High Tack Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive Patch for Printer Jam Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Adhesive labels with high or low tack can interfere with print quality and cause printer jams, leading to issues such as gelling, non-uniform coating, and component failure in printing applications.
Innovation Solution
A high-tack pressure-sensitive adhesive mixture combining low-tack and high-tack adhesives with a thickening agent, applied in predefined patch designs to substrates, which increases viscosity without gelling, reducing printer jams and improving peel force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If high tack adhesive is used, then peel force is improved, but printer jams and component failure occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the adhesive formulation by incorporating specific polymers (acrylics, vinyls, styrenes) with controlled molecular weights and glass transition temperatures, along with plasticizers and process oils, to achieve a balanced tack profile that provides high peel force while maintaining printer compatibility through controlled viscosity and transfer characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive comprises a complex composite system combining multiple polymer types (acrylic copolymers, vinyl copolymers, styrene-butadiene rubber), plasticizers, process oils, and optional additives like waxes and resins, creating a multi-component formulation that simultaneously achieves high tack, flexibility, and printer system compatibility
2Strength
If adhesive viscosity is increased, then tack is improved, but gelling and non-uniform coating occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully controls adhesive viscosity through selection of polymers with specific molecular weights (e.g., acrylics with Mn of 50,000-500,000), glass transition temperatures (-50°C to 0°C), and plasticizer ratios, maintaining viscosity in the range of 100-10,000 cps to ensure uniform coating while achieving high tack
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces process oils (mineral oils, esters, silicones) and plasticizers as intermediary substances that modify the rheological properties of the adhesive, enabling it to flow uniformly during coating operations while maintaining high tack after application through controlled evaporation and bonding
3Strength
If adhesive coating is applied, then bonding strength is improved, but adhesive build-up on printer components occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes adhesive transfer characteristics by controlling tack level (5-50 dynes/cm), viscosity (100-10,000 cps), and coating weight (0.1-10 gsm), ensuring sufficient bonding strength while minimizing adhesive pickup on printer rollers and components through balanced stick-slip properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates waxes (paraffin, microcrystalline, polyethylene) and resins as sacrificial components that migrate to the adhesive surface to reduce stickiness to printer components, allowing the adhesive to maintain bonding strength to the label while being less likely to build-up on mechanical parts
Data Source
AI summary
A high-tack pressure sensitive adhesive is provided. A high-tack adhesive is mixed with a low-tack adhesive to form an adhesive mixture. The adhesive mixture applied to a portion of a substrate as a high-tack pressure sensitive adhesive patch. In an embodiment, the adhesive mixture includes a thickening agent.