Automated labeling apparatus using labels having a fluid activatable adhesive

An apparatus for automatically applying to containers labels having a back surface with fluid activatable adhesive, the apparatus comprising:

• a dispensing magazine for retaining a plurality of individual labels in a stack;
• a first rotating transfer member having a plurality of pallets carried thereon each of the pallets including:
• multiple openings for communication of suction to enable the first transfer member to receive and releasably secure one of the labels onto the pallet and
• multiple valves, each of the valves being associated with a particular one of the multiple openings, to selectively control communication of suction to a selected subset of the multiple openings based on the size of the label;
• a suction supply mechanism coupled to the first transfer member configured to provide suction to the openings, the suction supply mechanism being configured to vary the strength of the suction applied to the openings based on the size and weight of the label;
• a second rotating transfer member having a plurality of pads carried thereon each with label retaining members for receiving and releasably securing the individual labels from the pallets, and directing the labels through an adhesive activation station to apply a fluid for activating adhesive on the back surface of the label to change the back surface from a non-tacky state to a tacky state;
• a container handling device for receiving containers at an inlet, rotating the containers through a label application station, and directing the containers with the labels applied thereon to an outlet;
• and
• the adhesive activation station comprising one or more fluid dispensing mechanisms and the second rotary transfer member being positioned adjacent to the container handling device such that the individual labels upon the pads are directed sequentially into engagement with the periphery of discrete containers with release from the retaining members as the discrete containers are directed through the label application station;
• wherein:
• each of the pallets of the first transfer member comprising a pallet that includes a surface and multiple suction cups raised from the surface, each of the suction cups including a central hole through which suction is communicated via a corresponding one of the openings to direct suction onto select areas of the one of the labels such that during use the label is supported by the surface of the suction cups and is spaced apart from the surface of the pallet, the suction cups being formed of a material selected from the group consisting of Polyurethane, Nitrile, Silicone, and rubber.

An apparatus for automatically applying to objects labels having a back surface with fluid activatable adhesive, the apparatus comprising:

• a dispensing magazine for retaining a plurality of individual labels in a stack;
• a guidance mechanism configured to provide a first path for receiving a plurality of labels movable along the first path, the labels each having a back surface with a fluid activatable adhesive that is non-tacky until activated, the guidance mechanism including a first transfer member comprising multiple pallets, each pallet being positionable to receive one of the labels from the dispensing magazine and move the one of the labels along a first segment of the path, the pallets each including:
• multiple one or more openings for communication of suction to enable the first transfer member to receive and releasably secure the one of the labels onto the pallet and
• multiple valves, each of the valves being associated with a particular one of the multiple openings, to selectively control communication of suction to a selected subset of the multiple openings based on the size of the label;
• a second transfer member positionable with respect to the first transfer member to receive the one of the labels from the first transfer member and carry the one of the labels along a second segment of the first path;
• an adhesive activation station along the first path configured to apply to the back surface of the labels a fluid to activate the adhesive to become tacky along the back surface of the label, the adhesive activation station including one or more spraying mechanisms for applying the fluid onto each of the labels as the labels moves through the adhesive activation station along the first path, the sprayers being configured to form a fan pattern;
• a suction supply mechanism coupled to the first transfer member configured to provide suction to the openings, the suction supply mechanism being configured to vary the strength of the suction applied to the openings based on the size and weight of the label;
• and
• a label application station at the end of the first path configured to apply the labels with the activated adhesive from the first path onto an exterior surface of a corresponding object along a second path;
• wherein:
• the first transfer member comprising multiple pallets each pallet includes a surface and multiple suction cups raised from the surface, each of the suction cups including a central hole through which suction is communicated via a corresponding one of the openings to direct suction onto select areas of the one of the labels such that during use the label is supported by the surface of the suction cups and is spaced apart from the surface of the pallet, the suction cups being formed of a material selected from the group consisting of Polyurethane, Nitrile, Silicone, and rubber.

An apparatus for automatically applying to objects labels having a back surface with fluid activatable adhesive, the apparatus comprising:

• a dispensing magazine for retaining a plurality of individual labels in a stack;
• a guidance mechanism configured to provide a first path for receiving a plurality of labels movable along the first path, the labels each having a back surface with a fluid activatable adhesive that is non-tacky until activated, the guidance mechanism including:
• a first transfer member comprising multiple pallets, each pallet being positionable to receive one of the labels from the dispensing magazine and move the one of the labels along a first segment of the path, the pallets each including:
• multiple openings for communication of suction to enable the first transfer member to receive and releasably secure the one of the labels onto the pallet and
• multiple valves, each of the valves being associated with a particular one of the multiple openings, to selectively control communication of suction to a selected subset of the multiple openings based on the size of the label;
• a second transfer member positionable with respect to the first transfer member to receive the one of the labels from the first transfer member and carry the one of the labels along a second segment of the first path, in which the front surface of the one of the labels faces the second transfer member;
• a suction supply mechanism coupled to the first transfer member for communicating suction to the openings the suction supply mechanism being configured to vary the strength of the suction applied to the openings based on the size and weight of the label;
• an adhesive activation station along the first path configured to apply to the back surface of the labels a fluid to activate the adhesive to become tacky along the back surface of the label, the adhesive activation station including one or more spraying mechanisms for applying the fluid onto each of the labels as the labels moves through the adhesive activation station along the first path;
• and
• a label application station at the end of the first path configured to apply the labels with the activated adhesive from the first path onto an exterior surface of a corresponding object along a second path wherein:
• each of the pallets of the first transfer member comprising a pallet that includes a surface and multiple suction cups raised from the surface, each of the suction cups including a central hole through which suction is communicated via a corresponding one of the openings to direct suction onto select areas of the one of the labels such that during use the label is supported by the surface of the suction cups and is spaced apart from the surface of the pallet, the suction cups being formed of a material selected from the group consisting of Polyurethane, Nitrile, Silicone, and rubber.