Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

United States Postal Service

Mark E Schwartz

Karl W Kreckel

Raymond D Zachrison

Robert A Luhman

Ronald B Birkholz

James D Ramacier

An improved release agent for linerless pressure sensitive postage stamps, comprising a low adhesion backsize, preferably organo polysiloxane polyurea block copolymer, as disclosed by Tushaus, et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,615), containing therein a dispersion of calcium carbonate in the range of 2 to 7 percent by weight, and polyvinyl pyrrolidone in the range of 4 to 10 percent. The combined level of both additives to said low adhesion backsize is about 8 to 12 percent. The preferred levels of each additive are: polyvinyl pyrrolidone at 4 percent and calcium carbonate at 4 percent, to achieve a desired minimum drying time for cancellation ink imposed upon a surface of said release agent.

Release agent for linerless pressure sensitive postage stamps

Means for unitizing objects, e.g., packages, through the use of a stretchable, detackifiable, pressure-sensitive adhesive tape. In the preferred embodiment, the tape comprises a highly extensible, substantially non-recoverable backing bearing on at least one major surface thereof a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive. This tape has the dual capability of (1) being capable of being firmly bonded to a substrate and (2) being detackified after being stretched.

Method of unitizing packages by means of a stretchable adhesive tape

A portable manual tape dispensing apparatus for use for with a roll of stretchable adhesive tape. Preferably, the tape is of the type that progressively detackifies when stretched. The apparatus also preferably has a hub configured to be manually gripped by an operator. The hub includes a substantially annular surface with dimensions such that the annular surface can be slidably received within an interior of the roll of tape to securely hold the roll of tape. A stretching surface is connected to the hub so the operator may selectively orient the dispensing apparatus in either a stretching position or an unstretching position. The stretching surface contacts a portion of the tape when the apparatus is in the stretching position such that the operator can dispense the tape in a stretched detackified condition.

Manual tape dispensing apparatus

The present invention is a portable manual tape dispensing apparatus for use with a stretchable adhesive tape such as of the type that progressively detackifies when stretched. The apparatus has a supply spool for carrying a supply of the tape and a handle connected to the supply spool for manually grasping and manipulating the apparatus. A mechanism for stretching the tape is arranged and configured to receive the tape from the supply spool. The stretching mechanism has a stretching zone defined between first and second engagement surfaces. The first and second engagement surfaces frictionally engage the tape and move at disparate longitudinal speeds to stretch the tape when the stretching mechanism is activated. A manually operative mechanism is provided for selectively activating the stretching mechanism so an operator can remove the tape from the supply in a substantially detackified stretched condition when the stretching mechanism is activated. The manually operative mechanism also permits the operator to remove the tape from the supply in an unstretched condition.

Ink composition comprising a conventional flexographic ink stock, a wax, and a chlorinated polyolefin. This ink composition can be used to print webs, e.g. tapes, bearing a low adhesion backsize on one major surface thereof and a pressure-sensitive adhesive on the other major surface thereof.

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Mahtomedi, MN, United States of America

Mark E Schwartz