Sleeve-like Labels with Pre-pasted Adhesive for Uniform Sealing
Solution Overview
Problem
Current sleeve-like labels suffer from aesthetic issues due to free flaps and ridges formed during the heat-shrinking process, which can be caught and damaged, compromising the quality of the packaging.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that utilize pre-pasted portions of heat-shrink film, where the film is unwound with discrete adhesive sections, wrapped around a forming spindle, and sealed to eliminate free flaps, ensuring a homogeneous and long-lasting adhesion to containers without protrusions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the connecting portion is executed in an intermediate position with respect to the overlap region, then the sealing operation is simplified, but free flaps are created that do not adhere closely to the container during heat-shrinking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning the connecting portion at the extreme end of the overlap region before the heat-shrinking process. This ensures that the entire overlap region, including the previously free flap area, is now included in the sealed region. The pre-planning of the connecting portion position prevents the formation of free flaps during subsequent processing steps.
2Manufacturing precision
If the connecting portion is positioned to eliminate free flaps, then adhesion uniformity is improved, but the sealing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs self-service by utilizing the natural overlap structure of the sleeve material and the heat-shrinking process itself to achieve the sealing objective. The connecting portion is positioned at the extreme end of the overlap region, allowing the heat-shrinking process to naturally seal the entire overlap area including the previously problematic free flap region, without requiring additional complex sealing mechanisms.
3Manufacturing precision
If the entire overlap region is included in the sealed region, then free flaps are eliminated, but material consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by precisely positioning the connecting portion at the extreme end of the overlap region, thereby sealing only the necessary area to eliminate free flaps. This localized approach ensures that the entire overlap region is included in the sealed region without unnecessarily extending the sealed region beyond what is required, thus minimizing material consumption while achieving uniform adhesion.
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 results in sleeve-like labels that adhere uniformly to containers, eliminating tabs and ridges, enhancing the aesthetic appearance and durability of the packaging.
Implementation Method 1
a supply reel (3) of heat-shrink film (5) which has a plurality of pre-pasted portions (6)
Implementation Method 2
the label is subjected to a heat treatment that is such as to cause its shrinkage owing to a thermal effect and, therefore, the close adhesion to the lateral surface of the respective container
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A method for producing sleeve-like labels (2), comprising: - a step of unwinding a supply reel (3) of heat-shrink film, which comprises a plurality of pre-pasted portions (6) which are distributed discretely along the unwinding direction (100) of the supply reel (3); - a step of separating at least one band of heat-shrink film (5) from the supply reel (3), the band of heat-shrink film (5) comprising at least one of the pre-pasted portions (6); - a step of feeding the band of heat-shrink film (5) to a forming spindle (4); - a step of wrapping the band of heat-shrink film (5) around the forming sp indle (4), a region of overlap (8) being provided between a first longitudinal end (5a) of the band of heat-shrink film (5) in contact with the forming spindle (4) and the second longitudinal end (5b) of the band of heat-shrink film (5 ), the pre-pasted portion (6) being arranged at least partially at a portion of the overlap region (8); - a step of transferring the sleeve-like label (2) formed around the forming spindle (4) from the forming spindle (4) to a container to be labelled (10).