DECORATIVE FILM, PACKAGING MATERIAL USING SAME, AND LABEL STICKER USING SAME

Abstract

A decorative film having: a pattern display layer formed by a transparent heat-resistant layer and a printed layer on a surface of the transparent heat-resistant layer to provide a first pattern, and the pattern display layer having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side; an extrusion-embossed microstructure layer formed on a surface of the second side of the pattern display layer and having a microstructure to provide a second pattern; and a reflective layer overlying the microstructure; when the decorative film is in use, an observer can see a display pattern composed of the first pattern and the second pattern on the first side of the pattern display layer. In addition, the present invention also proposes a packaging material using the decorative film and a label sticker using the decorative film.

Claims

1. A decorative film comprising: a pattern display layer formed by a transparent heat-resistant layer and a printed layer on a surface of the transparent heat-resistant layer to provide a first pattern, and the pattern display layer having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side; an extrusion-embossed microstructure layer formed on a surface of the second side of the pattern display layer and having a microstructure to provide a second pattern; and a reflective layer overlying the microstructure; when the decorative film is in use, an observer can see a display pattern composed of the first pattern and the second pattern on the first side of the pattern display layer.

2. The decorative film according to claim 1, wherein the reflective layer is formed by an evaporation process or a sputtering process, or the reflective layer is formed by performing a corona treatment or a plasma treatment on the extrusion-embossed microstructure layer first, and then performing an evaporation process or a sputtering process thereon, and the evaporation process or the sputtering process uses a material selected from a group consisting of aluminum, indium, tin, chromium and ZnS.

3. The decorative film according to claim 1, wherein the extrusion-embossed microstructure layer is formed by performing a polymer material extrusion-coating operation and a roller embossing operation on the pattern display layer.

4. The decorative film according to claim 1, wherein the printed layer is on the second side of the pattern display layer.

5. The decorative film according to claim 1, wherein the printed layer is on the first side of the pattern display layer.

6. A packaging material having a substrate and the decorative film according to claim 1, the decorative film being attached on the substrate.

7. A packaging material having a substrate and the decorative film according to claim 2, the decorative film being attached on the substrate.

8. A packaging material having a substrate and the decorative film according to claim 3, the decorative film being attached on the substrate.

9. A packaging material having a substrate and the decorative film according to claim 4, the decorative film being attached on the substrate.

10. A packaging material having a substrate and the decorative film according to claim 5, the decorative film being attached on the substrate.

11. The packaging material according to claim 6, wherein the substrate is a flexible substrate.

12. The packaging material according to claim 6, wherein the substrate is a rigid substrate.

13. The packaging material according to claim 6, wherein the substrate includes: an aluminum foil layer, a surface of which is attached with the reflective layer to provide a barrier to gas and moisture; and a heat sealing layer attached with another surface of the aluminum foil layer to provide a heat sealing function for the packaging material, the heat sealing layer being realized by a material selected from a group consisting of PP, PE and EVA, and being a single layer or a multilayer coextruded film.

14. A label sticker comprising: the decorative film according to claim 1; and a release paper layer attached with the decorative film via a pressure sensitive adhesive layer.

15. A label sticker comprising: the decorative film according to claim 2; and a release paper layer attached with the decorative film via a pressure sensitive adhesive layer.

16. A label sticker comprising: the decorative film according to claim 3; and a release paper layer attached with the decorative film via a pressure sensitive adhesive layer.

17. A label sticker comprising: the decorative film according to claim 4; and a release paper layer attached with the decorative film via a pressure sensitive adhesive layer.

18. A label sticker comprising: the decorative film according to claim 5; and a release paper layer attached with the decorative film via a pressure sensitive adhesive layer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a conventional multilayer flexible packaging film.

[0029] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of another conventional multilayer flexible packaging film.

[0030] FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a multilayer flexible packaging film disclosed in FIG. 1 of WO 93/008084.

[0031] FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a decorative film according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 5 illustrates a scheme for forming the extrusion-embossed microstructure layer of the decorative film of FIG. 4.

[0033] FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a packaging material including the decorative film of FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a label sticker including the decorative film of FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a decorative film according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a packaging material including the decorative film of FIG. 8 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] FIG. 10 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a label sticker including the decorative film of FIG. 8 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0038] Please refer to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, where FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a decorative film according to an embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 5 illustrates a scheme for forming the extrusion-embossed microstructure layer of the decorative film of FIG. 4.

[0039] As illustrated in FIG. 4, a decorative film 1 includes from bottom to top a reflective layer 10, an extrusion-embossed microstructure layer 20, a printed layer 30, and a transparent heat-resistant layer 40.

[0040] In the process of fabricating the decorative film 1, the printed layer 30 is first printed on a surface of the transparent heat-resistant layer 40 to jointly form a pattern display layer to provide a first pattern, and the pattern display layer has a first side and a second side opposing the first side, in this embodiment, the printed layer 30 is located on the second side, and the first side is used to display a pattern. In addition, the transparent heat-resistant layer 40 can be realized by a PET, OPP or nylon film.

[0041] The extrusion-embossed microstructure layer 20 is formed on a surface of the second side of the pattern display layer and has a microstructure 21 to provide a second pattern.

[0042] The reflective layer 10 is overlaid on the microstructures 21.

[0043] When the decorative film is in use, an observer can see a display pattern composed of the first pattern and the second pattern on the first side of the pattern display layer.

[0044] In addition, for possible embodiments, the formation of the reflective layer 10 can be realized by performing an evaporation process or a sputtering process on the extrusion-embossed microstructure layer 20; or by performing a corona treatment or a plasma treatment on the extrusion-embossed microstructure layer 20 first, and then performing an evaporation process or a sputtering process thereon.

[0045] In addition, the material used for the evaporation process or the sputtering process can be aluminum, indium, tin, chromium or ZnS (zinc sulfide).

[0046] In addition, the formation of the extrusion-embossed microstructure layer 20 can be achieved by performing a polymer material extrusion-coating operation and a roller embossing operation on the pattern display layer.

[0047] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the extrusion-embossed microstructure layer 20 is formed by the following steps: using the pattern display layer which includes the printed layer 30 and the transparent heat-resistant layer 40 as a substrate; using a T-die 201 to extrude polymer material 22 in a liquid state on the pattern display layer, and in the meantime using a plate roller 202 (having a microstructured nickel plate 204) and a heat-resistant rubber roller 203 to compress the pattern display layer and the polymer material 22 covering the surface of the pattern display layer to perform the roller embossing operation. In addition, during the roller embossing operation, cooling water passes through the plate roller 202 to cool the polymer material 22, thereby solidifying the microstructure 21.

[0048] Based on the above description, the present invention further proposes a packaging material having a substrate and a decorative film as described above attached on the substrate, and the substrate can be a flexible substrate or a rigid substrate. Please refer to FIG. 6, which illustrates a cross-sectional view of a label sticker including the decorative film of FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the packaging material has a substrate including an aluminum foil layer 60 and a heat sealing layer 70, and a decorative film 1 attached on the substrate, where, a surface of the aluminum foil layer 60 is attached with the reflective layer 10 to provide a barrier to gas and moisture; and the heat sealing layer 70 is attached with another surface of the aluminum foil layer 60 to provide a heat sealing function for the packaging material. In addition, the heat sealing layer 70 can be implemented with PP, PE or EVA, and can be a single layer or a multilayer coextruded film. In practical applications, the packaging material shown in FIG. 6 can be used for packaging coffee, tea and other food products at a lower cost than conventional packaging materials.

[0049] In light of the above description, the present invention further proposes a label sticker having a decorative film 1 and a release paper layer carrying the decorative film 1. Please refer to FIG. 7, which illustrates a cross-sectional view of a label sticker including the decorative film of FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, the label sticker has a decorative film 1, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer 80, and a release paper layer 90, where the release paper layer 90 is attached with the decorative film 1 via the pressure sensitive adhesive layer 80.

[0050] In addition, please refer to FIG. 8, which illustrates a cross-sectional view of a decorative film according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, a decorative film 2 includes a reflective layer 10, an extrusion-embossed microstructure layer 20, a transparent heat-resistant layer 40, and a printed layer 30 from bottom to top. As the details of the reflective layer 10, the extrusion-embossed microstructure layer 20, the transparent heat-resistant layer 40 and the printed layer 30 have been disclosed above, they are not to be readdressed. The decorative film 2 differs from the decorative film 1 of FIG. 4 only in that the positions of the transparent heat-resistant layer 40 and the printed layer 30 are reversed.

[0051] In addition, please refer to FIG. 9, which illustrates a cross-sectional view of a packaging material including the decorative film of FIG. 8 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, the packaging material has a substrate including an aluminum foil layer 60 and a heat sealing layer 70, and a decorative film 2 attached with the substrate, where, a surface of the aluminum foil layer 60 is attached with the reflective layer 10 to provide a barrier to gas and moisture; and the heat sealing layer 70 is attached with another surface of the aluminum foil layer 60 to provide a heat sealing function for the packaging material. In addition, the heat sealing layer 70 can be implemented with PP, PE or EVA, and can be a single layer or a multilayer coextruded film. In practical applications, the packaging material shown in FIG. 9 can be used for packaging coffee, tea and other food products at a lower cost than conventional packaging materials.

[0052] In addition, please refer to FIG. 10, which illustrates a cross-sectional view of a label sticker including the decorative film of FIG. 8 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 10, the label sticker has a decorative film 2, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer 80, and a release paper layer 90, where the release paper layer 90 is attached with the decorative film 2 via the pressure sensitive adhesive layer 80.

[0053] Thanks to the designs mentioned above, the decorative film of the present invention has the following advantages:

[0054] 1. The decorative film of the present invention does not need an additional layer of microstructure film.

[0055] 2. The decorative film of the present invention can save manufacturing processes and reduce cost.

[0056] 3. The decorative film of the present invention can be applied to packaging materials and label stickers.

[0057] While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements and procedures.

[0058] In summation of the above description, the present invention herein enhances the performance over the conventional structure and further complies with the patent application requirements and is submitted to the Patent and Trademark Office for review and granting of the commensurate patent rights.