Multi-layer wet or hot melt label

Abstract

Multi-layer label for application to products, for example packaging, containers, in particular packaging containers, or other objects suitable for applying labels, such as toys, electrical appliances, electronic devices, furniture, gardening tools, cans, canisters, barrels and spray cans, wherein the label (10) has at least two layers (12, 14) made of paper, namely a first layer (12) and a second layer (14), wherein the first layer (12) is provided with an adhesive (32) and the second layer (14) is provided with a release varnish (27), characterized in that the release varnish (27) is applied directly to the second layer (14) without a barrier layer.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a multi-layer label according to the preamble of claim 1 and to the use of such a label as a wet or hot melt label.

[0002] The invention relates to multi-layer labels for application to products, for example packaging, containers, in particular packaging containers, or other objects suitable for applying labels, such as toys, electrical appliances, electronic devices, furniture, garden tools, cans, canisters, barrels, spray cans, etc., with at least two layers of paper, namely a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer is provided with an adhesive and the second layer with a release varnish.

[0003] Multi-layer labels have been used for many years in the self-adhesive sector as a solution for expanding the available information space. They have proven particularly useful when extensive text or visual content needs to be conveyed that exceeds the space available on a conventional single-layer label.

[0004] When the label is opened, the first layer separates from the second layer, revealing additional surfaces, such as the back of the first layer and the front of the second layer. By using the back of the first layer and the front of the second layer, additional surfaces become visible and can be used for additional text, images, or general information.

[0005] This technology is suitable for various types of packaging, containers, or other suitable items and offers a flexible way to label products, particularly in sectors with increased information requirements, such as the food, pharmaceutical, or chemical industries. It can also be applied to other items with increased information requirements, such as children's toys with special safety instructions, electrical and electronic devices with necessary operating instructions, furniture with assembly instructions, and garden tools with operating instructions. Numerous other applications are conceivable.

[0006] Such a multi-layer label is known from DE 20 2022 100 486 U1. In this label, a release coating is applied to a barrier layer provided on the underside of the label's cover sheet. This barrier layer is intended to prevent the release coating from sinking into the paper over time and causing an undesirable peeling noise when the label is opened.

[0007] However, it has been found that the removal noise from such labels is quite loud and unpleasant, and that even application of the label is not guaranteed when opened. The label therefore gives the impression of quality defects.

[0008] The present invention is therefore based on the object of improving the quality perception of multi-layer labels, in particular to enable a more uniform opening of the label with less noise.

[0009] The invention solves this problem with the features of a multi-layer label according to claim 1.

[0010] The multi-layer label according to the invention for application to products, for example, packaging, containers, in particular packaging containers, or other objects suitable for applying labels, such as toys, electrical appliances, electronic devices, furniture, garden tools, cans, canisters, barrels, and spray cans, comprises at least two paper layers, namely a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer is provided with an adhesive and the second layer with a release varnish. According to the invention, the release varnish is applied directly to the second layer without a barrier layer.

[0011] This design allows the release coating to penetrate the open-pore paper, bonding it evenly with the paper. This design advantageously enables smooth and quiet label application when opening the label. The opening behavior is particularly pleasant and user-friendly in terms of noise and feel during opening, conveying the impression of high product quality.

[0012] The release varnish and the adhesive are matched in such a way that the adhesive forces hold the label together on the one hand, but on the other hand allow easy opening and resealing over a very long period of time.

[0013] The underside of the label is suitable for the application of wet or hot melt glue, which is a prerequisite for high-speed processing when applying such labels. The processing speed of such labels can thus be substantially increased.

[0014] The invention therefore also relates to a use of the label according to the invention, according to which the back of the second layer is glued with wet glue or hot glue to a product on which the label is applied.

[0015] A further advantage of the invention is the more cost-effective production of the label compared to conventional multi-layer labels by eliminating barrier layers. Eliminating barrier layers also increases the label's durability, particularly its opening behavior.

[0016] According to a further development of the invention, the adhesive is applied directly to the first layer without a barrier layer. This advantageously bonds the adhesive to the open-pore paper, promoting smooth and quiet opening and closing of the label.

[0017] A further development of the invention provides that the release varnish is applied only to one of the two sides of the second layer, namely its front side, and the adhesive is applied only to one of the two sides of the first layer, namely its back side, with the front side of the second layer and the back side of the first layer facing each other. This label structure promotes the interaction of the release varnish and the adhesive with a view to improving the uniformity and quietness of the label when opening and closing.

[0018] A further development of the invention provides that the label has a top side and a bottom side intended for application to the product, in particular the packaging, the container or other object, wherein the bottom side of the label is formed by the back side of the second layer or by the front side of the first layer.

[0019] If the underside of the label is formed by the back of the second layer, when the label is opened, the first layer provided with the adhesive adhesive is pulled on, while the second layer provided with the release varnish remains on the product, in particular the packaging, container or other object.

[0020] If the underside of the label is formed by the front side of the first layer, the second layer with the release varnish is applied when the label is opened, while the first layer with the adhesive adhesive remains on the product.

[0021] This advantageously results in two variants, according to which the adhesive is applied either to the back of the upper layer or to the front of the lower layer. In both variants, the release coating is applied to the side of the other layer opposite the adhesive.

[0022] According to a further development of the invention, the adhesive comprises or consists of a mixture of resin, waxes, performance enhancers, and polymeric binders. This composition of the adhesive also promotes uniformity and low noise when opening and closing the label.

[0023] A further development of the invention provides that the adhesive has a tackiness of less than 5 N / 25 mm according to FTM9 immediately after application. According to the FINAT test method FTM9, the initial tack of an adhesive material is measured as the force required to separate a loop of the adhesive material, adhesive side outward, which is brought into contact with a standard test surface at a specified speed. An adhesive with the specified tackiness of less than 5 N / 25 mm according to FTM9 ensures particularly good properties for even and quiet label application.

[0024] According to a further development of the invention, the first and second layers are free of barrier layers. This ensures that the release coating or adhesive can bond with the open-pore paper in such a way that a particularly uniform and quiet application of the label is guaranteed over the long term.

[0025] A further development of the invention provides that the release lacquer is applied only partially to the front side of the second layer, providing a release lacquer recess in the form of a release lacquer-free area on this front side. This enables the creation of a firmly bonded area, in particular a collar.

[0026] According to a further development of the invention, the adhesive is only partially applied to the back of the first layer, providing an adhesive recess in the form of an adhesive-free area on this back. This enables the creation of a pull tab. Furthermore, it prevents unwanted adhesive leakage at the edge of the label. The pull tab is only optional; the adhesive recess is particularly advantageous from a technical perspective, especially at the edge of the label, as explained below.

[0027] According to a further development of the invention, the adhesive recess is in the form of a U-shaped, three-part strip. This allows for three of the four edges of a rectangular label to be adhesive-free, thus preventing multiple labels stacked together from sticking together.

[0028] A further development of the invention provides that the release lacquer recess has the shape of a strip, preferably a straight strip. Such a strip facilitates the formation of the collar.

[0029] A further development of the invention provides for the label to be produced by web printing and then punched and separated into a sheet label. This design of the label enables high-speed processing during application.

[0030] According to a further development of the invention, the label has a rectangular shape, a round shape, or a special shape. Thanks to these possible shapes, labels according to the invention are versatile.

[0031] Further developments of the invention emerge from the claims, the description and the drawings. The aforementioned advantages of features and combinations of several features are exemplary and can be effective alternatively or cumulatively, without the advantages necessarily having to be achieved by embodiments according to the invention. Further features can be seen from the drawings - in particular the illustrated geometries and the relative dimensions of several parts to one another as well as their relative arrangement and operative connection. The combination of features of different embodiments of the invention or of features of different claims is also possible, deviating from the selected references of the claims, and is hereby proposed. This also applies to features that are illustrated in separate drawings or mentioned in their description.These features can also be combined with features of different claims. Likewise, features listed in claims can be omitted for further embodiments of the invention.

[0032] The drawing shows: Fig. 1 an embodiment of a multi-layer label according to the invention in a perspective view with an upper, first layer and a lower, second layer, Fig. 2 which in Fig. 1 shown second layer in a plan view of its front side before punching out of a paper web with applied release varnish and Fig. 3 which in Fig. 1 shows the first layer in a plan view of its back before being punched out of a paper web with applied adhesive.

[0033] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a multi-layer label 10 according to the invention. This label 10 comprises two layers of paper, namely a first layer 12 and a second layer 14. In alternative embodiments, a multi-layer label 10 according to the invention can be formed with more than two layers.

[0034] Layers 12, 14 lie flush on top of each other and are glued together.

[0035] The first layer 12 can be printed with information on both sides. Its reverse side 16 is preferably printed before the first layer is glued to the second layer.

[0036] The second layer 14 can also be printed with information on both sides, but is preferably printed only on its front side 18. The back side 20 of the second layer 14 is preferably glued with wet glue or hot glue to a product to which the label 10 is applied and preferably remains unprinted.

[0037] Such a product is, for example, a packaging, a container, in particular a packaging container or any other object suitable for applying labels, such as a toy, an electrical or electronic device, a piece of furniture, a garden tool or any other object with an increased need for information.

[0038] Advantageously, however, the first layer is first printed on both its back side 16 and its front side 22 before the layers 12, 14 are glued together.

[0039] To ensure that the printed information is legible for the user, the first layer 12 can be easily opened from the second layer 14.

[0040] So that after the label 10 has been opened by separating the first layer 12 from the second layer 14, the label 10 can be closed again and thus returned to its unopened state, both layers 12, 14 advantageously lie flush on top of one another after closing. The label 10 therefore provides a collar 24, which in the illustrated embodiment is formed in the region of the left lateral edge. A dash-dotted line 26 indicates an end edge 26 of the collar 24, up to which the first layer 12 are separated from the second layer 14 when the label 10 is opened. However, when the label 10 is opened, the first layer 12 and the second layer 14 remain glued to one another from the end edge 26 in the region of the collar 24.

[0041] To form the firmly bonded collar 24, as shown in Fig. 3 - the front side 18 of the second layer 14 is only partially provided with a release lacquer 27, in such a way that the front side 18 of the second layer 14, with the exception of the area of the collar 24, is completely covered with release lacquer 27. In the area of the collar 24, a release lacquer recess 28 is provided, in which no release lacquer 27 is applied. The release lacquer 27 is in Fig. 3 represented by a surface pattern of parallel dashed lines.

[0042] Fig. 2 shows the back side 16 of the first layer 12 opposite the front side 18 of the second layer 14. The back side 16 of the first layer 12 is provided with an adhesive 32 over its entire surface, with the exception of a U-shaped strip 30. The U-shaped strip 30 extends, starting from the region of the waistband 24 along a first edge 34 of the label 10, across a second edge 36 of the label 10 and a third edge 38 of the label 10, in turn to the region of the waistband 24 at a fourth edge 40 of the label 10, at which the U-shaped strip 30 begins. The U-shaped strip 30 thus extends along the outer edges 34, 36, 38, 40 of the label, although the fourth edge 40 is only partially covered by the U-shaped strip 30.

[0043] The adhesive 32 is in Fig. 2 represented by a honeycomb-like surface pattern.

[0044] Thus, almost the entire area of the waistband 24 has adhesive 32 on the back 16 of the first layer 12 (as in Fig. 2), while the opposite entire area of the waistband 24 on the front side 18 of the second layer 14 is free of release varnish 27. In the area of the waistband, the first layer 12 and the second layer 14 are therefore firmly bonded thanks to the adhesive 32, since the adhesive 32 does not come into contact with the release varnish 27 in this area.

[0045] In Fig. 1, a boundary line 42 of the adhesive 32 is shown by a dashed line. It forms the boundary for the adhesive 32 applied on the back 16 of the first layer 12, which Fig. 1 is not visible. The Fig. 1 visible area of the front side 18 of the second layer 14 is provided with release varnish 27.

[0046] An opening tab 44 is provided in the area of the second edge 36. The opening tab 44 is created by the fact that no adhesive is provided in the area of the second edge 36 on the back 16 of the first layer 12 thanks to the U-shaped strip 30. Therefore, in the area of the second edge 36, the first layer can be separated from the second layer, forming the opening tab 44.

[0047] Thanks to the U-shaped strip 30 along the first edge 34 and the third edge 38, two additional, opposite edges remain free of adhesive. Overall, this ensures that three of the four edges of the rectangular label 10 shown in the exemplary embodiment are free of adhesive. This prevents several labels 10 stacked together from sticking together. This significantly simplifies the processing of the labels when applying them to the product and prevents interference during label application.

[0048] The Fig. The label 10 shown in Figure 1 is produced using roll-fed printing. To summarize briefly, two paper webs are printed, coated with adhesive and release varnish, then both paper webs are superimposed and joined together. Labels are then punched out of the joined paper webs, separated, and finally stacked.

[0049] In detail, a first, already printed paper web 46 - preferably on both sides - is firstly drawn, as shown in Fig. 2, partially and repeatedly provided with adhesive adhesive 32 over the entire surface, so that an adhesive adhesive recess 48 remains between two adjacent surfaces of adhesive adhesive 32. Without this adhesive adhesive recess 48, the label 10 could not be processed smoothly in the subsequent application process.

[0050] Furthermore, a second, already printed paper web 50 - preferably on one side - as in Fig. 3, partially and repeatedly provided with release varnish 27 over the entire surface, so that a release varnish recess 28 remains between two adjacent areas of release varnish 27. The release varnish is preferably applied to the longitudinal edges of the second paper web 50, with the exception of the release varnish recesses 28.

[0051] The paper webs 46, 50 prepared in this way are then guided onto one another such that the front side 18 of the second layer 14, coated with release varnish 27, lies flush with the back side 16 of the first layer 12, coated with adhesive 32. The two paper webs 46, 50 are aligned with one another such that the end edges 26 of the bundle 24 overlap. The adhesive ensures that the two paper webs 46, 50 adhere to one another.

[0052] Labels 10 are then punched out and separated from the two adhering and superimposed paper webs 46, 50 along the edges 34, 36, 38, 40. This produces the labels according to the invention in the form of sheet labels, which are then stacked on top of each other to form stacks.

[0053] In an alternative embodiment, the opening tab 44 is provided on a different edge of the label, depending on how the labels are applied to the product.

[0054] In an alternative embodiment, the release varnish 27 and the adhesive 32 are reversed with respect to their application to the layers. This means that the underside 52 of the label 10—which also has a top side 54—which is intended for application to the product, is not formed by the back side 20 of the second layer 14, but by the front side 22 of the first layer 12. In both cases, the layer of release varnish 27 of one layer is opposite the side of the other layer provided with the adhesive 32.

[0055] In an alternative embodiment, more than two layers of paper are provided according to the same structure described above, so that a label in the form of a booklet with more than two sheets can be provided.

[0056] The materials used in the invention are preferably solvent-free, mineral oil-free, and free of heavy metals and other hazardous substances, including substances of high concern. The paper used preferably complies with BfR Recommendation No. 36. The paper used is preferably made from virgin fiber without the addition of recycled material. The adhesive preferably complies with Regulation (EC) No. 1935 / 2004. The inks used for printing are preferably inks described as safe for indirect food contact.

[0057] Overall, by matching the properties of the release varnish and the adhesive, the invention makes it possible to provide a multi-layer label without conventional barrier layers on the paper layers, which can be opened evenly and silently, or at least with only minimal noise.

[0058] The label according to the invention is particularly suitable for non-self-adhesive applications, as it can be easily applied to the product using wet glue or hot melt adhesive. The use of hot melt adhesive enables high-speed processing during the application of the labels to products.

[0059] The following reference numbers are used in the figures: 10 multi-layer label 12 first layer 14 second layer 16 Back of the first layer 18 Front of the second layer 20 Back of the second layer 22 Front of the first layer 24 bundles 26 End edge of the waistband 27 Release varnish 28 Release varnish recess 30 U-shaped strip 32 adhesives 34 first edge 36 second edge 38 third edge 40 fourth edge 42 boundary line 44 opening tab 46 first paper web 48 Adhesive adhesive recess 50 second paper web 52 Bottom of the label 54 Top of the label QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 20 2022 100 486 U1

[0006] WO 1935 / 2004

[0056]

Claims

[1] Multi-layer label for application to products, for example packaging, containers, in particular packaging containers, or other objects suitable for applying labels, such as toys, electrical appliances, electronic devices, furniture, garden tools, cans, canisters, barrels and spray cans, wherein the label (10) has at least two layers (12, 14) of paper, namely a first layer (12) and a second layer (14), wherein the first layer (12) is provided with an adhesive (32) and the second layer (14) is provided with a release varnish (27), characterized by that the release lacquer (27) is applied directly to the second layer (14) without a barrier layer. [2] Label according to claim 1, characterized by that the adhesive (32) is also applied directly to the first layer (12) without a barrier layer. [3] Label according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat the release lacquer (27) is applied only to one of the two sides (18, 20) of the second layer (14), namely to its front side (18), and the adhesive adhesive (32) is applied only to one of the two sides (16, 22) of the first layer (12), namely to its back side (16), wherein the front side (18) of the second layer (14) and the back side (16) of the first layer (12) are opposite one another. [4] Label according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the label (10) has an upper side (54) and a lower side (52) intended for application to the product, wherein the lower side (52) of the label (10) is formed by the back side (20) of the second layer (14) or by the front side (22) of the first layer (12). [5] Label according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the adhesive (32) comprises a mixture of resin, waxes, performance enhancers and polymeric binders or consists of such a mixture. [6] Label according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the adhesive (32) has a stickiness of less than 5 N / 25 mm according to FTM9, in particular directly after application of the adhesive (32). [7] Label according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the first layer (12) and the second layer (14) are free of barrier layers. [8] Label according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the release lacquer (27) is only partially applied to the front side (18) of the second layer (14) while providing a release lacquer recess (28) in the form of a release lacquer-free area on this front side (18). [9] Label according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the adhesive (32) is only partially applied to the back (16) of the first layer (12) while providing an adhesive recess (48) in the form of an adhesive-free surface on this back (16). [10] Label according to claim 8 or 9, characterized by that the release lacquer recess (28) has the shape of a strip, preferably a straight strip. [11] Label according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized by that the adhesive recess (48) has the shape of a U-shaped strip (30). [12] Label according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the label (10) is produced by roll printing and is punched out and separated into a sheet label. [13] Label according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the label (10) has a rectangular shape, a round shape or a special shape. [14] Use of a label according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the back (20) of the second layer (14) is glued with wet glue or hot glue to a product on which the label 10 is applied.

Images