Patent US 4,183,779

Apparatus for applying at predetermined positions within a predetermined location on a carrier surface predetermined discrete pieces of indicia which in combination provide a predetermined indicia presentation particular to the carrier surface location as part of a scheme of marking like surface locations with indicia presentations which may vary from location to location; the apparatus comprising a plurality of indicia applying sources consisting of a source for each discrete piece of indicia to be called for by the scheme, means for feeding the carrier surface past each of the indicia applying sources so that each predetermined point within the predetermined location is presented for the application thereto of indicia from each source, and a control unit for controlling the indicia applying sources in response to input thereto of input control data for the predetermined surface location defining the discrete pieces of indicia and position thereof required therefor, the control unit operating to activate any of the sources which applies any discrete piece of indicia called for by the input control data respective such location to effect application of such indicia at any and all positions called for by such input control data. The apparatus is especially adapted for applying color coded labels and the indicia applying sources are labelling devices for applying such labels.