Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02067115 2002-03-22
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"LABELS AND MANUFACTURE THEREOF"
The present invention relates to a method of producing
labels and in particular to a method of producing a succession
of self-adhesive labels on a length of release material. The
present invention also relates to a self-adhesive label.
In the packaging field there is a great demand for high
quality pre-printed labels for labelling containers of. various
types. In order to facilitate the packaging and labe7_ling of
containers at a fast rate it is generally required that the
labels to be attached to the containers be made available in a
form in which they are easy to handle and easy to transfer onto
the containers for which they are intended. In one convenient
arrangement the labels are self-adhesive labels which are
carried in series on a web of release material which is wound
into a reel. The applicant's earlier GB-A-2199010 di;~closes a
method and apparatus for producing labels in which self-adhesive
labels are carried directly on a release material.
It is an aim of the present invention to provide an
improved method of producing labels which is a development of
the applicant's earlier method.
Accordingly, the present invention provides in one
aspect a method of producing a succession of self-adhs=_sive
labels on a length of release material, which method comprises
the steps of:
(a) applying a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive to
a surface of a length of release material;
(b) applying a succession of individual folded sheets
to the layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive so as to .adhere the
folded sheets to the release material, each folded sheet having
an upper panel and a lower panel;
(c) applying to the succession of folded sheets on the
release material a web of a self-adhesive laminar material
whereby the laminar material is adhered by the self-adhesive
surface tW reuf over the succession of folded sheets;
(d) cutting through the laminar material, the folded
sheets and the pressure-sensitive adhesive as far as the release
CA 02067115 2002-03-22
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material thereby to form the self-adhesive labels, the: cutting
step being carried out whereby the upper panel of the folded
sheet with the laminar material adhered thereto can be: pulled
away from the lower panel thereby to open the label; a.nd
(e) removing from the release material waste portions
of the laminar material, of the folded sheets and of the
pressure-sensitive adhesive which surround the self-acLhesive
labels.
Further the invention comprehends a method of producing
a succession of self-adhesive labels carried on a length of
release material, the method comprising the steps of providing
on a length of release material a succession of label portions
comprising a lower panel releasably adhered to the release
material by pressure-sensitive adhesive and a folded portion,
including an upper panel, which covers one edge region of the
lower panel, adhering over the succession of label portions a
self-adhesive laminar material whereby the laminar material is
adhered by the self-adhesive surface thereof to the upper
surfaces of the lower and upper panels and to portion's of the
release material between the label portions, cutting through the
laminar material and the label portions as far as the release
material to form a succession of self-adhesive labels whereby in
each label the laminar material extends past the folded portion
thereby to form an end portion which is adhered to the release
material and removing from the release material waste portions
of the laminar material and of the label portions which surround
the self-adhesive labels.
The invention in another aspect provides a self-adhesive
label carried on a release material comprising a lower panel
having a self-adhesive rear surface which is adhered t:o a
release material, a folded portion which covers one edge region
of the lower panel, the folded portion including an upper panel
and a self-adhesive laminar material which is adhered by its
self-adhesive surface to the upper surfaces of the lower panel.
The upper panel and the laminar material extend past the folded
portion thereby to form an end portion which is directly adhered
CA 02067115 2002-03-22
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to the release material.
The invention also comprehends a self-adhesive: label
comprising an upper panel, a lower panel having a self:-adhesive
rear surface and which is carried on a backing of rele>.ase
material, at least a portion of the label being directly
releasably adhered to the release material by means of: the self-
adhesive rear surface. A folded edge connects the upper and
lower panels and a self-adhesive laminar material is adhered by
the self-adhesive surface thereof to an upper surface of the
upper panel. The laminar material connects the upper panel to
the lower panel so as to maintain the label in close
configuration and is configured such that the upper panel can be
pulled away from the lower panel to open the label.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be
described by way ofi example only with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of an apparatus for
producing self-adhesive labels in accordance with the
present invention;
Figure 2 is a diagrammatic elevation of a folded sheet
for incorporation into a self-adhesive label in accordance with
a first embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a diagrammatic elevation of a folded sheet
for incorporation into a self-adhesive label in accordance with
a second embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the folded aheet of
Figure 2 when adhered to a length of release material by a layer
of pressure-sensitive adhesive;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the folded ;sheet
assembly of Figure 4 after application thereover of a self-
adhesive laminar material and after die-cutting tc produce a
self-adhesive label in accordance with the first embodiment of
the present invention;
~ ~~~oass~ pcric~9oioias~
-a
Figure 6 shows the self-adhesive label of Figure ,5 when
adhered to a container and after the label has been opened to
reveal previously hidden surfaces;
Figure 7 is a perspective view'of a self-adhesive label
in accordance with a second embodiment of the present
invention;
Figure 8 is a diagrammatic elevation of a folded sheet
for incorporation into a self-adhesive label in accordance
with. a third embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 9 is a perspective view of the folded sheet of
Figure 8 when adhered to a length of release material by a
layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive;
Figure 1Q is a perspective view of the folded sheet
assembly of Figure 9 after application thereover of a
self-adhesive laminar material and after die-cutting to
produce a self-adhesive label in accordance with the third
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 11 shows the self-adhesive label of Figure lfl
when adhered to a container and after the label has-been
opened to over your previously hidden surfaces;
Figure l2 is a perspective view of a self-adhesive
label in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present
invention when carried on a length of release material; and
Figure 13 is a perspective view of a self-adhesive
label in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present
invention when carried on a length of,release material. '
WO 91/04851 FCT/C~390/01487
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Referring to Figure 1, there is shown an apparatus for
producing labels in accordance with the method of the present
invention. A web of release material 2 is fed out from a reel
4 thereof past an adhesive applicator 6 which is adapted to
deposit a layer of pressure-sensitive~adh.esive (not shownj
over the upper surface of the release material 2. The release
material 2 typically comprises waxed or siliconized paper.
The adhesive may be extruded in a hot melt form and may be
extruded either as a continuous uniform layer or in the form
of a row of extruded beads. The adhesive-coated release
material 2 than passes to a folded sheet applying station 8 at
which a succession of individual folded sheets 10 are applied
to the layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive so as to adhere
the folded sheets 10 to the release material 2. The folded
sheets 10 are described in greater detail below. Tkie
succession of folded sheets ZO carried on the release'material
2 is then passed to a laminar material applying station 12 at
which a self-adhesive laminar material 14, which is fed out
from a reel 13 thereof, is applied to the succession of folded
sheets ZO on the release material 2. The self-adhesive
laminar material 14 comprises a layer of plastics material,
preferably transparent polyester or polyethylene, coated on
one side with a~pressure-sensitive adhesive. The laminar
material 19 is~adhered by the downwardly-directed
self-adhesive surface thereof aver the succession of folded
sheets 10. The laminar material - coated assembly then passes
to a die-cutting station is at which the self-adhesive labels
16, which will be described in greater detail below, are
formed by cutting through the laminar material 14. the folded
sheets 10, and the pressure-sensitive adhesive as far as the
release material 2. The die-cutting is carried out by a pair
of die-cutting rollers 17. At the die-cutting station 1~, a
waste web remnant 18, consisting of waste portions of the
laminar material 14, of the folded sheets 10 and.of the
pressure-sensitive adhesive which surround the self-adhesive
~~r~~~
O 91/04851 PCT/G890/01487
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labels 16, is removed from the release material 2 and wound up
into a reel 20 for subsequent disposal. The succession of
self-adhesive labels l6 on the release material 2 is then
wound up into a reel 22 which subsequently can be mounted in
an automatic labelling machine (not~shown) for automatic
application of the labels to containers to be 1sbe1lsd. ,
Figure 2 shows a first embodiment of a folded sheet
10. The folded sheet 10 comprises a rectangular longitudinal
strip which is divided into a series~of panels by a plurality
of transverse fold lines. ~An upper panel 22 constitutes one
end panel of the strip and a lower panel 24 is connected
thereto by a folded edge 26 of the folded sheet 10. A number
of additional panels 28 are folded between the upper panel 22
and the lower panel 24, It will be seen that the upper panel
22 completely covers and extends past the lower panel 24 so as
to have a rearwardly-directed surface 30 which is adjacent the
rearwardly-directed surface 32 of the lower panel 24.
Accordingly, the rear surface of the folded sheet comprises
the rearwardly directed surfaces 30 and 3?.. As will be
described hereinbelow, the upper panel 22 is provided with a
row of holes (not shown) extending therethrough, which row is
adjacent to the folded edge 26. The holes expose
corresponding parts of the lower panel 24. ,
Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of a folded sheet
10' which is an inverted form of the folded sheet 10 of the
first emboda,ment illustrated in Figure 2. Thus the lower
panel 34 has a rearwardly directed surface 36 which defines
the entire rearwardly directed surface of the folded sheet
10°. The upper panel 38 is connected to the lower panel 34 by
a folded edge 40. A number of additional panels 42 are
disposed between the upper panel 38 and the lower panel 34.
The upper surface of the folded sheet 10° consists'of the
upper surface 44 of the upper panel 38 and the upper surface
d, ~~ 9I /0d851 F'CT/GB90/Ol d87
46 of that portion of the lower panel 34 which is not covered
by the upper panel 38 or the additional panels 42. The upper
panel 38 is, in a manner similar to that of the upper panel 22
of the first embodiment shown in Figure 2, provided with a row
of holes (not shown) extending theret~a'rough adjacent the
folded edge 40, which holes expose respective parts of the
lower panel 34.
Each of the folded sheets 10, 10' of Figures 2 and 3 is
printed with information relating to the container to be
labelled. Preferably, each sheet is lithographically printed
but alternative printing methods include letterpress,
flexographic or laser printing. Typically, each folded sheet
10, 10' is composed of gaper.
The following Figures 4 to 6 illustrate the manufacture
and use of a self-adhesive label 16 employing a folded sheet
10 in accordance with the first embodiment thereof shown in
Figure 2 but it will readily be understood by the man skilled
in the art how to manufacture self-adhesive labels
incorporating the folded sheets 10' shown in Figure 3.
Figure 4 shows a folded sheet 10 which is adhered to
the release material 2 by a layer 48 of pressure-sensitive
adhesive, the assembly being prior to the laminar material
applyiaig station 12. It will be seen that a row of holes 50
extending through the upper panel 22 exposes corresponding
parts.,52 of the lower panel 24 thereunder. The row of holes
50 is adjacent the folded edge 26 between the upper arid lower
panels 22, 24. The rearwardly-directed surface 30, 32 of the
folded sheet ZO is adhered by the layer 48 of
pressure-sensitive adhesive to the release material 2.
The assembly shown in Figure 4 is then passed to the
laminar material applying station 12 and then to the
7 91 /x4851 PCC/GB90%(1T48T
_ 8 _
die-cutting station 15 and Figure 5 shows the resultant
assembly after the application of the laminar material 14 and
die--cutting of the combined assembly to form the self-adhesive
labels 16 on the release material 2. From Figure 5 it will be
seen that the laminar material 14 ~xtEnds over the whole of
the upper surface of the printed sheet 10 and is adhered ,
thereto by the self-adhesive surface thereof. In particular,
the laminar material 14 extends over the holes 50 thereby to
form corresponding self-adhesive exposed portions 54 of the
laminar material 14 which are adhered by the respective
self-adhesive surfaces to the corresponding parts 52 of the
lower panel 24. During 'the die-cutting step, the folded sheet
10 has been cut around its periphery so that the resultant
self-adhesive label 16 is accurately positioned and aligned on
the web of release material 2. This accuracy is important
when the label 16 is subsequently to be applied to a container
to be labelled by an automatic high speed labelling
apparatus. In particular, in the cutting step the folded edge
26 between the upper and lower panels 22, 24 is cut away to
form a free outer edge 56 of the upper panel 22. It will be
understood that the self-adhesive label 16 is maintained in
its closed configuration by the adhesion of the exposed
portions 54 of the laminar material 14 to the lower panel 24,
Figure 6 shows the label 16 of Figure 5 when adhered to
a container 58. As is shown in Figure 6, when it is desired
to open the label 16 and access the concealed panels. 28, a
user pulls the free outer edge 56 of the upger panel 22 away
from the lower panel 24 thereby to release the exposed
portions 54 of the self-adhesive laminar material 14 from the
lower panel 24. A hinged portion 60 of the upper.panel 22,
which is not directly adhered to the container 58, is then
folded back to reveal the previously hidden inner surface 62
thereof and the additional panels 28 of the label 16 can then
be unfolded as shown in Figure 6. If desired, one or more
_.,
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- 9 --
weakened tear lines may be provided on the additional panels
28 so that one or more of those panels 28 can be torn off from
the label 16 which is adhered to the.container. When a user
has finished reading the information on the label 16, he can
re-close the label l6 by folding the dinged portion 60 of the
upper panel 22 back over the lower panel 24 and re-adhere the
exposed portions 54 of self-adhesive laminar material to the
lower panel 24.
Figure 7 shows a self-adhesive label 70 in accordance
with a further embodiment of the present invention. The
self-adhesive label 70 comprises a folded sheet 72 which is
similar in construction to the folded sheet 10' shown in
Figure 3. The folded sheet 72 comprises a rectangular
longitudinal strip which is divided into a series of~panels by
a plurality of transverse fold lines. A lower panel 74 has a
rearwardly directed surface 76 which defines the entire
rearwardly directed surface of the folded sheet 72. The upper
panel 78 is connected to the lower panel 74 by a folded edge
80 and additional panel 82 is disposed between the upper panel
78 and the lower panel 74. The folded sheet 72 is
lithographically printed. The rearwardly directed surface 76
of the folded sheet 72 is adhered to a web of release material
84 by a layer 86 of pressure--sensitive adhesive. The folded
sheet 72 is entirely covered by a self-adhesive laminar
material 88 which is adhered by the self-adhesive surface
thereof to the upper surface of the folded sheet 72. A
longitudinal end 90 of the laminar material 88 extends past
the folded edge 80 and is adhered to the release material 84
by a combination of the self-adhesive surface thereof and the
layer 86 of adhesive. Thus the applied folded sheet is
shorter than the laminar material. Typically, the adhered end
90 of the laminar material has a width of about 5 mm. A line
of perforations 92 extends across the laminar material 88 in
the vicinity of the upper panel 78 of the folded sheet 72.
~ 91/04851 ~%'~~~~~487 .
- 10 - ' '
When it is desired to access the concealed surfaces of
the folded sheet 72, the perforation. line 92 is torn thereby
to permit the upper panel 78 and the additional panel 82
attached thereto to be hinged away from the lower panel 74. ,
The label of Figure 7 may be made by.substantially the
same method as that described with reference to Figure 1. As
will be clear, the folded sheet is not provided with a row of
holes as in the embodiment of Figures 4 to 6 and the folded
edge 80 is not cut away from the folded sheet 72. Instead,
the leading edge of the resultant self-adhesive label 70
consists of a portion 90 of the laminar material 88 which is
adhered to the release material 84 by the layer of adhesive
86. At the die-cutting station 15, the die--cutting rollers
are adapted to cut not only the self-adhesive labels but also
if desired the die-cutting rollers 17 may cut the perforation
line 92 in the laminar material either in the same or in a
separate die-cutting step. The die-cutting rollers may be
adapted to cut the perforation line 92 additionally through
the upper panel 78 of the folded sheet 72. The applied folded
sheet may have the configuration shown in Figure 2 when the
folded sheet~is also provided with the perforation line.
Figure B shows a lithographically-printed folded sheet
100 which is employed in the manufacture of a self-adhesive
' label in accordance with the third embodiment'of the present
invention. The folded sheet 100 comprises a rectangular
longitudinal strip which is divided into an upper panel 102
and a lower panel 104 which is connected to the upper panel
102 by a folded edge lOS.of the folded sheet 100. Although
not illustrated, a number of additional gavels may be disposed
between the upper panel 102 and the lower panel 104. When
present, the additional panels are connected to one or both of
the upper and lower panels 102, 104. The upper panel 102
completely covers and extends past the lower panel 104 so as
vJ0 91/04851 PCT/GB90/01487
- 11 -
to have a rearwardly-directed surface 108 which is adjacent to
the rearwardly-directed surface 110 of the lower panel 104.
Accordingly, the rear surface of the folded sheet 100 .
comprises the rearwardly-directed surfaces 108 and 110. The
upper surface 112 of the upper pan'e1~102 is lithographically
printed as are the opposed inner surfaces 114, 116 of the
upper and lower panels 102, 104. The self--adhesive label of
the present invention is manufactured by employing the
apparatus illustrated in Figure 1, the description of which
will not be repeated. Figure 9 shows a folded sheet 100 which
has been adhered to a length of release material 118 by a
layer 120 of pressure-sensitive adhesive, prior to the laminar
material applying station 12. The rearwardly-directed
surfaces 108, 110 of the folded sheet 100 are adhered by the
layer 120 of pressure-sensitive adhesive to the release
material 118.
The assembly shown in Figure 9 is then passed to the
laminar material applying station 12 and then to the
die-cutting station 15 and Figure 10 shows the resultant
assembly after the application of the laminar material and
die-cutting of the combined assembly to form the self-adhesive
labels on the release material. The laminar mater=al
comprises a transparent plastics material, such as polyester
or polyethylene. From Figure 10 it will be seen that a cut
portion of the laminar material 112 constitutes the upper ,
surface of the resultant self-adhesive label 124. During the
die-cutting step, the folded sheet 100 has had the
longitudinal edges thereof cut away and also the free outer
edge of the extending part of the upper panel'102 has also
been cut away. The laminar material 122 is coincident with
the cut longitudinal edges 126, 128 of the folded sheet 100
and is also coincident with the cut transverse edge 130 of the
folded sheet 100. The laminar material 122 e$tends beyond the
folded edge 106 of the folded sheet 100 to form an end flap
'O 91/04851 FCT/G B90/01487 ~ .
__ 12 _ '
132 thereof which is adhered by a combination of its
self-adhesive surface and the layer 120 of pressure-sensitive
adhesive to the release material 118.. T-he self-adhesive label
124 is maintained in its closed configuration by the adhesion ,
of the rearwardly-directed surface~108 of the upper panel 102
to the xelease material 118, ,
Figure 11 shows the label 124 of Figure 10 when adhered
to a container 134. The rearwardly-directed surface of the
label 124 consists of that portion of the layer of adhesive
120 which is adhered to~the rearwardly directed surfaces 108,
110 of the upper and lower sheets 102, 104 and the rearwardly
directed surface of the flap 132 of the laminar material 122.
When the label 124 is removed from the release material 118.,
the portion of the layer of adhesive 120 is stripped~off
therewith and that portion of the layer of adhesive 120
adheres the label 124 to the container 134. When it is
desired to open the label 124 and access the concealed
surfaces of the upper and lower panels 102, 104, a user pulls
the free outer edge 136 of the upper panel 102 away from the
lower panel 104. The free outer edge 136 and the'part of the
layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive 120 which is adhered
directly to the~rearwardly directed surface 108 of the~upper
panel 102 are stripped off from the container as a~-result of
preferential adhesion of the adhesive to the
rearwardly-directed surface 108 of the upper panel. The
portion 138 of the adhesive layer 120 remains adhered to the
upper panel 102 as is shown in Figure 11. When a user has
finished reading the information on the label 124, he can
re-close the label 124 by folding the upper panel 102 back
over the lower panel 104 and by re-adhering the adhesive part
138 to the container 134.
In the emlaodiment of Figures 8 to 11, the folded edge
106 is protected from being accidentally caught and pulled
rva 91/04851
PCT/GB90/01487
- 13 -
away from the container to which it is adhered by the laminar
material 122 which extends over the folded edge 106 to form
the flap 132. Thus the resultant label 124 is reliably and
securely adhered over its whole surface to the container 134.
As is shown in Figures 10 and ll,vin'the die-cutting step the
corners of the label are preferably cut rounded. This is
carried out not only for aesthetic purposes but also to assist
a user in opening the resultant label and also to reduce the
chances of the corners of the label being bent or caught by
extraneous objects.
If desired, the layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive
120 may be applied to the release material as a non-continuous
layer whereby a corner of the rearwardly directed surface 108
of the outer edge 136 of the upper panel 102 is not~coated
with adhesive - this assists in a user being able to pull the
upper panel 102 away from the lower panel 104 in order to open
the label.
Figure 12 shows a label 150 in accordance with a fourth
embodiment of the present invention when carried~on a length
of release material 152. This embodiment is different from
. that illustrated in Figure 8 to 11 in that the self-adhesive
laminar material 154 extends substantially past the folded
edge 156 of the folded sheet 158 thereby to define a label
portion 160 which is adjacent the folded sheet 158. The
self-adhesive laminar material is of transparent plastics such
as polyester or polyethylene and has an image 162 printed on
the rearwardly-directed surface 164 thereof, which image is
disposed in the portion of the label adjacent to the folded
sheet. In the manufacture of the labels, the laminar material
14 shown in Figure 1 would consist of a length of transparent
plastics material having a succession of images 162 printed on
its lower surface 164. The laminar material 14 would be
adhered over the assembly of folded sheets/pressure-sensitive
.' ~ .n ~.
~l a a ~ -:. ~
~ 91/U4851 PCT/GB90/014f37
-- 14 - ,
adhesive/rel.ease material with the image 162 on the
transparent laminar material being in registration adjacent a
respective folded sheet 158. In the~die-cutting step, the
die-cutting would be carried out so that each label 150
includes a respective printed image 162 on the transparent
laminar material 154 and a respective folded sheet 158
adjacent thexeto.
Figure 13 shows a label 250 in accordance with a fifth.
embodiment of the present invention when carried an the length
of release material 252, the label 250 being a modification of
the label of Figure 12. This embodiment is different from
that illustrated in Figure 12 in that prior to the application
of pressure-sensitive adhesive 264 to the release material;
the release material is provided thereover with a succession
of support webs, each o~ which comprises a layer of paper or
other material which is caated on its rear surface with a
pressure-sensitive adhesive and is carried on the release
material. These support webs have been produced by
die-cutting pressure-sensitive stock, comprising the paper or
other material releasably adhered on the release paper, with
the waste remnant having been removed. Thus in the apparatus
of Figure 1 the~reel 4 comprises the release material 2 with a
succession of self-adhesive support webs thereon. Referring
to Figure 13 again, the self-adhesive label 250 has a lower
self-adhesive support web 270 2.8. of paper which is coated on
its rear surface with a layer 272 of pressure-sensitive
adhesive and is releasably adhered to the release material
252. The support web 270 is coextensive with all of the
self-adhesive label 250 apart from the free outer edge 274 of
the folded sheet 258 which is intended to be releasably
adhered to the release material 152.. Accordingly, the free
outer edge 274 is directly adhered to the release material 252
by the layer 264 of pressure-sensitive adhesive which has been
applied aver the release material/sugport web combination by ,
the adhesive applicator 6 shown in Figure 1.
~. 91 /04851 PCT/GB~30/01487
15 __
Ln the manufacture of the label of Figure 13, the
folded sheets have been applied in succession over the
succession of support webs 270 but also ensuring that the
portion (i.e the free outer edged of the folded sheets which
is intended to be releasably adhered to the release material
is not disposed over a part of the support web but rather is
disposed over the release material. Initially, the support
web which is carried on the release material is larger than
that which is present in the resultant label. During the
die-cutting step, the extra peripheral part of the support web
is cut simultaneously With the cutting of the laminar material
254 the applied sheet 258 and the pressure-sensitive adhesive
264 and the combined waste web remnant is then removed. Thus
in each resultant label the support web 270, together with the
rear layer of adhesive 272, is coextensive with the majority ,
of the label 250. The advantage of this configuration is that
the support web provides extra strength and rigidity to the
resultant self-adhesive labels.
In the illustrated embodiments, the self-adhesive
laminar material is. coated with a pressure-sensitive
adhesive. However. in alternative embodiments, the laminer
material is not~uniformly coated with pressure-sensitive
adhesive, l:ut rather is provided with uncoated patches which,
for example, coincide with past or all of the applied folded
sheets. In further alternative embodiments, the self-adhesion
is provided not by a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive but.
by a heat-sealable material such as a hot-melt adhesive,
lacquer or plastics material which is subsequently heat sealed.
