Method and apparatus for delivering barcode-to-dose labels

• US 20060240249A1
• Filed: 12/19/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Translogic Corporation (Midea Group Co., Ltd)
• Original Assignee: Talyst Incorporated
• Inventors: Clarke, Darcy, McCarthy, Thomas G., Vorndran, Thomas E., Moulds, John Andrew, Torina, James E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,708,042 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/343
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 3/08 to container bodies B65C3/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 9/26 Devices for applying labels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 206/82 Separable, striplike plural articles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1033 Flexible sheet to cylinder lamina
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/17 Surface bonding means and/or assemblymeans with work feeding or handling means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1702 For plural parts or plural areas of single part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1705 Lamina transferred to base from adhered flexible web or sheet type carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/15 Sheet, web, or layer weakened to permit separation through thickness
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24851 Intermediate layer is discontinuous or differential
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2486 with outer strippable or release layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/28 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and having an adhesive outermost layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2848 Three or more layers

Abstract

A labeling apparatus has a source of printed labels that have adhesive backing, a vacuum pickup with two opposable arms, a blower bar to support a label on air. Each opposable arm has its own vacuum head and each head is removably attachable to a respective end portion of the label. The apparatus also has a label position sensor, and the vacuum pickup is movable from a pickup position to a wrap position. Each pickup arm has a plurality of spring loaded pins. A two layer label has a backing strip, an inner layer, and an outer layer, and at least one removable portion of the outer layer. The label has a neck portion and two end portions, such that the label set may be wrapped a container with the two end portions adhered back to back to each other. The neck portion is relatively narrower than either of the two end portions and is relatively offset so that it is closer to a front edge of the label.

Claims

1. A labeling apparatus comprising a source of printed labels having adhesive backing, a vacuum pickup having two opposable arms, each arm having its own vacuum head and each head removably attachable to a respective end portion of a label.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the vacuum pickup is movable from a pickup position to a wrap position, and further comprising a label position sensor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a blower bar whereby the label is supported on air from the blower bar.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of spring loaded pins engaged in each pickup arm, each pin in a contacting relationship with a portion of the label.

10. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a blower bar whereby the label is supported on air from the blower bar.

11. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a plurality of spring loaded pins engaged in each pickup arm each pin in a contacting relationship with a portion of the label.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a blower bar whereby the label is supported on air from the blower bar and further comprising a plurality of spring loaded pins engaged in each pickup arm, each pin in a contacting relationship with a portion of the label.

16. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a plurality of spring loaded pins engaged in each pickup arm each pin in a contacting relationship with a portion of the label.

2-3. -3. (canceled)

7. A labeling apparatus comprising a source of printed labels having adhesive backing, a vacuum pickup having two opposable arms, each arm having its own vacuum head and each head removably attachable to a respective end portion of a label, and further comprising a label position sensor, and wherein the vacuum pickup is movable from a pickup position to a wrap position.

8. A labeling apparatus comprising a source of printed labels having adhesive backing, a vacuum pickup having two opposable arms, each arm having its own vacuum head and each head removably attachable to a respective end portion of a label, and further comprising a blower bar whereby the label is supported on air from the blower bar.

9. A labeling apparatus comprising a source of printed labels having adhesive backing, a vacuum pickup having two opposable arms, each arm having its own vacuum head and each head removably attachable to a respective end portion of a label, and further comprising a plurality of spring loaded pins engaged in each pickup arm, each pin in a contacting relationship with a portion of the label.

13. A labeling apparatus comprising a source of printed labels having adhesive backing, a vacuum pickup having two opposable arms, each arm having its own vacuum head and each head removably attachable to a respective end portion of a label, and further comprising a label position sensor, and wherein the vacuum pickup is movable from a pickup position to a wrap position, and further comprising a blower bar whereby the label is supported on air from the blower bar.

14. A labeling apparatus comprising a source of printed labels having adhesive backing, a vacuum pickup having two opposable arms, each arm having its own vacuum head and each head removably attachable to a respective end portion of a label, and further comprising a label position sensor, and wherein the vacuum pickup is movable from a pickup position to a wrap position, and further comprising a plurality of spring loaded pins engaged in each pickup arm each pin in a contacting relationship with a portion of the label.

15. A labeling apparatus comprising a source of printed labels having adhesive backing, a vacuum pickup having two opposable arms, each arm having its own vacuum head and each head removably attachable to a respective end portion of a label, and further comprising a label position sensor, and wherein the vacuum pickup is movable from a pickup position to a wrap position, and further comprising a blower bar whereby the label is supported on air from the blower bar and further comprising a plurality of spring loaded pins engaged in each pickup arm, each pin in a contacting relationship with a portion of the label.

17. A labeling apparatus comprising a source of printed labels having adhesive backing, a vacuum pickup having two opposable arms, each arm having its own vacuum head and each head removably attachable to a respective end portion of a label, and further comprising a blower bar whereby the label is supported on air from the blower bar and further comprising a plurality of spring loaded pins engaged in each pickup arm, each pin in a contacting relationship with a portion of the label.

18. A labeling apparatus comprising a source of printed labels having adhesive backing, a vacuum head removably attachable to a label, and a blower bar whereby the label is supported on air from the blower bar.

19. A labeling apparatus comprising a source of printed labels having adhesive backing, a vacuum head removably attachable to a label, and a plurality of spring loaded pins, each pin in a contacting relationship with a portion of the label.

20. A labeling apparatus comprising a source of printed labels having adhesive backing and a vacuum head removably attachable to a label, wherein the vacuum pickup is movable from a pickup position to a wrap position, and further comprising a label position sensor.