Label applicator, method and label therefor

An applicator for applying a label having a label hole to a substantially flat article having an article hole, comprising:

• a label support surface movable from a convex shape to a flatter shape;
• a post assembly extending up from the label support surface;
• the post assembly having cross-sectional dimensions such that the label hole can be positioned over the post top and the label mount down towards the label support surface to a label deposit position;
• and
• the cross-sectional dimensions allowing the substantially flat article to be placed over the post top with the post top passing through the article hole and the article pressed down against the label with the label in the label deposit position and applying pressure against the surface causing the surface to move from the convex shape to the flatter shape and the label thereby applied to the article.

A label applicator assembly, comprising:

• a label support surface;
• a flat-article locator assembly extending up from the surface;
• and
• a pin for locating at least in part a label on the surface while a flat article is being pressed down relative to the locator assembly to an application position on an adhesive face of the label.

A label applicator assembly, comprising:

• a label support surface;
• a flat-article locator assembly extending up from the surface;
• the surface extending generally downwardly from and about the periphery the locator assembly;
• and
• the locator assembly defining an initial flat-article rest position for a flat article and an applicator position wherein the flat article is pressed down against a label on the label support surface.

An application method, comprising:

• providing a label sheet having an adhesive label thereon, the label having a central hole;
• peeling the label from the sheet;
• and
• positioning the peeled label on a downwardly curved applicator surface of a label applicator with an adhesive side of the label being upwardly disposed.

A label applicator, comprising:

• an applicator body having a support surface;
• and
• a post assembly extending up from a central area of the central area, the post assembly including a first centering area for centering a label having a narrow central opening, and a second centering area for centering a label having a wide central opening wider than the narrow central opening, the post assembly extending up through the support surface such that an adhesive face of a label facing up can be positioned over the post assembly;
• wherein a flat surface of an article can be pressed and guided against the adhesive face of the positioned label after positioning the article on the post assembly.

A method of applying a label to an article, comprising:

• providing an applicator having a support surface and a post assembly having a spindle and at least one centering area;
• applying a label to the support surface by positioning the label on the spindle;
• centering the label on the support surface with the at least one centering area;
• and
• applying an article to the support surface, the applying including positioning the article on the spindle.

A method of applying a label to an article, comprising:

• providing an applicator having a support surface and a post assembly having a spindle, a first centering area, and a second centering area;
• applying a first label having a narrow central opening to the support surface by positioning the first label on the spindle;
• centering the first label on the support surface with the first centering area;
• applying an article to the support surface, the applying including positioning the article on the spindle, and applying pressure to the article to force the article down on the post assembly such that the article contacts with the first label on the support surface;
• removing the article from the spindle;
• applying a second label having a wide central opening to the support surface by positioning the second label on the spindle;
• and
• centering the second label on support surface with the second centering area.

A label applicator, comprising:

• a flexible convex support surface having a central label support area;
• a post assembly extending up from the support area;
• and
• with an article positioned over the post assembly and pressed down against an adhesive label on the support area, the support surface is flattened to a substantially flat position against an upward bias.

A label comprising:

• a central area;
• a pair of tabs having a hole in each tab and extending out from the central area such that they are oppositely oriented relative to each other;
• and
• a pair of alignment ends extending out from the central area and oppositely oriented relative to each other along a perpendicular axis relative to the pair of tabs.