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(11) | EP 3 257 785 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | OPEN AND CLOSE LABEL FOR PACK OF WET WIPES OR FOOD PRODUCTS |
| (57) Open and close label for wet wipes and food packs products, that is made of a monolayer
rectangular flat maerial, that is a semi-rigid, PET or polystyrene, transparent or
white, with a minimum thickness of 170 microns up to a maximum of 260 microns, provided
on one face with adhesive for packaging open and close applications, it is printed
on the external substrate layer with a rotary printing technology, offset or flexo;
this substrare is die cutted with a rotative tool in line according to the label profite
(1) which is made of a folding line, that consists of a linear succession of notches
(3) to define a hinge (2), to enable the flap (4) to rotate about the hinge (2) and
to be used in opening and closing of the packing product.
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Technical field
[0001] The present invention makes reference to the field of open and close devices to be applied on packs containing wet wipes or food products.
State of the art
[0002] It is well known that containers for wet wipes require a watertight closure packaging system, that is made of a waterproof plastic film to prevent that napkins are quickly dried, and they have a closing and opening device, which can be a rigid lid or a label of flexible thermoplastic material with a pressure sensitive adhesive, with the scope to pull or withdraw the humidified napkins from the container, one by one.
[0003] The repositionable adhesive on the label bottom surface creates an hermetic sealing generally around the package opening area to prevent that wipes become dry or less wet during the storage.
[0004] In the described packaging solution, when wipes are removed, the upper surface of the flexible package may be deformed or corrugated.
[0005] The result is that when an attempt is made to reattach the label flap to the package, after the opening, the label strip can be improperly connected to the top of the flow pack to create a seal around the opening area.
[0006] In such situations, it is convenient to use a more rigid material for the label flap and to insert a frame around the reclosable flat, with the scope to maintain the shape of the package much better if compared to the flaps of the state of the art labels, in order to ensure a correct closure of the package.
[0007] The patent EP2202175 realizes a label made of 2 elements: a basic material, with an internal cutting (to let the hinge properly work for opening and closing), and an overlapping and transparent film, that is needed to assure the hinge function and the open and remove function of this device.
[0008] Also the Italian utility model 202015000021272 works with 2 film layers, so two films, but it is different as the hinge function is assured with a continuous horizontal cutting line and the final labels is realized with a lamination system in line on the printing machine in flexographic technology in a single step; specifically through a dedicated modification of the production line setting.
Scopes and advantages of the invention
[0009] An important specification of such devices is the simplicity and using reliability, that has a relevant importance especially for the user convenience, as for the producer as for the final consumer, and by consequence, it has a commercial value, which justifies a lot of and continuous researches for solutions, also related to improvements of the existing technical solutions.
[0010] The Purpose of the present invention is to develop a device, that can be manufactured at low cost with conventional equipment and systems, which provides an extremely functional solution, easy to use and convenient from the production point of view and application, as it does not provide any wastes or efficiency losses in the production phrase and in the final packaging application.
[0011] A further scope of the present invention in agreement with previous ones is to provide to the market a new solution in terms of a laminar open and close device for products containing wet wipes and food products, having an higher resistance and therefore a greater shelf life with high performance in terms of protection of the product in the flowpack.
[0012] The tasks and the purposes above mentioned, and others which will be better highlighted hereinafter, are achieved by a device in the form of single-layer that is flat and semi rigid; it is able to be applied on flexible and impervious containers, in this case a rectangular label, that is realized through dedicated tools of die-cutting, perforation and special adhesive to let the user to open and close by hands several times a package product; this device is provided of an adhesive surface on the rear that is pressure sensitive.
[0013] In addition this solution is more sustainable, convenient, userfriendly if compared with some market flowpacks that have three packaging element: a plastic lid, a self adhesive label applied on the lid and an open and close label under the lid; in conclusion this device is one only packaging element versus three packaging products.
[0014] These and other features and advantages will be apparent from the following description and the enclosed drawing supplied as an indicative purpose only and not as a limitative purpose, where:
FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the front face of the label according to the present invention.
[0015] The invention illustrated in the drawings is made of a rectangular flat plate (1) in PET (white or clear) or polystyrene material with a thickness of at least 170 microns (transparent or white) and up to a maximum of 260 microns, with a repositionable adhesive for open products on a support in glassine paper or a PET Liner of 30 micron.
[0016] The invention is realized on rotary printing technology (offset or flexographic), and the base material is printed with the colors of the corresponding graphic; the material is then die-cutted with a rotative tool in line according to the profile of fig.1 The label chosen thickness provides the right degree of stiffness and flexibility for all types of flexible packaging, opening and closing, in wet wipes industry. L'adhesive used is acrylic-based, it assures a durable open-close function, that is smooth and silent for a more user-friendly and reliable use of resealable bags, and with an high adhesion for reliable and safer performances.
[0017] The invention achieves the opening and closing device, essentially a label (1) having a peripheral chassis that is fixed on the container and having an adhesive cover to block the opening of the container.
[0018] In particular the label (1) consists of a rear fold line made with a linear succession of notches (3), which serves to define a hinge (2) to allow the flap (4) to rotate about the hinge ( 2) and to be used in opening and closing of the flap (4); a chassis or peripheral frame (5) attached to or firmly engaged on the surface of the container of wet wipes and food products, that is placed substantially around the flap area (4) to strengthen the surface area of the package where the opening area works
[0019] Preferably each notch is characterized by having a length of 4 mm and a 0.05 mm height and it is repeated every 4 mm.
[0020] The result achieved is innovative because the device requires "less" material: one layer only instead of two as in the above mentioned patents. It has also solved the problem that the rigid materials do not form good hinges. An hard folding, in fact will create a hinge that easily bends, but the material tends to break at the hinge. The "semi rigid" label works as a real open and close lid of the package, ensuring product integrity, security and sustainability of the solution of the pack, in fact there are not the 3 traditional packaging items such as the lid, the label on the lid and label underlid, but a single packaging element performs the same function.
1. Open and close label for wet wipes and food products packs, with the characterization
that i is made of a monolayer flat rectangular, semi-rigid material, that can be a
PET or polystyrene, transparent or white, with a minimum thickness of 170 microns
up to a maximum of 260 microns, provided on one face with adhesive for packaging open
and close application with a support in glassine support or polyester 30 microns;
It is printable on the external substrate face with a rotary printing technology,
offset or flexo; this layer is die cutted with a rotative tool in line according to
the label profile (1) which consists of a folding line made with a linear succession
of notches (3) to define a hinge (2), to enable the flap (4) to rotate about the hinge
(2) and to be used in opening and closing activities of the packaging; also it consists
of a chassis or peripheral frame (5) attached to or firmly engaged on the surface
of the container of wet wipes and food products, and it is substantially around the
flap (4) to strengthen the surface area of the package where the opening area works.
2. Open and close label for wet wipes and foodstuffs products as in claim 1, that has
the property to have a linear succession of notches (3, where each notch has length
of 4 mm, a light/height of 0.05 mm and repeated every 4 mm.
Amended claims in accordance with Rule 137(2) EPC.
1. Open and close label for wet wipes and food products packs, with the characterization
that i is made of a monolayer flat rectangular, semi-rigid material, that can be a
PET or polystyrene, transparent or white, with a minimum thickness of 170 microns
up to a maximum of 260 microns, provided on one face with adhesive for packaging open
and close application with a support in glassine support or polyester 30 microns;
It is printable on the external substrate face with a rotary printing technology,
offset or flexo; this layer is die cutted with a rotative tool in line according to
the label profile (1) which consists of a folding line made with a linear succession
of notches (3) to define a hinge (2), to enable the flap (4) to rotate about the hinge
(2) and to be used in opening and closing activities of the packaging; also it consists
of a chassis or peripheral frame (5), attached to or firmly engaged on the surface
of the container of wet wipes and food products, and it is substantially around the
flap (4) to strengthen the surface area of the package where the opening area works.
2. Open and close label for wet wipes and foodstuffs products as in claim 1, that has
the property to have a linear succession of notches (3, where each notch has length
of 4 mm, a light/height of 0.05 mm and repeated every 4 mm.
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description