WO2022069876A1

WO2022069876A1 - Sealing tape

Info

Publication number: WO2022069876A1
Application number: PCT/GB2021/052487
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard Paul HOBSON
Original assignee: We Seal Limited
Priority date: 2020-09-29
Filing date: 2021-09-24
Publication date: 2022-04-07
Also published as: GB2599379A; GB202015406D0

Abstract

The present application describes a resealable sealing tape for sealing a bag, comprising a substantially transparent and flexible elongate substrate (102) having a first surface (104) and an opposed second surface (106); at least one first ink region (108) comprising a first ink disposed on the first surface, wherein at least one unprinted region (110) is defined within a perimeter of the first ink region; at least one second ink region (112) comprising a second ink disposed on the second surface, wherein the at least one second ink region corresponds with the at least one unprinted region on the first surface; and an adhesive layer (114) disposed on the second surface and the at least one second ink region. A method of manufacturing a resealable sealing tape is also described.

Description

SEALING TAPE

The present invention relates to sealing a flexible container such as a plastic or paper bag used to package bread, vegetables, salad, fruit, or the like. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a sealing tape for closing an open end of a flexible container, such as a bag, and to a method of manufacturing such a sealing tape.

It is known to package a food product, such as bread, in a paper or plastic bag and to close/seal an open end of the bag with a sealing tape. A bagging machine for packaging product in a bag typically includes an automatic bag sealer suitable for horizontal or vertical bagging applications. The bag sealer receives the neck of a bag being transported by a conveyor, applies a predetermined length of adhesive tape around the bag neck to close/seal the bag, and cuts the adhered ends of the tape, before repeating the sealing operation for a following bag.

The bag sealer uses an adhesive tape that has equally pitched portions along its length where the adhesive has been neutralised and is configured to perpendicularly cut the tape in the middle of these neutralised portions to provide a sealing tape having non-bonded ends which are pulled apart by a user to open the seal and gain access to the bag.

It is known for such a bag to be maliciously opened and the contents thereof tampered with, even if the contents has a relatively low unit value, such as bread. For example, it has been known for retailers to unseal and open bags containing sliced loaves of bread, remove a number of slices from each bag, and reseal the bags with the same sealing tape. New bags of sliced bread can then be made up with the slices fraudulently removed from the other bags for the retailer to sell at the disadvantage of the customer who is unknowingly getting less bread for retail price of the original untampered product. It is also known that retail competitors can open a bag and place insects or other contaminants therein before resealing the bag to cause reputational damage. It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a sealing tape for sealing a plastic or paper bag and which is configured to indicate the tape has been maliciously opened.

It is an aim of certain embodiments of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing a tamper evident sealing tape for sealing a plastic or paper bag.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a resealable sealing tape for sealing a bag, comprising: applying a first ink on a first surface of a substantially transparent and flexible elongate substrate to define at least one first ink region on the first surface, wherein at least one unprinted region is defined within a perimeter of the first ink region; applying a second ink on a second surface of the substrate opposed to the first surface to define at least one second ink region on the second surface, wherein the at least one second ink region corresponds with the at least one unprinted region on the first surface; and applying an adhesive layer on the second surface and the at least one second ink region.

Optionally, the first ink and the second ink are substantially opaque.

Optionally, the first ink is a different colour to the second ink.

Optionally, the at least one unprinted region defines at least one letter, at least one number, and/or a predetermined pattern.

Optionally, the at least one first ink region extends along a major portion of the substrate and entirely across a width of the substrate.

Optionally, the adhesive layer extends along a major portion of the substrate and entirely across a width of the substrate. Optionally, the method comprises intermittently applying the adhesive layer along the substrate to define spaced apart non-adhesive regions on the second surface.

Optionally, the method comprises cutting across the substrate within each non- adhesive region to provide at least one sealing tape having a first end region having a first end edge and a second end region having a second end edge.

Optionally, the method comprises cutting across the substrate within each non- adhesive region at an angle which is non-perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the substrate.

Optionally, the angle is around 30-80 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis.

Optionally, the at least one unprinted region on the first surface and the at least one second ink region on the second surface are disposed proximal to an end region of the or each sealing tape.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a resealable sealing tape for sealing a bag, comprising: a substantially transparent and flexible elongate substrate having a first surface and an opposed second surface; at least one first ink region comprising a first ink disposed on the first surface, wherein at least one unprinted region is defined within a perimeter of the first ink region; at least one second ink region comprising a second ink disposed on the second surface, wherein the at least one second ink region corresponds with the at least one unprinted region on the first surface; and an adhesive layer disposed on the second surface and the at least one second ink region.

Optionally, the first ink and the second ink are substantially opaque.

Optionally, the first ink is a different colour to the second ink. Optionally, the at least one unprinted region defines at least one letter, at least one number, and/or a predetermined pattern.

Optionally, the adhesive layer extends along a major portion of the substrate and entirely across a width of the substrate.

Optionally, the tape comprises a first end region and a second end region each having no adhesive on the second surface.

Optionally, a first end edge of the first end region and a second end edge of the second end region are oriented at an angle which is non-perpendicular with respect to a longitudinal axis.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a use of a resealable sealing tape according to the second aspect of the present invention to seal a bag.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a bag comprising a resealable sealing tape according to the second aspect of the present invention.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of sealing a bag, comprising: locating an adhesive portion of an elongate piece of resealable sealing tape around a neck of a bag; and engaging first and second end portions of the sealing tape together, wherein the sealing tape comprises: a substantially transparent and flexible elongate substrate having a first surface and an opposed second surface; at least one first ink region comprising a first ink disposed on the first surface, wherein at least one unprinted region is defined within a perimeter of the first ink region; at least one second ink region comprising a second ink disposed on the second surface, wherein the at least one second ink region corresponds with the at least one unprinted region on the first surface; and an adhesive layer disposed on the second surface and the at least one second ink region to provide the adhesive portion.

Optionally, the method comprises locating the adhesive portion of the tape in a transport path of the neck of the bag.

Optionally, the method comprises cutting the tape to provide the second end edge region of the tape and to provide a first end edge region of a further piece of sealing tape for sealing a subsequent bag.

Description of the Drawings

Certain embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a clear film substrate of the tape according to certain embodiments of the present invention;

Figure 2 illustrates white ink printed on a first side of the substrate of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 illustrates black ink printed on the opposed second side of the substrate to fill negative regions which were left unprinted on the first side of the substrate;

Figure 4 illustrates the tape wrapped around the neck of a bag and the second surface of each half of the tape adhered together; Figure 5 illustrates the black ink being pulled away from the second surface by the adhesive when the two halves are urged apart; and

Figure 6 illustrates evidence of tampering when a person who has tampered with the tape attempts to reseal the tape.

Detailed Description

As illustrated in Figure 1 , an initial step of manufacturing a tamper evident sealing tape according to certain embodiments of the present invention is to provide a substantially transparent, and preferably clear and colourless, elongate substrate 102 having a first surface 104 and an opposed second surface 106. Aptly, the substrate is a length of transparent film. Aptly, the substrate is polypropylene or the like.

As illustrated in Figure 2, a substantially opaque first ink 108, such as white ink, is then printed on the first surface 104 of the film 102 to substantially cover the first surface, whilst leaving a plurality of spaced apart regions 110 unprinted and free from ink to thereby provide one or more unprinted regions 110, i.e. a negative, corresponding to a predetermined pattern, lettering, logo, or the like, on the film. At this stage, the unprinted regions expose the film and are transparent. The first ink extends across the entire width of the film from one edge to the other edge and to each end to substantially cover the film, apart from the negative, unprinted regions 110. Alternatively, the first ink may cover a smaller, major portion of the film, or even a minor portion of the film, whilst containing at least one negative, unprinted region 110 within the boundaries of the first ink region. The first ink 108 may be applied to the first surface of the film by suitable means other than printing such as stencilling or embossing, or the like.

As illustrated in Figure 3, a substantially opaque second ink 112, which is preferably different in at least colour to the first ink 108, such as a black ink to contrast against a white first ink 108, is then applied, e.g. printed, on the second side and over the negative regions 110, i.e. to fill in the transparent regions corresponding to the unprinted regions on the first side. The second ink region/s comprising the second ink 112 may substantially correspond to the negative regions 110, i.e. the second ink region may comprise lettering, wording or the like to exactly correspond with the unprinted regions 110 on the first surface, the second ink region may be substantially larger than the negative/unprinted regions 110 to thereby cover them whilst extending beyond their boundaries. In the illustrated example, the negative regions 110 define a brand name but, as described above, they could define one or more regions corresponding to a pattern, logo, domain name, one or more numerals, or the like. Alternatively, the second ink may be substantially the same as the first ink, such as the same colour.

An adhesive 114, such as a resealable pressure-sensitive adhesive typically, but not exclusively, containing rubber or acrylic compounds, is then applied to the second surface along a main body portion 116 of the tape and over the second ink 11 filling/covering the negative regions 110. Adhesive is not applied on the second surface at the end regions of the tape 100 to thereby define non-adhesive end regions 118 which allow the end regions to be easily pulled apart and used as handles/grips when a user wishes to open the tape and unseal the bag. The end regions 118 each include an angled end edge 120 created by an angled cutter when the continuous length of tape is cut into the respective tape portions by a suitable bag sealing machine. Alternatively, the end edges 120 may be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tape.

The end edges 120 are cut in the same direction such that when the tape portion is wrapped around the neck of a bag by the bag sealing machine, the angled end edges are in opposite directions when the end regions are brought together, as illustrated in Figure 4. This provides a pair of ‘ears’ which are easier to grip and pull apart than conventional end regions which are perpendicularly cut and wherein the end edges exactly align with each other when the tape is wrapped around the neck of a bag and the end regions are brought together. As illustrated in Figure 4, the tape 100 is wrapped around the neck of a bag (not shown) and substantially folded in half such that opposed regions of the body portion 116 adhere to each other in view of the adhesive on the second surface to securely seal the bag, whilst the end regions 118 are not adhered together to allow for easy opening. As illustrated in Figure 5, to gain access into the bag, the end regions 1 18 of the tape 100 are pulled apart and an increased force is then required to overcome the adhesion force of the adhesive on the second surface of the opposed regions of the tape which is otherwise adhering them together. As the opposed regions of the tape are urged apart, the adhesive 114 on a first one of the opposed regions applies a force to the adhesive on the other one of the opposed regions which includes the second ink 112 and pulls away the adhesive covering the second ink 112. In turn, the second ink 112 remains adhered to the adhesive covering it and is urged away from the second surface of the film 102 to thereby expose the transparent negative regions 110 defining the lettering, logo, pattern or the like. The second ink 112 may comprise or support a lacquer or other suitable component to facilitate release of the second ink from the second surface of the film.

As illustrated in Figure 6, if a person attempts to close the tape 100 around the neck of the bag to thereby reseal the bag after tampering with the contents thereof, it is impossible, or at least particularly difficult in accordance with the intricacy of the design, to realign the second ink 112 exactly within the boundaries of the negative regions 110 and, as such, a visual indication of a tamper event is provided to an authorised person and/or the end user or consumer. If the first and second inks are the same colour, for example, transparent regions will be visible by a person as a result of the misalignment of the second ink on the second surface of the substrate with the negative regions defined in the first ink region on the first surface of the substrate to thereby evidence a tamper event. However, the tape in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention still allows the intended consumer to reseal a bag after opening.

Certain embodiments of the present invention therefore provide a sealing tape which is non-complex to manufacture and which efficiently provides a visual indication to an authorised person and/or an end user or consumer that the contents of a bag otherwise securely sealed with such a tape has been tampered with or opened for the first time without preventing the tape being used by the intended consumer to reseal the bag.

Claims

9 Claims

1 . A method of manufacturing a resealable sealing tape for sealing a bag, comprising: applying a first ink on a first surface of a substantially transparent and flexible elongate substrate to define at least one first ink region on the first surface, wherein at least one unprinted region is defined within a perimeter of the first ink region; applying a second ink on a second surface of the substrate opposed to the first surface to define at least one second ink region on the second surface, wherein the at least one second ink region corresponds with the at least one unprinted region on the first surface; and applying an adhesive layer on the second surface and the at least one second ink region.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first ink and the second ink are substantially opaque.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the first ink is a different colour to the second ink.

4. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one unprinted region defines at least one letter, at least one number, and/or a predetermined pattern.

5. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one first ink region extends along a major portion of the substrate and entirely across a width of the substrate.

6. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein the adhesive layer extends along a major portion of the substrate and entirely across a width of the substrate.

7. The method according to any preceding claim, comprising intermittently applying the adhesive layer along the substrate to define spaced apart nonadhesive regions on the second surface.

8. The method according to claim 7, comprising cutting across the substrate within each non-adhesive region to provide at least one sealing tape having a first end region having a first end edge and a second end region having a second end edge.

9. The method according to claim 8, comprising cutting across the substrate within each non-adhesive region at an angle which is non-perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the substrate.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the angle is around 30-80 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis.

11 . The method according to any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the at least one unprinted region on the first surface and the at least one second ink region on the second surface are disposed proximal to an end region of the or each sealing tape.

12. A resealable sealing tape for sealing a bag, comprising: a substantially transparent and flexible elongate substrate having a first surface and an opposed second surface; at least one first ink region comprising a first ink disposed on the first surface, wherein at least one unprinted region is defined within a perimeter of the first ink region; at least one second ink region comprising a second ink disposed on the second surface, wherein the at least one second ink region corresponds with the at least one unprinted region on the first surface; and an adhesive layer disposed on the second surface and the at least one second ink region.

13. The tape according to claim 12, wherein the first ink and the second ink are substantially opaque. 11

14. The tape according to claim 13, wherein the first ink is a different colour to the second ink.

15. The tape according to any of claims 12 to 14, wherein the at least one unprinted region defines at least one letter, at least one number, and/or a predetermined pattern.

16. The tape according to any of claims 12 to 15, wherein the at least one first ink region extends along a major portion of the substrate and entirely across a width of the substrate.

17. The tape according to any of claims 12 to 16, wherein the adhesive layer extends along a major portion of the substrate and entirely across a width of the substrate.

18. The tape according to claim 17, comprising a first end region and a second end region each having no adhesive on the second surface.

19. The tape according to claim 18, wherein a first end edge of the first end region and a second end edge of the second end region are oriented at an angle which is non-perpendicular with respect to a longitudinal axis.

20. The tape according to claim 19, wherein the angle is around 30-80 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis.

21 . Use of a resealable sealing tape according to any of claims 12 to 20 to seal a bag.

22. A bag comprising a resealable sealing tape according to any of claims 12 to 20. 12

23. A method of sealing a bag, comprising: locating an adhesive portion of an elongate piece of resealable sealing tape around a neck of a bag; and engaging first and second end portions of the sealing tape together, wherein the sealing tape comprises: a substantially transparent and flexible elongate substrate having a first surface and an opposed second surface; at least one first ink region comprising a first ink disposed on the first surface, wherein at least one unprinted region is defined within a perimeter of the first ink region; at least one second ink region comprising a second ink disposed on the second surface, wherein the at least one second ink region corresponds with the at least one unprinted region on the first surface; and an adhesive layer disposed on the second surface and the at least one second ink region to provide the adhesive portion.

24. The method according to claim 23, comprising locating the adhesive portion of the tape in a transport path of the neck of the bag.

25. The method according to claim 23 or 24, comprising cutting the tape to provide the second end edge region of the tape and to provide a first end edge region of a further piece of sealing tape for sealing a subsequent bag.