Patent EA-000487-B1 (EA)
Title: Transfer label having ink containment layer, container comprising a transfer layer and method of washing such a container
Inventor: BRANDT THOMAS LYNN
IPC: G09F3/10
Filed: 1997-03-19
Abstract: 1. Transfer label comprising a backing layer and a transfer layer which is releasably attached to the backing layer, the transfer layer comprising an ink layer, characterized in that the transfer layer comprises on each side of the ink layer a top and a bottom containment layer, respectively, the top and the bottom containment layer contacting one another outside the perimeter of the ink layer to form a closed envelope around the ink layer. 2. Transfer label according to Claim 1, wherein the ink layer comprises separate zones of dimensions between 0.5 mm<2> and 500 cm<2>, the top containment layer and the bottom containment layer contacting one another outside the separate zones to form individual envelopes around each zone of the ink layer. 3. Transfer label according to Claim 1, wherein the majority of the envelopes around the separate zones of the ink pattern remain closed when the transfer layer, after having been applied to a container, is removed from said container in a wash process using a washing liquid. 4. Transfer label according to Claim 3, wherein the transfer layer in the wash process breaks up in at least 4 pieces under turbulent soaking conditions in an aqueous liquid of a temperature below 100 degree C, preferably below 70 degree C, within a soaking time of not more than 20 minutes, preferably not more than 10 seconds and is detached from the container, wherein the size of the majority of the pieces formed upon breaking up of the transfer layer is not smaller than the dimensions of the separate zones of the ink pattern. 5. Transfer label according to any of the previous Claims, wherein the ink is water-soluble. 6. Transfer label according to any of the previous Claims wherein the top containment layer comprises unpigmented ink, the bottom contaiment layer comprising an adhesive. 7. Transfer label according to any of the previous Claims wherein the top containment layer is discontinuous, and placed in register with the ink pattern. 8. Transfer label according to any of the previous Claims wherein the bottom containment layer is discontinuous. 9. Transfer label according to any of the previous Claims wherein the transfer layer outside the separate zones of the ink pattern is permeable for the soaking liquid. 10. Transfer label according to any of the previous Claims, wherein the transfer layer comprises a layer of adhesive, the tack of which is at least reduced by contact with the soaking liquid, preferably by being dissolved in the soaking liquid. 11. Transfer label according to Claim 10, wherein the adhesive layer is discontinuous and is located in register with the ink pattern. 12. Transfer label according to Claim 3 or 4, wherein the soaking solution is an aqueous alkaline solution. 13. Transfer label according to any of the previous Claims with a thickness below 30 micrometer, preferably below 20 micrometer and a weight of the containment layers between 1 g/m<2> and 10 g m<2>. 14. Transfer label according to any of the previous Claims, comprising an adhesive layer of a weight between 1 and 10 g/m<2>, preferably between 3 and 7g/m<2>. 15. Transfer label according to any of the previous Claims, wherein the adhesive layer comprises at least two sublayers, the tack of the sublayer which upon attaching to a container is closest to the container having a smaller tack than the layer of adhesive located further from the container. 16. Container comprising a transfer layer, which has been applied using a transfer, label according to any of the previous Claims. 17. Container according to Claim 16, wherein a cover layer is applied over the transfer layer, which cover layer, comprises an acrylic wax. 18. Container according to Claim 17, wherein the cover layer is attached upon or after attaching the transfer layer to the container. 19. Container according to Claim 16, 17 or 18 wherein the transfer layer has been heat-treated after application to the container at a temperature between 40 degree C and 100 degree C, preferably between 50 degree C and 90 degree C. 20. Container according to any of Claims 16 to 19, comprising an application surface for receiving the transfer layer which application surface has a surface tension of at least 6x10<-2> N/m. 21. Container according to any of Claims 16 to 20, the label on the container has a pencil hardness between 1N and 7N in its dry state and a pencil hardness less than 0.5N after a soaking time between 1 and 15 minutes in water as a soaking solution at 20 degree C. 22. Container according to any of Claims 16 to 20, wherein the label on the container has a water uptake value after 3 hours greater than 0 and below 100 g/m<2>, preferably about 5 g/m<2>. 23. Method of washing a container according to any of Claims 16 to 22, comprising the steps of placing the container in an aqueous soaking solution during a soaking time not longer than 20 min, the temperature of the soaking solution being below 100 degree C, while causing turbulence in the soaking solution such that the label breaks up in at least 4 parts, each part not smaller than 5 micrometers and is detached from the container, the majority of the ink remaining contained inside the envelopes; pumping the soaking solution through a sieve and collection of the pieces of the label on the sieve, cleaning the sieve by collection and removal of the label pieces. 24. Method according to Claim 23, wherein the size of the openings of the sieve is between 0.1 and 10 mm, preferably about 2 mm. 25. Method according to Claim 23 or 24, comprising the step of impingement of water jets on the container is performed before and/or after placing the container in the soaking solution. 26. Method according to Claims 22-24, wherein the soaking solution comprises between 0.1 and 5% by weight, preferably 0.5% NaOH. 27. Method according to Claims 23-26, wherein the soaking time is not more than 1 minute. 28. Method according to Claims 23-27, wherein the temperature of the soaking solution being below 70 degree C. 29. Method according to Claims 23-28, wherein the sieve is cleaned continuously