PACKAGING TAPE WITH INCREASE PERFORMANCE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an improvement to a tape, i.e., ribbon, web or string, generally referred to herein as "tape", when the tape is being unwound at a laminating machine such as a corrugating machine or press. One aspect of the present invention is to increase the operating envelope of the tape in the laminating machine.

Description of the Prior Art

Reinforcing or Tear tapes have been used for many years in modern packaging as an aid to maintain structural integrity or as an easy open feature in boxes, packages and/or containers. The packaging industry has made huge productivity improvements over the years with the results that laminating machines are operating at increased speeds. The Reinforcing or Tear tapes are heat activated, and the heat present in the laminating machines is activating the adhesion of the tapes so they will bond to the substrate. As the tapes reach the end of the laminating machines, the tapes also needs to be cooled down so the adhesive is set. If the adhesive of the tapes is not set properly, the tapes will not bond the laminated product properly, which will results in defects in the laminated products. An operating envelope in the performance of the tapes in the laminating machine is then a critical factor, as the tapes have to be heated enough to provide the required adhesion to the substrate and at the same time cooled enough at the exit of the laminating machine so the adhesion of the tapes will be set, one working against the other. As the laminating machines are increasing in speed, the operating envelope of the tapes is becoming too small and either the tapes are not bonded properly to the substrate, or the tapes are not set at the end of the laminating machines which leads to defects to the laminated products.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to increase the operating envelope of operation of the tapes in the laminating machine, so the tapes will provide the required adhesion to the substrate while still be set at the of the laminating machine. With this invention, we are using more than one (1) heat activated adhesive formulations to bond the tapes to the substrate: The tapes are constructed with adhesives which are applied in a layer to the surface of the tapes in alternative sequences so that adhesives with different properties are spaced one after the other over the length of the tapes. As the tapes are processed in the laminating machines, some of the adhesives will be heat activated with enough operating range that the tapes will be have the proper adhesion to the substrate in any operating conditions, arid. some of the adhesives will be formulated so that they will be set at the exit of the laminating machines also at any operating conditions of the laminating machines. Hence the tapes will have a much larger operating envelope under a very large range of operating conditions in the laminating machines. Another improvement from this invention is that the tapes will be manufactured using two (2) adhesives in a layer on the surface of the tapes, both adhesives being spaced alternatively in bands of 2 to 3 mm along the length of the tapes, so that one (1) adhesive will provide the required adhesion to the substrate, while the other adhesive will provide the set time at the exit of the laminating machines so that the tapes will provide adequate performance in the laminated products in a larger number of operating parameters.

Another improvement from this invention is that the tapes will be manufactured using two (2) adhesives in a layer on the surface of the tapes, both adhesives being spaced alternatively in band of 2 to 3 mm along, the width of the tapes, so that one. (1) adhesive will provide the required adhesion to the substrate, while the other adhesive will provide the set time at the exit of the laminating machines so that the tapes will provide adequate performance in the laminated products in a larger number of operating parameters:

These and other novel features of the invention will be more fully described herein below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view of the tape manufactured with two (2) adhesives, both adhesives being spaced alternatively in bands of 2 to 3 mm along the length of the tape.

FIG. 2 is a view of the tape manufactured with two (2) adhesives, both adhesives being spaced alternatively in bands of 2 to 3 mm along the width of the tape.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention .provides a tape coated on one side with two (2) adhesives on the same layer, spaced alternatively in band of 2 to 3 mm along the width or the length of the tape. If we look at Figure #1 or #2, we see a tape 1, -where the adhesives are applied alternatively in bands 2. '■

Having described and illustrated the principles of our invention with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be apparent to those having skill in the art that the invention can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles.

In view of these and the wide range of other embodiments to which the concepts of the present invention can be applied, it should be recognized that the foregoing description is illustrative only and is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Instead, we claim as our invention all such modifications as may come within the scope and spirit of the following claims and equivalents thereof.