Method for producing integrity protection devices for packages of commercial products in general, apparatus for carrying out the method, and product produced with the apparatus and the method

Abstract

 A method for producing integrity protection devices for packagings of commercial products in general, comprising the steps of:

performing, on an adhesive-coated material, printing on a front layer of the adhesive-coated material, the front layer constituting a label;

performing a die-cutting of the front layer of material of the adhesive-coated material, in order to form pre-cuts on the front layer;

laminating the adhesive-coated material;

performing an additional die-cutting of the laminated adhesive-coated material, in order to define the contours of the label.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for producing integrity protection devices for commercial products in general, to an apparatus for carrying out the method, and to the product obtained thereby.

[0002] More particularly, the invention relates to a method for producing integrity protection devices or tamper-evident seals which can, for example, be used in the manufacture of paper and cardboard articles, in the food sector, in the pharmaceutical sector and in all other sectors in which it is necessary to seal the individual packages sold to the public, so as to be able to clearly indicate any fraudulent attempt to open said packages.

[0003] The application of a tamper-evident seal to the various products gives the advantage of being able to demonstrate to the buyer that the product he is about to purchase has an intact packaging, and therefore this gives assurance and confidence to the buyer.

[0004] Moreover, the presence of a tamper-evident seal gives producers the possibility to introduce in the distribution chain, for example, multiple packages, allowing the recipient of the shipping to check that individual packages have not been removed or replaced during shipping.

[0005] Currently known seals are constituted by labels, either of the self-adhesive type or made of plain paper, which are applied to the product to be sealed by means of an adhesive material.

[0006] The devices used to produce these self-adhesive labels are mainly constituted by printing machines which work reel-to-reel, printing on material which is already adhesive-coated and formed by three layers:

1) front material, designed to constitute the label proper;

2) adhesive;

3) silicone-coated backing (i.e., backing coated with a non-stick substance).

[0007] Printing machines for self-adhesive materials are characterized by the presence of at least one die-cutting unit, i.e., a device which is adapted to form the contour of the label by cutting only the first layer (front layer) and the adhesive, but leaving intact the silicone-coated backing on which the labels are carried until they are used.

[0008] In this manner, the user can easily remove the label from the silicone-coated backing.

[0009] The die-cutting station is always arranged downstream of the printing units, as the last station of the printing machine; this allows to print up to the margin of the label by using appropriate graphic bleed regions during printing.

[0010] The die-cutting unit can currently be preceded immediately by a lamination device; by laminating the continuous band of front material with a transparent film in roll form, said film also is die-cut together with said material.

[0011] An offcut removal device is arranged immediately after the die-cutting unit and eliminates the portions of front material that remains in excess between one label and the next after die-cutting.

[0012] In practice, the offcut removal device eliminates the portion of front material that is cut by the die-cutting device.

[0013] However, conventional adhesive labels do not fully meet the requirements of preventing fraudulent removal of the label and most of all are unable to indicate that removal has been attempted, because said labels, by using a certain degree of skill and heat sources, can be removed intact and then reattached with adhesive.

[0014] The aim of the present invention is to provide a method for producing integrity protection devices for commercial products in general which allows, in a single pass, to produce the intended seal, which is more effective and accordingly cannot be removed intact.

[0015] Within the scope of this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing integrity protection devices for commercial products in general which can be implemented with conventional printing machines with a low-cost modification.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for carrying out the above-cited method having a substantially reduced cost.

[0017] Another object of the present invention is to provide an integrity protection device for commercial products in general which, besides allowing certainty as to tampering attempts, can be packaged in rolls and can therefore be applied by means of automatic machines.

[0018] Another object of the present invention is to provide an integrity protection device for commercial products in general which can be easily adapted to surfaces of any shape, with optimum adhesion thereto.

[0019] Another object of the present invention is to provide an integrity protection device for commercial products in general which offers a number of different protections against tampering.

[0020] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing integrity protection devices for commercial products in general, an apparatus for carrying out said method, and a corresponding product which are highly reliable, relatively easy to provide and at competitive costs.

[0021] These and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a method for producing integrity protection devices for commercial products in general, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

performing, on an adhesive-coated material, printing on a front layer of said adhesive-coated material, said front layer constituting a label;

performing a die-cutting of the front layer of material of said adhesive-coated material, in order to form pre-cuts on said front layer;

laminating said adhesive-coated material;

performing an additional die-cutting of said laminated adhesive-coated material, in order to define the contours of the label.

[0022] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the following description of preferred but not exclusive embodiments of the method, the apparatus and the product according to the invention, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of an apparatus for performing the method according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of an apparatus for performing the method according to the present invention;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a tamper-evident seal provided according to the invention, according to a first embodiment thereof;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the seal of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a tamper-evident seal according to a second embodiment thereof;

Figure 6 is a view of a tamper-evident seal which can be used to close an envelope;

Figure 7 is a view of a tamper-evident seal provided on an envelope and usable to ensure that the envelope cannot be opened fraudulently;

Figure 8 is a view of the tamper-evident seal of Figure 7, arranged on the closure flap of the envelope;

Figure 9 is a view of tamper-evident seal arranged with two backing layers for application to various products;

Figure 10 is a view of the tamper-evident seal of Figure 9, applied to an envelope.

[0023] With reference to the above figures, the apparatus for carrying out the method according to the invention is described first, followed accordingly by the corresponding method.

[0024] It should be noted that in all the figures, identical reference numerals designate identical elements.

[0025] The apparatus according to the invention, in a first embodiment shown in Figure 1, comprises a reel unwinding device 20 and a takeup device 30 between which there runs, along a path explained in detail hereinafter, a material which is already coated with adhesive and is formed by three layers. The material is generally designated by the reference numeral 21.

[0026] Said material consists of a layer of front material which is designed to constitute the label proper, a layer of adhesive, and a silicone-coated backing, i.e., a backing coated with a non-stick substance.

[0027] The layer of material 21 then passes though one or more printing stations, generally designated by the reference numeral 22, after which, and before the lamination section designated by the reference numeral 23, there is at least one die-cutting unit 24.

[0028] Downstream of the die-cutting unit 24 there is a station 25 for depositing lacquer/glue before the material 21 passes through the lamination station 23.

[0029] Downstream of the lamination station 23, the material passes through an additional die-cutting unit 26 or 27, which can be respectively flat or rotary, before the material 21 reaches the takeup unit 30.

[0030] In this first embodiment, the apparatus according to the invention therefore has at least one die-cutting unit 24 upstream of the lamination station 23 and at least one additional die-cutting unit 26, 27 downstream of the lamination station before the material 21 is wound back onto the takeup unit 30.

[0031] In a second embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the first die-cutting unit arranged upstream of the lamination station 23 can be constituted by a hot printing device which is appropriately modified into a die-cutting unit. Said device is designated, in this case, by the reference numeral 24a. Accordingly, since the hot printing devices are always necessarily arranged upstream of the lamination step, because said step, performed at the end of the printing process, must protect everything that has been printed (including the hot print), said devices, if present in the printing machine, are naturally arranged where indispensable for providing the method according to the invention.

[0032] The apparatus according to the invention has, downstream of the second die-cutting unit, an offcut removal unit (not shown in the figures).

[0033] Before describing in detail the method that can be implemented in the devices shown in Figures 1 and 2, it is necessary to describe the product that can be obtained with said devices, so as to point out, with respect to the characteristics of the product, the different treatment steps that are required.

[0034] With reference therefore to Figures 3, 4 and 5, a sheet-like label 2 is shown which is preferably printed on its exposed face but can also be printed on the back, or not printed, and has pre-cuts 3 formed according to the most disparate patterns which can affect its entire surface up to its outer perimeter.

[0035] The front layer from which the sheet-like label 2 is obtained is applied beforehand, by interposing a lower layer of adhesive material designated by the reference numeral 5, to a non-stick backing 6 of the per se known type, which allows to handle the label so as to separate it easily at the time of application to the product whereon the seal is to be placed.

[0036] The label 2, which by being provided with the pre-cuts 3 does not have in practice a good consistency which allows to handle it, has, at its exposed face, a laminated film 10, made for example of plastics, which is preferably transparent and optionally holographic or prismatic and is joined to the label 2 by interposing an upper layer of adhesive material designated by the reference numeral 11.

[0037] It is noted that the sheet-like label 2 can be constituted by a continuous tape with pre-cuts which can reach the longitudinal edges of the tape.

[0038] The bonding strength with which the lower layer (5) of adhesive material bonds to the product on which the seal is applied is greater than the bonding strength of the upper layer 11 of the adhesive material that keeps the plastic film 10 bonded to the label 2.

[0039] Therefore, the layer formed by the laminated plastic film, besides improving the aesthetic appearance of the tamper-evident seal, allows easy handling of said seal notwithstanding the presence of the pre-cuts 3, which can affect the entire width of the label, thanks to the consistency that is provided by the laminated plastic film, which prevents accidental breakage of said label both during production and during application to the product to be sealed.

[0040] When fraudulent removal of the seal is attempted, said seal becomes irreparably damaged, preventing its reuse.

[0041] With reference to Figure 6, a label is provided which, as mentioned, is for example constituted by a continuous tape, designated by the reference numeral 40, which is provided with pre-cuts, again designated by the reference numeral 3, which can reach the longitudinal edges of the tape.

[0042] The tape 40 is provided with a non-stick backing layer which is provided by two separate portions, designated by the reference numeral 41, so that by removing the first one of the non-stick backing portions it is possible to place the tape band that constitutes the integrity protection device on an envelope designated by the reference numeral 42, and by removing the second portion 41 it is possible to use the tape as a tamper-evident seal.

[0043] According to what is shown in Figures 7 and 8, it is possible to provide a non-stick backing made of plastics, designated by the reference numeral 50, on which the label 2 having the characteristics already noted is applied; the non-stick backing made of plastic material is applied by thermal bonding, for example ultrasound bonding, to a product on which it is necessary to provide a tamper-evident seal, constituted by the label 2, which can be removed and applied at the time of use in the intended point.

[0044] In the specific case, the label 2 is removed from the layer 50 and applied to the closure flap of the envelope.

[0045] It is also possible to provide, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, a first non-stick backing layer 60 which is for example continuous and on which a second layer of non-stick backing 62 is arranged by means of a first layer of adhesive 61; the label 2 having the above provided characteristics is applied to said second layer.

[0046] With this solution it is possible to provide for example envelope manufacturers with continuous tapes, constituted by the first layer of non-stick support 60 which allows feeding on automatic machines, with the possibility to remove the second layer 62 and apply it in a selected position of an envelope 42 so as to have available the tamper-evident seal 2 to be applied to the envelope after its use.

[0047] With reference therefore to the product (integrity protection device) shown in Figures 3 and 4, the method according to the present invention provides for a first step which consists in printing the intended graphic elements on the front layer of the adhesive-coated material 21 (i.e., on the label proper), followed by a step which consists in passing the adhesive-coated material 21, with the corresponding print, through the first die-cutting unit 24, which allows to form the pre-cuts 3 on the front layer of the adhesive-coated material 21. Then the material is laminated, and the plastic film 10 is then arranged on the front layer of the material 21 and thus protects the upper surface of the label with its print and pre-cuts.

[0048] It is then necessary to perform an additional die-cutting in the second die-cutting and offcut removal unit 26, 27, by means of which the borders of the label are defined so as to allow to remove the label from the non-stick backing layer together with the plastic film 10 that covers it.

[0049] In this manner, in order to produce the product shown in Figures 3 and 4 it is not necessary to perform two separate treatment passes through the printing machine, since the presence of an additional die-cutting unit 24 upstream of lamination allows to form the pre-cuts 3 on the label and then perform lamination followed by final die-cutting.

[0050] This allows a saving in process time and therefore leads ultimately to a reduced cost of the product.

[0051] The lamination step, in which the plastic film 10 is laminated on the front layer of the adhesive-coated material, can occur without the presence of lacquer or adhesive deposited on the upper surface of the front layer in order to make the plastic film 10 adhere thereto. It is in fact possible to provide a self-adhesive plastic film 10, i.e., a film which is already provided with pressure-activated adhesive.

[0052] If the plastic film 10 must instead be made to adhere to the front layer of the adhesive-coated material 21 by means of adhesive, said adhesive can be distributed by means of a print head and activated by the ultraviolet light of a drying lamp which is arranged downstream of the print head.

[0053] In this last case, it is possible to use normal and low-cost liquid adhesives which are sensitive to ultraviolet rays and can be distributed in variable quantities; moreover it is possible to use heat-activated adhesives or other kinds of adhesive.

[0054] The product shown in Figures 3 and 4 can further make possible, by means of an appropriate dosage of the adhesive interposed between the label being laminated, that a structure be obtained which, in case of separation of the lamination (plastic film 10), removes the print from the upper part of said label, indicating even more clearly an attempted tampering. In practice, the ink deposited during printing of the upper part of the label remains stuck to the lower part of the lamination (plastic film 10).

[0055] The product provided by the method according to the invention can furthermore be packaged in rolls, i.e., a series of labels arranged at regular intervals on the continuous band of the silicone-coated backing.

[0056] The advantage of this type of packaging with respect to production in sheets or individual labels is constituted by the possibility to provide application automatically, by means of suitable labeling machines which work only if the labels are in rolls.

[0057] Moreover, lamination by means of the plastic film 10, besides allowing to handle the intact label (even though it is die-cut up to its perimeter) and its manual or automatic application to any type of surface, also allows application which require what is known in technical jargon as form-fitting.

[0058] For example, when a sealing label must be applied to the lid of a jar of jam, said label must adhere both to the lid and to the body of the jar in order to effectively act as tamper-preventing seal. This application is provided by automatically arranging the label on the lid of the jar, so that part of said label protrudes from said lid, and by then pushing, by means of a piston or other similar devices, the protruding part until it adheres to the body of the jar (or viceversa).

[0059] These pistons and other form-fitting devices apply to the label pressures, frictions and torsions which without the presence of the lamination layer (plastic film 10) would destroy said label.

[0060] The lamination layer 10 may also be provided not by means of a plastic film but by means of a paper-like or similar film.

[0061] Furthermore, the lamination film 10 can be printed on its upper or lower surface.

[0062] Another variation of the lamination film 10 can be one in which the film is not transparent and is optionally printed with the information to be rendered evident, while the upper layer of the label proper, hidden from view by the opaque lamination, is printed on its upper surface with lettering which points out any attempted tampering. In this manner, and by virtue of an appropriate dosage of the adhesive 11, in case of tampering the separation/breakage of the lamination film 10 calls attention to the lettering arranged on the upper surface of the label, below the film 10.

[0063] In order to significantly increase the effectiveness of the tamper-preventing seal it is possible to form an additional die-cut which affects only the lamination film 10 and does not affect the underlying layer, which is already die-cut before said lamination.

[0064] This additional die-cutting is provided at the second die-cutting unit arranged upstream of the lamination station 23. In the second die-cutting unit 26 and 27, in which the plastic film 10 is die-cut, further die-cutting thereof with cuts on its upper surface which have various shapes (for example small X-shapes or waves) is possible. Thanks to these additional cuts, designated by the reference numeral 29 in Figure 4, if an attempt is made to remove the label, the lamination film 10 that separates from the label cannot be removed intact but is destroyed spontaneously.

[0065] As noted, this additional die-cutting for security pre-cuts 29 can be provided together with the final die-cutting that determines the shape of the label by using a second die-cutting unit 26, 27 on two levels.

[0066] However, since printing machines can have more than one die-cutting unit after lamination, i.e., a flat unit 26 and a rotary unit 27, it is possible to use for example the first unit 26 to die-cut the contour of the label and the second unit 27 immediately thereafter in order to die-cut the lamination layer 10 so as to form the pre-cuts 29 thereof.

[0067] In practice it has been observed that the method, the apparatus and the product according to the invention fully achieve the intended aim and objects, since they allow to provide, with a minimal number of passes through the machine, a tamper-evident seal which is very effective with respect to current tamper-evident seals. Moreover, the method according to the invention requires a single processing pass to form a tamper-evident seal with the corresponding pre-cuts which ensure its tamper-preventing effectiveness.

[0068] The method, the apparatus and the product thus conceived are susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept; all the details may furthermore be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

[0069] In practice, the materials employed, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

[0070] The disclosures in Italian Utility Model Application No. MI99U000341 and Italian Patent Application No. MI99A002007 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

[0071] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A method for producing integrity protection devices for commercial products in general, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

performing, on an adhesive-coated material, optional printing on a front layer of said adhesive-coated material, said front layer constituting a label;

performing a die-cutting of the front layer of material of said adhesive-coated material, in order to form pre-cuts on said front layer;

laminating said adhesive-coated material;

performing an additional die-cutting of said laminated adhesive-coated material, in order to define the contours of the label.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that said adhesive-coated material is unwound and rewound from a reel unwinding unit and onto a takeup unit which are respectively arranged at the beginning and at the end of the processing cycle.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises, after the first die-cutting step, a step for depositing lacquer/adhesive on said adhesive-coated material, for the subsequent adhesion of the lamination layer.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises, after the first die-cutting step, the step of applying an adhesive-coated lamination film.

5. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first die-cutting step is performed by way of a die-cutting unit which is obtained by modifying a standard hot printing device arranged upstream of the lamination station.

6. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an offcut removal step, after said additional die-cutting.

7. The apparatus for producing integrity protection devices for packages of commercial products in general, suitable to implement the method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises:

at least one die-cutting unit (24) arranged downstream of the optional printing station (22) and ahead of a lamination station (23); and

at least one second die-cutting (26,27) arranged downstream of said lamination station (23).

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that said at least one second die-cutting unit (24) arranged upstream of said lamination station (23) is obtained by modifying a hot printing device (24a).

9. The apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that said at least one second die-cutting unit arranged downstream of said lamination station (23) comprises a flat die-cutting unit (26) and a rotary die-cutting unit (27).

10. The apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises a reel unwinding unit (20) which is arranged upstream of said printing station (22) and a takeup unit (30) which is arranged downstream of an offcut removal unit which is in turn arranged downstream of said at least one second die-cutting unit (26, 27).

11. The integrity protection device for commercial products in general, characterized in that it comprises a sheet-like label (2) with pre-cuts (3) which affect at least one surface portion and has, on its lower face, a lower layer (5) of adhesive material and, on its upper face, a laminated film (10) which is joined by means of an upper layer (11) of adhesive material, the bonding strength with which said lower layer (5) bonds to the product to which the seal is applied being greater than the bonding strength of said upper layer (11).

12. The integrity protection device according to claim 10, characterized in that said sheet-like label (2) is arranged on a backing (6) made of non-stick material.

13. The integrity protection device according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that said pre-cuts (3) affect said sheet-like label (6) up to its peripheral region and divide it completely.

14. The integrity protection device according to one or more of the preceding claims 10 to 12, characterized in that said laminated film (10) is a transparent plastic film.

15. The integrity protection device according to claim 10, characterized in that said laminated film (10) is an opaque plastic film.

16. The integrity protection device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, below said opaque plastic film (10), print which is suitable to render evident any attempt at tampering.

17. The integrity protection device according to claim 10, characterized in that said laminated film (10) is an opaque plastic film which is printed on its upper or lower surface.

18. The integrity protection device according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises pre-cuts (3) formed in said laminated film (10).

19. The integrity protection device according to claim 10, characterized in that said upper layer (11) of adhesive material suitable to join said laminated film (10) to said sheet-like label (2) has a bonding strength which produces, in case of separation of said laminated layer (10), the removal of the print from the upper surface of said sheet-like label (2).

20. The integrity protection device according to claim 10, characterized in that it is packaged in rolls, with said tamper-evident seals arranged at regular intervals on the backing layer, said rolls allowing automatic application by means of labeling machines.

21. The integrity protection device according to claim 10, characterized in that said laminated film (10) is of the paper-like type.

22. The integrity protection device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said backing made of non-stick material is provided by a first and second portions (41) of non-stick material which can be removed separately.

23. The integrity protection device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said backing made of non-stick material is constituted by a backing layer (50) made of plastics which can be applied by thermal bonding to a product in order to provide a tamper-evident seal which can be used subsequently.

24. The integrity protection device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said backing made of non-stick material has a first layer (60) of non-stick material on which multiple second layers (62) of non-stick material are arranged by interposing a first layer (61) of adhesive material, said sheet-like element being arranged on said second layers.

25. The integrity protection device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sheet-like label (2) is shaped like a tape (40).

Drawing