Label with superimposed sheets

Description

[0001] . The object of the present invention is a non-adhesive label with superimposed sheets suitable for containing information relating to a product, suitable for being stuck on a support, for example a bottle or other container.

[0002] . In the fields of labels there exist countless embodiments. Generally, such embodiments belong to two large sets: adhesive labels and non-adhesive labels.

[0003] . Traditional adhesive labels comprise

[0004] . - a silicone layer;

[0005] . - a first adhesive layer.

[0006] . To stick the label to the support, which is done at the factory where the product is packed, the first layer is peeled off the silicone layer and stuck to the support.

[0007] . Due to the high manufacturing costs, adhesive labels are widely used especially in fields characterised by low and medium production volumes.

[0008] . Non-adhesive labels comprise only one layer of paper having a front surface, which shows the information, and a back surface.

[0009] . To stick the label to the support, which is always done at the factory where the product is packed, the label is spread with glue on the back surface of the paper layer and then placed on the support and stuck thereon.

[0010] . Non-adhesive labels are widely used especially in fields characterised by large production volumes.

[0011] . The object of the present invention is to provide a non-adhesive label.

[0012] . Recently, moreover, adhesive labels with superimposed sheets, suitable for containing a very large amount of information on the product, have become increasingly widespread.

[0013] . An adhesive label with superimposed sheets comprises:

[0014] . - a silicone layer;

[0015] . - a first adhesive layer;

[0016] . - a second adhesive layer, superimposed to the first one.

[0017] . When stuck on the support, selected by the user, the second layer may be removed, thus enabling access to the information printed on the back of the second layer and on the front of the first layer.

[0018] . The object of the present invention is to provide a non-adhesive label with superimposed sheets.

[0019] . Such object is achieved by a label made according to claim 1. The dependent claims describe embodiment variations.

[0020] . The features and advantages of the label according to the present invention will appear more clearly from the following description, made by way of an indicative and non-limiting example with reference to the annexed figures, wherein:

[0021] . - figure 1 shows a front view of a label according to an embodiment variation of the present invention, in a closed configuration;

[0022] . - figure 2 shows a back view of the label of figure 1, in a closed configuration;

[0023] . - figure 3 shows a front view of the label of figure 1, in an open configuration, and

[0024] . - figure 4 shows a back view of the label of figure 1, in an open configuration;

[0025] . - figures 5 and 6 show embodiment variations of a continuous tape obtained by the union of labels made according to the present invention.

[0026] . With reference to the annexed figures, reference numeral 1 globally denotes a label according to the present invention.

[0027] . Label 1 is suitable for being associated to a support, for example a bottle or other container or packing of a product.

[0028] . Label 1 comprises a substratum 2, for example made of paper, having a back surface 4, intended for being stuck, at least partly, on the support, and a front surface 6.

[0029] . According to a preferred embodiment, substratum 2 comprises an anti-adhesive layer, spread on the front surface 6, so as to cover it at least partly.

[0030] . Preferably, said anti-adhesive layer is made of a silicone-based material.

[0031] . Moreover, label 1 comprises at least one peel off layer 10 having an inner surface 12 and an outer surface 14.

[0032] . The outer surface 14 of the peel off layer 10 remains exposed when label 1 is stuck on the support.

[0033] . In a closed configuration of the label, the inner surface 12 is stuck in a peel off manner to the front surface 6 of substratum 2. In other words, in the closed configuration the peel off layer 10 adheres to substratum 6.

[0034] . Preferably, in the closed configuration of the label, the peel off layer 10 fully covers substratum 2. In other words, in the closed configuration, the peel off layer adheres to the substratum and fully covers it, imparting such an appearance to the label as if it were a single sheet.

[0035] . According to a preferred embodiment, the peel off layer 10 comprises an adhesive layer, spread on the inner surface 12, covering it at least partly.

[0036] . The adhesive layer is made of a non-permanent or permanent glue, suitable for sticking the peel off layer 10 to substratum 2 in a peel off manner.

[0037] . The outer surface 14 of the peel off layer 10 contains printed information; preferably, also the inner surface 12 contains printed information; preferably, moreover, also the front surface 6 of substratum 2 contains printed information; preferably, moreover, also the back surface 4 of substratum 2 contains printed information.

[0038] . According to a preferred embodiment, the peel off layer 10 comprises a portion 18 permanently stuck on said substratum 2.

[0039] . For example, for a rectangular shaped label, the peel off layer 10 is permanently stuck on the substratum along a side of the rectangular shape, for example so that the label may be opened by unsticking the peel off layer from the opposite side and turning it like the page of a book (figure 1 and 3).

[0040] . The label according to the present invention is of the non-adhesive type.

[0041] . To stick the label on the support, said labels are generally piled up or sorted in cartons and individually fed by suitable gluing apparatus to the support.

[0042] . The gluing apparatus feeds glue to the label; the glue is spread on the back surface of the label and the label is stuck on the support.

[0043] . The label according to the present invention is particularly effective in facilitating the functionality of the gluing apparatus, ensuring excellent planarity of the pile of piled up labels.

[0044] . Moreover, the label according to the present invention is with superimposed sheets.

[0045] . This allows putting a large amount of information, for example arranging them on the inner surface thereof and on the front surface of the substratum, besides the outer surface of the peel off layer.

[0046] . Advantageously, the label according to the present invention allows using the technology for gluing non-adhesive labels also for labels with superimposed sheets, making the affixing of such labels economically advantageous even for products characterised by large production volumes.

[0047] . It is clear that a man skilled in the art may make several changes and variations to the label described above.

[0048] . For example, in an embodiment variation the anti-adhesive layer is spread on the inner surface of the peel off layer whereas the adhesive layer is spread on the front surface of the substratum.

[0049] . In a further embodiment variation, the peel off layer is fully separable from the substratum, for example through a tear off line, for example dotted, which allows separating the peel off layer from the substratum, or due to the fact of not permanently sticking the peel off layer to the substratum.

[0050] . The peel off layer can be used in that case, for example, as identification mark for the performance of prize contests.

[0051] . According to an even further embodiment variation, the peel off layer can be made in a plurality of peel off portions that, once stuck on the support, cover it in full.

[0052] . For example, for a rectangular shaped label, the peel off layer can be made in two halves, that is, consisting of two peel off portions. Said portions can be opened like the shutters of a window.

[0053] . In a further embodiment variation, the substratum consists of a film of synthetic material, for example polypropylene, polyester or polyvinylchloride.

[0054] . According to an even further embodiment variation, a plurality of labels made according to the above description, make up a continuous tape 100, being attached to each other along one side (figure 5).

[0055] . For example, said labels are attached so that, a direction V along the tape being defined, a subsequent label 1a is attached to a preceding label 1b by the side having the glued portion 18, that is, so that the preceding label is attached to the subsequent one by the side having the glued portion 18.

[0056] . In other words, according to said embodiment variation, substrata 2 of the labels make up a continuous substratum tape, as they are attached along a side (for example, the short side of a rectangular label); similarly, the peel off layers 10 make up a continuous peel off tape, attached to the substratum tape according to the methods described above.

[0057] . For the application to the support, the tape is cut, for example by a blade cutter, making labels of constant length.

[0058] . According to preferred embodiment variations, the labels are arranged along the continuous tape so as to be attached directly to each other, that is, so that sided labels have one side in common (figure 5), that is, so that there is a gap (figure 6) thereinbetween where the cut is made.

[0059] . According to an even further embodiment variation, the continuous tape 100 exhibits peel off portions 10a having a peripheral profile not matching the peripheral profile of the underlying substratum (figure 6) .

[0060] . For example, according to said embodiment variation, the peel off portion is completely internal relative to the underlying substratum, for example with a rounded pattern, useful for better seating a desired representation, for example a mark.

[0061] . Advantageously, the tape-wise make allows a high feeding speed of the labels to the respective supports on which they are to be applied.

[0062] . Also such variations are comprised within the scope of protection as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. Non-adhesive label (1) suitable for being associated to a support, comprising:

- a substratum (2) having a back surface (4), facing said support when said label is stuck on the support, and a front surface (6);

- at least one peel off layer (10) having

a) an inner surface (12), in a closed configuration of the label said inner surface being stuck in a peel off manner to the front surface of the substratum, and

b) an outer surface (14), exposed when said label is stuck on the support;
said label being characterised in that
said peel off layer comprises at least one portion (18) permanently stuck on said substratum.

2. Label according to claim 1, wherein said substratum comprises an anti-adhesive layer spread on said front surface (6), covering it at least partly.

3. Label according to claim 2, wherein said anti-adhesive layer is silicone-based.

4. Label according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said peel off layer comprises an adhesive layer, spread on said inner surface (12), covering it at least partly, said adhesive layer being suitable for sticking in a peel off manner said peeling layer on said substratum.

5. Label according to claim 4, wherein said adhesive layer is suitable for repeatedly sticking said peel off layer on said substratum.

6. Label according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said substratum is made of paper.

7. Label according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said substratum is made of a synthetic material.

8. Label according to claim 7, wherein said synthetic material is selected from the group comprising polypropylene, polyester, polyvinylchloride.

9. Label according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said outer surface (14) of the peel off layer (10) contains printed information.

10. Label according to claim 9, wherein said inner surface (12) of the peel off layer (10) contains printed information.

11. Label according to claim 9 or 10, wherein said front surface (6) of the substratum (10) contains printed information.

12. Label according to claim 9 or 10 or 11, wherein said back surface (4) of the substratum (10) contains printed information.

13. Label according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said peel off layer (10), in said closed configuration of the label, fully covers said substratum (2) for conveniently piling up said labels.

14. Label according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said peel off layer (10) comprises a plurality of peel off portions separate from one another, said peel off portions, in said closed configuration of the label, fully covering said substratum.

15. Continuous tape (100) comprising a plurality of labels made according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said labels are reciprocally sided and attached along one side, the substrata of said labels thus making a single continuous substratum.

16. Tape according to claim 15, wherein the labels are attached so that, a direction (V) along the tape being defined, a subsequent label (1a) is attached to a preceding label (1b) by the side having the glued portion (18) that is, so that a preceding label is attached to the subsequent one by the side having the glued portion (18).

17. Tape according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the peel off layers of said labels are attached along a side, thus making a single tape of peel off layers.

18. Tape according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the peel off layer (10a) of each label that makes the tape exhibits a peripheral profile not matching the peripheral profile of the underlying substratum.

19. Tape according to claim 18, wherein the peel off layer (10a) is fully internal to the relevant underlying substratum.