therefore, the label 20 can be easily prepared for bonding to the support.

  With the present invention, other label sizes and label layouts can be used and are easily adapted for use. The shape and size of the label can vary and need not all be the same shape or size. Figures 13 and 14 illustrate the possibility that the labels are circular. The labels may be completely separated from each other by a matrix between the labels or an exposed liner.

  The label has a printable surface. The meaning of the term “printable surface” means any person or machine can draw, print, color, paint, copy, write, emboss, or attach any other kind of mark or figure It means the surface of a kind of thing. Laser printers, inkjet printers, impact printers, thermal transfer printers, direct thermal printers, typewriters, copiers, or other suitable graphic printing devices are preferred, but not necessarily, for use with the printable surface according to the present invention. Absent.

  The label stock is preferably, but not necessarily, composed of any suitable paper, paper composite, film, plastic, fabric, non-metallic and / or metal sheet material that can be used as a label. The selection of a suitable material will depend in part on the desired application, including factors such as desired color, moisture stability, flexibility, elongation, elasticity, sensitivity to imaging materials, and the like.

  One skilled in the art will be able to easily select a label stock material suitable for the desired application.

  Commonly known shapes include 8.5 × 5.5 inch (216 × 140 mm) standard paper size, US standard letter size (ie, dimensions 8 1/2 × 11 inches or 216 × 279 mm), legal size (8 .5 × 14 inches (216 × 356 mm)), A4 (ie, dimensions 210 × 297 mm), and postcard sizes (ie, dimensions 4 × 6 inches or 100 × 148.5 mm). The label assembly is of any suitable shape and is generally of any suitable dimension that can be received and fed by a printer such as a laser printer or ink jet printer.

  The label can be adhered by an adhesive. In many embodiments, the adhesive will be pressure sensitive. If desired, depending on the required labeling performance of the label, for example, an adhesive activated by heat or reaction of an initiator may be used. As desired, a position adjustable, removable permanent bond adhesive may be used. When using a light transmissive adhesive, the color of the support to which the label is applied is thought to have a specific effect through the label, for example, when using the label as a name tag, wearing a different color garment A label on a person will have a unique appearance. If desired, one or more colorants such as pigments and dyes can be incorporated into the adhesive layer to impart the desired appearance to the resulting label.

  One skilled in the art can readily select a suitable adhesive for the selected labeling application.

  One skilled in the art can also readily select a suitable release liner. The choice will depend in part on factors such as adhesive properties, label storage, use, and lamination conditions.

  According to the invention, each separation line can be, for example, at least one die cut line, a kiss cut line (a die cut line that does not extend completely over the layer or the sheet), a laser die cut line, a score cut line, a perforation line, a micro perforation. Lines, chemical etch lines, liquid etch lines, and / or gas etch lines.

  Although carrier sheets having other shapes may be used in accordance with the present invention, the carrier sheet is typically rectangular in shape.

  The present invention is extremely suitable for applications in which labels are individually removed by hand. However, the present invention is not limited to use by hand. The present invention automatically separates the plurality of labels 20 and the second carrier portion 34 from the first carrier portion 32 and then removes the second carrier portion 34 from the plurality of labels 20 and places the plurality of labels 20 on a support. Can be used. The present invention may also be used in applications where a plurality of labels are placed on one or more support objects, and as a group, these labels are laminated at the same relative position as seen on the label assembly 10. it can.

  It will be understood that the details of the above-described embodiments described for purposes of illustration should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Although only a few exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made without substantially departing from the new teachings and advantages of the present invention. It will be understood. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. Further, many embodiments do not achieve all of the advantages of some embodiments, particularly preferred embodiments, but the absence of specific advantages means that such embodiments are outside the scope of the present invention. It is recognized that it may be considered that it should not be construed as an inevitable meaning.

Claims (5)

A carrier sheet having a front main surface and a back main surface;
A plurality of labels releasably bonded to the front main surface of the carrier sheet,
The carrier sheet has at least one enclosure type separation line;
The separation line defines a first carrier portion and a second carrier portion corresponding to each label;
The second carrier portion has a smaller area than the area of the label;
The second carrier portion comprises at least one tab extending beyond the outer periphery of the label;
The label and the second carrier portion are configured to separate from the first carrier portion while at least a portion of the second carrier portion remains releasably adhered to the label ;
The plurality of labels are arranged adjacent to each other,
A label assembly , wherein one label of the plurality of labels covers the at least one tab corresponding to an adjacent label.   The label assembly of claim 1, wherein the separation line is substantially below the label.   The label assembly of claim 1, further comprising a matrix releasably adhered to the front major surface of the carrier sheet and surrounding a plurality of labels.   The label assembly of claim 1, further comprising a strip releasably adhered to the front major surface of the carrier sheet and positioned adjacent to the label.   The label assembly of claim 3, further comprising a strip releasably adhered to the front major surface of the carrier sheet and positioned between the matrix and the label.

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