Peelable Overlabel Adhesive Wet Edge Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Resealable packages face issues with high initial peel force due to varying adhesive wet edge widths, leading to potential tearing or complete removal of the overlabel, compromising the package's integrity and user experience.

Innovation Solution

The application of adhesive deadeners to selectively manage the adhesive wet edge width, creating a more uniform peel force profile by applying a discontinuous pattern of deadener on certain edges, ensuring a consistent adhesive wet edge width along the overlabel's perimeter.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If pressure sensitive adhesive is used to releasably affix the overlabel to the package substrate, then the overlabel remains attached during storage and transport, but the initial peel force becomes too high causing tearing, delaminating, or complete removal of the overlabel

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesion strengthVSAvoidpeeling ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies adhesive deadener to specific portions of the adhesive, creating non-uniform adhesive properties across the overlabel perimeter. This local modification reduces the wet edge width at critical areas, lowering the initial peel force spike while maintaining adequate adhesion in other regions for secure attachment during storage and transport.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the adhesive properties by introducing adhesive deadener, which changes the effective adhesive strength and wet edge width parameters. This parameter modification allows the adhesive to provide sufficient holding force during storage while reducing the force required for initial peeling, resolving the contradiction between strong adhesion and easy peeling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Strength

If the adhesive wet edge width is large to ensure strong adhesion, then the overlabel remains securely attached, but the initial peel force increases leading to package substrate damage or overlabel tearing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesive strengthVSAvoidpackage substrate damage
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies adhesive deadener selectively to portions of the adhesive, creating areas with reduced wet edge width. This local quality change allows the adhesive to maintain strong bonding in untreated areas while reducing the harmful high peel force concentration at the leading edge during initial peeling, preventing substrate damage and overlabel tearing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of high initial peel force into a beneficial controlled peeling process. By applying adhesive deadener, the high peel force that would cause damage is redistributed and reduced, transforming a harmful concentrated force into a beneficial distributed, controlled peeling action that protects the package substrate and overlabel integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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

This approach minimizes damage to the package substrate and reduces the likelihood of over-peeling, providing a balanced peel force for easy and safe resealing, maintaining the package's integrity and user convenience.

Implementation Method 1

Pressure sensitive adhesive is generally used to releasably affix portions of the overlabel to the underlying package substrate. The adhesive must possess sufficiently high strength to maintain adhesion of the overlabel to the package substrate prior to use by a consumer, but not too much strength (or tack) wherein the initial peeling force can lead to tearing, delaminating, or distorting the package and/or can result in a consumer peeling the label completely off of the underlying substrate.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesive: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP2794423B1Package comprising peelable overlabel
Publication Date: 2016.09.28 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO
  • EP2794423B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2794423B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2794423B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Packages for containing consumer goods are disclosed. The consumer goods may be disposable, durable or semi-durable. Absorbent article is one class of disposable articles that may be contained by packages. The packages comprise an opening that is covered by an overlabel. The overlabel is at least partially peeled off of the package so that articles contained within the package can be removed through the now exposed opening. In some embodiments, the package can be reclosed by covering the opening with the overlabel. A consumer may wish to dispose of a used article by placing the article back into the package via the opening and re-adhering the overlabel.