Owens-Brockway Plastic Products Inc.

Eugene J Frey

A blow-molded hollow plastic container having a continuous liquid layer of conventional silk screen ink applied thereto over an external container surface area, and also having a self-adhering pre-printed label applied over the silk screen coated area. The protective ink barrier coating prevents formulation of bubbles beneath the label. The container may also have labeling silk screen imprinted on the container surface in a designated label-receiving area, and/or on non-designated surface area concurrently with barrier coating of the designated area. The container may have gas-blocking clear ink barrier layer silk screened over the silk screen imprinting, and then the a label applied over the gas-blocking layer of clear ink when dry. The label may be &ldquo;peelable&rdquo; for customer rebate return without thereby altering the labeling information remaining on the container. The pre-printed label may be a replicate of the label-covered imprinting so that the &ldquo;trade dress&rdquo;need not be altered by peeling off the label.

Container labeling system

A system and method for rapidly labeling a blow-molded hollow container made of a plastic composition subject to out-gassing after de-molding. Otherwise, conventional high speed silk screen labeling technology and processing is employed shortly after container fabrication de-molding in order to accurately deposit a continuous liquid layer of conventional silk screen ink over an external container surface area designated for application thereon of a self-adhering pre-printed label. The label is rapidly and accurately transfer applied over the silk screen coated area immediately after the same has dried, and even while out-gassing is still occurring from the de-molded container. However, the protective ink barrier coating prevents formation of bubbles beneath the label. Those gases in the container wall resident beneath the label-affixed area can then nevertheless out-gas by migrating out of the container internal wall surface. Also, labeling may be silk screen imprinted on the container surface in a designated label-receiving area, and/or on non-designated surface area concurrently with barrier coating of the designated area. A gas-blocking clear ink barrier layer may be silk screened over the silk screen imprinting, and then the label applied over the gas-blocking layer of clear ink when dry. The label may be &ldquo;peelable&rdquo; for customer rebate return without thereby altering the labeling information remaining on the container. The pre-printed label may be a replicate of the label-covered imprinting so that the &ldquo;trade dress&rdquo; need not be altered by the peelable label, and so that the container surface area available for permanent labeling is maximized.

A system and method for rapidly labeling a blow-molded hollow container made of a plastic composition subject to out-gassing after de-molding. Otherwise, conventional high speed silk screen labeling technology and processing is employed shortly after container fabrication de-molding in order to accurately deposit a continuous liquid layer of conventional silk screen ink over an external container surface area designated for application thereon of a self-adhering pre-printed label. The label is rapidly and accurately transfer applied over the silk screen coated area immediately after the same has dried, and even while out-gassing is still occurring from the de-molded to container. However, the protective ink barrier coating prevents formation of bubbles beneath the label. Those gases in the container wall resident beneath the label-affixed area can then nevertheless out-gas by migrating out of the container internal wall surface. Also, labeling may be silk screen imprinted on the container surface in a designated label-receiving area, and/or on non-designated surface area concurrently with barrier coating of the designated area. A gas-blocking clear ink barrier layer may be silk screened over the silk screen imprinting, and then the label applied over the gas-blocking layer of clear ink when dry. The label may be 'peelable' for customer rebate return without thereby altering the labeling information remaining on the container. The pre-printed label may be a replicate of the label-covered imprinting so that the 'trade dress' need not be altered by the peelable label, and so that the container surface area available for permanent labeling is maximized.

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Walton, KY, United States of America

Eugene J Frey