Apparatus for applying a label to an object

Apparatus for labeling objects including fruits supplied to a labeling station by an endless conveyor. Labels on a carrier tape are moved from a supply reel by a knurled roller which impresses a surface weakening pattern on each label so it will readily conform to a non-planar surface of the object. The tape is formed into a feed storage loop by an oscillatable tension regulating arm which controls actuation and deactuation of the knurled roller. An indexing tape segment passes through an indexing block in a transfer station, where each entering label is sensed by a detector. Indexing movement of the tape is initiated by an object detector on the conveyor. Indexing moves the tape around a sharp bend to strip the detected label from the tape and position it in a label holding frame. A label transfer wheel with peripheral suction cups is operated in timed relation to the detection of an object on the conveyor, to move a suction cup under the label in the holding frame, whereupon a vacuum is applied to grip the label and carry it to a position where it is pressed against a surface of the detected object, at which time the vacuum is released. A thin lip of the suction cup is deformed by the pressing action to vent the cup interior to atmosphere. A take-up storage loop is formed by a second oscillatable tension regulating arm which controls the intermittent actuation of a motor driven tape take-up reel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to the field of applying labels to 
fruits, vegetables, and other objects of varying size. 
There has been a growing need in the packaging industry for machines which 
could successfully apply sophisticated and complex markings to fruit and 
other objects at relatively high operating speeds, and particularly 
indicia which might include a multiplicity of colors as well as printing 
and other markings of complex configuration. 
Heretofore, quite a number of machines have been developed and are 
commercially available for successively printing trademark names, 
insignia, and other data on fruit, objects, flat containers, and the like, 
in a continuous operation. Such machines are disclosed, for example, in 
U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,971,459; 3,244,276; and 3,277,815. However, while the 
machines as disclosed in these patents operate satisfactorily for applying 
simple indicia, it is readily apparent that machines which utilize 
printing processes are not capable of applying the more sophisticated and 
complex markings. 
It thus became apparent that the inherent disadvantages of the printing 
type machine might be solved by utilizing pre-printed labels having a 
pressure adhesive surface, and an examination of the prior art indicated 
that automatic labeling machines were already known and available for 
applying labels to fruits, vegetables and other objects, as exemplified by 
the machines disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,065,957; 2,621,434; 3,405,021; 
3,729,362; and 3,769,139. However, the known labeling machines, as 
disclosed in these patents, were found to embody mechanical structures 
which for one reason or another could not be depended upon to accurately 
apply the labels in a manner to be commercially feasible to high volume 
operations. 
In addition to the apparatus disclosed and known from the above mentioned 
patents, other apparatus is generally known from a pamphlet (1 sheet) 
published by the Industrial Tape Division of the 3M Company, entitled 
"Scotch Vacuum Wheel Applicator", and identified at the bottom of the back 
page by number P-1VWPSR(97.2)R2. This pamphlet illustrates and describes 
an automatic taping head designed for the application of predetermined 
lengths of pressure-sensitive tapes at high rates of speed to a wide 
variety of products. The apparatus of the present invention differs from 
the apparatus disclosed in this pamphlet in that separate labels are 
adhesively mounted on a carrier tape from which they are successively 
stripped or detached and then individually carried by vacuum cups on a 
transfer wheel, and applied to the objects. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates more specifically to a method and apparatus 
for applying adhesively pressure bonded labels in a continuous operation 
to fruits and other objects, and particularly to spheroidal surface areas, 
as well as other non-planar surfaces, at high operating speeds. 
It is one object of the herein described invention to provide an improved 
apparatus for the automatic application of adhesively bonded labels to 
objects generally, and to fruits and the like in particular, which have a 
more or less rounded surface contour. 
A further object resides in the provision of apparatus according to the 
foregoing object, which will accommodate objects of varying sizes at 
relatively high operating speeds, and which will operate in a consistent 
and dependable manner. 
A further object is to provide in label applying apparatus, a unique 
mechanism for feeding a label carrying tape, in which a constant tension 
storage feed loop coacts with a constant tension take-up loop to create a 
central indexing loop having a low constant tension and substantially 
inertia free dynamic behavior which permits rapid and high speed 
acceleration during indexing operations of the tape. 
A still further object is to provide in such apparatus, a unique transfer 
wheel with suction cups successively operable to grippingly engage labels 
as they are detached from the carrier tape, and transport and apply them 
to the surface of the objects or fruits as such objects or fruits are 
successively moved to a labeling station, and wherein the transfer wheel 
further embodies associated valving means for controlling the connection 
of a vacuum to each suction cup as it picks up the label, and thereafter 
decrease and discontinue the vacuum action as the label is applied to the 
object or fruit. 
Another object is to provide an improved labeling apparatus of the type 
utilizing a label carrier tape, which includes means for impressing a 
pattern on the outer surface of the labels carried by the tape so as to 
weaken the label surface and permit it to readily conform to non-planar 
surface portions of an object or fruit during the application of the label 
thereto. 
It is also an object to provide labeling apparatus which includes unique 
sensing and control means for coordinating the delivery and application of 
labels in such a manner that the labels will be transferred to the object 
or fruit only when an object or fruit is delivered at the labeling 
station. 
These and other objects and features are accomplished by the apparatus and 
method of the present invention, wherein it will be seen that separate 
interconnected mechanisms are utilized respectively for supplying the 
labels and for supplying fruit or other objects to a labeling station 
where the labels are to be applied. 
The mechanism for supplying the fruits or objects comprises a conveyor such 
as, for example, a conveyor of a type illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 
3,277,815 which operates to pre-orient the fruit as it approaches the 
labeling station. 
The tape feeding mechanism is arranged to feed the label carrying tape into 
a constant tension storage feed loop which coacts with a constant tension 
take-up loop to create a central indexing loop having a low constant 
tension and substantially inertia free dynamic portion which may be 
rapidly accelerated at high speed during indexing operations of the tape, 
during which the tape is moved forwardly around a sharp bend to effect 
removal of a label and its deposit into a holding frame. 
As the tape is fed into the feed storage loop, it passes over a knurled 
roller which impresses a pattern on the outer surface of each label that 
allows the label to more readily conform to curved surface portions of the 
fruit or object during its application thereto. 
Indexing movements of the tape are controlled by detecting means which 
senses the arrival of objects on the conveyor at a predetermined position, 
and in order that appropriate labels will be moved into the holder only 
when there will be a sensed object arriving in the labeling section to 
receive the label. 
A transfer wheel carries a plurality of suction cups which are supported on 
flexible sequential sections of the wheel and arranged to successively 
grippingly pick up the labels from the holder frame and transport them to 
and apply them to the fruit or objects as they arrive at the labeling 
station. The transfer wheel assembly embodies a valving mechanism which is 
arranged to connect a vacuum source with each suction cup as it picks up a 
label, and thereafter disconnect the vacuum as the label is being applied 
to the object or fruit. 
Further objects and advantages of the invention will be brought out in the 
following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for 
the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations 
thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, and more particularly to 
FIGS. 1, 2, and 15, there is shown a conveyor generally illustrated at 21 
comprising a plurality of rollers 23 which are mounted to extend between a 
pair of spaced apart parallel chains 25 for translational movement. 
Although not illustrated in the drawings, the ends of the rollers are 
arranged to contact fixed support means so that, as the chains 25 move the 
rollers in translation, they are rotated by frictional contact with the 
fixed support. 
As is particularly well illustrated in FIG. 1, the rollers are provided 
with sleeves or otherwise suitably shaped so as to form pockets 27 
therebetween. An object 31, such as the illustrated orange to be labeled, 
is carried in the pocket formed by adjacent rollers. Thus, as has been 
shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,971,459, the oranges will be rotated to 
correspondingly orient their longer axes due to the sinusoidal geometry of 
the pockets. As will be realized, the rotation of the oranges aids in the 
proper seating of a label thereon. 
Of course, those skilled in the art will realize that, while the conveyor 
21 illustrated in these drawings is the presently preferred structure, any 
suitable conveyor may be utilized and its choice may depend as much upon 
the type of object to be labeled, as any other factor. 
A suitable fruit detector 33, as shown in FIG. 2, is mounted adjacent the 
conveyor so as to sense the presence of an orange or object in any 
particular pocket. At the present time, it is envisioned that the fruit 
detector may comprise an operatively associated suitable light emitter 
means and photo-electric detection means to sense the passage of an object 
either by causing the object to intercept a light beam between the emitter 
and the detection means, or to cause the object to reflect the light beam 
from the emitter toward the detection means. Regardless of the type of 
detection unit employed, those skilled in the art will realize that the 
objective here is merely the detection of the arrival of the object at a 
predetermined location in relation to a labeling station as generally 
indicated at 37. 
When the labeled objects have passed the labeling station 37, the labeled 
objects may be discharged from the conveyor into a trough 39 or other 
desired handling device. 
In the illustrated embodiment, the conveyor is arranged to be driven by a 
motor 41 (FIG. 1) acting through a chain or belt drive 43 to rotate a 
conveyor shaft 45 which carries a pair of chain driving sprockets 47 (FIG. 
2) respectively engaged with the conveyor chains 25 to drive the conveyor 
in the direction indicated by the arrow 49 in FIG. 2. Also, securely 
mounted on the conveyor drive shaft 45 is a rotary platen 46 having spokes 
48 which extend between adjacent rollers and assist in supporting the 
object during the application of the label. If desired, the end of each 
spoke may be provided with a tip 48a of suitable resilient material to 
prevent injury to the object, when such object is a fruit such as an 
orange. 
As shown in FIG. 1, there may also be fixedly mounted on the shaft 45 a 
gear 51 which is located in driving relationship with a gear 53 fixedly 
mounted on a shaft 55 in order that these shafts may be rotated in 
synchronism. Both shafts 45 and 55 are mounted for rotation in appropriate 
bearings mounted on frame members 57. 
As best shown in FIGS. 2, 10, and 15, a label transfer wheel 61 is mounted 
on the shaft 55 for rotation therewith, and comprises a plurality of 
segmental sections 63 which are constructed of a relatively flexible or 
pliable material. 
Referring now particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, a sleeve 65 is shown as being 
fixed to the shaft 55 for rotation therewith, and also being coupled to an 
axially aligned manifold shaft 67 for unitary rotation therewith. The 
sleeve 65 has a substantially square opening therethrough and the shafts 
55 and 67 are also of square form for so much thereof as is within the 
sleeve 65. Although any suitable shaft and sleeve shape may be employed, 
it will be appreciated that the square or rectangular configurations will 
facilitate the installation of the segmental sections 63 to the sleeve and 
improve the drivability, without slip. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, 
each section 63 is fastened to the sleeve 65 by means of a plate or bar 69 
and suitable retaining bolts 71. This arrangement not only simplifies 
mounting of the sections of the wheel, but also improves the ability of 
each section to flex relative to the sleeve and to each other. 
As seen at the right hand portion of FIG. 3, the shaft 67 is rotatably 
supported by a suitable bearing 75 and terminates at its outer end in a 
portion of reduced diameter 77 which is rotatably seated within an end 
socket 79 of a stationary valving member 81. The other end of the valving 
member is also formed with an end socket 83 which is separated from the 
end socket 79 by a partition wall 85 containing a valving orifice 87. The 
end socket 83 at its outer end is connected with an end of a pipe 89 by a 
connection plug 91 of plastic or other suitable material, this plug being 
secured as by retaining screws 93. The inner end of the plug 91 is spaced 
from the bottom of the socket 83 and cooperates therewith to form a 
chamber 95 having communication with the valving orifice 87 and the pipe 
89. A U-shaped strap 91 has its leg portions secured to the frame 57, as 
illustrated in FIG. 1, and at its bridging portion is provided with 
clamping means 93 which may be actuated in a well known manner as by a 
clamping bolt 95 to grip and hold the pipe 89 in fixed position. 
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the pipe 89 is arranged for connection with a 
vacuum system so as to continuously maintain a fluid suction in the 
chamber 95 in communication with the valving orifice 87. As shown in FIG. 
4, the valving orifice 87 is shaped to provide a flow channel having a 
transverse configuration similar to a "comma" and progressively decreases 
from a large flow area at one end to a minimum flow area at the other end. 
On the other side of the partition wall 85, the manifold shaft 67 is 
formed to provide a plurality of circumferentially spaced bores 113 which 
successively communicate with the orifice 87 as the shaft 67 is rotated in 
the direction indicated by the arrows in FIG. 4. As can be seen, the flow 
through each bore 113 will vary from a maximum, when in registration with 
the large end of the orifice 87, and decrease gradually to a minimum as it 
moves to the small end, and is finally cut off by movement out of 
registration. 
As best shown in FIGS. 3, 10 and 15, each bore 113 connects with a radially 
oriented flexible conduit 121 that leads to a suction cup 127 mounted in 
the central area of an upraised pressure pad or protuberance 125 at the 
periphery of each segmental section 63. The suction cup 127 is formed with 
a very thin, pliable lip 128. For a purpose to be explained later, a 
groove or recess 129 is formed to extend about the suction cup lip. 
From a consideration of FIGS. 2-4 and 15, it will be realized that as the 
label transfer wheel rotates, the sections 63 will be carried successively 
through a point vertically positioned above the axis of rotation of the 
manifold shaft 67, and that at this point the suction cups 127 of each 
section will be placed initially in communication with the vacuum source 
via the radial conduit 121, the associated axial bore 113, the valving 
orifice 87, and the pipe 89. As the transfer wheel 61 continues its 
rotation in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, suction will 
continue to be applied to the suction cup in a gradually decreasing 
amount, as determined by the narrowing of the width of the orifice 87, 
until the suction cup reaches a point vertically positioned directly below 
the axis of rotation of the manifold shaft 67. As the wheel rotation 
carries the suction cup through this lower point the suction will be cut 
off entirely and remain cut off until the suction cup again reaches the 
upper point. 
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus further includes a mechanism for 
successively supplying the required labels from a suitable label source in 
a manner which will permit their being successively picked up by the 
suction cups 127 on the label transfer wheel 61 at the previously 
mentioned upper point and carried to the lower point, where they are 
successively applied to the objects as they arrive on the conveyor. 
The mechanism for supplying the labels is contained within a suitable 
housing 151 which is positioned in a location generally above that of the 
associated transfer wheel 61 and the conveyor 21. Preferably, the housing 
151 is supported so that its operating position with respect to the 
transfer wheel 61 can be variably adjusted as to alignment and spacing. 
For such purpose, as shown in FIG. 1, the housing 151 is supported at one 
end of a horizontally extending arm 150 by suitable conventional 
vertically movable means 152 which can be adjusted by an operating crank 
154. The arm 150 is suitably supported for axial adjustment at the upper 
end of a rotatably mounted post support 156 which can be releasably held 
in an adjusted position by a suitable clamp 158. 
More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the housing 151 mounts a tape supply 
reel 153 for a label carrying web or tape 155. Preferably, the tape is 
pre-treated to releasably affix a plurality of labels 170 thereto, each of 
said labels having a printed surface on the side thereof away from the 
tape and an adhesive bonding surface on the side thereof in engagement 
with the tape. The affixed labels will adhere to the tape until they are 
peeled off, but the adherence will be relatively light so that peeling can 
be easily accomplished. 
As shown, the tape is moved past a suitable microswitch 157 which may be 
utilized for stopping the apparatus by providing a stop signal when the 
end of the tape is withdrawn from the reel 153. Also, as illustrated, 
suitable locating and/or tensioning rollers 159 are operatively associated 
with the tape 155. 
The tape is withdrawn from the supply reel 153 by a pair of pinch rollers 
161 and 163 rotatably mounted within a subhousing 165. As shown in FIG. 6, 
the roller 161 is formed with a knurled surface, while the roller 163 has 
a relatively smooth surface. Within the housing 165, the roller 163 is 
mounted within a carrier 173 which is supported for guided movement 
towards the roller 161 in opposition to a biasing force produced by a 
plurality of compression springs 175. The springs 175 may be positioned at 
various locations (such as the four illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7) between 
the carrier 173 and portions of the housing 165 in which the roller 161 is 
rotatably mounted. The carrier 173 is arranged to be actuated toward the 
roller 161 by means of a manually operable cam lever 179. Thus, when it is 
desired to thread the tape 155 between the rollers, the cam lever 179 may 
be rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 7, allowing the 
rollers to be separated slightly by the action of the springs 175 so that 
the tape can be easily threaded between them. Then, the cam lever 179 may 
be rotated back to the position illustrated so as to bias the rollers 
toward one another. As seen in FIG. 6, the cam lever 179 may be biased 
toward a predetermined position relative to the carrier 173 by means of a 
spring 181 which may be coaxially located on the shaft upon which the cam 
lever 179 is rotatably mounted. 
The roller 161 may be mounted for rotation with or relative to a shaft 183 
within the housing 165. The roller may be fixed to a drive sprocket 185 
for rotation by means of a toothed drive belt 189, as illustrated in FIG. 
5, driven by a suitable driving motor 191. Thus, when the motor 191 is 
energized, the rollers 161 and 163 will draw the tape 155 from the reel 
153, and as the tape passes between the rollers, the knurled surface of 
the roller 161 will impress a crisscross pattern on the printed surface or 
face of each label 170, as illustrated in FIG. 9, which will enable the 
label to more easily adhere to an uneven or curved surface. Upon leaving 
the pinch rollers 161 and 163, the tape is carried through an adjustable 
feed storage loop 155a extending between the roller 161 and a fixed roller 
201. The size of the loop may be varied by means of a roller 203 rotatably 
mounted at the outer end of a tape tension regulating arm 205 which is 
arranged to swing between predetermined angular locations about an axle 
207. The arm 205 is fixed to a disc 209 upon which a pair of magnets 211 
and 213 are mounted. 
The arm 205 is biased for movement in a counterclockwise direction about 
axle 207, as seen in FIG. 5, by means of a conventional constant tension 
spring 215. A sensing device 217 is operably associated with the disc 209 
for selective actuation by the magnets 211 and 213 to generate start and 
stop signals, respectively, for the control of the motor 191. As thus 
arranged, when sufficient tape is drawn from the feed storage loop 155a to 
swing the roller 203 to the position as shown in phantom lines at 203a, 
the magnet 111 will activate the sensing device 217 to start the motor 191 
so as to drive the pinch rollers 161 and 163 and feed additional tape into 
the storage loop until the roller 203 moves to the phantom line position 
203b, under the force of the constant tension spring 215, whereupon the 
magnet 213 will activate the sensing device 217 to stop the motor 191 and 
discontinue the further feeding of tape to the storage loop until the 
stored supply is again depleted. 
A safety feature is provided to stop the operation of the apparatus in the 
event the tape should break, and for this purpose a detector 219 in the 
form of a microswitch, as shown in FIG. 5 is positioned in the path of 
movement of the arm 205 where it will be operated thereby if the arm is 
permitted to swing beyond the roller position 203b. 
As the tape passes the idler roller 201, it enters the central indexing 
loop 155b, during which time it is carried through an indexing or transfer 
head 225, wherein the labels are stripped from the tape and transferred to 
the label transfer wheel 61 in a manner which will be described presently. 
The indexing loop 155b of the tape travel path is the central dynamic 
portion of the tape system, and it is in this part of the tape system that 
it is extremely important to maintain as low a tension on the tape as 
possible, to maintain the tension at a constant value, and to present the 
tape to the label transfer station under a practically inertia-free 
condition so that it can be accelerated very rapidly. In this manner, the 
tape can be stepped or indexed to provide the necessary start-and-stop 
operations in the tape movement to properly transfer the labels at the 
proper moment. This indexing movement of the tape is accomplished by means 
of a driving stepper motor 227 which is connected by a toothed belt 229 to 
drivingly rotate a pair of pinch rollers 231 and 233 between which the 
tape passes. These rollers may be provided with cam means similar to that 
illustrated in FIG. 7 for the release of the rollers 161 and 163 to 
facilitate threading the tape therebetween. 
As the tape leaves the central indexing loop it is carried over an idler 
roller 237, and then enters a take-up storage loop 155c formed between the 
roller 237 and an idler roller 201a. The loop size is controlled by a 
roller 203c mounted at the outer end of a tape tension regulating arm 
205a, which may be biased for swinging movement in a counterclockwise 
direction, as viewed in FIG. 5, about an axle 207a by means of a 
conventional constant tension spring 215a. Magnets 211a and 213a in this 
case selectively control a sensing device 217a in a manner such that, when 
the roller reaches the position 203d, the magnet 211a activates the sensor 
so as to energize a drive motor 241. This motor is drivingly connected by 
a toothed belt 243 with a take-up spool of reel 245 for drawing tape from 
the loop 155c. Similarly, when the roller reaches the position 203e, the 
magnet 213a will activate the sensing device 217a to stop the drive motor 
241, thereby terminating the rotation of the take-up reel 245. The 
indexing motor 227 continues to pull the tape from the central indexing 
loop 155b into the take-up loop 155c, and as a consequence arm 205a will 
again move until the roller reaches the position 203d, whereupon the 
take-up operation will begin again. As in the case of the feed storage 
loop 155a, a detector 219a is provided to stop the operation of the 
apparatus in the event of tape breakage in the loop 155c. 
Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the tape is moved through the central 
dynamic loop 155b with a constant low tension and minimum inertia. As the 
tape is used in the central indexing loop 155b, the size of the feed 
storage loop 155a decreases and the size of the take-up storage loop 155c 
increases. The sensors associated with each of these loops maintain their 
respective drive units in the off positions until the arms 205 and 205a 
reach the position in which the sensors 217 and 217a are actuated by their 
respective magnets. At that point, the drive motors 191 and 241 are 
controlled to increase the size of the feed storage loop 155a and decrease 
the size of the take-up storage loop 155c in the manner described 
previously. When these loops are at their maximum and minimum values, 
respectively, the magnets cooperate with the sensors to shut off the drive 
motors. Of course, it will be appreciated that these operations with 
respect to the two tension regulating arms need not always occur 
simultaneously and there is no necessity that such simultaneous operation 
be accomplished. 
Although not specifically shown, it is preferable that each of the drive 
motors 191 and 241 includes an associated brake of either electrical or 
mechanical type so that starting and stopping of the movements of the arms 
205 and 205a will be substantially instantaneous with the actuation of 
their respective sensors. 
Referring more particularly to FIGS. 10-14, the mechanism for transferring 
a label from the tape 155 will now be described. As discussed previously, 
an indexing or transfer head 225 is located within the central indexing 
loop 155b of the tape in such a manner that the tape passes therethrough 
at a location closely adjacent the periphery of the label transfer wheel 
61. 
More specifically, the indexing head 225 comprises a housing 301 through 
which the tape of the loop 155b passes along a predetermined guide path as 
shown in FIGS. 10 and 14. The tape is moved past a suitable label detector 
which will sense the presence of the label. For example, the tape may be 
passed between a light beam emitter 303 and a photocell 305, as 
illustrated. The label detector may also be of the retroreflective type in 
which the light beam emitter and the photocell would be positioned on the 
same side of the tape. It will be appreciated, of course, that if the 
label detector employs the broken light beam principle the tape should be 
translucent. On the other hand, if the reflective principle is utilized, 
it is imperative that the tape be non-reflective. 
After passing the label detector, the tape is moved forwardly around a 
sharp bend 309. As the tape traverses the bend, each label will attempt to 
maintain its integrity and will be peeled from the tape at its leading 
edge and continues on into a label holding frame 311 mounted within a 
surface 313. 
The purpose of the previously mentioned fruit detector 33 and the label 
detectors 303, 305 with their associated control is to assure that for 
each detected fruit a label will be indexed into the holding frame 311 so 
as to be picked up by the transfer wheel 61 and applied to the detected 
fruit upon arrival at the labeling station. 
The indexing operation is initiated by the fruit detector 33, which is 
activated by the detected fruit to produce an "on" signal to cause the 
motor 227 to drive the rollers 231 and 233 to advance the tape and move 
the detected label. By suitable control which permits the motor 227 to run 
for a preprogrammed length of time after the detected label has passed by 
the label detector, the amount of detached portion of the label to be 
placed in the holding frame 311 can be precisely determined and controlled 
irrespective of a missing label, irregularities in the label spacings, 
etc. 
In the event a label is missing, or a label has not been detected, the 
indexing operation will continue until a label is delivered to the holding 
frame 311 for the particular detected fruit. Also, in the event that a 
fruit is missing on the conveyor, the fruit detector will not be activated 
and, as a consequence, no label will in this case be delivered to the 
holding frame 311. 
As shown in FIG. 11, the surface 313 is formed on the undersides of a pair 
of supports 315 and 317 which are separated by a channel 319 in which the 
frame 311 is located. Moreover, the surface 313 is longitudinally of 
radial concave form about the axis of the vacuum transfer wheel 61. A 
plurality of axially spaced parallel rollers 321 are mounted in the 
support 315 and a like plurality of rollers 323 are mounted in the support 
317, with portions of their outer surfaces projecting outwardly beyond the 
surface 313. Preferably, the rollers on one side of the channel 319 are 
respectively coaxially aligned with the rollers on the opposite side of 
the channel. 
As part of the indexing block, these rollers serve to form dynamic 
stabilizing means for the vacuum transfer wheel 61 which may rotate and 
accelerate at high velocities. The rollers, which may be of Teflon or 
other similar material, allow smooth travel of the lateral peripheral 
surfaces of the segmental sections 63 as they pass through the transfer 
station formed by the indexing block 225. Since the sections 63 are 
preferably relatively flexible, so that they may be employed to firmly 
apply the labels to objects of varied sizes, and since the wheel will 
rotate at relatively high speed during operation, it becomes necessary to 
provide structure means which will stabilize the dynamic behavior of the 
wheel sections, particularly during the transfer of the label from the 
frame 311 to the transfer wheel 61. For this purpose, the rollers 321 and 
323 are located to cooperate with the peripheral lateral surfaces of the 
segmental sections 63, as shown in FIG. 11. Thus, the protuberance 125 of 
each section 63, which carries the suction cup 127, will be permitted to 
pass through the channel 319 in the indexing head in a stabilized fashion. 
As the label 170 is stripped from the tape segment 155b, it will enter the 
label holding frame 311 in the manner shown in FIGS. 10-12. More 
specifically, the frame 311 is shown as comprising a base portion 331 
which may be adjustably fastened at one end within the channel 319 as by 
means of the end slots 330 and screws 332. At the other end, a pair of 
frame arms 333 are formed to include laterally spaced extensions 331a of 
the base portion 331 in such a manner that the arms are flexibly mounted 
on the indexing head. As shown in FIG. 11a, each extension 331a may be 
provided with an overlying section 341 which cooperates therewith to form 
a guide channel 342 with an inner side opening 343 for the reception of an 
edge margin of a label received in the frame holder. Preferably, the 
overlying section 341 is of Teflon or other suitable material which will 
not adhere to the adhesive on the labels. When a label is deposited in the 
holding frame 333, its trailing end preferably remains loosely attached to 
the tape segment 155b when tape movement is stopped, while the side edges 
of the printed surface of the label will be in contact with the arm 
extensions 331a. Thus, as viewed in FIGS. 10 and 11, the adhesive surface 
of the label faces away from the transfer wheel 61 and the printed surface 
is located close to the wheel periphery. 
In the preferred embodiment, the natural angle of inclination of the arm 
extensions 331a relative to the portion of the base 331 fixed to the 
indexing block, is approximately 15.degree. downwardly as shown at 331a in 
FIG. 10. In other words, considering a line tangent to the periphery of 
the vacuum transfer wheel 61, the arms 333 extend approximately 15.degree. 
below the tangent or closer to the axis of the wheel. As the wheel 
rotates, the protuberances push against the arms, lifting them until they 
are in a plane substantially tangent to the periphery of the protuberance 
as shown in FIG. 10. 
As the rubber section 63 passes under the label holding frame 311, the 
elastic characteristics of the steel allow the arms 333 and the label 
being held therein to be deflected from the position 311a to the position 
311. Once the suction cup 127 of the protuberance or pressure pad 125 
reaches a position under the label in the holding frame, the valving 
orifice 87 operates to connect the suction cup with the vacuum source, 
whereupon the vacuum cup grips the label and withdraws it from the holding 
frame as the transfer wheel continues to rotate. Continued rotation of the 
transfer wheel 61 will carry the pressure pad 125 into a position of 
contact with the previously detected object or fruit on the conveyor. As 
the synchronized contact movement of the pad and fruit continues, the pad 
125 will be deformed with the label around the fruit, as shown in FIGS. 15 
and 16, exerting a normalizing pressure on the surface of the fruit and 
causing the label to adhere to the fruit surface through the adhesion of 
the pressure sensitive adhesive thereon. The orifice valve 87 now 
functions to gradually reduce and cut off the vacuum applied to the 
suction cup as the fruit and pressure pad 125 begin to move apart. During 
application of the label, the lip 128 of the suction cup will be deformed 
into the groove 129 surrounding it, as illustrated particularly in FIG. 
16, causing the lip to separate from the label and relieve any vacuum 
which might be remaining in the suction cup. In this manner, the label is 
uniformly bonded to the fruit surface with little or no wrinkling. It will 
be apparent also, that the deformation of the pressure pad 125 will cause 
the label 170 to be pressed against the fruit substantially throughout its 
entire surface so as to provide total adhesion of the label to the fruit. 
The operation will now be described with particular reference to FIG. 17. 
Prior to the starting of a production run, the apparatus will be provided 
with a supply of label bearing tape 155 which is properly threaded from 
the supply reel 153 through the storage loop, the indexing head, and the 
take-up loop back to the take-up reel 245, as shown in FIG. 5. 
With the apparatus turned on, the conveyor 21 will now operate to 
successively advance the objects or fruit to the labeling station 37, and 
as each fruit approaches the labeling station, the fruit detector 33 will 
produce an "on" control signal which will be operative through a master 
relay 401 to energize the stepping motor 227 which will then drive the 
pinch rollers 231 and 233 to draw the tape through the indexing head 225. 
A label 170 is delivered into the holding frame 311 for subsequent 
application to the particular detected fruit. 
As the conveyor continues to carry the detected fruit towards the labeling 
station 37, the snychronized rotation of the vacuum transfer wheel 61 will 
carry the pressure pad 125 into a position in which the suction cup 127 
will engage the exposed printed side of the label. At this point, a vacuum 
source is connected with the suction cup which then firmly grips and holds 
the label so that upon continued rotation of the transfer wheel, the label 
will be withdrawn from the holding frame as it is carried to the labeling 
station for application to the surface of the detected fruit. 
In the labeling station, the pressure pad will engage the outer surface of 
the fruit, and as the pad and fruit are synchronously moved, the pressure 
pad 125 will be deformed so as to firmly press the adherent side of the 
label against the fruit. At this point of rotation of the transfer wheel, 
the vacuum control will disconnect the suction cup. Simultaneously, the 
deformation of the pressure pad acts to deform the lip of the suction cup 
in such a manner that any vacuum remaining in the suction cup will be 
relieved with respect to the associated label. The labeled fruit is then 
discharged from the conveyor into the receiving trough 39. As the 
apparatus continues to operate, labels will be applied in a similar manner 
to each detected fruit. 
Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art 
without departing from the spirit of the invention described herein, and 
hence, there is no wish to be restricted to the specific form shown or 
uses mentioned, except to the extent indicated in the appended claims.