Label sticking apparatus and label tape

A label sticking apparatus for sticking circular labels with a center hole on circular work-pieces coaxially with each other comprising:

• a suction drum having at least three holding-sticking units mounted to be movable therein and arranged at constant intervals in a circumferential direction of said suction drum, each of said holding-sticking units being capable of holding one of said circular labels thereon by vacuum suction;
• a drive mechanism for intermittently rotating said suction drum by a constant amount corresponding to said constant interval of said holding-sticking units such that said holding-sticking units are cyclically fed to and stop at three or more stations disposed around said suction drum;
• a label feeding device for successively feeding said circular labels toward one of said holding-sticking units which stops at a first one of said stations when the rotation of said suction drum stops;
• a label positioning device for positioning one of said circular labels on said holding-sticking unit, said label positioning device being disposed in association with a second one of said stations following said first station in the rotating direction of said suction drum and having a centering pin which is inserted into said center hole of one of said circular labels for a moment while said holding-sticking unit stops at said second station, said circular label further has an arc cut-out in its rim, and said label sticking apparatus further comprises a second positioning device for correcting angular position of said circular label, said second positioning device comprising a pair of correction pins insertable in said arc cut-out and movable in opposite direction with respect to each other along a circumferential direction of said circular label, and a pin actuating device for causing said correction pins to push opposite edges of said arc cut-out as said correction pins move apart from each other;
• and
• a pushing device for pushing said holding-sticking unit toward one of said work-pieces to stick said circular label onto said one of said work-pieces, said pushing device being disposed in association with a third one of said stations following said second station.

A label sticking apparatus for sticking labels on work-pieces comprising:

• a suction drum having at least three holding-sticking units mounted to be movable therein and arranged at constant intervals around said suction drum, each of said holding-sticking units being capable of holding one of said labels thereon by vacuum suction;
• a drive mechanism for intermittently rotating said suction drum by a constant amount corresponding to said constant interval of said holding-sticking units such that said holding-sticking units are cyclically fed to and stopped at first, second and third stations disposed around said suction drum;
• a label feeding device for successively feeding said labels toward one of said holding-sticking units which stops at the first station when the rotation of said suction drum stops;
• a label positioning device for positioning one of said labels on said holding-sticking unit, said label positioning device being disposed in association with the second station following the first station in the rotating direction of said suction drum;
• and
• a pushing device for pushing said holding-sticking unit toward one of said work-pieces to press and stick one of said labels onto said one of said work-pieces, said pushing device being disposed in association with the third station following the second station in the rotating direction of said suction drum;
• wherein each of said holding-sticking units comprises a fixed barrel extending in a radial direction of said suction drum, a movable barrel mounted in said fixed barrel to be axially movable therein, and a metal suction arm mounted in said movable barrel to be axially movable therein, a first biasing member for urging said movable barrel to move to a center of said suction drum, and a second biasing member of urging said suction arm to move radially outward from said suction drum.