The present invention relates to a resealable packaging comprising a self-adhesive label which has a removably self-adhesive surface.
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.
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.
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.
Reference is made for. ex. to EP-A-0 545 136.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This problem is solved by a package with a label of the type as specified in claim 1.
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.
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.
In the drawings:
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.
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.
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.
The tongue 10 projects from the edge 9.
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.
In order to close the package 1, one need only reapply the label 6, still holding it by the tongue 10.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The tongue 10 is therefore formed directly out of the glassine support strip 15 and its strength is therefore excellent.
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.
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.
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.