Linerless Labels with Segmented Adhesive Patches
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Solution Overview
Problem
Labels with aggressive adhesives cause printer jams and malfunctions due to adhesive buildup on printer components, and existing solutions to mitigate this issue, such as changing packaging materials or using more expensive paper stocks, increase costs for retailers.
Innovation Solution
The development of linerless labels with optimized adhesive patch patterns and a repositionable microsphere adhesive that minimizes adhesive contact with printer components while maintaining sufficient stickiness and adhesive bonding capabilities for packaging applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If an aggressive adhesive is used to achieve high tack, then adhesive bonding capability is improved, but printer jams and malfunctions increase due to adhesive buildup on printer components
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive is segmented into discrete patches rather than applied as a continuous layer. Each label has multiple adhesive patches positioned at specific locations, which limits the total adhesive contact area with printer components while maintaining sufficient bonding strength for the intended application.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive patches are positioned strategically on the label to provide localized adhesion where needed for packaging applications, while leaving other areas adhesive-free. This creates different functional zones on the label surface, with adhesive areas providing bonding and non-adhesive areas preventing printer contamination.
2Strength
If adhesive coverage area is increased to improve bonding, then adhesive bonding capability is improved, but adhesive buildup on printer components increases causing jams
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive coverage is segmented into discrete patches rather than a continuous layer. This segmentation reduces the total surface area of adhesive exposed to printer components during feeding and printing operations, thereby minimizing adhesive buildup while maintaining adequate bonding through concentrated adhesive at key locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive patches are designed to provide sufficient bonding capability through concentrated adhesion at critical areas, rather than uniform coverage across the entire label backside. This partial action approach achieves the necessary bonding strength with reduced overall adhesive quantity and exposure area.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces printer malfunctions and adhesive buildup, allowing for the use of aggressive adhesives without increasing costs, while also enabling the labels to be repositionable and reusable.
Implementation Method 1
the adhesive of the adhesive patches include acrylic emulsion having microspheres with particle sizes in an approximate rage of 10-250 microns
Data Source
AI summary
Linerless labels with adhesive patches arranged in optimal adhesive patch patterns are provided. The adhesive patch patterns mitigate adhesive buildup on components of a printer when a roll of linerless labels is fed through a printer by minimizing the adhesive coverage area on the backside of the linerless labels without altering the adhesive bonding characteristics of the individual linerless labels dispensed from the printer. The adhesive is a microsphere adhesive having a particle size between 10-250 or 20-350 microns. In an embodiment, the microsphere adhesive includes solids of at least 25% in the microsphere adhesive.