Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1 FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to labels for alphabetic labelling
of article shelf filings, to printing such label and -to label-
ling the articles with such labels.
~ACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
_ . .
Broadly speaking there are two ways to file correspondence
and other documents in offices. One way is in folders placed
in drawer files; and the other way is in folders placed on shelf
files. The drawer file system is a standard adopted by many
business and government offices. In recent years, however,
there has been a distinct trend away from drawer files to shelf
files. Shelf files have several worthwhile advantages. There
is the saving of space, because shelf iles can go higher in
view of reaching up to folders on shelves instead of having to
reach over the top of the drawer to retrieve files from drawers.
The drawers must be pulled out into an aisle, thus re~uiring
wider aisles between rows. Usually there is a 30~ space saving
when changing from drawer files to shelf files. The shelf
files eliminate the need to pull drawers out or push them ir.
so that little physical effor-t is expended in withdrawing files
from the shelf system and since all files are visible, access
to them is fast and direct. With shelf filing systems, the
file room is more compact so that there is less walking.
With the shelf filing system, the folder used is that
commonly referred to as "End Tab" or "Side Tab" folder to
distinguish i-t from the "Top Tab" folder used in drawer files.
The end referred to is the edge of the folder that is visible
whén folders are positioned on a shelf. End tab folders may
have the tab in several positions, for example, four inch top
tab, four inch bottom tab, and full end tab. ~ y
~`i~"
1 --
1 There are two main systems or classes of coding Elles;
that is, by the use of reference numbers, or by the use of the
alphabetic names or subjects~ The system -to be discussed with
respect to shelf filing to which this invention relates is
alphabetic filing systems.
Computers are starting to be used for file room control
where the file whereabouts is recorded and stored in computer
memory. This is presen-tly accomplished by ~eyboard entry of
file reference numbers and its whereabouts is recorded in the
computer memory. Such a system is subject to error and requires
a great deal of time and a number of typists in the file room
and at other locations throughout the office to record Eile
"pass-ons".
The alphabetic labelling of file folders is usually based
on a name or subject in association with which the file is
opened. The label for the file may therefore show the person's
name or the identity of the company, government offlce, etc.
together with location such as City and Province or State and
with subject files the main classification and sub-classifica-
tion. Two such labels are usually printed in a typewriter and
subsequently applied to both sides of the end tab folder.
That system of alphabetic labelling of files requires consider-
able manual input and is slow and combersome.
The label according to this invention overcomes the above
problems to provide an alphabetic label for articles such as
files, envelopes, guidecards and anything that may be placed
on shelves for reference. When applied to such an article,
the label permits identification of the article from -two of
it's sides. The label may be provided with a code which is
machine readable and mav be read by a reading device connected
-- 2
1 to a compu-ter which is adapted to record the file whereabouts.
The label may also be provided with a machine readable code
that may programme a labelling machine to apply other labels
for identification.
~- 5 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`~ The label for alphabetically labelliny files has on a portion
of it's face a first set of indicia and on another portion of
,~ it's face a second set of indicia which relates to the same
, subject matter as the first set. The second set of indicia
"
~` 10 is oriented in reverse and upside down relative to the first
set. A machine readable code unique to the subject matter of -~
; the sets of indicia may be located on one of the face portions.
The arrangement is such that when the label is folded along
it's length the portions of the face are isolated or remote
from one another when the label is applied to an article. With
this arrangement, the article is visually identifiable by the
label from two of it's sides.
The process for printing along a label, two sets of the
indicia, comprises printing at least one line of a first set
of indicia wi~hin a first field and in the same operation of
printing along such label, printing at least one line parallel
to the other lines of a second set of indicia backwards and
upside down relative to the first set within a second field
of the label. In the same printing operation, printing within
one of said fields, a machine readable code unlque to the
subject matter of the sets of indicia. The machine readable
; code as it appears on the label, when applied to an article
may be machine read to provide for computerized control of the
file room. ~dditional information may be input to the computer
manually or from summary sheet bearing machine readable inform-
~3~
l ation concerning the person or department to whom the folder
is charged out. The particulars are machine read from the
summary sheet and stored in computer memory. To facilitate
security, people may be issued with cards bearing particulars
~;5 which are machine readable. When a person re~uests a file,
he has to produce his card which is machine read and if cleared
the flle is charged out and the person's particulars stored
concerning file whereabouts.
The system for labelling articles wi~h alphabetical labels
comprises a printing device in which the descrihed process can i
be practiced. Means is provided for passing label material
through the printing device. Data input means is provided for
directing the printing device in the subject mat~ter to be
printed on each label. The printing device is adapted to print
along an upper first field of a label at least one line of a
first set of indicia and print along a lower second field at
least one line of a second set of indicia. The printing device
prints each line of the second set backwards and upside down
relative to the first set. l'he arrangement of fields is such
that when a label is folded along it's length, the first field
is isolated from the second. The printing device also prints
on the first field a machine readable indicium code represent-
ative of one or more indicium of a set. A label applying
device may be provided for applying the printed labels to
articles. The label applying device ~olds each such printed
label along it's length to isolate the fields and applies it.
The label applying device has a reading device for reading
such machine readable indicium code on the label applied. The
label applying device has a supply of filing code labels, each
representative of an alphabetical letter. The reading device r
-- 4 --
. . , ~
reads the machine readable indicium code to determine the
selection by the label applying device of a filing code label
from the supply which has a letter corresponding to a read
coded indicium and applies the selected label on the article.
The produced article therefore has a label identifying the
subject matter of the article with one or more individual labels
having letters corresponding to for example the first two let-ters
of the person's name associated with the file. This provides
ready access to an article in shelf filing systems where the
individual labels having the letters may be colour coded to
provide bands of colours along the filing system so that an
article or a small group of articles may be visually recogniz-
able from other articles in the system due to the combination
of colour coded labels.
Alternatively, the labels as prepared by the printer
device may be applied to the folders manually~ The manual
application may be further extended to include manually app-
lying the addition~lcolour coded labels according to a prede-
termined selection of the printed indicia.
The process for labelling a file folder by alphabetical
listing comprises printing a label of the type discussed and
applying the label to the side tab of a file folder with each
field of the label on a side of the folder flap. The machine
readable indicium is read; and applied to the file folder flap
as controlled by the machine reading step, at least one colour
coded label having an indicium corresponding to one of the
coded indicium.
The system according to this invention provides an article
such as a file folder having a listing on a label of the subject
matter of the file and the addition as controlled by the mach-
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1 ine readable indicium code on the printed label, of one or
more individual flling code labels to provide a shelf filed
article which has all the distinct advantages of shelf filing.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a view of a label according to a preferred
embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is a block diagram of the components of the
system for labelling of files according to a preferred embodi-
ment where segments of the file folder tab have the file labels
built up -thereon;
Figure 3 is a view from one side oE a file older panel;
and
Figure 4 is a view from the other side of the file folder
panel of Figure 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
:
Figure 1 shows a label printed in a manner according to
a preferred embodiment of this inven-tion. The label 10 is
rectangular in shape. On a portion of a first field or it's
face 12 it has a first set of indicia encompassed by bracket
14. On the outer line, the name of the City and State, Keen
New Hampshire is printed. On the first line ad~acent ~he-central
portion of the label 10, the name of the person, Williams, Bill,
in association with which a file folder has been opened, is
printed. The second set of indicia is encompassed by bracket
16 is identical to and printed in rows parallel -to the rows
of the first set of indicia 14. The second set of indicia is
printed upside do~m and backwards relative to the first set of
indicia.
- 6 -
37~6
1 In locating the two sets of indicia in the manner shown
in Figure 1, they are positioned in upper and lower fields as
identified on each side of an imaginery fold line shown in dot
and designated 18. The two fields extend the length of label
lO and in this particular embodiment, they are beside one ~,
another and are co-extensive with each other. In the upper
right hand corner of the label's first field 13, the machine
readable indicium code 20 represents the first two initials
WI of the person's name. The code is shown in "Code 39" bar
code format including start-stop portions and intermediate
portions indicating and representative of, when machine read,
the designated preselected letters WI. In the lower left hand
corner of the label's second field 15, a machine readable code
22, in this embodiment made up of optical character recognition
markings, represents the subject matter of the label and there-
fore the subject matter of the article to which the label is to
be applied. The code 22 is read during charge out of, for
example, file folders in the control of the file room.
The label 10 when used on a file folder is preferrably
coated with a protective layer of material which may be laid
over the label after printing. The protec-tive material may be
of a thin transparent sheet with an adhesive backing such as
a sheet of "Mylar" (trade mark) which adheres to the surface
of the label. To assist in,the application of a label to an
article, the back of the label may have an adhesive material
applied thereto which is pressure sensitive. During the
printing and handling of the label, it may have a protective
backing. The backing is peeled thereform to expose the
adhesive for application of the label to the article. In
applying the label as mentioned, it may be folded along line
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1 18 extending the labe~'s length to isolate Eie].cls 13 and .l5.
The label 10 as shown in l'igure 3 ls applied to an encl
~ tab of a file folder generally designated 24 havillg file :Eolder
:~ flaps 26 and 28. The end tab o:E -the folcler 24 ju-ts outwardly
~ S of flap 26 in the form of tab 30 which is integral with flap
~:~ 26. I.abel 10, as folded about imaglnery line 18, LS appl~ed
to the folder sP that when read from it's rearside the first
set of indicia 14 is readily read. As shown in Figure 4, the
second set..of indicia 16 is readily read from the other side
: 10 of the file. This facilitates file folder reference from.eit}ler
: ~ ~
direction when looking for files in shelf Eiling systems.
The bar code 20 on label 10 as mentioned designates the
initials WI of the name and contro]s the labelling machille
,
. application of singular filing code labels 32 and 34. As can
.
:be seen in Figures 3 and 4, labels 32 and 34 have the inltials
repeated on each side of it's central fold -to provide reference
to the flle from either side. The labels. may be colour coded
and of the type described and claimed in applican-t's
.. United.Sta-tes Patent 4,204,639, issued May 27, 1980.
The label 10 may according to a-preferred embodimen-t of
the inventlon, be printed in a single operation. As -the
printer passes along relative to the label 10 from left to
right, vertical segments of both rows of first se-t of indicia
14 are simultaneously printed. On movin~ across the label ln,
the first indlci.um "L" of -the second set is printed upside
down and reverse order inline ~.~i.th the indicium "L" of the
first set. Similarly, as the first set of indici..a 14 is being
printed, the code 22 is also being prin-ted in it's upside down
and reverse order manner direc-tly below and in line with the
- 8 -
1 upper indicium columns. The bar code 20 is printed as the
second set of indicia 16 is being printed. The process there-
fore prints the entire label in a single pass.
An apparatus which has been found to be particularly suit
able for this type of printing operation is that sold by Markem
Corporation of Keen, New EIampshire, and sold under the trade mark
"Scanmark". This printer a model U.1235 has been modified to
print two rows of indicia in an upright manner and two under-
lying rows of indicia in an upside down manner. This device as
it has been modified has the capacity to type four lines of the
label in the following manner. A constantly revolving cylinder
has four lines of type embossed on the surface. The cylinder -~
is positioned vertically. The lines of type are positioned
; horizontally around the cylinder so that they print the four
lines of typing required to produce the combined label 10. The
top two lines are embossed on the cylinder in their standard
upright position and the bottom two lines are embossed upside
down and backwards. For example, the A on the second line of
embossed type would be ln perpendicular alignment with the A
on the first line. On the third line of embossed type~ the A
would also be in perpendicular alignment but would be upside
down. The fourth line of type would be identical to the third.
All the alphabet letters A through Z and the numbers 0 through
9 together with special characters such as bar code would be
on the drum. The bar code type may be that well ]~nown in the
field as "Code 39". The letters A through Z and 0 through 9
may be in machine readable optical character recognition ~OCR)
format. This permits printing of machine readable sets of
indicia and code 22.
; 30 The Markham printer has been designed so tha~ the rolls
~ of self adhesive labels attached to the backing paper are fed
g _
,' ~
3~
l across the cylinder. In front of the label, a one time
carbon-like ribbon is also fed across the cylinder. The labels
and the one time carbon-like material are pulled past the
cylinder by the action oE a stepper motor in an intermitent
start-stop movement. Four hammers on -the printer are timed -to
strike the four lines of embossed letters on the constantly
revolving cylinder. The label and carbon-like ribbon are held
in position until the printing requirements of all four lines
of type have been met. The printing sequence for each label
is stored in the buffer memory of the printer. This buffer
memory for each label is programmed from the keyboard of the
Markham printer or alternately from a computer generated mag-
netic tape by a tape device such as a "Mitron" (trade mark)
MDRS-9 Unit. This is distributed by Mitron Systems Corporation
of Columbia, Maryland. The embossed cylinder is kept at a
constant high temperature so that when the hammer strikes the
carbon-like paper there is an actual transfer of carbon-like
coating to the label. Thus printed in this hotstamp-like
process, the carbon-like material is permanently bounded to
the paper. As mentioned, when the label is used on the files
in other fields where permanence is re~uired, immediately
following the printing operation, the label may be laminated
with a transparent film of "Mylar" to protect the label from
wear.
Use of the Markham printer or similar device therefore
provides in a single pass on the label the printing of both
sets of indicia and machine readable codes. It is understood
however, that the label 10 may also be prepared where the upper
half is typed and the label withdrawn from the printing unit
inverted or turned upside down and then the second half of
-- 10 --
~ f~
7~.~
1 the ma-terial printed.
Turnlng to Figure 2 according to a preferred emi~odimellt,
-the aforementioned Miltron System MDRS-9 is used for clata
input designated by block 36 to direc-t the printer 38 which
according to a preferred embodi~en-t is -the above discussed
modified "Scanmark" printer. The memory of the data input
terminal 36 may include on a magnetic tape or disc a listing
of several clients by name, address and other pertinent info-
rmation which may be included in the se-ts of indicia to be
prin-ted. The printer 38 is activated and on receivill~J ill~Ut
from the data bank 36, commences printing the two sets oE
indicia to`gether with code 22. The printer is programmed to
.
determine the coded indicia frorn the input and prints bar code
20 to represent the first two initials of -the person's name.
On completion of the printlng of the label, the printed labels
may remain on -the paper backing and re-rolled.
As mentioned, the printed labels may be applied to file
~ . .
folders by hand where each label would be removed from the
roll, folded and affixed to the end tab. Alternatively the
~ 20 label appllcation can be mechanized by the use of an automatic
`I labeller such as the unit described in applicants'
~nited States patent 4,183,779 issued January 15, 1980.
The roll of printed labels are loaded on the machine or
labeller designated by block 42. The labeller applies the
: , .
labels 10 to -the files to place the label on the file tab 30.
:
~` I~mediately after -the label is applied to i-ts folder it is
. ,-, , .
routed -through a bar code reader. The bar code on the rear
. ~
- of the label is read to determine what indicia were coded.
~ The labeller 42 has a supply of filing code labels which are
. . ,
~ 30 on separate rolls/ each roll having labels of a particular
. , , . : . 1:. ~- :
/~
~3~7~
1 let.ter of tlle alphabet. 'I'he bar code reacler is atlapted -to
signal -the :Labeller to apply l.abe].s hav.il-g tl-le coded .i.ndicla
on the file folder~ To decrease the number of label applylng
stations Oll labellèr 42, the alphabet may be dlvi.ded :in two.
S In the folder's first pass through the labeller, the pri.nted
label 10 and any of the coded letters of the group A through M
~: are applied at their proper posi-tions as ShOWII in Fiyure 3A. ~:
;:; On the second pass through the labeller as represented by
- dotted line 40, the bar code is read again and any of the
.remaining coded le-tters of the group N through Z are applied
at their proper position as shown in.E'igure 3B.
The labeller 42 can be programmed such -tha-t it positions
the l:abels 32 and 34 in their respective positions as deter- : .
mined by the sequence of the letters as they are coded in the
bar code 20.
This automatic ~abelling process provides a totally
mechanized system fo~r labelling files according to the alpha-
. bet wh:ere each file tab has a label 10 indicating visually
and in.machine readable form the subject mat-ter of the file.
. Toge-ther with colour coded labels 32 and 34, a shelf filing
system provides an advanced form of file reference in the ar-t
:~ of colour coding~of files as discussed in applicant's
~: ,
- United States patent 4,204,639, issued May 27, 1980.
,' , ' ' '
; ,. . . . ..... .
' 25 It lS appreciated that -this description of the preferred
. embodiment is.not intended to be restrictive of -the kind of ::
~ labels that may be produced in -the manner described. For
example, if the address is not needed, only -the two centre
.
l.ines of the embossecl type would be activated on the Markham
- printer, in which case, the -top and bot-tom lines of -the type
- 12 -
1 in label 10 would be eliminated.
Another variation of the labelling of alphabetic folders
is for subject Eiling applications having primary subjec-t
classification, secondary classification and tertiarv class-
ification. The printer is provided with alternate programming
buffered memory and an alterna-te embossed cylinder with the
top three lines of embossed type right side up and the bottom
line upside down. The top printing position of the label would
print the primary classification, the second printing position
print the secondary classification and the third printing pos~
ition on the drum, print the tertiary classification. The
label would be applied to the folder with only the fourth I n
line showing on the back of the folder, with the primary,
secondary and tertiary classifications in a first field and
other tertiary classification in a second field so that the
label is folded about it's length offset from it's centre.
As mentioned~ the sets of indicia may be printed in
machine readable form such as OCR. This may be useful in
some computerized file control systems where there is no data
base to relate the read code 22 to the subject matter of the
file. It is therefore useful in such instances to read into
: the computer memory the code 22 and the machine readable ~
indicia on -the label. On recall, the computer print-out will
therefore show the code and the subject matter corresponding
to that code. However, where the computer installation permlts,
a data base may be built up containing code 22 and the corres-
` ponding subj~ct matter for all fi.les concerned. rl~lith this
set-up it would be necessary to read into the computer memory
: the indicia printed on the label.
- 13 -
1 A further variation of the label shown is to provide a
narrow colour band along the fold area 18 of the label 10.
When such a label is applied to a file folder tab, the colour
bar provides colour identiEication of the folder when viewed
from its end. This is particularly useful in large Eiling
systems where mistakes are readily visually noticed. Due to
wrap around feature of the label as applied to a folder tab,
the colour band is not damaged, nor removed, nor dislocated
during handling of the folder.
The label according to this invention therefore provides
a label for a file where the subject matter of the file is
readily identifiable from either side of the file. The bar
code on the label or other machine readable code indicative
of the selected indicia directs a labeller to apply a label
selected from the supply of filing code labels to the file
tab. The file label 10 may also carry a code which is machine
readable and representative of the subject matter of the
label 10. This computerized code which may be in OCR format
can be machine read to facilitate computerized control of the
file room. This can be accomplished by providing a device
which can read the OCR markings 22 and by buffer transfer such ;
information to computer memory storage and with this reading
of the file coder manual entry or machine reading of particulars
from a summary sheet with corresponding bar code may be done to
record information file whereabouts.
Several preferred embodiments of the invention have been
described herein in detail. It will be understood by those
skilled in the art that variations may be made thereto without
departing from the spirit of -the invention or the scope of the
appended claims. - 14 -
~ 3~
1 SUPPLEMENTARY_DISCLOSURE
The process, according to this invention, overcomes a
number of the above problems to provide a label which no~
only permits identification of the article, but also permits
machine reading of informaton from the labels. In this
reading of the infoxmation, a labeller may be programmed, in
accordance with input of the read information, to apply
other labels to the same file folder. Such additional
labels may be of the colour coded type to provide all the
attendant advantages thereof, as defined in Applicant's
United States patent 4,204,639.
A process for labelling a system of file folders
comprises printing a set of indicia in a field on a label
face. The printed indicia are each both machine and
visually readable, where such printed indicia is machine
read. A labeller's application of labels to a file folder
flap is controlled by input from such machine reading step
in the application of individual colour coded labels to the
file folder flap. Each colour coded label, as applied, has
indicium corresponding to one of the machine read indicia.
The produced article, -therefore, has a label
identifying the subject matter of the article with one or
more individual labels having letters or numbers
corresponding to, for example, the first two letters of the
~; person's name associated with the file, or a portion of the
person's associated numeric information. This provides
ready access to an article in shelf filing systems where the
individual labels having the letters may be colour coded to
provide bands of colour along the filing system, so that an
article or a small ~roup of articles may be visually
;
l recogni~able from other articles in the system d~e to the
combination of colour coded labels.
Figure 5 is a view of another embodiment of a label
according to the invention; and
Figure 6 is a view of another embodiment of the
invention illustrating labels applied in another manner.
As mentioned, the sets of indicia may be printed in
machine readable form, such as OCR. Referriny to Figure 5
~; of the drawings, the first set of indicia 50 is printed in a
10 first field 52 of a label 54. The first set of indicia 50
is printed in OCR format which enables both visual and
machine reading of each indicium of the set. As with the ;
other labels, the second set of indicium 56 may be printed
in a second field 58 in an upside down backwards manner
relative to the first set.
For purposes of f ile room control, instead of using a
machine readable code 22, such as on the label of Figure l,
` the needed information may be taken directly from the first
set of indicia 50 of the label by simply reading the
person's name 60 or a numerical code 62 which accompanies
the person's name. For that matter, both sets of
information may be machine read if needed. Thus, in control
of the file room, the printed label may be directly machine
read without the addition of any further characteri~ing code
to provide for the computer control of the file room in the
manner previously discussed. Also, with the printing of
label 54, it may be printed in the same way as the label of
Figure l, where pertinent information is printed in both
fields, one set upside down and backwards relative to the
other.
16
~.. ...
1 The machine readable information may also be read in
controlling a labeller's applicat:ion of subsequent labels to
a file Eolder. As with the process of Fiyure 2, the label
54 may have its numeric code 62, or the name 60, machine
read and, according to the labeller's program, extract from
input of the machine read information the pertinent data for
purposes of application of additional labels in the colour
coding of the file folder. With the label shown in Figure
5, the numbers 6, 7, 9, 2 may be selected and colour coded
to provide alony the Eile edge, colour coded numeric labels
6, 7, 9 and 2 which are each individual of the other and may
be of the type disclosed in Applicant's United States patent
4,204,639.
In following the above approach for numerically colour
coding a file folder which includes alphabetic listing of
the subject matter on the main label, it results in a
combination alphabetic/numeric filing system for folders.
In large file systems involving thousands and perhaps
hundreds of thousands of folders relating to individual
people, a label, such as that shown in Figure 5, may be
prepared where the person's name is printed along with a
numerical code, where a section of the numerical code is
totally random such as the number 6, 7, 9, 2,for that
particular person. Thus in systems involving hundreds of
thousands of files, there may be ten or twenty files having
the same randomly selected number 6, 7, 9, 2. ~owever, in
the sub-group the files, as numerically colour coded, may be
alphabetically arranged. Therefore, in attempting to find a
; file in a system, one initially searches by number and then
once locating the sub-group searches by the person's name in
3~
1 alphabetical order. This combined approach of
numeric/alphabetic Eiling coding is superior to a straight
alphabetic or numeric system, since it narrows down the
search more quickly. For example, with an alphabetic
system, there may be in a system of 100,000 or more groups
50 to 100 Jones. Thus, in an alphabetic system it would be
time consuming to search out one file of all the Jones
files. As to a numeric system, for hundreds of thousands of
file folders, the numeric order is quite large, thus
requiring more complex numeric colour coding than would be
used in this particular random four number combination
numeric/alphabetical system.
On the other hand, if it is desired to code the file
alphabetically, the first two initials M~ may be selected
from the machine read name to thus, control application
according to the labeller's program of the letters M~ in
colour coded format to the folder edge.
In using such printed labels having machine readable
information, this avoids the use of computer cards and the
20 like to direct a random application of labels to files for :r
purposes of coding the file folders in the numeric or
alphabetical arrangement. The labels, as printed, may be
rolled. The roll of labels may then be unrolled, read,
input to the labeller to control application of colour coded
labels and then rerolled. On the other hand, the read label
may be applied to the folder. In its application to the
folder, the label may be read either before it is applied to
the folder or afterwards depending upon the particular type
of labeller used and its ability to respond quickly to the
reading of the machine readable indicia. For example, in
1~
,....
.. .
1 instances where it is desired to immediately apply the label
to the folder which i5 to also receive colour coded labels,
the printed labels may be set up on the first oE several
labellers. As the printed label is bein~ applied or just
before it is applied, the machine readable informaton may be
read, input to the controller for the labeller and,
according to its program, make a selection of the numbers or
letters to be applied by the remaining labellers downstream
of the first labeller.
Referring to Figure 6, a further variation in the
application oE labels, according to this inventon is
illustrated. A printed label 64 has been prepared where in
its single field 66, a first row of indicia 68 and a second
indicia 70 have been printed. As illustrated, both rows of
indicia are printed in OCR format and may be printed in a
manner similar to a label 50 where in this instance for
label 64, there is only a single face. For a filing system,
several of these labels may be prepared where each label is
peculiar to its own data and is different from all other
labels. Such labels may be rerolled after printing and then
used in a manner similar to the other printed labels for
directing a computerized labeller in the application of
numeric label to a file folder.
As shown, the labels, as printed, may be unrolled and
each of them machine read where input of the machine read
information to the labeller controller directs the
applicatïon of colour coded numerical labels 5, 6, 7, and 8
in the manner shown. The printed label 64 may be rerolled,
since with the type of labeller as disclosed in applicant's
United States patent 4,183,779, the direction of movement of
19
~ .,
3~
1 the file folder 72 is such to apply the individual colour
coded labels 74, 76, 78 and 80. Therefore, the application
of label 64 to the upper edge 82 of flap B4 would be
impossible. Thus, the Eolder 72 is ta~en from the labeller
which has applied labels 74 through 80 and moved to another
station where label 6g may be applied. Of course, the
; files, as they come off the first labeller, may be kept in
order and subsequently placed on another labelling machine
adapted to apply the printed label to the front face of flap
'34 along upper edge 82. The arrangement of Figure 6 is
particularly useful where the edge flap 86 of the file
folder is needed to accommodate several labels, or it may be
a situation where the file folders are filed such that the
label to be read is visual along the upper edge of folder
flap 84. In any event, the printed label 64 is used to
~; control, by machine reading the indicia thereon, the
application of numeric labels to edge portion 84 of the file -~
:',. -~.
folder 72.
Thus, the process of the invention provides the use of
a label to direct application of other labels onto the
folder in a simple economic manner which affords application
of random arrangements of labels to file folders.
Preferred embodiments of the invention have been
described herein in detail. It will be understood by those
skilled in the art that variations may be made thereto
: without departing from the spirit of the invention or the
scope of the appended claims.
~'
; 30
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