Pressure sensitive shrink label

• US 8,282,754 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2008
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
• Original Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
• Inventors: Lorence, James Paul, Pastor, Richard D., Potter, Craig William, Previty, Richard A., Rackovan, Mitchell J., Wyatt, Mark James, Cone, William Lewis
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Khanh P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Squalls, Margaret
• Application Number:
  US12/237,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20090038736A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,475 Days
• Field of Search: 156/84, 156/86
• US Class Current: 156/86
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/10 on synthetic resin layer or on natural or synthetic rubber layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/205 Metallic coating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/26 Polymeric coating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2264/10 Inorganic particles
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2270/00 Resin or rubber layer containing a blend of at least two different polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/4023 on the layer surface, e.g. ink
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/412 Transparent
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/50 having particular mechanical properties
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/54 Yield strength; Tensile strength
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/554 Wear resistance
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/736 Shrinkable
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/748 Releasability
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/75 Printability
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/14 comprising synthetic rubber copolymers B32B25/18 and B32B25/20 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/16 comprising polydienes homopolymers or poly-halodienes homopolymers B32B25/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2519/00 Labels, badges
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/16 specially treated, e.g. irradiated
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/18 characterised by the use of special additives
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/20 : using fillers, pigments, thixotroping agents
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/22 : using plasticisers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/30 : comprising vinyl (co)polymers; comprising acrylic (co)polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/302 : comprising aromatic vinyl (co)polymers, e.g. styrenic (co)polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/304 : comprising vinyl halide (co)polymers, e.g. PVC, PVDC, PVF, PVDF
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/32 : comprising polyolefins comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/325 : comprising polycycloolefins
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/36 : comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/266 : characterised by an apertured layer, the apertures going through the whole thickness of the layer, e.g. expanded metal, perforated layer, slit layer regular cells B32B3/12
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/06 : permitting easy separation
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/14 : applied in spaced arrangements, e.g. in stripes
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 3/08 : to container bodies B65C3/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 9/1865 : the labels adhering on a backing strip
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 9/20 : Gluing the labels or articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 9/24 : by heat
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 9/26 : Devices for applying labels
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 9/36 : Wipers; Pressers
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2203/334 : as a label
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2301/162 : the carrier being a laminate constituted by plastic layers only
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2301/204 : the adhesive coating being discontinuous
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2301/312 : parameters being the characterizing feature
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2423/006 : in the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2425/006 : in the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2427/006 : in the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2467/006 : in the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 7/22 : Plastics; Metallised plastics
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 7/29 : Laminated material metallised plastics C09J7/22
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1798 : with liquid adhesive or adhesive activator applying means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 : Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24851 : Intermediate layer is discontinuous or differential
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/28 : Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and having an adhesive outermost layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2839 : with release or antistick coating

Abstract

A label for application to a surface having at least one compound curve is provided. The label comprises a heat shrinkable film having an inner surface and outer surface and a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive on the inner surface of the heat shrinkable film.

Claims

1. A method of applying a label to an article, the method comprising:

providing an article having a perimeter and having a surface comprising at least one compound curve;

providing a label comprising (i) a heat shrinkable film having an inner surface and an outer surface; and

(ii) a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive on the inner surface of the heat shrinkable film, wherein the label has a first edge and a contact region;

contacting the adhesive layer in the contact region of the label with the article;

applying heat and pressure simultaneously to the label in a direction from the contact region to the first edge such that the first edge of the label adheres to the article and the label shrinks to conform to the compound curve of the article;

wherein the label adheres to less than half the perimeter of the article at a given cross-section.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein heat and pressure are applied by a walking beam comprising a heated bladder.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein heat and pressure are applied by a walking beam comprising a heated cavity wherein the shape of the cavity corresponds to the shape of the article to which the label is applied.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein heat and pressure are applied by a walking beam comprising a flexible heated membrane suspended between at least two frame members.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein heat and pressure are applied by a walking beam comprising a flexible heated membrane mounted to a rectangular frame.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein heat and pressure are applied by a walking beam comprising a flexible heated membrane mounted to a frame having a shape corresponding to the shape of the article to which the label is applied.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein heat and pressure are applied by a walking beam comprising a flexible porous mesh suspended between at least two frame members.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein heat and pressure are applied by a flexible, expandable heated membrane.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the label is provided with a release liner adhered to the adhesive layer and the method further comprises separating the release liner from the label prior to contacting the label with the article.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the label is heated to a temperature of at least 40°

C.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the heat shrinkable film comprises a film selected from polyester, polyolefin, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polylactic acid, copolymers thereof and blends thereof.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the heat shrinkable film comprises a polyolefin.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the heat shrinkable film comprises a multilayer film having a core layer and at least one skin layer.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the stiffness of the film is at least 5 mN in the machine direction.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the label further comprises a print layer between the heat shrinkable film and the adhesive layer, wherein the heat shrinkable film is transparent.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the label further comprises a print layer on the outer surface of the heat shrinkable film.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the label further comprises a protective layer overlying the print layer.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the adhesive layer comprises an emulsion adhesive.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the adhesive layer comprises a hot melt adhesive.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the adhesive layer comprises a solvent based adhesive.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive layer is continuous.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive layer is patterned and the pattern substantially covers the inner surface of the film wherein the pattern is continuous over the film surface.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the label comprises a center and a second edge opposite the first edge, and the contact region is proximate to or in the center of the label.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein the label comprises a second edge opposite the first edge and the contact region is proximate to the second edge of the label.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein heat and pressure is applied by a heated conformable membrane.