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.

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 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: The present invention provides a shrink sleeve for use on a closure of an article. The present invention does so by providing a decorated closure for an article, such as a container, used to package an item or items. The decorated closure includes a shrink sleeve and a closure for an article. The closure has a top end, a bottom end, and a side surface. The closure may further include a centerpoint of the top end and a centerpoint of the bottom end with a longitudinal axis passing therethrough. The shrink sleeve is shrunk around at least the side surface of the article, and includes at least one visible decoration on a surface of the shrink sleeve.

Abstract: A perforating apparatus for perforating a sheet. The apparatus includes a plurality of perforating assemblies. Each perforating assembly includes a perforating wheel, which is operatively coupled to a pneumatic cylinder, and a plurality of air hoses, wherein each pneumatic cylinder of each perforating assembly is operatively coupled to, and in flow communication with one air hose of the plurality of air hoses. Further each pneumatic cylinder is associated with an air muffler. And the apparatus includes a secondary roller that includes a peripheral wrap around the outer surface thereof.