WO2016020787A1

WO2016020787A1 - Innovation of paper based in mould label used in moulding process of plastic components

Info

Publication number: WO2016020787A1
Application number: PCT/IB2015/055619
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kiran M. SHAH; Piyali Sarkar BHOWMIK
Original assignee: Shah Kiran M; Bhowmik Piyali Sarkar
Priority date: 2014-08-07
Filing date: 2015-07-24
Publication date: 2016-02-11

Abstract

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a paper in-mold label is provided. The invention includes a paper with one surface printed by a required design and another surface coated with an in-mold adhesive coating so as to achieve anti-curling properties on the paper. The invention then includes shaping of the paper with a desired shape to form a label. In an embodiment the in-mold adhesive coating is selected on a basis of required molding process so as to fuse or bond the paper with a formed object in the molding process.

Description

INNOVATION OF PAPER BASED IN MOULD LABEL USED IN MOULDING

PROCESS OF PLASTIC COMPONENTS

This patent claims priority from provisional application no. 2540/MUM/2014 titled "Innovation of Paper based in mold label used in molding process of plastic components" filed on 7^th August 2014.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure, in general, relates to a process of labeling. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a process of paper in-mold labeling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Traditionally, labeling and printing like pad printing, screen printing, heat transfer label are a secondary operation (s) used in packaging industries for molding process. However, labels are stick over a product with use of suitable adhesive coating on a reverse side of label, and shrink sleeve are wrapped over it under the hot air, printing is done with the help of screen and pad, and heat transfer label is used to transfer the artwork from film to molded articles by using heat.

[0002] Conventionally, labels are made of paper or plastics in label stock form having liner at a back side and on other side is required design or information. Further, labels are surface printed and then cut into a required shape. Furthermore, labels are applied over the product either manually or with specially designed machine by using pressure and then linear is removed as a waste wherein the other part is pasted over the product therefore increasing cost and wastage. [0003] Hence there exists a need of a solution of above mentioned problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] An aspect of the present invention is to address at least the above- mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is a paper in-mold label.

[0005] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a paper in-mold label is provided. The invention includes a paper with one surface printed by a required design and another surface coated with an in-mold adhesive coating so as to achieve anti-curling properties on the paper. The invention then includes shaping of the paper with a desired shape to form a label. In an embodiment the in-mold adhesive coating is selected on a basis of required molding process so as to fuse or bond the paper with a formed object in the molding process.

[0006] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a process for manufacturing a paper in-mold label is provided. The process includes selecting a paper wherein, one surface of the paper is coated by an in-mold adhesive coating so as to achieve anti-curling and sealing properties on the paper and another side of the paper is printed with a required design. The process then includes shaping the printed paper with a required shape so as to achieve a label and placing the label at a desired position in a cavity of a mold with at least one of a polymeric melt or a thermoforming or a polymeric preform. In an embodiment, the in-mold adhesive coating fuses or bonds the label with a formed object in a molding process. The process further includes ejecting the mold after the molding process so as to achieve a paper in-mold labeled object.

[0007] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an arrangement for manufacturing a paper in-mold label is provided. The arrangement includes a paper wherein, one surface of the paper is coated by an in-mold adhesive coating so as to achieve anti-curling and sealing properties on the paper and another side of the paper is printed with a required design. The arrangement then includes shaping the printed paper with a required shape so as to achieve a label and placing the label at a desired position in a cavity of a mold with at least one of a polymeric melt or a thermoforming or a polymeric preform. In an embodiment, the in-mold adhesive coating fuses or bonds the label with a formed object in a molding process. The arrangement further includes ejecting the mold after the molding process so as to achieve a paper in-mold labeled object.

[0008] Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES [0009] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates a layer by layer representation of paper in-mold label, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 2 illustrates a process for manufacturing a paper in-mold label, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 3 illustrates an arrangement for manufacturing a paper in-mold label, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 4 illustrates an arrangement of paper in-mold labeling in stretch blow molding process, in accordance with an exemplary implementation of the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 5 illustrates an arrangement of paper in-mold labeling in a molding process, in accordance with an exemplary implementation of the present invention.

[0015] Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and may have not been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figure may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0016] Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention as defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.

[0018] The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0019] It is to be understood that the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to "a component surface" includes reference to one or more of such surfaces.

[0020] By the term "substantially" it is meant that the recited characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations or variations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those of skill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic was intended to provide.

[0021] FIG 1 , 2, 3, 4, and 5, discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way that would limit the scope of the disclosure. The terms used to describe various embodiments are exemplary. It should be understood that these are provided to merely aid the understanding of the description, and that their use and definitions in no way limit the scope of the invention. Terms first, second, and the like are used to differentiate between objects having the same terminology and are in no way intended to represent a chronological order, unless where explicitly stated otherwise. A set is defined as a non-empty set including at least one element.

[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates a layer by layer representation of paper in-mold label, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 1 , arrangement 100, illustrates a paper 120, an ink layer 110 of a required design on one side of the paper 120 and an in-mold adhesive coating 130 on another side of the paper.

[0024] In an embodiment of the present invention the paper 120 is shaped with a required shape by a shaper, for a non-limiting example, shaper can be a die-cut. The paper 120 is printed on one surface 110 with the required design of a label and coated with the in-mold adhesive coating 130 at another surface to fuse or bond the paper with a formed object in a molding process. [0025] In accordance with yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention the ink layer 120, is printed through, but not limited to, by at least one of a gravure printer, a flexo printer or a coating and can be at least one of an offline printing process or an online printing process. In an embodiment coating can be, but not limited to, a flexo coater or a gravure coater or a combination thereof.

[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates a process for manufacturing a paper in-mold label, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 2, the process 200, illustrates step by step method for paper in mold labeling.

[0028] In an embodiment of the present invention a paper is selected. At STEP 210 one surface of the paper is printed with a required design by various printing mechanism available in the market. In a preferred embodiment printing can be done either by online process or by an offline process. After printing is done on one surface of the paper, an in-mold adhesive coating is applied at another surface of the paper. In an embodiment the in-mold adhesive coating is selected with respect to a molding process and can be either online coating process or an offline coating process or an extrusion coating process. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the in-mold adhesive coating is also done to achieve anti-curling properties on the paper so that when the paper is exposed in molding process, the paper does not curl to give a rough surface.

[0029] In yet another embodiment, the in-mold adhesive coating can be, but not limited to solvent based coating. [0030] After coating of the paper with the in-mold adhesive coating, the paper is shaped at STEP 220 with a required design so as to achieve a label. In a preferred embodiment the paper can be shaped by, but not limited to, a die-cut process.

[0031] Now at STEP 230 the label is placed in a cavity of a mold at a desired position with at least one of a polymeric melt or a thermoforming or a polymeric preform. In an embodiment, the in-mold adhesive coating fuses or bonds the label with a formed object in the molding process so as to get the formed object with the label.

[0032] The formed object from the mold is ejected at STEP 240 after the molding process so as to achieve a paper in-mold labeled object.

[0033] FIG. 3 illustrates an arrangement for manufacturing a paper in-mold label, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Referring to Fig. 3, the arrangement for manufacturing a paper in-mold label is provided.

[0035] In an embodiment of the present invention an arrangement for manufacturing a paper in-mold label is provided. The invention includes a paper 310. One surface of the paper is printed with a required design, whereas another surface of the paper is coated with an in-mold adhesive coating. In an embodiment, the in-mold adhesive coating is selected so as to achieve an anti-curling properties on the paper in a molding process.

[0036] A shaper 320 is used to shape the printed paper with a required shape so as to achieve a label. In an embodiment, shaper can be, but not limited to, a die cut. [0037] A positioner 330 is selected to place the label at a desired position in a cavity of a mold with at least one of a polymeric melt or a thermoforming or a polymeric preform. In an embodiment the in-mold adhesive coating fuses or bonds with a formed object in the molding process so as to get the formed object with label.

[0038] An ejector 340 is used to eject the formed object from the mold after the molding process so as to achieve a paper in-mold labeled object.

[0039] FIG. 4 illustrates an arrangement of paper in-mold labeling in stretch blow molding process, in accordance with an exemplary implementation of the present invention.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 4, the arrangement 400, with a mold 405, having a mold cavity 415 wherein the preform 410 is inserted to acquire the required shape of a desired product.

[0041] The paper in mold label 425 in stretch blow molding process is placed in a mold cavity 430 of the mold 435. In an embodiment placing can be done either by a manual placing process or by an automatic placing mechanism.

[0042] The paper in-mold label 425 has an in-mold adhesive coating layer 130 to get in contact with a preform 440. The in-mold adhesive coating layer 130 of the paper in-mold label 425 is selected on the basis of a property to fuse or bond with the preform 440 when heated at temperature less than 100 degree Celsius with hot air pressure. The paper in-mold label 425 can be placed either by a manual placing process or by an automatic placing mechanism. Further blower 445, is inserted in the preform to blow hot air so that required shape is acquired and pressure fuses or bond the in-mold adhesive coating layer 130 of the paper in-mold label 425 with the outer surface of the required shape. In an embodiment fuse can also be bonding.

[0043] The mold 465 is cooled and the required shape is ejected from the mold 455.

[0044] The mold 455 is opened to eject required shape 460 after blower blow hot air and pressure fuses or bonds the in-mold adhesive coating layer 130 of the paper in- mold label 465 with the outer surface of the required shape 460.

[0045] The ejected required shape of the preform 475 sealed with the paper in- mold label 480 is achieved on the outer surface of the required shape 475.

[0046] FIG. 5 illustrates an arrangement of paper in-mold labeling in a molding process, in accordance with an exemplary implementation of the present invention.

[0047] Referring to FIG. 5, the arrangement 500, with a mold 505, having a mold cavity 5100 wherein a melted object 515 is inserted to acquire a required shape of a product.

[0048] A paper in-mold label 520 inserted in the mold cavity 525, of the mold 530 wherein, the in mold label has an in-mold adhesive coating layer 130 to get in contact with the melted object 535. The in-mold adhesive coating layer 130 of the paper in-mold label 520 has a property to fuse or bond with the melted object 535 when heated at temperature greater than 75 degree Celsius. The paper in-mold label 520 can be inserted by either of a manual placing process or by an automatic placing mechanism. [0049] The mold 550 is closed after inserting the melted object 545 in contact with the in-mold adhesive coating layer 130 of the paper in-mold label 520 in the mold cavity 525, by at least one of a manual placing process or by an automatic placing mechanism.

[0050] In accordance with an another exemplary embodiment of the present invention the mold 550 is charged with a predetermined amount that is specific to properties of the melted object 545 and then molding process is applied to the mold 550 to acquire the required shape and to fuse or bond the in-mold adhesive coating layer 130 of the paper in-mold label 520.

[0051] In accordance with yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention the mold 550 is cooled and the required shape is ejected from the mold 550.

[0052] After ejection the required shape of the melted object 560 sealed with paper in-mold label 565 is achieved on the outer surface of the required object 560.

[0053] In the preceding specification, the present disclosure and its advantages have been described with reference to exemplary embodiments. However, it will be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications and changes can be made, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded as illustrative examples of the present disclosure, rather than in restrictive sense. All such possible modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present disclosure.

[0054] While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit

Claims

I/We claim:

1 . A paper in-mold label comprising: a paper, wherein the paper is shaped with a desired shape of a label after printing on one surface with a required design and coating on another surface with an in-mold adhesive coating so as achieve anti-curling properties on the paper; further wherein, the in-mold adhesive coating is selected on a basis of a property to bond the paper with a formed object in the molding process.

2. The paper in-mold label as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the said in-mold adhesive coating is selected on a basis of molding process.

3. A process for manufacturing a paper in-mold label, the process comprising the steps of: selecting a paper wherein, one surface of the paper is coated by an in-mold adhesive coating so as to achieve anti-curling and sealing properties on the paper and another side of the paper is printed with a required design; shaping the printed paper with a required shape so as to achieve a label; placing the label at a desired position in a cavity of a mold with at least one of a polymeric melt or a thermoforming or a polymeric preform, wherein the in-mold adhesive coating bonds with the label with a formed object in a molding process; and ejecting the formed object from the mold after the molding process so as to achieve a paper in-mold labeled object.

4. The process for manufacturing a paper in-mold label as claimed in claim 3, wherein, the said in-mold adhesive coating is selected on a basis of molding process.

5. The process for manufacturing a paper in-mold label as claimed in claim 3, wherein the said placing of label can be performed either by a manual placing process or an automatic placing mechanism.

6. The process for manufacturing a paper in-mold label as claimed in claim 3, wherein, the said printing, the said in-mold adhesive coating, the said shaping, the said molding process can be either in an online process or an offline process or a combination thereof.

7. An apparatus for manufacturing a paper in-mold label comprises: a paper, wherein, one surface of the paper is coated by an in-mold adhesive coating so as to achieve an anti-curling properties on the paper and another surface of the paper is printed with a required design; a shaper to shape the printed paper with a required shape so as to achieve a label; a positioner to place the label at a desired position in a cavity of a mold with at least one of a polymeric melt or a thermoforming or a polymeric preform, wherein the in-mold adhesive coating bonds with the label with a formed object in a molding process; and an ejector to eject the formed object from the mold after the molding process so as to achieve a paper in-mold labeled object.

8. The apparatus for manufacturing a paper in-mold label as claimed in claim 7, wherein, the said in-mold adhesive coating is selected on a basis of molding process.

9. The apparatus for manufacturing a paper in-mold label as claimed in claim 7, wherein the said positioner can be either of a manual placing process or by an automatic placing mechanism.

10. The apparatus for manufacturing a paper in-mold label as claimed in claim 7, wherein, printer to print the required design on one surface of the said paper, a coater to coat in-mold adhesive coating on another surface of the paper, the shaper to shape the paper into label, the positioner to place the label and the molding process can be either in an online process or an offline process or a combination thereof.