Adhesive Tape Roll Side Face Detackification via UV Ink Jet Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Adhesive tape rolls exhibit undesirable side face adhesion, leading to handling difficulties, unwanted adhesion to tools and debris, and contamination issues, with existing solutions either ineffective or posing additional problems such as contamination or increased costs.
Innovation Solution
The use of non-contact ink jet printing methods to apply and cure UV-curable inks on the side faces of adhesive tape rolls, creating a detackified surface while allowing for the addition of graphics or color schemes, which reduces adhesion and eliminates the need for additional packaging materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If release-coated liner wafers are placed on the ends of the tape roll, then adhesion between adjacent rolls is reduced, but the wafers cause issues in automated packaging equipment and require removal and disposal by the customer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the separate wafer component entirely and integrates the detackification function directly into the tape roll structure through radiation treatment of the side faces, eliminating the need for additional packaging materials and simplifying automated handling
Solution Approach 2:
The tape roll itself is treated to provide detackification properties, making the product self-sufficient without requiring separate wafer protectors or additional packaging materials, thereby reducing disposal requirements and simplifying customer operations
2Ease of operation
If fine solid particles such as talc or glass beads are dusted on the side faces of the roll, then adhesion is reduced, but the particles are slowly engulfed by the adhesive and lose effectiveness over time, particularly when heated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical state of the side face treatment from loose solid particles to a radiation-induced chemical modification of the adhesive itself, creating a permanent detackified surface that maintains effectiveness indefinitely even under heat exposure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the temporary particle-based solution with a permanent chemical modification of the adhesive structure, eliminating the need for replenishment or replacement of detackification materials over the product's service life
3Ease of operation
If individual rolls are shrink-wrapped in a packaging film, then adhesion is reduced, but the process is costly, time consuming, and requires removal and disposal by the customer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies detackification treatment to the tape roll side faces during the manufacturing process before the roll leaves the production line, eliminating the need for subsequent shrink wrapping and reducing both packaging time and cost
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes the shrink wrapping packaging layer entirely by incorporating detackification properties directly into the tape roll structure, eliminating the need for additional packaging materials and reducing disposal requirements
4Loss of information
If contact coating methods such as gravure printing, flexographic, or screen printing are used, then graphics can be applied to side faces, but the methods perform poorly with uneven surfaces such as tape rolls that are not wound with flat edges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical contact-based coating methods with a radiation-based non-contact process that chemically modifies the adhesive surface, eliminating the need for mechanical coating equipment and achieving uniform treatment regardless of surface unevenness
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 method effectively reduces side face adhesion, improves handling, and enables the elimination of packaging materials by detackifying the surfaces and allowing for the inclusion of information on the tape rolls, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and reducing contamination risks.
Implementation Method 1
The ink jet printing system applies UV-curable inks to the side faces of adhesive tape rolls, and the inks are cured by exposure to UV light, creating a detackified surface
Data Source
AI summary
Adhesive tape rolls having detackified side faces are presented, and methods of their manufacture. In one embodiment, the method comprises applying one or more inks to a side face of an adhesive tape roll with an ink jet printing system. In some embodiments, inks are applied in an image-wise manner so as to create a pattern, text or graphics, which may include: barcodes. QR codes, brand information, manufacturing information, or remaining roll quantity indicia. In one aspect, the present methods enable elimination of packaging materials by two concurrent advantages: a) detackifying the side faces, which eliminates the need for packaging materials to prevent blocking of stacked rolls and accumulation of debris on side faces; and b) producing an adhesive tape roll bearing text, graphics, or other information on the side face of the roll, which eliminates the need for packaging materials to bear such information.