Timer Technologies, LLC

W/s Packaging Group, Inc.

Wisconsin Label Corporation

Multi-Color Corporation

Voxcom, Inc.

Mark A Shadle

Chauncey T Mitchell, Jr

David M Good

Gerrit L Verschuur

Robert Parker

Andrew J Friesch

Dimitri Stamatiou

Apparatus and methods for reducing the tack of adhesive ooze around components and other materials associated with articles and labeling and packaging of articles. In some embodiments, the packaging includes a substrate, an adhesive, a component, a de-tackifying agent, and an ooze zone. The substrate may be a shrink sleeve label. The adhesive may be a pressure sensitive adhesive used to attach the component to the substrate. The component may be a smart component or a promotional material. The de-tackifying agent may reduce the tackiness of the adhesive that oozes (i.e., progresses) beyond the interface of the component and the substrate into an adjacent ooze zone when heat, pressure, or heavy coat weight is applied to the packaging.

Reducing tack of adhesive ooze on components used in labeling and packaging

A web of labels includes a face stock and a release liner. A top side adhesive layer extends on a top surface of the face stock and a top side release liner extends over the top side adhesive layer. The top side release liner includes at least one aperture exposing a corresponding portion of the top side adhesive layer. The face stock has a second adhesive layer on a bottom surface of the face stock. The release liner has a second release layer on a top surface thereof to protect the second adhesive layer, and a third release layer on a bottom surface of the release liner. The face stock is separated into a succession of labels carried on the release liner such that each label includes a portion of the top side release liner having at least one aperture.

Bonding label

A web of bonding labels includes a face stock and a release liner. A top side adhesive layer extends on top of a top surface of the face stock and a top side release liner extends over the top side adhesive layer, wherein the top side release liner includes at least one aperture of exposing a corresponding portion of the underlying top side adhesive layer. The face stock has a second adhesive layer on a bottom surface of the face stock. The release liner has a second release layer on a top surface of the release liner arranged to protect the second adhesive layer on the bottom surface of the face stock and a third release layer on a bottom surface of the release liner. The face stock is separated into a succession of bonding labels carried on the release liner such that each bonding label includes a portion of the top side release liner having at least one aperture exposing a corresponding portion of the underlying top side adhesive layer.

A web of bonding labels includes a face stock and a release liner. The face stock has both a first adhesive layer and a first release layer on a top surface of the face stock and a second adhesive layer on a bottom surface of the face stock. The release liner has a second release layer on a top surface of the release liner arranged to protect the second adhesive layer on the bottom surface of the face stock and a third release layer on a bottom surface of the release liner. The face stock is separated into a succession of labels carried on the release liner such that each label includes a first complementary area defined on the top surface of the face stock by the first adhesive layer and a second larger complementary area that is at least as large as the first complementary area defined on the top surface of the face stock by the first release layer.

Display information is revealed from behind a metal film that can be cleared upon effective contact with a clearing agent. The metal film, while opaque, is generally less than 1000 Angstroms thick and can be cleared by exposure to innocuous agents including food or other household products.

Irreversible metal film display

Method of making a succession of irreversible thin film displays

Printed electrochemical cells including both power cells and display cells are arranged in a partially assembled condition to extend shelf life of the cells. The partially assembled condition is also used as a switching mechanism for controlling activation of some of the cells. The active components of the cells include two electrodes and an electrolyte layer that is maintained out of contact with at least one of the electrodes for interrupting an ionically conductive pathway between the electrodes. The electrolyte is preferably an electrolytic adhesive that is protected by a release layer until the cells are needed for service.

Deferred assembly construction of electrochemical cells

An electrolyte is formulated as a printing ink and laid down by an in-line press for manufacturing printed electrochemical cells. A curing station transforms the electrolyte to perform additional functions such as separating electrodes, preventing leakage, bonding cell layers, and resisting evaporation.

Printing electrochemical cells with in-line cured electrolyte

A metal layer cleared by contact with a chemical clearing agent to reveal an underlying graphics layer is at least partially covered by a buffer material that delays contact with the clearing agent. The buffer material can be applied in a pattern that forms a temporary image in the metal layer prior to more completely revealing the underlying graphics layer.

Irreversible display with temporary imaging stage

Electrochemical displays have electronic or ionic pathways between electrodes interrupted to control activation. Electrochemical erosion of one of the electrodes reveals an underlying graphic image. Game assemblies are constructed by dividing electrochemical components between a main substrate and one or more mounting pieces that can be assembled on the main substrate to activate the display cells.

Interactive electrochemical displays

Irreversible thin film display with clearing agent

Printed electrochemical display cells are arranged in layer form with two electrode layers and an electrolyte layer occupying distinct areas of a substrate. When activated, an electrochemical reaction progressively increases the area occupied by the electrolyte layer and progressively decreases the area occupied by the thin-film electrode layer. The thin-film electrode layer recedes at a boundary in common with the electrolyte layer and provides an irreversible indication of change at a rate governed by the electrochemical reaction.

Electrochemical display and timing mechanism with migrating electrolyte

Electrochemical cell with deferred assembly

Printed electrochemical display cells are arranged in layer form with two electrode layers and an electrolyte layer occupying distinct areas of a substrate. An electrolyte layer overlaps most of one electrode layer but contacts a smaller portion of the other electrode layer, which is made of a thin film. When activated, an electrochemical reaction progressively increases the area occupied by the electrolyte layer and progressively decreases the area occupied by the thin-film electrode layer. The thin-film electrode layer recedes at a boundary in common with the electrolyte layer and provides an irreversible indication of change at a rate governed by the electrochemical reaction.

An electrochemical display cell has a layered construction including two electrode layers separated by a dielectric layer. Concentric openings are formed in the dielectric layer and one of the electrode layers exposing a designated portion of the other electrode layer. An electrolyte layer overlaps the one electrode layer and the designated portion of the other electrode layer. When activated, current flow cascades through the openings in the one electrode layer and the dielectric layer to the designated portion of the other electrode layer supporting an electrochemical reaction that erodes the designated portion revealing underlying visual information.

Growing community of inventors

Peachtree City, GA, United States of America

Mark A Shadle