Patent ID: 8616259
Filing Date: 2013-12-31
Classification: B65C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. 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 moving a plurality of labels along the first path, the labels each having a front surface and a back surface with a fluid activatable adhesive that is non-tacky until activated, the guidance mechanism including: a device configured to modulate the location of the dispensing magazine to transfer the label to the first transfer member; 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; 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; and the second transfer member includes one or more air supply conduits coupled to a pressurized air device and configured to supply airflow from the conduits to promote application of the label to the container at the label application station.