Label applicator and system

A label application system, comprising:

• an applicator body including a label support surface
• a second label having a wide central opening, wider than the narrow central opening;
• the first label being positionable in a first label application position on the label support surface with an exposed adhesive face of the first label disposed upwardly, or the second label being positionable in a second label application position on the label support surface with an exposed adhesive face of the second label disposed upwardly;
• post means extending up from a central area of the label support surface for centering the first label in the first label application position;
• centering means positionable by a user between an operative position and an inoperative position, the centering means when in the operative position extending generally above the label support surface for centering the second label in the second label application position;
• the post means centering the first label when the centering means is in the inoperative position and the first label is in the first label application position;
• and
• the post means including article support means for supporting an article in a position such that the article can be pressed down and against the exposed adhesive face of the first label when the first label is in the first label application position.

A label applicator, comprising:

• an body including a label support surface;
• a post assembly extending up from a central area of the label support surface;
• first and second pairs of engagement members supported by the applicator body, the first and second pairs being spaced outward from the post assembly on opposite sides thereof;
• with a label, the label having (a) a central portion having an adhesive face and a central hole, and (b) first and second tabs extending out from the central portion, each of the tabs having a pair of opposite side notches, in a label application position on the applicator, the central portion is on the support surface with the adhesive face disposed upwardly, the post assembly is disposed in the central hole, the engagement members of the first pair are disposed in respective ones of the side notches of the first tab, and the engagement members of the second pair are disposed in respective ones of the side notches of the second tab;
• and
• the post assembly including an article support surface adapted to support an article in a position such that the article can be pressed down and against the adhesive face of the label when in the label application position.

A label applicator, system comprising:

• a label including:
• a center portion, the center portion having an adhesive face and a center hole;
• a first tab extending out from the center portion, the first tab including a pair of opposite side notches;
• and a second tab extending out from the center portion, the second tab including a pair of opposite side notches;
• a label applicator including:
• an applicator body having a label support surface;
• a post assembly extending up from a central area of the label support surface, the post assembly being adapted to support an article in a support position;
• and first and second pairs of engagement members supported by the applicator body and spaced outward from the post assembly on generally opposite sides thereof;
• and
• the label being positionable in a label application position on the body with the center portion on the support surface, the adhesive face upwardly disposed, the post assembly passing through the center hole, the first pair of engagement members positioned in the side notches of the first tab, and the second pair of engagement members positioned in the side notches of the second tab.

A label applicator, comprising:

• an applicator body including a label support surface;
• a post assembly at a central area of the label support surface;
• the post assembly including a spindle, an inner centering post and an outer centering ring;
• the spindle extending up from the inner centering post and defining an article support ledge on a top surface of the post and surrounding the spindle, the ledge being adapted to support an article having a hole in an article support position with the spindle disposed in the hole;
• the inner centering post having a first effective diameter adapted to center a first label having a narrow central opening in a first label application position with the centering post disposed in the narrow central opening and an adhesive face of the first label upwardly disposed;
• the outer centering ring surrounding the inner centering post and having a second effective diameter, which is larger than the first effective diameter, adapted to center a second label having a wide central opening, which is wider than the narrow central opening, in a second label application position with the centering ring disposed in the wide central opening and an adhesive face of the second label upwardly disposed;
• and
• the post assembly being adapted to allow an article in the article support position to be pressed down against the first label when the first label is in the first label support position to adhere the first label to the article.

A label applicator, comprising:

• an applicator body including a label support surface;
• a label-application post assembly at a central area of the support surface;
• the post assembly including an outer centering ring movable in an opening in the support surface;
• the post assembly further including a centering post and a spindle fixed to the centering post and extending up from a top surface thereof;
• the outer centering ring being concentric with the centering post;
• a support ledge defined by the top surface of the centering post;
• and
• the centering post being movable in an opening in the centering ring.

A label applicator, comprising:

• a label support surface having a central area;
• a post assembly extending up from the central area such that a label having a label through-hole can be positioned in a support position generally on the support surface with the post assembly extending up through the label through-hole and an adhesive face of the label facing up, such that an article having an article through-hole can be positioned over the post assembly so that a flat surface of the article can be pressed and guided against the adhesive face of the positioned label;
• and
• wherein the post assembly includes a spindle positioned under the support surface and supported by a spring assembly including a flat spring and a coiled spring, the flat spring holding the coiled spring against the spindle and biasing the spindle in a raised position such that at least a portion of the spindle extends through the support surface.

A label applicator, comprising:

• a label support surface having a central area;
• a post assembly extending up from the central area such that a label having a label through-hole can be positioned in a support position generally on the support surface with the post assembly extending up through the label through-hole and an adhesive face of the label facing up, such that an article having an article through-hole can be positioned over the post assembly so that a flat surface of the article can be pressed and guided against the adhesive face of the positioned label;
• wherein the support surface positions the label in a lateral position by a pair of flex ribs positioned at outer, longitudinal edges, the flex ribs coupled to the support surface at points along elongated sides and include a raised edge opposite the coupling points;
• and
• wherein the pair of flex ribs each include an alignment wall having two sides angled relative to each other along a crease line.

A label applicator, comprising:

• a label support surface having a central area;
• a post assembly extending up from the central area such that a label having a label through-hole can be positioned in a support position generally on the support surface with the post assembly extending up through the label through-hole and an adhesive face of the label facing up, such that an article having an article through-hole can be positioned over the post assembly so that a flat surface of the article can be pressed and guided against the adhesive face of the positioned label;
• and
• a pair of surface flaps coupled to the support surface and having an opening at substantially parallel positions relative to the support surface, wherein the surface flaps each include a foam portion at the opening, the surface flaps being compressible against the support surface when the article is positioned on the spindle and pushed down against the support surface.

A label applicator, comprising:

• a label support surface having a central area;
• a post assembly extending up from the central area such that a label having a label through-hole can be positioned in a support position generally on the support surface with the post assembly extending up through the label through-hole and an adhesive face of the label facing up, such that an article having an article through-hole can be positioned over the post assembly so that a flat surface of the article can be pressed and guided against the adhesive face of the positioned label;
• and
• wherein the post assembly includes a ring coupled to a foam sleeve and a cap capable of being screwed into and out of the foam sleeve, the ring for supporting the article placed on the post assembly and capable of moving up and down with the foam sleeve as the post assembly is moved up and down.

A label applicator, comprising:

• an applicator body having a support surface;
• a post assembly extending up from the applicator body;
• a locator assembly having at least one locator member and a lift post operatively connected to the at least one locator member;
• the lift post extending through the body and through the post assembly;
• the locator assembly being movable from a rest position to a lifted position by pulling up on the lift post such that the lift post moves relative to the post assembly;
• when the locator assembly is in the rest position, the post assembly defines a centering structure for a small-hole adhesive label on the support surface, the small-hole adhesive label having a central small through-hole;
• and
• when the locator assembly is in the lifted position, the at least one locator member extends up above the support surface around the post assembly such that the at least one locator member defines a centering structure for a large-hole adhesive label on the support surface, the large-hole adhesive label having a central large through-hole which has a larger diameter than that of the small through-hole.

A label applicator, comprising:

• an applicator body having a support surface;
• a post assembly extending up from the body;
• a locator assembly having at least one locator member and a lift post;
• the lift post extending through the body and through the post assembly;
• the locator assembly being movable relative to the applicator body between a first position and a second position;
• when the locator assembly is in the first position, the post assembly defines a centering structure for a small-hole adhesive label on the support surface, the small-hole adhesive label having a central small through-hole;
• when the locator assembly is in the second position, the at least one locator member extends up above the support surface generally around the post assembly such that the at least one locator member defines a centering structure for a large-hole adhesive label on the support surface, the large-hole adhesive label having a central large through-hole which has a larger diameter than that of the small through-hole;
• and the lift post being operatively connected to the at least one locator member.

A label applicator, comprising:

• an applicator body having a label support surface;
• a label-application post assembly at a central area of the support surface;
• the post assembly including a label centering ring, a centering post, and a spindle extending up from a top surface of the centering post;
• the centering ring being movable in an opening in a center of the support surface and being concentric with the centering post;
• and
• the centering post and the spindle being movable together and relative to the label support surface between operative raised and lowered positions.

A label applicator, comprising:

• an applicator body having a support surface;
• a label-application post assembly at a central area of the support surface;
• the post assembly including an outer centering ring, a centering post, and a spindle extending up from a top surface of the centering post;
• the outer centering ring being movable in an opening in the support surface and being concentric with the centering post;
• and
• a coil spring for moving the spindle and the centering post together and relative to the outer centering ring.

A label applicator, comprising:

• an applicator body having a support surface;
• a label-application post assembly at a central area of the support surface;
• the post assembly including an outer centering ring, a centering post, and a spindle extending up from a top surface of the centering post;
• the outer centering ring being movable in an opening in the support surface and being concentric with and encircling the centering post above the support surface;
• and
• the post assembly including a spring for upwardly biasing the centering post.

A label applicator, comprising:

• an applicator body having a round label support surface;
• a label-application post assembly at a central area of the support surface;
• the post assembly including an outer centering ring, a centering post, and a spindle extending up from the centering post;
• the centering ring being movable in an opening in a central area of the support surface;
• and
• the centering post and the spindle being movable together and relative to the label support surface between operative raised and lowered positions.

A label applicator, comprising:

• an applicator body including a label support surface;
• a post assembly extending up from a central area of the label support surface;
• the post assembly having a first effective diameter adapted to center a first label having a narrow central opening in a first label application position on the support surface with an adhesive face of the first label disposed upwardly;
• engagement structure positionable by a user between an operative position and an inoperative position, the engagement structure when in the operative position extending generally above the label support surface and adapted to define a second effective diameter greater than that of the first effective diameter and adapted to center a second label having a wide central opening wider than the narrow central opening in a second label application position on the support surface with an adhesive face of the second label disposed upwardly;
• the post assembly including an article support surface adapted to support an article in a position such that the article can be pressed down and against the adhesive face of the first label when in the first label application position;
• and
• first and second pairs of pegs supported by the body, the first and second pairs being spaced outward from the post assembly on opposite sides thereof, the first pair of pegs engaging in side edge notches of a first tab of one of the first or second labels when that label is in the label application position, and the second pair of pegs engaging in side edge notches of a second tab of that label when in the label application position.

A label applicator, comprising:

• an applicator body including a label support surface;
• a post assembly extending up from a central area of the label support surface;
• first and second pairs of engagement members supported by the applicator body, the first and second pairs being spaced outward from the post assembly on opposite sides thereof;
• with a label, the label having (a) a central portion having an adhesive face and a central hole, and (b) first and second tabs extending out from the central portion, each of the tabs having a pair of opposite side notches, in a label application position on the applicator, the central portion is on the support surface with the adhesive face disposed upwardly, the post assembly is disposed in the central hole, the engagement members of the first pair are disposed in respective ones of the side notches of the first tab, and the engagement members of the second pair are disposed in respective ones of the side notches of the second tab;
• the post assembly including an article support surface adapted to support an article in a position such that the article can be pressed down and against the adhesive face of the label when in the label application position;
• and
• first and second arcuate rims on the support surface, a first one of the engagement members of the first pair and a first one of the engagement members of the second pair being positioned at opposite ends of the first arcuate rim, and a second one of the engagement members of the first pair and a second one of the engagement members of the second pair being positioned at opposite ends of the second arcuate rim.

A label applicator, comprising:

• an applicator body including a label support surface;
• a label-application post assembly at a central area of the support surface;
• the post assembly including an outer centering ring movable in an opening in the support surface;
• the post assembly including a centering post and a spindle fixed to the centering post and extending up from a top surface thereof;
• the outer centering ring being concentric with the centering post;
• a support ledge defined by the top surface of the centering post;
• the post assembly including an inner spring which upwardly biases the centering post;
• the post assembly including an outer spring operatively associated with the centering ring;
• and
• at least one of:
• (1) wherein the centering post is movable in an opening in the centering ring;
• (2) wherein the centering post is upwardly biased relative to the support surface;
• (3) wherein the outer spring upwardly biases the centering ring;
• (4) wherein the centering post defines a downwardly-disposed cup in which the inner spring is disposed and the outer ring defines a downwardly-disposed ring in which the outer spring is disposed;
• and (5) wherein the applicator body includes abutment structure which defines a lower position of the centering ring.

A label applicator, comprising:

• an applicator body having a support surface;
• a label-application post assembly at a central area of the support surface;
• the post assembly including an outer centering ring, a centering post, and a spindle extending up from a top surface of the centering post;
• the outer centering ring being movable in an opening in the support surface and being concentric with the centering post;
• a coil spring for moving the spindle relative to the outer centering ring;
• and
• the post assembly including a spring for upwardly biasing the centering post.

A label application system, comprising:

• a label applicator base assembly including a label support surface;
• at least a narrow-hole label and a wide-hole label;
• and
• centering means manually positionable by a user between alternative first and second configurations (a) for centering, when in the first configuration, in a narrow hole of the narrow-hole label, the narrow-hole label in a label application position on the label support surface with an exposed adhesive face of the narrow-hole label being upwardly disposed and (b) for centering, when in the second configuration, in a wide hole, which is wider than the narrow hole, of the wide-hole label, the wide-hole label in a label application position on the label support surface with an exposed adhesive face of the wide-hole label being upwardly disposed.