US3915338A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for tray loading of labels into label magazines
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-01-22
•
Granted: 1975-10-28
•
Expires: 1994-01-22
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for loading stacked labels into a label feed magazine having a retractable label pusher platen behind any ''''old'''' labels thereon. A stack of ''''new'''' labels is assembled into a tray-carrier which is slightly smaller in profile than the magazine and which holds the labels in stacked relation. The loaded tray-carrier is transported to the magazine and is telescoped therewithin to advance the label stack in the traycarrier toward the ''''old'''' labels already in the magazine. The label pusher platen is repositioned behind the rearmost label in the ''''new'''' label stack and the tray-carrier may be removed rearwardly from the magazine or left in position within the magazine. The tray-carrier is preferably made of lightweight disposable material, such as cardboard or plastic, and desirably comprises a trough having one open end and low sides. After the tray-carrier is loaded with a label stack it may be covered with a shrink film or similar pliant cover which cooperates with the trough to hold the stack in position and to keep it clean.
Inventors
- 👤 Hermann Kronseder
- 👤 Karl Dullinger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 21:23
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65C; B65C9/00; B65C9/08; B65C9/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of loading stacked labels into a label feed magazine and feeding said labels into a label machine, said magazine having a retractable label pusher platen behind old labels therein and in which method the magazine will continue to feed old labels to a label machine during the loading operation, said method comprising the steps of assembling a stack of new labels in an open-ended tray-carrier which is slightly smaller in profile than the magazine and which holds the new labels in stacked relation, transporting the loaded tray-carrier to the magazine, telescoping the loaded open-ended tray-carrier with its open end foremost within the magazine, advancing the stack of new labels in the tray-carrier through its open end and toward and against old labels already in the magazine while the magazine continues to feed old labels to the label machine and repositioning the label pusher platen behind the stack of new labels for feed of all said labels.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of loading stacked labels into a label feed magazine and feeding said labels into a label machine, said magazine having a retractable label pusher platen behind old labels therein and in which method the magazine will continue to feed old labels to a label machine during the loading operation, said method comprising the steps of assembling a stack of new labels in an open-ended tray-carrier which is slightly smaller in profile than the magazine and which holds the new labels in stacked relation, transporting the loaded tray-carrier to the magazine, telescoping the loaded open-ended tray-carrier with its open end foremost within the magazine, advancing the stack of new labels in the tray-carrier through its open end and toward and against old labels already in the magazine while the magazine continues to feed old labels to the label machine and repositioning the label pusher platen behind the stack of new labels for feed of all said labels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 in which the tray-carrier is withdrawn rearwardly from the label magazine to transfer the label stack from the tray-carrier to the label magazine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 in which the tray-carrier remains in the label magazine as said pusher platen dispenses labels therefrom.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 plus the step of restraining said label stack from loss during transport of the tray-carrier to the label magazine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 4 in which the label stack is restrained from loss by encasing it in a removable cover.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 5 in which the removable cover comprises a shrink film.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method of claim 1 in which said pusher platen has a slidable hinged connection to the label magazine, said pressure platen being repositioned behind the label stack by first swinging it laterally about its hinge out of the path of label advance, sliding it rearwardly to a position behind the label stack and swinging it laterally on its hinge to reposition it in line with the path of label advance and behind the rearmost label.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 in which the label magazine has longitudinally extending ribs along its bottom which act as tracks along which the tray-carrier is slid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 8 in which the tray-carrier has complementary grooves which mate with said ribs.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
138 words
Apparatus for continuously feeding labels from a label magazine to a label machine and for loading stacked labels into said label feed magazine without interrupting the continuous feed of labels therefrom, said magazine having a retractable label pusher platen behind old labels therein, said apparatus comprising an open-ended tray-carrier which is slightly smaller in profile than the magazine and which holds new labels in stacked relation, said open-ended tray-carrier being telescopically receivable within said magazine with its open end foremost to advance said new label stack through said open end and toward and against old labels already in the magazine while the magazine continues to feed old labels to the label machine, and guide means for retracting the label pusher platen from behind old labels already in the label magazine and repositioning it behind said new label stack.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
138 words
Apparatus for continuously feeding labels from a label magazine to a label machine and for loading stacked labels into said label feed magazine without interrupting the continuous feed of labels therefrom, said magazine having a retractable label pusher platen behind old labels therein, said apparatus comprising an open-ended tray-carrier which is slightly smaller in profile than the magazine and which holds new labels in stacked relation, said open-ended tray-carrier being telescopically receivable within said magazine with its open end foremost to advance said new label stack through said open end and toward and against old labels already in the magazine while the magazine continues to feed old labels to the label machine, and guide means for retracting the label pusher platen from behind old labels already in the label magazine and repositioning it behind said new label stack.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 10 in which the tray-carrier is provided with means for restraining loss of said label stack during transport of the tray-carrier.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 11 in which said means for restraining loss of said label stack comprises a removable cover for said tray-carrier.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 12 in which said removable cover comprises a shrink film.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 11 in which said means to restrain loss of said label stack comprises swingable flaps on said tray-carrier.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 14 in which said flaps are at said open end of said tray-carrier and are swung open prior to advancement of the label stack against any labels already in the magazine.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparAtus of claim 14 in which said flaps extend longitudinally along opposite sides of the tray-carrier with a slot therebetween, and a removable tape spanning across said flaps and closing the slot.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 14 in which said tray-carrier has removable end closure panels, said tape extending around said end closure panels to secure said panels to the tray-carrier pending removal of the tape.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 17 in which said tray-carrier comprises a cardboard box having a bottom and sides from which said flaps extend, the ends of said box being closed only by said end closure panels.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 17 in which said end closure panels comprise endmost labels in said label stack.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 16 in which said tape has a glue-free zone over said slot.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 17 in which at least one end of the tape is provided with a pull tab free of connection with the tray-carrier.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 10 in which said guide means comprises a longitudinally extending guideway and a sliding hinge coupling the label pusher platen to the guideway and on which said label pusher platen is swingable laterally out of the path of label advance and slidable longitudinally along the magazine.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 10 in which said tray-carrier comprises a thin walled trough, the exterior profile of which is slightly smaller than the interior profile of the label magazine.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 23 in which said tray-carrier comprises molded plastic.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 10 in which said label magazine comprises longitudinally extending ribs along its bottom which act as tracks along which the tray-carrier is slid.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 25 in which the tray-carrier has complementary grooves which mate with said ribs.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 10 in which said tray-carrier comprises a channel-shaped lower trough open at one end and a removable cover for enclosing a label stack within the trough, said cover having an end portion over the open end of the trough.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 27 in which the cover comprises a pliant shrink film.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 27 in which the side walls of the trough are provided with hinged flaps adjacent open end and which are movable between closed end and open end position with respect to said end.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 27 in which the label magazine comprises longitudinally extending ribs along its bottom which act as tracks along which the tray-carrier is slid, said tray-carrier having complementary grooves which mate with said ribs.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 30 in which the bottom of said tray-carrier has transverse ribs which reinforce said bottom and which span between said grooves.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 10 in which the label stack has a curved bottom, the bottom of said tray-carrier being correspondingly curved.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 10 in which the spacing of the edges of the labels in the stack from the magazine wall is about double the thickness of the wall of the tray-carrier.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2222072A
Cited
US2291010A
Cited
US3032339A
Cited
US3226109A
Cited
US3291483A
Cited
US3333731A
Cited
US3468531A
Cited
US3709402A
Cited
US3767188A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-27 | 1979-04-28 | 1979-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-27 | 1983-04-28 | 1983-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-27 | 1987-04-28 | 1987-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |