WO1995011504A1

WO1995011504A1 - Labelling products

Info

Publication number: WO1995011504A1
Application number: PCT/GB1993/002521
Authority: WO
Inventors: Junichi Kobayashi
Original assignee: Ko-Pack Corporation; Ko-Pack (Uk) Ltd.
Priority date: 1993-10-21
Filing date: 1993-12-09
Publication date: 1995-04-27
Also published as: AU5573794A; GB9321727D0

Abstract

A shipping label comprises an adhesive label portion and an associated invoice portion. The invoice portion can be folded to a narrow width and a transparent cover sheet initially adhered as part of the label assembly can be peeled away and re-attached on the other side of the label assembly to protect same and secure the invoice portion in place.

Description

LABELLING PRODUCTS

This invention relates to labelling products and methods of making same.

We refer to our prior published European specification EP-A-0 512 153 entitled "Labelling Product Using Adhesive Seal". There is disclosed in this prior specification a double-sided labelling product in which two substantially identical labels are secured back-to- back without the need for an intermediate backing layer coated with release material, which backing layer would be discarded. This result is achieved by the use of a particular arrangement of bands of adhesive and release material, arranged alternately, as disclosed in the published EP specification.

We have identified a need for a labelling product in which advantage is taken of the technology approach disclosed in our prior EP specification in order to provide labelling products which better meet the needs of such situations as, for example, shipping labels and the like.

One requirement of a shipping label, which is affixed to wooden and other boxes is that it be protected from mechanical abrasion and like adverse operating conditions, so that the destination and/or other data entered on the label is preserved. A further requirement of shipping labels concerns the provision of a delivery note or invoice or like matter. Conventionally this latter requirement is met by the provision of a transparent plastic wallet or envelope affixed to the carton or container or box and into which conventional documentation is inserted and the envelope closed. Likewise, the conventional approach to the protection of shipping labels from abrasion is to provide the shipper with a roll of specially prepared protective transparent

SUBSTITUTE SHEET labels, one of which is selected and affixed to the shipping container over the previously affixed conventional shipping label in order that a transparent plastic protection layer is provided.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved means and a corresponding method for meeting labelling requirements of the above kind and related kinds.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method and apparatus for labelling products in which a double-sided or back-to- back labelling product is employed to provide, in one laminar product, both a product label, enabling identification of destination, contents or otherwise, and a means for protecting or covering same to offer increased security during transit.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method and a product in relation to an adhesive labelling product. Two back-to-back labelling products adhere to each other. A first of these, designated A, carries printed matter for adhesion to a suitable substrate or product. A second of these, designated B, provides cover means to initially cover an adhesive region on A, and then to adhere to the other side of A.

In one embodiment, the labelling product has, in back-to-back relationship, a label and a transparent and adhesive protective covering sheet. Upon separation of these back-to-back layers, the label can be applied to the product and the backing sheet can then be applied over the label so as to protect it.

In another embodiment, the transparent backing sheet is provided in a particular form to enable the label portion to provide an additional function.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET One example of the additional function provided by the label portion is the provision, in addition to a standard address or product identification function, of a delivery note or invoice or like function. This latter is provided by an adjoining portion of the label, for example a portion connected to it by a tear line or perforation line.

The delivery note or invoice portion is arranged to be folded prior to covering it with the transparent protective portion. Release material is provided on the exposed surface of the folded portion of the label. As a result, after the transparent covering layer has been applied, a portion of the latter (for example defined by tear lines) can be removed (this portion being aligned with the release material) so as to enable a user to gain access to the invoice or delivery note.

In this way, the labelling product offers both protection of the label portion, and indeed of the delivery note portion, and access to the latter merely by tearing-off an identified portion of the covering layer. This latter portion can be suitably identified for the user to perform the tearing or separating function.

It will be seen that the back-to-back labelling product enables a user to be supplied in large quantities with shipping or like labels, each one of which provides the entire label and protective covering structures. The label part can be readily provided with the destination data or other data, and likewise the delivery note portion can be suitably and easily filled-in using conventional computer-controlled techniques. The label assembly is readily applied to the product merely by separating the transparent protective covering sheet from the remainder of the label, applying the latter to the product, folding the relevant portion (namely the delivery note portion) and then re-applying the transparent backing portion over the applied label at the appropriate location so that subsequent tearing to release the delivery note or invoice can be performed.

It will be seen that the product is economical in construction, readily manufactured, and likewise readily used and offers significant advantages over existing conventional shipping labels.

The embodiments of the invention provide a labelling product offering technically and commercially advantageous properties. From a conveniently produced web of labelling products which can be handled on sprocket-fed and like devices in a mass production manner, there can be provided the means for rapidly and conveniently providing labelling means having an instantly and conveniently available transparent cover means. If desired, the label can have adjoining it associated additional information, such as an invoice. This additional information can be conveniently covered and protected by an adhesive cover sheet. This cover sheet is instantly available from one side of the labelling product. The cover sheet provides access to the additional information by means of tear lines. In short, what is effectively a booklet-type label is provided in a conveniently-handleable web assembly which can be rapidly processed by the end user to produce the required booklet-type label construction.

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

Fig 1 shows a plan view of a web comprising successive address label/invoice portions;

Fig 2 shows a section on the lines II-II in Fig i;

SUBSTITUTE SHEET Fig 3 shows the components of Fig 2 re-arranged and folded by the end user for application to a product; and

Fig 4 shows the labelling product of the preceding figures actually adhered to a product and ready for use by a customer.

As shown in Fig 1 a web 10 of label products 12 comprises detachable sprocket feed strips 14 having conventionally spaced apertures to cooperate with sprocket pins (not shown) .

Each label product 12 comprises an address label portion 16 and an invoice portion 18.

Successive label products 12 are arranged side by side on web 10 at 20, 22, 24 etc.

Turning now to Fig 2, label product 12 comprises a label portion 26 and a cover portion 28 adhering thereto. Cover portion 28 is transparent except for the portion thereof which will cover (see Fig 4) the folded invoice portion 18 when the label product is assembled on an article of commerce or product 30.

As shown in Fig 2, label portions 26 is provided with an adhesive coating 32 below its address label portion 16, and over the remainder of its surface, namely the invoice portion thereof, again on the opposite side from the printed matter of the invoice, the label portion 26 is coated with a release material coating 34, the release material being diagrammatically indicated by the letters "R" . Adhesive coating 32 comprises alternate regions or strips of adhesive indicated at "X" and release material "R". The structure and arrangement of these regions of adhesive and release material is as disclosed in our above-mentioned prior-published European specification EP-A-0 512 153 to which reference is

SUBSTITUTE SHEET directed for sufficiency of disclosure in relation to that aspect of the invention.

The cover portion 28 comprises a sheet of mainly transparent material having a corresponding adhesive coating 36 which is likewise constructed in accordance with our prior EP specification EP '153, and comprises alternate regions of release material and adhesive material, as shown in Fig 2.

In Fig 2, the label portion and the cover portion are adhered to each other as a laminar assembly, even though they are shown in Fig 2 somewhat exploded and with the layers of adhesive and release material somewhat diagrammatically indicated. The material of label portion 26 comprises paper or plastics sheet material suitable surface finished.

Turning now to Fig 3, this shows the laminar assembly of Fig 2 suitable disassembled as indicated by arrows 38 and 40. Arrow 38 indicates that the cover portion 28 is peeled away from one side of label portion 26 and assembled over the other side of the label portion, as indicated at 26 in Fig 3. At the same time, the invoice portion 18 of label product 12 is folded, as indicated by arrows 40 so that it adopts the general configuration shown in Fig 3 in which - it adjoins the address label portion 16, ready to be covered by cover portion 28.

As shown in Fig 4, when the assembly has been completed, there is provided address label portion 16 which adheres by adhesive coating 32 to product 30 and is covered by transparent cover portion 28. Invoice portion 18 is in folded condition with its release material 34 engaging the adhesive coating 36 of cover portion 28. Perforations indicated at 38 and disposed in parallel lines enable a portion 40 of cover portion 28 to be torn away to provide access to invoice 18. In use, the user receives a web 10 of the label products 12 and separates these from the sprocket feed strips 14 which are merely secured by perforations. Then, successive label products 20, 22 and 24 are separated from each other by virtue of the perforations therebetween.

Each label product is then brought into use by virtue of the sequence of the operations indicated in Figs 2, 3 and 4, as follows. Firstly, invoice portion 18 is folded in the manner indicated in Fig 3. Removed cover .portion 28 is then placed over the folded invoice portion and over address portion 16 as indicated in Fig 3 and the assembly adhered together. The inner end portion of cover portion 28 serves to adhere the invoice portion 18 to the product 30.

In a modification, not illustrated, the cover portion 28 is of dimensions and constructed and arranged so as merely to conveniently cover the folded invoice portion 18, while allowing the label portion 16 to remain mainly uncovered.

In another modification, the cover portion merely serves as a cover for the label portion 16, there being no invoice portion 18.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

Claims

1 A label assembly comprising back-to-back label elements adhesively secured to each other, one of said label elements comprising printed matter for adhesion to a suitable substrate or product, and the other of said label elements comprising cover means to initially cover an adhesive region on the first of said label elements and then to adhere to the other side thereof.

2 A label assembly comprising back-to-back label elements of which one is adapted to be separated from the other and to provide a full or partial cover thereover.

3 A label assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that said other of said label elements provides transparent or translucent protection for printed matter on said one of said label elements.

4 A label assembly according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that said one of said label elements is adapted to be folded and carries release material so that said other of said label elements can be applied over said release material and subsequently peeled therefrom, or a portion peeled therefrom.

5 A label assembly according to claim 4 characterised in that said other of said label elements comprises tear lines to enable a defined portion thereof to be removed to gain access to the folded portion of said one of said label elements.

6 A label assembly according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that said other of said label elements is constructed and arranged so as to be capable of covering only a folded portion of said one of said label elements.

7 A label assembly according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that said label assembly comprises adhesive areas comprising a peelable adhesive system including complementary spaced and successive areas of adhesive and release material.

8 A method of labelling a product comprising peeling apart a back-to-back label assembly and applying one of the label elements thereof over at least a portion of the other thereof so as to protect same or to provide retaining and/or protection means for a folded portion thereof.