Granted Patent B2

US 12,600,158 · App. 18/209,132 · Granted Apr 14, 2026

Inventors: Manfred Schäfer (Cologne, DE); Steffen Ohr (Sursee, CH); Ronny Kunze (Schenkelberg, DE); Axel Niemöller (Düren, DE)

Assignee: Sihl GmbH

B41M5/504B41M5/0047B41M5/506B41M5/508B41M5/5218B41M5/5227

Abstract

Claims (47)

1 . An unprinted electrophotographically printable fillable pouch made of an unprinted electrophotographically printable film comprising:

(a) a multilayer polymer film comprising a base layer (a1) and a sealing layer (a2), which is the inner layer of the pouch and

(b) at least one toner-receiving layer as the outer layer deposited on the multilayer polymer film (a) from an aqueous coating composition comprising:

(b1) a polymeric binder,

(b2) fine inorganic particles having a median particle size (Dv50) of from 50 to 300 nm, as determined by laser diffraction according to ISO 13320:2020-01, and

(b3) coarse inorganic and/or organic particles having a median particle size (Dv50) of from 3 to 14 μm, as determined by laser diffraction according to ISO 13320: 2020-01;

wherein the unprinted electrophotographically printable film has an average surface roughness Rz of from 3.0 to 12.0 μm, as determined on the surface of the toner-receiving layer (b) according to DIN EN ISO 4287:2010-07 with a sampling length ln of 4.0 mm and a single sampling length Ir of 0.8 mm as defined in DIN EN ISO 4288:1998-04 with a 2 μm probe tip and an aperiodic profile setting.

2 . An unprinted electrophotographically printable fillable pouch made of an unprinted electrophotographically printable film comprising

(a) a multilayer polymer film comprising a base layer (a1) and a sealing layer (a2), which is the inner layer of the pouch and

(b) at least one toner-receiving layer as the outer layer deposited on the multilayer polymer film (a) from an aqueous coating composition comprising

(b1) a polymeric binder,

(b2) fine inorganic particles having a median particle size (Dv50) of from 50 to 300 nm, as determined by laser diffraction according to ISO 13320:2020-01, and

(b3) coarse inorganic and/or organic particles having a median particle size (Dv50) of from 3 to 14 μm, as determined by laser diffraction according to ISO 13320:2020-01;

wherein the coarse inorganic and/or organic particles have a specific pore volume of from 1.3 to 2.5 ml/g, determined according to DIN 66134:1998-02, and/or an oil absorption value of from 220 to 400 g/100 g, as determined according to DIN EN ISO 787-5:1995-10.

3 . The pouch according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing layer (a2) has a heat sealing temperature in the range of from 120 to 220° C., as determined according to the method disclosed in the description.

4 . The pouch according to claim 1 , wherein the base layer (a1) is a non-sealable polymer layer (a1i).

5 . The pouch according to claim 1 , wherein the base layer (a1) and the sealing layer (a2) are a monomaterial.

6 . The pouch according to claim 1 , wherein the multilayer polymer film (a) further comprises at least one intermediate layer (a3), and/or a barrier layer (a4).

7 . The pouch according to claim 1 , wherein the multilayer polymer film (a) has a thickness of from 35 to 300 μm.

8 . The pouch according to claim 1 , wherein the polymeric binder (b1) comprises a water-soluble polymeric binder.

9 . The pouch according to claim 1 , wherein the fine inorganic particles (b2) are selected from alumina; aluminum oxide hydroxide; aluminum hydroxide; cationically surface-modified silica; and any combinations thereof.

10 . The pouch according to claim 1 , wherein the coarse particles (b3) are selected from

inorganic particles selected from aluminum oxide; aluminum oxide hydroxide; and any combinations thereof;

organic particles selected from polymeric particles; and

combinations of any of these inorganic and organic particles.

11 . The pouch according to claim 1 , wherein the coarse particles (b3) are spherical particles and/or wherein the coarse particles (b3) are comprised in the toner-receiving layer (b) in a maximum amount of 20 wt. %; based on the total dry weight of the toner-receiving layer.

12 . The pouch according to claim 1 , wherein the toner-receiving layer (b) is coated over the multilayer polymer film (a) at a dry coating weight in the range of from 6 to 27 g/m 2 .

13 . The pouch according to claim 1 , wherein the unprinted electrophotographically printable film exhibits a dynamic coefficient of friction of the surface of toner-receiving layer (b) to itself (CoF film to film) in the range of from 0.30 to 0.50, determined according to DIN EN ISO 8295:2004-10 but with 1 kg weight at 300 mm/min drawing speed and/or the unprinted electrophotographically printable film has a gloss of from 10 to 30 gloss units, as determined on the surface of toner-receiving layer (b) at 60° according to ISO 2813:2014, and/or the unprinted electrophotographically printable film has a tear resistance of at least 1 N in machine direction (MD) and cross direction (CD), preferably at least 1.5 N in MD and at least 2.0 N, as determined according to ISO 6383-1:2015-12, and/or wherein when the multilayer polymer film (a) is a transparent film having a haze value of no more than 5%, the unprinted electrophotographically printable film has a haze value of higher than 25%, as determined according to ASTM D1003, Procedure A.

14 . The pouch according to claim 1 , wherein the pouch is a flexible pouch.

15 . A method for producing unprinted electrophotographically printable fillable pouches according to claim 1 from the unprinted electrophotographically printable film on a pouch making machine, comprising the steps of:

(m-1) providing one or more webs of the unprinted electrophotographically printable film which are preferably unwound from one or more reels;

(m-2) moving the web(s) of the unprinted electrophotographically printable film in a longitudinal direction;

(m-3) converting the web(s) of unprinted electrophotographically printable film into a pouch precursor web having a desired shape by folding and/or stacking the web(s) with the toner-receiving layer (b) as outer layers of the pouch precursor web;

(m-4) sealing the pouch precursor web to obtain a web of pouches;

(m-5) cutting off the pouches from the web; and

(m-6) optionally stacking the pouches,

wherein one or more of steps (m-3) to (m-5) further optionally comprises integrating one or more features selected from a window, reclosable means; a Euro hole; a tear notch; perforations; a thin valve; and an opening for spouts or valves into a single pouch shape of the pouch precursor web.

16 . A method for printing an unprinted electrophotographically printable fillable pouch according to claim 1 comprising the step of dry-toner based electrophotographic printing at least one main surface of the pouch.

17 . A method for producing unprinted electrophotographically printable fillable pouches according to claim 2 from the unprinted electrophotographically printable film on a pouch making machine, comprising the steps of:

(m-1) providing one or more webs of the unprinted electrophotographically printable film which are preferably unwound from one or more reels;

(m-2) moving the web(s) of the unprinted electrophotographically printable film in a longitudinal direction;

(m-3) converting the web(s) of unprinted electrophotographically printable film into a pouch precursor web having a desired shape by folding and/or stacking the web(s) with the toner-receiving layer (b) as outer layers of the pouch precursor web;

(m-4) sealing the pouch precursor web to obtain a web of pouches;

(m-5) cutting off the pouches from the web; and

(m-6) optionally stacking the pouches,

wherein one or more of steps (m-3) to (m-5) further optionally comprises integrating one or more features selected from a window, reclosable means; a Euro hole; a tear notch; perforations; a thin valve; and an opening for spouts or valves into a single pouch shape of the pouch precursor web.

18 . A method for printing an unprinted electrophotographically printable fillable pouch according to claim 2 comprising the step of dry-toner based electrophotographic printing at least one main surface of the pouch.

Assignments (1)

Priority Claims (2)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (19)