Label applicator

Abstract

Apparatus for applying labels bearing a pressure-sensitive adhesive to articles wherein each article is moved by a first pair of conveyor belts into engagement with a second pair of conveyor belts. The first and second pair of conveyor belts hold and move the articles. As the articles are moved, each article passes a sensor, such as an electric eye, which actuates label feeding means, thereby causing a label to be moved into the path of travel of the article. The leading edge of the moving article engages the label between the label ends and moves the label against a pair of spaced rollers. As the article is moved through the space between the rollers, the rollers press the leading end of the label and the center of the label against the bottom and top surface of the article, respectively. Thereafter, another sensor, such as an electric eye responds to the trailing edge of the moving article and activates a tucker which bends the trailing end of the label around the trailing edge and bottom of the article so that the trailing end of the label adheres to the bottom of the article and the leading end of the label. Subsequently, as the article moves through a space between a second pair of rollers, the rollers press the label against the bottom and top surface of the article and the overlapping ends of the label to each other, thereby securing the label to the article. The speeds of the first pair of conveyor belts, the second pair of conveyor belts, and the label feeding means are all independently adjustable.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.