US 4,240,854 A · Fan-folded labeling technique

Abstract

Self-adhesive labels mounted on a backing strip are formed into fan-folded sets or stacks and are loaded directly from the fan-folding machine into an open four-sided cassette. The cassettes are made of cardboard, and after they are loaded with fan-folded labels, they are enclosed either by the addition of a fifth side or by wrapping. The cassette packages are then transported to the location where labels are to be applied to products moving along a conveyor. The fan-folded labels are supported in an open L-shaped rack which is tilted and which is of sufficient length to hold at least two sets or cassettes of fan-folded labels side by side. The labels are fed directly into a standard type of label dispenser which applies the labels to products as they are moving along a conveyor line. As labels are used up, the free end of the first stack of fan-folded labels may be spliced to the second stack of labels so that the high speed labeling machine does not have to be stopped for re-loading a fresh reel of labels, but the labeling process may continue without downtime.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A method for efficiently handling slippery and unstable layers of fan-folded self-adhesive labels mounted on a backing sheet comprising the steps of:

p1 preparing self-adhesive labels on a backing tape in a fan-folded configuration to form a slippery and unstable stack of layers;
loading stacks of the slippery fan-folded labels on backing tape directly from a fan-folding label fabrication machine into rectangular four sided cassettes open at both the front and the top;
packaging the loaded cassettes to hold the fan-folded labels in the cassettes;
transporting the cassettes to the label applicator location;
mounting first and second stacks of fan-folded labels adjacent one another with the lower end of the backing tape and labels of each fan-folded stack available for splicing;
feeding said labels from the first one of said stacks into a label applicator;
applying said labels from said applicator to products as they are moving along a conveyor;
and
splicing the lower end of said first stack to the upper end of said second stack of fan-folded labels without interrupting the dispensing and application of labels from the top of said first stack of fan-folded labels.

6 more elements

A method for efficiently handling slippery and unstable layers of fan-folded self-adhesive labels mounted on a backing sheet comprising the steps of:

preparing self-adhesive labels on a backing tape in a fan-folded configuration to form a slippery and unstable stack of layers;
loading stacks of the slippery fan-folded labels on backing tape directly from the fan-folding label fabrication machine into rectangular four sided cassettes open at the top and the front;
packaging the loaded cassettes to hold the fan-folded labels in the cassettes by using shrink wrap plastic covering;
transporting the cassettes to the label applicator location;
removing the shrink wrap plastic covering;
mounting first and second stacks of fan-folded labels adjacent one another in a tilted L-shaped rack with the lower end of the backing tape and labels of each fan-folded stack available for splicing;
feeding said labels from the first one of said stacks into a label applicator;
applying said labels from said applicator to products as they are moving along a conveyor;
and
splicing the lower end of said first stack to the upper end of said second stack of fan-folded labels without interrupting the dispensing and application of labels from the top of said first stack of fan-folded labels.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fan-folded labeling technique

Life of this patent

Fan-folded labeling technique

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11