Moore Business Forms, Inc.

Moore U.s.a., Inc.

Joseph W Langan

Khaled M Khatib

Nancy G Mitchell

Timothy J Russ

Adele C Shipston

Douglas M Smith

Francis R Smith

John R Soltysiak

John C Bane

Jimme A Harrod

Dennis D Hubbell

Daniel P Ratka

Paul M Cumming

Frank L Benchik

David K Rice, Ii

Linerless labels which have a non-quadrate configuration are formed by printing indicia on a first face of a web of label stock and coating the first face with a pressure sensitive adhesive release material, and coating a second face of the web with a pressure sensitive adhesive. A plurality of non-quadrate configuration labels are die-cut from the web, and the labels are taken up in an assembly form in which the labels are readily releasably connected to each other. The labels may be substantially circular in configuration, and connected together in a shingled configuration, a portion of the adhesive of one label overlapping a portion of the top surface of another label. Alternatively, the labels may be connected together with a matrix material having a plurality of paper ties connecting each label to the matrix material or another label.

Die-cut linerless label production

Paper stock (e.g. about 3 mils thick) is highly calendered to form a paper label substrate having first and second faces, with indicia imaged on the first face, a coating of adhesive release material over the imaged indicia, and a pressure sensitive adhesive on the second face. The release coating may be silicone release coating, and the adhesive permanent acrylic adhesive. The paper stock label substrate desirably has a moisture content of between about 6-8%, the release coat and adhesive sealing the moisture within the paper stock. The pressure sensitive adhesive is applied to a blow molded plastic article while the article has a temperature of above 120&deg; F. The article is cooled so that the label conforms to the surface of the article without visible flaws (such as lifted edges, air bubbles, or puckering).

Method of labeling blow molded articles with linear labels

An apparatus and method provide for the alternate manufacture of permanent adhesive or repositional linerless labels utilizing the same equipment. Indicia is applied such as by using an intelligent imaging system by at least one print station. With repositional labels, a tie coat is applied and dried, whereas with permanent labels a barrier coating is applied. Coating stations apply a repositional adhesive and release coat in the construction of repositional adhesive labels. The coating station is followed by a dryer and chill rolls. In the construction of permanent adhesive labels a coating station for applying a release coat and a release coat curing station, as well as permanent adhesive application station, are also provided. Changeover time from the manufacture of one type of label to the other is short.

Apparatus for manufacturing linerless labels

A multicolor thermal transfer ribbon having black ink and at least two other color inks besides black and white is used with a thermal transfer printer and a label in a method of labeling packages. Variable black ink indicia is imaged, using the thermal transfer printer and ribbon, on a first face of the label, and color indicia from at least one of the at least two other color inks on the ribbon is also imaged on the first face of the label. Then the pressure sensitive adhesive of the second face of the label is pressed onto a package (such as an envelope, carton, etc.). The black variable indicia preferably includes variable bar code and text indicia including address indicia, and the color indicia is preferably just one color, indicating a particular type of express delivery service. In one embodiment the ribbon is about four inches wide, three inches of that being the black portion and the other inch the multicolored portion, and the multicolored portion preferably comprises three or four different colors repeating about every six inches along the length of the ribbon. Sense marks are provided on the back of the ribbon which are sensed to effect control of the ribbon drive for the thermal printer to make sure that the ribbon is in proper registry with the label during printing.

Multicolor thermal transfer imaging process

A stack of cut sheet linerless labels is provided. Each label substrate (e.g., paper) having first and second faces, with pressure sensitive adhesive (e.g., repositional adhesive) substantially completely covering the first face, and a release coat (e.g., silicone) substantially completely covering the second face. Adhesive and release coat are selected so that the adhesive force between them is 0.001-1.2 ounces per inch pursuant to a standard test. The labels are disposed in the stack with the pressure sensitive adhesive of each label engaging the release coat of the label below it. A tie coat may be provided between the adhesive and the substrate to enhance adherence between them, and a thermosensitive layer may be provided on the substrate second face beneath the release coat. An adhesive uncoated strip may be provided adjacent an edge of each label to facilitate removal from a stack.

Cut sheet linerless labels

Paper stock (e.g. about 3 mils thick) is highly calendered to form a paper label substrate having first and second faces, with indicia imaged on the first face, a coating of adhesive release material over the imaged indicia, and a pressure sensitive adhesive on the second face. The release coating may be silicone release coating, and the adhesive permanent acrylic adhesive. The paper stock label substrate desirably has a moisture content of between about 6-8%, the release coat and adhesive sealing the moisture within the paper stock. The pressure sensitive adhesive is applied to a blow molded plastic article while the article has a temperature of above 120.degree. F. The article is cooled so that the label conforms to the surface of the article without visible flaws (such as lifted edges, air bubbles, or puckering).

Method of labeling blow molded articles with linerless labels

A thermal sensitive label, and method of manufacture, provide a label construction which is resistant to abrasion without requiring additional coatings. A substantially transparent synthetic material substrate (typically about 1-3 mils thick, but no more than 5 mils thick) has a thermally sensitive coating applied to a first face so that when heat is applied to the second face an image will form on the thermally sensitive material and it will be readable from the second face without significant distortion. A pressure sensitive adhesive, which is preferably pigmented, is disposed on the thermally sensitive material, and may be covered with a release liner. Alternatively, an adhesive release material may be applied on the second face of the substrate.

Durable image direct thermal label

An advantageous linerless label assembly is produced by substantially full face coating a first substrate web second face with a first pressure sensitive adhesive, and substantially full face coating a second substrate web first face with a second pressure sensitive adhesive that is physically or chemically incompatible with the first adhesive, and then bringing the first and second adhesives into direct contact with each other. The substrates are formed into discrete separable labels which may be in sheet, roll, or fan-fold configuration. The individual labels in the substrate can either have the leading edges of each aligned with each other, or the leading edges can be spaced from each other (e.g. about half the length of each of the labels). When physically incompatible adhesives are used, the first adhesive may be vegetable based, polyvinyl alcohol or ultraviolet reactivated adhesive, and the second acrylic. When chemically incompatible adhesives are utilized, the first may be an acrylate adhesive and the second a copolymer of that acrylate adhesive and acrylonitrile.

Variable double sided linerless labels

A piggyback label construction includes a first label having a stock ply with a bottom face having pressure sensitive adhesive, and an imagable top face. A second label comprises a stock ply having a bottom face with pressure sensitive adhesive, a top face with a continuous image-producing coating, and a continuous adhesive release coating over the image-producing coating. The image-producing coating preferably is a thermosensitive coating having a first heat activation temperature of about 140.degree.-250.degree. F. (preferably about 145.degree.-155.degree. F). The first label stock ply has a weight of about 30 lbs. per 1000 sheet 11'.times.17' ream, or less (preferably about 18-30 lbs.). The first label stock imagable top face preferably is a second thermosensitive coating having a higher heat activation temperature than the first heat activation temperature. The image-producing coating may comprise a self-contained coating. The first label may be offset from the second label to provide an exposed portion of the second label image-producing portion which is separated from the rest of the construction by a perforation line, and having pre-printed non-variable indicia.

Imagable piggyback label

Linerless label stock is produced from a single substrate utilizing a coating machine by moving the substrate through the coating machine and applying a tie coating to the substrate first face, a release coating to the substrate second face, and a pressure sensitive adhesive to the tie coating. The release coating comprises a mixture of (a) about 55 to about 95 parts by weight of a first acrylated polysiloxane having the formula I: ##STR1## wherein R is a C.sub.4 -C.sub.2 alkyl group, m is about 40 and n ranges from about 8 to about 12;

Release composition for printable linerless labels

Linerless label stock is produced from a single substrate utilizing a coating machine by moving the substrate through the coating machine and applying a tie coating to the substrate first face, a release coating to the substrate second face, and a pressure sensitive adhesive to the tie coating. The tie coating comprises a dispersion of a pigment, such as silica, with a binder, such as polyvinyl alcohol. The substrate is cut to form individual labels, and is rolled up into a roll with the release coated second face on the outside of the roll. Printing may be applied to the substrate prior to coating, or to the release coating.

Method for making linerless labels with a specific tie coat

A linerless label release coating which contains a mixture of (a) about 55 to about 95 parts by weight of a first acrylated polysiloxane having the formula I: ##STR1## wherein R is a C.sub.4 -C.sub.12 alkyl group, m is about 40 and n ranges from about 8 to about 12; (b) about 5 to about 45 parts by weight of a second acrylated polysiloxane having the formula II: ##STR2## wherein R is a C.sub.4 -C.sub.12 alkyl group, m is about 180 and n ranges from about 8 to about 12; and (c) about 2 to about 6 parts by weight of a photoinitiator.

A linerless pressure sensitive adhesive label comprising a substrate, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer coated onto at least a portion of one side of the substrate, and a continuous protective layer of polyethylene or amide wax substantially overcoating the pressure sensitive adhesive, thereby masking the tackiness of the substrate. Also included is a method of making a linerless pressure sensitive adhesive label comprising the steps of applying a pressure sensitive adhesive to one side of a substrate, and applying a continuous polyethylene or amide wax protective layer substantially over the pressure sensitive adhesive, thereby masking the tackiness of the substrate. Also disclosed is a method of using the linerless pressure sensitive adhesive label comprising the steps of at least partially removing the protective layer to thereby expose the pressure sensitive adhesive and subsequently affixing the label to a surface.

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Cheektowaga, NY, United States of America

Joseph W Langan