Avery Dennison Corporation

Frederick N Miekka

Ghanshyam H Popat

Karl Josephy

William F Scholz

Shiaonung J Su

Norman A Conti

Richard A Fotland

Richard G Miekka

Omar S Attia

Andre M Saint

Brett Ulrich

Thomas Mammen

John J Fitch

Eric Chen-nan Su

Robert Valadez

H Paul Barker

Rick J Verhines

Raymond G Kubit

Stephen E Billester

Faceless PSA label constructions of this invention comprise a flexible substrate having a release surface, and a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed on the release surface. A nonblocking continuous film that, in combination with the pressure-sensitive adhesive is sufficiently self supporting, is disposed over a surface of the layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive to render the pressure-sensitive adhesive tack free. The continuous film is selected from the group of film-forming polymers consisting of polyamide resins, polyester resins, polyurethane resins, polyacrylate resins, vinyl acetate resins and mixtures thereof having a tensile strength of at least 200 psi, and a percent elongation of at least 50. The continuous film can be applied sequentially or simultaneously with the PSA. For purposes of simultaneous application it is desired that the continuous film be formed from a material having a hot melt viscosity that is within a factor of about two times a hot melt viscosity for the PSA. The completed faceless PSA label construction is adapted to receive and retain printing or marking indicia directly onto a surface of the continuous film.

Faceless pressure-sensitive adhesive construction

Prelaminate pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) constructions comprise, a first substrate, a coating or release material on a surface of the first substrate, a PSA layer disposed on the coating of release material, and a detackified layer (DL) disposed on a surface of the PSA layer to form a continuous film covering the PSA layer. In first and second embodiments of the construction the DL is activatable to form a tacky layer on top of the PSA layer for lamination with a second substrate. In a third embodiment, the DL includes constituents that when activated migrate into the PSA layer to expose the PSA layer tacky surface for lamination with a second substrate. The prelaminate PSA constructions are completely nonblocking to a minimum 24 hour blocking temperature of about 50&deg; C. at pressure of about 40 kilopascals, thereby allowing such prelaminate PSA construction to be collected, stored, and or transported before being laminated without adhesive interference occurring between continuous layers. The DL in each embodiment is activatable in less than five seconds to provide a tacky layer having a sufficient open tack time to permit lamination at less than about 100&deg; C.

Prelaminate pressure-sensitive adhesive constructions

A versatile method for the manufacturing of image transfer sheets which provide users with cold transferring images without using supplemental heat in the course of image transfer to a wide variety of substrates includes printing an image with water-based ink onto an image transfer sheet that has a coating of water-accepting adhesive. A method of manufacturing image transfer sheets includes first applying a water impermeable layer onto a flexible substrate. A layer of water-activatable adhesive is applied upon the water impermeable layer. The adhesive is then dried in a dryer with dehumidified air. A water permeable detack layer is then applied upon the layer of adhesive. In a particular embodiment, the sheet further includes a water-accepting image holding layer in between the water-accepting adhesive layer and the water impermeable layer. The image holding layer becomes water-resisting when heated to within a range of activation temperatures.

Image transfer sheets and a method of manufacturing the same

Faceless PSA label constructions of this invention comprise a flexible substrate having a release surface, and a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive disposed on the release surface. A nonblocking continuous film that, in combination with the pressure-sensitive adhesive is sufficiently self supporting, is disposed over a surface of the layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive to render the pressure-sensitive adhesive tack free. The continuous film is selected from the group of film-forming polymers consisting of polyamide resins, polyester resins, polyurethane resins, polyacrylate resins, vinyl acetate resins and mixtures thereof having a tensile strength of at least 200 psi, and a percent elongation of at least 50. The continuous film can be applied sequentially or simultaneously with the PSA. For purposes of simultaneous application it is desired that the continuous film be formed from a material having a hot melt viscosity that within a factor of about two times a hot melt viscosity for the PSA. The completed faceless PSA label construction is adapted to receive and retain printing or marking indicia directly onto a surface of the continuous film.

A versatile method of cold transferring images without using supplemental heat in the course of image transfer to a wide variety of substrates includes printing an image with water-based ink onto an image transfer sheet that has a coating of water-accepting adhesive. The sheet is then applied to the substrate to transfer only the portions of the adhesive that bear the image onto the substrate, with the remainder of the adhesive remaining attached to the sheet. A method of manufacturing image transfer sheets includes first applying a water impermeable layer onto a flexible substrate. A layer of water-activatable adhesive is applied upon the water impermeable layer. The adhesive is then dried in a dryer with dehumidified air. A water permeable detack layer is then applied upon the layer of adhesive. A sheet for transferring an image that has been printed onto the sheet with a water-based ink has a flexible backing layer and one or more water-accepting layers with water activatable adhesive that are printed with a printing press and/or coated onto the flexible backing layer. A water-impermeable layer is disposed in between the adhesive and the backing layer. A detack layer may be applied onto the layer of adhesive. A water permeable colored, tinted, or reflective water-permeable layer may be between the detack layer and the water-accepting layer, or a colorant may be added to the detack layer. One embodiment includes a water-permeable layer of cross-linker in between the detack layer the water-accepting layer, wherein said water-accepting layer becomes water-resisting when water-based ink flows through said layer of cross-linker and into said water-accepting layer. In another embodiment, the water-accepting layer includes both adhesive and cross-linker, wherein the water-accepting layer is adapted to become water-resisting when the adhesive and the cross-linker react when the water-accepting layer is heated. In another embodiment, the sheet further includes a water-accepting image holding layer in between the water-accepting adhesive layer and the water impermeable layer. The image holding layer becomes water-resisting when heated to within a range of activation temperatures.

An ultra thin primary battery construction is disclosed along with a method for making same. The battery itself is a laminate construction consisting of a polymer film casing, printed thin film electrodes, and an aqueous electrolyte which is in intimate contact with the active surfaces of both electrodes. In this system, the electrodes themselves consist of a non-reactive conductive ink base having active electrode materials embedded into its surface. The anode to cathode electrode geometry may take one of many forms, however for ease of manufacturing, the anode and cathode electrodes face each other in an offset configuration that eliminates the need for a porous separator. The method of manufacture involves first forming the electrodes onto a polymer film followed by adding the appropriate aqueous electrolyte, and finally sealing the battery. The process for forming the electrodes themselves involves printing a polymer film with a layer of conductive ink, sprinkling an excess of active electrode material in powder form onto the wet surface of the freshly printed ink, drying or curing the ink, and finally removing any loose particles from the surface.

Low profile battery and method of making same

Water dispersible, hydrophilic, repulpable, water-activatable, acrylic polymers are provided. The polymers are non-tacky when dry, but become tacky when wet, and exhibit high peel strength on a variety of substrates. The polymers comprise an acrylic-based polymer prepared by emulsion polymerization of 40 to 70% by weight of one or more alkyl acrylates, the alkyl group of which has from 4 to 8 carbon atoms; 10 to 20% by weight of methacrylate; 2 to 15% by weight of vinyl acetate; and 10 to 25 percent by weight of methacrylic acid and/or acrylic acid; and a positive amount up to about 30% by weight of methyl methacrylate. Some embodiments also include a short chain hydroxyalkyl methacrylate. Also provided are ink jet-imprintable, water-activatable constructions comprising a layer of water-activatable polymer, coated on a release liner or other surface. Optionally, a water-resistant transparent film layer is disposed between the polymer and release liner or used in place of the release liner. The constructions are suitable for use in ink jet printers and can be used to transfer an image to a substrate.

Water-activatable polymers and printable constructions

Methods for enhancing the visibility of and imparting a metallic luster to holographic and diffraction pattern surface embossments on transparent media such as plastic films (12) are disclosed. Enhancement is achieved by (1), metallic effect dyes or (2), metal flake inks containing minimal quantities of resinous binders (3), inks containing crystalline pigments that have metallic visual effects, or (4), inks containing pigments formed of optical stacks. The solvent used during application of the dye or ink must not be a solvent for the embossed surface.

Growing community of inventors

Sierra Madre, CA, United States of America

Frederick N Miekka