Transfer system for transporting articles cut from a blank of material

In a labelling machine for cutting labels from a continuous web and applying them to items, a cutting assembly comprising:

• a support member including first and second surfaces and a plurality of openings extending between said first and second surfaces, said support member being movable along the first direction adjacent to said web, and said support member comprising a plurality of discrete sections that form a continuous surface when they are mutually adjacent;
• vacuum means for generating a lower pressure adjacent to said second surface of said support member than the pressure adjacent to said first surface thereof such that the web is urged to maintain contact with said first surface of said support member;
• and
• laser means for generating a laser beam for cutting labels from said web, said web being sensitive to the energy of said laser beam and said support member being relatively insensitive to the energy of said laser beam.

A system for cutting and transporting articles from a blank of material as said blank of material moves in a first direction, said system comprising:

• a support member including first and second surfaces and a plurality of openings extending between said first and second surfaces, said support member being movable along the first direction adjacent to said blank of material, said support member comprising a plurality of discrete sections that form a continuous surface when they are mutually adjacent;
• sensor means for generating a speed signal representative of the speed of movement of said support member;
• and
• laser means for generating a laser beam for cutting said articles from said blank responsive to said speed signal, said blank being sensitive to the energy of said laser beam and said support member being relatively insensitive to the energy of said laser beam.

An article transfer system for transporting articles cut from a blank of material traveling in a first direction, said system comprising:

• a support member including first and second surfaces and a plurality of openings extending between said first and second surfaces, said support member being movable along the first direction adjacent to said blank of material;
• support means for supporting said support member as it moves along said first direction adjacent to said blank of material, said support means including a plurality of rollers on which said support member rides as it moves in said first direction adjacent to said blank of material;
• means for generating a lower pressure adjacent to said second surface of said support member than the pressure adjacent to said first surface thereof such that the blank is urged to maintain contact with said first surface of said support member;
• and
• a laser for cutting articles from said blank of material while said blank of material is maintained in contact with said support member.