Patent ID: 8696839
Filing Date: 2014-04-15
Classification: B65C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for transferring a label from a web to items moving on an item transport along a path, the items having a contoured surface, the method comprising the steps of: advancing the item toward the web; advancing the web along a label applicator head, the web being advanced at a relatively constant tension from a pay-out reel to a take-up reel; sensing the contour of the item using a laser sensor and mapping the sensed contour of the item; advancing or retracting the web in response to movement of the web, in response to movement of the applicator head to follow the item contour; positioning the web to accommodate a difference in pitch of adjacent labels and a pitch of adjacent items to approximately match a speed of advancing the item to a speed of advancing the web; reciprocating the applicator head in response to the contour of the mapped item, such that the applicator head follows the contour of the mapped item and the web is reciprocated with the applicator head; and transferring the label from the web to the item along the mapped contour of the item.