Patent Publication Number: US-8109537-B2

Title: Linerless packing and shipping label system

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The present invention relates generally to business forms. More specifically, the present invention concerns a linerless duplex label and package labeling method for providing packing and shipping information for a package. 
     2. Discussion of Prior Art 
     Many types of business forms are designed to be adhesively attached to a substrate, such as a product or a product container. For instance, packing and shipping labels are often adhered directly to a box, envelope, or other packaging for shipping a product. Conventional packing and shipping labels are provided as separate labels for each shipping package, with the packing label normally being held by the shipping label so that the contents indicia printed on the packing label are hidden from view. Some prior art shipping labels have been produced in the form of a duplex printed label with shipping indicia on one side and package contents indicia on the other side, and these labels are printed by a conventional duplex printer. The duplex label is also affixed to the package so that the contents indicia is hidden. 
     Conventional adhesive business forms, including adhesive packing and shipping labels, suffer from various undesirable limitations. For example, adhesive duplex shipping labels are deficient because they involve the use of a label stock, an adhesive pattern on the label stock, and a liner that covers the adhesive pattern when both sides of the duplex label are printed. When the printed label is ready to be applied to a substrate, a portion of the liner is typically removed from the label stock to expose the adhesive and the removed portion of the liner is typically discarded as waste. Thus, where the liner is discarded, the use of a large number of labels generates an undesirable amount of liner waste, and results in an inefficient label application process. Furthermore, the liner is problematic to remove from the duplex label stock using conventional automated label printing and application equipment. Yet further, traditional duplex labels (with portions of the liner being retained on the label for use) have a fairly complex construction and can present a fairly “thick” label construction that can present printing complications. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide a linerless duplex label system that does not suffer from the problems and limitations of the prior art business forms set forth above. 
     A first aspect of the present invention concerns a linerless duplex label operable to be applied to a package to provide packing and shipping information for the package. The linerless duplex label broadly includes an unfolded single label ply and an adhesive layer. The unfolded single label ply includes a central portion and an endless border portion surrounding the central portion. The central and border portions cooperatively present opposite top and bottom faces of the single label ply. The top face is operable to receive package address indicia and the bottom face is operable to receive package contents indicia within the central portion thereof. The adhesive layer is applied to the bottom face of the single label ply along the border portion of the single label ply, with the border portion of the single label ply operable to be flatly adhered to the package by the adhesive layer so that the label ply is affixed to the package in an unfolded condition. The adhesive layer presents an inner adhesive edge that defines an endless boundary line between the central and border portions, with the central portion being devoid of adhesive and thereby printable so as to receive the contents indicia thereon. The adhesive layer permits removable adhesion of overlaid linerless duplex labels to one another by adhering the top face of one label to the bottom face of another label. 
     A second aspect of the present invention concerns a linerless duplex label roll operable to provide packing and shipping labels for packages. The linerless duplex label roll broadly includes a continuous web of a single ply substrate wound in a roll. The single ply substrate presents a plurality of end-to-end duplex labels each including an unfolded single label ply including a central portion and an endless border portion surrounding the central portion. The central and border portions cooperatively present opposite top and bottom faces of the single label ply. The top face is operable to receive package address indicia and the bottom face is operable to receive package contents indicia within the central portion thereof. The linerless duplex labels each include an adhesive layer applied to the bottom face of the single label ply along the border portion of the single label ply, with the border portion of the single label ply operable to be flatly adhered to the package by the adhesive layer so that the label ply is affixed to the package in an unfolded condition. The bottom face of each label is removably adhered directly to the top face of at least one other label by the adhesive layer. 
     A third aspect of the present invention concerns a method of labeling a package with a linerless duplex label providing packing and shipping information for the package. The method broadly includes the steps of providing a plurality of overlaid linerless duplex labels each presenting opposite sides, one of which is provided with adhesive and the other which is devoid of adhesive, with at least one linerless duplex label overlying at least one other linerless duplex label and being removably adhered thereto; detaching the first-mentioned linerless duplex label from the at least one other linerless duplex label by adhesively removing the adhesive side of the first-mentioned linerless duplex label from the adhesive-free side of the at least one other linerless duplex label; printing address indicia on the adhesive-free side of the removed linerless duplex label; printing package contents indicia on the adhesive side of the removed linerless duplex label; and adhering the removed linerless duplex label to the package in a flat unfolded condition by positioning the adhesive side in adhesive engagement with the package. 
     Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of a linerless duplex label that is part of a linerless duplex label system constructed in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing a single-ply label stock of the linerless duplex label with an endless border portion and a central portion, with perforation lines extending between the border and central portions and defining a tear strip removably connecting the portions, and a transparent release coating applied to a top face of the label stock, with exposed indicia printed on the top face; 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the linerless duplex label shown in  FIG. 1 , showing an adhesive layer of the label applied to a bottom face of the label stock, with the adhesive layer being applied to define the endless border portion of the label stock and the central portion of the label stock that receives hidden indicia; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a plurality of the linerless duplex labels shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , showing a continuous web of single-ply label stock that presents a plurality of labels attached to end-to-end, with the continuous web being wound in a label roll, and showing the labels prior to being printed with the exposed and hidden indicia; 
         FIG. 4  is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the linerless duplex label taken along line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 3 , showing the label stock, release coating, and adhesive layer; 
         FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the linerless duplex label system shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , with the system further including a duplex printer, a cutting mechanism, and a label applicator, and showing the system printing linerless duplex labels from the label roll, cutting the printed labels to detach an end-most label from the label roll, and applying the detached label to a package, with the central portion in a secured configuration; 
         FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of the linerless duplex label shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , showing the printed label adhered to the package and the central portion in an unsecured configuration where the tear strip is partly removed to present an unsupported margin of the central portion, with the central portion remaining attached to the border portion and the hidden indicia remaining substantially hidden; 
         FIG. 7  is a top perspective view of the linerless duplex label shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , showing the tear strip entirely removed from the adhered label and the central portion of the label partly removed from the border portion to expose the hidden indicia; 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of a linerless duplex label constructed in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing a single-ply label stock of the linerless duplex label, with the top face of the label stock devoid of release coating; and 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom view of the linerless duplex label shown in  FIG. 8 , showing an adhesive layer of the label applied to a bottom face of the label stock, with the adhesive layer being applied to define an endless border portion of the label stock and an adhesive-free central portion of the label stock surrounded by the endless border portion. 
     
    
    
     The drawing figures do not limit the present invention to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the preferred embodiment. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Turning initially to  FIGS. 1 and 5 , a linerless duplex label system  20  is constructed in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. The label system  20  is configured to provide an adhesive duplex shipping and packing label for application on a package P. The linerless duplex label system  20  broadly includes a overlaid label supply  22  and a duplex printer  24 . 
     Turning to  FIGS. 1-4 , the overlaid linerless label supply  22  is preferably in the form of a continuous roll, which provides a plurality of unprinted duplex labels for printing and application onto a substrate as a shipping and packing label. The label roll  22  includes a plurality of linerless duplex labels  26  attached end-to-end and a sleeve  28 . In the preferred embodiment, the label roll  22  includes a continuous web of single-ply direct-thermal stock  30  (i.e., a label substrate) that presents the end-to-end linerless duplex labels  26 , and the continuous web is wound in a roll onto the sleeve  28 . As will be discussed further, the labels  26  are detachable from the label roll  22 . 
     The linerless duplex labels  26  are each configured to receive packing and shipping information and broadly include thermal printer stock  30 , release coating  32 , and adhesive layer  34 . The thermal printer stock  30  preferably comprises a single-ply direct-thermal stock, but other types of single-ply printer stock could be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. The preferred stock  30  includes opposite side edges  36  that define a substantially continuous width W thereof and opposite end edges  38  that define a length L thereof. Preferably, the width W is in the range of about 1 inch to about 8 inches and, more preferably, about 3 inches to about 5 inches. The length L preferably is in the range of about 1 inch to about 14 inches and, more preferably, about 6 inches to about 10 inches. The illustrated stock  30  also presents opposite top and bottom faces  40 , 42  that are printable by direct-thermal printing methods. However, the principles of the present invention are equally applicable where the stock  30  is configured to be printed using another printing method, e.g., thermal transfer printing, laser printing, or ink jet printing. 
     The release coating  32  serves to permit multiple labels  26  to be removably overlaid with one another, as will be discussed further. The release coating  32  preferably comprises a silicone coating applied in a continuous layer on the top face  40  of the thermal printer stock  30 . Preferably, the layer of release coating  32  extends continuously to cover the entire top face  40 . However, the release coating  32  could be alternatively configured without departing from the scope of the present invention. For instance, the release coating  32  could include a material other than silicone for providing a release mechanism. It is also within the scope of the present invention where the release coating  32  does not completely cover the top face  40 . For example, the release coating could alternatively be print-applied within only the border portion (as defined below). 
     The adhesive layer  34  serves to adhere the label  26  to package P and is applied in an endless border pattern along the bottom face  42  to present inner and outer adhesive margins  44 , 46 . The illustrated adhesive layer  34  preferably extends outwardly so that the outer adhesive margin  46  extends adjacent the edges  36 , 38  of the stock  30 , with substantially no part of the bottom face  42  extending outwardly from the outer adhesive margin  46 . This preferred arrangement reduces the risk of inadvertent label removal during shipping. However, the principles of the present invention are also applicable where part of the bottom face  42  extends outwardly from the outer adhesive margin  46 , e.g., to provide an outer adhesive-free part of the label  26 . 
     The illustrated adhesive layer  34  extends continuously inwardly from the outer adhesive margin  46  to present side borders  48  and end borders  50  of the endless border pattern, with the inner adhesive margin  44  extending endlessly along the borders  48 , 50 . The inner adhesive margin  44  serves to define a central portion  52  of the stock  30  that is preferably adhesive-free along the bottom face  42 , and an endless border portion  54  of the stock  30  that is substantially covered with adhesive along the bottom face  42 . However, for some aspects of the present invention, adhesive could be applied to part of the central portion  52 , e.g., to further adhere the label  26  to the package P. 
     Furthermore, the central portion  52  is configured to present a printable section of the bottom face  42  (i.e., the adhesive-free section of the bottom face  42 ), with the adhesive layer  34  preferably surrounding the central portion  52  to securely conceal the printable section when the label  26  is applied to package P. However, the principles of the present invention are applicable where another section of the bottom face  42  is printable (e.g., a section spaced outwardly from the adhesive layer  34 ). For some aspects of the present invention, some printing could be done on the adhesive layer  34  itself. 
     The illustrated adhesive layer  34  preferably comprises a permanent adhesive. As used herein, the term “permanent adhesive” refers to an adhesive that is operable to adhere the stock  30  to the package P or another substrate, with removal of at least part of the stock  30  from the package P resulting in physical damage to either the stock  30  or the package P, with the damage being visibly evident to the naked eye. In this manner, the use of permanent adhesive serves to make the applied label  26  tamper-evident. However, according to some aspects of the present invention (see below), the adhesive layer could alternatively be formed of a temporary adhesive, i.e., adhesive that permits label removal without visibly damaging the stock  30  or package P, is used. Furthermore, another mechanism could be used to cause the label  26  to be tamper-evident. 
     The label  26  further includes side perforations  56  and end perforations  58 , 60 , 62  that permit the label  26  to be separated into a removable center label section and a surrounding label section. In particular, the perforations  56 , 58 , 62  are preferably aligned with the inner adhesive margin  44  so that the removable center label section and the central portion  52  of the stock  30  are substantially co-extensive. Thus, the perforations  56 , 58 , 62  cooperatively provide an endless line of weakness that defines the central portion  52 , with the central portion  52  being entirely removable from the endless border portion  54 . However, for some aspects of the present invention, the central portion  52  may not be defined by perforations (e.g., where the label  26  is devoid of perforations  56 , 58 , 60 , 62 , as will be shown in a subsequent embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 8 and 9 ). It is also within the ambit of the present invention where the perforations  56 , 58 , 62  are spaced inwardly from the inner adhesive margin  44  (e.g., to ensure that no adhesive is applied to the removable center label section) or outwardly from the inner adhesive margin  44  (e.g., to permit limited adhesive engagement between the removable center label section and the package P when the label  26  is applied to the package P). 
     Perforation  60  extends along the central portion  52  between perforations  56  and is inwardly spaced from and adjacent to perforation  62 . Perforations  56 , 60 , 62  cooperatively define a tear strip  64  of the central portion  52  that connects portions  52 , 54  of the stock  30  to each other. The illustrated tear strip  64  is removable to present an unsupported margin  66  of the central portion  52  adjacent an end of the label  26 . The unsupported margin  66  permits a user to grab both faces  40 , 42  along the margin  66  and remove the central portion  46  from the endless border portion  48  by pulling the margin  66  in a direction toward the opposite end of the label  26 . The illustrated tear strip  64  is preferably positioned at one end of the central portion  52 , but could be alternatively positioned (e.g., along one side of the central portion  52 ) without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     The printed label  26  includes top and bottom indicia  68 , 70  on respective top and bottom faces  40 , 42 . As will be shown, the indicia  68 , 70  may include variable indicia (i.e., indicia that can vary with each label and associated package P) and non-variable indicia (i.e., indicia that generally does not change from label to label or from order to order). Furthermore, some of the indicia may be preprinted (e.g., before the single-ply substrate is wound into roll  22 ). The top indicia  68  presented on top face  40  includes sender address indicia  72 , recipient address indicia  74 , package size and package number indicia  76 , bar code indicia  78  operable to provide a unique identifier associated with the package P that can be electronically scanned, package tracking indicia  80  operable to identify the carrier and a unique carrier tracking number associated with the package, and tear strip indicia  82 . The top indicia  68  illustrated on the top face  40  is all printed on the central portion  52 , but the principles of the present invention are applicable where at least some indicia is printed on the endless border portion  54 . As will be discussed further, the top indicia  68  is generally exposed and visible when the label  26  is applied to the package P. 
     The bottom indicia  70  presented on the bottom face  42  includes sender address indicia  84 , recipient address indicia  86 , purchase order indicia  88  that includes a purchase order number, control number, customer account number, and order and ship dates of the purchase, package contents and billing indicia  90  that provides an itemized list of the package contents, the cost of each item listed alongside the corresponding item, the subtotal, shipping and handling cost, tax, and total cost, credit card indicia  92  including part of the customer&#39;s credit card number, order information indicia  94 , and tear strip indicia  96 . The bottom indicia  70  illustrated on the bottom face  42  includes information confidential to the sender and recipient. Therefore, the bottom indicia  70  is printed on the central portion  52  and is generally hidden from view when the label  26  is applied to the package P. However, the principles of the present invention are applicable where at least some indicia printed on the bottom face  42  is printed on another portion of the bottom face  42  (e.g., where part of the bottom face  42  extends outside of the adhesive border and is configured to receive printed indicia). Thus, some of the indicia on the bottom face  42  could be viewable without removing the applied label  26 . 
     The top and bottom indicia  68 , 70  are preferably printed by direct-thermal printing, but each of the indicia  68 , 70  could be printed by other printing methods, such as thermal transfer, laser, ink jet printing, or a combination of printing methods. It is also within the scope of the present invention where the top indicia  68  is printed by one printing method and the bottom indicia  70  is printed by a different printing method. For instance, one of the indicia  68 , 70  could be printed by direct-thermal printing and the other one of the indicia  68 , 70  could be printed by thermal transfer printing. Also, one of the indicia  68 , 70  could be printed by ink jet printing and the other one of the indicia  68 , 70  could be printed by direct-thermal printing. 
     The indicia  72 , 82 , 84 , 96  generally comprise non-variable indicia. Indicia  74 , 76 , 78 , 80 , 86 , 88 , 90 , 92  generally includes variable indicia. Thus, both faces of the label  26  include variable indicia, and variable indicia on both faces of the label  26  can be associated with a particular order for the contents of package P. As will be discussed further, in printing indicia on both label faces, the indicia on the top face  40  can be matched with the indicia on the bottom face  42  to provide all of the indicia associated with the corresponding order. This facilitates proper shipment of the correct items to the correct recipient. 
     The illustrated label  26  is configured so that confidential indicia, such as the package contents indicia  90  and credit card indicia  92 , is only located on the bottom face  42  along the central portion  52  and is thereby hidden when the label  26  is applied to package P. Thus, the label  26  must be at least partly removed from the package P to access the confidential indicia. Due to this tamper-evident label construction, the label  26 , the package P, or both are visibly damaged when the label  26  is at least partly removed from the package P. 
     The top and bottom indicia  68 , 70  comprise the only information associated with the package P that is carried by the illustrated label  26  for visual and electronic identification (by the sender, distributor, or recipient) of the package P and the associated order. But it is also within the ambit of the present invention where the label  26  includes other package or order identification features, e.g., other types of machine-readable features. For instance, the label  26  could include an RFID tag attached to the stock  30  that can carry information in electronic form and can be electronically programmed and read. 
     The labels  26  are attached end-to-end to form the continuous web, and the web is wound to form the roll  22 . In particular, the labels  26  are arranged so that the top and bottom faces  40 , 42  each extend continuously along the length of the web. Thus, the web is mounted to the sleeve  28  with the adhesive bottom face  42  adhesively engaging the sleeve  28 . As the web is wound to form the roll  22 , the adhesive bottom face  42  of each label  26  engages and overlies the top face  40  of the underlying label  26  on the roll  22 . The release coating  32  on the top face  40  permits removable adhesion between adjacent overlaid labels  26  on the roll  22  so that the labels  26  are removable from each other without becoming damaged. The end-most label  26 , i.e., the label at an exposed end  98  of the web, can be removed from overlaid engagement with the label  26  therebelow and can be separated from the web at cue mark location  100  between itself and the adjacent label  26 , as will be discussed. 
     Turning to  FIG. 5 , the linerless duplex label system  20  is configured to print and apply a duplex packing and shipping label to package P and includes the label roll  22 , duplex printer  24 , cutter  102 , and label applicator  104 . The duplex printer  24  is configured to print the label  26  in a single printing pass, as will be discussed. The duplex printer  24  includes a housing  106  that presents a form inlet (not shown) that receives the incoming web and a form outlet  108  through which the printed web is discharged from the printer  24 . The duplex printer  24  includes upper and lower print heads (not shown) positioned within the printer housing for printing indicia on corresponding top and bottom faces  40 , 42 . The label roll  22  is rotatably supported by a frame (not shown) adjacent the form inlet of the duplex printer  24 . 
     As the web passes through the duplex printer  24 , the top and bottom faces  40 , 42  may be printed by the duplex printer  24  either simultaneously or sequentially (e.g., by printing the bottom face  42  after printing the top face  40 ) during the single printing pass. The single printing pass may likely involve some back-and-forth movement of the label  26  as the label  26  is being printed (e.g., to permit printing of the label  26  by multiple print heads), but it is also within the scope of the present invention where the label  26  is fed continuously through the printer  24  at a constant speed during printing of the label  26 . 
     The illustrated duplex printer  24  is preferably a direct-thermal printer, but the principles of the present invention are equally applicable where the printer  24  includes another type of print head, such as thermal transfer head, a laser head, or an ink jet head, or a combination of print head types. For instance, the printer  24  could have one type of print head that serves as the upper print head to print the top face  40  and another type of print head spaced below the upper print head and serving as the lower print head to print the bottom face  40 . Furthermore, multiple types of print heads could be used to print either the top or bottom face  40 . While all of the illustrated indicia on label  26  is printed by the printer  24  using direct-thermal printing, it is also within the scope of the present invention where at least some of the indicia on label  26  is printed using thermal transfer, laser, or inkjet printing. Furthermore, some of the indicia, particularly the non-variable indicia, could be pre-printed on the continuous web (i.e., prior to printing by the duplex printer  24 ). 
     As discussed above, the linerless duplex label system  20  is operable to print the label  26  on both faces  40 , 42  with variable indicia, such as recipient address indicia  74  and package contents and billing indicia  90 . All of the variable indicia printed on label  26  is associated with the particular package P, the contents of the package P, and the recipient of the package. Therefore, the system  20  associates (or matches) all of the variable indicia for each label  26  prior to printing of the label  26 . For example, the system  20  could include a computer (not shown) for compiling and associating the information for each label  26 . The system  20  also provides printing instructions to the printer  24  so that the associated (or matched) indicia is printed on the same label  26 . It is also within the scope of the present invention where only some portions of the variable indicia printed on the label  26  are associated with each other. Also, while the illustrated variable indicia is associated with the corresponding package P, some variable indicia could be associated by another type of association (e.g., the recipient address indicia  86  and the account number of the purchase order indicia  88  can be associated with the name of a recipient). 
     The cutter  102  comprises a conventional cutting mechanism for cutting the end-most label  26  from the rest of the continuous web. The cutter  102  includes a housing and a cutting blade (not shown). The illustrated cutter  102  includes a sensor (not shown) that identifies when the cue mark location  100  reaches the blade, with the cutter  102  then shifting the blade to make a transverse cut along the cue mark location  100  to separate the end-most label  26  from the web. However, it is also within the scope of the present invention where the cutter  102  is operable to make a cut along the location  100  without sensing a cue mark. For instance, the system  20  could be programmed to feed the continuous web a predetermined length and then cut the label  26  to the predetermined length, with the system  20  being operable to cut multiple labels  26  to the same predetermined length. The illustrated cutter  102  is mounted externally to the printer  24 , but could be an integral component of the printer  24  without departing from the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, cutting of the end-most label  26  could occur before or after printing of either face  40 , 42 . While the end-most label  26  is preferably separated from the web by the cutter  102 , it is within the scope of the present invention where the end-most label  26  is separated by another mechanism. For instance, the web could include a line of weakness extending along each location  100  and the labels  26  could be separated by a mechanism that bursts or tears the web along the line of weakness. 
     The label applicator  104  includes a conventional roller applicator and includes a frame  110 , a roller head  112 , and a roller  114  rotatably mounted on the head  112 . The head  112  and roller  114  are operable to slide along the frame  110 , with the roller  114  engaging a top surface of the package P. As the printed label  26  is machine-fed into a position adjacent the top surface of the package P, roller  114  rolls over the top face  40  of label  26  from one end to the other and thereby presses the label  26  onto the package P. The adhered label  26  is positioned in a secured configuration where the bottom indicia  70  is hidden and the central portion  52  is fully attached to the border portion  54  along the endless line of weakness formed by the perforations  56 , 58 , 62  to restrict exposure of the bottom indicia  70 . Again, it is within the scope of the present invention where some indicia printed on the bottom face  42  can be viewed once the label  26  is applied to the package P and before the label  26  is removed (e.g., where indicia are printed on a flap of the endless border portion  54  spaced outwardly from the adhesive layer  34 , with the flap operable to be shifted to expose the indicia). Furthermore, the label  26  is preferably adhered in a flat, unfolded condition. It has been found that applying the label  26  in a flat and unfolded condition on package P is preferable, particularly for packing and shipping labels, because the label  26  is resistant to inadvertent damage or removal caused by package handling and distribution. Importantly, the illustrated label  26  effectively resists damage caused by exposure to handling equipment of large-volume parcel shippers. 
     The illustrated system  20  is preferably configured to operate as an automatic label print and apply station that is electronically operated and can apply printed labels to a plurality of packages P. But the principles of the present invention are applicable where some steps of the label print and application process are performed manually. Because the system  20  is configured to print variable indicia on both label faces, the system  20  can also apply labels to a plurality of packages P, where each package P has at least some indicia that is different from the other packages P. For instance, the system  20  is operable to print and apply labels to multiple packages P, with each package having different contents and each label  26  having different package contents indicia. Similarly, the recipient address indicia is likely different between each package. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the central portion  52  of the applied label  26  is removable from the endless border portion  54  by initially separating the tear strip  64  from the portion  54 . In particular, one end  116  of the tear strip  64  is grabbed and drawn by the user toward the other end  116  of the tear strip  64 . The tear strip  64  can be either partly or completely removed, and this separation of the tear strip  64  leaves the label  26  in an unsecured configuration where the bottom indicia  70  is no longer securely concealed. Furthermore, the unsupported margin  66  of the central portion  52  is exposed to permit the user to grab the margin  66  on both faces  40 , 42 . The margin  66  can then be drawn away from the endless border portion  54  to separate the central portion  52  from the endless border portion  54  to a greater degree and further enable viewing of bottom indicia  70 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . The central portion  52  can also be completely detached from the endless border portion  54 . In this instance, the detached central portion  52  serves as a packing slip that can be processed by the package recipient, e.g., to confirm that the contents ordered were actually shipped in the package, and can be saved as a record of the transaction. 
     In operation, the linerless duplex label system  20  is operable to efficiently apply packing and shipping labels to multiple packages while minimizing label waste and incidences of equipment failure. The label roll  22  dispenses the continuous web of labels  26  into the printer  24  by unrolling a label  26  from overlaid adhesion with another label  26 . That is, an outer label  26  is unrolled from an adjacent inner label  26  by separating the adhesive face of the outer label  26  from the adhesive-free face of the inner label  26 . Again, the illustrated labels  26  include no pre-printed indicia, although some pre-printed indicia may be included on the continuous web prior to printing with printer  24  if desired. As labels  26  pass from the form inlet to the form outlet  106  in a single printing pass, indicia  68 , 70  is printed on top and bottom faces  40 , 42 . The printed labels  26  then pass out of the form outlet  108  and into the cutter  102  so that the end-most label  26  is separated from the rest of the continuous web. The separated label  26  is then positioned adjacent the package P, and the label applicator  104  adheres the label  26  onto the package P in a flat and unfolded condition. The bottom face  42  of the adhered label  26  is positioned in adhesive engagement with the package P, and the indicia  70  printed on the bottom face  42  is thereby hidden by the adhered label  26  and package P in a secured label configuration. In addition, the top face  40  is exposed to permit viewing and electronic scanning of indicia  68  printed thereon. The system  20  is configured to print and apply a plurality of labels  26  to corresponding packages P, with the indicia on each side of the label  26  being matched with each other and with the package P. The bottom indicia  70  printed along the central portion  52  is exposed for viewing by first removing the tear strip  64  from the portions  52 , 54  to present the unsupported margin  66 . The recipient can then grasp the exposed margin  66  to remove the central portion  52  from the endless border portion  54 , with the central portion  52  thereby serving as a packing slip. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , an alternative linerless duplex label system  200  including an alternative linerless duplex label  202  is constructed in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. For the sake of brevity, the remaining description will focus primarily on the differences of this embodiment relative to the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1-7 . 
     The alternative linerless duplex label  202  is configured to receive packing and shipping information and broadly includes thermal printer stock  204  and adhesive layer  206 . The thermal printer stock  204  comprises a single-ply direct-thermal stock and includes side and end edges  208 , 210 . The illustrated stock  204  also presents opposite top and bottom faces  212 , 214  that are printable by direct thermal printing methods. 
     The adhesive layer  206  serves to adhere the label  202  to the package and is applied in an endless border pattern along the bottom face  214  to present inner and outer adhesive margins  216 , 218 . The illustrated adhesive layer  206  extends continuously inwardly from the outer adhesive margin  218  to present side borders  220  and end borders  222  of the endless border pattern, with the inner adhesive margin  216  extending endlessly along the borders  220 , 222 . The inner adhesive margin  216  serves to define a central portion  224  of the stock  204  that is preferably free of adhesive, and an endless border portion  226  of the stock  204  that is substantially covered with adhesive. The illustrated adhesive layer  206  comprises a temporary adhesive, i.e., adhesive that permits label removal without damaging the stock  30  or package P. The temporary adhesive permits each label  202  to be removed from overlaid adhesive engagement with one or more other labels  202  (e.g., when the labels  202  are wound onto a label roll). Moreover, the use of temporary adhesive permits removable adhesion between labels  202  with the top face  212  being devoid of release coating. 
     The central portion  224  is also configured to present a printable section of the bottom face  214 , with the adhesive layer  206  preferably surrounding the central portion  224  to securely conceal the printable section when the label  202  is applied. The linerless duplex label  202  further includes top and bottom indicia  228 , 230  printed on the top and bottom faces  212 , 214 . The bottom indicia  230  is printed on the printable section of the bottom face  214 . 
     The label  202  is printed and applied to the package P similar to the process of printing and applying the label  26 . The applied label  202  also is adhered to the package P so that the top indicia  220  is exposed and readily viewed and the bottom indicia  222  is cooperatively hidden from view by the label  202  and the package P. However, label  202  is devoid of any perforations or lines of weakness spaced within the edges  208 , 210 . Thus, the use of temporary adhesive in the adhesive layer  206  permits the bottom indicia  230  to be exposed for viewing by separating the label  202  as a whole from the package P. Furthermore, the entire label  202  is completely detached from the package P to serve as a packing slip. 
     The preferred forms of the invention described above are to be used as illustration only, and should not be utilized in a limiting sense in interpreting the scope of the present invention. Obvious modifications to the exemplary embodiments, as hereinabove set forth, could be readily made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 
     The inventor hereby states his intent to rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and assess the reasonably fair scope of the present invention as pertains to any apparatus not materially departing from but outside the literal scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.