PEELABLE LABEL

Abstract

A peelable label including a main panel and a finger lift tab. The main panel and the finger lift tab include a first film, and the finger lift tab includes one or more layers of a chemical composition configured to cause the finger lift tab to be deflected from the plane of the main panel.

Claims

1. A peelable label comprising: a main panel and a finger lift tab; wherein the main panel and the finger lift tab comprise a first film; and wherein the finger lift tab comprises one or more layers of a chemical composition configured to cause the finger lift tab to be deflected from the plane of the main panel.

2. A peelable label according to claim 1, wherein the chemical composition comprises a varnish.

3. A peelable label according to claim 1, further comprising a second film which is coextensive with the main panel, such that the finger lift tab is defined by the portion of the first film that is not coextensive with the main panel.

4. A peelable label according to claim 3, further comprising a layer of adhesive disposed between the first film and the second film.

5. A peelable label according to claim 1, further comprising a layer of resealable adhesive disposed on the underside of the main panel.

6. A peelable label according to claim 1, wherein the finger lift tab extends from the main panel towards a corner of the peelable label, such that the corner of the peelable label is deflectable from the plane of the main panel.

7. A peelable label according to claim 1, comprising two finger lift tabs, wherein each finger lift tab extends from the main panel towards a corner of the peelable label, such that each of the corners of the peelable label is deflectable from the plane of the main panel.

8. A peelable label according to claim 1, wherein the finger lift tab extends longitudinally from the main panel.

9. A peelable label according to claim 2, wherein the first film and/or the second film comprise a biaxially oriented polymer.

10. A wound reel of peelable labels comprising a release liner and a plurality of peelable labels according to claim 1, releasably adhered to the release liner.

11. Packaging for at least one article or substance, comprising: a main packaging portion having a packaging opening; and a peelable label according to claim 1, the peelable label being adhered to the main packaging portion with the main panel covering the packaging opening and at least part of the finger lift tab being deflected away from the main packaging portion; wherein, in use, pulling the main panel away from the main packaging portion by means of the finger lift tab causes the packaging opening to be exposed.

12. A method of manufacturing a peelable label comprising: forming a first film having a main panel region and a finger lift tab region; applying a layer of resealable adhesive to the main panel region; and applying one or more layers of a chemical composition (e.g. a varnish) to the finger lift tab region of the first film to thereby cause the finger lift tab region to deflect from the plane of the main panel region.

13. A method of manufacturing a peelable label comprising: forming a second film comprising a main panel region and a finger lift tab region; cutting the second film to remove the finger lift tab region; bonding a first film to the second film to thereby form a peelable label comprising a main panel and a finger lift tab, wherein the finger lift tab is defined by the portion of the first film that is not coextensive with the main panel; applying one or more layers of a chemical composition (e.g. a varnish) to the finger lift tab to thereby cause the finger lift tab to be deflected from the plane of the main panel.

14. A method according to claim 12, further comprising: die cutting the first film and the second film to form a peelable label, having a main panel and a finger lift tab.

15. A method according to claim 12, wherein the second film is provided on a release liner.

16. (canceled)

Description

[0064] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0065] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a peelable label.

[0066] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the peelable label along the line A-A of FIG. 1.

[0067] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a peelable label.

[0068] FIG. 4 is a plan view of a peelable label.

[0069] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a peelable label according to the current invention.

[0070] The peelable label 100 comprises a main panel 102 and a finger lift tab 104 which is deflected from the plane of the main panel 102. FIG. 1 shows the finger lift tab 104 extending longitudinally from the main panel 102, although other finger lift tab configurations are possible, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0071] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the peelable label 100 along the line A-A shown in FIG. 1. The peelable label 100 comprises a main panel 102 and a finger lift tab 104. The main panel 102 comprises a first film in the form of a lamination film 106, a layer of lamination adhesive 109, a second film in the form of a base film 108, and a layer of resealable adhesive 110.

[0072] The lamination film 106 may be a transparent biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film or a polyester film, having a thickness of 50 m. The base film 108 may be a metallised biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film or a polyethylene film, having a thickness of 30 m. The layer of lamination adhesive 109 is disposed between the base film 108 and the lamination film 106. The lamination adhesive 109 may be any suitable lamination adhesive, for example a water based acrylic adhesive, solvent based acrylic adhesive, hot melt adhesives, UV cured adhesive and the like.

[0073] The layer of resealable adhesive 110 is disposed on the underside of the base film 108. The resealable adhesive 110 may be any suitable resealable adhesive, for example a pressure sensitive adhesive, a water based adhesive, solvent based adhesive, a UV cured adhesive, a hot melt adhesive or other suitable resealable adhesives known in the art. The resealable adhesive 110 may be an adhesive that remains substantially adherent after continuous use.

[0074] The finger lift tab 104 comprises the lamination film 106 and a single or multiple layers of varnish 112 disposed on the upper surface of the finger lift tab 104. The finger lift tab 104 does not include a base film 108, i.e. the base film 108 is only coextensive with the main panel 102, such that the portion of the lamination film 106 that is not coextensive with the main panel 102 defines the finger lift tab 104. The layers of varnish 112 disposed on the upper surface of the finger lift tab 104 cause the finger lift tab 104 to be deflected from the plane of the main panel 102, enabling the user to grasp the finger lift tab 104 easily.

[0075] FIGS. 3 and 4 show plan views of further examples of the peelable label 100. FIG. 3 shows a peelable label 100 in which the finger lift tab 104 is positioned in the corner of the peelable label 100. FIG. 4 shows a plan view of a peelable label 100, in which there are two finger lift tabs 104 positioned in each corner of the peelable label 100.

[0076] The method of making a peelable label as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is described below.

[0077] A web of base stock material is formed and advanced in the web direction. Herein the term web direction means the longitudinal direction of the web, and is, for example, the direction in which for example the base stock substrate advances during the manufacturing process.

[0078] The web of base stock material comprises a metallised BOPP base film. Disposed on the underside of the base film is a layer of resealable adhesive, which is adhered to a release liner. The release liner may comprise any suitable release liner material such as polyester or glassine.

[0079] The web of base stock substrate is advanced in the web direction W and the base stock substrate is cut, for example die cut. The base stock substrate includes a main panel region and a finger lift tab region. The base stock substrate is cut at the boundary of the main panel region and the finger lift tab region. The base film and the layer of resealable adhesive is cut, but the release liner is not cut.

[0080] After the base stock substrate is cut, the web of base stock substrate continues to advance and the finger lift tab region is removed. It will be appreciated that the remaining base stock substrate goes on to form the base film of the peelable label.

[0081] The base film may be printed, for example by gravure printing, flexo printing, litho printing, digital printing or other suitable printing method known in the art. In some examples, the base film may be printed prior to the cutting process set out above.

[0082] The cut web of base stock substrate is advanced and a web of lamination film in the form of a transparent BOPP film is laminated to the base film via a lamination adhesive to form a label stock substrate. The label stock substrate comprises the lamination film and the base film adhered to the release liner.

[0083] The web of lamination film comprises a main panel region and a finger lift tab region that correspond with the main panel region and the removed finger lift tab region of the base film. The portion of the lamination film that is not coextensive with the main panel region forms the finger lift tab region.

[0084] The label stock substrate continues to advance in the web direction W and a varnish is applied to the upper surface of the lamination film in the finger lift tab region.

[0085] The web of label stock substrate is subsequently cut and stripped to form a plurality of peelable labels 100 disposed on the release liner. The varnish is cured, resulting in the finger lift tabs 104 being deflected from the plane of the main panel 102. The finger lift tab 104 may be deflected at an angle of up to 90 degrees from the plane of the main panel 102. The finger lift tab 104 remains free of adhesive on its underside, so the finger lift tab 104 does not adhere, in use, to, for example, the release liner or product packaging.

[0086] The web continues to advance with a plurality of peelable labels 100 adhered to the release liner. The plurality of peelable labels are wound on to a drum to form a wound reel of peelable labels.

[0087] The peelable labels 100 adhered to the release liner may be removed from the release liner and applied to packaging by methods known in the art. The peelable labels 100 may be adhered to packaging to enclose a packaging opening and seal the packaging. In use, the finger lift tab 104 may be grasped and pulled to partially remove the peelable label 100 to expose the packaging opening. The peelable label 100 may then be re-adhered to the packaging to cover the packaging opening and reseal the packaging.