Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Surface bonding means and/or assembly means therefor – With printing
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-07
2004-09-07
Purvis, Sue A. (Department: 1734)
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Surface bonding means and/or assembly means therefor
With printing
C156S387000, C156S541000, C156S542000, C156S556000, C156S564000, C156S566000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06786263
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for printing and applying shipping and packing slip labels to various items and, more particularly, to an efficient continuous feed high speed apparatus for printing two-sided labels and applying them to the item such that the packing slip information is hidden from view.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Packaging label printing is typically done either on table top or portable printing equipment or in production using an automatic label printer-applicator. Typically, a table top printer requires the label to be manually placed onto the product. The automatic label printer applicator eliminates the manual label application by printing and automatically applying the label in-line during production or in an off-line station. These, of course, cost more than the table top, but eliminate the manual application, provide consistent label placement, and increase production rates.
Either type of equipment can print roll fed labels using various printing methods such as dot-matrix, laser, thermal direct or thermal transfer printing methods. Laser printing is probably the most familiar method to most people. Labels are fed through the office laser printer in sheets and require hand labeling of the product. An entire sheet is used in the process, even if all that is required is one or two labels. Label materials must be compatible with laser imaging and can get adhesive in the equipment if one is not careful.
Present day automatic label printer applicator machines print the data on the outersurface only of a label, generally a bar code, or destination or “ship to” data. The inner surface contains an adhesive to affix the label to the package. Additional packaging data such as the item contents or invoice must be provided separately typically either enclosed in an envelope or pouch affixed to the outside of the package or placed directly into the package, for example.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention is directed towards an apparatus for printing a label and applying the label inner surface to an item, such as a package or envelope. Generally, the apparatus is used with a label or multiple labels each having an outer and inner surface and adhesive applied to a portion of the inner surface. The apparatus comprises a mounting means for rotatably mounting the label stock and a transfer means for positioning the inner surface of a label from the stock to adjacent to at least one print means and then to a separation edge where the label is separated from a next label and, when applicable, from its backing. The apparatus further includes an applicator for accepting the label from the separation edge and applying the label to an item. In essence, this apparatus may be used for printing any type of data onto one or two surfaces of a label and applying it to a desired object.
In an embodiment of the invention, a mounting means contains a roll or supply of labels. The mounting means allows the labels to be dispensed from the roll or label source and fed through the apparatus. Preferably, the mounting means rotates and is a spindle, wheel or roll, such as a rotatable spindle. The labels preferably have an outer surface and an inner surface and at least two operative sides or edges about which adhesive is applied on the inner surface. The label stock may contain multiple labels each having an end that abuts or attaches to an end of an adjacent label to comprise continuous label stock or that leaves a gap between it and an adjacent label. The gap may be only about millimeter long or up to about two inches or greater. In a preferred embodiment, the gap is one-eighth of an inch. Alternatively, individual labels may be used. The outer label surface is adapted to accept printing or to contain pre-printed data. Printing on this outer surface is common. Typically, the outer surface of a label contains print and the inner surface is coated, either completely or substantially, with an adhesive material that allows it to be affixed to an item. The present invention provides the unique capability and design of accepting print data on the inner surface in addition to the adhesive. Thus, the label can be affixed to an item at selected adhesive portions of the inner surface and data may be print on the remaining areas of the surface. When affixed to an item data print on the inner surface is hidden from view, until removed from the item. Moreover this print means can be used in combination with a print means that applies data on the outer label surface, thereby providing means for printing data onto two sides of a label and applying it to an item.
The present invention accepts at least two different types of labels: those with a protective backing and those without. For the former, the labels have a flexible continuous backing member or protective shield that removably attaches to and is positioned on the inner surface of the label with an adhesive layer. Preferably, the backing has a panel opening that exposes a portion of the inner surface of the label to accept print data. Other label designs useable with the present invention are linerless and do not require a backing material. The exposed portion of the inner surface to be printed does not contain adhesive. The adhesive for bonding the label to the package or container surface is on the perimeter of the inner surface of a label. It may run near to and parallel to two edges of a label, about one half of an inch to an inch from each edge, or the adhesive can be placed to completely surround the exposed printable surface or arranged in a pattern as the label application may require. For example, such labels are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/948,882.
At least one print means is provided to print data on the inner surface of a label. A transfer means guides the labels from the mounting means rotatable spindle to the print means and positions one label at a time at an inner surface of the label adjacent to the print means thereby exposing a surface of the label to the print head. The exposed surface may include, for example, that under the open panel of the backing or, in the case of linerless labels, that portion of the surface that does not contain adhesive or, alternatively, the entire surface of the label depending upon the desired application. The print means prints data onto the exposed surface. While the data may include virtually anything, preferably, it can include packing slip information, such as contents identification and invoice information.
Optionally, an opposing outer surface of a label is exposed to a second print means having a print head that prints data thereon. Printing on the outer label surface may occur at the same time or sequentially with that of the first or inner surface. In an embodiment, this data includes shipping data such as the entity and location to whom an item will be sent.
Either print means may use a variety of print technologies; they may be the same or different from each other depending upon the desired end product. For example, the print technology may include a plate or drum type printer, such as a thermal, thermal transfer or laser printer means. An ink jet, dot matrix or impact printer may also be used. Preferably when drive rollers are used, the rollers are wider than the printing mechanism, unlike current rollers that typically have a length equal to the width of the print mechanism. This unique variation in length prevents the print means from contacting most, if any, of the protective backing or, in the case of linerless labels, the adhesive portion of the label. This facilitates printing. In a more preferred embodiment, rollers are about six inches and the printhead is about four inches in length.
Print technology that does not use a plate or drum can also be used, such as a typewriter. The print means and label stock should be selected to work effectively together. Depending upon the selected print mechanism, suitable labels may comprise of traditional paper stock or thermal, heat sensitive paper. Further, the transfer me
Fox, Jr. Richard P.
Hoffman Richard H.
Malarik David J.
Cohen & Grigsby P.C.
Fox IV Technologies, Inc.
Purvis Sue A.
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