Sequentially placed shipping and packing label system

Abstract

A system for providing a shipping label and a packing list on a container is provided which enables rapid and automated sequential application of a packing list and a shipping label to the container. The shipping label is configured complemental to the packing list whereby the packing list may first be adhered directly to the container and then the shipping label may be placed thereover. The shipping label may be applied over the packing list while the container moves continuously down a conveyor. The invention further includes an apparatus for sequentially applying the packing list and then the shipping label, and a method for applying the packing list and shipping label in registry.

1 . A method for sequentially applying a packing list and a shipping label to a container comprising the steps of: 
 providing a conveyor for conveying containers along a path from an upstream to a downstream location, a first sensor positioned adjacent the conveyor, a first label applicator positioned adjacent the conveyor and operatively coupled to said first sensor, a second sensor positioned adjacent the conveyor and located downstream from the first sensor, and a second label applicator positioned adjacent the conveyor and located downstream from the first label application station;    moving a container along the conveyor;    sensing the position of the container by the first sensor when the container is moved by the conveyor into a first position proximate to the first sensor;    operatively communicating a signal from the first sensor to the first label applicator indicative of the position of the container;    actuating the first label applicator responsive to the signal communicated to the first label applicator to adhesively apply a packing list to the container at the first position;    moving the container from the first position to a second position downstream from the first position;    sensing the position of the container at the second position by the second sensor;    operatively communicating a signal from the second sensor to the second label applicator indicative of the position of the container at the second position; and    actuating the second label actuator responsive to the signal communicated to the second label applicator to adhesively apply a shipping label to the container over and in registry with the packing list previously adhered to the container,    said packing list being adhered to the container but having a central portion that is unadhered to the container, said central portion having indicia printed thereon corresponding to the contents of the container,    said shipping label being adhered to one of the container alone and both the packing list and the container,    said shipping label having a central portion that overlies the central portion of the packing list in covering relationship to the contents printed thereon,    said actuating of the second label applicator including applying the shipping label such that the central portion of the shipping label is positioned substantially in registry with and unadhered to the central portion of the packing list and being removable from remaining portions of the shipping label to permit exposing the central portion of the packing list when the central portion of the shipping label is removed from the container.    
   
   
       2 . A method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said shipping label includes a rear side having a face side, a rear side, a border portion having adhesive thereon and a center section without adhesive on the rear side and said actuating step includes applying the shipping label to the container such that the border portion is outboard of and does not engage the packing list.  
   
   
       3 . A method as set forth in  claim 2 , including providing a first scanner positioned upstream of the first label applicator and scannable indicia on the container corresponding to the intended recipient and contents of the container, and further including the step of scanning the scannable indicia by the first scanner.  
   
   
       4 . A method as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein said first label applicator includes a printer, and including the steps of operatively communicating a signal from the first scanner to the first label applicator corresponding to the intended recipient and contents of the container and printing indicia indicative of the intended recipient and contents of the container on the packing list by the first label applicator prior to applying the packing list to the container.  
   
   
       5 . A method as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein said second label applicator includes a printer, and including the step or printing indicia corresponding to the identification of the intended recipient on the shipping label by the second label applicator prior to applying the shipping label to the container.  
   
   
       6 . A method as set forth in  claim 13 , including providing a second scanner downstream from said first label applicator and upstream from said second label applicator, and including the step of scanning indicia on one of said packing list and said container and operatively communicating a signal corresponding to the intended recipient to said second label applicator and printing indicia responsive to the receipt of the signal from the second scanner.  
   
   
       7 . A method as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the first label applicator prints scannable indicia on the packing list prior to applying the packing list to the container, and wherein the second scanner scans the scannable indicia on the packing list and operatively communicates a signal corresponding to the scannable indicia scanned on the packing list to the second label applicator for printing the indicia on the shipping label.  
   
   
       8 . A method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the container includes a front end oriented in a downstream direction on the conveyor and a bottom end in engagement with the conveyor and wherein the first sensor detects the front end of the container proximate the first position and the first label applicator applies the packing list to the container at a predetermined location on the container relative to the sensed front end and the bottom end.  
   
   
       9 . A method as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the second sensor detects the front end of the container proximate the second location and the second label applicator applies the shipping label over the packing list at a predetermined location on the container relative to the sensed front end and the bottom end.  
   
   
       10 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , said shipping label being adhered using a pressure sensitive adhesive.  
   
   
       11 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , 
 said shipping label including a removable transverse tear strip extending entirely across the shipping label and across one end of the central portion of the shipping label,    said shipping label having lines of weakness cooperating with said tear strip to define the boundaries of the unadhered central portion of the shipping label and to facilitate removal of the central portion of the shipping label from the container after the tear strip has been removed.    
   
   
       12 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , including the step of continuously moving the container along the conveyor during application of said shipping label and said packing list.  
   
   
       13 . Apparatus for sequentially applying a shipping label and a packing list in registry on a container, comprising: 
 a conveyor adapted to receive thereon a container and advance the container therealong from a first upstream location to a second downstream location;    a first sensor positioned adjacent the conveyor and oriented to detect a container at a first position proximate to said first sensor;    a first label application station positioned adjacent the conveyor and operatively coupled to said first sensor,    said first station including a print and application machine for printing and applying a first label to a container detected by the first sensor;    a second sensor positioned adjacent the conveyor and downstream from the first label application station and oriented to detect a container located at a second position proximate to said said second sensor;    a second label application station positioned adjacent the conveyor and downstream from the first label application station,    said second label application station being operatively coupled to said second sensor and including a print and application machine for printing and applying a second label to a container detected by the second sensor,    said second label application station being positioned for applying the second label to the container in a preselected position over and relative to the first label,    said first label being affixed to the container but having a central portion that is unaffixed to the container,    said second label being affixed to one of the container alone and both the first label and the container,    said second label having a central portion that overlies the central portion of the first label,    said central portion of the second label being unaffixed to the central portion of the first label and being removable from remaining portions of the second label to permit exposing the central portion of the first label when the central portion of the second label is removed from the container.    
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further including a scanner positioned adjacent said conveyor upstream from said second label application station and oriented to read a scannable indicia on a container positioned on said conveyor and operatively connected to said second label application station for communicating a signal corresponding to said scannable indicia to said second label application station and printing a label with information corresponding to the scannable indicia.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said scanner is an optical scanner.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further including a scanner positioned adjacent said conveyor upstream from said first label application station and oriented to read a scannable indicia on a container positioned on said conveyor and operatively connected to said first label application station for communicating a signal corresponding to said scannable indicia to said first label application station and printing a label with information corresponding to the scannable indicia.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said scanner is an optical scanner.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein each of said first and second label application stations includes a reciprocating arm for applying a label to a container moving therepast, and further including a rail opposite each of said label application stations and adjacent said conveyor for resisting shifting of a container in a direction transverse to its downstream movement as a result of engagement of the container by the arm.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the conveyor is operable to continuously move the container in a downstream direction from said first upstream location to said second downstream application with said first print and application machine being operable to apply said first label to the container during movement of the container therepast.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the second print and application machine is operable to apply said second label during movement of the container therepast.  
   
   
       21 . A method of applying plural-ply attachment of sheet materials to a container comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first ply of sheet material having a front side and a back side and printing indicia on the front side;    adhesively applying the back side of the first ply of sheet material to a container;    providing a second ply of sheet material having a face side and a reverse side and printing indicia on said face side;    adhesively applying the reverse side of the second ply to the container with said second ply being positioned at least partially atop the first ply,    each of the respective indicia on said first ply and said second ply being distinct from but related to the indicia on the other of said plies in a predetermined manner,    said first ply being adhesively affixed to the container but having a central portion that is unaffixed to the container,    said second ply being adhesively affixed to the group consisting of the container, the first ply, and combinations thereof,    said second ply having a central portion substantially free of adhesive on the reverse side thereof and said adhesively applying step the reverse side step including positioning the central portion in a position that substantially overlies the central portion of the first ply,    said reverse side of the central portion of the second ply being applied in substantial registry with and over the front side of the central portion of the first ply such that the central portion of the second ply is unaffixed to the central portion of the first ply and being removable from remaining portions of the second ply to permit exposing the central portion of the first ply when the second portion of the second ply is removed from the container.    
   
   
       22 . A method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said second ply entirely covers the first ply.  
   
   
       23 . A method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the indicia applied to both plies includes information that is unique to a sender of the container.  
   
   
       24 . A method as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the indicia applied to both plies includes information that is unique to a recipient of the container.  
   
   
       25 . A method as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the first ply is printed and applied to the container at a first application station, and the second ply is printed and applied over the first ply at a second application station separate from said first application station.