Semi-automatic mailpiece printer/label applicator

A method of applying address labels to mailpieces in a semiautomatic manner utilizing a label applicator including label and mailpiece positive stops in a housing, each label having a first face with pressure sensitive adhesive, and a second face with address indicia thereon, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) feeding a label into the housing until positively stopped at a first desired position so that the first face thereof is substantially uncovered;
• (b) releasably holding the label in the first position;
• (c) feeding a mailpiece into the housing until positively stopped at a second desired position aligned with the first position;
• (d) sensing the label and mailpiece contemporaneously at the first and second positions, respectively;
• (e) in response to step (d) automatically effecting relative movement of the label and mailpiece with respect to each other so that the adhesive of the label sticks to the mailpiece;
• (f) removing the mailpiece from the housing, with the label applied, the label being automatically released from being held in the first position;
• and
• (g) manually adjusting the positive stop positions for label feeding and mailpiece feeding.

A desktop combined printer and label applicator assembly comprising:

• a printer comprising a housing, a print head within said housing, and a source of electric power;
• a label applicator disposed in a housing;
• a feed mechanism which feeds printed labels from said printer housing into said label applicator housing, said feed mechanism being electrically powered;
• said housings being dimensioned and configured to collectively fit on a desktop;
• an electrically powered label holding device disposed in said label applicator housing;
• an electrically powered device which effects relative movement between a substrate and the label so that pressure sensitive adhesive on one face of the label moves into contact with, and adheres to, the substrate, disposed within said label applicator housing;
• electrically powered sensors for sensing the relative positions of the label and substrate, said sensors disposed in said label applicator housing;
• said electrically powered holding device, moving device, and sensors, connected up to the same source of electrical power as said printer, and
• a mounting plate connecting said printer housing and said label applicator housing together at a bottom portion of each and having mounting feet extending downwardly therefrom.

A label applicator comprising:

• a label feed mechanism which feeds a label having a first face with pressure sensitive adhesive and a second face with indicia printed thereon;
• a label positive stop cooperating with said feed mechanism to stop a label fed by the feed mechanism in a first desired position;
• a holding device which holds the label in said first desired position;
• a substrate positive stop which stops a substrate at a second desired position in alignment with a label at said first desired position;
• and
• automatic means for moving a substrate at said second desired position into, and then out of, contact with the pressure sensitive adhesive of a label held substantially stationary at said first desired position so that the label sticks to the substrate, and is removed from the holding device with the substrate;
• said automatic means controlled by a control device having at least two position sensors for sensing the position of a label and a substrate, respectively;
• a printer for printing indicia on a label second face, and a mounting plate connecting said printer and housing together at a bottom portion of each;
• and
• said label feed mechanism, label positive stop, holding device, substrate positive stop, printer means, and automatic means are mounted within a housing dimensioned to fit on a desk top.

A label applicator for use with a mailpiece as a substrate and comprising:

• a label feed mechanism which feeds a label having a first face with pressure sensitive adhesive and a second face with indicia printed thereon;
• a label positive stop cooperating with said feed mechanism to stop a label fed by the feed mechanism in a first desired position;
• a holding device which holds the label in said first desired position;
• a substrate positive stop which stops a substrate at a second desired position into, and then out of, contact with the pressure sensitive adhesive of a label held substantially stationary at said first desired position so that the label sticks to the substrate, and is removed from the holding device with the substrate;
• said automatic means controlled by a control device having at least two position sensors for sensing the position of a label and a substrate, respectively;
• and
• a mailpiece support plate extending outwardly from said housing opposite said feed mechanism, said support plate facilitating manual movement of a mailpiece into and out of said housing to contact said substrate positive stop.