Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
4~lS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are instances in which it is desirable to
label articles which are arranged in side-by-side rela-
tionship on a conveyor or in which it is desirable to
apply two labels at spaced locations to the same article.
For example, some packaging equipment provides an output
which includes side-by-side packages.
Crankshaw et al U.S. Patent No. 4,210,484 discloses
one way of labeling multiple side-by-side articles
utilizing a single label applicator. This is accomplished
by using labels which are provided in a plurality of
continguous rows extending longitudinally on a backing
strip or web. The Crankshaw et al label applicator removes
the side-by-side labels from the web at a label receiving
station, separates the labels, transports the labels to
the label applying station, and transfers the labels to
the articles. This is accomplished by dispensing the
labels onto movable label receivers and separating the
label receivers as they move to the label applying
station.
S~MMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is an improvement on the label
applicator disclosed in the crankshaw et al patent. As
~ ~;.'f~,~, J .
~Z014ilS
1 .xplained more fully hereinbelow, this invention pro-
2 vides a simple, reliable and efficient way of spread-
3 ing label receivers, and therefore, spreading the la-
4 bels carried by such label receivers. Although the in-
vention is described with particular reference to the
6 spreading of label receivers, more broadly, the inven-
7 tion relates to imparting controlled movement in a
8 novel way to one or more label receivers to thereby
g control the position of the label receiver, and this
may be ~sed for label spreading or other purposes.
11 A label applicator constructed in accordance
12 with this invention may include a supporting structure,
13 a label dispenser on the supporting structure for dis-
14 pensing at least one label at a label dispensing sta-
tion, a label receiver for receiving the label at the
16 label dispensing station and means for mounting the la-
17 bel receiver for movement from the label dispensing sta-
18 tion to a label applying station at which the label is
19 transferred from the label receiver to an article. The
mounting means preferably includes a carriage mounted on
21 the supporting structure for movement along a first path
22 relative to the supporting structure and means for mount-
23 ing the label receiver on the carriage for movement rela-
24 tive to the carriage along a second path. The two paths
extend in different directions.
lZ~ S
1 A feature of ~ is invention is the use of flexi-
2 ~le ~eans drivingly coupled to the label receiver and re-
3 sponsive to movement of the carriage in at least one dir-
4 ection along the first path for moving the label receiver
in a first direction along the second path whereby the la-
6 bel receiver is moved to at least one of the stations.
7 The flexible means can be used to move the label receiver
8 to either or both of the label applylng and label dispens-
9 ing stations; however, it is preferred to use the flexible
means to move the label receiver to the label applying
11 station and to use other means, such as a return spring, to
12 move the label receiver back to the label receiving
13 station.
14 More specifically, the carriage can advantageous-
ly be reciprocated along the first path by a suitable mo-
16 tor, such as an air cylinder. The flexible means is pref-
17 erably drivingly coupled to the lahel receiver and retain-
18 ed against bodily movement, i.e., movement of the entire
19 flexible means, during at least a portion of the time the
label receiver is moved toward the label applying station.
21 As the carriage moves away from the retained region of ~he
22 flexible means, the flexible means pulls the label receiv-
23 er along the second path on the calr age. This can be ad-
24 vantageously implemented by a roller rotatably mounted at
one end of the carriage over which the flexible means ex-
26 tends thereby permitting the flexible means to pull or
27 drive the label receiver along the second pathO
12019~1S
1 To positively locate the Dosition of the la-
2 bel receiver along the second path, and therefore, as-
3 sist in accurately locating the label receiver at the
4 label applying station, a stop is provided, and the
stop is preferably mounted on the carriage. The stop
6 is adjustable to permi~ the label applicator to be
7 adapted for different labeling re~uirements. To pre-
8 vent the stop from breaking or excessively stressing
9 the flexible means or other portions of the lab~l appli-
cator, the flexible means preferably includes extendible
11 means responsive to the movement of the label applica~or
12 along the second path being arrested bv the stop and ad-
13 ditional movement of ~le carriage along its path for ex-
14 tending to thereby permit such additional movement of
lS the carriage to occur.
16 The label applicator also includes adjustable
17 means for varying the effective length of the flexible
18 means to permit the label applicator to be adapted for
19 different labeling reauirements. Although the adjustable
means may take different forms, in a preferred construc-
21 tion, it includes a mechanism for controlling the posi-
22 tion of the end of the flexible means remote from the la-
23 bel receiver.
24 The concepts described above are applicable to
2S the movement of one or more label receivers. In one
2S preferred embodiment, the label applicator of this
120~4iS
1 invention is used for label spreading purposes and,
2 thus, includes at laast two of the label receivers. All
3 of the label receivers are preferably mounted on the carriage
4 for movement with the carriage. However, not all of the
label applicators need to be movable along the second path
6 on the carriage so long as the necessarv relative movement
~ is accomplished. For example, if two label receivers are
8 used, the labels can be spread by moving only one of the
9 label receivers along the carriage, although it may be
desirable for other reasons to move both of the label
11 receivers.
12 According to a second preferred embodiment, the
13 flexible means is used to move the label ~eceiver in both
~4 direc~ions along the second path on the carriage. In
this event, the spring can, if desired, be eliminated.
16 This has the advantage o~ moving the label receivers more
17 positively than a spring.
18 So that the elongated flexible means can move
19 the label receiver in both directions, it preferably in-
cludes first and second elongated flexible elements
21 drivin~ly coupled to the label receiver and to the support-
22 ing structure. The first and second elongated flexible
23 elements can be sections of the same flexible element or
2~ they may be separate elements. The first flexible element
pulls the label receiver in one direction and the second
26 flexible element pulls the label receiver in the other
27 direction.
28
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29
31
32
12014~S
1 Means i~ provided to enable the second flexible
2 element to accommodate the motion imparted to the label
3 receiver bv the first flexible element. In a preferred
4 construction, such means includes a movable member movable
with the carriage along the first path and a guide on the
6 movable member. The second elongated flexible element
7 extends from the label receiver along the guide and is
8 drivingly coupled to the supporting structure. The second
9 flexible element is formed into a double length by pass-
ing over the guide, and this allows it to accommodate the move-
11 ment imparted to the label receiver by the first flexible element.
12 In both preferred forms of the invention, the
13 flexible means and the guide means for the flexible means
14 are extremely simple, inexpensive and easy to assemble,
and the guide means for guiding the elongated flex-
16 ible means from the label receiver to the fixed support
17 moves as a unit with the carriage. Th~ guide means can
18 advantageously comprise a plurality of rollers, the axes
19 of rotation of which do not move significantly with re-
spect to each other thereby providing a simple, inexpensive
21 system. Additional simplicity is provided by reciprocating
22 the carriage, and this can be advantageously implemented
23 by a simple guide rod mounting system and a cylinder-type
24 motor.
The invention, toqether with additional features
26 and advantages thereof, may best be understood by refer-
27 ence to the following description taken in connection
28 with the accompanying illustrative drawing.
29
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32
lÆ014iS
1 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
2 - _
3 Fig. 1 is a rear elevational view of a portion
4 of a label applicator constructed in accordance with the
teachings of this invention. The label receivers are
6 shown in full lines at the label dispensing station and
7 in phantom lines at the label applying statl~n.
8 Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken
9 generally along line 2-2 of Fig. 1 with portions of the
label receiver being shown in cross section.
11 Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view
12 taken generally along line 3-3 of Fig. 1.
13 Fig. 4 is a fragmentarv plan view illustrat-
14 ing a label strip of the type which is adapted for use
with the label applicator of this invention.
16 Figs. 5 and 6 are front elevationa' views o~
17 a second preferred form of label applicator constructed
18 in accordance with the teachings o~ this invention. ~igs.
19 S and 6 show the label receivers at the label receiving
stakion and the label applying station, respectively.
21
22 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
23
24 Figs. 1-3 show a label applicator 11 which gen-
erally includes label dispensing means 11 (Fig. 2), label
26 separating means 15, and a supporting structure 17 on
27 which the various components of the label applicator are
28 mounted. The label applicator 11 is particularly adapted
29 ~or use with a label strip 19 (Fig~ 4) which includes a
~0
31 -7-
3~
lZOl~
1 web or backing strip 21 of a suitable release ~aper and
2 pressure sensitive adhesive labels 23 releasably adhered
3 to one side of the backing strip. The backing strip 21 is
4 elongated, and the labels 23 are provided in multiole,
parallel rows which extend longitudinally of the backing
6 strip. The rows of labels 23 may be contiguous or verv
7 narrowly spaced so that the width of the backing strip 21 is
just sufficient to accommodate the side-by-side rows of the
9 labels 23. In the form sho~n in Fig. 4, three rows of the
labels 23 are provided. Of course, any suitable desired number
11 of rows of labels 23 may be provided on the backing strip 21.
12 The label dispensing means 13 may be of any suit-
13 able construction which will remove the labels 23 from the
14 backing strip 21 and provide them to the label separating
means 15. Label dispensing means of this type is known and
16 one such label dispensing means i9 disclosed in common
17 assignee's U.S. Patent 4,046,613.
18 The label dispensing means 13 includes a peeler
19 bar 25 suitably mounted on the supporting structure 17.
The peeler bar 25 has a peeling edge 27 over which the
21 label strip 19 extends. The label dispensing means 13 in-
22 cludes conventional controls 29 which se~uentially move the
23 label strip 19 in a well-known manner over the peeling
24 edge 27 to sequentially remove the labels 23. With each
indexing movement of the label strip 19, one label 23 from
26 each of the three rows of labels shown in Fig. 4 is removed
27 from the backing strip 21 in a direction transverse ~o the
28 peeling edge 27 and in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 2.
29 The label separating means 15 includes two identi-
cal, movable label receivers 31 and 31a and an intermediate
31
32 _~_
~20~1S
1 label receiver 33 which is substantially identical to the
2 movable label receivers. The label receivers 31, 31a and 33
3 receive the removed labels from the three rows of labels,
4 respectively. The use of three label receivers is purel~
illustrative. ~enerally, the number of label receivers
6 should correspond with the number of labels or groups of
7 labels that are to be spread apart. Because the label re-
8 ceivers are substantially identical, only the label recei~Jer
g 31 is described in detail, and corres~onding portions of the
label receivers 31a and 33 are designated by correspondin~
ll reference numerals.
12 The label receiver 31 is much like the conven-
13 tional vacuum box used in prior art label applicators in
14 that it includes a cavity 35 (Fig. 2) and an air pervious,
,15 apertured grid 37 for receiving one of the labels 23. The
16 gr,id 37 lies closely adjacent the peeling edge 27 of the
l~ peeler bar 25 and at a small angle to the plane of move-
18 ment of the labels 23 off of the hacking strip 21 so that it
l9 can receive one of the labels 23 as such label is removed
from the backing strip 21 by the label dispensing means. The
~1 cavity 35 is evacuated to a suitable subatmospheric pressure
22 via a vacuum passage 39 to releasably retain the removed label
Z3 23 against the outer face of the grid 37 in a conventional
24 manner, and an air blast can be provided through an air
pressure passage 41 to remove the labels from the grid
and transfer them to articles.
2~ In the position shown in full lines in Fig. l,
28 the label receivers 31, 31a and 33 are in abutting rela-
29 tionship at a label dispensing station, i.e., the station
31 _9_
32
lZ019L15
1 at which the label receivers are positioned to receive
2 labels from the label dispensing means 13. The label
3 receiver 33 is sandwiched between the other two label
4 receivers. The label receivers 31 and 31a are mounted
for movement to spread the labels 23 generally in the
6 direction of the width dimension of the backing strip
7 21 at the label dlspensing station, i.e., generally in
8 the direction in which the peeling edge 27 extends.
9 Viewed from another perspective, the label receivers
31 and 31a spread the labels 23 in a direction general-
11 ly transverse to the direction in which the labels move
12 when they are peeled from the backing strip 21. In ad-
13 dition, the label receivers 31, 31a and 33 also move the
14 labels 23 perpendicular to the peeling edge 27, i.e.,
downwardly as viewed in Fig. 1. This latter movement
16 does not spread the labels but moves them into position
17 for application to articles.
18 To provide for spreading of the labels 23, the
19 label receivers 31 and 31a are mounted on a carriage 43
for relative movement toward and away from the interme~
21 diate label receive~ 33 which, in the embodiment illus-
22 trated, is fixedly mounted on the carriage. Although the
23 carriage 43 could be of different constructions, in the
24 embodiment illustrated, it includes a pair of end plates
45 and 47, a pair of parallel guide rods 49 fixed to, and
26 extending between, the end plates 45 and 47, and a plate
--10--
~LZ01415
1 51 attached at its oP~osite ends to the end plates 45
2 and 47. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the plate
3 51 is above the rods 49, and the plate and rods are
4 horizontal. The plate 51 has two slots 53 extending
from a central region of the plate 51 outwardly toward
6 the end plates 45 and 47, respectively, to accommodate
7 an upwardly extending flanqe 55 on each of the label
8 receivers 31 and 31a.
9 As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, each of the label
receivers includes a body 57, and the quide rods 49 ex-
11 tend through parallel bores in the body 57 to slidably
12 mount the label receivers 31 and 31a and to fixedly mount
13 the label receiver 33 on the quide rods. If desired, the
14 label receivers 31 and 31a may carry bearings, not shown,
for mounting these label receivers on the guide rods 49.
16 The three label receivers have aliqned spring bores 59
17 for accommodating a coil spring 61. The spring 61 is re
18 tained in the spring bores S9 by pins 63 which engage shoulders
19 formed by counterbores at the outer ends of the spring
bores 59 in the label receivers 31 and 31a. Thus, the
21 spring 61 biases the label receivers 31 and 31a inwardly
22 along the guide rods 49 toward the intermediate label
23 receiver 33.
24 The central label receiver 33 has resilient
pads 65 affixed to the opposite sides thereof for engage~
26 ment with the movable label receivers 31 and 31a,
--11--
1~14:15
1 Lespectively, to cushion the impact when the spring 61
2 moves the outer label receivers 31 and 31a against the
3 intermediate label receiver 33.
4 To mount the carriage 43 for movement along
a carriage path, which is vertical as shown in Fig. 1,
6 the carriage includes rods 67 mounted on the plate 51
7 and projecting upwardly therefrom. The rods 67 are
8 mounted for vertical movement by a bearing assembly 69
9 which is carried by a mounting plate 71 of the support-
ing structure 17. The mounting plate 71 is in turn suit-
11 ably affixed to other supporting structure (not shown) of
lZ the label applicator 11. The carriage 43 is moved in the
13 bearing assembly 69 by any suitable motor, such as a pneu-
14 matic actuator 73 mounted on the bearing assembly 69 and
drivingly coupled to the plate 51 by a connecting rod 75.
16 With this invention, the label receivers 31 and
17 31a are moved outwardly automatically in response to move-
18 ment of the carriage 43 along the carriage path. This is
19 conveniently accomplished by flexible means for each of
the label receivers 31 and 31a. In the embodiment illus-
21 trated, the flexible means includes an elongated flexible
22 strap 77 coupled to the flange 55 of the label receiver
23 31 and extendible means in the form of a spring 79. The
24 spring 79 is coupled to the mounting plate 71 by an ad-
justing assembly 81. To enable the strap 77 to extend in
26 the correct direction, it extends part way around aguide in the
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~L2()~415
1 rorm of a roller ~3 which is rotata~lv mounted on the end
2 plate 47. This structure is duplicated for the label receiver
3 31a, and corresponding parts are designated by corre-
4 sponding reference numerals.
S With this construction, the outer ends of the
6 straps 77 are fixed to ~he sup~orting structure 17, ex-
7 cept to the exten~ that the springs 79 are caused to
8 extend. Accordingly, as the carriage 43 moves downward-
~ ly, the outer label receivers 31 are pulled outwardly by
the associated strap 77, with the position of the outer
11 label receivers being a function of the position of the
12 carriage 43 along the carriage path.
13 Adjustable stops 85 are carried by the end plates
14 45 and 47, respectively, to limit the travel of the out-
er label receivers 31 outwardlv along the rods 49. Al~
16 though the stops can take different forms, in the embodi-
17 ment illustrated~ each of them includes an adjusting
18 screw threadedly received within the associated end
19 plate 45 and 47.
Each of the adjusting assemblies 81 (Figs. 1 and
21 3) can lengthen or shorten the effective length of the as-
22 sociated strap 77 by moving the spring 79 up or down as
23 viewed in Fig. 1. In the embodiment illustrated, each of
24 the adjusting assemblies 81 includes a pair of vertical
shafts 87 affixed to, and extending upwardly from, the
-13-
120~S
1 mounting plate 71 and a carrier 89 mounted for sllding
2 vertical movement on the shafts. An adjusting knob 91
3 is mounted for rotation, but not translation, on a
4 plate 93 which is affi~ed to the upper ends of the
S shafts 87. The knob 91 carries a threaded stem 95
6 which is threadedly received within the carrier 89. The
7 carrier 89 has a projecting tab 97 which is coupled to
8 the spring 79. Accordingly, by manually rotating the
9 knob 91, the carrier 89 can be moved up or down to in-
crease or decrease the effective length of the strap 77.
11 The adjusting assembly 81 for the label receiver 31a is
12 identical, and corresponding portions are designated by
13 corresponding re~erence nu~e-als.
14 ~he label applieator 11 is adapted to apply
three la~la to one or more articles, with the labels
16 being spaced apart a predetermined distance. For il-
17 lustrative purposes, the label applicator ll i5 shown
18 in Fig. l as applying labels to three spaced articles
19 99 which are conveyed past the label applicator by a
conveyor 101, with the articles 99 being moved into the
21 plane on which Fig. 1 is taken or from left to right on
22 the plane of Fig. 2.
23 In use, labels 23 are releasably retained on
24 the grids 37 at the label dispensing station. ~he pres-
ence of the articles 99 at or near the labeling station
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~Z~415
1 is sensed by a photocell or other conventi.onal means,
2 and a suitable signal is provided to automatically ex-
3 tend the actuator 73 to move the carriage 43 vertically
4 downwardly along the carriage path. Because the straps
77 are of fixed length and are held against bodily move-
6 ment, they retain the outer label receivers 31 and 31a
7 thereby pulling them outward~y toward the end plates 47
8 and 45, respectively. When the carriage 43 is at or
9 closely approaching i~s lowermost position, the outer
label`receivers 31 and 31a contact their associated
11 stops 85 and, thereafter, further movement of the outer
12 label receivers away from each other is prevented. The
13 springs 79 extend as needed to permit overtravel of the
14 carriage 43 downwardly beyond the point where the outer
label receivers 31 and 31a strike their respective stops
16 85.
17 When the carrlage 43 is at, or substantially
18 at, its downwardmost location, the articles 99 are at the
19 labeling station directly beneath the label receivers 31,
31a and 33, respectively, and the labels are then auto-
21 matically transferred to the associated article in a22 conventional manner, such as by a blast of air under
23 pressure supplied through the passage 41, the cavity 35
24 and the openings of the grids 37. Alternatively, the
labels 23 can be tamped on, or otherwise transferred to,
-15-
~0~415
1 the articles 99, respectively. Following the blast of
2 air, the actuator 73 is automatically retracted to r2-
3 turn the carriage 43 upwardly along the carriage path.
4 During the upward travel of the carriage 43, the spring
61 moves the outer label receivers 31 and 31a inwardly
6 as permitted by the straps 77 and as a function of the
7 vertical position of the carriage. The pads 65 cushion
8 any shock loading resulting from the spring 61 urging
9 the oute~ label receivers 31 and 31a against the inter-
mediate label receiver 33.
11 Following this, the controls 29 automatically
12 advance the label strip 19 sufficiently to remove one of
13 the labels 23 from each of the three rows of labels and
14 apply such removed labels to the grids 37 of the label
receivers 31, 31a and 33. Of course, the functions of
16 .he label applicator 11 could be programmed in other ways.
1~ Figs. 5 and 6 show a label applicator 211
18 which is identical to the label applicator 11 in all
19 respects not shown or described herein. Portions of the
label applicator 211 corresponding to portions of the
21 label applicator 11 are designated by corresponding re-
22 ference numerals preceded by the numeral 2.
23 The primary difference between the label appli-
24 cators 11 and 211 is that the spring 61 has been eliminated
from the label applicator 211, and the function of re-
26 tracting the label receivers 231 and 231a is carried out
27 by flexible elements 111 and 113, respectively, More
28 specifically, a movable member 115 which may be, for
29
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31
32
~ZOl~iS
,
~ example, in the form of a rlgid plate or bar is mounted
2 on the upper ends of the ~uide rods 267 for movement as
3 a unit with the carriage 243 along a linear vertical car-
4 riage path and is drivingly coupled to the connecting
rod 275 of the actuator 273. As with the embodiment of
6 Figs. 1-4, the actuator 273 may be a linear piston-
7 cylinder type actuator which is powered by a fluid under
8 pressure, such as air, to reciprocate the carriage 243
9 and the movable member 115 vertically.
The label receivers 231 and 231a are pulled
11 outwardly by elongated flexible elements 277, respectively,
12 which have their opposite ends affixed to the supporting
13 structure 217 and the label receivers 231 and 231a. The
14 flexible elements 277 extend part way around rollers 283
1~ which are mounted for rotation on the opposite ends of
16 the carriage about parallel,horizontal axes. The springs
17 79 and the adjusting assemblies 81 are eliminated in the
18 label applicator 211, and each of the flexible elements
19 277 is preferably in the form of a flexible wire or cable
rather than a strap.
21 To move the label receiver 231 inwardly, guides
22 in the form of rollers 117 and 119 are mounted for rota-
23 tional movement about parallel horizontal rotational
24 axes at the outer end of the carriage 243 and the mov-
able member 115, respectively. The flexible element 111,
26 which may be integral with the associated flexible element
27 277, is coupled to the label receiver 231 and to a plate
28 121 which is mounted on the bearing assembly and which
29
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31
32
1;~0~41S
1 forms a portion of the supporting structure. The flexible
2 element 111 e.Ytends part way around the roller 117 and
3 about half way around the roller 119.
4 Similarly, to move the label receiver 231a in-
wardly, guides in the form of rollers 123 and 125 are
6 mounted for rotational movement about parallel horizontal
7 axes at the outer end of the carriage 243 and on t~e
8 movable member 115, respectivelv. The flexible element
9 113, which may be integral with the associated flexible
element 277, is coupled to the label receiver 321a and
11 to the plate 121. ~he flexible element 113 extends part
12 way around the roller 117 and about half way around
13 the ~oller 119.
14 As with the embodiment of Figs. 1-4, all of
the guides for the flexible elements 111, 113 and 277,
16 i.e., the rollers 117, 119, 123, 125 and 283, are mounted
17 for movement as a unit with the carriage 243 and the
18 movable member 115. Thus, there is no relative trans-
19 lation between any of the rollers or their rotational
axes. The rollers 117 and 283 are preferably coaxial,
~1 and the non-coaxial position shown in Fig. 5 and 6 is
22 merely for clarity. Similarly, the rollers 123 and 283
23 are preferably coaxial. Of course, guides other than
~4 rollers can be used to the e~tent desired.
In use, labels 223 are dispensed onto the label
26 receivers 231, 231a and 233 at the label receiving sta-
27 tion (Pig. 5) where they are releasably retained as
~8 described in the embodiment of ~igs. 1-4. When the
~9
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31
32
1 articles 99 are sensed as described above, the actuator
2 273 automatically retracts the connecting rod 275 to pull
3 the movable member 115 downwardlv toward the label apply-
4 ing station (Fig. 6). Because the guide rods 267 rigidly
S interconnect the movable member 115 and the carriage 243,
6 the carriage and the movable member move downwardly as
q a unit.
During this downward movement, the flexible
9 elements 277 pull their associated label receivers 231
and 231a outwardly to the position of ~ig. 6 as described
1~ above in connection with the embodiment of Figs. 1-4.
12 During the downward travel of the carriage 243, the flex-
13 ible elements 111 and 113 allow or accommodate the out-
14 ward movement of the label receivers 231 and 231a. More
lS specifically, the rollers 119 and 125 move downwardly
16 as a unit with the movable member 115 toward the plate
17 121 to provide a sufficient length of the fle~ible elements
18 111 and 113 to accommodate the outward movement of the
19 associated label receivers 231 and 231a. The stroke of
the actuator 273 can be adjusted in association with
21 adjusting the stops 285 so that the carriage 243 reaches
2~ the bottom of its stroke at essentially the same time
23 that the label receivers 231 and 231a contact their asso-
24 ciated stops 285. Of course, the stops 285 can be elim-
~5 inated, if desired.
26 When the carriage 243 is at, or substantially
2~ at, its downwardmost location, the labels 233 are applied
28 to the articles 99 as described above. Following label
29
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32
lZ01~1L15
1 transfer, the actuator 73 is operated to extend the con-
2 necting rod 275 to return the carriage 243 upwardly to
3 the position of Fig. 5. During this time, the flexible
4 elements 111 and 113 pull the label receivers 231 and
231a, respectively, inwardlv to the position of Fig. 5.
6 During the upward travel of the carriage 243, the flexible
7 elements 277 merely accommodate the inward movement of
8 the label receivers. The pads 265 provide a cushioning
9 effect as described above. Oth~r functions of the label
applicator 211 are identical to the label applicator 11.
11 Although exemplary embodiments of the inven-
12 tion have been shown and described, many changes, modi-
13 fications and substitutions may be made bv one having
14 ordinary skill in the art without necessarily departing
from the spirit and scope of this invention.
16
17
18
19
21
22
23
24
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27
28
29
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32
