Low Modulus Shrink Compliant Films
AssigneeAvery Dennison Corporation
InventorKevin O. HENDERSON
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A label assembly for application to heat shrink containers and materials is described. The label assembly is adhered to the heat shrink material prior to heat shrinking that material. During heat shrinking of the container or material, the label assembly adapts to and accommodates dimensional changes and stresses in the container or material. After shrinking, the label assembly remains adhered to the container or material and is free of wrinkles or other undesirable defects.
Claims43
A non-oriented multilayer label assembly adapted for application to a heat shrinkable package which undergoes shrinkage upon heating to a shrink initiation temperature, the label comprising:
- a core layer including an agent having a melting point less than the shrink initiation temperature;
- a print-receptive outer layer including one of (i) the agent and (ii) an amorphous agent having a melting point less than the shrink initiation temperature.
A non-oriented multilayer label assembly adapted for application to a deformable package, the label comprising:
- a core layer including at least a majority proportion of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), the core layer defining an outer face and an oppositely directed inner face;
- a print-receptive outer layer disposed on the outer face of the core layer, the print-receptive outer layer including one of:
- (i) a blend including ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and homopolypropylene (HPP), and
- (ii) polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH);
- an inner layer disposed on the inner face of the core layer, the inner layer including ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and homopolypropylene (HPP).
A method of labeling a heat shrinkable substrate which undergoes shrinkage upon heating to a shrink initiation temperature, the method comprising:
- providing a non-oriented multilayer label assembly including a core layer having an agent with a melting point less than the shrink initiation temperature, and a print-receptive outer layer having one of (i) the agent and (ii) an amorphous agent having a melting point less than the shrink initiation temperature;
- adhering the label assembly to the heat shrinkable substrate to form an intermediate assembly;
- subjecting the intermediate assembly to conditions that result in heat shrinkage of the substrate, whereby the substrate undergoes a dimensional change in at least one direction in the region of the label adhered thereto.
A method of labeling a heat shrinkable substrate, the method comprising:
- providing a non-oriented multilayer label assembly including a core layer having at least a majority proportion of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), an outer layer disposed on the core layer, an inner layer disposed on the core layer, and at least one region of adhesive disposed on the inner layer;
- providing a heat shrinkable substrate having an outer surface;
- adhering the label assembly to the outer surface of the heat shrinkable substrate to form an intermediate assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.