WO2008071989A1

WO2008071989A1 - Label assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2008071989A1
Application number: PCT/GB2007/004808
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alan Thomas Lewis
Original assignee: Tungate Print & Packaging Limited
Priority date: 2006-12-15
Filing date: 2007-12-14
Publication date: 2008-06-19
Also published as: EP2145328A1; GB0625013D0

Abstract

A heat shrinkable label assembly (10) in the form of a sleeve. The assembly (10) including a printed PVC outer layer with an inner thermally insulating body layer (24). Borders of just the PVC strip (12) are provided on one side, and above and below the body layer (24), to enable the seam for the sleeve to be produced, and also to provide enhanced mounting of the assembly (10) on an item.

Description

Label Assembly

This invention concerns label assemblies, and particularly label assemblies in the form of sleeves which can be heat shrunk onto a container or other article, blanks for forming such sleeves, and methods of forming such assemblies and blanks.

Heat shrinkable cylindrical label assemblies are used on a wide range of containers, and particularly food containers such as bottles, jars or cans. Such labels are used to provide decoration and/or information. These labels are produced by forming a sheet material into a sleeve, locating the sleeve onto a container, and applying heat to cause the label to shrink onto the container.

Problems can be encountered with the joint in the sheet material which forms the sleeve, as this may be visually significant and/or provide an undesired projection. Sometimes body materials can be provided as part of the label assembly, which materials may be provided as part of a laminate. Such body materials can however produce a more pronounced joint in the sleeve. Furthermore such body materials can provide a less than smooth finish to the label after shrinkage, and particularly at upper and lower parts of the label where greater amounts of shrinkage may take place due to the converging shape of the container. The body materials may for instance be thermally insulating for use in containers which are to be heated, or may have a heated material such as boiling water added to them. The provision of a body material may particularly affect the base of a container such that it does not^" stand ^"securely on a surrace.

According to the present invention there is provided a label assembly, the assembly including a outer heat shrinkable layer, and a heat shrinkable planar body layer laminated to the outer layer, the outer layer extending beyond the body layer at top and bottom parts and one side of the assembly to provide borders, the outer and body layer laminate being formed into a sleeve by the side border only of the outer layer overlapping and being adhered to the other side of the outer layer.

The invention also provides a blank formable into a heat shrinkable sleeve label assembly, the blank including an outer heat shrinkable layer, and a heat shrinkable planar body layer laminated to the outer layer, the outer layer extending beyond the body layer at top and bottom parts and one side of the assembly to provide borders.

At least part of the inner side of the outer layer may be printed. Printing may not be provided on the borders of the outer layer.

The body layer may be a thermally insulating material, may be a foamed material, and may be expanded polystyrene foam.

The outer layer may be PVC.

The body layer may be adhered to the outer layer, and may be adhered by a UV curable adhesive.

The invention further provides a method of forming a plurality of label assemblies, the method including applying adhesive to parts of an elongate strip of a heat shrinkable layer material such that a border without adhesive is provided along parts corresponding to the top and bottom and one side of each label assembly, locating a body layer material on the outer layer material to adhe^'re^'to the parts tnereot where adhesive is provided, cutting the body layer between the borders and the adhered parts, removing the non adhered parts of body material from the outer layer material to form a laminate with a non continuous layer of body material applying adhesive to the inner face of the side borders, and folding the laminate into a loop such that the side borders overlap and adhere onto the outside of the opposite side of the outer layer material to form a sleeve.

The invention still further provides a method of forming a blank for producing a plurality of sleeve label assemblies, the method including applying adhesive to parts of an elongate strip of a heat shrinkable layer material such that a border without adhesive is provided along parts corresponding to the top and bottom and one side of each label assembly, locating a body layer material on the outer layer material to adhere to the parts thereof where adhesive is provided, cutting the body layer between the borders and the adhered parts, removing the non adhered parts of body material from the outer layer material to form a laminate with a non continuous layer of body material.

The body material may be die cut.

A UV curable adhesive may be applied to the outer layer to adhere the body material thereto to form a sleeve. UV light may be applied subsequent to application of the adhesive, to cause curing thereof.

Initially an additional border of outer layer material may be provided on the opposite side of the body material, and said additional border may be removed subsequent to adhering of the body material to the outer layer material.

The outer layer material may be printed on an inner side thereof, prior ^~tb^~ap plication^" of adhesive thereto^".

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view during formation of label assemblies according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view along the line X-X of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view through part of a further layer assembly according to the invention; and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view through part of a container with a label assembly according to the invention provided thereon.

Figs. 1 and 2 show three label assemblies 10 during formation. The assemblies 10 are formed as follows. An elongate strip 12 of heat shrinkable PVC is provided which initially extends between the side lines 14 and 16. A printed layer 18 is provided on the sheet 12 in the areas corresponding to the three rectangles 20. A layer 22 of UV curable adhesive is then provided in the rectangles 20. A strip of a thermally insulating body layer 24 is located on the strip 12. The body layer is in the form of a strip of expanded polystyrene foam extending between the lines 26 and 28.

UV light is shone onto the assembly 10 to cause the adhesive layer 22 to cure. The body layer 24 is then die cut so as to leave a body layer 24 at the location of the rectangles 20, but allow the remainder of the body layer 24 to be removed. The strip 12 and any overhanging body layer 24 is then cut along the line 28. This leaves the label assemblies 10 each with a main portion 30 with the printed PVC strip 12 and an underlying body layer 24. Upper, lower and side unprinted borders 32, 34, 36 of the PVC strip 12 only are provided around each main portion 30.

The label assemblies 10 are still joined together and can be formed into a sleeve by folding of the strip 12 into a loop with the side borders 36 overlapping the strip 12 on the opposite side. Adhesive 38 can be applied on the underside of the border 36 to cause the border 36 to adhere onto the outside of the strip 12 and form a sleeve. Fig, 3 illustrates the joint in the strip 12 to form a sleeve.

The individual label assemblies 10 can be separated by cutting along the lines 40, and the sleeves located on a container. The assemblies 10 could be separated from each other by cutting the lines 40 immediately prior to, or as the sleeve is located on a container. Radiant heat, or heat in a different form such as steam, can then be applied to cause the strip 12 and body layer 24 to shrink onto the container.

Fig. 4 shows a container 42 with a layer assembly 10 provided thereon with only the strip 12 and body layer 24 shown. As can be seen the container 42 converges at the top and bottom, and therefore maximum shrinkage takes place here. As can also be seen on the upper and lower borders 32, 34 only the strip 12 is provided which can shrink tightly onto the container 42 and provide a neat and secure edge thereto. The thinness of the strip 12 at the bottom of the container 42 means that the assembly 10 does not affect the ability of the container 42 to stand securely on a surface.

There is thus described a sleeve assembly which provides for a number of advantages. The body layer provides thermal insulation thereby allowing a container to be heated or for heated material to be located therein, whilst protecting a person holding the container. The upper and lower borders provided for a neat and secure mounting of the assembly on a container. The feature of the side border only including the outer layer and not the body ^""layer,^"prόvides^{^}for a^"discfeefand strong joint to the sleeve.

It is to be realised that a wide variety of modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, the printing and/or body layers may be provided in a different pattern dependent on the shape and decoration required for a container. Each could extend over a different area than the other. It is important though to provide the borders around the printed layer and particularly the body layer to provide the advantages outlined above. Different materials and adhesives may be used from those described, and it may be that additional layers of material may be included at one or more locations.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance, it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings, whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A label assembly, the assembly including a outer heat shrinkable layer, and a heat shrinkable planar body layer laminated to the outer layer, the outer layer extending beyond the body layer at top and bottom parts and one side of the assembly to provide borders, the outer and body layer laminate being formed into a sleeve by the side border only of the outer layer overlapping and being adhered to the other side of the outer layer.

2. A blank assembly formable into a heat shrinkable sleeve label assembly, the blank including an outer heat shrinkable layer, and a heat shrinkable planar body layer laminated to the outer layer, the outer layer extending beyond the body layer at top and bottom parts and one side of the assembly to provide borders.

3. An assembly according to claims 1 or 2, characterised in that at least part of the inner side of the outer layer is printed.

4. An assembly according to claim 3, characterised in that printing is not provided on the borders of the outer layer.

5. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the body layer is a thermally insulating material.

6. An assembly according to claim 5, characterised in that the body layer is a foamed material.

7. An assembly according to claim 6, characterised in that the body layer is expanded polystyrene foam.

8. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the outer layer is PVC.

9. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the body layer is adhered to the outer layer.

10. An assembly according to claim 9, characterised in that the body layer is adhered to the outer layer by a UV curable adhesive.

11. A method of forming a plurality of label assemblies, the method including applying adhesive to parts of an elongate strip of a heat shrinkable layer material such that a border without adhesive is provided along parts corresponding to the top and bottom and one side of each label assembly, locating a body layer material on the outer layer material to adhere to the parts thereof where adhesive is provided, cutting the body layer between the borders and the adhered parts, removing the non adhered parts of body material from the outer layer material to form a laminate with a non continuous layer of body material applying adhesive to the inner face of the side borders, and folding the laminate into a loop such that the side borders overlap and adhere onto the outside of the opposite side of the outer layer material to form a sleeve.

12. A method according to claim 11 , characterised in that a UV curable adhesive is applied to the outer layer to adhere the body material thereto to form a sleeve.

13. A method according to claim 12, characterised in that UV light is applied subsequent to application of the adhesive, to cause curing thereof.

14. ^• A method of forming a blank for producing a plurality of sleeve label assemblies, the method including applying adhesive to parts of an elongate strip of a heat shrinkable layer material such that a border without adhesive is provided along parts corresponding to the top and bottom and one side of each label assembly, locating a body layer material on the outer layer material to adhere to the parts thereof where adhesive is provided, cutting the body layer between the borders and the adhered parts, removing the non adhered parts of body materia! from the outer layer material to form a laminate with a non continuous layer of body material.

15. A method according to any of claims 11 to 14, characterised in that the body material is die cut.

16. A method according to any of claims 11 to 15, characterised in that initially an additional border of outer layer material is provided on the opposite side of the body material, and said additional border is removed subsequent to adhering of the body material to the outer layer material.

17. A method according to any of claims 11 to 16, characterised in that the outer layer material is printed on an inner side thereof, prior to application of adhesive thereto.