Label system for package and baggage handling

• US 4,065,343 A
• Filed: 12/13/1976
• Issued: 12/27/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Babcock IP, PLLC
• Original Assignee: Rexnord Corporation
• Inventors: Stumpe, Warren R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitrelli, John F.
• Application Number:
  US05/750,343
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• Field of Search: 40/2 R, 40/6, 40/312, 40/305, 209/111.5, 209/111.6, 209/111.7, 209/111.8, 209/111.9, 235/61.11 E, 156/212
• US Class Current: 156/212
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/42 Devices for identifying luggage; Means for attaching same
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/18 Devices or arrangements for indicating destination, e.g. by code marks applying data to information carriers G06K1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06009 with optically detectable marking G06K19/063, G06K19/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2019/06253 for a specific application
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1028 by bending, drawing or stretch forming sheet to assume shape of configured lamina while in contact therewith

Abstract

A method of handling and identifying luggage, packages, or the like comprising the steps of (1) printing characters conveying information concerning each piece of luggage on one side of a strap segment the other side of which is at least partially coated with a suitable adhesive and (2) affixing each strap segment to a piece of luggage so that the characters appear on three sides of the piece of luggage, permitting the characters to be read regardless of whether the piece of luggage is standing up or has fallen over on one of its two principal sides.

Claims

1. A method of handling and identifying articles such as luggage, packages, or the like, said method comprising the steps of:

a. printing both man-readable and machine-readable characters conveying information concerning each article on one side of a strap segment the other side of which is at least partially coated with an adhesive adapted to allow the strap segment to be temporarily affixed to the article and subsequently to be removed in its entirety without leaving marks on the article and

b. affixing each strap segment to the article so that the characters appear on three sides of the article, whereby the characters can be read regardless of whether the article is standing up or has fallen over on one of its two principal sides,

wherein one set of the man-readable characters is printed so that the characters are oriented in one direction with respect to the length of the strap segment, thereby being readable by a person standing on one side of the article, and another set of the man-readale characters is printed so that the characters are oriented at 180°

to the first set of characters, thereby being readable by a person standing on the other side of the article, whereby the information concerning each article can be conveniently read regardless of the orientation which the article assumes during handling.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein one entire side of the strap segments are coated with adhesive.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein spaced portions of one side of the strap segments are coated with adhesive.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the strap segments are all of uniform length.

5. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein only portions of the strap segments adjacent to the ends thereof are coated with adhesive.

6. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein the characters are printed in man-readable form at each end of the strap segment and in machine-readable form in the center portion of the strap segment.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the characters printed on each strap segment convey information concerning the desired destination and the routing of each article to its desired destination.

8. A method as recited in claim 7 and comprising the further step of printing characters conveying information concerning a desired intermediate transfer point for at least some of the articles on at least some of the strap segments adjacent to the characters conveying information concerning the desired destination.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the strap segment and a receipt are simultaneously printed with the same information, the receipt is subsequently separated from the strap segment, and the receipt is then given to the owner of the article.