Apparatus for applying labels to blow molded articles

In the making of hollow plastic articles wherein a label is positioned in each of a plurality of spaced partible molds in a predetermined array, a preform is positioned in each set of partible molds and the molds are closed and the preforms are blown outwardly to the confines of the molds to apply the label to a resultant hollow plastic article, the apparatus for removing the labels from a source and applying them to the open partible molds which comprises

• a vacuum device,
• means for supporting the vacuum device for movement between a position for picking up a label and a position for delivering a label to a partible mold,
• said vacuum device comprising an elongated body,
• a plurality of longitudinally spaced vacuum cups on said body,
• said body having a transverse cross sectional surface that generally conforms to the cross section of the internal surface of the partible mold to which the label is to be applied,
• said body having a plurality of openings, said vacuum cups being mounted in said openings,
• the outer surface of said body being formed with a layer of resilient material with the vacuum cups projecting slightly beyond the outer surface of said layer,
• said vacuum cups being made of compressible material and constructed and arranged such that they are axially compressible.