Labelling system

Apparatus for use with a label strip having index marks spaced therealong separated from one another by a unit spacing, said label strip including first and second parallel carrier strip portions and a plurality of labels adhered therealong so as to bridge said carrier strip portions, each label being uniformly positioned with respect to one of said index marks, said apparatus automatically sequentially removing labels from said strip and applying them to objects, said apparatus comprising:

• a plate having first and second opposing surfaces and an edge including a label separation region extending into said plate comprised of first and second edge portions having non-aligned axes;
• strip transport means for moving said label strip along a first path extending substantially contiguous with said first surface toward said label separation region and then along first and second branch paths respectively extending around said first and second edge portions and thence along said second surface;
• said strip transport means including (1) first means positioned down-path from said first and second edge portions engaging both said first and second carrier strip portions for pulling them along said first and second branch paths at a substantially first linear rate and (2) second means positioned up-path from said label separation region in engagement with said carrier strip portions tending to reduce their rate of movement to less than said first linear rate thus creating tension in said carrier strip portions and (3) means associated with said first and/or second means and operatively coupled to said index marks for moving said first and second carrier strip portions by identical multiples of said unit spacing to thus prevent any cumulative differential linear movement between said carrier strip portions;
• and
• label applying means operable to engage labels immediately adjacent to said label separation region as said carrier strip portions are simultaneously separated from each other and from said labels and to press said engaged labels against objects to be labeled.