System for application of labels
AssigneeBecton, Dickinson and Company
InventorsEric Bainbridge, John Hitchings
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for applying labels to objects includes an object supply for supplying objects substantially equally spaced and aligned in single file for labeling. The system also includes a label applicator for applying a label to an object from the object supply and a label supply for supplying the labels to the label applicator. Each of the labels are joined at an end to at least one other of the labels. The system also includes a labeling finisher to detach the end of each label from the at least one other label and to smooth the end of each label onto their respective object.
Claims19
A system for applying labels to objects comprising:
- an object to be labeled;
- a label having a first end and a second end to be applied to said object:
- an object supply for supplying a number of said objects substantially equally spaced and aligned in single file for labeling;
- a label applicator for applying one of said labels to each of said objects from said object supply;
- a label supply for supplying said labels to said label applicator, each of said labels being joined on at least one of said ends to at least one end of another of said labels thereby to join said objects together when said labels are applied to said objects;
- and
- a labeling finisher to detach said ends of said each label from said at least one other label and to separate said objects.
A system for applying tamper-indicating labels to shielded needle assemblies having a hub and shields at a juncture between the shields and the needle hub comprising:
- a supply of shielded needle assemblies each including two shields releasably mounted on opposing ends of a needle hub forming a juncture on the hub, the assemblies being arrayed in racks having a predetermined number of the assemblies substantially equally spaced and aligned in single file for labeling;
- a label applicator for receiving the racks of assemblies and applying a label to each of the assemblies at the juncture between the shields and the needle hub;
- a label supply for supplying labels to said label applicator, said labels being supplied in sets having a number of labels corresponding to the predetermined number of assemblies in the racks, said labels in said sets being joined at an end to at least one other label of said set;
- and
- a labeling finisher for detaching said end of said each label from said at least one other label in said set and smoothing said ends of each of said labels onto their respective needle assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.