Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US20070252381?ie=ISO-8859-1
Timestamp: 2014-09-20 13:21:38
Document Index: 171228516

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 102', 'art 104', 'art 104', 'arts 105', 'art 102', 'arts 105', 'art 105', 'art 106', 'art 106', 'art 105', 'arts 105', 'art 106', 'art 105', 'art 102', 'arts 105', 'arts 105', 'arts 105', 'arts 105', 'art 102', 'art 104', 'art 105', 'art 106', 'art 102', 'art 104', 'art 105', 'art 106', 'arts 105', 'arts 106', 'arts 105', 'art 106']

Patent US20070252381 - Label supply, label handling method and label printing apparatus - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign in<nobr>Advanced Patent Search</nobr>PatentsA supply of labels may be configured to facilitate folding. A label handling method involves initiating a label fold prior to a label completely exiting a label exit opening. A label apparatus includes a label obstructing member to promote label folding....http://www.google.com/patents/US20070252381?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20070252381 - Label supply, label handling method and label printing apparatusAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS20070252381 A1Publication typeApplicationApplication numberUS 11/393,606Publication dateNov 1, 2007Filing dateMar 30, 2006Priority dateMar 30, 2006Also published asCA2581644A1, CA2581644C, CA2685212A1, CA2685212C, US7488003, US8066442, US20090129845Publication number11393606, 393606, US 2007/0252381 A1, US 2007/252381 A1, US 20070252381 A1, US 20070252381A1, US 2007252381 A1, US 2007252381A1, US-A1-20070252381, US-A1-2007252381, US2007/0252381A1, US2007/252381A1, US20070252381 A1, US20070252381A1, US2007252381 A1, US2007252381A1InventorsRobert Weisz, Nigel Mills, Kinred Bowling, Karl SchroederOriginal AssigneeWeisz Robert J, Mills Nigel G, Kinred Bowling, Schroeder Karl SExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManReferenced by (3), Classifications (6), Legal Events (4) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetLabel supply, label handling method and label printing apparatusUS 20070252381 A1Abstract A supply of labels may be configured to facilitate folding. A label handling method involves initiating a label fold prior to a label completely exiting a label exit opening. A label apparatus includes a label obstructing member to promote label folding. Images(9) Claims(14)
DESCRIPTION As reflected in FIG. 1, one or more food product scales 10 may be used to provide product pricing labels within a store 12. The store 12 may typically include a point of sale 14 with associated check out scanning terminals. The scale 10 is preferably located at another location, such as a perishables department as represented by the fruit and vegetable department 16, the meat and fish department 18 or associated back room 20, or the deli department 22. Referring to FIG. 2, the scale 10 includes an associated weighing station 24 having a load cell or other known weighing mechanism or device to produce weight indicative signals that are passed to a processor-based controller 26. A user input device 28 (such as a keypad, a touch sensitive display, a scanner, etc) is also connected to the controller 26. The user input device 28 may be utilized by store personnel (or in the case of a self service situation the customer) to identify the product being weighed, usually by a PLU (price look-up) number. Item identifiers for products being weighed may take other forms as well. For example, the input device could comprise a large number of keys, one for each product that might be weighed. The controller 26 refers to a price database (stored in suitable memory of the controller or accessible via a link to another computer system such as a P.O.S. system or a regional or national computer system of a store chain) to identify the price per unit weight linked to the entered PLU or other product identifier, and calculates a total price for the product based upon the weight as indicated by the weight indicative signals received from the weighing station 24. The controller 26 then establishes product print data (such as total price, price per unit weight, product bar code, logos or other image data, label set-up and format) to be delivered to a printing mechanism 30. The scale 10 may be connected for communication with one or more store or remote computers/computer systems 38, 40, 42, 44 via suitable communication links. As seen in FIG. 3, the printing mechanism 30 includes a print head and associated supply of labels 29 to be applied to products. Typically, a print roller 31 opposes the print head and is driven to cause movement of the label stock past the print head 30. However, other variations of label feeding mechanisms could be used. The print head may be a thermal print head, with the labels including a thermally activated layer. However, it is recognized that other print head types and corresponding label types could be used. The adhesive side of the labels may be entirely or partially coated with adhesive. The labels may be formed of any suitable material. The various components of the scale 10 could be integrated into a single housing or unit. Alternatively, the scale 10 may be formed of components formed as separate units and connected together for communication with each other, in which case the controller may be a distributed controller, with various control functions distributed among the components. As used herein the terminology �controller� is intended to encompass the distributed controller configuration. Further, the term �controller� is intended to broadly encompass the collection of circuits, processors and other components that carry out the various operating and processing functions of the scale and its component parts. The scale could also be integrated with a wrapping machine. In one embodiment, labels used in such a scale may take the form of that depicted in FIGS. 4A and 4B. FIG. 4A shows an upper, printing surface of a label 100 having parts or regions 102 and 104. A separation line 108, which by way of example may be a series of perforations or a score line in the label, divides part 102 from part 104. A fold line 110 divides part 104 into sub-parts 105 and 106. It is contemplated that an entirety of the rear surface of the label would include an adhesive layer, although less than the entirety of the surface could be adhesive. By way of example, the label 100 can be used in connection with scale label incentives as follows. When a product is weighed and the price of the product calculated, the printing mechanism prints price and product information, which may include a pricing bar code, on part 102. If the weighed product includes an incentive link (as described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0211600 A1), the printing mechanism prints incentive information on one or both of sub-parts 105 and 106. In one example, indicia identifying the nature of the incentive to the customer is printed on sub-part 105, and a coupon bar code is printed on sub-part 106. The label sub-part 106 is folded under the label sub-part 105 to produce a folded label as shown in the perspective of FIG. 4B where the adhesive layer 112 is illustrated for ease of understanding. The folded label can then be applied to a package 114 per FIG. 5 to produce a labeled package assembly. In the illustrated embodiment label sub-parts 105 and 106 are of similar size. When sub-part 106 is folded under and against sub-part 105 it becomes adhesively attached thereto with the coupon bar code facing the opposite direction of the incentive description. When the folded label is applied to package 114, only label part 102 is adhesively held to the package because the adhesive on sub-parts 105 and/or 106 is no longer exposed. This construction enables the incentive portion of the label 100, comprised of sub-parts 105 and 106, to be removed from the package for use by a customer by separation along line 108. Alternatively, if the customer chooses not to use the incentive, the coupon bar code is left adjacent to and facing the package so that it will not interfere with any scanning operation at the checkout location of the store. In the case of weighed products not having incentive links, various types of other information could be printed on one or both of sub-parts 105 and 106 to communicate with the consumer, including marketing information, other non-coupon advertising information, cooking instructions for the weighed product, health tip information or dietary information. Even where the label sub-parts 105 and 106 are not used for coupon purposes, the folded label configuration may facilitate the inclusion of more information on the label while at the same time enabling the footprint of the label as applied to the package to remain relatively manageable. Referring to FIG. 13, the label supply 29 may be formed by a liner or backing material 80 having a release surface 82, with multiple labels 100 removably attached to the release surface, adhesive sides down against the release surface 82. The liner 80 with attached labels 100 may be formed in a roll as shown schematically in FIG. 3. In other variations the label supply 29 could be formed from linerless label stock. Considering the label configuration reflected in FIGS. 4A and 4B, applicants have identified an advantageous label construction that facilitates the desired folding operation. Specifically, and referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B showing enlarged partial views of the separation line 108 and the fold line 110 respectively, the separation line 108 and the fold line 110 are respectively configured such that a tendency of the label to fold along the fold line 110 is greater than a tendency of the label to fold along the separation line 108. As illustrated, the separation line 108 is a line of perforations 120 and the fold line 110 is a line of perforations 122. A degree of attachment between label part 102 and label part 104 along the separation line 108 is greater than a degree of attachment between the sub-part 105 and the sub-part 106 along the fold line 110. In one example, the degree of attachment between the label part 102 and the label part 104 along the separation line 108 is greater than about 30%, the degree of attachment between the sub-part 105 and the sub-part 106 along the fold line 110 is less than about 20%, but variations on degrees of attachment are possible. Moreover, other techniques may be used to provide a label that has a greater tendency to fold along a fold line than along a separation line. For example, scoring may be used to form the respective lines and the degree or depth of scoring on the fold line could be greater than along the separation line. It is also possible that one line could be a score line and the other line a line of perforations. Referring now to the schematic diagram shown in FIG. 7, one embodiment of an apparatus adapted to facilitate folding of a label as it is output from a scale or other printer is shown. The scale 200 includes a label exit opening 202 through which printed labels are fed enabling them to be removed by a scale operator and applied to a package. A normal output path for labels is shown by dashed line 204. A label obstructing member 206 is positioned to the exterior of the label exit opening 202. In the illustrated embodiment the member 206 is connected for movement about a pivot axis 208 by a rotary solenoid 210 or other actuator allowing the member 206 to be selectively moved between a label obstructing position (e.g., the right hand position in FIG. 6) and a non-label obstructing position (e.g., the left hand position in FIG. 6) based upon whether it is desired to fold the label that is being output by the scale. When located in the label obstructing position, an exit end portion of a label feeding out from the label exit opening 202 contacts the label obstructing member 206 prior to completion of feed out of the label from the label exit opening 202. Referring specifically to the series of top, schematic views shown in FIGS. 8A-8D, an exit end 220 of a label contacts a curved surface 222 of member 206 and continued movement of the label along path 204 is obstructed causing the label to begin to follow the curved surface 222 as shown in FIG. 8B. The location of a fold line in the label is shown at 224. The front side of the label is shown at 226 and the rear, adhesive side of the label is shown at 228. In FIG. 8C the continued progression of the label causes the label to bend along the fold line 224 and the final position of the label is shown in FIG. 8D, at which point the operator can readily grasp the label on opposite sides of the fold line without having to touch the adhesive side 228 of the label. Thus, it is the forces generated by the interaction between the label obstructing member 206 and the label that cause the label to begin to fold. This technique could be used for a label having the configuration of that shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, or could be used with other label configurations, such as labels that only have one or more fold lines, without any separation lines (e.g., as suggested in FIGS. 4-7 of U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0211600 A1). The technique of initiating folding of the label by obstructing the movement of the label as it exits the label opening can also be performed manually. As seen from FIGS. 9A-9D, a scale operator's hand 240 (e.g., by appropriate positioning of a finger or fingers 242 in line with the label path) could be used to obstruct movement of the label as it exits the scale, with the resulting progression of label fold making it a simple matter for the operator to complete the fold by pressing label parts 105 and 106 together between thumb 244 and finger(s) 242 as best seen in FIG. 9D. This type of folding sequence can be achieved in connection with printers that output each printed label in a continuous manner (e.g., without stopping feed-out of the printed label). Alternatively, the printer may be configured to momentarily stop feed out of a printed label, allowing the scale operator to move his/her hand into contact with the protruding end of the label so that the operator can push on the label to initiate the fold. In one example, such a momentary halting of printed label feed out may be for a specific time period (e.g., 0.5 sec, 1.0 sec, 1.5 sec or some other time period determined to be suitable). Of course, in some situations the label feed out may be completed without the operator ever having obstructed movement of the label. In those cases, label folding can still be initiated by a single hand of the scale operator. Specifically, at the end of a typical label feed out operation a majority of the label protrudes from the exit opening 202 as shown in FIG. 10A, but the label is supported in that position (e.g., by a small portion of the inner end of the label still being attached to the release surface of the label stock backing) so as to avoid the label dropping to the floor before an operator retrieves the label. When the label is in this position, the operator can move his/her hand 240 into contact with the end of the label and perform a label fold as reflected in the sequence of FIGS. 10B-10D. Thus, this label fold operation takes place prior to the label completely exiting the exit opening 202, but after the feeding operation is completed and the label has been placed in a position for operator retrieval. While much of the description above focuses on scales of the type used by operators, where operators manually apply printed labels to packages, it is recognized that scales may also be integrated into more complex machinery, such as wrapping machines that automatically weigh, wrap and label trayed food products. Exemplary of such wrapping machines are those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,144,787 and 6,170,236. Various techniques for automatically applying labels to the packages are know in connection with such machines, including those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,221,405 and 6,595,259. Adaptations to such machines can permit printed labels to be automatically folded and applied to packages. In particular, referring to FIGS. 11A-11D an angled bracket 300 is positioned beyond the exit opening 302 of a label printer 304 associated with a wrapping machine. The angled bracket may be connected to the housing of the printer in a manner that is fixed or that is adjustable. As the label is output it is fed, adhesive side up, along a label support 306 and held against the label support 306 by a roller wheel or wheels 308 having a release coating or surface. As the exiting end of the label contacts the angled surface of bracket arm 310 the end of the label begins to curve upward as shown in FIG. 11A. Continued progression of the label causes the end of the label to move into the intersection point defined between bracket arms 310 and 312 thereby restricting further movement of the end of the label. The end portion of the label begins to curve and the label begins to fold along fold line 110, which fold line then becomes the leading edge of the label and moved beneath the lower end of bracket arm 310 as shown in FIG. 11C. Continued feed out of the label furthers the folding operation as between label parts 106 and 105. The folded label can then be picked up by a vacuum wand 320 (FIG. 12�label not shown) that rotates the label 180 degrees downward and allows a label applying arm to then move the label downward and onto a package as per U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,221,405 and 6,595,259. The final pressing of the label onto the package assures that label parts 105 and 106 are adhesively held together. In the illustrated embodiment, as a general rule bracket arm 310 should be shorter in length than the part of the label being folded (e.g., in this case label part 106). However it is recognized that angled bracket 300 represents only one variation of a suitable label obstructing member configuration, and that many variations are possible. Although the invention has been described and illustrated in detail it is to be clearly understood that the same is intended by way of illustration and example only and is not intended to be taken by way of limitation. It is recognized that numerous variations exist, including both narrowing and broadening variations of the appended claims.
Referenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS8033473Apr 20, 2007Oct 11, 2011Visa U.S.A. Inc.Packaging for a portable consumer deviceUS20120175867 *Mar 21, 2012Jul 12, 2012Rick MinorIdentification labels and methods of using the sameUS20130011629 *Jul 7, 2011Jan 10, 2013Brandon Dwayne KAutomated labeling method and label supply therefor* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification283/105International ClassificationB42D15/00Cooperative ClassificationG09F3/10, G09F3/0288European ClassificationG09F3/10, G09F3/02CLegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionFeb 4, 2014ASAssignmentOwner name: BRAND.NET, INC., CALIFORNIAFree format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.;REEL/FRAME:032133/0837Owner name: VALASSIS DIRECT MAIL, INC., CONNECTICUTEffective date: 20140204Free format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.;REEL/FRAME:032133/0837Owner name: VALASSIS IN-STORE SOLUTIONS, INC., MICHIGANOwner name: NCH MARKETING SERVICES, INC., ILLINOISOwner name: VALASSIS COMMUNCATIONS, INC., MICHIGANAug 10, 2012FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Jun 27, 2011ASAssignmentEffective date: 20110627Owner name: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT,Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNORS:VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.;NCH MARKETING SERVICES, INC.;VALASSIS DIRECT MAIL, INC.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:026509/0311May 5, 2006ASAssignmentOwner name: PREMARK FEG L.L.C., DELAWAREFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:WEISZ, ROBERT J.;MILLS, NIGEL G.;BOWLING, KINRED;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:017581/0292;SIGNING DATES FROM 20060317 TO 20060330RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google