Sequentially placed shipping and packing label system

A method for sequentially applying a packing list and a shipping label to a container comprising the steps of:

• providing a conveyor for conveying containers along a path from an upstream to a downstream location, a first sensor positioned adjacent the conveyor, a first label applicator positioned adjacent the conveyor and operatively coupled to said first sensor, a second sensor positioned adjacent the conveyor and located downstream from the first sensor, and a second label applicator positioned adjacent the conveyor and located downstream from the first label application station;
• continuously moving a container along the conveyor;
• sensing the position of the container by the first sensor as the container moves along the conveyor past the first sensor;
• operatively communicating a signal from the first sensor to the first label applicator indicative of the position of the container;
• actuating the first label applicator responsive to the signal communicated to the first label applicator to adhesively apply a packing list to the container as it moves along the conveyor;
• sensing the position of the container by the second sensor as the container moves along the conveyor;
• operatively communicating a signal from the second sensor to the second label applicator indicative of the position of the container;
• and
• actuating the second label actuator responsive to the signal communicated to the second label applicator to adhesively apply a shipping label to the container over and in registry with the packing list previously adhered to the container,
• said packing list being adhered to the container but having a central portion that is unadhered to the container, said central portion having indicia printed thereon corresponding to the contents of the container,
• said shipping label being adhered to one of the container alone and both the packing list and the container,
• said shipping label having a central portion that overlies the central portion of the packing list in covering relationship to the indicia corresponding to the contents printed thereon,
• said actuating of the second label applicator including applying the shipping label such that the central portion of the shipping label is positioned in registry with and unadhered to the central portion of the packing list and being removable from remaining portions of the shipping label to permit exposing the central portion of the packing list when the central portion of the shipping label is removed from the container.

A method of applying plural-ply attachment of sheet materials to a container comprising the sequential steps of:

• using a first printing and applying machine to print information on a front side of a first ply of sheet material and to apply a back side of the first ply to a container;
• and
• using a second printing and applying machine to print information on a face side of a second ply of sheet material and to apply a reverse side of the second ply to a container having a first ply previously applied thereto,
• said second ply being placed at least partially atop the first ply,
• each of said plies containing information that is distinct from the information contained on the other ply but is related to the information contained on the other ply in a predetermined manner,
• said first ply being affixed to the container but having a central portion that is unaffixed to the container,
• said second ply being affixed to one of the container alone and both the first ply and the container,
• said second ply having a central portion that overlies the central portion of the first ply,
• said reverse side of the central portion of the second ply being positioned in registry with and over the front side of the central portion of the first ply such that the central portion of the second ply is unaffixed to the central portion of the first ply and being removable from remaining portions of the second ply to permit exposing the central portion of the first ply when the central portion of the second ply is removed from the container.

Apparatus for sequentially applying a shipping label and a packing list in registry on a container, comprising:

• a conveyor adapted to receive thereon a container and advance the container therealong from a first upstream location to a second downstream location;
• a first sensor positioned adjacent the conveyor and oriented to detect the movement of a container therepast;
• a first label application station positioned adjacent the conveyor and operatively coupled to said first sensor,
• said first station including a print and application machine for printing and applying a first label having a front side and a back side to a container detected by the first sensor during movement of a container therepast, the print and application machine applying the back side of the label to the container and printing on the front side of the label;
• a second sensor positioned adjacent the conveyor and downstream from the first label application station and oriented to detect the movement of a container therepast;
• a second label application station positioned adjacent the conveyor and downstream from the first label application station,
• said second label application station being operatively coupled to said second sensor and including a print and application machine for printing and applying a second label having a face side and a reverse side to a container detected by the second sensor during movement of a container therepast,
• said second label application station being positioned for applying the reverse side of the second label to the container in a preselected position over and relative to the first label and printing on said face side,
• said first label being affixed to the container but having a central portion that is unaffixed to the container,
• said second label being affixed to one of the container alone and both the first label and the container,
• said second label having a central portion that overlies the central portion of the first label,
• said central portion of the second label being unaffixed to the central portion of the first label without adhesive connecting the reverse side to the front side in the area of the central portion and being removable from remaining portions of the second label to permit exposing the central portion of the first label when the central portion of the second label is removed from the container.