EP1124214A1 - Heat-sensitive adhesive label, method of attaching the label, and dry cell attached with the label - Google Patents
Heat-sensitive adhesive label, method of attaching the label, and dry cell attached with the label Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1124214A1 EP1124214A1 EP98929716A EP98929716A EP1124214A1 EP 1124214 A1 EP1124214 A1 EP 1124214A1 EP 98929716 A EP98929716 A EP 98929716A EP 98929716 A EP98929716 A EP 98929716A EP 1124214 A1 EP1124214 A1 EP 1124214A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- heat
- label
- sensitive adhesive
- resin layer
- adhesive resin
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- G09F3/00—Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means; Seals; Postage or like stamps
- G09F3/08—Fastening or securing by means not forming part of the material of the label itself
- G09F3/10—Fastening or securing by means not forming part of the material of the label itself by an adhesive layer
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- G09F3/00—Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means; Seals; Postage or like stamps
- G09F3/04—Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means; Seals; Postage or like stamps to be fastened or secured by the material of the label itself, e.g. by thermo-adhesion
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a heat-sensitive adhesive label to be attached to an article and a method of attaching the label and, more particularly, to a heat-sensitive adhesive label having an excellent adhesion and a method of attaching the label.
- a heat-sensitive adhesive label such as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-306346 (1996) has been used in which a heat-adhesive resin layer is provided on one surface of a label base of a synthetic resin film.
- heat-sensitive adhesive label does not have an adhesive property unless it is heated, there is no need to provide an expensive release sheet which is usually used for a pressure sensitive adhesive label (tack label) and, hence, to remove the release sheet from the pressure sensitive adhesive label when the pressure sensitive adhesive label is to be attached. Therefore, the heat-sensitive adhesive label is more advantageous than the pressure sensitive adhesive label in terms of material costs and convenience in the attaching operation.
- the heat-shrinkable heat-sensitive adhesive label is typically attached to a dry cell body having a metal surface in the following manner: the heat-sensitive adhesive label with the heat-adhesive resin layer thereof being activated by heating is wrapped around the dry cell body with opposite side edge portions thereof projecting out of opposite ends of the dry cell body; the heat-sensitive adhesive label is attached to the dry cell body with opposite end portions thereof being overlapped with each other; and the label is heated again at a high temperature to be heat-shrunk by itself whereby the opposite side edge portions thereof projecting out of the opposite ends of the dry cell body are tightly bonded to opposite end faces of the dry cell body. Therefore, the heat-adhesive resin layer of the label should exhibit sufficient adhesion not only to the metal surface of the dry cell body but also to the label itself at the overlapped portions thereof.
- the activated heat-adhesive resin layer should exhibit adhesion sufficient to firmly bond the opposite end portions of the label to each other.
- the heat-adhesive resin layer is heated at a higher temperature for the activation thereof, an energy to be supplied to heating means such as a heater is increased, resulting in a problem of an increase in the running cost of a labeling apparatus.
- the present invention provides a heat-sensitive adhesive label having a heat-adhesive resin layer provided on a label base thereof, wherein the heat-adhesive resin layer has been subjected to a corona discharge process.
- the heat-adhesive resin layer provided on one surface of the label base has been subjected to the corona discharge process, so that the heat-adhesive resin layer is imparted with sufficient adhesion even when the label is heated at a lower temperature for activation of the heat-adhesive resin layer. Therefore, the label exhibits improved adhesion not only to a metal surface but also to the label itself (to a surface of a UV-cured ink layer, a polyester film or the like), and the running cost of a labeling apparatus can be reduced.
- the heat-adhesive resin layer is formed of an ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer, an ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer, an ethylene-acrylate copolymer or an ethylene methacrylate copolymer
- the adhesion of the heat-adhesive resin layer after the heating at a lower temperature can be enhanced.
- the heat-adhesive resin layer can be activated at a lower temperature by subjecting the heat-adhesive resin layer to the corona discharge process as described above.
- the label base is formed of a heat-shrinkable synthetic resin film, therefore, a difference between the temperature for the heat shrinking of the label and the temperature for the activation of the heat-adhesive resin layer can be increased, so that the distortion of the label due to the shrinkage of the label can be suppressed during the activation of the heat-adhesive resin layer.
- the heat-adhesive resin layer is subjected to the corona discharge process and then activated by heating the heat-adhesive resin layer before the heat-sensitive adhesive label is attached to the article. Even if a sequence of heat-sensitive adhesive labels is stored in a roll form, for example, there is no possibility that the labels kept in surface contact with one another suffer from blocking, providing an effect of easy handling of the heat-sensitive adhesive labels.
- the heat-sensitive adhesive label is to be attached to the outer circumference of a columnar or tubular article to be labeled, it is preferred that the heat-sensitive adhesive label having the activated heat-adhesive resin layer is first wrapped entirely around the article and then attached to the article with opposite end portions thereof being overlapped with each other.
- the heat-sensitive adhesive label is desirably constructed such that the label base thereof is formed of a heat-shrinkable synthetic resin film and the heat-adhesive resin layer thereof is formed of an ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer, an ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer, an ethylene-acrylate copolymer or an ethylene methacrylate copolymer, and the label is desirably attached to the dry cell body in the following manner.
- the heat-adhesive resin layer is subjected to the corona discharge process as described above, and then the heat-sensitive adhesive label with the heat-adhesive resin layer thereof activated by heating is wrapped around the dry cell body with opposite side edge portions thereof projecting out of opposite ends of the dry cell body, and attached to the dry cell body with opposite end portions thereof being overlapped with each other. Then, the heat-sensitive adhesive label attached to the dry cell body is heated again to heat-shrink the label base whereby the opposite side edge portions thereof projecting out of the opposite ends of the dry cell body are tightly bonded to opposite end faces of the dry cell body. Thus, the heat-sensitive adhesive label can assuredly be attached to the dry cell body.
- a heat-sensitive adhesive label 1 is a jacket label for a dry cell, and comprises a label base 11 formed of a heat-shrinkable polyester film (e.g., a polyethylene terephthalate film) , a primer layer 12 and a print layer 13 provided successively on one surface of the label base 11, and a metal vapor deposition layer 14, an anchor coat layer 15 and a heat-adhesive resin layer 16 provided successively on the other surface of the label base 11.
- a heat-shrinkable polyester film e.g., a polyethylene terephthalate film
- the label base 11 has a thickness of 30 im to 60 im, and heat shrinkage ratios of not higher than 1% at 70 C and not lower than 20% at 130 C.
- the jacket label for the dry cell no particular problem will occur as long as the label base 11 has a thickness of 20 im to 100 im, a shrinkage ratio of not lower than 20% as measured circumferentially of the dry cell, and a heat shrinkage ratio of not higher than 3% at 70°C.
- the label base 11 is desirably formed of a polyester film (polyethylene terephthalate film), but may be formed of a polyvinyl chloride film or a polyolefin film.
- the print layer 13 is a layer formed by printing various descriptions and designs with a UV-curable ink which is superior in heat resistance to an ordinary ink of solvent drying type, and a print surface thereof is coated with a UV-curable varnish for protection and lustering of the print layer 13.
- the UV-curable ink is a mixture which contains oligomers of epoxy acrylate, urethane acrylate, polyester acrylate and the like, and a monomer of a polyester or the like blended with a UV polymerization initiator, a colorant such as a pigment, a dispersant and other additives.
- Specific examples of the UV-curable ink include BESTCURE of Tohka Colorant Chemical Co., Ltd., UVACE of Kuboi Ink Co. Ltd., and CP-UV of Matsui Chemical Co., Ltd.
- the primer layer 12 is provided to improve the adhesion of the print layer 13 to the label base 11, and the provision thereof is not necessarily required.
- the metal vapor deposition layer 14 is formed by vacuum-metallizing the other surface of the label base 11 with aluminum, and has a thickness of 200 to 800 ⁇ .
- the material for the metal vapor deposition layer 14 is not limited to aluminum, but the metal vapor deposition layer 14 may be formed by vacuum-metallization with nickel or tin, for example.
- the heat-adhesive resin layer 16 is formed by coating the anchor coat layer 15 formed on the other surface of the label base 11 with an ethylene acrylic acid copolymer or an ethylene methacrylic acid copolymer by melt extrusion, and has a thickness of about 5 im to about 30 im.
- the heat-adhesive resin layer 16 is subjected to the corona discharge process for improvement of the adhesive property thereof.
- the heat-adhesive resin layer 16 thus formed has an excellent adhesion to both a metal and the print layer 13 and, hence, has a property which is advantageous for use as a heat-adhesive resin layer of a jacket label for a dry cell.
- the material for the heat-adhesive resin layer 16 is an ethylene-based copolymer which is imparted with an adhesive property significantly improved by the corona discharge process
- suitable examples thereof other than the aforesaid ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer and ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer include ethylene-acrylate copolymers such as an ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer and an ethylene-2-ethylhexyl acrylate copolymer, and ethylene-methacrylate copolymers such as an ethylene-ethyl methacrylate copolymer.
- An ionomer resin and an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer can also be used.
- the heat-adhesive resin layer 16 may be formed of a resin mixture containing any of these resins, and a tackifier, a stabilizer or a modifier may be added thereto as required.
- the aforesaid melt extrusion coating is desirably employed to efficiently form the heat-adhesive resin layer 16 in a relatively great and uniform thickness, but a solution coating of the aforesaid resin material may be employed.
- the anchor coat layer 15 is provided to improve the adhesion of the heat-adhesive resin layer 16 to the metal vapor deposition layer 14, and the provision thereof is not necessarily required.
- the label Since the heat-sensitive adhesive label 1 having the aforesaid construction has the heat-adhesive resin layer 16 subjected to the corona discharge process, the label has an adhesion strength comparable to the conventional heat-sensitive adhesive label even if the heat-adhesive resin layer 16 is heated at a lower temperature for the activation thereof.
- an adhesive strength higher than the conventional label can be imparted to the heat-sensitive adhesive label 1.
- the difference between the temperature for the heat shrinking of the label base 11 and the temperature for the activation of the heat-adhesive resin layer 16 can be increased, the distortion of the label due to the shrinkage of the label base 11 during the activation of the heat-adhesive resin layer 16 can be suppressed.
- the labeling apparatus 30 comprises a label formation section A, a label activation process section B, a label attaching process section C and a heat shrinkage process section D.
- a process sequence from the formation of the heat-sensitive adhesive label 1 to the attachment of the label to the dry cell body X is continuously performed by the labeling apparatus 30.
- a label sheet 1a for label formation which has substantially the same construction as the heat-sensitive adhesive label 1 but with the heat-adhesive resin layer 16 thereof not subjected to the corona discharge process is continuously fed out of a sheet roll 31 which is formed by rolling the label sheet 1a, and then the surface of the heat-adhesive resin layer 16 is subjected to the corona discharge process by a corona discharging device 32. Thereafter, the label sheet 1a is cut into a predetermined length by a cutting edge 33a of a cutting roller 33, whereby the heat-sensitive adhesive label 1 is formed.
- the label sheet 1a has a width which is slightly greater than the length of the dry cell body X to be labeled.
- the label sheet 1a with the heat-adhesive resin layer 16 not subjected to the corona discharge process is rolled into the sheet roll 31. Therefore, the heat-adhesive resin layer 16 of the label sheet 1a does not have an adhesive property at this time, so that portions of the label sheet 1a kept in surface contact with each other do not suffer from blocking.
- the heat-sensitive adhesive label 1 formed in the label formation section A is transported to a heating position with the print layer 13 thereof held in contact with the outer circumference of a rotary drum 34 and, after the heat-adhesive resin layer 16 is heated by a heating device 35 for the activation thereof , the heat-sensitive adhesive label 1 is transported to the label attaching process section C.
- the heat-adhesive resin layer 16 is imparted with sufficient adhesion simply by heating it at a temperature (65 to 60 C) which is lower than a heating temperature (70 to 65° C) for the heat-adhesive resin layer of the conventional heat-sensitive adhesive label, because the surface of the heat-adhesive resin layer 16 of the heat-sensitive adhesive label 1 has been subjected to the corona discharge process. This speeds up the label attaching process.
- the heat-sensitive adhesive label can be imparted with stronger adhesion than the conventional label, if it is heated at a temperature close to a heating temperature (70 to 65°C) for the heat-adhesive resin layer of the ordinary heat-sensitive adhesive label.
- dry cell bodies X are successively supplied to an attaching drum 38 by a transport conveyer 36 and a transfer drum 37.
- the heat-sensitive adhesive label 1 is wrapped around the supplied dry cell body X by the attaching drum 38 and attaching guides 39, and attached to the outer circumference of the dry cell body X with opposite end portions thereof being overlapped with each other. At this time, widthwise opposite side edge portions of the heat-sensitive adhesive label 1 slightly project out of opposite ends of the dry cell body X.
- the dry cell body X attached with the heat-sensitive adhesive label 1 is transported to the heat shrinkage process section D by a transfer drum 40 and a transport conveyor 41.
- a heating device 42 is provided as covering the transport conveyor 41. Since the heat-sensitive adhesive label 1 attached to the dry cell body X is heated at about 130°C by the heating device 42, the label base 11 is heat-shrunk whereby the opposite side edge portions of the heat-sensitive adhesive label 1 projecting out of the dry cell body X are tightly bonded to opposite end faces of the dry cell body X.
- a heating belt 43 is provided in the heating device 42.
- the dry cell body X is rolled with the outer circumference thereof being heat-pressed by the heating belt 43, whereby the heat-adhesive resin layer 16 is activated again. Therefore, the heat-sensitive adhesive label 1 is firmly bonded to the outer circumference of the dry cell body X and, at the same time, the overlapped portions of the heat-sensitive adhesive label 1 are firmly bonded to each other. Thus, a dry cell assuredly attached with the heat-sensitive adhesive label 1 can be provided.
- the heat-sensitive adhesive label 1 Although a definite distinction is herein given between the heat-sensitive adhesive label 1 and the label sheet 1a, it is also possible to regard the label sheet 1a as an elongated heat-sensitive adhesive label not subjected to the corona discharge process.
- Fig. 2 illustrates a heat-sensitive adhesive label according to another embodiment.
- the aforesaid heat-sensitive adhesive label 1 which is a jacket label for a dry cell includes the metal vapor deposition layer 14 and the print layer 13 formed by printing various descriptions and designs with a UV-curable ink
- a construction as shown in Fig. 2 can be employed for labels which are to be attached to articles other than the dry cell, for example, metal containers such as cans for beverage, food, paint and the like, and synthetic resin containers such as polyester containers for beverage, food, cosmetics and the like.
- a heat-sensitive adhesive label 2 comprises a label base 21 formed of a biaxially oriented polyester film such as polyethylene terephthalate and having substantially no heat-shrinkability, and a print layer 22 and a heat-adhesive resin layer 23 successively provided on one surface of the label base 21.
- the heat-adhesive resin layer 23 is formed of an ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer or an ethylene methacrylic acid copolymer by melt extrusion coating so as to have a thickness of about 5 im to about 30 im, and subjected to the corona discharge process.
- a plastic film such as of polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride or the like may be employed for the formation of the label base 21.
- the formation of the print layer 22 can be achieved by a known printing technique such as gravure printing.
- a synthetic sheet, a paper sheet or the like may be used as the label base 21, and the print layer 22 may be formed on the front face thereof.
- the temperature for the activation of the heat-adhesive resin layer 23 can be reduced and the adhesive strength of the label can be increased as compared with the conventional label when the label is attached to the article.
- the heat-adhesive resin layer 23 of the heat-sensitive adhesive label 2 is desirably subjected to the corona discharge process when the label is attached to the article.
- the heat-sensitive adhesive label 2 does not have heat-shrinkability, the heat shrinkage process to be performed when the label is attached to the article is of course obviated.
- the label is not necessarily required to be wrapped around the article and attached to the article with opposite end portions thereof being overlapped with each other, but may be attached to a part of the outer circumference of the article.
- the heat-sensitive adhesive label and the method of attaching the label according to the present invention are useful for wrapping and attaching a label entirely around a columnar or tubular article to be labeled, and particularly suitable for a jacket label for a dry cell having a metal surface and a method of attaching the jacket label.
Abstract
A heat-sensitive adhesive label and a method of
attaching the label capable of maintaining a sufficient
adhesive force even when a heat-adhesive resin layer is
heated at low temperatures.
The heat-sensitive adhesive label comprises a
label base formed of a polyester film with heat
shrinkability, a primer layer and a print layer
laminated successively over one surface of this label
base, and a metal vapor deposition layer, an anchor coat
layer and a heat-adhesive resin layer, laminated
successively over the other surface of the label base.
During the label attaching process, the heat-adhesive
resin layer is subjected to corona discharge
and heated to activate the layer, whereby the heat-sensitive
adhesive label is attached to a dry cell body,
the object for label attaching.
Description
The present invention relates to a heat-sensitive
adhesive label to be attached to an article
and a method of attaching the label and, more
particularly, to a heat-sensitive adhesive label having
an excellent adhesion and a method of attaching the
label.
As a jacket label for a dry cell, for example,
a heat-sensitive adhesive label such as disclosed in
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-306346
(1996) has been used in which a heat-adhesive resin layer
is provided on one surface of a label base of a synthetic
resin film.
Since such a heat-sensitive adhesive label does
not have an adhesive property unless it is heated, there
is no need to provide an expensive release sheet which
is usually used for a pressure sensitive adhesive label
(tack label) and, hence, to remove the release sheet from
the pressure sensitive adhesive label when the pressure
sensitive adhesive label is to be attached. Therefore,
the heat-sensitive adhesive label is more advantageous
than the pressure sensitive adhesive label in terms of
material costs and convenience in the attaching
operation.
Where the dry cell is an article to be labeled,
the heat-shrinkable heat-sensitive adhesive label is
typically attached to a dry cell body having a metal
surface in the following manner: the heat-sensitive
adhesive label with the heat-adhesive resin layer
thereof being activated by heating is wrapped around the
dry cell body with opposite side edge portions thereof
projecting out of opposite ends of the dry cell body;
the heat-sensitive adhesive label is attached to the dry
cell body with opposite end portions thereof being
overlapped with each other; and the label is heated again
at a high temperature to be heat-shrunk by itself whereby
the opposite side edge portions thereof projecting out
of the opposite ends of the dry cell body are tightly
bonded to opposite end faces of the dry cell body.
Therefore, the heat-adhesive resin layer of the label
should exhibit sufficient adhesion not only to the metal
surface of the dry cell body but also to the label itself
at the overlapped portions thereof.
Particularly, if the label has weak adhesion at
the overlapped portions, the upper one of the overlapped
portions of the label is liable to be separated during
the heat-shrinking of the label or during the use of the
dry cell. Therefore, the activated heat-adhesive resin
layer should exhibit adhesion sufficient to firmly bond
the opposite end portions of the label to each other.
However, it is impossible to impart sufficient
adhesion to the heat-adhesive resin layer of the
conventional heat-sensitive adhesive label only by
heating the heat-adhesive resin layer at a lower
temperature. If the heat-adhesive resin layer is
heated at a higher temperature, on the contrary, a print
layer provided on a surface of the label base is damaged,
resulting in a bad appearance. Where the label base is
formed of a heat-shrinkable synthetic resin film as
described above, there is a problem that the label base
is shrunk to be distorted or wrinkled during the
activation of the heat-adhesive resin layer.
If the heat-adhesive resin layer is heated at a
higher temperature for the activation thereof, an energy
to be supplied to heating means such as a heater is
increased, resulting in a problem of an increase in the
running cost of a labeling apparatus.
It is therefore an object of the present invention
to provide a heat-sensitive adhesive label which is
imparted with sufficient adhesion even when a heat-adhesive
resin layer thereof is heated at a lower
temperature, and to provide a method of attaching the
label.
To achieve the aforesaid object, the present
invention provides a heat-sensitive adhesive label
having a heat-adhesive resin layer provided on a label
base thereof, wherein the heat-adhesive resin layer has
been subjected to a corona discharge process.
In the heat-sensitive adhesive label having the
aforesaid construction, the heat-adhesive resin layer
provided on one surface of the label base has been
subjected to the corona discharge process, so that the
heat-adhesive resin layer is imparted with sufficient
adhesion even when the label is heated at a lower
temperature for activation of the heat-adhesive resin
layer. Therefore, the label exhibits improved adhesion
not only to a metal surface but also to the label itself
(to a surface of a UV-cured ink layer, a polyester film
or the like), and the running cost of a labeling
apparatus can be reduced.
Where the heat-adhesive resin layer is formed of
an ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer, an ethylene-methacrylic
acid copolymer, an ethylene-acrylate
copolymer or an ethylene methacrylate copolymer, the
adhesion of the heat-adhesive resin layer after the
heating at a lower temperature can be enhanced.
The heat-adhesive resin layer can be activated
at a lower temperature by subjecting the heat-adhesive
resin layer to the corona discharge process as described
above. Where the label base is formed of a heat-shrinkable
synthetic resin film, therefore, a
difference between the temperature for the heat
shrinking of the label and the temperature for the
activation of the heat-adhesive resin layer can be
increased, so that the distortion of the label due to
the shrinkage of the label can be suppressed during the
activation of the heat-adhesive resin layer.
Where the heat-sensitive adhesive label is to be
attached to an article to be labeled, the heat-adhesive
resin layer is subjected to the corona discharge process
and then activated by heating the heat-adhesive resin
layer before the heat-sensitive adhesive label is
attached to the article. Even if a sequence of
heat-sensitive adhesive labels is stored in a roll form,
for example, there is no possibility that the labels kept
in surface contact with one another suffer from blocking,
providing an effect of easy handling of the heat-sensitive
adhesive labels.
Where the heat-sensitive adhesive label is to be
attached to the outer circumference of a columnar or
tubular article to be labeled, it is preferred that the
heat-sensitive adhesive label having the activated
heat-adhesive resin layer is first wrapped entirely
around the article and then attached to the article with
opposite end portions thereof being overlapped with each
other.
Where the article to be labeled is a dry cell body
having a metal surface, the heat-sensitive adhesive
label is desirably constructed such that the label base
thereof is formed of a heat-shrinkable synthetic resin
film and the heat-adhesive resin layer thereof is formed
of an ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer, an ethylene-methacrylic
acid copolymer, an ethylene-acrylate
copolymer or an ethylene methacrylate copolymer, and the
label is desirably attached to the dry cell body in the
following manner.
First, the heat-adhesive resin layer is
subjected to the corona discharge process as described
above, and then the heat-sensitive adhesive label with
the heat-adhesive resin layer thereof activated by
heating is wrapped around the dry cell body with opposite
side edge portions thereof projecting out of opposite
ends of the dry cell body, and attached to the dry cell
body with opposite end portions thereof being overlapped
with each other. Then, the heat-sensitive adhesive
label attached to the dry cell body is heated again to
heat-shrink the label base whereby the opposite side
edge portions thereof projecting out of the opposite
ends of the dry cell body are tightly bonded to opposite
end faces of the dry cell body. Thus, the heat-sensitive
adhesive label can assuredly be attached to
the dry cell body.
The present invention will hereinafter be
described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
As shown in Fig. 1, a heat-sensitive adhesive
label 1 is a jacket label for a dry cell, and comprises
a label base 11 formed of a heat-shrinkable polyester
film (e.g., a polyethylene terephthalate film) , a primer
layer 12 and a print layer 13 provided successively on
one surface of the label base 11, and a metal vapor
deposition layer 14, an anchor coat layer 15 and a
heat-adhesive resin layer 16 provided successively on
the other surface of the label base 11.
The label base 11 has a thickness of 30 im to 60
im, and heat shrinkage ratios of not higher than 1% at
70 C and not lower than 20% at 130 C. For the jacket
label for the dry cell, no particular problem will occur
as long as the label base 11 has a thickness of 20 im
to 100 im, a shrinkage ratio of not lower than 20% as
measured circumferentially of the dry cell, and a heat
shrinkage ratio of not higher than 3% at 70°C.
The label base 11 is desirably formed of a
polyester film (polyethylene terephthalate film), but
may be formed of a polyvinyl chloride film or a
polyolefin film.
The print layer 13 is a layer formed by printing
various descriptions and designs with a UV-curable ink
which is superior in heat resistance to an ordinary ink
of solvent drying type, and a print surface thereof is
coated with a UV-curable varnish for protection and
lustering of the print layer 13.
The UV-curable ink is a mixture which contains
oligomers of epoxy acrylate, urethane acrylate,
polyester acrylate and the like, and a monomer of a
polyester or the like blended with a UV polymerization
initiator, a colorant such as a pigment, a dispersant
and other additives. Specific examples of the UV-curable
ink include BESTCURE of Tohka Colorant Chemical
Co., Ltd., UVACE of Kuboi Ink Co. Ltd., and CP-UV of
Matsui Chemical Co., Ltd.
The primer layer 12 is provided to improve the
adhesion of the print layer 13 to the label base 11, and
the provision thereof is not necessarily required.
The metal vapor deposition layer 14 is formed by
vacuum-metallizing the other surface of the label base
11 with aluminum, and has a thickness of 200 to 800
Å. The material for the metal vapor deposition layer
14 is not limited to aluminum, but the metal vapor
deposition layer 14 may be formed by vacuum-metallization
with nickel or tin, for example.
The heat-adhesive resin layer 16 is formed by
coating the anchor coat layer 15 formed on the other
surface of the label base 11 with an ethylene acrylic
acid copolymer or an ethylene methacrylic acid copolymer
by melt extrusion, and has a thickness of about 5 im to
about 30 im. The heat-adhesive resin layer 16 is
subjected to the corona discharge process for
improvement of the adhesive property thereof. The
heat-adhesive resin layer 16 thus formed has an
excellent adhesion to both a metal and the print layer
13 and, hence, has a property which is advantageous for
use as a heat-adhesive resin layer of a jacket label for
a dry cell.
Preferably used as the material for the heat-adhesive
resin layer 16 is an ethylene-based copolymer
which is imparted with an adhesive property
significantly improved by the corona discharge process,
and suitable examples thereof other than the aforesaid
ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer and ethylene-methacrylic
acid copolymer include ethylene-acrylate
copolymers such as an ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer
and an ethylene-2-ethylhexyl acrylate copolymer, and
ethylene-methacrylate copolymers such as an
ethylene-ethyl methacrylate copolymer. An ionomer
resin and an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer can also
be used. The heat-adhesive resin layer 16 may be formed
of a resin mixture containing any of these resins, and
a tackifier, a stabilizer or a modifier may be added
thereto as required.
For formation of the heat-adhesive resin layer
16, the aforesaid melt extrusion coating is desirably
employed to efficiently form the heat-adhesive resin
layer 16 in a relatively great and uniform thickness,
but a solution coating of the aforesaid resin material
may be employed.
The anchor coat layer 15 is provided to improve
the adhesion of the heat-adhesive resin layer 16 to the
metal vapor deposition layer 14, and the provision
thereof is not necessarily required.
Since the heat-sensitive adhesive label 1 having
the aforesaid construction has the heat-adhesive resin
layer 16 subjected to the corona discharge process, the
label has an adhesion strength comparable to the
conventional heat-sensitive adhesive label even if the
heat-adhesive resin layer 16 is heated at a lower
temperature for the activation thereof. By heating the
heat-sensitive adhesive label 1 at a high temperature
as in the case of the conventional label having a
heat-adhesive resin layer not subjected to the corona
discharge process, an adhesive strength higher than the
conventional label can be imparted to the heat-sensitive
adhesive label 1.
Since the difference between the temperature for
the heat shrinking of the label base 11 and the
temperature for the activation of the heat-adhesive
resin layer 16 can be increased, the distortion of the
label due to the shrinkage of the label base 11 during
the activation of the heat-adhesive resin layer 16 can
be suppressed.
With reference to Fig. 3 illustrating a labeling
apparatus 30, an explanation will be given to a method
of attaching the aforesaid heat-sensitive adhesive
label 1 to a dry cell body having a metal surface such
as of nickel or iron.
As shown, the labeling apparatus 30 comprises a
label formation section A, a label activation process
section B, a label attaching process section C and a heat
shrinkage process section D. A process sequence from
the formation of the heat-sensitive adhesive label 1 to
the attachment of the label to the dry cell body X is
continuously performed by the labeling apparatus 30.
In the label formation section A, a label sheet
1a for label formation which has substantially the same
construction as the heat-sensitive adhesive label 1 but
with the heat-adhesive resin layer 16 thereof not
subjected to the corona discharge process is
continuously fed out of a sheet roll 31 which is formed
by rolling the label sheet 1a, and then the surface of
the heat-adhesive resin layer 16 is subjected to the
corona discharge process by a corona discharging device
32. Thereafter, the label sheet 1a is cut into a
predetermined length by a cutting edge 33a of a cutting
roller 33, whereby the heat-sensitive adhesive label 1
is formed. The label sheet 1a has a width which is
slightly greater than the length of the dry cell body
X to be labeled.
As described above, the label sheet 1a with the
heat-adhesive resin layer 16 not subjected to the corona
discharge process is rolled into the sheet roll 31.
Therefore, the heat-adhesive resin layer 16 of the label
sheet 1a does not have an adhesive property at this time,
so that portions of the label sheet 1a kept in surface
contact with each other do not suffer from blocking.
In the label activation process section B, the
heat-sensitive adhesive label 1 formed in the label
formation section A is transported to a heating position
with the print layer 13 thereof held in contact with the
outer circumference of a rotary drum 34 and, after the
heat-adhesive resin layer 16 is heated by a heating
device 35 for the activation thereof , the heat-sensitive
adhesive label 1 is transported to the label attaching
process section C. At this time, the heat-adhesive
resin layer 16 is imparted with sufficient adhesion
simply by heating it at a temperature (65 to 60 C) which
is lower than a heating temperature (70 to 65° C) for
the heat-adhesive resin layer of the conventional
heat-sensitive adhesive label, because the surface of
the heat-adhesive resin layer 16 of the heat-sensitive
adhesive label 1 has been subjected to the corona
discharge process. This speeds up the label attaching
process. In addition, the heat-sensitive adhesive
label can be imparted with stronger adhesion than the
conventional label, if it is heated at a temperature
close to a heating temperature (70 to 65°C) for the
heat-adhesive resin layer of the ordinary heat-sensitive
adhesive label.
In the label attaching process section C, dry cell
bodies X are successively supplied to an attaching drum
38 by a transport conveyer 36 and a transfer drum 37.
The heat-sensitive adhesive label 1 is wrapped around
the supplied dry cell body X by the attaching drum 38
and attaching guides 39, and attached to the outer
circumference of the dry cell body X with opposite end
portions thereof being overlapped with each other. At
this time, widthwise opposite side edge portions of the
heat-sensitive adhesive label 1 slightly project out of
opposite ends of the dry cell body X.
The dry cell body X attached with the heat-sensitive
adhesive label 1 is transported to the heat
shrinkage process section D by a transfer drum 40 and
a transport conveyor 41. In the heat shrinkage process
section D, a heating device 42 is provided as covering
the transport conveyor 41. Since the heat-sensitive
adhesive label 1 attached to the dry cell body X is heated
at about 130°C by the heating device 42, the label base
11 is heat-shrunk whereby the opposite side edge
portions of the heat-sensitive adhesive label 1
projecting out of the dry cell body X are tightly bonded
to opposite end faces of the dry cell body X.
A heating belt 43 is provided in the heating
device 42. The dry cell body X is rolled with the outer
circumference thereof being heat-pressed by the heating
belt 43, whereby the heat-adhesive resin layer 16 is
activated again. Therefore, the heat-sensitive
adhesive label 1 is firmly bonded to the outer
circumference of the dry cell body X and, at the same
time, the overlapped portions of the heat-sensitive
adhesive label 1 are firmly bonded to each other. Thus,
a dry cell assuredly attached with the heat-sensitive
adhesive label 1 can be provided.
Although a definite distinction is herein given
between the heat-sensitive adhesive label 1 and the
label sheet 1a, it is also possible to regard the label
sheet 1a as an elongated heat-sensitive adhesive label
not subjected to the corona discharge process.
Fig. 2 illustrates a heat-sensitive adhesive
label according to another embodiment. Although the
aforesaid heat-sensitive adhesive label 1 which is a
jacket label for a dry cell includes the metal vapor
deposition layer 14 and the print layer 13 formed by
printing various descriptions and designs with a UV-curable
ink, a construction as shown in Fig. 2 can be
employed for labels which are to be attached to articles
other than the dry cell, for example, metal containers
such as cans for beverage, food, paint and the like, and
synthetic resin containers such as polyester containers
for beverage, food, cosmetics and the like.
As shown, a heat-sensitive adhesive label 2
comprises a label base 21 formed of a biaxially oriented
polyester film such as polyethylene terephthalate and
having substantially no heat-shrinkability, and a print
layer 22 and a heat-adhesive resin layer 23 successively
provided on one surface of the label base 21. Like the
heat-adhesive resin layer 16 of the heat-sensitive
adhesive label 1, the heat-adhesive resin layer 23 is
formed of an ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer or an
ethylene methacrylic acid copolymer by melt extrusion
coating so as to have a thickness of about 5 im to about
30 im, and subjected to the corona discharge process.
Besides the aforesaid polyester film, a plastic
film such as of polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride or the
like may be employed for the formation of the label base
21. The formation of the print layer 22 can be achieved
by a known printing technique such as gravure printing.
Further, a synthetic sheet, a paper sheet or the like
may be used as the label base 21, and the print layer
22 may be formed on the front face thereof.
Since the heat-adhesive resin layer 23 of the
heat-sensitive adhesive label 2 having the aforesaid
construction has been subjected to the corona discharge
process as in the case of the heat-sensitive adhesive
label 1, the temperature for the activation of the
heat-adhesive resin layer 23 can be reduced and the
adhesive strength of the label can be increased as
compared with the conventional label when the label is
attached to the article.
In consideration of the blocking and the like,
the heat-adhesive resin layer 23 of the heat-sensitive
adhesive label 2 is desirably subjected to the corona
discharge process when the label is attached to the
article.
Since the heat-sensitive adhesive label 2 does
not have heat-shrinkability, the heat shrinkage process
to be performed when the label is attached to the article
is of course obviated. Depending on the article to be
labeled and the configuration of the label, the label
is not necessarily required to be wrapped around the
article and attached to the article with opposite end
portions thereof being overlapped with each other, but
may be attached to a part of the outer circumference of
the article.
As describe above, the heat-sensitive adhesive
label and the method of attaching the label according
to the present invention are useful for wrapping and
attaching a label entirely around a columnar or tubular
article to be labeled, and particularly suitable for a
jacket label for a dry cell having a metal surface and
a method of attaching the jacket label.
Claims (7)
- A heat-sensitive adhesive label comprising a label base, and a heat-adhesive resin layer provided on the label base, wherein the heat-adhesive resin layer has been subjected to a corona discharge process.
- A heat-sensitive adhesive label as set forth in claim 1, wherein the heat-adhesive resin layer is composed of an ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer, an ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer, an ethylene-acrylate copolymer or an ethylene methacrylate copolymer.
- A heat-sensitive adhesive label as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein the label base is formed of a heat-shrinkable synthetic resin film.
- A method of attaching a heat-sensitive adhesive label, comprising the steps of:supplying a heat-sensitive adhesive label having a heat-adhesive resin layer provided on a label base thereof;subjecting the heat-adhesive resin layer of the supplied heat-sensitive adhesive label to a corona discharge process;heating the heat-adhesive resin layer subjected to the corona discharge process for activation of the heat-adhesive resin layer; andattaching the heat-sensitive adhesive label having the activated heat-adhesive resin layer to an article to be labeled.
- A method of attaching a heat-sensitive adhesive label as set forth in claim 4, wherein the heat-sensitive adhesive label having the activated heat-adhesive resin layer is wrapped entirely around the article, and attached to the article with opposite end portions thereof being overlapped with each other.
- A method of attaching a heat-sensitive adhesive label, comprising the steps of:supplying a heat-sensitive adhesive label having a heat-adhesive resin layer provided on a heat-shrinkable label base thereof;subjecting the heat-adhesive resin layer of the supplied heat-sensitive adhesive label to a corona discharge process;heating the heat-adhesive resin layer subjected to the corona discharge process for activation of the heat-adhesive resin layer;wrapping the heat-sensitive adhesive label having the activated heat-adhesive resin layer around a dry cell body having a metal surface with opposite side edge portions of the heat-sensitive adhesive label projecting out of opposite ends of the dry cell body, and attaching the heat-sensitive adhesive label to the dry cell body with opposite end portions of the heat-sensitive adhesive label being overlapped with each other; andheating the heat-sensitive adhesive label attached to the dry cell body to heat-shrink the heat-sensitive adhesive label so that the opposite side edge portions of the heat-sensitive adhesive label projecting out of the opposite ends of the dry cell body are tightly bonded to opposite end faces of the dry cell body.
- A dry cell having a heat-sensitive adhesive label attached to an outer peripheral surface thereof, the heat-sensitive adhesive label having a heat-adhesive resin layer provided on a label base thereof, wherein the label base is formed of a heat-shrinkable synthetic resin film, wherein the heat-adhesive resin layer is composed of an ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer, an ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer, an ethylene-acrylate copolymer or an ethylene methacrylate copolymer, and has been subjected to a corona discharge process.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP1998/002878 WO1999067768A1 (en) | 1998-06-25 | 1998-06-25 | Heat-sensitive adhesive label, method of attaching the label, and dry cell attached with the label |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| EP1124214A1 true EP1124214A1 (en) | 2001-08-16 |
Family
ID=14208505
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP98929716A Withdrawn EP1124214A1 (en) | 1998-06-25 | 1998-06-25 | Heat-sensitive adhesive label, method of attaching the label, and dry cell attached with the label |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP1124214A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1999067768A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US8282754B2 (en) | 2007-04-05 | 2012-10-09 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Pressure sensitive shrink label |
| US8535464B2 (en) | 2007-04-05 | 2013-09-17 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Pressure sensitive shrink label |
| US9221573B2 (en) | 2010-01-28 | 2015-12-29 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Label applicator belt system |
Family Cites Families (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS60109834A (en) * | 1983-11-18 | 1985-06-15 | グンゼ株式会社 | Film for laminating print |
| JPH0967799A (en) * | 1995-08-28 | 1997-03-11 | Cosmo Kasei Kk | Heat-weldable sliding-door paper |
| JPH09237614A (en) * | 1996-02-29 | 1997-09-09 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Label-fitted battery |
-
1998
- 1998-06-25 WO PCT/JP1998/002878 patent/WO1999067768A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1998-06-25 EP EP98929716A patent/EP1124214A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Non-Patent Citations (1)
| Title |
|---|
| See references of WO9967768A1 * |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US8282754B2 (en) | 2007-04-05 | 2012-10-09 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Pressure sensitive shrink label |
| US8535464B2 (en) | 2007-04-05 | 2013-09-17 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Pressure sensitive shrink label |
| US9221573B2 (en) | 2010-01-28 | 2015-12-29 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Label applicator belt system |
| US9637264B2 (en) | 2010-01-28 | 2017-05-02 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Label applicator belt system |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| WO1999067768A1 (en) | 1999-12-29 |
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