NL2011102C2

NL2011102C2 - Baggage tag and a method for producing the baggage tag.

Info

Publication number: NL2011102C2
Application number: NL2011102A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Jorick Naber; Leander Henricus Albertus Ross; Reinout Meûlen; Bart René Yvonne Houlleberghs; Roel Reijnen
Original assignee: Type22 B V
Priority date: 2013-07-04
Filing date: 2013-07-04
Publication date: 2015-01-06

Description

Baggage tag and a method for producing the baggage tag FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a baggage tag that is specifically equipped for use in self-service systems. The invention further relates to a roll stock, comprising a plurality of the baggage tags, and to a method for producing the baggage tag.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Multiple types of baggage tags are known, particularly in relation to air travel. A common feature of all known types of baggage tags is that they consist of a main tag part that should be applied to a piece of baggage, and a receipt part that is issued to the passenger for future reclaiming. A typical baggage tag is known from JP2012255968. The known tag is a multi-layered assembly of rectangular shape, having a length significantly larger than its width. One of the layers of the tag comprises an information label with a printable surface. The information label is of rectangular shape and comprises two adjacently positioned strips of paper or similar material - the main tag part and the receipt part - onto which relevant identification information is printed. The known tag further comprises a carrier layer, which is preferably made of a tear-resistant material. In a tag, an adhesive layer is disposed between the inner faces of the information label and of the carrier layer, and releasably connects the information label to the carrier layer. A plurality of baggage tags are typically provided on a continuous carrier layer in the form of a roll stock, from which the tags are supplied to a printing device. Such a printing device may be located on or in the vicinity of a check-in counter, located in the departure terminal of an airport. The printing device prints the information needed for further processing and handling of the baggage, including but not limited to the name of the passenger, the destination and flight number. The information is printed on the main baggage tag part and on the receipt part thereof.

The plurality of baggage tags on a roll typically exhibits an intermediate surface area of a few millimetres wide between the information labels of two consecutive baggage tags. In the roll stock, the adhesive layer generally covers the inner face of the information label of each baggage tag only, and the carrier parts extending between the information labels (the intermediate surface areas) are generally left without adhesive. Typically, the printers used for the printing of the information labels of the baggage tags are also equipped with a cutting mechanism. After a baggage tag has been printed, cuts are made in the intermediate surface areas of the roll stock along cutting lines that extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the roll stock (and the baggage tags), thus separating the printed baggage tag from the remainder of the roll. The two strips of the main tag part and the receipt part are obtained by cutting the information layers in a roll stock through their thickness during the production process of the roll stock, without however cutting through the carrier layer.

After successful check-in of an item of baggage, air terminal personnel typically removes the receipt part of the information label from the carrier layer and hands it over to the passenger. The carrier layer is then partly removed from the baggage tag to partly expose the adhesive layer at the inner face of the information label, after which the two ends of the baggage tag are wrapped around a handle or lever of the baggage item for instance, and joined by the exposed adhesive.

In the air travel industry, there appears to be a trend where the passenger increasingly bears responsibility for certain processes that are an integral part of a flight. Passengers for instance are increasingly offered the possibility to check in independently without intervention of staff, for instance by using a Common Use Self-Service (CUSS) checkin kiosk. Self bag drop systems allow passengers to check in their baggage themselves and feed it to the baggage handling system for further processing.

In practice it has been found that passengers experience difficulties in attaching a tag to a piece of hold baggage without the aid of personnel. In particular, separating the combined printable parts - the main part and the receipt part - and the tear-resistant layer of paper or foil from each other has appeared to offer difficulties.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to provide a baggage tag that can easily be attached to a piece of hold baggage by passengers themselves and, in general, is suited for use in self service systems, and is easily produced at a production cost substantially equal to those of traditional baggage tags.

According to the invention, a baggage tag is provided of rectangular shape, having long edges extending in a length direction of the tag and short edges extending in a transverse direction of the tag, the tag comprising an information label with a printable surface, a carrier layer, and an adhesive layer disposed between inner faces of the information label and the carrier layer, and releasably connecting the information label to the carrier layer, whereby the information label does not cover the complete rectangular surface area of the tag by having a shape that deviates from a rectangular shape, and a part of the tag surface area that is not covered by the information label is covered with a printable stiffening layer that leaves an intermediate surface area with the information label uncovered, and forms a gripping means for removing a part of the carrier layer from the tag. According to the invention, the baggage tag is not equipped with a strip of paper or similar material that will serve as a receipt for a passenger. The tag in accordance with the invention has the advantage that the passenger in the process of attaching the baggage tag does not need to carry out the (additional) steps necessary to separate the receipt part from the rest of the tag. This significantly simplifies the attaching of said baggage tag to a piece of baggage.

In another aspect of the invention, a baggage tag is provided wherein the printable stiffening layer is made from the same material as the information label.

Yet another embodiment of the invention provides a baggage tag wherein the printable stiffening layer is formed by a part of the information label of another adjacent baggage tag provided on a roll stock of baggage tags. Such a tag is readily produced.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a baggage tag is provided wherein the information label has short edges that at least partly extend at a slant with the transverse direction of the tag.

Yet another embodiment provides a baggage tag wherein the information label has short edges that partly extend parallel to the transverse direction of the tag.

Yet another embodiment provides a baggage tag wherein the information label has curved short edges such that the uncovered part of the tag surface area provided with the printable stiffening area forms a peel-off corner or dog ear.

According to this and other embodiments, the information layer in the form of a strip of paper or similar material is not rectangular-shaped, but has at least one substantially rounded or chamfered comer on one of the short sides of the baggage tag, such that a clearly visible and recognizable peel-off comer or dog-ear is created. This has the advantage that on the one hand it is clearly visible for passengers where to start with separating the printable part and the tear-resistant layer of paper or foil from each other, and on the other hand that this is easier to be carried out physically.

According to an even further preferred embodiment, the printable part is mirrored shaped at the location of the opposite short side of the baggage tag with respect to the side with the substantially rounded or chamfered comer, in such a way that the distance between two consecutive baggage tags on a roll, the intermediate surface area, at the location of and across the separation line is equal. This embodiment has the advantage that, when printing the printable part by use of a printer, and more particularly, the automatic feeding and/or carrying of baggage tags does not involve jams. These jams generally occur as a result of resistance that baggage tags experience during feeding and/or carrying in the interior of the printer at a location - seen from the direction of transport - downstream of the mechanism that takes care of this feeding and/or carrying. As a result of this resistance, baggage tags may be folded double and/or become crumpled in those areas where they are weakest. In practice, this is usually the intermediate surface area between two consecutive baggage tags at the separation line, where the printable part is interrupted and only the tear-resistant layer of paper or foil is present. The strength of the latter is limited, especially if very thin material is used for this layer of paper or foil in order to minimize the thickness of the baggage tags. Minimizing this thickness has the advantage that the number of baggage tags that can be applied on a single roll stock is maximized. This in turn has the advantage that rolls of baggage tags less often need to be replaced inside either the self-service check-in kiosks or self bag drop systems - depending on which is used to print baggage tags and present these to the passengers. In this even further preferred embodiment, baggage tags are separated after printing from the rest of the roll by means of a cutting mechanism, which forms an integral part of the printer. The cut is made at the location of the transition line and through the intermediate surface area between two consecutive baggage tags on the same roll; part of this cut is thus made both through the tear-resistant layer of paper or foil and the printable part together - releasably connected by means of the adhesive layer, while the remaining part of the cut is made only through the tear-resistant layer of paper or foil.

Another embodiment of the baggage tag according to the invention has an adhesive layer comprising a release coating facing the carrier layer, such that when the carrier layer and the information layer are separated, the adhesive layer substantially remains on the information layer. This makes it possible to easily separate the carrier layer from the information label without separating the adhesive layer from the latter.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, a baggage tag is provided wherein the carrier layer comprises a tear-resistant layer made of a plastic material.

In another embodiment, a baggage tag is provided wherein the carrier layer is provided with punched solid lines that extend from near the gripping means across a part of the surface area of the tag to define a removable part of the carrier layer, the punched solid lines being configured to guide the detaching of the removable part of the carrier layer from the information layer and prevent the carrier layer from being detached in its entirety.

In another embodiment of the baggage tag in accordance with the invention, the carrier layer is provided with punched undulating lines at a side of the tag opposite the side of the gripping means, the undulating lines being configured to disrupt and thereby prevent the carrier layer from being detached any further than said undulating lines when an attempt is made to remove the carrier layer from said opposite side.

In order to make it easier for a passenger to handle the tag, an embodiment thereof is characterized in that a visible face opposite the inner face of the carrier layer is provided with graphical instructions that explain the procedure for attaching a baggage tag to an item of baggage.

In yet another embodiment, a baggage tag is provided wherein the carrier layer is provided with dotted lines that follow the transition lines between consecutive baggage tags on a roll, the dotted lines form a line of weakness in the tear-resistant layer and allowing for two consecutive baggage tags to be separated manually.

The invention also relates to a baggage tag roll stock, comprising a continuous carrier layer in the form of a roll forming a plurality of interconnected baggage tags in accordance with the invention, whereby the plurality of baggage tags on a roll typically exhibits an intermediate surface area between the information labels of two consecutive baggage tags, whereby the adhesive layer covers the back face of the information label of each baggage tag only, thereby leaving the intermediate surface areas of the carrier layer without adhesive.

In yet another aspect, the invention further relates to a method for manufacturing a baggage tag in accordance the invention from the baggage tag roll stock. The method according to the invention comprises making a cut in the intermediate surface area of the roll stock along a cutting line that extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the roll stock and crosses a short edge of the information labels of the baggage tag and an adjacent baggage tag of the roll stock, which separates the baggage tag from the remainder of the roll stock.

It has advantages to characterize an embodiment of the method according to the invention in that the intermediate surface area between the information layers of two consecutive baggage tags on the roll stock has a substantially constant width in the length direction of the roll stock.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

The invention will now be described by way of example without however being limited thereto and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

Figure 1 is a top view of two consecutive baggage tags in accordance with the invention, showing the shape of and spacing between the printable parts;

Figure 2 is a top view of a baggage tag as shown in Figure 1, after it has been printed and cut, and as it is presented to the passenger;

Figure 3 is a top view of the baggage tag as shown in Figure 2, in the state in which the releasably connected tear-resistant layer of paper or foil has been released from the printable part by the passenger for the purpose of attaching the baggage tag to his/her piece of baggage;

Figure 4 is a bottom view of the baggage tag in accordance with the invention, showing the tear-resistant layer of paper or foil, and more particularly the shape and position of the punching forms, as well as the instruction area.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Throughout this application, the term "about" is used to indicate that a value includes the standard deviation of error for the device or method being employed to determine the value.

The articles "a" and "an" are used herein to refer to one or to more than one, i.e. to at least one of the grammatical object of the article. By way of example, "a door" means one door or more than one door.

Throughout this application, the term “substantially” means more than 90% of the indicated value or property.

Referring to Figure 1, a part of a baggage tag roll stock is shown carrying two partly shown baggage tags on a left hand and a right hand side. The roll stock material is configured to be fed through a printing/cutting apparatus in a feeding direction 11. The printable information labels 1 of two consecutive tags are releasably attached to a tear-resistant carrier layer of plastic foil 4, by means of an adhesive layer (not visible). The rounded corner 2 - part of the information label 1 of the baggage tag on the left-hand side of the figure, and mirrored corner 3 - part of the information label of the tag on the right-hand side of the figure leave an intermediate surface area 5 of constant width in between.

Referring now to Figure 2, after the information label 1 of a baggage tag has been printed, a cut 6 is made by means of a cutting mechanism, that forms an integral part of the printer. The cut 6 extends in the transverse direction of the roll stock (and baggage tags) and separates the mirrored corner 3 from the remainder of the rightmost baggage tag of Figure 1. Here, the cut 6 is made through both the tear-resistant plastic foil 4 and through the mirrored comer 3. As can be seen from Figure 2, at the straight part of the intermediate surface area 5 (visible in its original form in Figure 1), the cut 6 is made only through the tear-resistant plastic foil 4. The mirrored comer 3 can now be used in combination with the rounded comer 2 as a peel-off comer or dog-ear for detaching the tear-resistant plastic foil 4 from the information label 1, starting from the rounded corner 2.

Referring now to Figure 3, the tear-resistant plastic foil 4 has been partly detached from the information label 1, thus leaving part of the adhesive layer exposed.

Referring now to Figure 4, the back side of the baggage tag is shown, in particular the back side of the tear-resistant plastic foil 4 that acts as carrier layer. Again, the intermediate surface area 5 between two consecutive information labels 1 is visible on either of the short sides of the baggage tag. Furthermore, the punching form is visible, consisting of the solid lines 8, the dotted lines 10 (in Figure 4 visible on both short sides of the baggage tag) and the undulated or V-shaped lines 9. The solid lines 8 are purposed to guide the detaching of part of the tear-resistant plastic foil 4 and prevent it from being detached any further than necessary for exposing a sufficiently large surface of the adhesive layer, required for joining the two ends of the baggage tag. The multiple V-shaped lines 9 are configured to ensure that the tear-resistant plastic foil 4 cannot be detached any further than these V-shaped lines 9, which act as a ‘stop’, in case a passenger accidently starts with the detaching of said tear-resistant plastic foil 4 from the wrong side (being the left-hand side of the baggage tag as shown in Figure 4). The dotted lines 10 form as it were a line of weakness in the tear-resistant plastic foil 4 and allow for two consecutive baggage tags to be separated manually in case the printer’s cutting mechanism malfunctions. The middle section of the tear-resistant plastic foil 4 is provided with graphical instructions 7 by which the procedure for attaching a baggage tag to a piece of baggage is explained to a passenger.

Claims

A luggage tag of rectangular shape, with long edges extending in a longitudinal direction of the tag and short edges extending in a transverse direction of the tag, the tag comprising an information tag with a printable surface, a carrier layer, and an adhesive layer disposed between the insides of the information label and the carrier layer, which releasably connects the information label to the carrier layer, the information label not covering the entire rectangular surface of the label by having a shape deviating from a rectangular shape, and wherein a portion of the label surface that is not covered by the information label is covered with a printable stiffening layer, which leaves an intermediate surface with the information label uncovered, and forms a gripping means for removing a portion from the label of the carrier layer.

A luggage tag according to claim 1, wherein the printable stiffening layer is made of the same material as the information label.

A luggage tag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the printable stiffening layer is formed by a part of the information label of another adjacent luggage tag which is provided on a stock roll of luggage tags.

A luggage tag according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the information label has short edges that extend at least partially obliquely with respect to the transverse direction of the label.

A luggage tag according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the information label has short edges that partially extend parallel to the transverse direction of the label.

A luggage tag according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the information label has curved or chamfered short edges such that the uncovered portion of the label surface provided with the printable stiffening surface forms a peel angle or donkey ear.

Luggage tag according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the intermediate surface between the information label and the printable stiffener has a constant width.

A luggage tag according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adhesive layer comprises a release layer directed towards the carrier layer, so that when the carrier layer and the information layer are separated, the adhesive layer remains substantially on the information layer.

A luggage tag according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier layer comprises a tear-resistant layer made of a plastic material.

A luggage tag according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier layer is provided with perforated continuous lines that extend from near the gripping means over a part of the surface of the label to determine a removable part of the carrier layer, wherein the perforated continuous lines are formed to guide the detachment of the removable part of the carrier layer from the information layer and to prevent the carrier layer from being detached in its entirety.

A luggage tag according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier layer is provided with perforated wave lines on one side of the label opposite the side of the gripping means, the wave lines being formed to disturb and thereby prevent the carrier layer from being loosened further than the wave lines, when an attempt is made to remove the carrier layer from the opposite side.

A luggage tag according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the visible side opposite the inside of the carrier layer is provided with graphical instructions explaining the method for attaching a luggage tag to a luggage item.

A luggage tag according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tear-resistant layer is provided with dotted lines following the transition lines between successive luggage tags on a roll, the dotted lines forming a line of weakness in the tear-resistant layer and allowing two consecutive luggage tags to be manually be separated.

A supply roll of luggage tags, comprising a continuous carrier layer in the form of a roll forming a plurality of interconnected luggage tags in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the number of luggage tags on a roll typically exhibit an intermediate surface between the information labels of two consecutive baggage labels, the adhesive layer covering the inside of the information label of each baggage label, the intermediate surface of the carrier layer remaining without adhesive.

A method of manufacturing a luggage tag in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 13 from a stock roll of luggage tags in accordance with claim 14, wherein the method comprises making a cut in the intermediate surface of the stock roll along a cutting line that extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the supply roll and intersects a short side of the information labels of the baggage tag and an adjacent baggage tag of the supply roll, separating the baggage tag from the rest of the supply roll.

The method of claim 15, wherein the intermediate area between the information layers of two consecutive luggage tags on the supply roll has a constant width in the longitudinal direction of the supply roll.