Functional label and method for producing a functional label

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a functional label includes providing a source material having one or more label layers and performing a first printing process and thereby forming a print on the source material using a first printing device. The method further includes performing a first die cutting process and thereby forming a functional die cut in the source material using a first die cutting device. The method further includes performing a second printing process separate from the first printing process and thereby forming a digital print on the source material using a second printing device. The method further includes performing a second die-cutting operation separate from the first die cutting operation and thereby forming a format die-cut in the source material using a second die cutting device and thereby forming the functional label.

Claims

1. A method for producing a functional label (1), comprising: providing a source material (108) having one or more label layers (10, 20), performing a first printing process and thereby forming a print on the source material (108) by means of a first printing device (101), performing a first die cutting process and thereby forming a functional die cut (13, 16, 23, 26) in the source material (108) by means of a first die cutting device (102), performing a second printing process separate from the first printing process and thereby forming a digital print (14) on the source material (108) by means of a second printing device (103), and performing a second die cutting process separate from the first die cutting process and thereby forming a format punching in the source material (108) by means of a second die cutting device (104) and thereby forming the functional label (1).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the first die cutting process and forming the functional die cut comprises: making at least one punch, cut, slit and/or perforation in the source material (108) and forming a label area (12) that is liftable relative to an adjacent label area (11) so that a hanger element is foldable out of the functional label (1).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the first die cutting process and forming the functional die cut comprises: making at least one punch, cut, slit and/or perforation in the source material (108) and forming a weakening zone (16, 26) in a label area predetermined with respect to an intended operational use of the functional label (1) and tensile forces acting thereon.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the source material (108) is provided as a multilayer label having a plurality of label layers (10, 20) and the first die-cutting process is performed such that the functional die-cutting (13, 16, 23, 26) is performed in or on one or more, but not all, label layers.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising: providing a first label layer (10) and second label layer (20), and performing the first die-cutting process and forming a functional die-cut in the first and in the second label layer (10, 20), such that the first and the second label layer (10, 20) each have at least one die-cut, cut, slit and/or perforation (13, 16, 23, 26) which penetrates the respective label layer (10, 20) and which are formed offset from one another with respect to a main extension plane of the functional label (1) and transversely to a stacking direction (R) of the functional label (1).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the source material (108) is provided as a multilayer label having a plurality of label layers (10, 20) and the first die-cutting operation and the formation of the functional die-cut (13, 16, 23, 26) is carried out in at least one of the label layers (10, 20) and subsequently the label layers (10, 20) are coupled to each other.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: forming an adhesive layer (15) and introducing an adhesive weakening element (22) into the adhesive layer (15), such that the adhesive layer (15) is arranged after coupling label layers (10, 20) with each other between two label layers (10, 20) and the adhesive weakening element (22) is further arranged in an area of the functional die-cut (13, 16, 23, 26).

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second printing process and the forming of the digital print (14) is performed subsequently to the first die-cutting process and the forming of the functional die-cut (13, 16, 23, 26).

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first printing process and the forming of the print comprises printing with silicone varnish and/or printing with an adhesive neutralization.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first printing process and the forming of the print comprises applying a further digital print.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the second printing process and forming the digital print (14) comprises inkjet printing.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising: performing a further printing process and applying a varnish and/or an ink.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the source material (108) is provided in the form of a source material web and the respective process steps are performed multiple times to form a plurality of functional labels.

Description

(1) In the following, embodiments of the invention are explained with reference to schematic drawings. They show:

(2) FIGS. 1-2 embodiments of a system for producing a functional label,

(3) FIG. 3 a flow chart for a method for producing a functional label, and

(4) FIGS. 4-7 various embodiments of the functional label according to FIGS. 1-3.

(5) Elements of the same design and function are marked with the same reference signs across the figures. For reasons of clarity, not all of the elements shown in all of the figures are identified with the corresponding reference signs, possibly.

(6) FIGS. 1 and 2 schematically show possible embodiments for a system for producing a functional label 1, as illustrated for example in FIGS. 4-7. A corresponding flow chart for a method for producing an embodiment of the functional label 1 is illustrated in FIG. 3.

(7) The system according to FIG. 1 comprises a printing device 101, a die cutting device 102, a digital printing device 103 and another die cutting device 104.

(8) In a step S1, a source material web 108 having a plurality of initial labels to be processed is provided. For example, the source material web comprises a first label layer 10 and a second label layer 20.

(9) In a further step S2, a first printing process is performed and thereby a print is formed on the source material web 108 by means of the first printing device 101.

(10) Subsequently, in a step S3, a first die-cutting process is performed and thereby a functional die-cut is formed in the source material web 108 by means of the first die-cutting device 102. Such a functional die-cut is for setting up a function of the functional label 1 and may comprise, for example, a formation of a hanger die-cut 13 and/or a security die-cut 16 in the first label layer 10, each in the form of one or more cuts, slits and/or perforations. Alternatively or additionally, forming the functional die-cut may also comprise inserting a hanger die-cut 23 and/or a security die-cut 26 in the second label layer 20, each of which is formed in the form of one or more cuts, slits and/or perforations (see FIGS. 4-7).

(11) Subsequently, in a step S4, a second printing process separate from the first printing operation is performed by means of the digital printing device 103, thereby forming a digital print 14 on the first label layer 10 of the source material web 108.

(12) In a further step S5, a second die-cutting process separate from the first die-cutting process is then carried out by means of the die-cutting device 104, thereby performing a format die-cutting in or on the source material web 108 and thus forming the functional label 1, which can be positioned in a plurality on a material web 100.

(13) The described sequence of steps S1 to S5 may also vary and need not necessarily be carried out according to the sequence described. In this way, for example, embodiments of the functional label 1 can be produced as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The functional label 1 has, in the first label layer 10 and/or in the second label layer 20, one or more safety punched openings 16 and/or 26 in the form of purposefully introduced cuts and/or slits. These openings serve to reduce stress peaks when using the functional label 1 and the tensile forces that occur in the process, and thus contribute to increased tear resistance.

(14) According to the system illustrated in FIG. 2, for example, the functional label can be formed with an integrated suspension device. In addition to the components illustrated in FIG. 1, the system according to FIG. 2 comprises a reverse printing device 105, a laminating device 106 and a take-off device 107.

(15) First, a bottom material web is fed in, which realizes, for example, a material web of the second label layer 20. By means of the printing device 101, printing with silicone varnish can be carried out in flexographic printing. In the reverse printing device 105, printing is carried out in reverse printing, for example in order to carry out adhesive neutralization or adhesive weakening in sections by means of a varnish (for example in flexographic printing). This may also be referred to as an application or insertion of an adhesive weakening element 21, 22, as illustrated in the structure of the functional label 1 according to FIG. 5.

(16) In the punching device 102, the functional die-cutting is carried out, which serves, for example, to realize a dispensing overlap and/or an increased tear resistance of a fold-out hanger.

(17) Subsequently, by means of the laminating device 106, a laminating of a top material web can be carried out, which, for example, in the form of a top film, realizes a material web of the first label layer 10.

(18) In the digital printing device 103, the printing is carried out in digital printing, in particular as an inkjet print, on the material web of the first label layer 10. Optionally, additional printing with further inks and/or varnishes can be carried out, for example to apply a luminescent varnish and/or a post-labeling varnish.

(19) In the punching device 104, the format die-cutting is carried out and thereupon, in the take-off device 107, a grid take-off is carried out. Subsequently, the finished functional labels 1 are wound up on the material web 100.

(20) In this way, the embodiment of the functional label 1 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 can be produced. In addition to the label layers 10 and 20, two adhesive layers 15 and 25 are formed, wherein the adhesive layer 15 bonds the first label layer 10 to the second label layer 20. With reference to the stacking direction R shown, the adhesive layer 15 is arranged between the two label layers 10 and 20 and comprises the adhesive weakening element 22, which is applied, for example in the form of an adhesive weakening varnish, at a predetermined position between the mutually offset hanger punchings 13 and 23 of the two label layers 10 and 20. Correspondingly analogously, a further adhesive weakening element 21 may be embedded or integrated in the adhesive layer 25. The adhesive layer 25 serves in particular for simple and reliable attachment of the functional label 1 to an object provided therefor, so that by means of the adhesive weakening element 21 a simplified detachment of the lower, second label layer 20 from the object and a folding out of the hoop is possible in order to form the suspension device.

(21) The functional label 1 according to FIGS. 4 and 5 is therefore connected coherently via the two label layers 10 and 20 and the adhesive layer 15, the first label layer 10 having digital printing 14 as the top web and the second label layer 20 having conventional printing, for example with an adhesive weakener or silicone varnish, as the bottom web. In particular, digital printing 14 enables convenient and reliable printing with images and/or clichs without requiring a machine change. In addition, the functional label 1 as well as the material web 100 may also have a silicone paper which, for example, covers the lower adhesive layer 25 as a liner. Thus, in particular, the material web 100 may comprise two webs corresponding to the two label layers 10 and 20 applied to a roll of silicone paper.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(22) 1 functional label 10 first label layer 11 information area 12 lift-off portion 13 hanger die-cut 14 digital printing 15 adhesive layer 16 security die-cutting 20 second label layer 21 first adhesive weakening element 22 second adhesive weakening element 23 hanger punching 25 adhesive layer 26 security die-cutting 100 material web 101 printing device 102 die cutting device 103 digital printing device 104 die cutting device 105 reverse printing device 106 laminating device 107 take-off device 108 source material web/initial label R stacking direction S(i) step of a method for producing a functional label