Abstract: The present invention is directed to a printable release composition used for pressure sensitive labels and the like. The invention is also directed to an article, such as a label, that comprises a substrate such as paper, optionally a thermal transfer primer coating coated onto the substrate and a release layer coated onto the transfer primer coating or onto the substrate. The printable release composition of the present invention may be used with labels having permanent, repositionable or removable adhesives. The particular composition of the release layer depends on the type of adhesive that is appropriate for the desired end use.

Abstract: A pressure sealer for sealing pressure sensitive adhesive strips on business forms or the like is simple and straight forward, for use primarily in manual operations. First and second driven rollers convey business forms during sealing, and are driven by a single motor driven gear meshing with Delrin gears integral with the rollers. Pressure applying rollers are mounted above and in alignment with first and second rollers, and are biased by an adjustable spring mechanism to provide the necessary pressure to effect sealing. The spring force applying mechanism can also be disabled so that no force is applied to allow ready inspection and/or replacement of the components, by utilizing a particular procedure including replacing one bolt with a longer thinner bolt. Pinching of the operator's fingers is prevented by a flap disposed in association with a lead-in platform for the forms, just prior to the rollers.

Abstract: The production of offset stacks of business forms is effected in a continuous (i.e. without interruption) manner until a vertical stacker into which the forms are fed is full. Between a detacher and the stacker, the forms are automatically and continuously directed either to the left or the right from a common center line to offset the forms into different groups with at least one form in each group. This offsetting action may be accomplished by a pair of angled conveyor belts with steel balls movable into and out of association with the conveyor belts by solenoids, and/or by two sets of diverter wheels which are also angled and which are moved up out of engagement with the forms or down into engagement with them. Edge guide rods are provided which are part of transport aligning mechanisms that are movable toward and away from each other to accommodate different form widths.

Abstract: Linerless labels are dispensed from a roll and detached along perforation lines using a set of low speed rolls, a set of high speed rolls, and a breaker blade between the sets of rolls. The label-engaging tip of the breaker blade, and at least one roll of each sets of rolls, has a surface that will not stick to the adhesive associated with the linerless labels. One or more conveyor belts, also with non-stick surfaces, may transport the linerless labels from the low speed rolls to the high speed rolls, and transport detached labels away from the high speed rolls. A sensor downstream of the high speed rolls senses the presence of a detached label, and then shuts down both sets of rolls. The apparatus may be operated in an automatic mode so that when a detached label is manually removed from the high speed rolls both sets of rolls automatically start up again, or in a manual mode that requires the operator to activate a switch to restart the detacher each time.

Abstract: Linerless labels are constructed in such a way that when they are manually dispensed they do not tear, but rather rip (separate cleanly) along predefined perforation lines. This is accomplished by providing those cuts of the perforation lines that intersect the slits or side edges of a composite web of linerless labels (and thus the side edges of individual labels when dispensed) have a length great enough to facilitate the start or end of ripping action. The length of each of these end-edge/slit intersecting cuts is at least twice (preferably at least four times) as great as the normal cuts of the alternating cuts and ties forming a perforation line, typically having a length of between about 0.125-0.25 inches (and spaced from each other between about 0.5-1.0 inches), when each of the standard cuts has a length of about 0.012-0.018 inches.

Abstract: An identification card assembly, made from an intermediate, comprises a carrier sheet with at least one ID card mounted on, and having smaller dimensions than, the carrier sheet. The ID card is connected to repositional adhesive, which in turn is connected through a tie coat to paper label stock, in turn connected by permanent adhesive to the paper carrier sheet. The assembly is constructed from an intermediate which includes a roll of release material on which are provided a number of spaced ID cards and associated adhesive. The carrier sheet is fed through a non-impact printer for variably imaging indicia on the top face of the ID card. A carrier sheet can be made into a mailer.

Abstract: A law tag for mattresses or other bedding is made from a substrate of laser compatible and printable uniform material stock having sufficient tear resistance to comply with requirements for a law tag on bedding, automatic sewing machine sewability, press printability, and perfability. Law tag indicia is printed on the substrate with heat resistant ink, dried, subjected to static elimination, and then perfed, cut into sheets, and sent to a customer to be laser printed. Contents indicia laser printing is applied to the substrate at the customer's facilities. The sheets are torn along the perfs, bar codes on work tabs separated from the sheets are scanned, and the law tags are sewed to mattresses.

Abstract: Non-magnetic and non-conductive powdered toner is applied to a rotating image cylinder having an electrostatic pattern. A container having a closed bottom and sides and open top contains the powdered toner. The powder is fluidized by introducing air through a pervious closed bottom of the container, and by vibrating the container. The toner is simultaneously stirred and electrically charged to a potential of greater than about 7 kv (plus or minus polarity) by rotating elements with radial pointed appendages in the container. Toner is transferred from the container to an image cylinder at an exposed nine o'clock position of the image cylinder by a plurality of transfer cylinders. A first transfer cylinder is mounted so that its periphery is just above the open top of the container and an applicator cylinder has its axis below the axis of the first cylinder, and its periphery adjacent both the first cylinder and the image cylinder.

Abstract: Apparatus and related method for activating pressure sensitive adhesive on predetermined portions of a first sheet in order to fasten the first sheet to a second sheet are provided which include at least one sealer wheel formed with an interrupted surface pattern for applying pressure along the adhesive to effect a rhythmically interrupted sequence of sealed spots between the first and second sheets.

Abstract: An improved carbonless copy paper for use in magnetic image character recognition (MICR). Carbonless copy paper according to the present invention contains a coated front (CF) layer which contains a latex binding component. The improved carbonless copy paper of the present invention provides a more durable CF coating which when imprinted with indicia prevents sorting errors in magnetic image character recognition.

Abstract: A transfer tape having a self-imaging liner includes a first polyethylene coating or film layer on a first face of the self-imaging liner with a first silicone coating over the first polyethylene coating or film layer and a pressure sensitive adhesive on the first silicone coating. A release sheet is provided between the second face of the self-contained carbonless sheet and is covered with a second sprayed on polyethylene coating, or film layer, in turn covered by a second silicone coating. The transfer tape may be in a roll configuration with the adhesive engaging the second silicone coating. The first silicone coating may be a differential coating and applied at a weight of about 3-10 grams per square meter. The adhesive may be a hot melt adhesive or adhesive from a pre-wound tape. A business form may be constructed of a face stock and the transfer tape, the transfer tape pressure sensitive adhesive engaging the face stock, and labels may be die cut out of the business form.

Abstract: A hot melt process for producing a release coating. The process involves first forming a mixture of a release agent and a thermoplastic polymer in the absence of a solvent. The release agent is not completely compatible with the thermoplastic polymer. The mixture has a softening temperature ranging from about 120.degree. to about 350.degree. F. The mixture is heated to a temperature at or above its softening temperature and then coated onto at least a portion of a substrate. The coated substrate is cooled for a time and at a temperature sufficient to cause the mixture to solidify.

Abstract: A linerless label stacking assembly and procedure utilize a paddle wheel first conveyor having a rotatable central portion with a number of paddles extending generally radially outward from the central portion. The central portion is along a generally horizontal axis and is rotated about that axis at spaced time intervals in a first direction. Each paddle has first and second curved surfaces which engage the linerless labels for stacking. A second conveyor having a generally horizontal supporting surface is disposed at approximately the same vertical position as the first conveyor axis, and a rotary cut off device, or a similar individual label cutter, feeds linerless labels to the first conveyor one at a time. After a stack of predetermined size is formed on a paddle, a controller (which receives input from a sensor associated with the rotary cut off) controls motors to rotate the first conveyor and operate the second conveyor to advance a stack of labels away from the cut off device.

Abstract: Colored or metallic foil is applied to toner printed onto a substrate, such as paper, in a high speed, versatile manner, using a rotating impression cylinder, and a rotating transfer cylinder having circumferentially spaced heated raised portions. The toner, which preferably includes a thermoplastic component, is applied to the paper with any suitable printer, such as a computer controlled MIDAX (ion deposition) print engine. The toner may be heated by an infra red heater just before the paper is fed to the nip between the impression and transfer cylinders. A foil strip having an adhesive layer facing outwardly, a foil layer, and a release coating on a backing, is also fed to the nip, and the backing taken up downstream of the nip. Heat and pressure applied at the nip transfer the adhesive and foil from the foil strip to the tacky toner, producing the desired foil printed paper, which then may be further processed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method provide for the alternate manufacture of permanent adhesive or repositional linerless labels utilizing the same equipment. Indicia is applied such as by using an intelligent imaging system by at least one print station. With repositional labels, a tie coat is applied and dried, whereas with permanent labels a barrier coating is applied. Coating stations apply a repositional adhesive and release coat in the construction of repositional adhesive labels. The coating station is followed by a dryer and chill rolls. In the construction of permanent adhesive labels a coating station for applying a release coat and a release coat curing station, as well as permanent adhesive application station, are also provided. Changeover time from the manufacture of one type of label to the other is short.

Abstract: Linerless labels are manually dispensed by mounting a roll of the labels for take-off from a stationary shaft. A polygon-cross-section foam core is provided between the shaft and the label roll to provide a brake drag effect to prevent excess label unwind. The non-adhesive face of the labels passes from the roll around a freely rotating guide roller with a non-stick surface which ensures consistent wrap of the labels and no scuffing of the non-adhesive face as the labels are dispensed. The labels pass from the guide roller to a tear surface having a first smooth, coarse, ribbed or grooved pattern metal portion which has low adhesion to the adhesive of the labels, but will stick to the labels sufficiently to provide an anchoring force to a label greater than the force necessary to tear along a perforation of the label, and a second non-stick surface portion.

Abstract: An intermediate for a mailer type business form is formed from a quadrate sheet of paper which is Z-folded to produce a mailer type business form with a reply envelope, without windows or patches. A large amount of area is provided for printing yet the reply envelope produced accepts a conventional size personal check without folding. Outgoing address indicia is imaged on the top face of the first ply and a first line of demarcation (preferably a line of weakness) passes through that indicia, while a reply address indicia is imaged on the bottom face of the second ply and not intersected by the first line of demarcation. Aligned first and second lines of weakness are formed in the first and second plies parallel to the end edges of the mailer and spaced from the second end edge of the mailer a distance (e.g.

Abstract: Labels with release liners, including integrated labels, are manufactured in a simple manner that does not require two webs of material. A pressure sensitive adhesive is applied (e.g. patterned coated) in a first strip on a second face of a web of label material (e.g. bond paper). Then silicone release material is applied in a second strip on the second face of the web of label material so that the second strip is adjacent, but spaced from, the first strip and substantially parallel to it, a line of demarcation (about 1-25 mm wide) provided between the first and second strips, and each strip is at least about one inch wide. Then the label material is folded (e.g. plow folded while on a Webtron press) about the line of demarcation so that the first and second strips come into face-to-face contact with each other.

Abstract: Charged toner is transferred from an image member (such as an image cylinder or belt) to a web of imagable material (typically paper), preferably utilizing a rotating conductive impression cylinder. The toner, having a first polarity, is applied to the image member. The paper web, typically by contact with the impression cylinder, is moved into contact with the image member so that the toner transfers from the image member to the web under pressure. Even despite a high speed of movement of the web (e.g. 200 feet per minute or more), toner back scatter is substantially prevented by applying an electrical bias of the first polarity to the impression cylinder so as to impose an electric force field on the toner particles of sufficient intensity to overcome aerodynamic drag forces which would separate particles from the image areas between the impression cylinder and the image member.

Abstract: A web of labels, particularly linerless labels, is produced which has specially formed perforation lines that are neither too strong or too weak. Each perforation line comprises alternating cuts and ties, including a cut to tie ratio of 0.18.times.0.008 to 0.012.times.0.008, and between 30-58 cuts per inch. Where permanent adhesive is used for the linerless labels, each perforation line comprises 45-58 cuts per inch, and has a percent of hold of 45-58%, with each cut having a thickness of about 0.028 inches. When repositional adhesive is used each perforation line comprises 30-45 cuts per inch, with a percent of hold of 25-35%. At least one, and typically substantially all, of the perforation lines have substantially V or U-shaped enlarged end terminations to facilitate dispensing of the labels. The perforations are formed by applying a perforation pressure of about 500-600 lbs.