Patent ID: 8621745
Filing Date: 2014-01-07
Classification: B65B,B65C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A stretch film sleeve label applicator for separating a stretchable sleeve label from a continuous web of stretchable sleeve labels and applying the label to an item, comprising: a label feeding assembly; a label separating assembly; and at least one label stretching assembly, wherein the at least one label stretching assembly comprises a plurality of slender fingers radially arranged and equally spaced from one another relative to a central vertical axis of the label stretching assembly, each finger configured to move between a contracted position to receive the label and an expanded position to stretch the label, such movement occurring along a radius of a circle formed by the plurality of fingers when in the expanded position, the plurality of fingers each having a single opening formed on an outer surface thereof, the opening formed at a top of each of the fingers and configured to alternately provide a vacuum to frictionally engage the label while label is positioned about the item and air pressure to create a cushion of air between the plurality of fingers and the label while the label is applied to the item.