Patent Grant
7891490
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a two-part shipping and packing label system and method of making and applying the system which permits rapid placement of a shipping label over a packing list also provided as a label wherein both are applied to a substrate such as a container or the like. More particularly, it is concerned with a shipping and packing label system which may be sequentially applied to the container, wherein the shipping label is placed in registry over and around the packing list to conceal the latter until the shipping label is removed.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The emergence of mail order sales through catalogs and online retail sites has greatly expanded the shipment of products through the mail and commercial delivery services. The shipper must have a shipping label which provides an address to which the package is directed. In addition, a packing list must be provided for inventory control and tracking by the shipper and to provide the recipient a way to check whether the contents of the package match the order as placed. An inherent requirement is that the packing list be concealed from external view or be tamper evident to quickly show if someone has attempted to discover the contents of the shipping carton during delivery. One way of accomplishing this is to insert a packing list into the carton along with the products to be shipped, and then to apply a separate shipping label on the exterior of the carton. However, this is time consuming, requires substantial manual work by the shipper, and requires substantial efforts to coordinate the activities of the packing list placement with the application of the shipping label when the two steps are performed at remote locations. More significantly, this activity results in slowed processing of the order at the time of shipping, and prevents substantial economies to be achieved by increasing the speed of the conveyor during the shipping process.
An alternative method of applying shipping labels and packing lists involves the use of clear plastic pouches which are adhered to the outside of the carton with the statement “PACKING LIST ENCLOSED” printed thereon. The use of such plastic pouches enables the shipper to place the packing list and the shipping label on the exterior of the carton at the same time, but such pouches are expensive and still require the insertion of the packing list into the pouch, sealing of the pouch, placement of the pouch, and placement of the shipping label, which steps may involve further expense in the form of additional machines and or increased human labor, may reduce the speed of the shipping conveyor, and still has the shipping label printed and applied separately from the packing list which may result in separation of the two.
Recently, I have developed an improved shipping and packing label as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,186,554 and 6,213,518, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. This shipping and packing label represents a substantial improvement over the prior art and permits automated printing and application of the shipping label. However, these shipping and packing labels require duplex printers to apply printing to both sides of the form simultaneously. These printers are not readily available and thus currently inhibit the use of such forms by many shippers. Moreover, the requirement for a duplex printer prevents the use of current printers and label applicators from their use. The forms of the U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,186,554 and 6,213,518 patents are also designed for manual application to the container and do not lend themselves to high speed continuous application in an automated system which provides automated printing and application of the form in concert with automated matching of the shipping label to the container.
There has thus developed a need for a shipping label and packing list system which is economical, may be rapidly applied, and enables automated printing and application.
These and other objects have been achieved by the sequentially placed shipping label and packing list system of the present invention. That is to say, the present invention permits rapid printing and placement of packing lists and shipping labels using existing equipment which enables rapid movement of cartons along a shipping line, ensures confidentiality of the enclosed packing list, and permits automated printing and application to facilitate the matching of the shipping label and the packing list so that the contents of the package go to the intended recipient.
The system of the present invention includes two sequentially applied labels, one being a packing list which may be printed on one side with information corresponding to the contents of the carton and may be printed on its other side with masking indicia, and the second being a shipping label which is provided with adhesive in a pattern which, when applied to a substrate such as a face of a container, preferably covers and substantially surrounds the packing list. The packing list is preferably provided of a smaller dimension to permit good adhesion of the shipping label to the container and to provide a center portion having the printed information to fit within the perforations of the shipping label defining the removable center section, and has one or more preferably two lines of adhesive to ensure that the packing list remains in its desired location when applied to the carton. The packing list is preferably provided with two lines of weakness such as perforations which facilitate separation of the center portion carrying indicia identifying the contents from the adhesive strips. The shipping label is also provided with lines of weakness, such as perforations, which are parallel to the lines of weakness on the shipping label and facilitate removal of a center portion of the shipping label when a transverse tear strip is removed. The shipping label is applied to the container such as a carton or box so that its adhesive portions are exterior to at least part of the packing list, thereby surrounding and covering the packing list, and also ensuring good contact between the shipping label and the carton.
The sequentially applied shipping label and packing list system of the present invention thus represents a substantial advance over existing one-piece labels. The system of the present invention avoids the need for unique and dedicated duplex printers by using existing commercial application systems, and further avoids the necessity of folding one piece label and packing lists which are printed only on one side. The system hereof also facilitates higher speeds in automated processing of shipping orders. Each shipping label and its corresponding packing list may be uniquely printed with information corresponding to one order. The carton moves down the conveyor line in a sealed condition and carries a bar code, radio frequency identification tag, or other scannable identifying member. This scannable identifying member is then read by a bar code reader or the like to identify the particular carton and its contents and correlate that carton to correspond to information held in a computer memory regarding the contents and the desired recipient identification including the shipping address. The packing list is then applied to the carton as a label while the carton is moving using conventional printers and label applicators. A scanner then verifies the packing list by a bar code imprinted thereon before a second label applicator prints and applies the shipping label over the packing list label, all while the carton continues movement along the conveyor. As a result, an increased number of cartons, such as about 25 to 35 cartons per minute, may be processed through the shipping system and readied for shipment. Beneficially, the packing list and then the shipping label may be applied along one side of a container in a predetermined position, such as a multiple or fraction of inches from a leading edge and/or a bottom edge of a container, so that containers of various sizes exceeding a minimum in two dimensions may receive the labels without alteration or adjustment of the application system. For example, when the shipping labels and packing lists are applied to the sides of the containers as they moves along the conveyor, the containers need not be centered and may be of a wide variety of dimensions while still acceptably receiving the packing list and shipping label in sequence and in registry, ready for shipping.
These and other advantages will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art with reference to the drawings and description which follow.
Referring now to the drawings, a sequentially applied shipping label and packing list system 10 in accordance with the present invention includes a shipping label 12 applied at a second station and a packing list 14 applied at a first station onto a container 16. Optionally, a return label 18 may be applied to the container prior to the packing list 14 as shown in
In greater detail, the shipping label 12 has a longitudinal dimension 20 extending between a leading edge 22 and a trailing edge 24, and a transverse dimension 26 extending between a first side edge 28 and a second side edge 30. The shipping label 12 has a face side 32 as shown in
The shipping label 12 is provided with printed indicia including instructions 52, shipper identification 54, recipient identification 56, tracking and billing information 58, target indicia 60, and scannable indicia 62, 64 and 66 of the type well known such as UPC bar coding. The instructions 52 may include directions for use and line indicators which assist the recipient in identifying the lines of weakness 42, 44, 46, 48 and 50. The shipper identification 54, recipient information 56, and tracking and billing information 58 may be provided in optical character recognition typefont if it is desired that this information be electronically read and stored, or other typefont as desired, and may be reprinted in multiple different locations as desired by the sender. The target indicia 60 may be utilized by the machinery for printing and applying the shipping labels to aid in locating the printing or by the shipping carrier for identifying the labels on the container for locating and then scanning the information carried thereon. The scannable indicia 62, 64 and 66 may be utilized during application of the labels for determining and verifying correct order and billing information and assisting in the routing of the container 16 both initially to the correct carrier and during shipment by the shipping carrier until delivery. Some of the indicia may be preprinted, such as the instructions 52, the shipper identification 54, and the target indicia 60, or this indicia as well as the remaining indicia may be variable printed for different shipping labels to correspond to a particular container 16.
Adhesive 68, such as pressure-sensitive adhesive, is applied to the reverse side 34 of the shipping label 12 to aid in adhering the shipping label 12 to the container 16. Adhesive 68 may be applied in a variety of different ways, such as by a spray head or the like, to predetermined locations on the reverse side 34, spaced or recessed about 1 mm from both the edges and the lines 3 of weakness to avoid bleeding of the adhesive beyond the edges and into the lines of weakness. One location is a U-shaped adhesive pattern 70 applied outboard of lines of weakness 42, 44 and 46 onto the reverse side 34 of the border portion 38 as shown in
The packing list 14 is sized and positioned on the container complemental to the shipping label 12 and preferably to nest therein. The packing list 14 has a length L which extends between a leading margin 80 and a trailing margin 82, and a width W which extends between a first side margin 84 and a second side margin 86. The length of the packing list 12 is less than the longitudinal dimension 20 of the shipping label 12 and also less than the longitudinal distance D between the cross line of weakness 46 and the inboard transverse line of weakness 48. The width W of the packing list 12 is less than the transverse dimension 26 of the shipping label 12 and also less than the transverse distance T between the first line of weakness 42 and the second line of weakness 44 of the shipping label 12. The packing list 14 includes a front side 88 shown in
The back side 90 of the packing list includes first and second regions 118, 120 of adhesive 68 such as pressure-sensitive adhesive applied between the side margins 84 and 86 and the lines of weakness 92 and 94 most proximate thereto. The first and second regions 118, 120 of adhesive are preferably recessed about 1 mm from the margins 80, 82, 84 and 86 and also from the lines of weakness 92 and 94. This leaves the back side 90 of center portion 96 free of adhesive 68. The center portion 96 may thus be separated from the container 18 while the retaining strips 98 and 100 remain adhered to the container. The back side 90 of the center portion 96 may be preprinted with terms and conditions or other printing 122 prior to application of the adhesive on the retaining strips, which further inhibits premature viewing of the packing list content indicia 110.
Both the shipping label 12 and the packing list 14 are preferably initially preprinted with instructional indicia and, as desired, masking indicia. The adhesive 68 is then applied on the rear side and the back side, respectively, of the shipping label 12 and the packing list 14, or to respective liners 124 and 126, shown in
Optionally, a return label 18 may be provided as a part of the system hereof, the return label 18 having smaller transverse and longitudinal dimensions than the center portion 96. The return label 18 may be provided to facilitate return of merchandise and includes the address indicia of the shipper and preferably bar code indicia corresponding to scannable indicia 116. The return label 18 may be provided with pressure sensitive adhesive 68 on its back side and may include a liner with one side covered with a release coating facing the back side of the return label 18 and another side covered with adhesive for application and adhering to the container 16.
An alternate embodiment of the sequentially applied shipping and packing label system 10A is shown in FIGS. 7,8 and 9. In this regard, the shipping label 12A shown in
In order to sequentially apply the system 10 or 10A including the shipping label 12 or 12A and the packing list 14 or 14A to a container 16 in an automated rapid sequence, a processing assembly 130 is provided as shown generally in
In use, the containers 16 are initially filled with the contents of an order to a seller or other supplier, and then sealed. The containers 16 are also supplied with a unique scannable indicia 150 such as a UPC bar code on a label corresponding to the order. The scannable indicia 150 preferably is the same or corresponds to the indicia 66 and 116, and is applied to a face 152 of the container 16 which is oriented toward the scanners 134 and 136 when the container 16 is placed on the conveyor 132. Information corresponding to the indicia 150 for each container 16 in positions 16a, 16b and 16c as shown in
After the packing list 14 is applied, the conveyor 132 advances the container to position 16c. While so moving, the container passes the second scanner 136 when used and the position indicator 142 detects the back end 156 of the container. The second scanner 136 may be positioned to read the scannable indicia 116 on the packing list 12 to verify that the packing list 14 which has been printed and applied to the container 16 matches the order corresponding to indicia 150 and the information in the memory of the controller, or to read the indicia 150 on the container. If not correct, the controller may generate an error or alarm signal. Alternatively, the second scanner 136 may be omitted and the signal generated by the first scanner 134 is communicated via the controller to the second printing and applicating machine 140 to advance the liner 124 and to print the indicia not already preprinted on the shipping label 12. The shipping label 12 is then ready to be applied to the container 16 once the second position indicator 144 detects the front end of the container 16 when it reaches the position 16c. As in the case of the packing list 14, the speed of the conveyor 132 may be preset or variable; if the speed is variable, information corresponding to the speed of the conveyor 132 is communicated to the controller and the arm 146 of the second print and applicating machine 140 is actuated dependent on the speed of the conveyor 132 and detection of a front end 154 of the container. When the speed of the conveyor 132 is fixed, the arm 146 of the second print and applicating machine 140 is actuated after a predetermined period once the front end of the container 16 is detected by the position indicator 144. When the position indicator 144 detects the front end 154 of the container in position 16c, it communicates a signal to the printing and applicating machine 140 to extend the arm 146 and apply the shipping label 12 to the container 16. Based on the preset locations of the printing and applicating machines 138 and 140 to their respective position indicators 142 and 144, the shipping label 12 may be applied with precision whereby the lines of weakness 42, 44, 46 and 48 are outboard of the margins 80, 82, 84 and 86 of the packing list 12 therebeneath. After application of the shipping label 12, the shipping label covers the packing list 14, but lies in registry with the packing list so that each adheres independently to the container without interference from the other, and so that removal of the center section of the shipping label 12 immediately reveals the packing list 14. The system hereof is also tamper-evident, in that the adhesive of the shipping label 12 substantially surrounds at least the center portion of the packing list 14 requiring tearing of the tear strip to gain access to information regarding the contents of the container 16. The shipping label 12 also includes sufficient space on its front side to enable printing of indicia regarding billing and tracking codes and shipping billing information as well as the identification of the recipient and shipper so that after application of the system 10, the carrier has access to all needed information to permit handling and transport of the container 16. An optional final scanner 159 similar to scanners 134 and 136 may be provided after the shipping label 12 is adhered to the container to verify that the correct shipping label with the correct indicia has been applied.
The application of the system 10A including the packing list 14A and the shipping label 12A is in all respects the same as described above, except that because of the greater width W of the packing list 14A, the shipping label 14A applied over the packing list 14A extends onto the retaining strips 98A and 100A. Thus, the adhesively backed U-shaped border portion 38A extends across the side margins 84A and 86A to adhere both to the container and to the retaining strips 98A and 100A. However, the center portion 96A is positioned between the first and second longitudinally extending lines of weakness 42A and 44A and thus readily accessible upon removal of the center section 36A.
When the container 16 is delivered with the system 10 applied thereon, the recipient can verify the information regarding the sender and the recipient visually from the shipping label 12. If correct, the recipient may tear away the tear strip 40 as shown in
Although preferred forms of the invention have been described above, it is to be recognized that such disclosure is by way of 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. For example, radio frequency identification tags may be substituted for the bar codes as the scannable indicia whereby the radio frequency identification tags can generate a signal by a battery contained therein or in response to an interrogation signal when the radio frequency identification tag is provided as a transponder. In addition, the return label could be incorporated into the packing list, such that a bridge section with adhesive backing spans the retaining strips and remains adhered to the container after removal of the center section of the shipping label and the center portion of the packing list.
The inventor hereby states his intent to rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and assess the reasonably fair scope of his invention as pertains to any apparatus not materially departing from but outside the literal scope of the invention as set out in the following claims.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/076,516, filed Mar. 9, 2005, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/623,321, filed Jul. 18, 2003, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/877,421, filed Jun. 8, 2001, all of which are incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5340158 | Bartl | Aug 1994 | A |
| 6616189 | Raming | Sep 2003 | B2 |
| 6953207 | Raming | Oct 2005 | B2 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20100044264 A1 | Feb 2010 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 09877421 | Jun 2001 | US |
| Child | 10623321 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 11076516 | Mar 2005 | US |
| Child | 12562358 | US | |
| Parent | 10623321 | Jul 2003 | US |
| Child | 11076516 | US |
