The present invention relates generally to label laminates, and, more specifically, to manufacturing thereof.
The ubiquitous label laminate is found in various configurations for various uses, and is manufactured in various manners. The typical consumer label product is in the form of two-ply label sheet having multiple die cut labels removably bonded using pressure sensitive adhesive to an underlying liner coated with a release agent such as silicone.
The liner is typically mass produced in large rolls and then subsequently laminated to a face sheet also provided from large rolls. The laminated face sheet is then suitably die cut to define the individual labels thereon, with the laminate typically being produced in a continuous web which is then divided into sheets which are either cut or folded into stacked reams, or wound into a continuous roll.
Cut sheet labels are typically sold to consumers in stationery stores. The fan-fold and roll forms of label laminates are typically custom tailored for use by large commercial establishments for high speed use in large volume.
One variation of label laminates includes an integral form sheet extending in single ply from the two-ply laminate for providing a combined single sheet form/label configuration. These integrated sheets are typically custom tailored in configuration and size for the particular commercial customer. And, these integrated sheets are typically pre-printed with standard information such as company identification and other indicia indicative of the intended use of the sheet such as in commercial sales transactions.
The labels may be custom configured for customer and return address labels. The integral form may be configured for a packing list or invoice. And, in the typical pharmaceutical application, the various labels are specifically configured for identifying the particular pharmaceutical drug transaction, with the integral form containing use instructions and other details of the commercial drug purchase.
Since the integrated form/label sheet includes the two-ply label laminate and the adjoining single ply form sheet, the manufacture thereof is correspondingly complex, with associated cost. And, the combined one-ply and two-ply integrated sheet affects its subsequent use in printing by the intended customer in either small volume laser printers, for example, or in large volume high-speed printers.
As indicated above, pre-manufactured liner material may be laminated with pre-manufactured label material typically in continuous webs unwound from corresponding rolls. The singly ply form sheet may be suitably joined to the laminate with either a bonded lap-joint construction, or by integrating the form sheet with the face sheet defining the labels, with a liner patch laminated to the back side.
In this configuration, the liner and face sheet materials are fundamentally different from each other, even if made from ordinary paper. Ordinary paper is typically porous, which permits desirable printing thereon in various forms of printers. However, porous paper increases the difficulty of forming a suitable liner.
Liners are typically manufactured by applying a coating of liquid silicone which is then suitably cured, typically using ultraviolet (UV) light during the manufacturing process. If the paper is porous and readily absorbs the liquid silicone, the cured silicone may not form a suitable release coating for the pressure sensitive adhesive of the laminated face sheet.
Accordingly, liner material is typically formed from supercalendered kraft (SCK) paper which is pressed thinner than ordinary bond paper to prevent excess absorption of the liquid silicone during the manufacture of the release liner. In this way, a minimum amount of silicone will coat the SCK paper and will rapidly cure in the high-speed production transport thereof to form a smooth release surface having the desired release characteristics with the selected adhesive for permitting subsequent removal of individual adhesive labels therefrom.
The resulting integrated label/form sheet therefore includes a single ply face sheet for both the labels and form sheet, with a smaller patch of the thinner SCK liner bonded to the back side of the labels by the pressure sensitive adhesive laminated therebetween. Since the liner and face sheet have different material compositions and thicknesses, they are subject to undesirable curling thereof due to changes in temperature and relative humidity. Temperature and humidity cause the liner and face sheet to expand and contract differently from each other and leading to curl of the laminate which may cause misfeeding or jamming in typical printers.
One advantage of the edge joined laminate and form sheet is that a continuous web thereof may be driven through a printing press in a single pass for printing the front and back sides of the web at relatively low cost. In this way, the custom printed sheets may then be suitably packaged in stacks or rolls and sold to the corresponding commercial customer for subsequent use in laser printers or high-speed printers.
In another method of construction, the face sheet may be provided in a web and driven through the printer in one pass for printing thereof. The liner, in web form, may then be driven through the printer in another pass for printing the back side thereof as desired. And, the face sheet and liner are then laminated together with pressure sensitive adhesive therebetween in yet another processing step.
These multiple processing steps correspondingly increase the cost of production as opposed to the edge-joined production method disclosed above. However, the materials typically cost less in this multiprocess procedure as compared to the edge-joined procedure described above. Nevertheless, the multi-pass process typically results in the end product being more costly.
Accordingly, it is desired to provide an improved method of manufacturing label laminates, corresponding apparatus therefor, and the corresponding product produced thereby.
A foldform label laminate includes a web having first and second bands laminated together along a longitudinal running axis by complementary patterns of release and adhesive disposed therebetween. The patterns of release and adhesive repeat along the running axis to define a series of repeating laminated sheets. The second band has a corresponding label disposed in each of the sheets. Each of the labels is removable from atop the first band, with the adhesive remaining on the label, and the release remaining on the first band.
The invention, in accordance with preferred and exemplary embodiments, together with further objects and advantages thereof, is more particularly described in the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Illustrated schematically in
The web may have any suitable material composition for use in producing the laminates, including paper or various synthetic materials typically used in label construction. The web 14 is divided into three sections which extend longitudinally along the running or dispensing axis of the web as it travels through the press.
The web includes a first or inboard band 18 adjoining second and third outboard bands 20,22 running along laterally opposite edges thereof along the web running axis. The first and second bands 18,20 adjoin each other along a fold line 24 extending along the running axis and parallel to the three bands. The three web bands are integrally joined together in a common or unitary web and therefore having an identical or common material composition and configuration.
The web and its bands have a first or front side or surface 26 and an opposite second or back side or surface 28. In typical paper construction, the web front side 26 may be the wire screen side of the paper, with the web back side 28 being the felt side of the paper. Although the web is made of the same material composition across the bands, the front and back sides thereof are slightly different from each other due to their conventional method of manufacture.
The web includes a pattern of release 30, such as conventional silicone release agent, disposed on its front side 26 atop the inboard first band 18, and a pattern of adhesive 32, such as typical pressure sensitive adhesive, disposed also on the web front side atop the outboard second band 20.
Since the silicone release and adhesive can be initially formulated as liquids, they may be printed atop the web in conventional printing towers commonly found in flexographic printing presses such as the exemplary press illustrated schematically in
Accordingly, the release and adhesive patterns may be applied to the web at any desired locations thereon, including the first, second, or third bands, for the desired label laminate. And, the release and adhesive may be applied in any suitable manner, such as printing or extrusion thereof.
Means in the conventional form of a plow or plough folder 38 are also incorporated in the transport path of the press for folding the web along the fold line 24 on the run as the web is transported through the press. The web is folded along the fold line to join and bond together the corresponding front side portions of the first and second bands 18,20 into the corresponding laminate 12 thereof. In this way, the first and second bands are folded together for exposing to view the common back side portions thereof on opposite sides of the resulting laminate.
Means in the form of a conventional die cutting roller 40 are included in the press following the folding station for cutting the second band 20 to define one or more removable labels 42 therein. Each label 42 is defined by a die cut perimeter 44 in a conventional manner which permits the individual label to be peeled away from the underlying release liner when desired for subsequent use.
An exemplary one of the foldform label laminates 12 manufactured in the press illustrated in
The foldform laminate 12 illustrated in
Since the laminate 12 illustrated in
In this configuration, both bands 18,20 have the same felt surface exposed to the environment and are commonly subject to the temperature and humidity therein. As temperature changes, or as humidity changes, both bands 18,20 will behave in the same manner and thusly substantially reduce or eliminate undesirable curling of the laminate. In this way, when the so-constructed foldform laminate 12 is later fed through a suitable printer, such as the exemplary laser printer 46 illustrated in
In the preferred embodiment illustrated in
The integral leading edge fold 48 increases the leading edge stiffniess in cut-sheet configurations of the laminate, which correspondingly reduces leading edge damage and increases transport reliability through the printer. Furthermore, the fold completely closes the laminate along the leading edge and thusly prevents squeeze-out or liberation of any of the adhesive along this edge due to rolling loads in the laser printer acting on the adhesive softened during passage past the hot fusion roller therein.
Typical pressure sensitive adhesives used in label laminates readily soften under the high temperature of the hot fusion roller in the laser printer. This is also true of many of the conventional adhesives which may be used in the foldform laminate disclosed above. The adhesives may be solvent based, water based, hot melt, warm melt, and UV cured, as well as the various pressure sensitive adhesives typically cured by ultraviolet light.
Since the web 14 illustrated in
Accordingly, means in the form of another printing tower 50 are incorporated in the press for applying or printing a suitable barrier coating 52 atop the first band 18 at the beginning of the transport path prior to applying the release coating on the first band. Barrier coatings are conventional and reduce absorption of the liquid silicone release by the paper web. The release coating may then be applied atop the barrier coating and suitably cured by an ultraviolet (UV) light 54 incorporated in the press following the release tower 34.
A conventional printing tower 56 may be incorporated in the press between the corresponding towers of the barrier and release coatings for printing atop the barrier coating in the first band 18 any suitable print or indicia 58 prior to applying the release 30 atop the print. In this way, the resulting laminate illustrated in
The barrier coating and pre-printing under the release material are optional features in the manufacturing process, and may be used to advantage where desired.
In addition to the option of printing under the release before its application, an additional printing tower 56 may be introduced in an intermediate stage of the press for suitably printing the web 14 outside the first band area occupied by the patterned release 30. This second printing tower 56 may be located immediately following the UV light station for printing the front side of the web after curing the applied release 30, and before folding the web.
Yet another third printing tower 56 may be included in the press on the opposite side of the web so that the second and third printing stations can simultaneously print both the front and back sides of the web as it is transported along the running axis. The locations of the second and third printing towers may be before the folding station as illustrated, or may be after the folding station as desired for suitably printing the web.
In this way, additional print 58 may be disposed on the front side of the third band 22, as well as on the back side of the second band 20 which later becomes laminated atop the first band. As shown in
For example only, one of the labels is printed with the letter “A” which is indicative of any desired printing thereon. The third band contains the print “Form” indicative of any useful information to be printed on the subsequent form sheet. And, the first band 18 is pre-printed with suitable indicia identified by the letter “B” formed below the resulting clear silicone release coating later applied in the press.
The common web illustrated in
In order to improve the efficiency of folding together the first and second bands, the press illustrated in
As shown in
The die cutting station 40 illustrated in
Accordingly, the press illustrated in
The embossing station 60 illustrated in
The fold 48 thusly includes the line of perforation 68 which may be used in the embodiment illustrated in
Since the entire web 14 illustrated in
For example, the third band may be perforated along the running axis which is transverse to the width of the individual label laminates, with the line of perforation 68 being suitably spaced between the trailing edge or bottom edge of the laminate defined by the lower edge of the web and the junction of the first and third bands. The third band may be perforated using the embossing station 60 before the folding process, or it may be perforated after the folding process using the die cutting station 40 as desired.
At the end of the press illustrated in
For example, a conventional sheet cutter 70 may be used for cutting the laminated web into identical and repeating laminate sheets 12, with each sheet including corresponding labels therein. The sheets are cut from the web and suitably stacked in groups or reams, which may be packaged and sold to commercial customers, or to individual consumers. Such cut sheet form of the label laminates may be typically used by the consumer in a suitable printer, such as the laser printer 46, and will enjoy the benefits from the unique and improved configuration thereof.
Alternatively, the fan folding station 72 may be used for conventionally folding the laminated web into a stack of fanfold laminate sheets 12, each including the corresponding labels therein. The fanfold laminates are typically used by commercial customers for high volume applications through high-speed printers, for example.
In yet another embodiment, the rolling station 74 may be conventionally used for rolling the laminated web 14 into a roll of the integrated laminated sheets 12, with each of the sheets including the corresponding labels therein. The individual laminate sheets may be defined by the repeating pattern of labels therein, or may be defined by a suitable indicia between the laminates in the roll.
For example, a transverse row of perforations may be provided laterally across the width of laminated bands for permitting subsequent removal by tearing of individual sheets. However, label sheet rolls are conventional, and are typically used in commercial equipment having integral cutters therein which can repeatedly cut the roll into the individual sheets as they are printed at high volume.
The printing press 10 illustrated schematically in
In a simple embodiment illustrated in
One embodiment illustrated in
In this configuration, the release and adhesive patterns include complementary rectangular patches which are nested inside each other in the pre-folded configuration illustrated in
The small label 42 printed with the letter “B” includes a full coating of the adhesive which is initially laminated to the corresponding rectangle of release 30 centered inside the large label on the second band. The small label may therefore be separately removed from the large label.
However, the large label 42, with letter “A,” has a perimeter band of the adhesive around the center release rectangle and may be removed from the first band and used as a typical adhesive label.
In this configuration, the release pattern 30 is repetitive along the first band 18 not only in each resulting laminate sheet but from sheet to sheet along the running axis of the web. And, the adhesive pattern 32 is similarly repetitive along the second band 20 in each sheet as well as along the running axis of the web. The repetitive release and adhesive patterns are complementary with each other over the fold line 24 so that the adhesive on one band is laminated against release on the opposite band to permit their subsequent delamination.
A particular advantage of the press illustrated in
The ability of the press 10 illustrated in
Furthermore, the release characteristics of the release coating may be varied as desired by using one or more different compositions for the release material in suitable patterns tailored for the specific label configuration.
Note that the adhesive 32 applied to the first band 18 is applied over the release coating 30, with the adhesive being aligned along both sides of the fold line 24 to form a two-ply adhesive laminate thereof after folding together of the two bands.
When the adhesive is applied in half-thickness or half-weight to both sides of the fold line, the final adhesive coat weight is the sum of the two side coatings. This provides a benefit when using water-based pressure sensitive adhesives since thin coatings thereof dry more efficiently and quicker than thicker coatings thereof and improve the throughput capacity of the press.
Illustrated in
In this configuration, the release 30s and adhesive 32s are provided in complementary striped patterns on the first and second bands to provide adhesive on both of the bands which is removably bonded to opposing release on the other band. The resulting adhesive stripes on the large label 42b thusly alternate from one end to the other for permitting the label to be adhesively bonded to the intended surface.
In the embodiment illustrated in
The foldform process of making the individual label laminate sheets in a continuous running web as illustrated in
The two bands 18,20 have identical material composition, with both bands having the same side exposed outwardly, with the same side being laminated together and hidden inside the laminate. Whether the exposed sides of the laminate are the wire or felt sides of the original web is irrelevant since the same side is exposed outwardly and behaves the same under changes in temperature and humidity for eliminating undesirable curling forces which would otherwise occur in different material composition or differently exposed felt or wire sides of typical label laminates.
Note in particular, that typical liner material is thin SCK paper which inherently has a different material composition than the label face sheet due to the different production thereof and the different manufacturing lots. And, the face sheet and SCK liner have their respective wire and felt sides which are different from each other and provide different performance when laminated together in the final product.
Accordingly, the foldform manufacturing process disclosed above and its corresponding apparatus, provide a new and improved manner for producing label laminates with, or without, the integral single-ply form sheets formed therewith. The resulting label laminate sheets enjoy the advantages of single-material composition, and single-side configuration of the opposite exposed surfaces. These are several of many advantages disclosed above which are attributable to the foldform process in the various forms of label laminates which may be produced therefrom.
While there have been described herein what are considered to be preferred and exemplary embodiments of the present invention, other modifications of the invention shall be apparent to those skilled in the art from the teachings herein, and it is, therefore, desired to be secured in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
This application is a division of application Ser. No. 10/419,449; filed Apr. 21, 2003, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/775,998, filed Feb. 2, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,596,359.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 10419449 | Apr 2003 | US |
Child | 11252071 | Oct 2005 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 09775998 | Feb 2001 | US |
Child | 10419449 | Apr 2003 | US |