High speed label applicator and methods
AssigneeLabel-Aire Inc.
InventorIsrael Vega
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A label application system for applying labels to relatively short, round, straight-walled articles is constructed and designed so that labels to be applied to passing articles are delivered to the label application zone on a carrier web in a short feed orientation, with each label being oriented lengthwise across a width of the carrier web. At the time of labeling, the label is held stationary on a flat vacuum surface, and the label is applied by spinning the articles past the vacuum surface. As a result, the system is capable of labeling articles at processing speeds of at least 450 articles per minute or more.
Claims11
A method for applying labels to round, straight-walled articles, comprising:
- feeding a label having a length and a width onto a flat, planar vacuum surface, so that the entire length and width of the label is disposed on the flat, planar vacuum surface, so that an adhesive side of the label faces outwardly toward articles passing by the flat, planar vacuum surface on a conveyor in a downstream direction of travel;
- retaining the label on the flat, planar vacuum surface using applied vacuum pressure;
- holding the flat, planar vacuum surface in a stationary position as an article to be labeled enters a label application zone adjacent to the flat, planar vacuum surface;
- and
- applying the label to the article to be labeled in the label application zone while holding the flat, planar vacuum surface in the stationary position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.