Patent EA-000455-B1 (EA)
Title: Method for applying a removable printed marking to a container
Inventor: STEENBERGEN JOHANNES FEMMINUS
IPC: B44C1/16
Filed: 1997-02-27
Abstract: 1. Method for applying a removable printing to a container, in which a layer of ink, which forms the printing, is transferred from a carrier film, to which the layer of ink has been applied by means of conventional printing techniques, to the container, the layer of ink being provided on the side contacting the container with an adhesive for bonding the layer of ink to the container, the adhesive having such properties that in normal conditions of use of the container the layer of ink adheres firmly to the container and in predetermined conditions which differ from the normal conditions of use the adhesive and the layer of ink are easy to remove from the container. 2. Method according to Claim 1, in which the adhesive and the layer of ink can be removed together from the container. 3. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the layer of ink is provided with a layer of lacquer on the side not provided with adhesive, the layer of lacquer being situated between the layer of ink and the carrier film when the layer of ink has been applied to the carrier film. 4. Method according to anyone of Claims 1 to 3, in which the layer of lacquer projects beyond the contours of the layer of ink, and the part of the layer of lacquer projecting beyond the layer of ink is provided with adhesive for bonding the corresponding part of the layer of lacquer to the container, this adhesive preferably being the same as the bonding agent on the layer of ink. 5. Method according to anyone of Claims 1 to 4, in which the bonding between the layer of ink or the layer of lacquer and the carrier film is weaker than the bonding which the adhesive produces between the layer of ink and any part of the layer of lacquer which may project beyond the layer of ink and the container. 6. Method according to anyone of Claims 1 to 5, in which the bonding between the adhesive and the container substantially disappears at a temperature which is higher than the temperature at which containers are normally cleaned. 7. Method according to Claim 6, in which the bonding between the adhesive and the container disappears at a temperature of approximately 60 degree C. 8. Method according to anyone of Claims 1 to 5, in which the bonding between the adhesive and the container substantially disappears under the influence of UV rays. 9. Method according to anyone of Claims 1 to 8, in which the carrier film is a carrier film web to which several layers of ink, which form the printing, have been applied. 10. Method according to anyone of Claims 1 to 9, in which the layer of ink is transferred mechanically from the carrier film to the container. 11. Method according to anyone of Claims 1 to 10, in which the printing is applied to a container made of plastic material, preferably of a polyalkene, such as polyethylene or polypropylene. 12. Method according to anyone of Claims 1 to 11 in which the container is a plastic crate or box and the printing is applied to the outside wall of the crate or the tray. 13. Plastic container provided with a removable printing comprising a layer of ink which forms the printing and which is applied directly to the container by means of an adhesive, the adhesive having such properties that in normal conditions of use of the container the printing adheres firmly to the container and in predetermined conditions which differ from the normal conditions of use the layer of ink and the adhesive are easy to remove from the container. 14. Plastic container according to Claim 13, in which a layer of lacquer is applied over the layer of ink and a region immediately next to the layer of ink. 15. Plastic container according to Claim 13 or 14, in which the bonding between the adhesive and the container substantially disappears at a temperature which is higher than the temperature at which containers are usually cleaned. 16. Plastic container according to Claim 15, in which the bonding between the adhesive and the container disappears at a temperature of approximately 60 degree C. 17. Plastic container according to Claim 16, in which the container is a crate or box which is preferably made of a polyalkene, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, and the printing is applied to the outside wall of the crate or the box. 18. Film to which a layer of ink, which forms the printing, is applied to one side by means of conventional printing techniques, which layer of ink on the side facing away from the film is provided with an adhesive for bonding the layer of ink to a substrate. 19. Film according to Claim 18, in which a layer of lacquer connected to the layer of ink is present between the layer of ink and the film. 20. Film according to Claim 18 or 19, in which the film is in the form of a film web to which several layers of ink, which form the printing, have been applied. 21. Film according to Claim 20, in which on the side not provided with a layer of ink the film is provided with an anti-bonding layer, for example a silicone layer.