Shrinkable Label Laminate for Reusable Container Detachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reusable beverage bottles present varying surface properties due to erosion, corrosion, and environmental conditions, making it challenging for labels to adhere reliably across different temperatures and humidity levels while also being easily removable in washing liquids without mechanical aids.
Innovation Solution
A label laminate comprising a biaxially stretched polymeric film layer that shrinks uniformly in both directions at washing temperatures between 50°C and 95°C, with a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, ensuring a contraction tension of at least 0.6 N/mm² and a degree of contraction of at least 0.5%, to facilitate reliable detachment within industrial wash removal times without splitting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the adhesion force of the pressure-sensitive adhesive is increased to ensure reliable adherence to varying surfaces, then the label adheres more reliably under different storage conditions, but the label becomes difficult to remove without mechanical detachment aids
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by utilizing the temperature-dependent properties of the polymeric film. The film is designed to exhibit low adhesion at storage temperatures (2-55°C) ensuring reliable label attachment, while at washing temperatures (50-95°C) the film undergoes thermal contraction that mechanically detaches the label without requiring mechanical aids. This resolves the contradiction by changing the physical state of the film through temperature variation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by creating a system where the adhesion characteristics of the label are not static but dynamically change with temperature. The biaxially stretched polymeric film maintains stable adhesion during storage conditions but automatically transitions to a detachment state during washing, enabling the label to adapt its bonding behavior based on environmental conditions without manual intervention.
2Ease of operation
If the polymeric film layer is stretched to generate contraction force for label detachment, then the label can be removed in hot washing liquid, but the film may split or deform during contraction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by implementing different stretch ratios in the two principal directions of the film (first and second transverse directions). The film is stretched to different extents in each direction, creating asymmetric pre-stress that controls the contraction behavior. This asymmetric design ensures uniform and controlled detachment while preventing film splitting by distributing contraction forces more evenly throughout the material structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by creating regions of different stretch characteristics within the polymeric film. By varying the stretch ratio locally in different areas and directions of the film, the patent optimizes the contraction force distribution to achieve reliable label detachment while maintaining film integrity and preventing deformation or splitting during the detachment process.
3Ease of operation
If the label is designed to detach automatically in washing liquid, then mechanical detachment aids are unnecessary, but the label may detach unintentionally under varying storage conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by designing the biaxially stretched polymeric film with specific physical properties that remain stable across the storage temperature range (2-55°C) but trigger detachment at washing temperatures (50-95°C). The film's thermal contraction characteristics are tuned to activate only above a threshold temperature, ensuring automatic detachment in hot washing liquid while maintaining reliable adhesion during normal storage and handling conditions without unintended detachment.
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 label effectively adheres to and detaches from beverage bottles across varying conditions, ensuring reliable removal in hot washing liquids without mechanical assistance, preventing unwanted detachment and maintaining label integrity by controlling contraction forces and stresses.
Implementation Method 1
the polymeric film layer shrinks (recontracts) at the washing temperature
Implementation Method 2
a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, for adhering the label to the article
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A proposal is made for a la,bel (1) which can be adhered to an article (5), more particularly to a beverage bottle, and can be detached again in a washing liquid at a washing temperature of at least 50°C, in the form of a laminate at least with the following layers: a biaxially stretched polymeric film layer (9) which shrinks at the washing temperature, a printed decoration layer (11), and an adhesive layer (13), more particularly a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, for adhering the label (1) to the article (5). The polymeric film layer (9) is designed in such a way that in the laminate at the washing temperature within a maximum time span of less than 5 minutes, in particular less than 3 minutes, it attains degrees of contraction in its two stretching directions which differ from one another by less than 50% and are preferably lower than 50%. As a result of this, whereas the adhesive force between the label (1) and the article (5) is high, the label (1) can be washed off from the article (5) without splitting.