Labeling assembly

• US 7,211,163 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2005
• Issued: 05/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MPT Incorporated
• Original Assignee: MPT Incorporated
• Inventors: Kennedy, Patrick R
• Primary Examiner(s): Fiorilla; Chris
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chan; Sing P.
• Application Number:
  US11/220,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20060054266A1
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 156/247, 156/249, 156/344, 428/40.1, 428/41.7, 428/41.8, 428/42.1, 406/26, 406/30, 406/420.2
• US Class Current: 156/247
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/10 by an adhesive layer

Abstract

A labeling assembly and method of using same for releasably supporting a label and identifying a feature of an object upon which the labeling assembly is adapted for installation. The labeling assembly includes a protective layer having a release surface for releasably supporting the label and an information storage device located adjacent to a contacting surface of the protective layer such that the information storage device is disposed between the protective layer and the object when the labeling assembly is installed on the object. The information storage device is adapted for transmitting a signal comprising information. The method of the present invention includes using the labeling assembly for releasably supporting a label and identifying a feature of an object upon which the labeling assembly is adapted for installation.

Claims

1. A process for providing identifying information as to the contents of an object on such an object, the process comprising:

a) substantially permanently affixing a placard to one such object with a release coated surface of the placard oriented outwardly, said placard further comprising an electronic information storage device disposed between the release coated surface and said object when the placard is affixed thereto, said information storage device being adapted to store information transmitted thereto from a transmitting device and to transmit stored information to a receiving device;

b) providing a first label bearing information related to a first set of object contents;

c) applying the first label to the placard by securing a pressure sensitive adhesive coating of the first label to the placard release coating;

d) transmitting information pertaining to said first set of object contents to said information storage device;

e) at a selected one of a time prior to and a time subsequent to the first label applying step positioning a first contents set in the object;

f) removing the first contents set from the object and replacing it with a second contents set; and

,

g) at a selected one of a time prior to and a time subsequent to the first set removal step removing the first label from the placard while leaving the placard affixed to the object and applying to the release coated surface of the placard a pressure sensitive surface of a second label bearing information related to contents of the second set.

2. The process of claim 1, further comprising:

h) at a selected one of a time prior to and a time subsequent to the first set removal step, transmitting information pertaining to said second contents set to said information storage device.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein the information transmitted to said information storage device is, at least in part, the same as information on said first label.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein the step of removing the first label includes removing the pressure sensitive adhesive of the first label from the release coating.

5. The process according to claim 1, wherein said placard is provided with a disposable liner having a release coating for covering an adhesive coated surface of said placard prior to attachment of said placard to the object.

6. A method of labeling and relabeling an object with replaceable pressure-sensitive adhesive-backed labels comprising:

a) providing a plurality of pressure sensitive adhesive coated labels having indicia printed thereon;

b) providing a placard having an adhesive coated surface, a release coated surface and an electronic information storage device disposed between said adhesive coated and release coated surfaces, said information storage device being adapted to store information transmitted thereto from a transmitting device and to transmit stored information to a receiving device;

c) substantially permanently affixing the placard to the object by applying the adhesive coated surface of said placard to a surface of the object with the release coated surface oriented outward;

d) applying a first label to the placard by securing the pressure sensitive adhesive coating of the first label to the placard release coated surface;

e) at a selected one of a time prior to and a time subsequent to the first label applying step, positioning a first contents set in the object;

f) at a selected one of a time prior to and a time subsequent to the first label applying step, transmitting information pertaining to said first contents set to said information storage device;

g) removing the first contents set from the object and replacing it with a second contents set; and

h) at a selected one of a time prior to and a time subsequent to the first set removal step, removing the first label by separating the pressure sensitive adhesive coating of the first label from the release coated surface of the placard while leaving the placard fully attached to the object and applying to the release coated surface of the placard a pressure sensitive adhesive coating of a second label having indicia related to the contents of the second set.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

i) at a selected one of a time prior to and a time subsequent to the first set removal step, transmitting information pertaining to said second contents set to said information storage device.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the information transmitted to said information storage device is, at least in part, the same as information on said first label.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein said placard is provided with a disposable liner having a release coating for covering the adhesive coated surface of said placard prior to attachment of said placard to the object.

10. A process for providing identifying information as to the contents of a reusable object on such an object, the process comprising:

a) providing an object having a placard substantially permanently affixed to said object with a release coated surface of the placard oriented outwardly of said object and an electronic information storage device disposed between the release coated surface and said object, said information storage device being adapted to store information transmitted thereto from a transmitting device and to transmit stored information to a receiving device;

b) providing a first label bearing information related to a first set of object contents;

c) applying the first label to the placard by securing a pressure sensitive adhesive coating of the first label to the placard release coated surface;

d) transmitting information pertaining to said first set of object contents to said information storage device;

e) at a selected one of a time prior to and a time subsequent to applying the first label, placing a first contents set in the object;

e) removing the first contents set from the object and replacing it with a second contents set; and

,

f) at a selected one of a time prior to and a time subsequent to removing the first set, removing the first label from the placard while leaving the placard affixed to the object, and applying to the placard release coated surface, a pressure sensitive surface of a second label bearing information related to the second contents set.

11. The process of claim 10, further comprising:

g) at a selected one of a time prior to and a time subsequent to removing the first set, transmitting information pertaining to said second contents set to said information storage device.

12. The process of claim 10, wherein the information transmitted to said information storage device is, at least in part, the same as information on said first label.

13. The process of claim 10, wherein the step of removing the first label includes removing the pressure sensitive adhesive of the first label from the placard release coating.

14. The process according to claim 10, including providing said object having said placard substantially affixed by providing said placard having a disposable liner with a release coating for covering a placard adhesive coated surface, and removing said disposable liner prior to affixing said placard to the object by means of said placard adhesive coated surface.

15. A method of using a reusable container for products by labeling and relabeling the container comprising:

a) providing said reusable container having a placard substantially permanently affixed to said container by means of a placard adhesive coated surface of said placard pressed against the container, and with a placard release coating of said placard oriented outwardly of said container, said placard further comprising an electronic information storage device disposed between the adhesive coated surface and the release coating of said placard, said information storage device being adapted to store information transmitted thereto from a transmitting device and to transmit stored information to a receiving device;

b) inserting a first product into the container;

c) at a selected one of a time prior to and a time subsequent to inserting said first product into said container, adhering a pressure sensitive adhesive coating of a first label bearing information about said first product to said placard release coating;

d) at a selected one of a time prior to and a time subsequent to inserting said first product into said container, transmitting information pertaining to said first product to said information storage device;

e) removing the first product from the container;

f) inserting a second product into the container; and

g) at a selected one of a time prior to and a time subsequent to inserting said second product into said container, removing the first label while leaving the placard affixed to the container, and thereafter adhering a pressure sensitive adhesive coating of a second label bearing second product information to the placard release coating.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

h) at a selected one of a time prior to and a time subsequent to inserting said second product into said container, transmitting information pertaining to said second product to said information storage device.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the information transmitted to said information storage device is, at least in part,h the same as information on said first label.

18. The method of claim 15, including exposing the placard adhesive coated surface by removing a disposable backing liner having a release layer adhered to the placard adhesive coated surface prior to affixing said placard to said container.