Label with cut-through indication

Abstract

A label (1) with cut-through indication comprises a sheet (10) with a peripheral portion (11) and a central portion (12) which is peripherally surrounded by the peripheral portion (11). A bottom side (U11) of the peripheral portion (11) of the sheet (10) is adhesive. A bottom side (U12) of the central portion (12) of the sheet (10) is not adhesive. Located at least in the central region (12) of the sheet (10) are punched lines (20) which extend from the top side (O12) of the central portion (12) to the bottom side (U12) of the central portion (12).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Label with cutting indication

[0003] The following illustration relates to a label with a cut-through indication which can be used to cover an area of ​​a package which is to be opened and in which, due to the cut-through indication, it is possible to detect that the label has been cut through, for example to open the package.

[0004] In addition to their function of identifying a product, labels can also be used as a seal. Such a label is affixed to the opening area of ​​a package. To open the package, the label must be cut or torn.

[0005] Manufacturers of popular or high-quality consumer goods or pharmaceutical products, for example, frequently encounter counterfeit products on the market, which cause financial damage to the company. Counterfeiters repackage lower-quality products and offer them in, for example, the manufacturer's original packaging.

[0006] To make it more difficult to open the original packaging and replace the originally packaged item with something else, manufacturers affix labels as seals over the opening area of ​​the packaging. To detect that a package has already been opened, manufacturers are interested in ensuring that tampering with the seal can be reliably and easily detected by cutting through the seal. Seals are sometimes even required by standards such as the EU Falsified Medicines Directive (2011 / 62 / EU).

[0007] If a salesperson or customer removes an original product from its packaging for inspection purposes and then repacks it in its original carton, product damage cannot be ruled out. Furthermore, the frequency of products being opened and contents replaced with criminal intent is increasing. Therefore, consumers are increasingly interested in knowing whether a package has been opened before. Furthermore, for some products, such as medical products, it is important to determine whether an item, such as an originally sterile product, has already been accidentally opened and is therefore unsterile or contaminated.

[0008] An aim of the present invention is to provide a label with a cut-through indication in which a cutting or severing of the label is easily recognizable, even if an attempt is subsequently made to close or seal the cut point of the label again.

[0009] A label with a cutting indication, in which manipulation of the label, in particular cutting of the label and possibly subsequent covering of the cut point, can be reliably detected, is specified in patent claim 1.

[0010] A label with a cut-through indication comprises a film with an edge section and a central section that is circumferentially surrounded by the edge section. The edge section and the central section of the film each have a bottom side and a top side. The respective bottom side faces the substrate when the label is adhered to the substrate. The respective top side faces away from the substrate when the label is adhered to the substrate. The bottom side of the edge section of the film is adhesive, while the bottom side of the central section of the film is non-adhesive. At least in the central region of the film, cutting lines are arranged that extend from the top side of the central section to the bottom side of the central section.

[0011] According to the invention, the central section of the film, which is non-adhesive on the underside, is placed in the center of the label. The edge section of the film, which is adhesive on the underside, is arranged around the entire circumference of the central section of the film, so that the central section is flanked laterally on all sides by adhesive areas of the edge section. The edge section, which is adhesive on its underside, is thus arranged, in the case of a rectangular label, both lengthwise and crosswise to an expected cutting direction when the label is severed to open a package. The label is intended to be adhered or dispensed onto a package, a vial / phial or a syringe in such a way that the punching lines are arranged perpendicular or crosswise to the opening edge of the package or perpendicular or crosswise to a transition between the vial / phial or syringe body and a cap of the vial / phial or syringe.To open the packaging or to remove the cap from the vial / bottle or syringe body, the label must be cut across the punch lines, otherwise the adhesive edges of the film will ensure that the packaging remains sealed.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the label, the cutting lines, when viewed from above onto the respective top side of the edge and center, extend from the cut of the film in the central section of the film to at least the edge section of the film. This means that the cutting lines must be severed to open a package. If the label were instead cut in the area of ​​the adhesive edge section of the film on the underside, opening the package would be impossible.

[0013] According to an advantageous embodiment of the label, the cutting lines are arranged next to one another in such a way that strip-shaped sections of the film are formed in the central section of the film, which are separated from one another by the cutting lines. Since the strip-shaped sections remain connected to the film material of the edge section of the label after the label has been cut through, the strip-shaped sections of the film are prevented from falling out when the label is cut through.

[0014] On the other hand, the strip-shaped sections of the film are highly flexible after the label has been cut, so they change position, making the cutting of the label easily recognizable. Even attempts to cover the cut with a transparent film usually fail to return the strip-shaped sections to their original position.

[0015] According to another possible embodiment of the label, a print can be arranged on the top side of the central section of the film. This print makes it easy to see where the strip-shaped sections of the film are cut between the cutting lines. This is particularly the case if the color of the print differs from the color of the substrate to which the label is applied. For this purpose, according to another possible embodiment, a layer of color can be arranged beneath the print, the color of which differs from the color of the print.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the label, the print above the punch lines can have a recess, leaving the punch lines unprinted. This makes the line of the punch lines clearly visible. Likewise, any change in the position of the strip-shaped sections when cutting through the label is easily detectable.

[0017] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the label, at least some of the punch lines have a double-arrow pattern. Such a double-arrow pattern of the punch lines has proven advantageous because when a cutting tool hits an arrowhead of the punch lines, high mechanical stress occurs, causing severe damage to the strip-shaped sections when severed with a cutting tool. Even when attempting to cover the cut, for example, with a transparent adhesive film, the damage remains visible.

[0018] According to a further embodiment of the label, the portion of the die-cutting lines with the double-arrow structures is arranged such that the respective double-arrow structures of the die-cutting lines are offset from one another. Such a configuration of the die-cutting lines advantageously results in a cutting tool always striking at least one arrowhead when cutting through the label, thus causing noticeable damage to at least a strip-shaped section of the film between the die-cutting lines.

[0019] According to a further embodiment of the label, a further cutting line is arranged at the respective ends of at least one of two adjacent cutting lines in such a way that a material web made of the film material is formed between the respective ends of the two adjacent cutting lines, the width of which web is less than the distance between the two adjacent cutting lines. By introducing further cutting lines at the end of each cutting line, the strip-shaped sections become easily movable after cutting. The further cutting lines can, for example, be short cuts that run at right angles to the main cuts between which the strip-shaped sections are formed.

[0020] According to one possible embodiment of the label, raised structures can be arranged on the upper side of the central section or the upper side of the edge section of the film. According to another embodiment of the label, material cutouts or holes can be contained in the central section or the edge section of the film. With these embodiments of the label, gluing the label over with a transparent film becomes clearly visible after the label has been cut through, since in the areas of the film where the raised structures or material cutouts are present, optical conspicuities arise when a cut point is glued over with a transparent adhesive-coated film. Gluing the label over with a transparent film becomes clearly visible after the label has been cut through, even if the label has an outer contour that deviates from a rectangular contour.

[0021] According to a further possible embodiment, the label can be designed such that, when the label is stuck to a substrate, an attempt to lift the label off the substrate triggers a void effect within the label, i.e. when the film is removed from the substrate, parts of an area that originally appeared to be solid remain on the substrate, which may represent a structure, a motif, or even lettering. According to a likewise advantageous embodiment of the label, the label can be designed such that, when the label is stuck to the substrate, an attempt to lift the label off the substrate triggers a fiber tear within a fibrous material of the substrate.Such embodiments of the label make it possible to detect tampering with the label even if the label is not cut to open a package, but rather if an attempt is made to manipulate the label flatly or to lift it off and then re-stick it to the opening edge of a package. The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to figures showing numerous embodiments of the label with a cut-through indicator. They show:

[0022] Figure 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of a label with a cutting indication, in which cutting lines are arranged in a central section of a film of the label and are surrounded by an underside adhesive edge section of the film,

[0023] Figure 2A is a plan view of an embodiment of a label with a cutting indication, in which punching lines in a central section of a foil of a label with a cutting indication are at least partially overprinted with a print,

[0024] Figure 2B is a plan view of a central section of a foil of a label with a cut-through indication with a multiple rectangular print over punching lines arranged in the central section of the foil,

[0025] Figure 2C is a plan view of an embodiment of the cut-through indication label in which every second cut line on each side is overprinted with a double arrow structure,

[0026] Figure 2D shows a cross section through the embodiment shown in Figure 2C with punching lines introduced into the back of the film 10,

[0027] Figure 3 shows a cross-section through a single-layer embodiment of a label with cutting indication,

[0028] Figure 4 shows a cross section through a multi-layer embodiment of a label with a cutting indication, Figure 5 shows a plan view of a label with a cutting indication, in which cutting lines are arranged in a central section of a film of the label and further short cuts are provided at both ends of the cutting lines,

[0029] Figure 6A is a plan view of a label with a cut-through indication, in which cutting lines are arranged in a central section of a film perpendicular to an assumed cutting direction,

[0030] Figure 6B is a plan view of an embodiment of a label with a cut-through indication, in which cutting lines are arranged in a central portion of a film diagonally to an assumed cutting direction,

[0031] Figure 6C is a plan view of an embodiment of a label with a cutting indication, in which punching lines arranged in a central section of a film have further punchings at their respective ends,

[0032] Figure 7A is a plan view of a label with a cutting indication, in which cutting lines in the form of an arrow structure are arranged in a central section of a film of the label,

[0033] Figure 7B is a plan view of a label with a cutting indication, in which cutting lines in the form of an arrow structure are arranged obliquely to an assumed cutting direction in a central section of a film of the label,

[0034] Figure 7C is a plan view of a label with a cutting indication, in which punching lines with opposite arrow structures are arranged obliquely to an assumed cutting line in a central portion of a foil of the label,

[0035] Figure 7D is a plan view of a label with a cutting indication, in which punching lines in the form of an offset double-arrow structure are arranged obliquely to an assumed cutting line in a central section of a film of the label. Figure 8A is a plan view of a label with a cutting indication, in which punching lines in the form of a wave structure are arranged obliquely to an assumed cutting line in a central section of a film of the label.

[0036] Figure 8B shows an embodiment of a label with a cutting indication, in which cutting lines in the form of a rectangular zigzag pattern are arranged obliquely to an assumed cutting line in a central section of a film of the label,

[0037] Figure 8C is a plan view of a label with a cut-through indication, in which cutting lines in the form of a non-rectangular zigzag pattern are arranged obliquely to an assumed cutting line in a central portion of a foil of the label,

[0038] Figure 9A is a plan view of a label with a cutting indication, in which cutting lines of material webs are arranged in a spiral pattern in a central section of a foil of the label,

[0039] Figure 9B is a plan view of an embodiment of a label with a cutting indication, in which cutting lines are arranged spirally in a central section of a film of the label, interrupted several times by material webs,

[0040] Figure 9C is a plan view of a label with a cutting indication, in which punching lines of material webs are arranged in the direction of an assumed cutting line and transversely to the assumed cutting line of material webs in a spiral manner in a central section of a film of the label,

[0041] Figure 10A is a plan view of a label with a cutting indication, in which cutting lines are arranged in a triangular shape in a central section of a film of the label, interrupted by material webs along the cutting lines,

[0042] Figure 10B is a plan view of a label with a cutting indication, in which punching lines are arranged in a triangular shape in a central section of a film of the label, interrupted by material webs at the ends. Figure 11 is a plan view of a label with a cutting indication with structuring of a graphic appearance corresponding to a stripe structure of punching lines.

[0043] Figure 12 shows a label with cutting indication with a self-rolling film in an uncut and a cut state,

[0044] Figure 13 is a plan view of an embodiment of a label with a cut-through indication, in which punchings are provided in an edge section of a film of the label,

[0045] Figure 14 is a plan view of an embodiment of a label with a cutting indication, in which cutting lines in a central section of a film of the label are printed with contrasting areas,

[0046] Figure 15 is a plan view of a cut-through label with a dyed adhesive killer and a contrasting colored graphic print arranged thereon on an underside of a central portion of a die-cut foil of the label,

[0047] Figure 16A shows a cross section through a label with a cut-through indication with raised structures on an upper side of an edge portion of a film of the label,

[0048] Figure 16B shows a cross-section through a label with a cut-through indication with cutouts in an edge section of a foil of the label,

[0049] Figure 17 different outer contours of a label with cut-through indication.

[0050] Figure 1 shows a plan view of a label 1 with a cutting indication. The label 1 comprises a film 10, which, due to its special design, makes cutting or severing the label 1 easy and reliably recognizable to a viewer. The film 10 comprises an edge section 11 and a central section 12. The central section 12 is surrounded circumferentially, i.e., on all sides, by the edge section 11. Cutting lines 20 are arranged at least in the central region 12 of the film 10. The cutting lines each have a double-arrow structure 21. Further designs for the cutting lines 20 are possible and are explained further below.

[0051] Figure 2A shows a further embodiment of the label 1 with a cutting indication, similar to Figure 1, in which a print 70 is additionally arranged over at least part of the cutting lines 20. As shown in Figure 2A, the print 70 can extend over the central section 12 of the film 10 into the edge section 11 of the film 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the print 70 is designed as a strip-shaped print layer that runs transversely to the cutting lines and is printed in particular over the double arrow structure 21 of the cutting lines.

[0052] Figure 2B shows an embodiment of a label 1 with a cut-through indication, modified from Figure 2A, in which a print 70 is also arranged above the cut lines 20. In contrast to the strip-shaped print layer shown in Figure 2A, in the embodiment of Figure 2B, rectangular print areas are printed at a distance from one another above the cut lines 20 and in particular above the double-arrow structure 21 of the cut lines 20.

[0053] Figure 2C shows an embodiment of the label 1 in which every second punch line 20 on both sides of the double-arrow structure 21 or on both sides of an expected cutting line, which is shown in dashed lines in Figure 2C, is overprinted with a print 70. The print 70 can be slightly offset from the expected cutting line.

[0054] Figure 2D shows a portion of a cross-section through the film 10 shown in Figure 2C, for example a rubberized film, with the punching lines 20 and the printing 70 along one side of the film 10 and offset from the double-arrow structure 21, i.e. on a side of the film 10 parallel to the expected cutting line. The punching lines 20 are advantageously introduced into the film 10 from the back of the film 10, which faces away from the printing 70, for example by lasering. The punching lines are therefore narrower on the top side of the film 10 than on the underside of the film 10. This creates gaps between the individual strip-shaped film sections 13, as seen from the front side, which allow lateral movement of the strip-shaped film sections 13, but over which printing can also take place.The embodiment with the punching lines 20 introduced into the back of the film 10 is shown in Figure 2D only in the embodiment of Figure 2C, but is not limited to the embodiment of the label shown in Figure 2C.

[0055] Figure 3 shows a cross section of a possible embodiment of the label 1 shown in plan view in Figure 2A. In the plan view of Figure 2A, the cross section runs from the upper edge section 11 via the central section 12 to the lower edge section 11 of the film 10. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the label 1 is designed in one layer with the film 10 as an indicator film for indicating that the label 1 has been cut through.

[0056] The film 10 has the central section 12 in the center of the label, which is surrounded by the edge section 11 on all sides and thus completely. The edge section 11 has a bottom side Ul 1, which faces the substrate when the label 1 is stuck to a substrate, and a top side Ol 1, which faces away from the substrate. The central section 12 of the film 10 likewise has a bottom side Ul 2, which faces the substrate when the label is stuck on, and a top side O12, which faces away from the substrate when stuck on. The bottom side Ul 1 of the edge section 11 of the film 10 is adhesive. The bottom side U12 of the central section 12 of the film 10 is non-adhesive.

[0057] In the single-layer structure of the label 1 shown in Figure 3, the film 10 can be designed, for example, as a rubberized film or as a rubberized substrate. In such a design of the label, the film 10 is fully coated on its underside U11, U12 with an adhesive that is not shown in the simplified illustration in Figure 3. The underside U12 of the central section 12 of the film 10 can be made non-adhesive by passivation with the aid of an adhesive-neutralizing layer or an adhesive killer 40, for example using silicone varnish. To protect the underside-adhesive edge section 11 of the film 10, a protective layer / liner 120 is arranged on the underside U11 of the edge section 11 of the film 10 and beneath the adhesive killer 40.

[0058] In the central area 12 of the film 10, the punching lines 20 are arranged, extending from the top side 012 of the central section 12 to the bottom side U12 of the central section 12. In Figure 3, the punching lines in the central section 12 of the film 10 are shown inside the film 10 for clarity. However, the punching lines extend through the entire thickness of the central section 12 of the film 10.

[0059] On the upper side 012 of the central portion 12 of the film 10, the print 70 is arranged, which can extend up to the edge region 11 and can also be arranged further above the upper side 011 of the edge region 11 of the film 10, as shown in Figure 2A. The print 70 extends in the central portion 12 of the film 10 at least over a portion of the punch lines 20, advantageously, if present, over the double arrow structure 21 of the punch lines 20.

[0060] Figure 4 shows a cross-section through another possible embodiment of the label 1 with a cut-through indication shown in Figure 2A in plan view. The cross-section of Figure 4 in Figure 2A again runs from the upper edge section 11 through the central section 12 to the lower edge section 11. In contrast to the embodiment of Figure 3, the label 1 in the embodiment shown in Figure 4 is multi-layered. The same elements as in Figure 3 are designated by identical reference numerals in Figure 4. Therefore, the following essentially focuses on the differences from the label structure of Figure 3.

[0061] In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the film 10 is coated with an adhesive 30, for example a hotmelt adhesive, only on the underside U11 of the edge section 11. The underside U12 of the central section 12 of the film 10 is uncoated with the adhesive 30 and is therefore not adhesive. The punching lines 20 extend at least in the central region 12 of the film 10 from the top side O12 of the central section 12 to the underside U12 of the central section 12. In the multi-layer label structure of Figure 4, a carrier film 50 is arranged below the film 10. The film 10 can adhere to the carrier film 50 at the edge sections 11, which are coated on the underside with the adhesive 30. An adhesive layer 60 is arranged on the underside of the carrier film 50.

[0062] For affixing to a package, the protective layer 120 is peeled off the film 10 (Figure 3) or from the adhesive-coated carrier film 50 (Figure 4). In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the label 1 can be adhered to an opening area, for example, an edge of a carton, using the underside-adhesive edge portions 11 of the film 10. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the label 1 can be adhered to the package using the adhesive layer 60 arranged on the underside of the carrier film 50.

[0063] As shown in Figures 1 and 2A, the cutting lines 20 extend in the central section 12 of the film 10 at least as far as the edge section 11 of the film 10. The cutting lines 20 thus run within the central section 12 and end at the edge section 11 or extend into the edge section 11. As shown in Figures 1 and 2A, the cutting lines 20 are arranged next to one another in such a way that strip-shaped sections 13 of the film are formed in the central section 12 of the film 10, which are separated from one another by the cutting lines 20. The cutting lines 20 end at a boundary between the edge section 11 and the central section 12 or within the edge section 11. Thus, the strip-shaped material sections 13 of the film 10 formed between the cutting lines 20 are still connected to the material of the film 10 on both sides.

[0064] During dispensing, the label 1 can be affixed to a package in such a way that the punch lines 20 and, if present, in particular the double arrow structure 21 of the punch lines are arranged above the opening of the package. To open the package, the punch lines 20 must necessarily be cut. Due to the long and narrow strip-shaped sections 13, the sections 13 exhibit good mobility after the label has been cut. Therefore, when the label is cut, the position of the strip-shaped sections 13 changes, so that any tampering resulting from cutting the label becomes easily recognizable to an observer.

[0065] It has proven advantageous for changing the position of the strip-shaped sections 13 if the punching lines 20 are arranged in the central section 12 of the film 10 such that the strip-shaped sections 13 have a width of at least 1 mm. For this purpose, the punching lines can be introduced into the material of the film 10 using a conventional mechanical punch or a laser punch. Since the strip-shaped sections 13 at the end of the punching lines continue to be connected to the material of the label in the edge section 11, no loose parts are created when the label is severed along a packaging edge, which could otherwise contaminate the environment. In particular, the punching lines in the film 10 can be arranged such that each punching line intersects the expected cutting line at most once. This ensures that no loose parts are created when the label is cut.

[0066] The change in the position of the strip-shaped sections 13 after the label has been severed can be assisted if the cutting lines 20 have the double-arrow structure 21 shown in Figures 1, 2A, and 2B. With such a double-arrow structure of the cutting lines 20, the forces acting on the strip-shaped sections 13 are particularly high when a cutting tool strikes an arrowhead of the double-arrow structure. Both when cutting from one side and from the opposite side, high mechanical stress occurs when the cutting tool strikes the arrowhead.

[0067] If the punching lines 20 are arranged such that the respective double-arrow structures 21 are offset from one another, as can be seen in Figure 1, for example, this ensures that a cutting tool strikes at least one of the arrowheads when cutting through the label. By forming the punching lines 20 with the double-arrow structure 21, the label 1 is thus damaged as severely as possible, regardless of the direction from which the label is severed, by the cutting tool striking at least one of the arrowheads head-on. By providing the printing 70 above the punching lines 20, the change in the position of the strip-shaped sections 13 after the label has been cut through becomes particularly noticeable. This can be further enhanced if the color of the printing 70 stands out clearly from the layer below.The print 70 can, for example, be in a color that contrasts strongly with the color of the packaging to which the label is affixed. Since white folding boxes are typically used in the pharmaceutical industry, the print 70 can, for example, be in black.

[0068] Tampering with the label as a result of cutting becomes particularly noticeable when, as shown in Figure 2B, a print 70 in the form of black rectangles is arranged above the double-arrow structure 21. After the strip-shaped sections 13 have been displaced as a result of cutting the label, the rectangular print areas no longer appear straight or perpendicular, especially when an attempt is made to re-stick the severed cut with a transparent film.

[0069] In the embodiment shown in Figure 2C, despite the narrow gap between the strip-shaped sections 13 of the film 10, virtually no displacement occurs as long as the strip-shaped sections 13 have not yet been severed. In particular, if an ink with a high surface tension is used for the printing 70, the high surface tension of the overprinting ink 70 after the label has been severed causes a strip 13 on one side of the cutting line to tend in one lateral direction and, on the other side of the cutting line, the strip 13 to shift in exactly the opposite lateral direction.

[0070] To make tampering by cutting the label particularly visible, according to a further embodiment of the label, an ink layer 80 can be arranged between the print 70 and the film 10, in particular the top side 012 of the center from cut 12 of the film 10, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The color of the ink layer 80 is different from the color of the print 70. A color layer 80 of a significantly different color arranged beneath the print 70, for example beneath a graphic print, only becomes visible after the label has been severed. The print 70 can, for example, be a dark or black print arranged on a white ink layer 80 or a brightly colored suppression of the black overprint 70.

[0071] According to another embodiment, the film 10 can be designed as a daylight-luminous film. If a label with the film 10 designed as a daylight-luminous film is adhered over an edge / cut edge of a package, the severing of the film 10 becomes easily recognizable when the cut edges created by the severing glow brighter due to the light directed there within the daylight-luminous film. Instead of a daylight-luminous film, a light-conducting print can also be used. In addition, a print 70 can also be arranged above the daylight-luminous film.

[0072] Figure 5 shows a further embodiment of the label 1 with a cut-through indication, in which a further punching or punching line 90 is arranged at the respective ends of at least one of two adjacent (main) punching lines 20. The further punching line 90 is arranged on the punching lines 20 in such a way that a material web 14 made of the material of the film 10 is formed between the respective ends of two adjacent punching lines 20, the width of which web is less than the distance between two adjacent punching lines 20.

[0073] The material webs 14 can, for example, have a width between 0.4 mm and 0.8 mm. As shown in Figure 5, the punch lines 90 can be arranged at right angles to the ends of the punch lines 20. In principle, the punch lines 90 can also connect to the punch lines 20 at other angles. The short punches 90 further increase the mobility of the strip-shaped sections 13 after the label has been cut, making the cutting of the label even more obvious to an observer. The material webs 14 ensure that after the label has been cut as intended, no loose parts are created that could contaminate the environment.

[0074] The following figures 6A to 10D show different versions of the label 1 with

[0075] Cutting indication, in which the cutting lines 10 are arranged differently within the central portion 12 of the film 10. An assumed cutting line for cutting the label is shown in dashed lines in Figures 6A to 10D.

[0076] In the embodiments illustrated in Figures 6A to 6C, the punching lines 20 are linear. Figure 6A shows parallel punching lines 20 arranged at right angles to a cutting line. Figure 6B shows punching lines 20 in the form of diagonal lines, which generate a lateral force on the strip-shaped film sections 13 when the label is cut along the dashed cutting line. Figure 6C shows linear punching lines 20 arranged parallel to one another and at right angles to an assumed cutting line in the central section of the label. The punching lines 20 have further punching lines / punches 90 at their respective ends, which run at right angles to the (main) punching lines 20.Similar to the embodiment of Figure 5, material webs 14 are created between the punched holes 90, so that the strip-shaped sections 13 arranged between the punching lines 20 are connected to the material of the film 10 via the material webs 14. This increases the mobility of the strip-shaped sections 13 when cutting through the label. In this embodiment, the comparatively large mass of the wide strips results in particularly large (torsional) forces acting on the material webs, which advantageously result in the elements not remaining in their original position after cutting.

[0077] Figures 7A to 7C show embodiments of the label 1 in which the punching lines 20 are arrow-shaped. In the embodiment of the label 1 shown in Figure 7A, the punching lines 20 run with their arrowheads symmetrically to an imaginary cutting line. In the embodiment of the label 1 shown in Figure 7B, the arrow-shaped punching lines 20 run slightly offset from one another in the transverse direction of the label, so that regardless of the dispensing tolerance of the label on the packaging and regardless of the exact position of the cutting line, at least one of the tips of the arrow-shaped punching lines is struck by a cutting tool.

[0078] In the embodiment of the label 1 shown in Figure 7C, a first part of the arrow-shaped punching lines runs opposite to a second part of the arrow-shaped punching lines. The punching lines are offset from one another in the transverse direction of the label, so that at least the arrowhead of one of the punching lines is struck by a cutting tool when cutting through the label.

[0079] Figure 7D shows an embodiment of the label 1 with punching lines 20, each having the double-arrow structure 21. In the illustrated embodiment, the punching lines are arranged obliquely to an imaginary cutting line and offset from one another in the transverse direction of the label, so that in this embodiment too, regardless of the cutting direction, at least one of the arrowheads of the double-arrow structure of the punching lines is struck by a cutting tool when the label is severed.

[0080] Figures 8A to 8C show embodiments of the label 1 with wave-shaped punching lines 20 (Figure 8A) or zigzag-shaped punching lines 20 (Figures 8B and 8C), which are each arranged in the transverse direction of the label in the central section 12 of the film 10 at an angle to an imaginary cutting line. In the embodiment shown in Figure 8B, the zigzag-shaped sections of each punching line 20 meet at right angles, while in Figure 8C they meet at an angle of less than 60°. The diagonally running punching lines 20 generate a lateral force on the strip-shaped sections 13 between the punching lines when the label is severed.

[0081] Figures 9A to 9C show embodiments of the label 1 with a cut-through indicator, in which a cutting line 20 is arranged spirally in the central section 12 of the film 10. The strip-shaped sections 13 are thus also spirally formed. To prevent the individual spiral arcs from protruding, the cutting lines 20 are interrupted by material webs 14.

[0082] In the embodiment shown in Figure 9A, the material webs 14 are arranged at different intervals perpendicular to an imaginary cutting line. In Figure 9B, the spiral punched line 20 is interrupted several times above and below an imaginary cutting line by material webs 14 through the label. In the embodiment shown in Figure 9C, the spiral punched line 20 is interrupted in its course by the material webs 14 such that the material webs 14 run perpendicularly along an imaginary cutting line and at different intervals parallel to the imaginary cutting line.

[0083] The spiral sections / spiral arches 13 act like a double-sided lever around the material webs 14, so that when the label is cut along the dashed cutting line, the greatest possible forces are exerted, causing a change in the original position of the strip-shaped sections 13. When the label 1 is affixed to a packaging edge, the material webs 14 are advantageously arranged perpendicular to the edge of the packaging. The material webs 14 thus prevent the strip-shaped sections 13 from rising over the edge during gluing.

[0084] If a perforation is provided in the label for separating the label, the perforation cuts must be arranged such that a material web 14 is provided for each spiral and strip-shaped section 13 between the punching lines 20 in such a way that the falling out of sections 13 when the label is opened as intended is prevented. In the embodiment shown in Figure 9C, in addition to the material webs 14a arranged along the imaginary cutting line, material webs 14b are also provided. Each strip-shaped section 13 of the label is connected via the material webs 14b either to the upper half or to the lower half of the material of the film 10 and therefore remains connected to at least one of the two halves of the label above or below the cutting line when the label is cut through.

[0085] Figures 10A and 10B show embodiments of the label 1 with a cutting indication, in which the punching lines 20 in the central section of the film 10 are arranged in a triangular shape with interruptions to form material webs 14. In the embodiment shown in Figure 10A, the material webs 14 are arranged along the punching lines 20. The material webs 14 are dimensioned to be as narrow as possible so that the material sections 13 lying between the punching lines 20 are as mobile as possible after the label has been cut. In the embodiment shown in Figure 10B, the material webs 14 are provided at the corners of the triangularly abutting punching lines. In the embodiment shown in Figure 10B, the material webs 14 at the tips of the triangular punching lines prevent film segments from falling out when the label is cut.Likewise, the positioning of the material webs 14 at the tips of the triangularly tapered punching lines 20 allows the punched-out segments of the film 10 not to stand up at the tips during dispensing.

[0086] Figure 11 shows an embodiment of the label 1 with a cut-through indication, in which the graphic appearance is structured such that the punch lines 20 are clearly visible in the area of ​​the print 70. For this purpose, the print 70 can be adapted, for example, to the line layout of the punch lines 20 by having a recess in the print 70 above the punch lines 20, so that the punch lines 20 are unprinted here. Another possibility is to perform the punching after printing, so that clearly visible punch lines 20 are also recognizable. Even the smallest changes in the position of the strip-shaped sections 13 become conspicuously visible after the label is severed and covered with a transparent film.

[0087] Figure 12 shows an embodiment of a label 1 with a cut-through indication, in which the film 10 is designed such that the strip-shaped sections 13 of the film 10, formed between the punching lines 20, roll up or inward when the label is cut. The left image of Figure 12 shows the label 1 after it has been affixed around an opening area of ​​a package. The right image clearly shows the rolled-up strip-shaped sections 13 of the film 10 after the label has been cut.

[0088] Figure 13 shows an embodiment of the label 1 with a cutting indication by providing punch lines 20 in the central section 12 of the film 10, wherein, in addition to the punch lines 20 in the edge section 11, further punches 22 are provided here. The punches 22 ensure that the label 1 is destroyed upon a first opening across the surface, during which an attempt is made to peel the label off a substrate. The film 10 tears along the punch lines 22 during a removal attempt. The punches 22 can be made in the material of the film 10 using a conventional mechanical punch, for example, a sheet steel punch, or also using a laser punch.

[0089] In order to indicate a first opening across the surface by peeling the label off a substrate, the label 1 can be designed according to another embodiment such that, when the label is stuck to the substrate, an attempt to lift the label 1 off the substrate will trigger a void effect within the label. According to another embodiment, the label 1 can be designed such that, when the label is stuck to the substrate, an attempt to lift the label off the substrate will trigger a fiber tear within a fibrous material of the substrate. In the latter embodiment, an adhesive layer arranged on the underside of the label has a high adhesive force to a substrate.When attempting to remove the label from the substrate, the surface of a package is damaged due to the high adhesive strength located on the underside of the label.

[0090] Figure 14 shows an embodiment of the label 1 with a cut-through indication, in which a print comprising two strip-shaped printing areas 71 and 72 is arranged above the punching lines 20. The printing areas 71 and 72 are designed as surfaces with high contrast to one another. In the printing area 71, a first line structure 73 comprising a plurality of raised, parallel lines is applied by a printing process. In the printing area 72, a second line structure 74 comprising a plurality of raised, parallel lines is applied by a printing process and has a different orientation than the first line structure in the printing area 71. The printing ink for printing the first and / or second line structures 73, 74 can, for example, contain color pigments with a tilt effect.When the label is cut in the area of ​​the printing surfaces 71 and 72 perpendicular to the line of the punching lines 20, the contrasting print stripes 71 and 72 are separated, so that tampering resulting from the cutting of the label is visually enhanced. Even covering the cut point would, for example, drastically change the gloss of shimmering colored print stripes and thus contribute to detection of tampering. Figure 15 shows an embodiment of the label 1 with a cut-through indication, in which the central section 12 of the film 10 is passivated on the underside by means of an adhesive killer 40, as shown in Figure 3. In the embodiment shown, the passivation is achieved by means of a colored adhesive killer below the central cut 12 of the film 10.The adhesive killer 40 could, for example, be printed as a luminescent ink to better detect any tampering with the die-cutting lines 20, and in particular the uneven striped sections 13, under UV illumination. Optionally, a contrasting graphic print 130 can be arranged over the colored adhesive killer 40.

[0091] Figures 16A and 16B show further embodiments of the label 1 with a cut-through indication based on the embodiment shown in Figure 3, in which the covering of a cut point by a transparent film is made as obvious as possible. However, the embodiments of the label 1 described below are not limited to the embodiment shown in Figure 3 and can, in principle, also be provided for any other embodiment of the label, in particular the embodiment shown in Figure 4.

[0092] In the embodiment of the label 1 shown in Figure 16A, raised structures 100 are arranged on the upper side Ol 1 of the edge section 11 of the film 10. The raised structures 100 can, for example, have a height of greater than 100 μm and can be designed, for example, as Braille dots. When the label is severed and then covered with a transparent film, visually noticeable boundaries arise at the boundary between the adhesive surfaces of the transparent film resting on the raised structures 100 and the adhesive surfaces of the transparent film floating in the air. Due to a random arrangement of the raised structures 100, this irregularity becomes particularly noticeable as soon as the raised structures are covered. It is also possible to print the raised structures 100 in the form of signal lettering on the upper side Ol 1 of the edge section 11 of the film 10, so that the lettering becomes visible when covered.The raised structures 100 can alternatively or additionally be placed on the central section 12 of the film 10. Figure 16B shows a further embodiment of the label 1 with a cutting indication using the example of the embodiment shown in Figure 3, in which material cutouts 110 are arranged in the edge section 11 of the film 10. When a transparent film is stuck over, optical conspicuities also arise in the area of ​​the material cutouts 110, so that the sticking over of the previously severed film 10 becomes clearly visible. The material cutouts 110 can alternatively or additionally be arranged in the central section 12 of the film 10. The material cutouts must be present at least on the upper side of the film. However, it is irrelevant whether the film, as shown in Figure 16B, is only partially cut out / punched or is completely cut out (punched through, not shown here).

[0093] According to another embodiment, an open hologram arranged on the upper side of the edge or central portion of the film 10 can be used as an over-sticking protection to make it obvious that a previously severed label has been over-sticked. An open hologram represents a surface relief structure that disappears when over-sticked because there is no longer any change in the refractive index after the over-sticking.

[0094] Figure 17 shows various labels 1 with a cut-through indication, where the outer contour deviates from a rectangular contour. With such contours, the covering of a cut-through label with a strip of adhesive tape is particularly noticeable.

[0095] One way to fundamentally impede the adhesion of a cut label with a transparent film is to apply a full-surface overprint with a protective varnish that provides a poor adhesive base. Such a protective varnish could be, for example, a silicone varnish.

[0096] I Label with cutting indication

[0097] 10 slides

[0098] II Marginal section

[0099] 12 Central section

[0100] 13 strip-shaped section

[0101] 14 Material Bridge

[0102] 20 punching line

[0103] 21 Double arrow structure

[0104] 22 Punching

[0105] 30 Adhesive

[0106] 40 adhesive killers

[0107] 50 carrier foil

[0108] 60 Adhesive coating

[0109] 70 printing

[0110] 71, 72 pressure range

[0111] 73, 74 Line structure

[0112] 80 layers of paint

[0113] 90 additional punching lines

[0114] 100 sublime structures

[0115] 110 Material recess

[0116] 120 protective film

[0117] 130 graphic printing

Claims

Patent claims 1. Label with cutting indication, comprising: - a film (10) with an edge section (11) and a central section (12) which is circumferentially surrounded by the edge section (11), wherein the edge section (11) and the central section (12) of the film each have a bottom side (Ul 1, U12) and a top side (Ol 1, O12), wherein the respective bottom side (Ul 1, U12) faces the substrate when the label (1) is stuck to a substrate and the respective top side (Ol 1, O12) faces away from the substrate, - wherein the underside (Ul 1) of the edge portion (11) of the film (10) is adhesive, - wherein the underside (U12) of the central section (12) of the film (10) is non-adhesive, - wherein at least in the central region (12) of the film (10) punching lines (20) are arranged, which extend from the upper side (012) of the central section (12) to the underside (U12) of the central section (12).

2. Label according to claim 1, wherein the respective underside (U11, U12) of the edge and central portion (11, 12) of the film (10) is coated with an adhesive (30) which is passivated on the underside (U12) of the central portion (12).

3. Label according to claim 1, - wherein the underside (Ul 1) of the edge portion (11) of the film (10) is adhesively formed by coating the underside (Ul 1) of the edge portion (11) of the film (10) with an adhesive (30), - wherein the underside (U12) of the central section (12) of the film (10) is non-adhesive in that the underside (U12) of the central section (12) of the film (10) is uncoated by the adhesive (30).

4. Label according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the punching lines (20) in a plan view of the respective upper side (Ol 1, Ol2) of the edge and central section (11, 12) of the film (10) in the central section (12) of the film each extend to at least the edge section (11) of the film.

5. Label according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the punching lines (20) are arranged next to one another in such a way that in the central section (12) of the film (10) strip-shaped sections (13) of the film are formed, which are separated from one another by the punching lines (20).

6. Label according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a print (70) is arranged at least on the upper side (012) of the central cut (12) of the film (10).

7. Label according to claim 6, wherein the printing (70) has a recess above the punching lines (20) so that the punching lines (20) are unprinted.

8. Label according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein at least a part of the punching lines (20) has a double arrow structure (21).

9. Label according to claim 8, wherein the part of the punching lines (20) with the double arrow structures (21) is arranged such that the respective double arrow structures (21) of the punching lines are offset from one another.

10. Label according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein at the respective ends of at least one of two adjacently arranged punching lines (20) a further punching line (90) is arranged such that between the respective ends (E20) of the two adjacently arranged punching lines (20) a material web (14) is formed from the material of the film (10), the width of which web is less than the distance between the two adjacently arranged punching lines (20).

11. Label according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein raised structures (100) are arranged on the upper side (012) of the central section (12) and / or the upper side (011) of the edge section (11) of the film (10).

12. Label according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein material recesses (110) are contained in the central portion (12) and / or the edge portion (11) of the film (10).

13. Label according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the label (1) has an outer contour deviating from a rectangular contour.

14. Label according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the label (1) is designed such that, when the label is stuck to the substrate, an attempt to lift the label from the substrate triggers a void effect within the label.

15. Label according to one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the label (1) is designed such that, when the label is stuck to the substrate, an attempt to lift the label from the substrate causes a fiber tear within a fiber-containing material of the substrate.

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