INJECTION MOLDED ARTICLE INCLUDING THREE DIMENSIONAL IN MOLD LABEL

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure, in general, relates to in-mold labels, and more particularly injection molded article including three dimensional in mold label.

BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION
[0001] In-mold labels and labeling are well known labeling technique in packaging industry. Such labels are adhered to an article, such as a bottle, during the molding of the article. The label is placed within the cavity of a mold before molding, and the label adheres to the surface of the article during molding.
[0002] A typical application of in-mold labeling is in the production of blow-molded containers. A pre-printed label with heat-activated adhesive is placed against the surface of the mold cavity and held in position. The mold is closed, and a plastic container blank is heated and inflated within the mold. The hot plastic presses against the label, activating the adhesive and causing the label to adhere to the outer surface of the newly molded container. The mold is opened, and the labeled container is ejected from the mold.
[0003] Generally in mold label can be placed in a mold either by vacuum ports or by a static electricity process. While in injection molding the option is static electricity process. Unfortunately, static electricity releases the label in molding process, in case the mold has three dimensional engraving inside resulting in errors.
[0004] Hence there exists a need of a solution of above mentioned problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] An aspect of the present invention is to address at least the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is an injection molded article including three dimensional in mold label.

[0006] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an arrangement to form injection molded article including three dimensional in mold label is provided. The invention includes a composite film in mold label. In an embodiment, the composite film comprises a metalized biaxially oriented polypropylene film laminated with a transparent biaxially oriented polypropylene film coated with a heat activated coating at opposite side of a metal side of the metalized biaxially oriented polypropylene film and is cut so as to get the composite film in mold label. The invention then includes a three dimensional mold of an injection mold. In an embodiment, the three dimensional mold is designed as per a required design. In yet another embodiment, the composite film in mold label is placed in at a required place by static electricity. The invention further includes a controller in the injection mold. In an embodiment, the controller controls the static electricity of injection mold so as to hold in mold label throughout the molding process.
[0007] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a process to form injection molded article including three dimensional in mold label is provided. The process includes selecting a composite film in mold label. In an embodiment, the composite film comprises a metalized biaxially oriented polypropylene film laminated with a transparent biaxially oriented polypropylene film coated with a heat activated coating at opposite side of a metal side of the metalized biaxially oriented polypropylene film and is cut so as to get the composite film in mold label. The process then includes inserting the composite film in a three dimensional mold of an injection mold. In an embodiment, the three dimensional mold is designed as per a required design. In yet another embodiment, the composite film in mold label is placed in at a required place by static electricity. The process further includes regulating a static electricity by a controller in the injection mold. In an embodiment, the controller controls the static electricity of injection mold so as to hold in mold label throughout the molding process.

[0008] Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0009] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates a process to form injection molded article including three dimensional in mold label, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0011] Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and may have not been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figure may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0012] Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention as defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.
[0014] The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
[0015] It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” includes reference to one or more of such surfaces.
[0016] By the term “substantially” it is meant that the recited characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations or variations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those of skill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic was intended to provide.
[0017] FIG 1 discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way that would limit the scope of the disclosure. The terms used to describe various embodiments are exemplary. It should be understood that these are provided to merely aid the understanding of the description, and that their use and definitions in no way limit the scope of the invention. Terms first, second, and the like are used to differentiate between objects having the same terminology and are in no way intended to represent a chronological order, unless where explicitly stated otherwise. A set is defined as a non-empty set including at least one element.
[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates a process to form injection molded article including three dimensional in mold label, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, process 100, illustrates method to form an injection molded article including three dimensional in mold label.
[0020] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an injection molded article characterized to have a customized and a registered holographic in mold label is provided. At STEP 110, a composite film in mold label is selected. In an embodiment, the composite film comprises a metalized biaxially oriented polypropylene film laminated with a transparent biaxially oriented polypropylene film coated with a heat activated coating at opposite side of a metal side of the metalized biaxially oriented polypropylene film and is cut so as to get the composite film in mold label. In an embodiment, the heat activated adhesive can be for a non limiting example a hot melt adhesive or a solven based adhesive or a water based adhesive.
[0021] At STEP 120, the composite film is inserted in a three dimensional mold of an injection mold. In an embodiment the three dimensional mold is designed as per a required design. In another embodiment, the composite film in mold label is placed in at a required place by static electricity. In yet another embodiment, the three dimensional mold can have effects for a non limiting example textures, glossy and can have customized design.
[0022] At STEP 130, static electricity is regulated by a controller in the injection mold. In an embodiment, the controller controls the static electricity of injection mold so as to hold in mold label throughout the molding process.
[0023] In an embodiment of the present invention the transparent biaxially oriented polypropylene film can be either reverse film.
[0024] In an embodiment of the present invention, lamination is selected on a basis of optimum tension control with suitable adhesive so as to resist static current to dissipate through metallic layer of the metalized biaxially oriented polypropylene film.
[0025] In an embodiment of the present invention, the metalized biaxially oriented polypropylene film can be holographic printed either generic or registered.
[0026] In an embodiment of the present invention, registered holographic printed metalized biaxially oriented polypropylene film can be registered with emboss or deboss pattern of the three dimensional mold of the injection mold.
[0027] In the preceding specification, the present disclosure and its advantages have been described with reference to exemplary embodiments. However, it will be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications and changes can be made, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded as illustrative examples of the present disclosure, rather than in restrictive sense. All such possible modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present disclosure.
[0028] While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

We claim:

1.An arrangement to form injection molded article including three dimensional in mold label comprising:a composite film in mold label, wherein the composite film comprises a metalized biaxially oriented polypropylene film laminated with a transparent biaxially oriented polypropylene film coated with a heat activated coating at opposite side of a metal side of the metalized biaxially oriented polypropylene film and is cut so as to get the composite film in mold label;a three dimensional mold of an injection mold, wherein the three dimensional mold is designed as per a required design, further wherein the composite film in mold label is placed at a required place by static electricity; and a controller in the injection mold, wherein the controller controls the static electricity of injection mold so as to hold in mold label throughout the molding process.

2.The arrangement to form injection molded article including three dimensional in mold label as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transparent biaxially oriented polypropylene film can be reverse printed film.

3.The arrangement to form injection molded article including three dimensional in mold label as claimed in claim 1, wherein lamination is selected on a basis of optimum tension control with suitable adhesive so as to resist static current to dissipate through metallic layer of the metalized biaxially oriented polypropylene film.

4.The arrangement to form injection molded article including three dimensional in mold label as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metalized biaxially oriented polypropylene film can be holographic printed either generic or registered.

5.The arrangement to form injection molded article including three dimensional in mold label as claimed in claim 1, wherein registered holographic printed metalized biaxially oriented polypropylene film can be registered with emboss or deboss pattern of the three dimensional mold of the injection mold.

6.A process to form injection molded article including three dimensional in mold label comprising steps of:selecting a composite film in mold label, wherein the composite film comprises a metalized biaxially oriented polypropylene film laminated with a transparent biaxially oriented polypropylene film coated with a heat activated coating at opposite side of a metal side of the metalized biaxially oriented polypropylene film and is cut so as to get the composite film in mold label;inserting the composite film in a three dimensional mold of an injection mold, wherein the three dimensional mold is designed as per a required design, further wherein the composite film in mold label is placed in at a required place by static electricity; and regulating the static electricity by a controller in the injection mold, wherein the controller controls the static electricity of injection mold so as to hold in mold label throughout the molding process.