Form/label combination and method

A form/label combination provides a label and multiple receipts which may be simply constructed from two continuous sheets of paper in one pass through only a coater and a label press. The first sheet of the form/label combination provides an adhesive label on the left side, and a receipt on the right. The label is releasably attached to the left side of the second sheet, while the receipt is detachably attached to the right side of the second sheet. An image-transfer mechanism is provided between the two sheets so that images impressed on the first sheet are transferred to the second sheet. A method for manufacturing such a form/label combination is also simple and easy to practice.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to form/label combinations, and in particular, 
form/label combinations such as pharmaceutical forms which may be filled 
out by hand or machine, to provide labels, receipts, and the like. The 
invention also relates to manufacturing methods for manufacturing such 
form/label combinations. 
When a customer asks a pharmacist to fill out a prescription for a 
pharmaceutical, in addition to providing a receptacle containing the 
pharmaceutical, the pharmacist must produce an adhesive label bearing drug 
and dosage information to be affixed to the receptacle, as well as a 
receipt for the customer, and at least one other receipt for his or her 
own records. Similar needs also arise in other trades such as in the 
courier industry and the airline industry. 
It is known to provide pre-printed form/label combinations, with label 
portions and image-transferring means, such that the user may easily 
produce adhesive labels, and multiple copies of a receipt. See for 
example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,277,089 and 5,299,979. 
However, to produce such known form/label combinations requires multiple 
passes through multiple machines. Normally, at least one pass through a 
printing press is necessary to print information on the non-adhesive 
portions of the form/label combination, a pass through a coater and label 
press is then required to make the label and print information thereon, 
and finally a collating step is needed to collate the various parts of the 
form/label combination together. 
One example of such a form/label combination is described in the second 
embodiment disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,277,089, mentioned above. An 
adhesive label is affixed to a first sheet, behind which a second sheet is 
provided. Image-transfer means are provided between each of the label, 
first sheet and second sheet. Once the form/label combination has been 
filled out by the user, he or she is provided with one adhesive label, and 
two receipts. However, to produce this form/label combination requires a 
first step of passing the label through a coater to apply an adhesive and 
adhesive-release material, a second step of passing the label through a 
label press to die-cut the label and for preprinting of information 
thereon, a third step of passing at least the first sheet, and possibly 
the second sheet as well, through a printing press for pre-printing of 
information, and a fourth step of collating of the three parts--the label 
and the two sheets, together in a collator. 
The material costs to produce such known form/label combinations are high 
in that at least two sheets of paper as well as a label sheet are 
required. Second, the equipment costs are high in that four separate 
machines are required to produce such form/label combinations--a coater, a 
label press, a printing press and a collator. Finally, the production 
costs are high in that at least four processing steps are required--one 
run through a coater, another through a label press, at least one run 
through a printing press, and a fourth through a collator. Thus, the 
production of such form/label combinations is expensive. 
According to the invention a form/label combination is produced more 
inexpensively than present known form/label combinations, by a process 
which is less expensive than present known processes for producing 
form/label combinations. 
According to a broad aspect of the invention there is provided a form/label 
combination comprising a first sheet having a first portion, a second 
portion, a front face and a back face, a second sheet located behind and 
substantially coextensive with the first sheet, the second sheet also 
having a first portion substantially coextensive with the first sheet 
first portion, a second portion substantially coextensive with the first 
sheet second portion, a front face and a back face, a first portion 
attachment mechanism which releasably attaches the first sheet first 
portion to the second sheet first portion (preferably comprising a 
pressure-sensitive adhesive provided on the back face of the first sheet 
first portion and a cooperating adhesive release material provided on the 
front face of the second sheet first portion), a second portion attachment 
mechanism which attaches the first sheet second portion to the second 
sheet, a mechanism (e.g. die cut) which allows ready detachment of the 
first sheet first portion from the first sheet second portion, and 
image-transfer means for transferring images impressed on the first sheet 
front face to the second sheet front face. The sheets and mechanisms are 
positioned and provided so that when information is placed on the front 
face of the first sheet, the first sheet first portion may be detached 
from the second sheet and adhered to another surface, the first sheet 
second portion may be detached from the second sheet to provide a separate 
record of the information placed thereon, and the second sheet provides a 
record (e.g. substantially all) of the information (indicia) placed on the 
front face of the first sheet. 
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided 
for making a continuous sheet of form/label combinations from a first and 
a second continuous sheet. The method comprises: (a) Applying image 
transfer means to at least one of the sheets, e.g. a coating of a 
self-contained image-transfer coating to a front face of the second 
continuous sheet, so that once the first continuous sheet is placed on top 
of the second continuous sheet, impressions formed on a front face of the 
first continuous sheet will be transferred to the front face of the second 
continuous sheet. (b) Applying a pressure-sensitive adhesive to a back 
face of a first longitudinal portion of the first continuous sheet. (c) 
Applying an adhesive-release coating to the front face of a first 
longitudinal portion of the second continuous sheet substantially 
coextensive with the first longitudinal portion of the first continuous 
sheet. (d) Placing the first continuous sheet on top of the second 
continuous sheet. (e) Providing longitudinal lines of weakness (e.g. 
perforations) in the first and second continuous sheets substantially 
between the first longitudinal portion and a second longitudinal portion 
of each continuous sheet. And, (f) providing transverse lines of weakness 
(e.g. perforations) in the first and second continuous sheets so as to 
define individual form/label combinations. In the method (a) is preferably 
performed before (c), and (a) through (c) are preferably performed before 
(d). 
Advantageously, the form/label combination according to the present 
invention provides the user with a label and two receipts, which 
form/label combination may be produced from only two sheets of paper. 
Further, only two machines, a coater and label press, are required to 
manufacture the form/label combination. The form/label combination can 
also be produced in one pass through a coater, and another through the 
label press. These advantages allow the form/label combination of the 
present invention to be produced more inexpensively than is the case for 
similar known form/label combinations. Similar advantages are provided by 
the method of the present invention. 
Other objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the following 
detailed description of the invention, and the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
FIGS. 1 and 3 illustrate a continuous sheet 12 of form/label combinations 
according to an exemplary preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
The continuous sheet 12 comprises or consists of a plurality of individual 
preferred embodiment form/label combinations, one of which is generally 
identified by the number 13, releasably attached to each other by way of 
lines of weakness (e.g. perforations) 14, with tractor-feed margins 30 and 
32 attached along each side of the continuous sheet 12. The perforations 
14 allow a user to easily detach each form/label combination 13 from the 
continuous sheet 12. As seen in FIG. 1, each form/label combination has 
top 13a, bottom 13b, left 13c and right 13d edges. 
As better seen in FIG. 3, each form/label combination 13 comprises a first 
sheet 34 having front 36 and back 40 faces, located above and 
substantially coextensive with, a second sheet 22 having front 38 and back 
42 faces. Note that in both FIGS. 1 and 3, part of the first sheet 34 
surrounding a label portion 18 has been removed for clarity of 
illustration. Each sheet 34 and 22 is of sufficient size to bear all 
information which is to be placed on the form/label combination 13. In the 
illustrated embodiment, each sheet 34 and 22 is approximately 73/4 inches 
in length from the left edge 13c to the right edge 13d, and about 3.2 
inches in length from the top edge 13a to the bottom edge 13b. Each of the 
first 34 and second 22 sheets is constructed of an appropriate 
material--paper, for example--to bear the various coatings applied 
thereto, to allow ease of handling, and to absorb ink applied thereto by 
the user. 
An image-transfer means is provided to transfer impressions from the sheet 
34 to the sheet 22. The image transfer means may be any suitable 
conventional mechanism for accomplishing that purpose, such as carbon 
paper, CB and CF coatings, etc. In the preferred embodiment illustrated 
the image transfer means comprises a conventional self-contained 
carbonless coating 39 applied to the front face 38 of the second sheet 22, 
so that impressions made on the front face 36 of the first sheet 34, are 
transferred as indicia on the front face 38 of the second sheet 22. An 
example of such a carbonless image-transfer coating 39 is known by the 
trademark MCP, and available from Moore USA, Inc. of Lake Forest, Ill. 
In FIG. 3, the dimension showing the thickness of the form/label 
combination 13 is greatly exaggerated to better show the different layers 
and coatings which make up the form/label combination. The relative 
thicknesses of the coatings shown in FIG. 3 are not meaningful. 
In the illustrated embodiment, each of the first 34 and second 22 sheets 
has two conventional tractor-feed margins 30 and 32 releasably attached at 
the left 13c and right 13d edges, by way of lines of weakness such as 
perforations 44 and 46. Each tractor-feed margin 30, 32 is of sufficient 
width to define tractor-feed holes 48 adapted to be received by the 
tractor-feed mechanism of a conventional impact printer (not shown). In 
the illustrated embodiment, the tractor-feed margins 30, 32 are 
approximately 7/8 inches in width, and define a plurality of holes 48 
approximately 5/32 inches in diameter, spaced 2 inches apart, and aligned 
in a line from the top edge 13a to the bottom edge 13b of each sheet 34 
and 22, approximately 1/4 inch from an outside edge of each tractor-feed 
margin 30 and 32. The perforations 44 and 46 allow the tractor-feed 
margins 30 and 32 to be readily removed from the remainder of the 
form/label combination 13. The tractor-feed margins 30 and 32 of the first 
sheet 34 are either releasably, or permanently, attached to the 
tractor-feed margins 30 and 32 of the second sheet 22 such that the holes 
48 and perforations 44 and 46 of each of the two sheets 34 and 22 are 
substantially aligned. 
As shown in FIG. 3, the first sheet 34 preferably comprises a first sheet 
first portion 16 and a first sheet second portion 24. The second sheet 22 
likewise preferably comprises a second sheet first portion 17 and a second 
sheet second portion 25. The first sheet first portion 16 is substantially 
coextensive with, and is located above the second sheet first portion 17. 
The first sheet second portion 24 likewise is substantially coextensive 
with and is located above the second sheet second portion 25. In the 
illustrated embodiment, the two first portions (the first sheet first 
portion 16 and second sheet first portion 17) comprise the left sides of 
the two sheets 34 and 22, while the two second portions (the first sheet 
second portion 24 and second sheet second portion 25) comprise the right 
side of the two sheets 34 and 22. 
The two first portions 16 and 17, are of sufficient size to bear 
information (indicia) to be applied to a label. In the illustrated 
embodiment, each of the two first portions 16 and 17 is bound by the top 
13a and bottom 13b edges, the left edge 13c, and a vertical dividing 
die-cut 50 formed on the first sheet 34 about 3.2 inches from the left 
edge 13c and about 4.3 inches from the right edge 13d. The die cut 50 is 
an exemplary mechanism which allows ready detachment of the portions 16, 
17 from each other. 
The first sheet first portion 16 is releasably attached to the second sheet 
first portion 17 by a first portion attachment mechanism. The first 
portion attachment mechanism may comprise any conventional mechanism 
performing a proper attachment function in this environment, such as a 
coating of a pressure-sensitive adhesive 51 applied to the back face 40 of 
the first sheet first portion 16, which coating 51 cooperates with a layer 
of conventional adhesive-release material 51a (e.g. silicone) applied to 
the front face 38 of the second sheet first portion 17, to permit ready 
detachment of the first sheet first portion 16 from the second sheet first 
portion 17. The adhesive-release layer 51a may be applied as a coating on 
top of the image-transfer coating 39 on the front face 38 of the second 
sheet first portion 17. 
Part of the first sheet first portion 16 may be provided with a die-cut 57 
to define a label 18. Further, part of the first sheet first portion 16 
surrounding the label 18 may be removed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, or may 
be left in place (not shown). Indicia 52, prompting entry of variable 
data, such as, in the case of a pharmaceutical form, the name of the 
pharmaceutical, the dosage, the name of the doctor or patient, etc., may 
be provided on the front face 36 of the first sheet first portion 16. As 
shown in FIG. 2, similar, the same, or different indicia 54 may be 
provided on the front face 38 of the second sheet first portion 17 beneath 
the label 18, to correspond with information 53 which may be written, 
typed, or impact-printed on the label 18 by the user, which information 55 
will appear on the front face 38 of the second sheet 22 by virtue of the 
image-transfer means (e.g. coating 39 provided on the front face 38 of the 
second sheet first portion 17). A horizontal line of weakness, such as 
perforation 14a (FIG. 1), may optionally be provided on either or both the 
first portions 16 and 17 intermediate the top edge 13a and the bottom edge 
13b to allow ready separation of each of the two first portions 16 and 17 
into top and bottom sections. 
Each of the two second portions 24 and 25 is preferably of sufficient size 
to hold all of the data (indicia) which is to be placed on the first 
receipt. In the illustrated embodiment, the two second portions 24 and 25 
are bound by the top 13a and bottom 13b edges, the right edge 13d, and the 
dividing die-cut 50. The two second portions 24 and 25 are attached by a 
second portion attachment mechanism, which may be any suitable 
conventional mechanism which accomplishes an attachment function in this 
environment. In the illustrated embodiment, the second portion attachment 
mechanism comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive 55a applied 
substantially along an approximately 1/4 inch strip extending from the top 
13a to the bottom edge 13b of the form/label combination 13 near the 
dividing die-cut 50. The second portion attachment mechanism (e.g. strip 
55a) retains the two second portions 24 and 25 together, but the adhesive 
strip 55a is sufficiently narrow to allow a user to separate the two 
second portions 24 and 25 when the need arises. 
Indicia 56, prompting entry of data such as, in the case of a 
pharmaceutical form, the name of the pharmacy, prescription number, 
doctor, drug, date, cost, etc. may be provided on the front face 36 of the 
first sheet second portion 24. Similar, identical, or different indicia 58 
may be provided on the front face 38 of the second sheet second portion 
25, as shown in FIG. 2, to correspond with information 60 (FIG. 1) which 
may be written, typed, or impact-printed on the front face 36 of the first 
sheet second portion 24 by the user, which information 62 (FIG. 2) will 
appear on the front face 38 of the second sheet second portion 25 by 
virtue of the image-transfer coating 39 provided on the front face 38 of 
the second sheet second portion 25. 
A perforation or other line of weakness 63 may optionally be provided 
between the second sheet first portion 17 and the second sheet second 
portion 25 to allow ready detachment of the second sheet first portion 17 
from the second sheet second portion 25. 
In use, the user will fill in a form/label combination 13 as described 
above, with the relevant information/indicia 52, 53, 56 60. The user may 
handwrite the information directly onto the form/label combination, may 
type the information using a typewriter, may use an impact printer, or use 
any other suitable conventional means. In any event, as the information 53 
and 60 is placed on the front face 36 of the first sheet 34, the pressure 
applied thereto will result in the same information/indicia being formed 
at 55 and 62 on the front face 38 of the second sheet 22 by virtue of the 
image-transfer coating 39. 
Once the information/indicia 52, 53, 56, 60 has been placed on the 
form/label combination 13, the form/label combination 13 is detached from 
the continuous sheet 12 at the perforations 14. The tractor-feed margins 
30 and 32 are then removed at the perforations 44 and 46, and are 
discarded. When the right side tractor-feed margin 32 is removed, the 
first sheet second portion 24 becomes separated from the second sheet 
second portion 25, except for the thin strip of adhesive 55a along the 
dividing die-cut 50, which still holds the two second portions 24 and 25 
together. The label 18 is then removed from the second sheet first portion 
17 and applied to, in the case of a pharmaceutical form, a conventional 
pharmaceutical receptacle (e.g. plastic vial, cardboard box, etc.), the 
first sheet second portion 24 is removed from the second sheet second 
portion 25, and, in the case of a pharmaceutical form, each of the 
receptacle (which now bears the label 18 showing the name of the drug, the 
dosage, etc.) and the first sheet second portion 24 (which bears the 
prescription number, cost, etc.) are given to the customer. The user may 
then retain the second sheet 22 which contains all the information printed 
on the label 18 and the first sheet second portion 24, for his or her own 
records. 
It will be appreciated that such a form/label combination 13 may be 
constructed more quickly, and more economically than previous known 
form/label combinations. Unlike previous known form/label combinations, 
the present form/label combination, which provides a label 18 and two 
receipts comprising the first sheet second portion 24 and the second sheet 
22, may be constructed using only two sheets of paper, which may be 
assembled and indicia applied thereto in one pass through each of a coater 
and a label press. 
As shown in FIGS. 4 through 11, the present invention also comprises a 
method which may be used to construct the form/label combination 13 
described above. As in FIG. 3, the dimension showing the thicknesses of 
the sheets and coatings in FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 9 and 11 are greatly exaggerated 
for clarity, and the relative thicknesses of the coatings are immaterial. 
The method is practiced as follows (using conventional equipment in each 
case): 
(a) As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5A and 5B, begin with a first continuous sheet 
64 having a front face 72 and a back face 76, and a second continuous 
sheet 66 having a front face 74 and a back face 78, each continuous sheet 
64 and 66 having a left periphery 68 and a right periphery 70--in the 
illustrated embodiment. Each sheet 64, 66 is preferably about 9.2 inches 
in width, with a longitudinal column of about 5/32 inch diameter 
tractor-feed holes 80 spaced about 2 inches apart aligned about 1/4 inch 
from each of the left 68 and right 70 peripheries; 
(b) As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, apply a self-contained carbonless 
image-transfer coating 71 (or like image transfer means) to the front face 
74 of the second continuous sheet 66 (and/or other components), such that 
when the first continuous sheet 64 is placed on top of the second 
continuous sheet 66, impressions made on the front face 72 of the first 
continuous sheet 64 will be transferred as indicia on the front face 74 of 
the second continuous sheet 66; 
(c) As shown in FIGS. 6A and 7B, strip-coat the back face 76 of a first 
longitudinal portion 77a of the first continuous sheet 64 with a 
pressure-sensitive adhesive 82 or like attachment mechanism--in the 
illustrated embodiment, the first longitudinal portions 77a and 77b of 
each sheet 64 and 66 extend from the left periphery 68 of each sheet to a 
point approximately 43/8 inches from the left edge of each sheet; 
(d) Strip-coat a small portion 75 of the back face 76 of a second 
longitudinal portion 79a of the first continuous sheet 64 with a 
pressure-sensitive adhesive. In the illustrated embodiment, the second 
longitudinal portions 79a and 79b of each sheet 64 and 66 extend from the 
right periphery 70 of each sheet to a point approximately 43/8 inches from 
the left periphery 68 of each sheet and the small portion 75 is an about 
1/4 inch strip between about 43/8 inches from the left periphery to about 
45/8 inches from the left periphery. 
(e) Strip-coat an area 83 on the back face 76 of the first continuous sheet 
64 proximal to the column of tractor-feed holes 80 near the right 
periphery 70, with a pressure-sensitive adhesive. In the illustrated 
embodiment, this area 82 extends from the right periphery 70 to a point 
approximately 7/8 inches from the right periphery. 
(f) Strip-coat the front face 74 of the first longitudinal portion 77b of 
the second continuous sheet 66 with an adhesive-release material (e.g. 
silicone) 84. 
(g) As shown in FIG. 7, place the first continuous sheet 64 on top of the 
second continuous sheet 66. 
(h) As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, stamp a horizontal line of perforations 86, 
spaced about 3.2 inches apart to form detachable form/label combinations 
87. 
(i) Stamp a vertical line of perforations 88, spaced about 7/8 inch from 
each of the left and right peripheries to form detachable tractor-feed 
margins. 
(j) Stamp a vertical line of perforations 90, spaced about 43/8 inches from 
the left edge such that each of the first longitudinal portions 77a and 
77b are detachable from the second longitudinal portions 79a and 79b. 
(k) Apply indicia 92 to the front face 72 of the first continuous sheet 64 
of each form/label combination 87. 
(l) Apply impressions to the front face 72 of the first continuous sheet 64 
of each form/label combination 87 such that indicia (not shown) are formed 
on the front face 74 of the second continuous sheet 66 by virtue of the 
image-transfer coating 71. 
(m) Provide die-cuts 93 to define a label 94 of an appropriate size on the 
first longitudinal portion 77a of the first continuous sheet 64 of each 
form/label combination 87; and 
(n) As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, remove a portion of the first longitudinal 
portion 77a of the first continuous sheet 64 surrounding the label 94. 
It will be appreciated that the above method acts need not necessarily be 
performed in the order they are described, and indeed some acts may be 
omitted. In the preferred method, (b) through (g) are first performed on a 
conventional coater (not shown), followed by (h) through (n) which are 
performed on a conventional label press (not shown). On the coater, the 
two sheets 64 and 66 are entered into the machine simultaneously. Step (b) 
is performed first, followed by steps (c) through (f) which are performed 
simultaneously. This is followed by step (g). After step (g), the sheets 
are entered into the label press. In the label press, steps (h) through 
(n) may be performed in substantially any order, though step (m) must be 
performed before step (n). 
By practicing the above method, the continuous sheet of form/label 
combinations of the preferred embodiment of the invention may be 
constructed in one pass through each of a coater and a label press, using 
only two sheets of paper. 
Although the form/label combination 13 according to the present invention 
has been described as being part of a continuous sheet 12, it is to be 
understood that individual form/label combinations (e.g. cut sheets) may 
also be constructed and used. 
Although the continuous sheet 12 of form/label combinations 13 according to 
the present invention has been described as having tractor-feed margins 30 
and 32 attached to either side, it is to be understood that a continuous 
sheet 12 without tractor-feed margins may also be used in some cases. 
Although the first portions 16 and 17 have been shown in the drawings as 
being on the left side of the sheets, and the second portions 24 and 25 
being on the right, it is to be understood that the first portions may be 
on the right side, and the second portions on the left. Alternatively, the 
first portions 16 and 17 may be on the top portion of the two sheets 34 
and 22 and the second portions 24 and 25 on the bottom, or vice versa, 
etc. 
Although most of the dimensions of the preferred embodiments of the present 
invention have been given, it is to be understood that these are only 
exemplary, and other dimensions may be used. 
Numerous modifications, variations, and adaptations may be made to the 
particular embodiments of the invention described above without departing 
from the scope of the invention, which scope is to be accorded the 
broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all 
equivalent structures and methods.