The present application relates to linerless label media, and is particularly directed to linerless label media in the form of individual linerless labels, rolls of linerless labels, or combined receipt and label rolls, for examples.
A known combined receipt and label roll 10 is shown in
A thermal-sensitive coating 26 is disposed on the front side 18 of the substrate 16. A release coating 28 is disposed on the thermal sensitive coating 26, and is also disposed on the front side 18 of the substrate layer 16. The release coating 28 prevents adhesive 22 on the back side 20 of the substrate 16 from sticking to the front side 18 when the web 12 is wound on the core 14. A longitudinal perforation 50 extends along a direction parallel to web axis 24. The longitudinal perforation 50 divides the web 12 into a first web portion 51 and a second web portion 52. The adhesive 22 is disposed on the first web portion 51. The second web portion 52 is substantially devoid of adhesive.
During use of the combined receipt and label roll 10 of
In an example use of the combined receipt and label 30 of
A limitation of the combined receipt and label 30 shown in
In accordance with one embodiment, linerless label media comprises a substrate, a thermally-sensitive coating, and an adhesive. The substrate has a front side and a back side opposite the front side. The thermally-sensitive coating is disposed on the front side of the substrate. The adhesive is disposed on a portion of the back side of the substrate. The adhesive comprises emulsion polymer particles and high-aspect reinforcement particles dispersed within the emulsion polymer particles to provide a relatively high level of reinforcement per reinforcement particle.
In accordance with another embodiment, linerless label media comprises a substrate, a thermally-sensitive coating, and an adhesive. The substrate has (i) a longitudinally-extending axis, (ii) a front side, and (iii) a back side opposite the front side. The thermally-sensitive coating is disposed on the front side of the substrate. The adhesive is disposed on a portion of the back side of the substrate. The adhesive includes a tapered surface interconnecting first and second adhesive edge surfaces which extend substantially parallel to the longitudinally-extending axis.
In accordance with yet another embodiment, linerless label media comprises a substrate, a thermally-sensitive coating, and an adhesive. The substrate has a front side and a back side opposite the front side. The substrate comprises a transparent material. The thermally-sensitive coating disposed on the front side of the substrate. The thermally-sensitive coating comprises a clear material. The adhesive is disposed on a portion of the back side of the substrate.
Referring to
Web 112 includes a synthetic transparent substrate 116 having front side 118 and back side 120 opposite the front side. Synthetic transparent substrate 116 is more tear-resistant than paper substrates. A pattern of adhesive 122, in the form of spots or strips for example, is disposed on a portion of back side 120 of substrate 116 along web axis 124. The pattern of adhesive 122, as shown in
Each spot or strip of adhesive 122 (such as shown in
Tapered surface 160 of adhesive 122 provides a feathered-type of edge which allows for smoother winding of roll 112 onto core 114 during manufacture. The result is a smooth edge roll 110 which fits better when installed into a thermal printer such as a thermal printer in a point-of-sale terminal. Although tapered surface 160 is shown tapering “downwards” from axis 124 towards outer edge of roll 112, it is conceivable that tapered surface 160 be tapered “downwards” in the opposite direction from outer edge of roll 112 towards axis 124. It is also conceivable that each spot or strip of adhesive 122 has two tapered surfaces. For example, one tapered surface would taper downwards from axis 124 towards outer edge of roll 112, and the other tapered surface would taper downwards from outer edge of roll 112 towards axis 124 to form a cross-section of adhesive 122 which looks like cross-section of a road speed bump. Moreover, it is conceivable that each spot or strip of adhesive 122 has a tapered surface which extends around the perimeter of the adhesive.
Each spot or strip of adhesive 122 comprises an adhesive base material in which high-aspect reinforcement particles 166 have been added during manufacture of the adhesive 122. High-aspect reinforcement particles 166 comprise reinforcement particles in the shape of needles, fibers, platelets, or sheets, for examples. High-aspect reinforcement particles 166 are much larger in size than emulsion polymer particles of the adhesive base material. High aspect reinforcement particles 166 in adhesive 122 provide a three-dimensional reinforcement lattice which increases adhesive stiffness and reduces tack, as will be described in detail hereinbelow.
During manufacture of adhesive 122, high-aspect reinforcement particles 166 are post-added to an aqueous polymer emulsion of the adhesive base material. High-aspect reinforcement particles 166 become dispersed in the aqueous (continuous) phase between emulsion polymer particles to form a second dispersed phase. After application to back side 120 of transparent substrate 116 (
After drying, high-aspect reinforcement particles 166 are held in place within the film and remain where boundaries of the original polymer particles once were. As shown in
Since size of high-aspect reinforcement particles 166 is much larger than emulsion polymer particles of the adhesive base material, the reinforcement particles can interact with many emulsion polymer particles to provide relatively higher levels of reinforcement on a per reinforcement particle basis. Also, since high-aspect reinforcement particles 166 are either one-dimensional (needles or fibers) or two-dimensional (platelets or sheets), the volume of reinforcement material need to achieve relatively higher levels of reinforcement is much lower than would be needed if low-aspect reinforcement particles (e.g., spherical-shaped particles) were used. Since the volume of reinforcement that can be added without stiffening the adhesive and reducing tack of the adhesive is limited, the reduced volume of reinforcement material as a result of using high-aspect reinforcement particles 166 (as described hereinabove) is desirable.
A clear thermally-sensitive coating 126 is disposed on an area covering front side 118 of transparent substrate 116. As an example, clear thermally-sensitive coating 126 may comprise facestock Model No. KPL5270 available from Kanzaki Specialty Papers located in Springfield, Mass. USA. Clear thermally-sensitive facestock 126 is more durable, more tear-resistant, and more moisture-resistant than known opaque thermally-sensitive facestock. Back of the clear thermally-sensitive coating 126 may be clear-colored for a “see through” effect.
Release coating 128 is disposed on front side 118 of transparent substrate 116 along web axis 124 to prevent adhesive 122 from sticking to front side 118 of substrate 116 when web 112 is wound on core 114. Release coating 128 may be disposed on the entire front side 118 of substrate 116 (such as shown in
A longitudinal perforation 150 extends along a direction parallel to web axis 124. Longitudinal perforation 150 divides web 112 into a first web portion 151 and a second web portion 152. Adhesive 122 and release coating 128 are disposed on first web portion 151. Second web portion 152 is substantially devoid of adhesive.
During use of example combined receipt and label roll 110 of
In an example use of the combined receipt and label 130 of
After the customer receives the order from the merchant, the customer manually tears combined receipt and label 130 along longitudinal perforation 150 to separate apart the first and second web portions 151, 152 of the combined receipt and label, as shown in
Although the above description describes combined receipt and label 130 having all features described, it is conceivable that the combined receipt and label may have any combination of the features. It is also conceivable that the above-described features be provided in labels which are other than combined receipt and labels. As an example, any combination of the above-described features may be provided in individual linerless labels. As another example, any combination of the above-identified features may be provided in a linerless label roll. Any size of labels and any size of rolls are possible.
Also, although the above description describes a more durable, a more tear-resistant, and a more moisture-resistant label used in a fast food service environment, it is conceivable that such improved labels may be used in other environments. These other environments may be harsher than a fast food service environment. As an example, labels may be used as baggage tags in a baggage transport environment. The baggage tags may be exposed to inclement weather and handling conditions rougher than in a fast food service environment.
While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of example processes and system components, and while the various processes and components have been described in detail, applicant does not intend to restrict or in any limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional modifications will also readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broadest aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, implementations, or illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicant's general inventive concept.