Abstract:
An automatic splicing apparatus for use in combination with a selected automatic labeling apparatus which uses a sensor and a splicing station through which a first web of stick-on labels passes; a second web of material from a standby roll is held in a ready position for splicing end-to-end with the first web. The first web is stopped and severed at an approximate reference line location, the second web is joined using a splice piece; wherein web feeder continues continuously with uninterrupted operation due to a loose loop located downstream of the splicer permitting splicing the first web to said second web, “on the fly”, that is without reducing the speed of the automatic labeling process during splicing.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 09/611,289, entitled Automatic Label Splicing Apparatus filed on Jul. 06, 2000, now pending, of Richard Monroe, and which is incorporated herein by reference  
         [0002]    In the parent application, Ser. No. 09/611,289, entitled Automatic Label Splicing Apparatus, the invention relates to an automatic splicing apparatus for splicing a first web of labels to a second web of labels for use in combination with selected automatic labeling equipment.  
         [0003]    In the present application, the invention is clarified as being directed to an automatic splicing apparatus for preparing the trailing end of a depleted roll of labels for splicing to a fresh roll of labels to provide continuous delivery of labels to a selected automatic labeling device. In particular the invention relates to splicing of rolls of labels “on the fly”, and providing for error-free labels being applied to the articles being labeled, all without reducing speed of labeling of articles by the associated automatic labeling equipment. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND ART  
         [0004]    Labeling apparatus for applying gummed or adhesive-backed labels to packaging arranged on a conveyor arrangement are well known. Typically, such apparatus consist of a supply of adhesive backed labels carried upon a carrier strip comprising an elongate web of release material which is fed from a supply reel to a take-up reel, with a means for applying a label positioned intermediate the two reels. However problems typically arise in making the transition from a the depleted roll to a new roll of labels. These problems are typically addressed by decelerating the operating speed of labeling machines to make the transition from a depleted roll to a fresh roll.  
           [0005]    Reference is made to the following U.S. Pat. No. 5,935,361 granted Aug. 10, 1999 to Takahashi et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,395 granted Jul. 1, 1997 to Hinton, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,374 granted Aug. 13, 1991 to Winter.  
           [0006]    Referring to U.S. Pat. No. 5,935,361; Takahashi shows a web splicing operation for running and standby rolls that is directed to preparing the leading end of a new web from a new roll of film to obtain positional accuracy of this web in the direction of the width of the new roll after “roll up” of the leading end of the new web. Roll up is provided by an end pullout device that sucks by vacuum means and pulls by roll-up chucks for holding both sides of the pulled out web of the new roll for controlling the web and to prepare a splicing part. By engaging only the sides of the pulled out web, the web is disposed by the roll-up chucks such that there is no scratch on the proximity of the seam of the new web of the new roll. Thereafter the splicing part is sucked by a suction box to await the splicing operation with a depleted roll.  
           [0007]    Takahashi does not show web splicing in association with a selected automatic labeling machine, rather features splicing of photosensitive material such as photographic film without scratching in the area of the splice. Furthermore, in order to splice such photosensitive material, Takahashi must employ a roll residual determining device for use with splicing in a darkroom environment.  
           [0008]    Referring to U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,395; Hinton shows a label splicing operation which removes the item from a production line when a spliced label is present. Dancer arms are also employed. It appears that these labels are not of the adhesive type that are carried on a web, but rather the labels are printed directly on the web. A controller operates to decelerate the speed of the label application machine to a low speed, e.g. 60 revolutions per minute, for splicing. Typically the controller is employed to ramp down the labeling machine to slower speeds to accomplish a splice, i.e. a controller is programmed to decelerate the speed of the label application machine to a low speed, e.g. 60 revolutions per minute, for splicing.  
           [0009]    Referring to U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,374 granted to Winter appears to also operate on a printed web of labels. Here an overlapped splice is used.  
           [0010]    A review of the prior art has failed to satisfy the requirements for splicing a depleted roll of labels to a fresh roll, “on the fly“, that is without decelerating the speed of operation of an associated labeling machine while providing for error-free labels being applied to the articles being labeled. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide for a new and improved automatic label splicer which uses a sensor and a splice plate arrangement over which a first web of material passes (stick-on labels) for preparing the trailing end of a depleted roll of labels for splicing to a fresh roll of labels to provide continuous delivery of labels to a selected automatic labeling device; which overcomes at least some of the disadvantages of prior art.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    The present invention is directed to an automatic splicing apparatus comprising a splicing station for splicing a first web of labels to a second web of labels for use in combination with a selected downstream labeling apparatus which in turn affixes labels to selected goods. A dual unwind mechanism is employed in combination with the splicing station for initially unwinding a first roll of labels responsive to drive means and holding the second roll of labels in standby, and then as this first roll unwinds and becomes depleted, splicing it to the second roll. The splicing station comprises a moveable lower splice plate, a moveable cutter back plate  5 , cutter assembly and a fixed upper lower splice plat. Loop control apparatus is included in the automatic splicing apparatus for controlling the size of loops of running web maintained by said splicing apparatus for accumulating labels to maintain continuous labeling during a splicing operation. In particular the loop control apparatus maintains a constant loop in the web of labels, in a accumulator or “loop box”, as the running web of labels is drawn past the splicing station by a pull nip driven by a drive motor. When the running web is depleted and is stopped and clamped by the cutter back plate, during a splicing operation in the splicing station, the labels contained in the loop box continue to be available to be drawn downstream by the labeling machine to provide for splicing “on the fly”, that is, without reducing the speed of the automatic labeling process during splicing.  
           [0012]    In preparation for splicing a standby web of labels to a depleted running web of labels, the lead end of the standby roll is pulled out manually, divisions between labels is identified, the lead end is then severed at a division between adjacent labels, the severed lead end of the standby roll, the splice is then manually positioned in alignment with a splice reference line marked on the lower splice plate. Once the splice is positioned on the lower splice plate, it is held in place by suction applied by a on board vacuum pump which evacuates are through holes in the base of said lower splice plate acting to hold the splice piece in place. The lower splice plate is moveable responsive to operation of a splice cylinder, between a spaced apart, standby position and a splice position wherein it is compressed against the upper splice plate by said splice cylinder. The splice on the lead end of the standby roll is then held in a standby mode on said lower splice plate awaiting a splicing with the trailing end of a depleted running web of labels.  
           [0013]    In the present invention, registration means is employed for putting labels on the running web in registration with labels on the standby web during splicing. Registration is accomplished by means of a splice controller including a shift register counter for controlling the speed of drive means for putting the web of the first roll in registration with the second roll. The controller also includes sensing means for locating the division between labels register means for controlling the splice sequence.  
           [0014]    The initial phase of the splice sequence of the splice station involves pivoting the cutter back plate between a first retracted position to a second cutting position. Said splice controller thereafter activates a cutter actuator for moving the cutter between a first position, for severing the running web at a point between adjacent labels for preparing a splice piece, and a second retracted cutter position. The splice piece of the running web is held in place on the air register of the upper splice plate. In the next sequence, the cutter back plate swings back from the cutting position to a home position, the lower splice plate indexes up between a first standby position to a second compression position with the splice piece of the standby web in registration with the splice piece of the running web. In this compression position the splice piece of the standby web is compressed against the splice piece of the running web held against the upper splice plate. Thereafter the lower splice plate retracts to the non compression mode wherein control of web speed is shifted back to the photocell sensing means and the turret is rotated such that the new running roll is on top a new roll is placed on the bottom. Thereafter the next successive splice is manually prepared and placed on the lower splice plate where it is held by vacuum created by a vacuum pump connected to orifices provided in the lower splice plate.  
           [0015]    In the present invention, splicing occurs when the first web is stopped and severed at a selected reference line location, whereupon the second web is joined to the first web employing using a splice piece to join the severed trailing end of the first web which has been depleted, to the leading end of a fresh roll held in standby. During the process of splicing of said severed ends together, labels are continuously fed to the automatic labeling equipment with uninterrupted operation due to a loose loop in the first running web located between the labeling equipment and splice plate arrangement, downstream of the splice plate assembly. In order to provide fully automatic splicing of rolls of pressure sensitive labels a dual unwind is employed by the splicing apparatus comprising a first running roll comprising a web of labels on top and a second standby roll comprising a web of labels on the bottom. is employed having the ability to splice on the fly at a rate comparable to or exceeding most automatic labeling equipment The splicing apparatus is activated by drive means for unwinding the running roll and maintaining a constant loop of labels in a loop box. Also included is loop sensing means comprising a photoelectric cell for monitoring and controlling the size of the loop means for delivering a constant supply of labels.  
           [0016]    In the splicing station of present invention there is mounted above the running web having divisions between adjacent labels, an web label cutter for making a splice cut in the trailing end of the depleted running web. After the web is cut, the trailing end is held on the upper splice plate, mounted on a fan housing, wherein the fan draws air through said upper splice plate to hold said terminal end of the web on the upper splice plate, in registration with the lower splice plate. The controller comprises sensing means comprising a photoelectric cell for detecting the shaft of the turret which is only visible at terminus of the web of the running roll which triggers the splice sequence.  
           [0017]    The present invention typically is employed to handle a web comprising pressure sensitive labels, but can also accommodate a web comprising continuous labels as well as a web of continuous unprinted labels. Accordingly, for the purposes of this invention, the term web comprises pressure sensitive individual labels on a continuous carrier made of, but not limited to, paper or plastic film. Registration according to the present invention is accomplished by detecting the division between the labels or accomplished by detecting the divisions between the labels or any other means of monitoring a register position of the web.  
           [0018]    In the present invention the splicing of the depleted roll to the fresh roll does not produce any ‘bad’ labels being applied to an article by the downstream automatic labeler. This is a major savings to the user, i.e. he has no waste of product or label, no cost of tracking and reject system and possible fines for a bad label if it got through on an article in some industries, such as food and consumer.  
           [0019]    Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide in an automatic splicing apparatus for the preparation of the trailing end of a depleted roll of labels for splicing to a fresh roll of labels whereby continuous delivery of labels is provided to a selected automatic labeling device.  
           [0020]    Another object is to provide splicing of a depleted roll of labels to a fresh roll of labels of labels “on the fly”, and providing for error-free labels adjacent the splice being applied to the articles being labeled, all without reducing speed of labeling of the associated automatic labeling equipment.  
           [0021]    The invention will be described for the purposes of illustration only in connection with certain embodiments; however, it is recognized that those persons skilled in the art may make various changes, modifications, improvements and additions on the illustrated embodiments all without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the automatic label splicing apparatus of the present invention shown in the auto splice ready position;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the splicing station taken along lines  2 - 2  of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, shown in the auto splice ready position;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 is a view of the invention shown in FIG. 1 shown in the auto splice cut position.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 is a invention shown in FIG. 1 in the auto splice-splice position.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the splicing station taken along lines  2 - 2  of the present invention shown in FIG. 4, shown in the auto splice-splice position;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 6, composed of parts  6 A to  6 , is a schematic representation of the splicing of the leading and trailing ends of the respective standby and running webs associated with the vacuum pad of the lower splice plate.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the control box of the splice station shown in FIG. 1 including a splice controller including a shift register counter for controlling the speed of drive means for putting the web of the first roll in registration with the second roll.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of splice station shown in FIG. 2 shown in the auto splice ready position.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of splice station shown in FIG. 2 shown in the auto splice cut position.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of splice station shown in FIG. 2 shown in the auto splice-splice position.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view of splice station shown in FIG. 2 along lines  11 - 11  showing a plan view of the upper splice plate shown adjacent the fan. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0033]    Referring to the FIGS.  1 - 9 , there is shown the preferred embodiment of the automatic label splicer  10  including of splice station  25 , having a dual unwind shown as  40  in FIG. 1, positioned upstream of splice station  25 , and a selected automatic labeling apparatus  22 , downstream of said splice station  25 . Referring to FIGS.  7 - 9 , splice station  25  includes an upper splice plate  70 , a cutter assembly  3 , a moveable cutter back plate  5 , and a moveable lower splice plate  14 . As shown in FIGS.  1 - 3  a photoelectric, end-of-roll sensor  12  cooperates with upper splice plate  70  under which a first web  16  of material from a running roll of labels  17 , passes. The splice station  25  is capable of fully automatic splicing of a first roll  17  of pressure sensitive labels  18  mounted on said dual unwind  40  to a second roll  19 , also on mounted said dual unwind  40 .  
         [0034]    Referring to FIGS. 6A through 6D, the labels  18  are configured as pressure sensitive, are mounted on a web  16  with divisions  21  between adjacent labels  18 , wherein said automatic label splicer  10  has the ability to splice said labels on the fly at a rate comparable to a selected automatic labeling equipment  22 , see FIG. 1.  
         [0035]    In the preferred embodiment the dual unwind  40  comprises turret  26  operable between a first and second position. In the first position shown in FIG. 1, first running roll  17  comprising a running web of labels  16  is on top, and a second standby roll  19  comprising a standby web of labels  20  is on the bottom. Referring to FIG. 1, automatic label splicer  10  is activated by drive motor  6 , having an associated brake  1 , for unwinding the first running roll  17  for supplying a web of labels  16  to automatic labeling equipment  22  and maintaining a constant output loop  48  of labels  18  in a loop box  46 . As is shown in FIG. 2, a sensing means comprising a photoelectric operated loop detector  42  is positioned on frame member  44  for monitoring and controlling the size of output loop  48  by regulating drive motor  6  and associated brake  1 , for delivering a constant supply of labels to a downstream automatic labeling apparatus shown as  22  in FIG. 1.  
         [0036]    Referring to FIGS.  1 ,  7 - 10 , cutter assembly  3  is arranged for making a splice cut  52  in the trailing end  58  of the web  16  positioned on running roll  17 . Lower splice plate  14  includes a vacuum positioning device  56  comprising a pad  57  having a plurality of orifices  55  in communication with an on board vacuum pump  59 , for drawing air through said pad  57  and holding leading end  54  of the web  20 . As is shown in FIG. 3, end of roll sensor  12 , comprising a photoelectric cell, is mounted on frame  44  aligned for detecting the reflector  80  positioned on shaft member  60  of the turret  26 , which is only visible at terminus of web  16  of the running roll  17 , as is shown in FIG. 3. Having detected shaft member, end of roll sensor  12  initiates a splice sequence shown in FIGS. 8, 9, &amp;  10 . Referring to FIGS.  8 - 10 , splice station  25  includes an upper splice plate  70 , a cutter assembly  3 , moveable cutter back plate  5 , and a moveable lower splice plate  14 . As shown in FIG. 3, end-of-roll sensor  12  cooperates with upper splice plate  70  under which a first web  16  of material from a running roll of labels  17 , passes. As is shown in FIGS.  6 A- 6 D, said web  16  includes stick-on labels  18  positioned in spaced apart longitudinal relation, separated by divisions  21 .  
         [0037]    As is shown in FIG. 1, second web of material  20  having labels  18 , mounted on standby roll  19 , is held in a ready position on lower splice plate  14  for splicing end-to-end with the first web  16  as it becomes depleted, as shown in FIG. 3. Upon depletion, as indicated by roll sensor  12  detecting shaft member  60  of the turret  26 , said web  16  is stopped by end-of-roll sensor  12  and severed by cutter  4  at an cutter slot  5  shown in FIG. 11. The second web  20  is joined to first web  16  using a splice piece  30  shown in FIG. 6C. During the splice sequence, web feeding of labels  18  continues to downstream automatic labeling equipment  22 , with uninterrupted operation due to labels stored in a constant output loop  48  shown at FIGS.  1 - 3  located downstream of the automatic splicer  10 .  
         [0038]    Referring to FIG. 1, drive motor  6 , typically a variable speed motor, drives a rubber pull nip  62 , comprising antistatic conductive rubber, that engages running web  16  to unwind running roll  17 , having a  20  inch size, by pulling said web  16  over and past. During labeling operation said rubber pull nip  62 , pulls said web  16  from running roll  17 , at a speed determined by the selected labeling machine  22 , over guide roller  51 , through product guides  11 , and below cutter assembly  3 , such that said web  16  passes beneath upper splice plate  70  mounted stationary on fan housing  86 . Thereafter web  16  is pulled over rubber pull nip  62  by drive motor  6 , hence through “Loop Box”  46 , and thereafter passes downstream to said automatic labeling machine  22 .  
         [0039]    A substantially constant loop, i.e.; varying no more than 10% in length, of labels  18  is maintained in the accumulation or “Loop Box” shown at  46  in FIG. 1. This is accomplished by means of the following; an output loop detector  42  (photocell) monitors the bottom of the output loop  48  and turns motor  6  off when loop  48  is at full length, i.e. extending the full length of or “Loop Box” as is shown in FIG. 1; and turns motor  6  on when loop  48  is at 10% of full length. This permits a constant supply of labels  18  to be delivered to the labeler  50  at a preset rate as dictated by said labeler. The “accumulation” of labels in the “Loop Box”  46  provides for labels  18  to continue to be delivered while running web  16  is kept tight to the bottom of upper splice plate  70  thereby insuring that the speed of the automatic labeling machine does not exhaust the supply of labels or require the speed of labeling to be reduced. Web  16  is kept tight to upper splice plate  70  by the action of fan  72  to keep said trailing end of running web  16  in registration with the lower splice plate  14  awaiting splicing. The upper roll is the running roll  17  on which is mounted running web  16  and the bottom roll is the standby roll  19  on which is mounted standby web  20 .  
         [0040]    Referring to FIG. 3, running web  16  is normally supported in a horizontal plane between guide roller  51  and pull nip  62 , and passes beneath upper splice plate  70  that is mounted on the bottom of fan housing  86 . As is shown in FIG. 10 upper splice plate  70  is provided with a plurality of orifices comprising air register  88 , which orifices are in communication with fan  72  mounted within fan housing  86 . Ducting for the air drawn by said fan  72  is provided by fan housing  86 . Referring to FIG. 9, during the splicing sequence following cutting the trailing end  43  of running web  16  as set forth below, wherein running web  16  is kept tight to the bottom of upper splice plate  70  to keep said trailing end of running web  16  in registration directly above splice  74  being held on lower splice plate  14  with the awaiting splice held on lower splice plate  14  also kept tight by communication with fan  72  is kept tight to the top of lower splice plate the aid of a fan  72  drawing air through orifices provided by air register  88   
         [0041]    The splice  74  is prepared on the lead end  54  of the standby roll web  20 , see FIGS.  6 A- 6 D, and placed on the lower splice plate  14 , being positioned abutting reference line mark  38 , positioned in coplanar relationship with cutter groove  41 , where it is held in place with the on board vacuum pump  56  shown in FIGS. 9 &amp; 10. The unit is now ready for a splice.  
         [0042]    As is shown in FIG. 2, at the end of the running roll  17 , the label web  16  will pull away from the core  64 , allowing the photocell, end of roll sensor  12  to see the reflector  80  on the center shaft  60  of the turret  26 . When the end of roll sensor  12  sees reflector  80 , the controller  7  of motor  6  goes into creep speed, looking for the division  21  between labels  18  in the area of web located at the trailing portion of the labels  18 , spaced from the from the cutter  4 . . When the division  21  is seen, drive motor  6  will advance a predetermined number of steps set into the shift register counter  84 . Reference is made that at the time of initial start of a run of labeling, the registration of splicer with labeler is calibrated. Thereafter, the motor  6  will stop, the trailing end  58  of web  16  will stop, the action of the labeling apparatus continues to pull the portion of running web  16  accumulated in “lop box”  46  continues to provide labels  18  to be delivered, thereby insuring that the automatic labeling machine does not exhaust the supply of labels or require the speed of labeling to be reduced.  
         [0043]    Splice Sequence  
         [0044]    Referring to FIGS. 1 ,2 &amp;  8 , the splice station is shown in the auto splice ready position with the lower splice plate in the lower, splice ready position.  
         [0045]    Referring to FIGS. 3 &amp; 9 the splice station is shown in the auto splice-cut position; shown with the moveable blade of the cutter assembly in the cut position.  
         [0046]    Referring to FIGS. 4, 5 &amp;  10 , the splice station is shown in the auto splice-splice position; shown with the lower splice plate in the upper splice position.  
         [0047]    Operation of the Splice Sequence Commences as Follows:  
         [0048]    (1) Rubber coated cutter back plate  68  will swing up trapping the running web  16  against the upper splice plate  70  with label division  21  in registration with cutter slot  5  provided in said upper splice plate  70  oriented in orthogonal relationship with said running web  16 . The cutter assembly  93  comprising cutter  90  mounted on said cutter slot  5 , in communication with cutter actuator  95 .  
         [0049]    (2) Cutter  90  is actuated by cutter actuator  95 , to extend along cutter slot  5  severing the running web  16  at the division  21  between labels situated above cutter slot  5 .  
         [0050]    (3) Cutter  90  retracts and the cutter back plate  68  swings back to the “home” position at the same time running web  16  is kept tight to the bottom of upper splice plate  70  by fan  72  to keep said trailing end  43  of running web  16  in registration directly above reference line mark  38  on lower splice  74   
         [0051]    (4) Lower splice plate  14 , with the prepared splice  12  shown in FIGS. 9 &amp; 10 sequentially indexes up responsive to splice cylinder  15  against running web  16  held tight to the bottom of upper splice plate  70  by fan  72  located in fan housing  86  such that said trailing end  43  of running web  16  is kept in registration directly above lower splice  74  held on lower splice plate  14 ; compressing the two webs  16  &amp;  20  together with terminal division  21  of web  16  superimposed over initial division  21  of standby web  19  for splicing as is shown in FIG. 10  
         [0052]    (5) The lower splice plate  14  retracts, and the web control is shifted and returned to the photocell  42  on the loose loop box  46 .  
         [0053]    An operator then turns the turret  26  so the running roll  17  is on top, and a new roll  19  is placed on the bottom position. The next splice is manually prepared and placed on the lower splice plate  14  where it will be held with the on board vacuum pump  59 . At this point the door  64  should be closed to turn on the air supplied by on board vacuum pump  59  and the reset button  34  on the top must be pushed to arm the start cell  36   
         [0054]    Registration for Error Free Labels  
         [0055]    In the preferred embodiment splice preparation insures that each “good” splice includes the following steps;  
         [0056]    a) registration of the lower splice plate with the cutter slot of the cutter assembly by locating a splice reference line on the top of the lower splice plate coplanar with the plane of travel of the cutting blade;  
         [0057]    b) registration of the lead end of the standby web with the splice reference line on the holding surface of the lower splice plate  
         [0058]    c) putting the divisions between labels on the trailing end portion of the running web in registration with the plane of travel of the cutting blade;  
         [0059]    d) holding the trailing end portion of the running web against the holding surface of the upper splice plate by air suction of on vacuum pump to insure that registration is maintained during splicing  
         [0060]    e) there being an overlap of standby web and running web produced in the splicing procedure for added strength.  
         [0061]    Method of Operation of Controls  
         [0062]    Referring to FIG. 11, setup and operation of the automatic label splicer  10  is as follows;  
         [0063]    Controls: The OFF|ON switch is on the side of the control box, along with the speed control knob and the shift register counter. On the top is a large yellow reset button  34 . A toggle switch to turn on or off the on board vacuum pump  59 , and dual toggle switches to over speed the drive motor, and activate the splice operation.  
         [0064]    1. OFF|ON switch—self-explanatory. (a red lamp indicates power is on)  
         [0065]    2. Speed Control—should be set to keep the web loop nearly full all the time, but not so fast as to keep the motor turning on and off constantly. The photo eye in the loop box actually turns the motor on or off as needed to keep the loop “Full”.  
         [0066]    3. Shift Register Thumb Wheels and Splice Switches—these set the stop point for the splice to happen “In Register”. The one time set up (per label length) can be done as follows: Remove or open door  64 . Next load the web of labels  20  into the pull nip  62 , being sure to thread the web through the slot scanner  32 . Run the thumb roll to 0050, and momentarily move the toggle switch to “splice”. The motor will go into creep speed, and the slot scanner will look for the division between labels. When the division is seen, the motor advances the number of steps on the shift counter then stops. (At this point lower splice plate would advance up if the air were on.)  
         [0067]    4. The proper setting for the shift register is when the label stops with the label division centered on the cutter slot. To make the stop position change, you add counts to advance further before stopping or reduce counts to retard. Each time you change the shift register count, you must push the yellow reset button  34 , and then repeat step 3 above to check the new stopping position. Repeat steps 3 &amp; 4 until the proper stopping position is achieved.  
         [0068]    The final switch is for the on board vacuum pump  59 . This needs to be switched on when the splice is placed on the lower splice plate  14 . The vacuum on vacuum pad  57  will hold the prepared splice in place until the lower splice plate  14  comes up to complete a splice.  
         [0069]    The present invention typically is employed to handle pressure sensitive labels, but can also accommodate continuous label webs as well as continuous unprinted webs. Accordingly, for the purposes of this invention, the term web is any of but not limited to the following:  
         [0070]    In the preferred embodiment labels shown in FIGS.  6 A-D, labels, according to the present invention, are pressure sensitive labels comprising individual labels on a continuous carrier made of but not limited to paper or plastic film. Registration according to the present invention is accomplished by detecting the division between the labels or accomplished by detecting the divisions between the labels or any other means of monitoring a register position of the web.  
         [0071]    In an alternate embodiment labels according to the present invention comprise a continuous label web. The web is not precut prior to loading in the label applicator, rather they are typically cut to length in a downstream labeling machine just prior to application to a selected container. In this embodiment, registration according to the present invention may be accomplished by detecting registration marks printed on the web, or alternatively looking at a particular graphic feature in the printed graphics on the web. Depending on the features of the label, other items can be selected for detection for registration purposes. The web/labels/materials may or may not be pressure sensitive material, for example labels used on some soda bottles, mouth wash, cans, etc.  
         [0072]    In yet a further embodiment, labels according to of the present invention, comprise a continuous unprinted web. This web of its nature lacks marks to be detected for registration, hence registration is not required. Since the splice according to the present invention starts as soon as the end of the web is detected, the splice time is greatly reduced.