Abstract
A multifunctional label includes a radiation protection layer which is designed to predeterminedly reduce the transmission of electromagnetic radiation in a given wavelength range. The multifunctional label further includes a gas barrier layer, which is designed to reduce the transmission of a gaseous substance in a predetermined manner. The radiation protection layer and the gas barrier layer are directly or indirectly coupled to each other in the common multifunctional label.
Claims
1. A multifunctional label (1), comprising: a radiation protection layer (2) which is configured to predeterminedly reduce a transmission of electromagnetic radiation in a given wavelength range, and a gas barrier layer (3) which is configured to reduce a transmission of a gaseous substance in a predetermined manner, the radiation protection layer (2) and the gas barrier layer (3) being directly or indirectly coupled to one another in the common multifunctional label (1).
2. The multifunctional label (1) according to claim 1, wherein the radiation protection layer (2) comprises a film element which predeterminedly reduces the transmission of ultraviolet radiation and/or visible light.
3. The multifunctional label (1) according to claim 1, wherein the gas barrier layer (3) is formed on the film element of the radiation protection layer (2) and/or a carrier element by means of vapor deposition and/or printing.
4. The multifunctional label (1) according to claim 1, wherein the radiation protection layer (2) comprises a lacquer layer which predeterminedly reduces the transmission of ultraviolet radiation and/or visible light.
5. The multifunctional label (1) according to claim 1, wherein the gas barrier layer (3) comprises silicon oxide and/or aluminum oxide and is adapted to predeterminedly reduce a transmission of oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas mixture.
6. The multifunctional label (1) according to claim 1, wherein the radiation protection layer (2) comprises pigments which are adapted to absorb and/or reflect a predetermined ultraviolet radiation and/or comprises a color print which is adapted to absorb and/or reflect a predetermined wavelength range of visible light.
7. The multifunctional label (1) according to claim 1, wherein the radiation protection layer (2) and the gas barrier layer (3) are at least partially transparent for a predetermined wavelength range of visible light.
8. The multifunctional label (1) according to claim 1, further comprising: a print layer or coating (6, 61, 62) which is coupled to the radiation protection layer (2) and/or the gas barrier layer (3), wherein the print layer or coating (6, 61, 62) covers the radiation protection layer (2) and/or the gas barrier layer (3) only in predetermined sections, so that the radiation protection layer (2) and/or the gas barrier layer (3) are transparent to a predetermined wavelength range of visible light in predetermined sections.
9. The multifunctional label (1) according to claim 1, further comprising: an adhesive layer (4, 41, 42, 43) which is coupled to the radiation protection layer (2) and the gas barrier layer (3) and which is adapted to adhesively couple the multifunctional label (1) to an object (10), and an adhesive weakening agent (9) which is coupled to the radiation protection layer (2) and/or the gas barrier layer (3) in the region of the adhesive layer (4, 41, 42, 43), so that, with respect to a state in which the multifunctional label (1) is applied to the object (10) the adhesive layer (4, 41, 42, 43) is predeterminedly weakened in sections and the radiation protection layer (2) and/or the gas barrier layer (3) can be detached from the article (10) in sections and can be bonded to it again.
10. The multifunctional label (1) according to claim 1, further comprising: an adhesive layer (4, 41, 42, 43) which couples the radiation protection layer (2) to the gas barrier layer (3), and an adhesive weakening agent (9), which is arranged between the radiation protection layer (2) and the gas barrier layer (3), so that the adhesive layer (4, 41, 42, 43) is predeterminedly weakened in sections and the radiation protection layer (2) and the gas barrier layer (3) can be detached from one another in sections and can be bonded to one another again.
11. The multifunctional label (1) according to claim 1, further wherein the gas barrier layer (3) is transparent and comprises a first barrier layer (31), a second barrier layer (32) and a barrier adhesive layer (33), which adhesively couples the first and second barrier layers (31, 32) to one another.
12. The multifunctional label (1) according to claim 9, wherein the adhesive layer (4, 41, 42, 43) and/or the barrier adhesive layer (33) are formed as a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer.
13. The multifunctional label (1) according to claim 1, further comprising: a first adhesive layer (41), which is arranged between the radiation protection layer (2) and the gas barrier layer (3) with respect to a stacking direction (R) of the multifunctional label (1) and adhesively couples the radiation protection layer (2) and the gas barrier layer (3) to each other, and a second adhesive layer (42) which is bonded to the radiation protection layer (2) or to the gas barrier layer (3) and which is configured to adhesively couple the multifunctional label (1) to an object (10).
14. A system, comprising: an object (10), and the multifunctional label (1) according to claim 1, which is coupled to the object (10).
15. A method of manufacturing a multifunctional label (1), comprising: providing a radiation protection layer (2) which is configured to predeterminedly reduce a transmission of electromagnetic radiation in a given wavelength range, providing a gas barrier layer (3) which is configured to predeterminedly reduce a transmission from a gaseous substance, and coupling the radiation protection layer (2) and the gas barrier layer (3) to one another so that they are directly or indirectly connected to one another in the common multifunctional label (1).
Description
[0043] FIGS. 1-15 show various embodiments of a multifunctional label in respective side views, and
[0044] FIG. 16 a flow chart for a method for producing a multifunctional label according to FIGS. 1-15.
[0045] Elements or features of the same construction or function are marked with the same reference signs across the figures. For reasons of clarity, not all of the elements or features shown in all of the figures are marked with the corresponding reference signs, possibly.
[0046] FIGS. 1-16 each show a schematic side view of various embodiments of a multifunctional label 1. The multifunctional label 1 has at least one radiation protection layer 2 and at least one gas barrier layer 3, which are directly or indirectly coupled to one another in the common multifunctional label 1. The radiation protection layer 2 is designed to reduce the transmission of electromagnetic radiation in a predetermined wavelength range. In particular, the radiation protection layer 2 is designed to block or at least significantly reduce the transmission of ultraviolet radiation and/or visible light through the multifunctional label 1.
[0047] The gas barrier layer 3 is designed to predeterminedly reduce the transmission of a gaseous substance. In particular, the gas barrier layer 3 is designed to block or at least significantly reduce the passage of oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas mixture through the multifunctional label 1.
[0048] The multifunctional label 1 can therefore be used in a simple and cost-effective way to provide reliable and durable combination protection against the adverse effects of light and gas for pharmaceutical products that are stored, for example, in an object 10 such as an injection vial, a vial or a syringe. The multifunctional label 1 is suitable for use on a plastic syringe, for example, and can be wrapped around the surface of the syringe as a wrap-around label or wrap-around label. As a pharmaceutical container, the syringe realizes the object 10, the contents of which are protected by the multifunctional label 1 in order to enable its intended use over a long period of time. Preferably, the multifunctional label 1 also comprises an adhesive layer 4, by means of which the multifunctional label 1 can be easily and reliably adhered to the object 10 (see FIG. 2).
[0049] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the multifunctional label 1 with a mechanical protective layer 5 and/or a print layer or coating 6, which is or are arranged on the radiation protection layer 2. Referring to a stacking direction R of the multifunctional label 1, the mechanical protective layer 5 and/or the print layer or coating 6 are arranged on the radiation protection layer 2, which in turn is arranged on the gas barrier layer 3, as shown in FIG. 2. The adhesive layer 4, which bonds the multifunctional label 1 to the object 10, is formed below the gas barrier layer 3.
[0050] In this description, terms such as top, bottom, upper side, lower side, above and below refer to alignments or orientations of the respective elements as illustrated in the figures along the stacking direction R. A respective thickness of the illustrated layers therefore extends along the stacking direction R. The thicknesses of the respective layers of the multifunctional label 1 can be the same or different. The stacking direction R essentially corresponds to a surface normal of the surface of the object 10 to which the multifunctional label 1 is attached.
[0051] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a particularly simple structure of a layer stack of the multifunctional label 1. The radiation protection layer 2 and the gas barrier layer 3 are each formed as film elements and are adhesively coupled to each other and to the object 10 by means of adhesive layers 41, 42. Radiation protection layer 2 is connected to the gas barrier layer 3 as a UV protection film by means of a first pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 41. FIGS. 3 and 4 show that the positions of the radiation protection layer 2 and the gas barrier layer 3 can vary in relation to the stacking direction R. Combined protection against UV radiation and gas ingress is provided in each case.
[0052] According to FIG. 3, the gas barrier layer 3 is arranged between the first adhesive layer 41 and the second adhesive layer 42, while the radiation protection layer 2 is arranged on the outside, facing away from the object 10. Thus, the gas barrier layer 3 is protected against mechanical influences from the outside by the radiation protection layer 2. The gas barrier layer 3 also protects against the migration of gaseous substances, which can be caused by layers located further outside.
[0053] According to FIG. 4, the radiation protection layer 2 is arranged between the first adhesive layer 41 and the second adhesive layer 42, while the gas barrier layer 3 is arranged on the outside, facing away from the object 10. Thus, the radiation protection layer 2 is protected against mechanical influences from the outside by the gas barrier layer 3.
[0054] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the multifunctional label 1, which has a mechanical protective layer 5 as the uppermost layer. The mechanical protective layer 5 serves to protect the underlying functional layers, in this case the radiation protection layer 2 and the gas barrier layer 3. The mechanical protective layer 5 is preferably, as illustrated in FIG. 5, attached to an outer surface in relation to the surface of the article 10 and can, for example, be formed from a polymer such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and/or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The mechanical protective layer 5 is bonded to the radiation protection layer 2 by means of the first adhesive layer 41. The radiation protection layer 2 is bonded to the gas barrier layer 3 by means of the second adhesive layer 42. The gas barrier layer 3 is bonded to the surface of the object 10 by means of a third adhesive layer 43. The adhesive layers 41, 42, 43 can be designed as pressure-sensitive adhesive layers.
[0055] According to the structure illustrated in FIG. 5, the multifunctional label 1 again provides combined protection against UV radiation and gas ingress, whereby the gas barrier layer 3 also protects against the migration of gaseous substances, which can be caused by layers located further out, and is itself protected against mechanical effects from the outside by the radiation protection layer 2. The mechanical protective layer 5 provides additional protection for the layers underneath against external mechanical influences.
[0056] FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of the multifunctional label 1, which has a first and a second print layer or coating 61 and 62. The first print layer 61 can be applied as printing and/or coating on a UV protective film, which realizes the radiation protection layer 2. The first print layer 61 is designed as the uppermost layer and can provide information and/or additional protection against UV radiation and/or visible light. The second print layer 62 is arranged within the layer stack of the multifunctional label 1 and can be formed analogously as printing and/or coating on the gas barrier layer 3 in order to provide information and/or additional protection against UV radiation and/or visible light. The gas barrier layer 3 and the inner second print layer 62 are protected against external mechanical influences by the radiation protection layer 2.
[0057] FIG. 7 illustrates again that the positions of the radiation protection layer 2 and the gas barrier layer 3 can vary with respect to the stacking direction R. The first printing layer 61 can rest on the gas barrier layer 3, while the second printing layer 62 is arranged on the radiation protection layer 2. Thus, the radiation protection layer 2 and the inner second print layer 62 are now protected against mechanical influences from the outside by the gas barrier layer 3.
[0058] FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment of the multifunctional label 1, in which the first and second print layers 61 and 62 are formed on a respective underside of the radiation protection layer 2 and the gas barrier layer 3. A printing and/or coating can therefore be formed on a respective inner side and/or a respective outer side of the radiation protection layer 2 and the gas barrier layer 3 with respect to the stacking direction R.
[0059] FIGS. 9-12 show further embodiments of the multifunctional label 1, which further comprises an inspection window 8 and/or is set up to form such an inspection window 8. The inspection window 8 allows an unobstructed view into the container or into the object 10, which is realized, for example, as a transparent plastic syringe. The multifunctional label 1 thus provides reliable combination protection against UV radiation and/or light and also a useful option for true color inspection.
[0060] According to FIG. 9, the multifunctional label 1 again has two print layers 61 and 62, but these do not completely cover the radiation protection layer 2 or the gas barrier layer 3, so that the radiation protection layer 2 and the gas barrier layer 3 each have a print-free or coating-free area 7. Thus, a layered structure of the multifunctional label 1 is designed with transparent areas in each layer that allow a direct, uninfluenced view into the object 10. The radiation protection layer 2 and the gas barrier layer 3 can be designed in particular as transparent film or foil elements or alternatively be transparent at least in the pressure-free areas 7, so that a transparent viewing window is created.
[0061] According to FIG. 10, the multifunctional label 1 has an adhesive weakening agent 9 for forming the inspection window 8, which is specifically introduced at an edge position in the area of the first adhesive layer 41. The adhesive weakening agent 9 can be coated as an area with modified surface energy, for example in sections with silicone, in order to reduce the adhesion of the first adhesive layer 41 in a controlled manner, so that the overlying layers can be detached or lifted off from the layers below. Alternatively or additionally, the adhesive weakening agent 9 can be incorporated as an area with an imprint and/or a coating in the layer stack of the multifunctional label 1, which neutralizes or predetermined weakens the adhesive of the first adhesive layer 41. Alternatively, an area under the radiation protection layer 2 or on the gas barrier layer 3 can remain free of adhesive, so that the first adhesive layer 41 according to FIG. 10 does not completely cover the underside of the radiation protection layer 2 or the upper side of the gas barrier layer 3. The adhesive weakening agent 9 can therefore also be realized as an adhesive-free area and reduce an overall adhesive force of the first adhesive layer 41 compared to an adhesive layer that would completely cover one side of the radiation shielding layer 2 or the gas barrier layer 3.
[0062] By means of the adhesive weakening agent 9, a partial delamination of the layer stack of the multifunctional label 1 is set up in order to enable a real color check of the contents of the object 10. In particular, the delamination can be reversible. The partial delamination partially divides a functional layer stack into an inner and outer section in relation to the stacking direction R. According to FIG. 10, the print layer 6 and the radiation protection layer 2 form the outer part or section, while the gas barrier layer 3 forms the inner part or section. For a true-color inspection, it is useful that the inner part has sufficiently transparent areas to allow an unobstructed, uninfluenced view into the object 10. Because the gas barrier layer 3 is assigned to the inner part of the layer stack, its barrier layer functionality is retained even if the outer part of the layer stack is partially delaminated for inspection purposes.
[0063] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the position of the radiation protection layer 2 and the gas barrier layer 3 in the multifunctional label 1 is swapped compared to FIG. 10, so that the inner part of the layer stack now contains the UV protection film or the radiation protection layer 2. This means that the radiation protection is still provided even if the upper part of the multifunctional label 1 with the gas barrier layer 3 is partially folded up for testing purposes.
[0064] FIG. 12 illustrates a further embodiment for integrating the inspection window 8 in the multifunctional label 1 and enabling a true-color inspection of the contents in the object 10. The adhesive weakening agent 9 is introduced in the area of the lowest adhesive layer 42, which connects the multifunctional label 1 to the object 10. This enables partial removal of the entire stack of layers from the container surface, which can be reversible in particular. The adhesion between the stack of layers of the multifunctional label 1 and the surface of the container or object 10 is specifically weakened in an edge area where the partial removal is to take place. This can be realized, for example, by printing or coating the surface or a surface section of the object 10 intended for this purpose with silicone and/or by printing the second adhesive layer 42 between the inner layer or the gas barrier layer 3 and the surface of the object 10.
[0065] FIG. 13 shows a further embodiment of the multifunctional label 1, in which the gas barrier layer 3 comprises several layers. FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate further possibilities for multilayer structures of the gas barrier layer 3. Accordingly, the gas barrier layer 3 can, for example, have a barrier film or comprise several barrier films. According to FIG. 13, a first barrier layer 31 and a second barrier layer 32 can be incorporated separately from one another in the layer stack of the multifunctional label 1. The first barrier layer 31 and the second barrier layer 32 are thus arranged separately within the layer stack and are coupled to one another by means of the first adhesive layer 41, the radiation protection layer 2 and the second adhesive layer 42. The multifunctional label 1 is attached to the object 10 by means of the third adhesive layer 43. The two barrier layers 31 and 32 form sections of a multilayer stack and can have an advantageous effect on a barrier performance against a passage of oxygen and reduce a risk of a loss of performance due to material defects.
[0066] The two barrier layers 31 and 32 may be arranged on the inside and outside of the radiation protection layer 2, as shown in FIG. 13. The inner, second barrier layer 32 forms the lowest part of the gas barrier layer 3 and also protects against migration through the outer layers of the multifunctional label 1. The outer, first barrier layer 31 forms the upper part of the gas barrier layer 3 and also protects the inner layers of the multifunctional label 1 against mechanical influences.
[0067] Alternatively or additionally, several layer elements of the gas barrier layer 3 can also be joined together, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. The barrier layers 31 and 32 can be attached to each other as film elements by means of a barrier adhesive layer 33 in the form of a pressure-sensitive adhesive and/or by welding. The stacking of several barrier films leads to improved barrier properties of the gas barrier layer 3 and a lower risk of performance losses due to material defects within the individual barrier layers 31, 32. In the case of several barrier layers 31, 32, the barrier films can be printed and/or coated to add information or additional UV and/or light protection (see FIG. 15).
[0068] FIG. 16 schematically shows a flowchart for a method for producing one embodiment of the multifunctional label 1.
[0069] In a step S1, the radiation protection layer 2 is provided, for example in the form of a pigmented and/or printed film.
[0070] In a further step S2, the gas barrier layer 3, for example in the form of a silicon oxide carrier film with coating, is provided.
[0071] Steps S1 and/or S2 can also be set up so that one of radiation protection layer 2 and gas barrier layer 3 is applied, printed or formed on the other. For example, the gas barrier layer 3 may be provided as a coated film element to which a UV varnish is applied to form and provide the radiation protection layer 2. Alternatively, for example, the radiation protection layer 23 may be provided as a pigmented and/or printed film element on which a silicon oxide layer is vapor-deposited to form and provide the gas barrier layer 3. In addition, several radiation protection layers 2 and/or gas barrier layers 3 or barrier layers 31, 32 can be formed and/or provided.
[0072] In a further step S3, the radiation protection layer 2 and gas barrier layer 3 are coupled to each other, unless they are formed on top of each other as described above and are therefore already coupled to each other. In each case, a common multifunctional label 1 is formed, in which the radiation protection layer 2 and the gas barrier layer 3 are directly or indirectly connected to each other.
[0073] Optionally, in a step S4, the mechanical protective layer 5, the print layer or coating 6 and/or one or more adhesive layers 41, 42, 43 and/or intermediate layers can be introduced into the multifunctional label 1. A sequence of the manufacturing process does not necessarily have to correspond to the illustrated and numbered sequence of steps.
[0074] By means of the described embodiments of the multifunctional label 1, reliable and durable protection for pharmaceutical products can be realized in a simple and cost-effective manner. In particular, the combination of a layer stack of a light and/or UV protection film and a gas barrier film together with an inspection window 8 or the use of printed light and/or UV protection layers in the layer stack of the multifunctional label 1 enable a variety of useful label functionalities.
REFERENCE SIGNS
[0075] 1 multifunctional label [0076] 2 radiation protection layer [0077] 3 gas barrier layer [0078] 31 first barrier layer [0079] 32 second barrier layer [0080] 33 adhesive barrier layer [0081] 4 adhesive layer [0082] 41 first adhesive layer [0083] 42 second adhesive layer [0084] 43 third adhesive layer [0085] 5 mechanical protective layer [0086] 6 print layer/coating [0087] 61 first print layer/coating layer [0088] 62 second print layer/coating layer [0089] 7 pressure-free/coating-free area [0090] 8 inspection window [0091] 9 adhesive weakening agent [0092] 10 object [0093] R stacking direction of the label [0094] S(i) steps of a method for producing a multifunctional label
