A self-adhesive label for resealable packaging

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a resealable packaging comprising a self-adhesive label which has a removably self-adhesive surface.

[0002] The invention refers more specifically to resealable packets such as those used, for example, for food products, like baked products such as toast slices, biscuits and the like, the contents of which are not consumed in one go. Until the contents are finished, the packet must be resealed, with the same label, thus protecting the food product from air, odours and the like in order to preserve its physical and organoleptic properties.

[0003] These packages are provided with self-adhesive labels which are therefore intended to be detached by the consumer at the moment of opening the resealable packet and reused, by the same consumer, to seal the packet. To this end, the label must be easily removable, without tearing or losing its ability to stick once again to the resealable packet.

[0004] In order to satisfy the above requirement, prior art self-adhesive labels are provided with a grip portion defined by an area of the removable self-adhesive surface which is free of glue and includes an edge portion.

[0005] Reference is made for. ex. to EP-A-0 545 136.

[0006] This portion, as it is not stuck, remains slightly separate from the resealable packet so that the consumer can grip it easily and remove the label.

[0007] However, though the production of this type of self-adhesive labels is not exactly difficult it is somewhat laborious and, in particular where industrial mass production is concerned, is the cause of not negligible extra cost.

[0008] Furthermore, the presence of a separating line is required to define the glue-free portion, separating it from the rest of the self-adhesive surface which is stuck to the resealable packet.

[0009] This separation line, however, may constitute an easy rupture point, both for the label which may tear and no longer be usable and for the paper wrapping of the resealable package.

[0010] The technical problem of the present invention is to provide a resealable package comprising a self-adhesive label which overcomes the disadvantages mentioned in connection with the prior art.

[0011] This problem is solved by a package with a label of the type as specified in claim 1.

[0012] The main advantage of the self-adhesive label of the invention is that the self-adhesive surface is completely coated with glue, thus eliminating laborious and costly steps from the production of labels, while still enabling the label to be easily gripped and removed.

[0013] Further characteristics and advantages of the label according to the invention will be apparent from the detailed description of one embodiment, given hereafter with reference to the appended drawings, provided purely by way of non-limitative example and referring in this example to a resealable packet of toast slices.

[0014] In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a closed resealable packet with a label according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the packet of Figure 1 open;

Figure 3 is a view of a length off a rolled sheet of labels according to the invention; and

Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of a method for the production of the sheet of Figure 3.

[0015] With reference to Figures 1 and 2, a resealable packet is generally indicated 1. It has a parallelepipedal wrapping 2 constituted by a food-quality sheet 3 which has been appropriately blanked and folded so as to obtain a closure side 4, substantially like an envelope, which includes a flap 5.

[0016] A self-adhesive label, generally indicated 6, is superposed on the flap 5 and has a removably self-adhesive surface 8 and an edge 9.

[0017] The self-adhesive surface 8 has removably attached thereto a paper tongue 10 which is approximately disc-shaped, structurally independent and arranged in correspondence with the edge 9 of the label 6 so that it includes a portion of this edge 9.

[0018] The tongue 10 projects from the edge 9.

[0019] In order to open the resealable package 1 therefore, one has only to grip the self-adhesive label 6 by the tongue 10 and pull, detaching the label 6 from the flap 5 of the closure side 4 which is thus free to open.

[0020] In order to close the package 1, one need only reapply the label 6, still holding it by the tongue 10.

[0021] Appropriate handling of the tongue 10 makes it possible to open the package 1 after only partially detaching the label 6 so that only the glue of the self-adhesive surface 8 which sticks directly to the food wrapper 3 and not to the flap 5 deteriorates, with the result that, when the glue loses its effectiveness, one need only to detach the tongue 10 from the label 6 to uncover an area of the self-adhesive surface 8 with fully effective glue. In this way it is possible to reseal the package 1 by using this new area, thus lengthening the useful life of the self-adhesive label 6 of the invention.

[0022] The self-adhesive label 6 thus conceived provides important advantages not only with regard to its use on resealable packaging but also with regard to its mass production.

[0023] At present, labels are produced in a line on a support strip, generally of calendered, siliconised paper, commonly known as glassine, which has special properties of anti-adhesiveness and strength and on which the glue is initially spread, this glue subsequently transferring to the self-adhesive surface 8 of the labels 6. The glue is deposited on the support strip in one or more continuous longitudinal stripes, leaving glue-free bands which constitute the known gripping portions.

[0024] The self-adhesive label 6 of the invention, not having glue-free areas on its self-adhesive surface 8, does not require separate stripes of glue to be deposited on the support strip, but simply requires the glue to be spread evenly along this strip, which is both easier and cheaper.

[0025] In addition, the formation of the tongue 10 is also particularly simple, as will become clear from the description of a method for the production of self-adhesive labels 6 according to the invention, provided hereafter with reference to Figures 3 and 4.

[0026] In Figure 3, a rolled sheet of labels 6 is indicated 11. This includes a support strip 15, of the aforesaid paper-like material glassine, with a surface 12 on which the labels 6 are applied in succession in a single line, and an opposite surface 13.

[0027] With reference on the other hand to Figure 4, a roll is indicated 14 of still unprocessed rolled sheet 11' for the production of labels 6 which is constituted by an upper sheet 16 of label paper, stuck to the surface 12 of the support strip 15.

[0028] At a first cutting station 17, the edges 9 of the labels 6 are cut in the upper sheet 16 and, subsequently, at a second cutting station 18, edges 20 defining the tongues 10 are cut, the cutting being effected from the opposite surface 13 of the support strip 15.

[0029] At this point, the excess upper sheet 16 is removed, giving the rolled sheet 11 of Figure 3 with the self-adhesive labels 6 and their tongues 10, ready to be wound for subsequent application onto the resealable packets 1.

[0030] The tongue 10 is therefore formed directly out of the glassine support strip 15 and its strength is therefore excellent.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, the upper label-paper sheet 16 of the unprocessed strip 15 for the production of labels 6 is also made of glassine, that is of the type of paper generally used for the rolled support sheets of labels.

[0032] Thanks to glassine's resistance to tearing it is possible to use a glue in aqueous solution, which is generally very strong, rather than a solvent-based glue which could have a deleterious effect on the food products contained in the resealable packets 1.

[0033] It is clear that an expert in this field will be able to make numerous variations to the structure of a label according to the invention for resealable packaging, in order to satisfy particular contingencies, without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the following Claims.

Claims

1. Resealable package (1) comprising a wrapping (2), constituted by a sheet (3) and including a closure side (4) with a flap (5) and a self-adhesive label (6) to be superposed on the flap (5) having a removably self-adhesive surface (8) and an edge (9), characterized in that said self-adhesive label (6) includes a structurally independent tongue (10) which is removably attached to an area of the self-adhesive surface (8) which includes a portion of the edge (9), said self-adhesive surface (8) being completely coated with glue, and in that said tongue projecting from the edge (9) (10) can be detached from said self-adhesive label (6) when the glue of said self-adhesive surface (8) has lost its effectiveness, to uncover said area with fully effective glue, so that it is possible to reseal the package (1) using said area.

2. Resealable package (1) according to claim 1, wherein the tongue (10) is made of the paper material known as glassine.

3. Resealable package (1) according to claim 1, wherein said self-adhesive label (6) is made of the paper material known as glassine.

4. Resealable package (1) according to claim 3, wherein said glue is a glue in aqueous solution.

5. Resealable package (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tongue (10) is cut from a support strip (15), said self-adhesive labels (6) being arranged thereon in succession for the subsequent application onto said resealable package (1).

Ansprüche

1. Wiederverschließbare Verpackung (1), welche eine aus einer Lage (3) bestehende Hülle (2) mit einer Verschlußseite (4) umfaßt, die eine Verschlußklappe (5) und ein die Verschlußklappe (5) überlagerndes, selbstklebendes Etikett (6) mit einer entfernbaren, selbstklebenden Oberfläche (8) und einer Kante (9) aufweist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
das selbstklebende Etikett (6) eine konstruktiv unabhängige Zunge (10) enthält, die an einen einen Teil der Kante (9) umfassenden Bereich der selbstklebenden Oberfläche (8) angebracht ist, wobei die selbstklebende Oberfläche(8) vollständig mit Klebstoff beschichtet ist, und daß
die Zunge (10), die von der Kante (9) wegragt, wenn der Klebstoff der selbstklebenden Oberfläche seine Wirksamkeit verliert, von dem selbstklebenden Etikett (6) abgenommen werden kann, um den besagten Bereich mit einem vollkommen wirksamen Klebstoff freizulegen, sodaß es möglich ist, die Verpackung (1) mittels dieses Bereichs wieder zu verschliessen.

2. Wiederverschließbare Verpackung (1) nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Zunge (10) aus einem als Glassin bekannten Papiermaterial besteht.

3. Wiederverschließbare Verpackung (1) nach Anspruch 1, wobei das selbstklebende Etikett (6) aus einem als Glassin bekannten Papiermaterial besteht.

4. Wiederverschließbare Verpackung (1) nach Anspruch 3, wobei der Klebstoff ein Klebstoff in wäßriger Lösung ist.

5. Wiederverschließbare Verpackung (1) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Zunge (10) von einem Trägerstreifen (15) abgeschnitten wird, auf dem die selbstklebenden Etiketten (6) nacheinender zur nachfolgenden Anwendung auf der wiederverschließbaren Verpackung (1) angeordnet sind.

Revendications

1. Emballage (1) pouvant être refermé hermétiquement, comprenant un enveloppement (2) constitué d'une feuille (3) et comportant un côté de fermeture (4) muni d'un rabat (5), ainsi qu'une étiquette autocollante (6) devant être superposée au rabat (5) et ayant une surface amovible autocollante (8) et un bord (9), caractérisé en ce que
ladite étiquette autocollante (6) comprend une languette structurellement indépendante (10) qui est fixée de manière amovible à une zone de la surface autocollante (8) qui comporte une partie du bord (9), la surface autocollante (8) étant entièrement revêtue de colle, et en ce que
la languette (10), qui penche du bord (9), quand l'adhésif de la surface autocollante perd son efficacité, peut être détachée de l'étiquette autocollante (6), pour découvrir ladite zone avec de l'adhésif complètement efficace, afin que l'emballage (1) puisse être refermé en utilisant cette zone.

2. Emballage (1) pouvant être refermé hermétiquement selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la languette (10) est réalisée en une matière formée de papier connue sous le nom de papier cristal.

3. Emballage (1) pouvant être refermé hermétiquement selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ladite étiquette autocollante (6) est réalisée en une matière formée de papier connue sous le nom de papier cristal.

4. Emballage (1) pouvant être refermé hermétiquement selon la revendication 3, dans lequel l'adhésif est un adhésif en solution aqueuse.

5. Emballage (1) pouvant être refermé hermétiquement selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la languette (10) est découpée dans une bande de support (15), lesdites étiquettes autocollantes (6) étant disposées sur celle-ci en succession pour la mise en place ultérieure sur ledit emballage (1) pouvant être refermé hermétiquement.

Drawing