EP1313081A1

EP1313081A1 - A label

Info

Publication number: EP1313081A1
Application number: EP01650138A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Paul Andrew Thompson; Garry Edmund Saul
Original assignee: Creative Europe Ltd
Current assignee: Creative Europe Ltd
Priority date: 2001-11-19
Filing date: 2001-11-19
Publication date: 2003-05-21

Abstract

A self adhesive label 1 for a container containing a pharmaceutical to be administered to a patient has separable portions 8, 9. A front face 2 of the label has overprint areas 3 to receive a code such as a batch number and / or date of manufacture. A receptor varnish is applied to the overprint areas 3 to overprinting. The front face 2 of the label also has indicia printed thereon and a slip varnish to protect the indicia is applied over the front face with the exception of the overprint areas 3.

Description

Introduction

The invention relates to a self adhesive label for a container, especially a cylindrical container containing a liquid pharmaceutical to be administered intravenously to a patient.
There is a requirement that such labels have a unique code such as a batch number and date applied. Usually the code must be applied to the main body of the label and at least one and usually two or more parts which can be separated from the label for applying to a record such as a patients chart or the like. Such a unique code is not printed by the label manufacturer but by the pharmaceutical manufacturer when the label is being applied to a container. The printing facilities for such codes are often not optimum with the result that the code print can become smudged and possibly illegible on subsequent handling. Another problem is that the labels contain printed critical information regarding the product and the print can become damaged on handling of the bottles, for example, during conveying for packaging.
This invention is therefore directed towards providing a label which will address at least some of these problems.

Statements of Invention

According to the invention there is provided a label for a container, the label having a separable portion, the label having a front face and a rear face the rear face having an adhesive applied thereto and the front face having indicia printed thereon, the front face having at least one overprint area for subsequent overprinting, the overprint area having a receptor varnish applied thereto to receive an overprint.
In a particularly preferred embodiment an overprint area is provided on the separable portion of the label.
In one embodiment of the invention the receptor varnish is a hot foil varnish. The receptor varnish may be a thermal transfer varnish.
In a preferred embodiment the front face has a slip varnish applied over the printed indicia. Preferably the slip varnish is not applied over the overprint area.
In a particular preferred embodiment the slip varnish is applied substantially completely over the front face of the label with the exception of the overprint area.
The slip varnish preferably comprises a flexo release lacquer.
In a preferred embodiment the separable portion is provided at one end of the label. Ideally an overprint area is provided on the separable portion at one end thereof. There may be two adjacent separable portions.
In one embodiment a first overprint area is provided on the main body of the label and a second overprint area is provided on the separable portion.
In one aspect the label comprises an integral hanger.
In a further aspect the invention provides a label having a front face and a rear face, the rear face having an adhesive applied thereto and the front face having indicia printed thereon, the front face having a slip varnish applied over the printed indicia.
The invention also provides a method for manufacturing a label comprising the steps of :-
printing indicia on a front face of a label; and
applying a receptor varnish to an overprint area of the front face of the label.
Preferably the method comprises applying a slip varnish over the printed indicia. The slip varnish is not applied over the overprint area.
In a preferred embodiment the method comprises applying the slip varnish substantially completely over the front face of the label with the exception of the overprint area.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a label according to the invention;
Figs. 2(a) and 2(b) are views of the label of Fig. 1 at various stages during manufacture;
Fig. 3 is a plan view of another label according to the invention;
Figs. 4(a) and 4(b) are views of the label of Fig. 3 at various stages during manufacture;
Fig. 5 is a plan view of a further label according to the invention;
Figs. 6(a) and 6(b) are views of the label of Fig. 5 at various stages during manufacture;
Fig. 7 is a plan view of another label according to the invention; and
Figs. 8(a) and 8(b) are views of the label of Fig. 7 at various stages during manufacture.

Detailed Description

Referring to the drawings on initially to Figs 1 and 2 thereof there is illustrated a label 1 having a front face 2 and a rear face. The front face 2 has at least one overprint area 3 for subsequent overprinting by a manufacturer who applies the label to a container. The overprint is a unique code for each label such as a batch number and/or a date of manufacture.
In the label of Figs. 1 and 2 there are two separable portions 6,7 which are jointed to the main body of the label by tear lines or perforations 8, 9. Each of the separable portions 6, 7 has an overprint area 3 on which the unique product information is printed by the manufacture who applies a label to the container.
The overprint area(s) 3 has a receptor varnish applied thereto. The receptor varnish may be a hot foil varnish and/or a thermal transfer varnish such as a UV flexo varnish (code UVF00080) available from Akzo Nobel. The receptor varnish improves the receptiveness of the overprint area(s) to overprinting by hot stamping or thermal transfer. A consistent and high quality over print can be achieved at high line speeds. This is especially important in the pharmaceutical industry as the overprinted information may have to be stored for a long period, for example on a patients chart. Legibility is maintained, thus ensuring tracking and traceability.
The front face 2 of the label 1 also has indicia 10 printed thereon such as product name, manufacturers details, details for use of the product and warning notices. To protect these graphics from damage a slip varnish is applied substantially over all of the front face of the label with the exception of the overprint receiving areas 3. The slip varnish ensures that cylindrical products to which the labels are applied will travel more freely down conveyor lines by greatly reducing the friction between the label and conveyor guides or belts. In addition, the graphics are encapsulated which eliminates potential damage due to excessive abrasion of the ink.
The slip varnish may be a UV Dry flexo release cationic lacquer such as code LO75 available from Paragon inks.
The label substrate is typically a gum patterned biaxially orientated polypropylene film. In a first step ink is laid down for graphics. The receptor varnish is then laid down on the overprint areas. A slip varnish is then laid down substantially over the full front face of the label with the exception of the overprint areas. The label is then die cut waste is stripped off. The labels are produced on a reel from which they are delivered for overprinting.
Referring to Figs. 3 and 4 there is illustrated an alternative label in which the overprint areas are differently arranged side by side.
Referring to Figs. 5 and 6 there is illustrated a label which is similar to the label of Figs. 1 and 2 except that in this case the label includes an integral hangar portion 20 which is used to support a container around which the label is applied on a hook for IV application.
Referring to Figs. 7 and 8 there is illustrated a label which is similar to the label of Figs. 3 and 4 except that in this case the label includes an integral hangar.
In use, a label is manufactured by applying a receptor varnish to the overprint areas on the front face of the main body of the label and the separable portions. A slip varnish is applied substantially over all of the front face of the label except the overprint areas to protect the label graphics. The labels have an adhesive on the rear face which is covered by a release web. The labels are wound onto a reel. A pharmaceutical manufacturer overprints a product code onto the overprint areas of the label and an individual label is wound around a pharmaceutical container which is generally cylindrical and may, for example, comprise a bottle.
In one arrangement a small strip of the body of the label may not have a slip varnish applied. Thus the label is anchored to itself when wrapped around the container. Such an anchor portion may also assist in preventing propagation of a tear if a separable portion is not correctly removed from the main body of the label.
The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in detail.

Claims

A label for a container, the label having a separable portion, the label having a front face and a rear face, the rear face having an adhesive applied thereto and the front face having indicia printed thereon, the front face having at least one overprint area for subsequent overprinting, the overprint area having a receptor varnish applied thereto to receive an overprint.
A label as claimed in claim 1 wherein an overprint area is provided on the separable portion of the label.
A label as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the receptor varnish is a hot foil varnish.
A label as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the receptor varnish is a thermal transfer varnish.
A label as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the front face has a slip varnish applied over the printed indicia.
A label as claimed in claim 5 wherein the slip varnish is not applied over the overprint area.
A label as claimed in claim 5 or 6 wherein the slip varnish is applied substantially completely over the front face of the label with the exception of the overprint area.
A label as claimed in any of claims 5 to 7 wherein the slip varnish comprises a flexo release lacquer.
A label as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the separable portion is provided at one end of the label.
A label as claimed in any preceding claim wherein there are at least two adjacent separable portions.
A label as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a first overprint area is provided on the main body of the label and a second overprint area is provided on the separable portion.
A label as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the label comprises an integral hanger.
A method for manufacturing a label for a container, the label having a separable portion, the method comprising the steps of:-

printing indicia on a front face of a label; and

applying a receptor varnish to an overprint area of the front face of the label.
A method as claimed in claim 13 comprising the step of applying a slip varnish over the printed indicia.
A method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the slip varnish is not applied over the overprint area.
A method as claimed in claim 14 or 15 comprising applying the slip varnish substantially completely over the front face of the label with the exception of the overprint area.