Abstract:
The printable substrate of biaxially multi-layered laminate material is perforated to define an integral strap having a free end for insertion into a crescent-cut slotted opening. An additional perforation defines an optional, removable index card that may be printed upon when the tag itself is printed. The tag substrate may be provided as a continuous web that has been perforated to define multiple tags, suitable for printing and dispensing by automated mechanism.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to tags and labels. More particularly, the invention relates to a printable tag with integral fastener suitable for being printed and dispensed by mechanical means. The integral fastener allows the tag to be quickly attached to goods, shipping containers or dunnage, without the need to install a separate string or wire fastener. 
     Shipping tags and labels are used throughout industry for inventory control, shipping origin and destination addressing, component identification, just-in-time manufacturing, specimen labeling, and the like. Traditionally, most industries have used a simple paper tag with separate wire or string fastener, designed to be written on by hand and then attached to the article. Although this paper tag can be printed on and dispensed mechanically, the wire or string fastener must be installed separately so as not to jam the feeding and printing apparatus. 
     With the prevalence of many inventory management systems, process flow control systems and shipping systems now operating under computer control, there is considerable interest in a printable tag that works in this automated environment. Desirably, the tag should be printed and dispensed as part of the automated manufacturing, shipping and/or storage process, with the tag being ready for immediate application to the article. In this way, accurate correlation between the tag and the article is ensured and the manufacturing, shipping and/or storage process proceeds efficiently. 
     To meet the needs of today&#39;s automated environments, the invention provides a printable tag with integral fastener that requires no separate string or wire fastener. The tag employs a printable substrate that is provided with a first perforation which separates to define a slotted opening in the substrate. A second perforation, extending laterally adjacent to one edge of the substrate, separates to define an elongated strap that has an end sized to fit within the slotted opening. 
     In use, the tag is applied by breaking the perforations through a quick zipping action, to free one end and the intervening body of the strap from the printable substrate. The opposite end of the strap remains attached to the substrate. The strap is then wrapped or looped around the article to be tagged, and the free end of the strap is inserted into the slotted opening. 
     The elongated strap is provided with a series of spaced-apart notches that interlock with the slotted opening to secure the strap in place. The strap may be secured loosely around the article, or it may be pulled tight by pulling on the free end of the strap. 
     The presently preferred tag is a biaxially multi-layered laminate of polyethylene with a matte top coating to support printing by suitable thermal printer or laser printer. 
     For a more complete understanding of the invention, its objects and advantages, refer to the following specification and to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary printing and labeling apparatus useful in understanding how the printable tag of the invention may be deployed; 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of the printable tag according to the presently preferred embodiment thereof; 
     FIGS. 3 a - 3   d  illustrate the use of the tag. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The printable tag of the invention may be deployed manually or by mechanized printing and dispensing apparatus. Such apparatus is illustrated in FIG. 1, in which the printable tag of the invention is illustrated in fanfold form at  10  and in roll form at  12 . In both forms the tag stock comprises a perforated web of tags arranged end-to-end. 
     Whether provided in fanfold form or roll form, the tag media is fed through the printing and dispensing mechanism as illustrated by the broken lines in FIG.  1 . Specifically, the tag media is passed through media guide  14 , past the media edge sensor  16 , around the capstan  18  and out through the front of the dispensing mechanism  20 . The dispensing mechanism can be provided with a print mechanism or print head  22  that applies printed information, such as alphanumeric text or barcode information to the printable surface of the tag substrate. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, the printable tag comprises a die cut printable substrate  30  that defines an elongated web of material from which a plurality of tags are constructed. The presently preferred substrate is a biaxially multi-layered laminate of polyethylene. Suitable material can be obtained from Van Leer Flexible Packaging, Houston, Texas. Under the tradename Valeron. The multi-layered laminate is virtually tearproof, because the individual laminate layers are arranged so that the grain of one layer is orthogonal to the grain of the next layer. The presently preferred embodiment employs at least one matte finish top coating, to allow the tag to be printed on by thermal printing or laser printing means. 
     The substrate is perforated, as at  32  and  34 , generally perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension of the substrate. Perforations  32  and  34  thus define the left and right side edges of a single tag. Direction of web travel has been indicated in FIG.  2 . 
     Along one longitudinal edge of the tag are formed a series of media sensor notches  36 . Preferably, these notches coincide with perforations  32  and  34  and are used by the media edge sensor  16  (FIG. 1) to notify the printing and dispensing mechanism where one tag ends and the next tag begins. 
     In addition to perforations  32  and  34 , the substrate may optionally be provided with a perforation  38  that may be separated to subdivide the tag into a first tag body portion  40  and a second index card portion  42 . The separable index card may be printed with information that corresponds to information printed on the tag body portion  40 , thereby allowing an index card record to be made of articles that have been tagged using the printable tag of the invention. 
     In addition to the above described perforations  32 ,  34  and  38 , the printable substrate is provided with a perforation  44  that extends laterally adjacent first edge  46  of substrate  30 . Perforation  44  separates to define an elongated strap  48 . When perforation  44  is separated, strap  48  has a free end  50  and an attached end  52 . 
     Adjacent attached end  52 , substrate  30  has a slotted opening  54  defined by a crescent-cut perforation. The width w of elongated strap  48  is sized to fit within the slotted opening  54  (dimension s). In the preferred embodiment, dimension s may be slightly smaller than dimension w and the elongated strap  48  is provided with a plurality of notches or diagonal cuts  56 , along one or both edges of the strap. These diagonal cuts interlock with the crescent-cut slotted opening  54  to retain the tag once it is installed as described below. 
     More specifically, the crescent-cut corners of slotted opening  54  allow the substrate material between the crescent-shaped ends to bend upwardly to form a tongue. The crescent cuts should be sufficient to allow the tongue to lift upwardly, allowing the strap  48  to be easily pulled through slotted opening  54 , while retaining sufficient tension to engage one or a pair of the diagonal cuts  56 . The design is such that the strap may be readily pulled in a first direction to tighten the strap. The diagonal cuts lock under the tongue when pulled in the opposite direction, preventing the strap from being easily pulled loose. 
     Operation 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 a - 3   d , printing  60  is applied to tag  10  using a suitable print engine such as the one illustrated in FIG.  1 . Thereafter, perforation  38  (if provided) may be separated to remove the index card for suitable filing as at  62 . The index card feature is optional or not required in some applications. Perforation  44  is likewise separated to free the elongated strap  48 . 
     The strap  48  is then wrapped around the article to be tagged. In this case a vertical frame member of a wire basket  64  has been illustrated. The free end  50  of strap  48  is then inserted through slotted opening  54 , by folding one corner of the free end and inserting it through the slotted opening. The inserted free end is then pulled to the desired tightness, allowing the notches to interlock with the tongue formed by the crescent cuts of slotted opening  54 . This holds the tag securely in place and the interlocking action between notches  56  and tongue prevent the tag from being readily removed. 
     While the invention has been described in its presently preferred form, it will be understood that certain modifications can be made to the printable tag without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.