US 20030183326A1 (19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. N0.: US 2003/0183326 A1 O’C0nn0r (43) Pub. Date: Oct. 2, 2003

(54) METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING (52) US. Cl...... 156/187; 156/259; 156/229 PRESSURE SENSITIVE TEAR TAPES (57) ABSTRACT . Amethod for manufacturin ressure sensitive adhesive tear (76) Inventor: Lljlgvrence O’Connor’ Nokomls’ FL tape for use in tearing an igerwrap material includes pro ( ) viding a Web of a polymeric material Which is biaXially Correspondence Address: oriented, slitting the Web into a plurality of side by side ADE & COMPANY continuous tapes, drawing each continuous tape longitudi 1700_360 MAIN STREET nally to effect additional longitudinal orientation of the tape WINNIPEG MB R3C3Z3 (CA) and Winding each tape into a separate spool. In a second ’ separate process, the tapes side by side are unWound and (21) APPL NO: 10/113,933 passed through a line Where a of a pressure sensitive adhesive is applied to the ?rst tape surface and a (22) Filed; Apt; 2, 2002 coating of a release agent is applied to the second tape surface to provide a release action relative to the adhesive. Publication Classi?cation Each continuous tape With the adhesive coating thereon is Wound into a respective cylindrical tape spools for supply to (51) Int. Cl.7 ...... B32B 31/00 the packaging line.

CONTROL \ l5

\9 20 (2t Patent Application Publication Oct. 2, 2003 Sheet 1 0f 2 US 2003/0183326 A1

FIG. I " CONTROL \15 Patent Application Publication Oct. 2, 2003 Sheet 2 0f 2 US 2003/0183326 A1

F192 / _ ~ [/42 US 2003/0183326 A1 Oct. 2, 2003

METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING PRESSURE Which is then draWn in machine direction to effect orienta SENSITIVE ADHESIVE TEAR TAPES tion of the extruded layer. The amount of draW possible is limited by the tendency of the material to ?brillate beyond [0001] This invention relates to a method for manufactur a predetermined extension. After the longitudinal draW is ing pressure sensitive adhesive tear tapes. effected, the Web is draWn in the transverse direction by a tentering frame Which increases the total orientation up to a BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION level to give the required mechanical properties of strength [0002] Tear tapes for use in tearing an packaging and resistance to elongation. This material is knoWn as material are used in many different packaged products. The biaxially oriented. This Web is then slit into a plurality of tear tape is adhesively attached to the inside surface of the longitudinally continuous side-by side tapes Which can be overWrap material betWeen the overWrap material and the coated With adhesive in a process subsequent to the slitting packaged product. as in the O’Connor patent set out beloW or can be coated in Web Width With the adhesive prior to slitting as in the May [0003] This system has been in effect for many years and patent above. HoWever, the mechanical limitations of the for the majority of those years the tear tapes Were formed of orientation process limit the amount of orientation, Which a simple mono-axially oriented plastics material supplied can be effected so that the resultant product is of reduced individually from supply spools. In some cases the plastics strength and increased thickness relative to the theoretical material carries a colorant so that the tape is of a different optimum. color from the overWrap material. On line With the overWrap material, an adhesive is applied to the tape after it is [0011] When the pressure sensitive adhesive onto the sheet unWound from the supply spool and prior to its attachment in Web Width, the sheet is slit in a preliminary slitting process to the overWrap material. Thus the spooled supply of the tear into a plurality of primary Webs, each of Which is then tape is free from adhesive and free from any release coats Wound into a fresh supply roll. The Width of the individual and is thus a simple product to manufacture formed solely by primary rolls must be matched With the Width of the intended the base plastics material itself. tapes and the number of those tapes in order that the number of tapes slit from the Web equal the limited number of [0004] One technique for manufacturing a tear tape of this spooling Wind-up heads available. Each primary roll is then type involves extruding the plastics material, casting the slit in a subsequent operation to form the requisite number extruded material in a Wide sheet form onto a chilling of tapes, folloWing Which, the tapes are individually Wound surface so as to form a cast sheet, slitting the cast sheet into into separate traverse Wound spools each on a respective one a plurality of individual tapes, longitudinally draWing the of the spooling Wind-up heads. This process of slitting and tapes so as to provide longitudinal or mono-axial orientation reWinding into primary rolls does not add value to the of the tapes and Winding the tapes into a traverse or helically product so that it is simply a Wasted cost. In addition, the Wound spool for supply to the packaging line. repeated unrolling and re-rolling of the material can degrade [0005] As the formed tape in its Wound condition com the adhesive by exposing the adhesive to the air and by the prises only the plastics material itself, it is possible to readily effect of repeated contact With the release coating. Yet recycle trim Waste formed during slitting of the tapes from further, each slitting action requires a further loss of trim an initial Web and any Waste generated during transfer of Waste from the edges of the primary rolls so that the trim Winding from one spool to the next. Such materials can Waste can in total constitute a signi?cant proportion of the simply be fed back to the extruder and re-extruded With the original Web Width at a signi?cant cost. feed material. [0012] This process for manufacturing the tape has a [0006] Tapes of this type have been manufactured by a number of signi?cant disadvantages. number of manufacturers for up to 40 years and are Widely [0013] Firstly it is necessary to effect slitting of the ?lm accepted. through the layer of adhesive Which is applied thereto. Slitting through adhesive is Well knoWn to be problematic in [0007] In the late 1980’s a neW product Was introduced in Which the tape in its spooled form is supplied With a pressure that the adhesive attaches to the slitting knife and can form sensitive adhesive already applied onto one surface of the balls of adhesive Which can break aWay and interfere With tape. This product had the signi?cant advantage that it Was the travel and processing of the tapes. no longer necessary to apply adhesive on line With the [0014] Secondly the trim Waste, Which is necessary at each packaging system thus avoiding the dif?culty of feeding the slitting process, causes high losses in the proportion of total adhesive onto the tape Which may be stopping and starting Waste relative to the quantity of ?nished material leading to With the packaging line. signi?cantly increased material cost. Where the trim Waste [0008] The pressure sensitive became there carries adhesive material, it is impossible to carry out a fore adopted to some extent in the industry but still the process. majority of tear tapes are of the simple type Where the [0015] Thirdly in order to complete a full spool of the tear adhesive is applied on line. tape, it is necessary to splice together end to end the primary [0009] One disadvantage of the pressure sensitive tear tape rolls as they are unWound, since the length of the tear tape Which has reduced its acceptance is the signi?cantly on the spool is considerably longer than the length of the sheet on the primary roll. In the ?nished spool, therefore the increased cost of the product. To some extent this increased cost arises due to the dif?culty of manufacture. tear tape may have a series of splices through its length and these splices are difficult to carry out due to the presence of [0010] Some tear tapes are manufactured by extruding a the release coat and are often functionally problematic in the Web of , or other suitable material, packaging line on Which the tear tape is to be used. This US 2003/0183326 A1 Oct. 2, 2003

compares unfavorably With conventional non-adhesive tear [0026] providing a Web of a polymeric material tapes Which are usually splice free. Which is biaXially-oriented; [0016] The additional slitting of primary rolls described [0027] continuously forWarding the Web; above and also the splicing necessary for the individual primary rolls provides a signi?cant additional cost in the [0028] passing the Web as it is forWarded through a process both of labor and equipment thus dramatically slitting assembly arranged to slit the Web at trans increasing the cost of the product relative to the conven versely spaced positions into a plurality of side by tional non-adhesive tear tape. side continuous tapes, each having ?rst and second [0017] Despite these dif?culties, the above manufacturing tape surfaces and tWo tape edges; process has been used Widely by a number of manufacturers [0029] after slitting, draWing each continuous tape and continues to be the pre-eminent technique Which is used longitudinally to effect additional longitudinal ori for manufacturing of these tapes. entation of the tape; [0018] One example of a tape of this type manufactured by [0030] after draWing, applying a coating of a pressure this technique is described in US. Pat. No. 5,203,935 of sensitive adhesive to the ?rst tape surface; May et al assigned to Payne Packaging Ltd. Who are a signi?cant manufacturer of the product of this type. [0031] after draWing, applying a coating of a release [0019] In vieW of these dif?culties in manufacture, agent to the second tape surface to provide a release attempts have been made over a period of at least ten years action relative to the adhesive; to ?nd a technique Which Will improve the manufacturing [0032] and continuously and separately Winding each process to alloW manufacturing of PSA tear tapes at a continuous tape With the adhesive coating thereon reduced cost. into a series of cylindrical tape spools each contain [0020] Us. Pat. No. 4,887,714 of the present inventor ing a length of the tape. O’Connor discloses a technique in Which an oriented sheet of material is slit prior to the application of the adhesive so [0033] Preferably the Web is supplied in a roll Which has that the adhesive is applied to the individual tear tapes in a been biaXially oriented in previous separate process, but in Width less than the Width of the tape, prior to Winding of the an alternative arrangement, the process can be run in line tape into a supply spool for supply to the packaging Where the Web is oriented, slit and the tapes longitudinally machine. This technique has achieved some success and draWn on one processing line. provides some advantages but has been unable to compete [0034] The tapes may be heat set during draWing but more effectively With the conventional technique shoWn in the preferably are heated during draWing to a temperature less above patent of May or With the conventional non-adhesive than the heat set temperature. tape. [0035] Preferably the method includes after draWing and [0021] Us. Pat. No. 5,730,354 discloses a further before applying the adhesive, applying printed indicia to the improvement to the 714 patent in Which the printing of ?rst tape surface. indicia is applied onto the eXposed surface of the adhesive. HoWever the basic technique and manufacture of the tape is [0036] Preferably each tape is draWn to a thickness less not changed. than 35 microns and preferably less than 20 microns. [0022] Further attempts to improve the technique for [0037] Preferably the tapes have a Width in the range 1.6 manufacture Were disclosed in Us. Pat. No. 5,520,868 of to 10 mm. the present inventor Which discloses an arrangement in Which individual tapes are separately extruded, the adhesive [0038] Preferably the tapes have an elongation to break is applied immediately after extrusion, and the tape With the less than 40%. adhesive carried on the tape are then draWn longitudinally to provide the necessary orientation and to reduce the thickness [0039] The adhesive layer may be applied in a Width less of the adhesive layer. This technique has failed to achieve than the Width of the tape. Particularly Where the tape is any commercial attention. Wider than the order of 6 mm, the adhesive may be applied in bands narroWer than the Width of the tape such that a bare [0023] Tear tapes as de?ned herein generally have a loW space is provided betWeen tWo bands Which are applied at or elongation to break Which is generally of the order of 10 to adjacent the edges to ensure adhesion at the edges While 20% and certainly less than 40%. Although some specialiZed minimising the amount of adhesive applied to minimiZe tear tapes are Wider, the vast majority of tear tapes generally cost. have a Width less than 1A inches and often doWn to 1/16 inch. [0040] Preferably, prior to applying the adhesive to the SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION second surface, the tape surfaces are treated by corona [0024] It is one object of the present invention, therefore, discharge to provide an improved method of manufacturing a pressure sensitive adhesive tear tapes Which provides improved eco [0041] Preferably, during slitting, edge portions of the Web nomics of manufacture and eliminates some technical prob are slit off and the portions returned for recycling. lems. [0042] Preferably the method includes adding security [0025] According to a ?rst aspect of the invention, there taggant material to the tape for use in subsequently verifying fore, there is provided a method for manufacturing pressure a manufacturer of the tape, the taggant material being added sensitive adhesive tapes comprising: to the plastics material, the adhesive or the ink. US 2003/0183326 A1 Oct. 2, 2003

[0043] Preferably the tapes are continuously Wound at the [0060] FIG. 2 is an isometric vieW of a package including end of the process including the expensive Without an overWrap material and a tear tape attached thereto. loss of tape as the tape Winding transfers from one spool to another. [0061] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional vieW of tWo overlapping portions of the overWrap material at a seam Where the tear [0044] Preferably the release coating is applied by kiss tape passes through the seam. coating the tapes Without an impression roller so as to apply the release coating also to the edges of the tapes. [0062] In the draWings like characters of reference indi cate corresponding parts in the different ?gures. [0045] Preferably in a ?rst process the Web is slit and the slit tapes each Wound into a respective spool and Wherein in DETAILED DESCRIPTION a second process the spools are unWound, the tape coated With the adhesive and reWound into a supply spool. In this [0063] In FIG. 1 is shoWn a supply 10 of a Web 11 of a arrangement, the ?rst process is run at a higher speed than bi-aXially oriented ?lm of a suitable polymer material. the second process. Preferably material is polyester but other materials such as [0046] Preferably in the second process a plurality of the polypropylene, and nylon can also be used in spools are simultaneously unWound to supply the tape some cases. The preferred material is polyester. therefrom to a coating line in Which the release coating is [0064] The ?lm When supplied has a thickness in the range applied to the second tape surface of each tape and the 0.00048“ to 0.0020“. The elongation of the ?lm in the coating of the pressure sensitive adhesive is applied to the longitudinal direction Will range from 80 to 120% and 60 to ?rst tape surface of each tape and Wherein each continuous 90% in the transverse direction. tape With the release coating and the adhesive coating thereon is Wound into a series of cylindrical tape spools each [0065] The ?lm When supplied is biaXially oriented that is containing a length of the tape. it has been initially oriented in a longitudinal direction and subsequently oriented in the transverse direction to provide [0047] According to a second aspect of the invention, a orientation in both directions as opposed to the single method for Wrapping an article With a tearable Wrapping ?lm longitudinal direction of monoaXially oriented materials. comprises: The tensile strength of the ?lm in the longitudinal direction [0048] forming a tear tape by the method de?ned Will range from 20,000 to 30,000 psi and 30,000 to 35,000 above; psi in the transverse direction. [0049] supplying the Wrapping ?lm; [0066] Commercial material is available from a number of suppliers including for eXample DUPONT and Mitsubishi. [0050] applying the tear tape to the Wrapping ?lm such that it is attached thereto by the adhesive; [0067] In the arrangement shoWn in FIG. 1, the ?lm in its initial biaXially oriented state is passed through a feed roll [0051] Wrapping the Wrapping ?lm around the article system 12 for controlling a feed speed of the sheet. The sheet and heat shrinking the Wrapping ?lm to engage is then fed through a slitting section 9 including a series of tightly around the article; transversely spaced slitting knives arranged to slit the sheet [0052] and selecting a draW ratio for the draWing of into a plurality of side by side tapes 8. the tape such that the elongation of the tape so [0068] The slit tapes are then fed through a feed control formed is matched to that of the Wrapping ?lm such system 7 Which control the forWard speed of the tapes to that the heat shrinking is effected Without puckering match the speed of the sheet from the feed control 12. of the tear tape. [0069] The tapes 8 then pass from the control 7 to a further [0053] The tapes are traverse Wound into spools either by speed control system 13 Which is driven at increased speed continuous traverse movement or by intermittent traverse relative to the control 7 so as to effect draWing of the tapes movement. Within a heated draW Zone 6. [0054] This method has the advantages that it [0070] The tapes are then carried forWardly from the feed [0055] a) alloWs the recycling of uncoated material rollers to a Wind up section 14 in Which the individual draWn directly back to the eXtruder; tapes are separately Wound using conventional technology into individual spools of the tape. [0056] b) avoids slitting through adhesive; [0071] The feed controls 7 and 13 are operated at prede [0057] c) provides a tear tape of increased strength to termined speed ratio controlled by a drive control system 15 thickness so as to alloW the manufacture of tear tapes of a conventional nature. Thus a predetermined level of draW of reduced thickness and thus reduced materials. can be provided betWeen the rollers 7 and 13 so as to increase the speed of the ?lm as it is draWn aWay from the BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS draWing section 6 betWeen the tWo sets of rollers. In a heating section the sheet material can be heated by a heater [0058] One embodiment of the invention Will noW be described in conjunction With the accompanying draWings in 17 such that the material is heated to a temperature to alloW draWing to be effected. While shoWn only schematically, the Which: heating section generally Will include pre-draWing rollers, [0059] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a method for draWing rollers and an annealing roller (not shoWn) Which manufacturing a tear tape according to the present invention. are heated to a temperature to alloW draWing to be effected. US 2003/0183326 A1 Oct. 2, 2003

[0072] The sheet is maintained in Web Width by the rollers [0079] Tape Winders of a type suitable for the above 12 and the individual tapes are maintained side by side as the method are commercially available from Kampf in Germany tapes pass through the draWing section from the rollers 6 to and provide a turret arrangement by Which each cylindrical the roller s 13 and into the Winding section 14. spool is moved aWay from the Winding location after that spool is completed so as to commence Winding on a neW [0073] At the rollers 7 or at the rollers 13, the tapes can be fresh core. The transfer takes place Without generating a separated into tWo or more paths (not shoWn) so that the spacing betWeen the tapes is increased. This can be done discarded length of tape so that no tape is Wasted. simply by spreading the tapes by passing them over suitably [0080] Thus When formed each tape is de?ned by a base spaced guides or can be carried out by providing a second ?lm material 30 and a covering adhesive layer 31 Which path for the tapes or the alternate ones of the tapes are extends to an edge 31A of the adhesive spaced from the divided onto the second path leaving a space for alternate edges of the tape as indicated in FIG. 3. An optional printing tapes and for the Winding assembly associated thereWith. layer 32 is applied on the upper surface of the tape With the [0074] The Winding process is preferably substantially adhesive layer 31. An opposite release coating 33 is carried continuous except that less expensive Winding processes can on the tape to prevent bonding of the reverse side of the tape be used since it is possible to discard portions of the tape to the adhesive layer during the packaging process. generated as Winding is transferred from a ?lled spool to a [0081] As shoWn in FIGS. 2 and 3 the tear tape de?ned fresh core. The discarded portions of the tape are uncoated by the base ?lm 30 and the adhesive layer 31 is attached to and thus formed solely from the polymer and thus can be an overWrap material 40 so that it is carried thereby. The returned to an extrusion process for recycling With the overWrap material is Wrapped around a packaged article 41 primary material. Transfer of Winding can therefore be such as a pack of cigarettes or the like. The overWrap effected manually. material is overlapped at a seam 42 and the tear tape passes [0075] The preferred separation of the process into tWo through the seam from underneath the overWrap material so separate steps require Winding of the tape tWice at the that a tab 43 of the tear tape is exposed at the seam for Winding system 14 and again at the Winding system 21 but pulling of the tear tape to effect tearing of the overWrap this disadvantage is more than outWeighed by the ability to material 40. more accurately control the separate processes and to run the [0082] As shoWn in FIG. 3, at the seam 42 on either side separate processes at their maximum speeds Where the speed of the tear tape there is a narroW area 44 de?ned by the ?nite of the ?rst process may be signi?cantly higher than can be thickness of the tear tape Which can alloW penetration of air accommodated by the printing line of the second part of the and escape of moisture thus alloWing the contents to be process. increased or decreased in moisture content With the possi [0076] The individual tape spools from the Winding sec bility of spoilage of the contents after a period of storage. tion 14 are passed to a feed supply 14A for feeding a second [0083] According to the present invention, the additional section of the process in Which the draWn tapes are coated draWing step of the biaxially oriented tape material alloWs on their underside by a coating system 18 applying a release the tape to be reduced in thickness from a conventional coat material of conventional nature. On the upper surface of thickness of the order of 45 microns doWn to a thickness the tapes is applied initially an optional printing step 19 Which is less than 35 microns and more preferably less than Which applies band of printed information or simple printed 20 microns. It is the intention to minimiZe the thickness of colored lines along the length of the sheet. DoWnstream, or the ?nished tape While providing suf?cient longitudinal in some cases upstream of the printing section is a coating strength. This alloWable thickness reduction in the ?nished section 20 Which applies a conventional pressure sensitive tape is obtained due to the fact that the longitudinal strength adhesive material over the individual tapes. The adhesive is is relatively signi?cantly increased by the additional draW applied to the tapes in one or tWo narroW bands having a ing of the ?lm. As the tapes are draWn, the Width is also Width less than that of the tape itself. Where one band is slightly decreased so that the slit Width must be selected applied, this leaves side edges of the upper surface of the relative to the draW ratio and the thickness so that the ?nal tapes Which is bare of the adhesive. Where tWo bands are Width is equal to the required Width. applied, these are generally applied at or adjacent the edges to ensure adhesion at the edges leaving a space along the [0084] Of course, in order to provide a predetermined center, thus reducing the amount of adhesive used to mini strength Which is necessary for the tearing action, a prede miZe cost. termined longitudinal strength is required Which is of the order of 40,000 lbs per square inch (Which equates to an [0077] The coating assembly 18 (shoWn only schemati absolute value of 1.5 lb. for a tape of the order of 0.0787 cally) is preferably of the kiss coating type in that the tape inches in Width and 0.00048 inches in thickness). Thus the passes across the surface of a roller in contact thereWith over strength of the tape should be greater than 1.5 lbs. a shalloW angle of the order of 20°. The roller runs in a bath of the liquid material to be applied to the tape and thus ?oods [0085] In order to achieve this in conventional tear tapes, the bottom surface and the side edges of the tape so as to coat a thickness greater than 35 microns is normally required those surfaces and edges With the liquid material. DoWn since thinner material does not have the sufficient strength stream of the kiss contact, the tape and/or the roller is characteristics. HoWever the increase in strength provided stripped by a doctor blade 18A so as to remove excess by the present invention alloWs a signi?cant reduction of the coating material. thickness of the material and thus signi?cantly reduces the dimensions of the air penetration Zones 44. [0078] The materials are dried and set so that the tapes carrying the applied materials are Wound into a section 21 to [0086] Yet further, signi?cant reduction in the thickness of form further supply spools 21A. the tape acts to alloW formation of a package of signi?cantly US 2003/0183326 A1 Oct. 2, 2003

increased length of material since the package can only be and scope of the claims Without departing from such spirit formed up to a predetermined diameter and therefore a and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the reduction in thickness generates an increase in length Within accompanying speci?cation shall be interpreted as illustra the predetermined volume of the ?nished package. This tive only and not in a limiting sense. increase in length on a supply package has signi?cant ergonomic improvements alloWing reduced operator doWn I claim: time. 1. A method for manufacturing pressure sensitive adhe [0087] Yet further it has been found that the slit edges of sive tapes comprising: a tape formed in this manner are improved relative to those providing a Web of a polymeric material Which is biaxi generated from mono axial oriented materials since the ally-oriented; transverse orientation alloWs an enhanced slitting action thus avoiding the generation of slitting problems and the genera continuously forWarding the Web; tion of stray ?bers or ?brillation at the slit edges. passing the Web as it is forWarded through a slitting [0088] In a particularly preferred process, the overWrap assembly arranged to slit the Web at transversely spaced material When applied to the package 41 is of a character positions into a plurality of side by side continuous Which alloWs a heat shrink action to occur so that the overlap tapes, each having ?rst and second tape surfaces and material is pulled doWn tight onto the outside surface of the tWo tape edges; package thus avoiding bubbles and Wrinkles Which detract after slitting, draWing each continuous tape longitudinally from the appearance of a the graphics on the printed outside to effect additional longitudinal orientation of the tape; surface of the package itself. Yet further, the longitudinal extension of the tear tape can be controlled by modifying the after draWing, applying a coating of a pressure sensitive draW ratio controlled by the drive system 15 and the draW adhesive to the ?rst tape surface; temperature so that the elongation is tailored to the particular after draWing, applying a coating of a release agent to the heat shrink characteristics of the overWrap material. In this second tape surface to provide a release action relative Way puckering of the tear tape during the heat shrink process to the adhesive; is avoided since the characteristics of the tear tape are directly tailored to the characteristics of the overWrap mate and continuously and separately Winding each continuous rial. tape With the adhesive coating thereon into a series of cylindrical tape spools each containing a length of the [0089] It has been determined that the amount of elonga tape. tion or extension in the tear tape can effect the puckering of 2. The method according to claim 1 Wherein each tape is the overWrap ?lm When the tear tape is applied. If the tear heat set at the draWing step. tape has a loW elongation in the range of 15 to 30% the 3. The method according to claim 1 Wherein the Web or puckering of the tear tape is noticeable. If the tear tape has polymeric material is supplied in a roll Which has been an elongation in the range of 30 to 60% the puckering biaxially oriented in a previous separate process. appears to be more controlled When the tear tape is applied 4. The method according to claim 1 including, after to the overWrap ?lm. The heat that is applied to the overWrap draWing and before applying the adhesive, applying printed ?lm causes the ?lm to shrink or lose elongation in the indicia to the ?rst tape surface. longitudinal and transverse directions. The tear tape, 5. The method according to claim 1 Wherein each tape is because of the bi-axial orientation and heat set properties, draWn to a thickness less than 35 microns. Will remain more stable With less puckering to the overWrap 6. The method according to claim 1 Wherein each tape is ?lm When applied compared to a monoaxially oriented tape. draWn to a thickness less than 20 microns. The draW ratios to the tape that imparts elongation charac 7. The method according to claim 1 Wherein the tapes teristics from a range of 15 to 60% are from a range of have a Width betWeen 1.6 mm and 10 mm. 1.3/1.0 to 1.8/1.0. 8. The method according to claim 1 Wherein the tapes [0090] In order to provide an enhanced tear tape for have an elongation to break less than 40%. security purposes, a security taggant material can be added 9. The method according to claim 1 Wherein the adhesive to the tape. Such materials are readily available from Secure layer is applied in a Width less than the Width of the tape. Products LP. of Summit, N]. and are of a nature Which 10. The method according to claim 1 Wherein the adhesive ?uoresce at a predetermined frequency When excited by a layer is applied in tWo bands each having a Width less than light source. Such taggant materials can be selected by a the Width of the tape and each arranged at or adjacent a side particular manufacturer to identify the manufacturer or a edge of the tape so as to leave a bare space betWeen the particular batch of tape so that the ?nished products can be bands. analyZed by assessment of the tear tape to determine the 11. The method according to claim 1 Wherein, prior to origin of the products and any particular characteristics applying the adhesive to the second surface, the tape sur concerning those products. faces are treated by corona discharge [0091] The taggant material and can be applied into the 12. The method according to claim 1 Wherein, during original polymer for extrusion With the basic ?lm or can be slitting, edge portions of the Web are slit off and the portions returned for recycling. applied to the adhesive or the ink as a coating on the ?lm. 13. The method according to claim 1 including adding [0092] Since various modi?cations can be made in my security taggant material to the tape for use in subsequently invention as herein above described, and many apparently verifying a manufacturer of the tape, the taggant material Widely different embodiments of same made Within the spirit being added to the plastics material, the adhesive or the ink. US 2003/0183326 A1 Oct. 2, 2003

14. The method according to claim 1 wherein the tapes the adhesive coating thereon is Wound into a series of With the adhesive coating thereon are continuously Wound cylindrical tape spools each containing a length of the tape. on a turret Winder Without loss of tape as the tape Winding 19. The method according to claim 16 Wherein in the transfers from one spool to another. second process layer of printing is applied to the tape. 15. The method according to claim 1 Wherein the release 20. A method for Wrapping an article With a tearable coating is applied by kiss coating the tapes Without an Wrapping ?lm comprising: impression roller so as to apply the release coating also to the edges of the tapes. forming a tear tape by the method according to claim 1; 16. The method according to claim 1 Wherein in a ?rst supplying the Wrapping ?lm; process the Web is slit and the slit tapes each Wound into a respective spool and Wherein in a second process the spools applying the tear tape to the Wrapping ?lm such that it is are unWound, the tape coated With the adhesive and release attached thereto by the adhesive; coating and reWound into a supply spool. Wrapping the Wrapping ?lm around the article and heat 17. The method according to claim 16 Wherein the ?rst shrinking the Wrapping ?lm to engage tightly around process is run at a higher speed than the second process. the article; 18. The method according to claim 16 Wherein in the second process a plurality of the spools are simultaneously and selecting a draW ratio for the draWing of the tape such unWound to supply the tape therefrom to a coating line in that the elongation of the tape so formed is matched to Which the release coating is applied to the second tape that of the Wrapping ?lm such that the heat shrinking is surface of each tape and the coating of a pressure sensitive effected Without puckering of the tear tape. adhesive is applied to the ?rst tape surface of each tape and Wherein each continuous tape With the release coating and * * * * *