Apparatus and procedure for applying adhesive labels

Apparatus for applying adhesive labels to end surfaces of each of a group of identically shaped and dimensioned articles of rectangular solid configuration arranged contiguously, with said end surfaces facing upwardly and coplanar, in a predetermined plurality of parallel horizontal rows each including a predetermined plurality of the articles aligned with the articles in each adjacent row, using labels supplied as a unitary elongated web of flexible sheet material having one surface bearing an adhesive material and an opposite surface bearing a multiplicity of label imprints arranged in said predetermined plurality of rows, the imprints in adjacent rows being aligned with each other, the rows of imprints extending lengthwise of the web and being spaced apart transversely of the web, the spacing between adjacent rows of imprints on the web being equal to a predetermined desired spacing between applied labels on adjacent rows of the articles in a group, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) means for continuously advancing a group of the articles, as a unit, lengthwise of the rows therein along a defined rectilinear path past a predetermined locality,
• (b) means disposed at a locality above said defined path for cutting the web transversely between successive label imprints in the rows of imprints;
• (c) means for advancing the web lengthwise to said cutting means;
• (d) means, positioned to engage the advancing web ahead of the cutting means, for slicing out and removing a longitudinal strip portion of the web between each two adjacent rows of imprints, thereby separating the rows of imprints such that the subsequent transverse cutting of the web by the cutting means completes the separation of the imprint-bearing portions of the web into individual labels, said web-advancing means maintaining the rows of imprints spaced apart at their original distance from each other as and after they are separated by said slicing means so that the separated labels cut from adjacent rows of imprints by the cutting means have the same transverse spacing;
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• (e) means for receiving the labels as they are separated by the cutting means and transporting them into contact with the upwardly facing ends of the articles of a group at said predetermined locality, in such manner that the labels and the articles are moving in the same direction and at the same speed as they come into contact at said predetermined locality, while maintaining their alignment and transverse spacing and while spacing successive labels cut from each row of imprints for register respectively with successive articles in each row of a group.

Procedure for applying adhesive labels to multiple identically shaped and dimensioned articles of rectangular-solid configuration, comprising

• (a) continuously advancing the articles, arranged contiguously with coplanar upwardly facing surfaces in a predetermined plurality of parallel horizontal rows each including a plurality of the articles aligned with the articles in each adjacent row, in a direction lengthwise of the rows along a defined rectilinear path, past a first locality in said path;
• (b) at a second locality, spaced from said path, providing a multiplicity of adhesive labels arranged, in said predetermined plurality of parallel spaced rows each including plural longitudinally spaced labels, for register respectively with the upwardly facing surfaces of the articles advancing in said defined path as aforesaid, the label-providing step comprising
• (i) advancing, lengthwise, an elongated web of flexible sheet material constituting a supply of the labels and having one surface bearing an adhesive material and an opposite surface bearing a multiplicity of label imprints arranged in said predetermined plurality of rows, the imprints in adjacent rows being aligned with each other, the rows of imprints extending lengthwise of the web and being spaced apart transversely of the web, the spacing between adjacent rows of imprints on the web being equal to a predetermined desired spacing between applied labels on adajcent rows of the articles advancing past said first locality,
• (ii) slicing out and removing, from the advancing web, a longitudinal strip portion of the web between each two adjacent rows of imprints, thereby separating the rows of imprints,
• (iii) while advancing the separated rows of imprints with maintained spacing between adjacent rows, cutting the web transversely between successive label imprints in the separated rows of imprints, thereby completing the separation of the imprint-bearing portions of the web into individual labels, and
• (iv) receiving and holding the separated labels as they are cut, on a moving endless surface while maintaining the alignment and transverse spacing between labels cut from adjacent rows of imprints, in such manner as to space successive labels cut from each row of imprints for register, respectively, with the upwardly facing surfaces of successive articles advancing past said first locality, said endless surface moving through said second locality, thereby to provide a multiplicity of labels arranged for transport;
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• (c) transporting the labels, in a direction lengthwise of the rows of labels, from said second locality to said first locality and into contact with said upwardly facing surfaces of said articles at said first locality, while maintaining the rows of labels and the labels in each row spaced as aforesaid, in such manner that the labels and the articles are moving in the same direction and at the same velocity when they come into contact as aforesaid at the first locality.