Automatic high speed; labeling system having an improved label stripper

An automatic, high speed labeling machine used to apply labels to produce, wherein a label applicator having a plurality of bellows carried on a rotary head includes a label stripper to strip individual labels from a label carrier strip and transfer said labels onto the tip of a single bellow, and thereafter onto individual items of produce wherein said label carrier strip has first and second edges, is drawn across said label stripper surface to separate individual labels from the center of said label carrier strip, and wherein said label carrier strip periodically becomes misaligned relative to said label stripper surface, the improved label stripper characterized by:

• said label stripper having a body, two mounting ears and a contoured surface, said contoured surface including a central stripping segment and first and second separation segments.
• said central stripping segment is positioned on the center of the pathway of said carrier strip to engage and strip said labels as said carrier strip is drawn across said label stripper
• said first and second separation segments are positioned laterally on opposite sides of said central stripping segment, and both separation segments have surfaces inclined in a direction away from the path of said carrier strip, whereby as a label is stripped by said central stripping segment, said first and second edges of said carrier strip are separated from said contoured surface by said separation segments and do not contact said contoured surface of said label stripper, minimizing tension in said first and second edges of said carrier strip and maximizing tension in the center of said carrier strip