Abstract: Apparatus and methods for reducing the tack of adhesive ooze around components and other materials associated with articles and labeling and packaging of articles. In some embodiments, the packaging includes a substrate, an adhesive, a component, a de-tackifying agent, and an ooze zone. The substrate may be a shrink sleeve label. The adhesive may be a pressure sensitive adhesive used to attach the component to the substrate. The component may be a smart component or a promotional material. The de-tackifying agent may reduce the tackiness of the adhesive that oozes (i.e., progresses) beyond the interface of the component and the substrate into an adjacent ooze zone when heat, pressure, or heavy coat weight is applied to the packaging.

Abstract: A tamper evident label is provided. The tamper evident label broadly includes a base ply of pressure-sensitive material and a top ply of pressure-sensitive material. The base ply and the top ply are laminated together to form the tamper evident label The base ply includes a first portion and a second portion. The second portion of the base ply includes internal cuts and deadened adhesive. The top ply includes a tab portion defined by tab cuts. The tab portion of the top ply and the region between the internal cuts of the base ply are configured to be removed from the tamper evident label to create visual evidence of tampering. Further, a method of constructing a tamper evident label and a method of using a tamper evident label are provided.

Abstract: A label including a separable article for use. The label includes a first portion adapted to be affixed to an article, and a second portion adapted to be separated from the first portion and removed from the remainder of the label. The second portion may be defined by at least one feature that facilitates removal of the second portion. And the second portion is capable of being formed into a second article following separation from the first portion, and may include an interior space capable of receiving a material therein or therethrough. The label including portion for forming a separable article may be formed in an inline process.

Abstract: A label, a method of assembling the label, and a method for using the label are presented. The label includes a base ply. A tab extends from the base ply in a longitudinal direction. The label also includes a top ply located atop and dimensioned to cover the base ply. The tab of the base ply is not covered by the top ply. The label further includes an outer layer located atop and dimensioned to cover the top ply. The tab of the base ply is secured to the outer layer. Moving the outer layer in a direction pulls a portion of the base ply from beneath the top ply such that the portion of the base ply can be visibly perceived.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive label and method for preparing same, the pressure sensitive label comprising: (a) a support portion, said support portion including at least a carrier layer; and (b) a transfer portion over said support portion for transfer of the transfer portion from the support portion to an article upon application of pressure to the transfer portion while the transfer portion is in contact with the article, said transfer portion including at least a patterned adhesive layer in confronting relationship with a surface of the carrier layer, wherein the patterned adhesive layer confronts less than substantially the entire surface of the carrier layer.

Abstract: A label as shown and described herein. The label may include a label substrate, an adhesive adjacent the substrate, and a liner adjacent the adhesive, such that the adhesive is disposed between the label substrate and the liner, and wherein the label substrate is embossed or debossed, and the liner is not embossed or debossed.

Abstract: A device for indicating exposure to a pressure. The device may include a base layer, a plurality of microcapsules, and a coating, with the microcapsules being disposed between the base layer and the coating. The microcapsules contain a indicator material that can be released once the microcapsules burst. The microcapsules then have a compressive bursting strength that is chosen or designed to be less than a selected pressure (e.g., the pressure being that to which a particular article may be exposed during high pressure processing). Thus, when the device is subjected to a pressure greater than the compressive bursting strength, at least some microcapsules burst, the indicator material is released from the microcapsules, and the release of the indicator material can be detected by observation of the device. The device may be a label that is associated (such as by being affixed) to the article being subjected to pressure (or multiple labels being associated (such as by being affixed) to multiple articles.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for inspecting a label for proper application thereof. The system includes a label application apparatus and an inspection apparatus associated with said label application apparatus. The method includes inspecting a spent carrier web for the presence of labels, or portions thereof, that did not transfer to articles being labeled.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive label and method for preparing same, the pressure sensitive label comprising: (a) a support portion, the support portion including at least a carrier layer; and (b) a transfer portion over the support portion for transfer of the transfer portion from the support portion to an article upon application of pressure to the transfer portion while the transfer portion is in contact with the article, the transfer portion including at least a printable layer in confronting relationship with the carrier layer, and an ink layer positioned between the printable layer and carrier layer.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive label and method for preparing same, the pressure sensitive label comprising: (a) a support portion, the support portion including at least a carrier layer; and (b) a transfer portion over the support portion for transfer of the transfer portion from the support portion to an article upon application of pressure to the transfer portion while the transfer portion is in contact with the article, the transfer portion including at least a printable layer in confronting relationship with the carrier layer, and an ink layer positioned between the printable layer and carrier layer.

Abstract: A heat transfer label and method for preparing same, the heat transfer label including (a) a support portion and (b) a transfer portion over the support portion, for transfer of the transfer portion from the support portion to an article upon application of heat to the support portion while the transfer portion is placed into contact with the article. The transfer portion includes at least a protective lacquer layer, an ink layer, and an adhesive layer, wherein at least one of the protective lacquer layer, the ink layer, and the adhesive layer is UV-curable. Further, the heat transfer label may additionally include a tie-coat layer, which may be a UV-curable tie-coat layer. Further, each of the plurality of layers of the transfer portion of the heat transfer label may be UV-curable.

Abstract: A heat transfer label comprising a support portion and a transfer portion for transfer of the transfer portion from the support portion to an article. Heat is applied to the support portion while the transfer portion is placed into contact with the article. The support portion comprises a release layer including a synthetic wax.

Abstract: A heat-transfer label assembly and method of using the same. In one embodiment, the assembly is well-suited for decorating refillable glass articles and includes a support portion, a wax skim coat, and a transfer portion. The support portion may include a carrier web overcoated with a polyethylene layer. The wax skim coat may overcoat the polyethylene layer. The transfer portion may include a protective lacquer, an ink design, and a heat-activatable adhesive. The protective lacquer may be printed directly on the skim coat and may include a cross-linked phenoxy resin. The ink design may be printed onto the protective lacquer and may include a binder, a colorant, and a cross-linking system. The adhesive, which may differ from the ink design only by lacking colorant, may be printed onto the ink design, any exposed portions of the protective lacquer, and the surrounding skim coat.

Abstract: A laminate including a plurality of layers, wherein one of the layers is a heat-activatable expandable layer including a thermally expandable composition. The heat-activatable expandable layer includes a plurality of microcapsules containing the thermally expandable composition. This thermally expandable composition includes an easily volatilizable hydrocarbon, and a binder resin. When subjected to high temperatures during the process of applying a label, the microcapsules rupture and the thermally expandable composition “foams,” which can be used to provide a texture to the label, and can raise or surround the graphics of the label.

Abstract: A label having an adhesive applied proximal to an inner surface of a shrink film (such as a shrink sleeve), which is not transferred to labeling apparatus during application of the shrink label to an article. Thus, the shrink sleeve does not result in a build-up of adhesive on label application apparatus, thereby preventing apparatus downtime; and cannot be removed from the article to which it is applied, (or cannot be removed without damage being done to the label), thereby preventing removal and re-use of the shrink sleeve on counterfeit goods.

Abstract: A label that is removable from the article with which it is associated, or includes a removable section thereof, and includes only a single substrate. The substrate has a front side and a back side, and an ink disposed on the back side of the substrate, which remains with the substrate during removal of the substrate, or a section thereof, from an article. The label further includes an abhesive disposed adjacent the ink on the back side of the substrate. The label may have at least one set of perforations to provide a removable section of the label. These perforations may be provided by an apparatus for providing consistent perforations.

Abstract: A wax printing process, apparatus, formulation, and label. The process includes contacting a wax formulation with a surface having at least one etched region thereon, and confronting a carrier with the surface such that at least a portion of the wax transfers from the etched surface to the carrier. The apparatus includes a tray and a manifold positioned in the tray. In another aspect, the apparatus includes a gravure sleeve and a heatable mandrel disposed inside the gravure sleeve. The wax formulation includes a paraffin wax, an ester wax, a hydrocarbon resin, a microcrystalline wax, and an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin. The label includes a carrier and a wax release layer confronting a surface of the carrier. The wax release layer confronts less that the entire surface of the carrier.

Abstract: A heat-transfer label assembly and method of using the same. In one embodiment, the assembly is well-suited for decorating refillable glass articles and includes a support portion, a wax skim coat, and a transfer portion. The support portion may include a carrier web overcoated with a polyethylene layer. The wax skim coat may overcoat the polyethylene layer. The transfer portion may include a protective lacquer, an ink design, and a heat-activatable adhesive. The protective lacquer may be printed directly on the skim coat and may include a cross-linked phenoxy resin. The ink design may be printed onto the protective lacquer and may include a binder, a colorant, and a cross-linking system. The adhesive, which may differ from the ink design only by lacking colorant, may be printed onto the ink design, any exposed portions of the protective lacquer, and the surrounding skim coat.

Abstract: A wax printing process, apparatus, formulation, and label. The process includes contacting a wax formulation with a surface having at least one etched region thereon, and confronting a carrier with the surface such that at least a portion of the wax transfers from the etched surface to the carrier. The apparatus includes a tray and a manifold positioned in the tray. In another aspect, the apparatus includes a gravure sleeve and a heatable mandrel disposed inside the gravure sleeve. The wax formulation includes a paraffin wax, an ester wax, a hydrocarbon resin, a microcrystalline wax, and an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin. The label includes a carrier and a wax release layer confronting a surface of the carrier. The wax release layer confronts less that the entire surface of the carrier.

Abstract: A wax printing process, apparatus, formulation, and label. The process includes contacting a wax formulation with a surface having at least one etched region thereon, and confronting a carrier with the surface such that at least a portion of the wax transfers from the etched surface to the carrier. The apparatus includes a tray and a manifold positioned in the tray. In another aspect, the apparatus includes a gravure sleeve and a heatable mandrel disposed inside the gravure sleeve. The wax formulation includes a paraffin wax, an ester wax, a hydrocarbon resin, a microcrystalline wax, and an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin. The label includes a carrier and a wax release layer confronting a surface of the carrier. The wax release layer confronts less that the entire surface of the carrier.