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US 6,680,097 B1Granted
Easily removable label for reusable containers
AssigneeSteinbeis PPL GmbH
InventorsWerner Amberger, Christian Link, Helmut Schönfelder
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A self-adhesive film label, in particular for reusable bottles, is proposed which can be readily detached in conventional washing equipment. This is achieved by means of a self-adhesive label with a stretched film layer, which shrinks back at elevated temperature in the washing device. Since the adhesive of the label loses its adhesive force at this temperature, the label is rapidly and readily detached, supported by the surrounding washing liquid of the washing device.
Claims55
A label, which can be adhesively bonded to an article and detached again in a hot washing fluid, wherein the hot washing fluid is a liquid or its vapor, comprising:
- a backing material layer having at least one stretched plastic film layer, which is stretched in at least one direction;
- and
- an adhesive layer to be bonded to the article, wherein
- the stretched plastic film layer is designed such that it shrinks back under the thermal effect of the hot washing fluid, overcoming the retention force of the adhesive layer bonded to the article, and
- the adhesive layer comprises adhesive which is substantially not dissoluble by the washing fluid at least until operational detachment of the label.
2 more elements
A method for detaching a label from an article, wherein the label comprises:
- a shrinkable plastic film layer, wherein the plastic film layer was stretched in a first direction;
- and
- an adhesive layer, wherein
- the plastic film layer shrinks in a direction opposite to the first direction when the plastic film layer is exposed to a hot washing liquid or its vapor, thereby overcoming the retention force of the adhesive layer, and
- the adhesive layer comprises an adhesive that is substantially insoluble in the hot washing liquid and/or vapor at least until operational detachment of the label from the article,
- the method comprising the steps of:
- heating a washing liquid, thereby forming the hot washing liquid and/or vapor;
- and
- gradually detaching the label from the article, wherein said step of gradually detaching the label from the article comprises the step of exposing said label to the hot washing liquid and/or vapor for at least a predetermined amount of time so that the plastic film layer shrinks in the direction opposite to the first direction.
6 more elements
A label, which can be detachably bonded to an article, comprising:
- a backing material layer having a first plastic film layer, which is stretched in a first direction, and a second plastic film layer;
- an adhesive layer for bonding the label to the article, the adhesive layer comprising an adhesive that is substantially insoluble in a hot washing liquid or its vapor;
- and
- an overprint layer, wherein
- the first plastic film layer is designed such that it shrinks in a direction opposite to the first direction when exposed to the liquid or vaporous hot washing fluid,
- the overprint layer is disposed between the first plastic film layer and the second plastic film layer,
- the first plastic film layer is disposed between said overprint layer and said adhesive layer, and
- the overprint layer is printed directly on the first plastic film layer and is bonded to the second plastic film layer by a lamination adhesive layer.
5 more elements
A label, which can be detachably bonded to an article, comprising:
- a backing material layer having a first plastic film layer, which is stretched in a first direction, and a second plastic film layer, which is stretched in a second direction;
- and
- an adhesive layer for bonding the label to the article, the adhesive layer comprising an adhesive that is substantially insoluble in a hot washing liquid or its vapor, wherein
- the first plastic film layer is disposed between the second plastic film layer and the adhesive layer,
- the first plastic film layer is designed such that it shrinks in a direction opposite to the first direction when exposed to the hot washing liquid or vapor,
- the second plastic film layer is designed such that it shrinks in a direction opposite to the second direction when exposed to the liquid or vaporous hot washing fluid, and
- the second direction is substantially the same direction as the first direction.
4 more elements
A label, which can be detachably bonded to an article, comprising:
- a backing material layer having a first plastic film layer, which is stretched in a first direction, and a second plastic film layer, which is stretched in a second direction;
- and
- an adhesive layer for bonding the label to the article, the adhesive layer comprising an adhesive that is substantially insoluble in a hot washing liquid or it vapor, wherein
- the first plastic film layer is disposed between the second plastic film layer and the adhesive layer,
- the first plastic film layer is designed such that it shrinks in a direction opposite to the first direction when exposed to the liquid or vaporous hot washing fluid,
- the second plastic film layer is designed such that it shrinks in a direction opposite to the second direction when exposed to the liquid or vaporous hot washing fluid, and
- the second direction is substantially different than the first direction.
4 more elements
A label, which can be detachably bonded to an article, comprising:
- a backing material layer having a first plastic film layer, which is monoaxially or biaxially stretched, and a second plastic film layer;
- and
- an adhesive layer for bonding the label to the article, the adhesive layer comprising an adhesive that is substantially insoluble in a hot washing liquid or its vapor, wherein
- the first plastic film layer is disposed between the second plastic film layer and the adhesive layer,
- the first plastic film layer is designed such that it shrinks when exposed to the hot washing fluid, and
- the second plastic film layer is designed such that it remains substantially dimensionally stable when exposed to the hot washing fluid.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.