Protective-coated thermal labels
The present invention discloses a radiation-cured protective coated label of the type used in direct thermal printing. The radiation-cured protective coated label comprises a face stock selected from thermal papers and a radiation-cured top coat which is applied to the top-side surface of the thermal paper using letter press printing technology. The radiation-cured protective top coat protects the imprinted text which is applied to the label from fading, smearing or darkening. The radiation-cured protective coated label can be affixed to a variety of containers.
1 . A label wherein said label comprises:
a face stock wherein said face stock is selected from the group consisting of a thermal paper, paper formed from a combination of synthetic and plant fibers, paper formed from vegetable fibers, and films formed from polyolefins; and
a protective top coat layer applied to the top side printable surface of the face stock and wherein said protective top coat is cured by electromagnetic radiation.
2 . The label according to claim 1 wherein said face stock is a thermal paper.
3 . The label according to claim 2 wherein the thermal paper comprises a single layer.
4 . The label according to claim 2 wherein the thermal paper comprises multiple layers.
5 . The label according to claim 2 wherein said thermal paper comprises the following layers:
(a) chemical top coat layer;
(b) a thermal layer;
(c) a base coat layer;
(d) a paper layer; and
(e) a back coat layer.
6 . The label according to claim 1 wherein said electromagnetic radiation is ultra-violet.
7 . The label according to claim 1 wherein said protective top coat layer is applied to said face stock using letter press printing technology.
8 . The label according to claim 1 wherein said label is used in direct thermal printing.
9 . The label according to claim 1 wherein said protective top coat layer comprises acrylate monomers and oligomers.
10 . The label according to claim 1 wherein said label can be affixed to a container.
11 . The label according to claim 1 having imprinted text applied to the top side surface layer after application of the protective top coat.
12 . The label according to claim 11 wherein the imprinted text is resistant to fading, smearing or darkening.
13 . The label according to claim 10 wherein said container houses pharmaceuticals.
14 . The label according to claim 1 wherein said label is a direct thermal label.
15 . A direct thermal label for use on containers suitable for housing pharmaceuticals wherein said label comprises:
a thermal paper comprising a single layer or multiple layers;
a protective top coat layer wherein said protective top coat layer is applied to the top-side printable surface of the thermal paper; and wherein said protective top coat layer is cured by electromagnetic radiation.
16 . The direct thermal label according to claim 15 wherein said thermal paper comprises multiple layers.
17 . The direct thermal label according to claim 15 wherein said thermal paper comprises at least (a) a chemical top coat, (b) paper layer and (c) a back layer.
18 . The direct thermal label of claim 15 wherein said label contains printed text.
19 . The direct thermal label according to claim 15 wherein said protective top coat comprises acrylate monomers and oligomers.
20 . A method for preventing or reducing the smearing, fading or darkening of imprinted text upon a thermal label wherein said thermal label comprises face stock and a protective top coat layer and wherein said method comprises:
applying said protective top coat layer to the top side printable surface of said face stock; and
curing said protective top coat layer by electromagnetic radiation prior to the imprinting of text.
21 . The method of claim 20 wherein said electromagnetic radiation is ultra-violet.
22 . The method of claim 20 wherein the face stock is a thermal paper.