US 2013/0258031 A1 · Thick, Printable Labels Suitable for Use in a Thermal Transfer Printer

Abstract

Thick, compressible, multilayer labels with the appearance and feel of hard plastic identification shields comprise: A. A printable film having first and second opposing facial surfaces; B. A first adhesive having first and second opposing facial surfaces, the first facial surface of the adhesive in intimate contact with the second facial surface of the film; and C. Foam having first and second opposing facial surfaces, the first facial surface of the foam in intimate contact with the second facial surface of the first adhesive. In certain embodiments of the invention, the labels include one or more of a printable coating on the first facial surface of the film, a second adhesive in intimate contact with the second facial surface of the foam, and a release liner in contact with the second adhesive.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A carrier strip comprising a plurality of labels removably situated thereon, the carrier strip adapted for being continuously fed through a printer comprising a printing station comprising a print head, transfer ribbon and platen roller, at which an image is transferred to a label having a printing surface from the transfer ribbon and print head;

the carrier strip with said plurality of labels thereon being compressible and greater than 300 microns in thickness, each label comprising a printable polymeric film attached by an adhesive material to a surface of a foam material;
at least two adjacent and non-abutting labels situated on the carrier strip with a space therebetween such that when fed through the printing station of the printer, the platen roll does not lose positive frictional engagement with the carrier strip and the print head does not lose contact with the printing surface of at least one of said adjacent labels as one of said adjacent labels leaves the printing station and another of said adjacent labels enters the printing station.

A method of printing labels in a thermal transfer printer configured for receiving and processing a labeling media having a thickness of 300 microns or less and comprising a plurality of labels situated on a carrier strip,

the printer comprising a printing station comprising a print head, transfer ribbon and platen roll, at which an image is transferred to a label having a printing surface from the transfer ribbon and print head;
the method comprising:
feeding to the printer a compressible labeling media having a thickness of greater than 300 microns and comprising a plurality of labels removably attached to a carrier strip, at least two adjacent and non-abutting labels situated on the carrier strip with a space therebetween, each label having a printing surface and comprising a polymeric film attached by an adhesive material to a surface of a foam material, and
feeding the labeling media through the printing station of the printer to print a legend on a printing surface of the plurality of labels,
wherein, within the printing station, the platen roll does not lose positive frictional engagement with the carrier strip and the print head does not lose contact with the printing surface of at least one of said adjacent labels as one of said adjacent labels leaves the printing station and another of said adjacent labels enters the printing station.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Thick, Printable Labels Suitable for Use in a Thermal Transfer Printer

Life of this patent

Thick, Printable Labels Suitable for Use in a Thermal Transfer Printer

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19