Method and apparatus for delivering barcode-to-dose labels

• US 20070029032A1
• Filed: 07/05/2006
• Published: 02/08/2007
• 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, Moulds, John, Vorndran, Thomas, Torina, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,722,083 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 156/215
• 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 method of labeling a dose of medication in a dose dispenser for administration to a patient, the method comprising the steps:

a. printing a two layer label, an outer layer of which further comprises medicine ID data and a removable dose label having dosage and patient ID data;

b. attaching the two layer label to a medicine container.

2. The method of labeling a dose of medication of claim 1 further comprising, after step b. the step:

c. removing the dose label and attaching it to the dosing dispenser.

3. A method of labeling a dose of medication in a dose dispenser for administration to a patient, the method comprising the steps:

a. printing a two layer label, an outer layer of which further comprises medicine ID data and a removable dose label having dosage and patient ID data;

b. attaching the two layer label to a medicine container; and

c. removing the dose label and attaching it to the dosing dispenser.

4. A method of transferring a label to a medicine container, the method comprising the steps:

a. exposing an adhesive surface of a mid portion of the label, while temporarily and releasably retaining two ends of the label in a spaced apart relationship;

b. interpositioning the medicine container with the mid portion of the label, so that the mid portion of the label is adhered to the container.

5. The method of transferring a label of claim 4 further comprising, after step b. the step:

c. wrapping the two label ends around the container so that at least a portion of one end is adherable to at least a portion of the other end.

6. A method of transferring a label to a medicine container, the method comprising the steps:

a. exposing an adhesive surface of a mid portion of the label, while temporarily and releasably retaining two ends of the label in a spaced apart relationship;

b. interpositioning the medicine container with the mid portion of the label, so that the mid portion of the label is adhered to the container; and

c. wrapping the two label ends around the container so that at least a portion of one end is adherable to at least a portion of the other end.

7. A method of transferring a label from a backing strip to a medicine container, the label comprising a neck and two end tabs, the method comprising the steps:

a. peeling away a portion of the backing strip to expose an adhesive surface of the neck of the label, while releasably retaining substantially all of the two tabs on the backing strip;

b. floating the exposed label neck on a cushion of air;

c. picking up the label at each tab with a pickup device;

d. moving the label and pickup device to position substantially the center of the label neck upon the container; and

e. wrapping the two tabs down and around the container so that at least a portion of one tab is adherable to at least a portion of the other tab.

8. The method of transferring a label of claim 7 further comprising, in step e, employing a plurality of spring loaded pins in the pickup device to press portions of the label to the container.

9. The method of transferring a label of claim 7 further comprising, in step d, employing a position sensor to guide the pickup device in stopping descent and starting wrap when the label neck meets the container.

10. A method of transferring a label from a backing strip to a medicine container, the label comprising a neck and two end tabs, the method comprising the steps:

a. peeling away a portion of the backing strip to expose an adhesive surface of the neck of the label, while releasably retaining substantially all of the two tabs on the backing strip;

b. floating the exposed label neck on a cushion of air;

c. picking up the label at each tab with a pickup device;

d. moving the label and pickup device to position substantially the center of the label neck upon the container, while employing a position sensor to guide the pickup device in stopping descent and starting wrap when the label neck meets the container; and

e. wrapping the two tabs down and around the container so that at least a portion of one tab is adherable to at least a portion of the other tab, while employing a plurality of spring loaded pins in the pickup device to press portions of the label to the container.

11. A method of transferring a label from a backing strip to a medicine container, the label comprising a neck and two end tabs, the method comprising the steps:

a. peeling away a portion of the backing strip to expose an adhesive surface of the neck of the label, while releasably retaining substantially all of the two tabs on the backing strip.

12. The method of transferring a label of claim 11 further comprising, after step a:

b. picking up the label at each tab with a pickup device.

13. The method of transferring a label of claim 11 wherein the pickup device is a vacuum pickup device.

14. The method of transferring a label of claim 12 further comprising, after step b:

c. moving the label and pickup device to position substantially the center of the label neck upon the container.

15. The method of transferring a label of claim 14 further comprising, after step c:

d. wrapping the two tabs down and around the container so that at least a portion of one tab is adherable to at least a portion of the other tab.

16. The method of transferring a label of claim 13 further comprising during step a, floating the peeled off adhesive surface of the neck of the label on a cushion of air, and, after step b:

c. moving the label and pickup device to position substantially the center of the label neck upon the container; and

e. wrapping the two tabs down and around the container so that at least a portion of one tab is adherable to at least a portion of the other tab.

17. The method of transferring a label of claim 13 further comprising during step a, floating the peeled off adhesive surface of the neck of the label on a cushion of air, and, after step b:

c. moving the label and pickup device to position substantially the center of the label neck upon the container, while employing a position sensor to guide the pickup device in stopping descent and starting wrap when the label neck meets the container; and

e. wrapping the two tabs down and around the container so that at least a portion of one tab is adherable to at least a portion of the other tab.