Patent Publication Number: US-2021183272-A1

Title: Packaging labels with improved adhesion profile and  methods of forming same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/947,854 filed Dec. 13, 2019, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure relates generally to packaging labels. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to methods and systems for improving the adhesion profile of labels. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Adherable labels are often used in packaging to provide information. This may include information intended to be read by the consumer or end user such as contents of the package, brand, trademark, tradenames, expiration dates, usage restrictions, ingredients, source and/or origin of goods. The label may also provide information to retailers (e.g., instructions to assist in storage or transportation of the package), or to some regulatory body. Such labels may be used on vials or bottles, such as medicament bottles, containers, boxes, cartons, paper products, bags, and the like. 
     Labels may be secured via adhesives, and in some instances, the labels may begin to unintentionally peel off a target location, or lose adhesion over time due to changes in temperature or moisture. This is also common with multi-layer labels of medicament bottles where the layers cease adhering together as intended. In addition to being unsightly, labels may include important information that are at a risk of being lost, which may pose a risk to the consumer. Thus, there exists a need for devices, methods and systems for improving adhesion profiles of labels on packaging. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     In one aspect, the disclosure provides a label having a first end and a second end. The label comprises a release lacquer disposed adjacent the second end in a shape and having at least one void formed within the shape, the at least one void being defined adjacent the second end of the label. 
     In another aspect, the disclosure provides a label having a first end and a second end, the label defining an overlapping segment adjacent the first end, a peel-off segment adjacent the second end, and a middle segment disposed between the overlapping segment and the peel-off segment. The label comprises a release lacquer disposed in at least the peel-off segment, the release lacquer being disposed in a shape and having at least one void formed within the shape, the at least one void being defined adjacent the second end of the label. 
     In some embodiments of any of the foregoing aspects, the label further comprises a backing layer that extends across the overlapping segment, the middle segment, and the peel-off segment. In some embodiments, the label further comprises a first unit comprising an adhesive layer and a plastic film, the first unit extending across the overlapping segment, the middle segment, and the peel-off segment. In some embodiments, the label further comprises a second unit comprising an adhesive layer and a plastic film, the second unit extending across the overlapping segment, the middle segment, and the peel-off segment. In some embodiments, the label further comprises an ink layer disposed in at least the middle segment. In some embodiments, the label further comprises a neutralization layer disposed adjacent the second end of the label. 
     In some embodiments of any of the foregoing aspects, the at least one void comprises a single void. In some embodiments, the at least one void comprises a plurality of voids. In some embodiments, the at least one void comprises three voids. 
     In some embodiments of any of the foregoing aspects, each of the at least one void has a curved triangular shape, the curved triangular shape comprising two curved inner edges, and an outer edge. In some embodiments, the outer edge of the curved triangular shape is coterminous with the second end of the label. 
     In some embodiments of any of the foregoing aspects, a density of the at least one void decreases from the second end to the first end. In some embodiments, an area covered by the at least one void decreases from the second end to the first end. In some embodiments, the number of voids decreases from the second end to the first end. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       Various embodiments of the presently disclosed labels are disclosed herein with reference to the drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1A  is schematic side view of one example of a medicament bottle having a label; 
         FIGS. 1B-C  are schematic transverse cross-sectional views of the bottle of  FIG. 1A  showing attachment of the label, and a label that has come loose, respectively; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration showing a top view of a label and a corresponding cross-sectional view showing the various layers of materials associated with each segment of the label according to one embodiment; 
         FIGS. 3A-C  are schematic exploded perspective views of several embodiments of labels having various layers according to the disclosure; and 
         FIGS. 4A-F  are schematic partial top views of various examples of labels according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     Various embodiments will now be described with reference to the appended drawings. It is to be appreciated that these drawings depict only some embodiments of the disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Despite the various improvements that have been made to packaging and labels, conventional methods suffer from some shortcomings as discussed above. 
     Therefore, there is a need for further improvements to the devices and methods used to help facilitate proper adhesion of a label to a package and/or to other layers of a label. Among other advantages, the present disclosure may address one or more of these needs. 
     Reference is now made to  FIG. 1A , which shows a medicament bottle or vial “V” having a label  10  attached about its circumference. Label  10  may be adhered to the bottle and may include information  11  such as the brand name of the medicine, the active ingredient, dosage, drug form, concentration and/or volume of the medicament, as well as other identifying or factual information. Label  10  may include a single layer of material or multiple layers of material. As shown in  FIG. 1B , label  10  may be wrapped around bottle “V” and adhered thereto, label  10  having a first end  12  and a second end  14 . In one example, first end  12  of the label is adhered to the bottle, and the label may wrap around the perimeter of the bottle so that second end  14  passes over first end  12  and forms an overlapping portion  15 . The extent to which the second end  14  forms an overlapping portion  15  may depend on the length of the label and the circumference of the bottle. As shown, only approximately 20% of the circumference includes an overlapping portion, although this may be adjusted as desired. 
     Providing overlapping portions and/or multiple layers may be desired in applications where a single layer would be insufficient to contain all the desired information. For example, medicament bottles may include dosing charts, possible side effects, warnings, and a host of other information that would not be possible to fit onto one side of a label. Thus, labels with multiple layers, and with writing on both sides of the label are possible, and such bottles may have peel-away segments to allow layers of the label to be pulled apart to reveal additional information when necessary, and to re-adhere together after the information is accessed. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1C , a portion of the label adjacent second end  14  may lose adhesion and extend or bow away from the bottle. In this example, label  10  has multiple layers that no longer adhere together so that one or more of the layers flexes away from the other layers of the label. This phenomenon of the loss of adequate adhesion of a portion of a label, termed “flagging”, may be problematic in bottles having labels with peel-away segments. The following techniques and methods are contemplated in order to reduce the likelihood of flagging or loss of adhesion in parts of the label. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an example of a label  110  according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Label  110  may extend between ends  112  and  114  and be divided into three segments, including a peel-off segment  120  adjacent second end  114 , an overlapping segment  140  adjacent first end  112 , and a middle segment  130  between the peel-off segment and the overlapping segment. Each of these segments may include one or more layers of materials. Middle segment  130  may form approximately 50% or more of the length of the label. Middle segment  130  may include information  111  including any of the information described above (e.g., see paragraphs [2] and [20]). In some embodiments, label  110  is sized so that peel-off segment  120  overlaps with overlapping segment  140  and adheres thereto. Peel-off segment may include a QR code  116  that will, for example, direct a user to a website with additional information, and a peel-away corner  117  to aid in lifting peel-off segment  120  to separate certain layers from one another. 
     One embodiment of the various layers forming label  110  is also shown at the bottom of  FIG. 2 . For the sake of clarity, a number of layers are shown, the layers being presented as they correlate or correspond to the top view of the label above it. As shown, each of segments  120 , 130 , 140  may comprise one or multiple layers of material. For example, six layers of material are shown in overlapping segment  140 . Additionally, a single layer of material may extend across one, two or all three segments of the label. Moreover, it will be understood that while one embodiment is shown in  FIG. 2 , the order, number, size and/or shape of the layers may be modified as desired. 
     Beginning at the bottom-most layer, a generally rectangular backing layer  201  may extend across all three segments  120 , 130 , 140 . In at least some embodiments, backing layer  201  comprises a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) 30 μm TopC transparent material. A first adhesive layer  202  is disposed above backing layer  201  and may comprise, for example, a printable clear permanent acrylic adhesive such as FASSON S692NP. Adhesive layer  202  may serve to adhere backing layer  201  to a first film layer  203 , which may comprise, for example, a transparent polypropylene film, such as a PP 50 TC Light Transparent material. Disposed above the first film layer  203  is a primer layer  204 . In some embodiments, primer layer  204  is optional. In some embodiments, primer layer  204  extends all the way across the label from first end  112  to second end  114 , or only partly across the label. As shown, each of these first four layers may extend from first end  112  to second end  114  across all three segments  120 , 130 , 140 . 
     The next two layers may be disposed only in the peel-off segment  120 , and may include a release lacquer layer  205  having one or more voids  206 , and a neutralization layer  207 . Release lacquer layer  205  may comprise a release lacquer and one or more voids  206 , locations where the lacquer is not disposed. In at least some embodiments, the release lacquer is added (e.g., via printing or other depositing method) and voids are defined where no release lacquer is added. In at least some embodiments, the release lacquer is added as a complete layer and certain portions of the release lacquer are subtracted or removed to form the voids. In the top view, the locations of voids  206  are indicated by two triangular shapes adjacent second end  114 . The voids  206  may take on a number of shapes, sizes and/or configurations as will be described below in greater detail. Neutralization layer  207  may be disposed in the corner of peel-off segment  120 , for example, in the shape of a quadrant and may be used to allow peel-away corner  117  to easily release certain layers from primer layer  204 . 
     A second adhesive layer  208  may extend across all three segments, and this second adhesive layer may comprise the same or a different adhesive than first adhesive layer  202 . A second film layer  209  is disposed above the second adhesive layer  208 , and may comprise a white polypropylene film such as PP 50 TC Top white. Second adhesive layer  208  and second film layer  209  may extend across all three segments. Finally, three layers may be disposed in only the peel-off segment  120  and middle segment  130 , and they may include an ink layer  210 , such as flexography or other printing ink, a luminescent varnish layer  211  and an imprint varnish layer  212 . 
     In one embodiment, label  110  may be constructed to have a single adhesive layer, instead of multiple adhesive layers. In such single-layer adhesive embodiments, segment  120  may be a tear-off segment instead of a peel-off segment, separable from middle segment  130  by a perforation. In such embodiments, overlapping segment  140  may comprise release lacquer and one or more voids where the release lacquer is not disposed. When applying such a single-layer adhesive label to a vial, the tear-off section will overlap the overlap section. 
     To illustrate several variations,  FIGS. 3A-C  provide perspective exploded views of certain embodiments. In  FIG. 3A , label  110 A includes a backing layer  201 , a first adhesive layer  202 , a first film layer  203 , a primer layer  204 , and a release lacquer layer  205  having voids  206 . Label  110 A also includes a neutralization layer  207  in a corner of the label. A second adhesive layer  208  is disposed above the release lacquer layer  205  followed by a second film layer  209 , an ink layer  210 , a luminescent varnish layer  211  and an imprint varnish layer  212 . In  FIG. 3B , a second label  110 B is shown which is similar to label  110 A, except that it does not include a luminescent varnish layer  211 . In  FIG. 3C , a third label  110 C is shown which is similar to labels  110 A, 110 B except that it does not include a luminescent varnish layer  211  or a primer layer  204 . It will be understood that combinations of these embodiments are possible and that other layers may be removed as desired. 
       FIGS. 4A-F  illustrate several variations of peel-off segments  120   a - f . As shown in  FIG. 4A , in one embodiment, peel-off segment  120   a  includes a peel-away corner  117  and a number of voids arranged in a repeating pattern, each void  400   a  being in a curved triangular shape. Each curved triangular void  400   a  may be generally triangular, but have an outer edge  401   a ′ that is coterminous with the second end  114 , and a curvature at two inner edges  401   a.  In the embodiment shown, three voids  400   a  are formed of equal size, the three voids being equally vertically distributed along second end  114 . In some embodiments, the curved triangular void may be configured as an equilateral triangular void, an isosceles triangular void, a scalene triangular void, an acute triangular void, a right triangular void, or an obtuse triangular void. Additionally, it will be understood that due to the tapering of the inner edges, each void has a decreasing length as the shape extends away from the second end  114  (e.g., L 1 &gt;L 2 ). With reference to  FIG. 3A , a majority (e.g., greater than 50%) of peel-off segment  120  may include contact between primer layer  204  and release lacquer layer  205 . Stated another way, voids  400   a  may be disposed in less than 50% of peel-off segment  120 . Because voids  400   a  have no release lacquer, second adhesive layer  208  may adhere directly to primer layer  204  through these voids. The curved triangular configuration shown in  FIG. 4A  provides a superior adhesion profile so that the portions of peel-off segment  120  can be easily removed from other portions and re-adhered when desired. 
     These and similar principles may be applied in other embodiments. For example, in one embodiment shown in  FIG. 4B , the curved triangular-shaped voids  400   b  within peel-off segment  120   b  contact one another instead of being spaced apart, and the inner edges  401   b  are more curved than inner edges  401   a  of  FIG. 4A . In peel-off segment  120   c  of  FIG. 4C , one or more voids are formed as vertically-extending strips  400   c   1 , 400   c   2 , 400   c   3  of equal length that are spaced from one another. The strips  400   c   1 , 400   c   2 , 400   c   3  are of different widths, with the widest strip  400   c   1  (and thus the greatest adhesion) being closest to second end  114 , and the narrowest strip  400   c   3  being farthest from the second end  114 . It will be understood that a single strip or two strips of voids may be used instead of three. In peel-off segment  120   d  of  FIG. 4D , a single large curved triangular void  400   d  is formed. In peel-off segment  120   e  of  FIG. 4E , a plurality of circular voids  400   e  are formed in the release lacquer layer  205 , the circular voids  400   e  being largest and/or more numerous adjacent the second end  114 , and smallest and/or less numerous farthest from the second end  114 . In peel-off segment  120   f  of  FIG. 4F , a plurality of rectangular voids  400   f  arranged in rows and columns are formed in the release lacquer layer  205 , the voids  400   f  being largest and/or more numerous adjacent the second end  114 , and smallest and/or less numerous farthest from the second end  114 . In at least some embodiments, the shape and/or size of the voids may be chosen as desired, and embodiments are contemplated where a mixture or combination of shapes and/or sizes of voids are formed on a same peel-off segment. 
     In some embodiments, the voids  400  may cover an area of the peel-off segment  120  and the area covered by the voids may decrease from one end to the other. As used herein, the term “density” when applied to voids is defined as the total area defined by voids over a total area of the peel-off segment  120 . In at least some embodiments, the voids will be formed to have a greatest density adjacent second end  114 , and a smallest density farthest from the second end. The density of the voids may gradually decrease, linearly or non-linearly (e.g., parabolically), from the second end  114  toward first end  112 . In at least some embodiments, all or most of the voids are formed closer to second end  114  than middle segment  130 . 
     It is to be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present disclosure. For example, the total number, locations, shapes and/or arrangement of voids may be varied. Moreover, certain components are optional, and the disclosure contemplates various configurations and combinations of the elements disclosed herein. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. 
     It will be appreciated that the various dependent claims and the features set forth therein can be combined in different ways than presented in the initial claims. It will also be appreciated that the features described in connection with individual embodiments may be shared with others of the described embodiments.