Multi-portion label and labelling system

A multi-portion label is provided which avoids the need for carbon paper type duplication. The label can therefore be printed on a single sheet of label material, using a laser printer or the like, instead of relying on impact printers or hand printing. The label includes a main portion which is fixed into place on a package surface or the like. The first portion is contiguous with a second portion which is characteristically folded under the first portion when the label is fixed in place. The first and second portions are, for example, manually separable, whereby the second portion can be withdrawn from underneath the first portion, and can serve as a proof of delivery receipt, or the like.

This invention relates to a multi-portion label and to a labelling system. 
This invention has particular but not exclusive application to the transfer 
of goods, documents or other articles via delivery services. Labels 
presently used by such delivery services are known as consignment notes. 
Consignment notes which are presently in use consist of a plurality of 
leaves (portions) which are joined and detachable from a common spine. 
These consignment notes are specifically designed for use with an impact 
printer, or may be hand written, and are useful where a receipt is 
required by, for example, the delivery company and the sender. In use, the 
uppermost sheet is printed by hand or with an impact printer and the 
underlying sheets received a carbon imprint. 
This invention in one aspect resides broadly in a multi-portion label 
comprising: 
a first portion adapted to be fixed to a substrate; and 
a second portion separable from the first portion, wherein the second 
portion is at least partially disposed intermediate the first portion and 
the substrate when the first portion is fixed to the substrate. 
Preferably, the first portion at least partially acts as an envelope for 
the second portion when the first portion is fixed to the substrate. 
Preferably the first portion includes fixing means for fixing the first 
portion to the substrate. 
To facilitate printing of the multi-portion label it is preferred that the 
first and second portions are constituted by a single sheet of printable 
material. Thus the first and second portions can be printed by a single 
pass through a conventional printer without the necessity of any carbon 
imprints. 
While the second portion may be disposed intermediate the substrate and the 
first portion in any suitable manner, in a preferred embodiment the first 
and second portions are adapted to be folded together such that the first 
and second portions mutually overlap. In this preferred embodiment the 
overlapping portion of the first portion includes the fixing means, and 
the overlapping portion of the second portion constitutes a tab for 
assisting manual separation of the second portion from the first portion. 
Preferably, the second portion includes a fold line to facilitate folding. 
The first and second portions may be separable via any suitable means. 
However, it is preferred that a frangible means is disposed intermediate 
the first and second portions. The frangible means may include, for 
example, adhesive or tape or other form of connection between the first 
and second portions. However, it is prefered that the frangible means is a 
line of perforations. 
Similarly, the fixing means may include any suitable means which fixes the 
first portion to the substrate. For example, the fixing means may include 
"double-sided" tape, or indeed the first portion may be fixed to the 
substrate by mechanical means such as staples. In a preferred embodiment 
the fixing means is adhesive. 
The multi-portion label may be of any suitable shape or configuration and 
adhesive may be located thereon at any suitable points. Most preferably 
however, the first portion is generally rectangular and, in use, is fixed 
to the substrate along three sides thereof and the second portion 
protrudes from beneath the fourth side. The first portion may, of course, 
be fixed to the substrate by two or even one side. 
The second portion may be foldable upon itself to form sub-portions. These 
sub-portions may also be separable from each other by, for example, 
frangible means such as a line of perforations. In an arrangement where 
the second portion consists of two sub-portions, there would be three 
copies of the printed information, ie. the first portion and the two 
sub-portions of the second portion. 
In one alternative embodiment the multi-portion label includes a third 
portion separable from the first portion by frangible means. Once again it 
is preferred that the first, second and third portions are constituted by 
a single sheet of printable material. 
The multi-portion label according to the invention also includes an 
embodiment wherein the second portion is separable from the first portion 
prior to use, is adapted to be adhered to the first portion prior to use 
and is removable from the first portion is use. 
While the multi-portion label according to the invention may include only 
printed matter, it preferred that the multi-portion label also includes 
identification means. The identification means may be a number, code or 
other indicia, however it is preferred that the identification means is a 
bar code. Most preferably the bar code is printed on a tab which is 
removable from the multi-portion label. Most preferably the tabs include 
adhesive backing. 
It is preferred that the material of the multi-portion label includes a 
protective coating. Most preferably the coating includes a plastic 
coating. 
In another aspect this invention broadly resides in a method of 
manufacturing a multi-portion label including: 
providing frangible means intermediate a first and second portion of a 
sheet of printable material; 
placing adhesive on selected areas of the first portion; and 
providing a fold line whereby the second portion can be at least partially 
folded under the first portion such that the second portion does not 
contact any adhesive located on the first portion. 
Preferably, the frangible means includes a line of perforations. 
In a further embodiment the invention resides broadly in a method of using 
a multi-portion label as hereinbefore described, the method including: 
printing information on each portion of the multi-portion label; 
folding the multi-portion label such that the second portion is at least 
partially disposed under the first portion; and 
adhering the first portion to the substrate. 
Preferably, the method further includes manually grasping the second 
portion, separating the second portion from the first portion, and 
withdrawing the second portion from between the first portion and the 
substrate.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, multi-portion label 10 includes first portion 
11 and second portion 12. First portion 11 and second portion 12 are 
defined by a line of perforations 14 which render second portion 12 
separable from first portion 11. Second portion 12 includes fold line 15. 
First portion 11 includes adhesive 13 on three edges thereof. Adhesive 13 
is located and second portion 12 is of a size such that when second 
portion 12 is folded under first portion 11 about fold line 15 (as seen in 
FIG. 2), second portion 12 does not contact adhesive 13 but is 
substantially disposed intermediate first portion 11 and substrate 50. 
Furthermore, when folded, second portion 12 protrudes from beneath first 
portion 11 to facilitate manual removal of second portion 12. 
The embodiment as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 therefore provides a 
multi-portion label which may be separated into two copies. Both copies 
(portions) of the label may be printed by a single pass of the label 
through a conventional printer without requiring carbon. 
If a third (or more) copy is required, second portion 12 may be folded upon 
itself thereby forming sub-portions 31 and 32 (see FIG. 3) which are 
separable from each other. 
In another embodiment, first portion 11 may be separably connected to third 
portion 41 by perforations 42 (as seen in FIG. 4). In use, third portion 
41 is located adjacent first portion 11 and may be removed before or on 
delivery of an article. Third portion 41 is not protected by being folded 
under first portion 11 as is second portion 12. 
As illustrated in FIG. 5, third portion 41 may also include coded tabs 51 
which are removable from first portion 41 and include adhesive backing to 
facilitate adhesion to a substrate. A plurality of coded tabs 61 may also 
be attached to second portion 12 as seen in FIG. 6. 
In use of a multi-portion label according to the invention is passed 
through a printer, which may be an impact or non-impact printer, and 
information is printed as required. After printing is completed, the 
second portion, and any sub-portions thereof, is folded under the first 
portion. Adhesive which is located on the first portion is then activated 
or exposed and the multi-portion label is adhered to the relevant article 
or substrate. It will be understood that the multi-portion label is 
protected from damage during handling due to its low profile against the 
substrate. 
Upon delivery to the addressee, second portion 12 is manually grasped and 
separated from first portion 11 which remains fixed to the article. Second 
portion 12, and any sub-portions thereof, is retained by the delivery 
service to confirm delivery. 
The multi-portion label according to the invention provides many 
advantages. Firstly, as mentioned above, it may be printed on an impact or 
non-impact printer without any requirements for carbon paper or the like. 
Whilst each portion includes the essential information, the multi-portion 
label can also be personalised and allocated to a specific client. 
As many multiple copies as required can be included in the multi-portion 
label by including either sub-portions of the second portion or providing 
additional portions separably attached to the first portion. 
Both sides of the multi-portion label can be printed, thus reducing the 
number of parts required in some instances. 
As the multi-portion labels can be printed using a non-impact printer, such 
as a laser printer, superior legibility and font quality is achieved. 
If the multi-portion label includes a bar code or a plurality of bar codes, 
there is less likelihood of "mismatching" as the multi-portion label and 
the bar code are generated concurrently. 
It is also envisaged that it may also be possible, in the field of postal 
services, to provide a service and supply system whereby blank 
multi-portion labels without bar codes are provided to a client at minimal 
cost and, when printing is required, the client contacts the supplier 
informing of how many multi-portion labels are required. A number of bar 
codes corresponding to the required number of multi-portion labels are 
thereafter down-loaded onto the clients computer via a modem line for a 
nominal cost per bar code. 
The client can then print the multi-portion labels, including the 
down-loaded bar codes, and send the articles as required. 
This system clearly provides a situation wherein account and record keeping 
are substantially enhanced as when the bar codes are down-loaded by the 
supplier, computer records are automatically updated. 
It will of course be realised that whilst the above has been given by way 
of an illustrative example of this invention, all such and other 
modification and variations hereto, as would be apparent to persons 
skilled in the art, are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of 
this invention as is herein set forth.