Label with reinforcement layer

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an assembly according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Such assemblies are known from EP-929.059, in the name of the applicant. This publication discloses a web of labels with a number of self-adhesive labels situated spaced apart on a carrier web. The labels are each provided with a transverse perforation, permitting them to be divided into two parts. After being detached from the carrier web, the labels can be affixed on and adhere to a medicine bottle, a test tube, an ampoule and the like. The protective layer material lying underneath a central label part is detached with the label material from the carrier web. On placing of the label material and the protective layer underneath it on a container the central part of the label material does not adhere to the container, owing to the presence of the protective layer material. The central part of each label is designed to be torn off along the perforation together with the protective layer underneath it, and to be detached from the container. The label material of the detached central part can subsequently be removed from the protective layer underneath it and stuck on, for example, a patient card or on another substrate.

[0003] It is a disadvantage of the labels according to the prior art that when the label material is being applied to a container at high speed the label material slips on the pressure rollers of the machine applying the label material. During the infeed of the labels into the nip between a cylindrical container and a rotating pressure roller driving the container and making it rotate, the central label part, which is provided with the adhesive protective layer with little or no adhesive strength, can slip on the roller. As a result of the slippage, the label material can acquire creases or folds, so that the label material is not applied correctly to the container, or it may be positioned with its central part bulging out from the container.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide an assembly of the type described in the preamble of claim 1, which label is suitable for mechanical affixing on containers at high speed, resting tightly against the container, without creasing, and wherein the label is of the type which after being affixed on a first substrate releases a central part of the label material in a simple manner, which central part can be affixed on another substrate, such as a patient status card or something of that kind

[0005] The object of this invention is achieved by providing a label according to claim 1.

[0006] The provision of such a continuous adhesive layer to the underside of the label material means that the parallel side edges no longer slip relative to each other. This is the result of the grip that the rollers of the labelling machine continue to have on the label material, so that the protective layer is retained against the reinforcement layer over its entire width. In addition, owing to the greater tensile strength of the label, the throughput behaviour in the labelling machine is improved, so that relatively high labelling speeds, such as up to 600 labels per minute, are possible.

[0007] The continuous layer is preferably made of a plastic, such as a transparent polypropylene with a thickness of approximately 15 micrometres.

[0008] A further object of the invention is achieved by providing the label with a tear-off strip, which is bounded by two substantially parallel tear lines, each comprising a multiplicity of successive cuts in the label material, each cut running at an angle relative to an axis of the tear-off strip, which tear-off strip has a direction of tearing running in the direction of the axis, while the cut starts at a starting point situated near the axis and extends substantially linearly, and ends in an end point away from the axis lying at a distance from the starting point in the direction of tearing.

[0009] Making the label material according to the invention with such a tear-off strip has the advantage that the label material can be used in a simple manner on curved surfaces, for example cylindrical surfaces such as medicine bottles, test tubes, ampoules, hypodermic syringes and the like. With the use of these tear lines, the tear-off strip can be removed in a simple manner in order to release a part of the label material that can be stuck on a patient status card. The cuts of the tear-off strip are preferably made both in the layer of label material and in the protective layer. The removable central part of the layer of label material and also the removable part of the protective layer are then released in one movement.

[0010] With further preference, the layer of label material comprises a further tear line, which is situated at a distance from the two tear lines and lies above the detachable protective layer, not intersecting the latter. By breaking this tear line, it is possible to remove the removable part of the layer of label material together with the removable part of the protective layer from the substrate, without the two layers being separated from each other, and a detaching tab is formed by the side edge of the protective layer lying clear of the central label material.

[0011] The tear-off strip preferably comprises a tab projecting in the direction of the axis of the tear-off strip. The presence of such a tab makes it easy to pull the tear-off strip out of the surface of the label material.

[0012] All the above will be explained in greater detail with reference to the figures shown in the appended drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a view of a label according to the prior art;

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the label according to the present invention;

Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the label illustrated in Figure 2; and

Fig. 4 shows a detailed view of the label in the position in use.

[0013] Figure 1 shows a view of a label according to the prior art. The label comprises a layer of label material 3, which is provided with a double tear line 13 and a single tear line 7. A central part 8 is formed between the two tear lines 13, 7, which central part springs open after the tear line 13 has been broken. After the central part 8 has opened up, adhesive surfaces 9, 10 are no longer connected to each other. The central part 8 can be detached from the container 29 along respective tear lines 7, 7' together with the protective layer 8' lying against it, so that the protective layer 8' projects from underneath the central part 8 from the tear line 7 to the tear line 7'.

[0014] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the label 1 according to the present invention. The label 1 comprises a top layer of label material 3, a detachable protective layer 4, and a continuous reinforcement layer 5, which continuous reinforcement layer 5 is detachably affixed in a self-adhesive manner on the carrier web 2.

[0015] The carrier web 2 forms part of a web of labels which is wound onto a roll, and on which several labels are stuck, which labels are intended for affixing on, for example, cylindrical surfaces.

[0016] The top layer of label material 3 comprises two side edges 24, 25 in the transverse direction, and at the position of the adhesive surfaces 9, 10 is connected in a directly adhering manner to the continuous layer 5. The central part 8 of the top layer of label material 3 extending between the two adhesive surfaces 9, 10 is separated from the underlying continuous layer 5 by the protective layer 4. Said protective layer 4 prevents the top layer of label material 3 from adhering to the top side 5' of the continuous layer 5.

[0017] The central part 8 of the top label material has a tear line 7 near side edge 24 and a tear line 11 near the opposite side edge 25, said lines having two series of perforations 13. A tear-off strip 12 is formed by the two perforation lines 13. Pulling a tab 14 on the top side of the tear-off strip 12 out of the plane of drawing causes the two perforation lines 13 to tear out in the direction of tearing. Said tear-off strip 12 is easy to remove through the successive cuts 15 of the perforation lines 13 when the label is stuck on a cylindrical container such as a medicine bottle, ampoule, hypodermic syringe or something of that kind. Such a tear-off strip is described in detail in the Dutch patent application filed in the name of applicant on the same date as the present application.

[0018] Figure 3 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the label illustrated in Figure 2, placed on the carrier web 2, the layers 3, 4 and 5 forming the label 1. The top layer of the label comprises the layer of label material 3, which covers the continuous reinforcement layer 5 at the position of the adhesive surfaces 9, 10, which lie to the side of the protective layer 4. The label material 3 is permanently connected to the underlying continuous reinforcement layer 5 at the position of the adhesive surfaces 9, 10.

[0019] The top side 4' of the protective layer 4 is detachable from the layer of label material 3 in a central part C. The underside 4" is detachable from the continuous reinforcement layer 5 in the central part C. The continuous reinforcement layer 5 is permanently connected to the layer of label material 3 in the side regions Z1 and Z2. The continuous reinforcement layer 5 is detachably connected by means of an adhesive to the carrier web 2 both in the side regions Z1 and Z2 and in the central part C.

[0020] The side of the layer of label material 3 facing the carrier web 2 is provided with an adhesive layer (not illustrated), which comprises a glue such as a self-adhesive permanent glue. The continuous layer 5 runs through underneath the protective layer 4 from the adhesive surface 9 to the adhesive surface 10, and can also be connected with its side parts Z1, Z2 and with its central part C adhering to a substrate.

[0021] The label 1 is provided with the tear line 7 in the layer of label material 3, which is present only in the layer of label material 3. The layer of label material 3 contains the two tear lines 13, which extend both through the layer of label material 3 and through the protective layer 4. The tear-off strip 12 is formed between the two tear lines 13. During removal of the tear-off strip 12, material is removed both from the layer of label material 3 and from the protective layer 4.

[0022] Figure 4 shows a detailed view of the label in the position in use. After detachment of the tear-off strip 12, the part 8 of the top layer of label material 3 can be folded back from the container 29 together with the protective layer 4, and the assembly of protective layer 4 and label material 3 can be detached in a simple manner from the container 29. After detachment, a part 17 of the protective layer 4, bounded by the tear line 7 and the edge 19, projects from underneath the label material 3. This part 17 simplifies the removal of the protective layer 4 from the central part 8 of the top label material 3.

[0023] The detached central part 8, which at the side lying against the protective layer 4 is provided with an adhesive layer, can subsequently be stuck in a simple manner on a patient status card or on another substrate.

Claims

1. Assembly comprising sevaral labels (1) and a detachable carrier web (2), each label (1) comprising:

. a layer of label material (3) having

. two longitudinal edges (22, 23) and two side edges (24, 25),

. two tear lines (11, 7) situated at a distance from each other and extending transversely to the longitudinal edges (22, 23) between the latter, and

. an adhesive layer at an underside of said label material,

. an adhesive surface (9, 10) being present in side regions (Z1, Z2) of the label, which side regions (Z1, Z2) extend between the side edges (24, 25) and a respective adjacent tear line (11, 7), and

. a protective layer (4)

○ defining a central label part (C) of the label lying between the side regions (Z1, Z2),

○ lying with a first side (4') against and being detachable from the adhesive layer at the central part of the layer (3) of label material such that the central part (8) of the layer of label material can be stuck on another substrate;

○ which protective layer does not have great adhesive strength on a second side (4") lying opposite the first side (4'),

wherein the first tear line (11) comprises two adjacent series of perforations (13) which extend through the layer of label material (3) and through the protective layer (4), and
which series of perforations (13) form a tear-off strip (12),
characterized in,
that the label (1) further comprises a continous reinforcement layer (5) which extends from one of said side edges (24) to the other of said side edges (25), over the adhesive surfaces (9, 10) and over the protective layer (4),
in which the reinforcement layer (5) has

• a first side (5'), which is, in the central label part (C), detachable from the second side (4") of the protective layer (4) and, in the side regions (Z1, Z2), immovably connected to the layer of label material (3), and

• a second side (5"), which is, both in the side regions (Z1, Z2) and in the central part (C), detachably affixed in a self-adhesive manner on the carrier web (2) by means of an adhesive connectable with said relatively great adhesive strength to the substrate.

2. assembly according to Claim 1,
characterized in that the reinforcement layer (5) comprises a thin layer of plastic material, such as poly propylene with a thickness of appoximately is micrometers.

3. assembly according to Claim 1 or 2
characterized in that, each series of perforations comprises a multiplicity of successive cuts (15) in the label material (3), each cut running at an angle relative to an axis (6) of the tear-off strip (12) from a starting point to an end point, which tear-off strip has a direction of tearing running in the direction of the axis (6), while the cut (15) starts at the starting point situated near the axis (6) and extends substantially linearly, and ends in the end point away from the axis and lying at a distance from the starting point in the direction of tearing.

4. assembly according to Claim 3, characterized in that the tear lines (13) have cuts (15) both in the layer of label material and in the protective layer (4).

5. assembly according to one of the preceding claims
characterized in that the tear-off strip (12) comprises a tab projecting in the direction of the axis (6) of the tear-off strip.

6. assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tear line (7) lies above the protective layer (4) and does not extend through the protective layer.

Ansprüche

1. Anordnung umfassend mehrere Etiketten (1) und eine ablösbare Trägerbahn (2), wobei jedes Etikett (1) Folgendes umfasst:

• eine Schicht Etikettenmaterial (3) mit

. zwei Längsrändern (22, 23) und zwei Seitenrändern (24, 25)

. zwei Reißlinien (11, 7), die sich in einem Abstand voneinander befinden und sich quer zu den Längsrändern (22, 23) zwischen letzteren erstrecken, und

. einer Klebschicht an einer Unterseite des Etikettenmaterials,

• eine klebende Oberfläche (9, 10), die in Seitenbereichen (Z1, Z2) des Etiketts vorhanden ist, wobei sich die Seitenbereiche (Z1, Z2) zwischen den Seitenrändern (24, 25) und einer jeweiligen benachbarten Reißlinie (11, 7) erstrecken, und

• eine Schutzschicht (4),

○ die einen zentralen Etikettenteil (C) des Etiketts definiert, der zwischen den Seitenbereichen (Z1, Z2) liegt,

○ die an dem zentralen Teil der Schicht (3) aus Etikettenmaterial so mit einer ersten Seite (4') gegen die Klebschicht liegt und davon ablösbar ist, dass der zentrale Teil (8) der Schicht Etikettenmaterial auf ein anderes Substrat geklebt werden kann;

○ wobei die Schutzschicht an einer zweiten Seite (4"), die der ersten Seite (4') gegenüber liegt, keine große Klebkraft aufweist,

wobei die erste Reißlinie (11) zwei benachbarte Reihen Perforationen (13) umfasst, die sich durch die Schicht Etikettenmaterial (3) und durch die Schutzschicht (4) erstrecken, und wobei die Reihen Perforationen (13) einen Abreißstreifen (12) bilden,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
das Etikett (1) weiterhin eine kontinuierliche Verstärkungsschicht (5) umfasst, die sich von einem der Seitenränder (24) über die klebenden Oberflächen (9, 10) und über die Schutzschicht (4) zu dem anderen Seitenrand (25) erstreckt,
wobei die Verstärkungsschicht (5)

• eine erste Seite (5'), die in dem zentralen Etikettenteil (C) ablösbar von der zweiten Seite (4") der Schutzschicht (4) und in den Seitenbereichen (Z1, Z2) unbeweglich mit der Schicht Etikettenmaterial (3) verbunden ist, und

• eine zweite Seite (5"), die mittels eines Klebstoffs, der mit relativ großer Klebkraft mit dem Substrat verbindbar ist, auf selbstklebende Weise sowohl in den Seitenbereichen (Z1, Z2) als auch in dem zentralen Teil (C) ablösbar an der Trägerbahn (2) befestigt ist,
aufweist.

2. Anordnung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Verstärkungsschicht (5) eine dünne Schicht Kunststoffmaterial wie z.B. Polypropylen mit einer Stärke von etwa 15 Mikrometern umfasst.

3. Anordnung nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass jede Reihe Perforationen eine Vielfalt aufeinanderfolgende Schnitte (15) in dem Etikettenmaterial (3) umfasst, wobei jeder Schnitt in einem Winkel relativ zu einer Achse (6) des Abreißstreifens (12) von einem Startpunkt zu einem Endpunkt verläuft, wobei der Abreißstreifen eine Reißrichtung aufweist, die in der Richtung der Achse (6) verläuft, während der Schnitt (15) an dem Startpunkt beginnt, der sich nahe der Achse (6) befindet, und sich im Wesentlichen linear erstreckt, und in dem Endpunkt weg von der Achse endet, der in einem Abstand von dem Startpunkt in der Reißrichtung liegt.

4. Anordnung nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Reißlinien (13) Schnitte (15) sowohl in der Schicht Etikettenmaterial als auch in der Schutzschicht (4) aufweisen.

5. Anordnung nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Abreißstreifen (12) eine Lasche umfasst, die in der Richtung der Achse (6) des Abreißstreifens vorsteht.

6. Anordnung nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Reißlinie (7) über der Schutzschicht (4) liegt und sich nicht durch die Schutzschicht erstreckt.

Revendications

1. Ensemble comprenant plusieurs étiquettes (1) et une bande de support détachable (2), chaque étiquette (1) comprenant :

- une couche de matériau à étiquette (3) ayant

-- deux bords longitudinaux (22, 23) et deux bords latéraux (24, 25),

-- deux lignes de déchirement (11, 7) situées à distance l'une de l'autre et s'étendant dans le sens transversal par rapport aux bords longitudinaux (22, 23) entre ces derniers, et

-- une couche adhésive sur une face inférieure dudit matériau à étiquette,

- une surface adhésive (9, 10) étant présente dans des régions latérales (Z1, Z2) de l'étiquette, ces régions latérales (Z1, Z2) s'étendant les bords latéraux (24, 25) et une ligne de déchirement adjacente respective (11, 7), et

- une couche de protection (4)

- définissant une partie centrale d'étiquette (C) de l'étiquette qui s'étend entre les régions latérales (Z1, Z2),

- s'étendant avec un premier côté (4') contre et pouvant être détaché de la couche adhésive au niveau de la partie centrale de la couche (3) de matériau à étiquette de telle sorte que la partie centrale (8) de la couche de matériau à étiquette peut être collée sur un autre substrat ;

- cette couche de protection ne présentant pas une grande force d'adhésion sur un deuxième côté (4") qui est opposé au premier côté (4'), dans lequel la première ligne de déchirement (11) comprend deux séries adjacentes de perforations (13) qui s'étendent à travers la couche de matériau à étiquette (3) et à travers la couche de protection (4), et ces séries de perforations (13) formant une bande de déchirement (12),

caractérisé en ce que l'étiquette (1) comprend en outre une couche de renforcement continue (5) qui s'étend de l'un desdits bords latéraux (24) à l'autre desdits bords latéraux (25), sur les surfaces adhésives (9,10) et sur la couche de protection (4), dans laquelle la couche de renforcement (5) comprend

- un premier côté (5') qui, dans la partie centrale d'étiquette (C), peut être détaché du deuxième côté (4") de la couche de protection (4) et, dans les régions latérales (Z1, Z2), est relié de façon fixe à la couche de matériau à étiquette (3), et

- un deuxième côté (5") qui, à la fois dans les régions latérales (Z1, Z2) et dans la partie centrale d'étiquette (C), est fixé de façon détachable d'une manière auto-adhésive sur la bande de support (2) au moyen d'un adhésif qui peut être relié avec ladite relativement grande force d'adhésion au substrat.

2. Ensemble selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la couche de renforcement (5) comprend une mince couche de matière plastique telle que de polypropylène d'une épaisseur d'environ 15 micromètres.

3. Ensemble selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que les séries de perforations comprennent chacune une multiplicité de découpes successives (15) dans le matériau à étiquette (3), chaque découpe s'étendant en formant un angle par rapport à un axe (6) de la bande de déchirement (12) d'un point de départ à un point d'arrivée, cette bande de déchirement ayant un sens de déchirement qui s'étend dans la direction de l'axe (6), alors que la découpe (15) commence au niveau du point de départ situé près de l'axe (6) et s'étend de façon sensiblement linéaire, et se termine au niveau du point d'arrivée éloigné de l'axe et se trouvant à distance du point de départ dans le sens de déchirement.

4. Ensemble selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que les lignes de déchirement (13) ont des découpes (15) à la fois dans la couche de matériau à étiquette et dans la couche de protection (4).

5. Ensemble selon l'une quelconque des précédentes revendications, caractérisé en ce que la bande de déchirement (12) comprend une patte faisant saillie dans la direction de l'axe (6) de la bande de déchirement.

6. Ensemble selon l'une quelconque des précédentes revendications, caractérisé en ce la ligne de déchirement (7) s'étend au-dessus de la couche de protection (4) et ne s'étend pas dans la couche de protection.

Drawing