US 12,297,004 B1
Method and apparatus for applying a label to a spool or reel
William T. Bigbee, Jr., Hawkins, TX (US); and Clifton S. Thompson, Lucas, TX (US)
Assigned to Encore Wire Corporation, McKinney, TX (US)
Filed by Encore Wire Corporation, McKinney, TX (US)
Filed on Apr. 17, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/637,449.
Application 18/637,449 is a continuation of application No. 18/104,284, filed on Jan. 31, 2023, granted, now 11,975,884.
Application 18/104,284 is a continuation of application No. 17/698,931, filed on Mar. 18, 2022, granted, now 11,584,559, issued on Feb. 21, 2023.
Application 17/698,931 is a continuation of application No. 17/093,247, filed on Nov. 9, 2020, granted, now 11,286,077, issued on Mar. 29, 2022.
Application 17/093,247 is a continuation of application No. 16/680,038, filed on Nov. 11, 2019, granted, now 10,850,885, issued on Dec. 1, 2020.
Application 16/680,038 is a continuation of application No. 15/441,954, filed on Feb. 24, 2017, granted, now 10,494,130, issued on Dec. 3, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/300,515, filed on Feb. 26, 2016.
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B32B 41/00 (2006.01); B65C 1/02 (2006.01)
CPC B65C 1/02 (2013.01) 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for applying a label to a spool or reel, the system comprising:
a spooling machine, wherein the spooling machine winds wire on to the spool or reel;
a label application system downstream from the spooling machine; and
a wire tail sensor connected to the label application system, wherein the wire tail sensor detects the presence of a wire tail on the reel or spool and wherein an applied label does not contact the wire tail.