IN-MOLD LABELING SYSTEM FOR CONTAINERS

• US 20080286506A1
• Filed: 05/14/2008
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MPT Incorporated
• Original Assignee: MPT Incorporated
• Inventors: KENNEDY, Patrick R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,073,244 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/34.1
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/14918 in-mould-labelling
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14811 Multilayered articles B29C45/14827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2715/006 Glues or adhesives, e.g. hot melts or thermofusible adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7134 Crates, e.g. for bottles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 23/14 of tags , labels, cards, coupons, decorations or the like B65D23/008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/13 Hollow or container type article [e.g., tube, vase, etc.]

Abstract

A container or other article is integrally molded to a labeling assembly. The labeling assembly includes a release surface for releasably supporting an adhesive label for identifying a feature of the container. A method of making a container having an in-mold labeling assembly is also disclosed. A labeling assembly is provided in a mold cavity so that the top face of the labeling assembly faces away from the hollow mold cavity. Moldable material is introduced into the mold cavity to form the container and the formed container is integrally molded to the labeling assembly. A method for tracking the contents of a container using such an assembly is also provided.

Claims

1. A method for making an injection-molded article, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a labeling assembly having a top face and a bottom face, wherein the top face comprises a release surface for releasably supporting a label thereon, said release surface being provided by a release layer;

b) positioning said labeling assembly in a mold or die that defines a cavity for molding said article, such that the top face of the labeling assembly is oriented to face outward, toward a wall of said mold or die, and the bottom face of the labeling assembly is oriented to face inward, toward the cavity;

c) introducing moldable material into the cavity to form the article such that the formed article is integrally molded with said labeling assembly.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the moldable material is selected from the group consisting of plastic, thermoset plastic, polymers, rubber, glass, metals, alloys, or combinations thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the container is formed by applying pressure and thermal energy to the mold cavity.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of curing the moldable material.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said mold or die comprises at least one wall having a recess therein configured to accommodate and retain at least a portion of said labeling assembly therein prior to the introduction of said moldable material into said cavity, and during formation of said formed article.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the labeling assembly comprising visual indicia that are visible through said top face thereof.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the depth of said recess in said mold or die wall is selected, in conjunction with a thickness of said labeling assembly, so that said labeling assembly protrudes from said recess and into said cavity a selected extent, so that when moldable material is injected into said cavity, the moldable material is caused to flow around the protruding portion of said labeling assembly, and thereby to mold integrally thereto.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the release layer is composed of a release material selected from the group consisting of silicones and polytetrafluoroethylenes.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the release layer comprises a polymeric material combined with an additive that provides release properties to said polymeric material, said polymeric material being selected from the group consisting of polypropylenes, polyolefins and polyesters.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the release layer is coated on a backing layer selected from a polymer layer or an adhesive backing layer.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the polymer layer that has an adhesive backing layer on its opposite face.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the release surface is provided by a self-supporting release layer composed of release material.

13. The method according to claim 1, said article being a container.

14. A method for tracking the contents of a container, said method comprising:

a) providing a container having at least one wall with an exterior face, and a labeling assembly integrally molded into said wall and having a release surface for releasably supporting an adhesive label thereon, said release surface being oriented facing outwardly from the exterior face of said wall;

b) placing a first set of contents into said container;

c) applying a first adhesive label to the release surface of the labeling assembly, wherein the first label bears information relating to the first set of contents;

d) at a select point in time subsequent to applying the first label and placing the first set of contents in the container, removing the first set of contents from the container and placing a second set of contents in the container; and

e) removing the first label from the release surface and applying a second label to the release surface of the labeling assembly, wherein the second label bears information relating to the second set of contents.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the release surface is provided by a self-supporting release layer composed of a release material.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the release material comprises a polymeric material combined with an additive that provides release properties to said polymeric material, said first polymeric material being selected from the group consisting of polypropylenes, polyolefins and polyesters.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the release material is selected from the group consisting of silicones and polytetrafluoroethylenes.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the release surface is provided by a coating of release material on a backing layer.

19. The method of claim 18, said backing layer being a polymer layer that has an adhesive layer on its opposite face.

20. A container comprising:

an injection-molded article having a wall with at least one exterior face;

a labeling assembly integrally molded into said wall and having a release surface for releasably supporting an adhesive label thereon, said release surface oriented to face outwardly from the exterior face of said wall, and

said labeling assembly having a bottom face, opposite said release surface, said bottom face being in contact with said wall.

21. The container of claim 20, said bottom face of said labeling assembly being recessed in said wall of said container, beneath said exterior face thereof.

22. The labeling assembly of claim 20, further comprising visual indicia printed on the labeling assembly, wherein the visual indicia are visible through said.

23. The labeling assembly of claim 20, wherein the release surface is provided by a self-supporting release layer composed of a release material.

24. The labeling assembly of claim 20, wherein the release surface is provided by a coating of release material on a backing layer.