Abstract:
A label application apparatus comprising a main housing and a printer and an applicator mounted to the main housing for applying a label to an object. A supply reel is rotatably mounted to the main housing and has a continuous web of label material thereon. A feed mechanism is also provided for feeding the continuous web of label material from the supply reel to the printer and applicator. A cutting mechanism is associated with the applicator to cut labels from the continuous web of label material between the printer and the applicator whereby the applicator then places the severed label onto the object.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This invention claims priority of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/043,295, filed Apr. 11, 1997. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a label printing and label cutting apparatus, and, particularly, to such an apparatus having an applicator for applying a printed and cut label to an object. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In labeling objects such as packages, envelopes and the like, an apparatus is typically provided with a supply roll of label material on a continuous backing web or the like. Alternatively, the label material can be “linerless”, i.e., without backing material. Typically, the label material on the backing is advanced from the supply reel past a printer which can provide desired indicia, such as text and graphics, onto the label, in addition to any indicia already pre-printed onto the label. The backing material is then advanced over a label separator roller or “peeler” bar onto a take-up reel while the label material, separated from the backing material, is advanced to a cutter and label applicator. By means of the cutter, the printed portion is cut from the continuous web of label material and is transferred to an object, such as package or envelope or the like, by the applicator. 
     The label cutter can comprise a lower fixed cutting blade and an upper guillotine-type blade which is mounted for oscillating movement with respect to the fixed cutting blade. Examples of prior art cutters of this type are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,853 and commonly-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/717,497, filed Sep. 20, 1996 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,804,023. 
     In order to ensure that the label affixes to the object onto which it is applied, an adhesive is often applied to a rear side of the label and allowed to set after the label is applied to the object. For convenience, the adhesive is often applied to the continuous label material prior to severing a discrete label portion from the continuous web. These types of guillotine-type cutting mechanisms often accumulate the adhesive on the cutting edges or blades as the label portion is severed from the continuous web. As the adhesives accumulate and set on the knife edges of the upper and lower blades, the movable blade can shift laterally with respect to the fixed blade causing labels to be improperly cut. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a label application apparatus comprising a main housing, a printer mounted to the housing, an applicator mounted to the main housing adjacent to the printer for applying a label to an object, a supply reel rotatably mounted to the main housing and having a continuous web of label material thereon, a feed mechanism for feeding the continuous web of label material from the supply reel to the printer and applicator, and a cutting mechanism associated with the applicator to cut labels from the continuous web of label material between the printer and the applicator. 
     In one embodiment, the applicator is mounted to the main housing on hinges for movement between a first position aligned with the printer and a second position pivoted away from the first position for servicing and a fastener for selectively retaining the applicator in the first position. 
     In another embodiment, the printer is pivotally mounted to the housing for movement between a first position aligned with the applicator and a second position pivoted away from the first position for servicing, and a fastener for selectively retaining the printer in the first position. 
     In an additional embodiment, the applicator comprises an applicator housing and an applicator head, and the cutting mechanism comprises a first blade mounted to the applicator head for movement with the applicator head between a retracted and a cutting position and for relative movement between a cutting position and an extended position, the cutting position being intermediate the retracted and extended positions. 
     In a further embodiment, the printer comprises a printer bracket, a first arm pivotally mounted to the printer bracket and supporting a print head which is in registry with the label bracket, and a first spring biasing the first arm toward a roller mounted to the main housing. 
     A second blade can be fixedly mounted closely adjacent to the first blade and at least one spring can be mounted to the first blade and to one of the applicator and the main housing for biasing the first blade toward the second blade. The first blade is preferably slidably mounted to the applicator head for movement between the first and second positions. The at least one spring can further bias the first blade toward the cutting position. A stop can preferably be located between the first blade and the applicator head to limit the movement of the first blade with respect to the applicator head at the second position. A second stop is preferably located between the first blade and one of the main housing and the applicator housing to limit the movement of the first blade with respect to the applicator head between movement of the applicator head between the cutting and extended positions. A take-up reel can be rotatably mounted to the housing for accumulation of at least a portion of the continuous web of label material and a drive roller can be provided for driving the at least a portion of the continuous web of label material toward the take-up reel. A second arm can be pivotally mounted to the printer bracket with an idler roller rotatably mounted to an outer end thereof wherein the idler roller is in register with the drive roller. A second spring can be mounted between the second arm and the printer bracket to bias the idler roller against the drive roller. 
     In another embodiment, an applicator support is provided on the main housing and is adapted to support the applicator, a main housing connector is provided on the applicator and is adapted to be received by the applicator support. Thus, the applicator support is selectively supported by the main housing connector and its movement is thereby restricted to a downwardly direction but not in another direction with respect to the main housing. The applicator is selectively removably mounted to the main housing for applying a label to an article when mounted to the main housing and is selectively removable from the main housing by moving the applicator in the other direction for replacement or servicing. 
     The applicator support and main housing connector preferably comprise quick-release hinges to pivotally mount the applicator to the main housing. The other direction can be upwardly with respect to the main housing. A fastener can be removably mounted between the applicator and the main housing for restricting pivotal movement of the applicator with respect to the main housing. 
     In yet another embodiment, the main housing or the printer has a socket and the other has a fastener wherein the fastener and socket are constructed to selectively mount the printer to the main housing. The mounting of the fastener within the socket can also pivotally mount the printer to the main housing. 
     In an additional embodiment, the printer can further comprise an adjustment plate movably mounted to a printer bracket and further mounting the printing head. At least one spring can bias the adjustment plate with respect to the printer bracket whereby the selective movement of the adjustment plate with respect to the printer bracket varies the force of the print head against the print roller. 
     The adjustment plate can have opposing lateral edges and the at least one spring can comprise a spring disposed between each lateral edge of the adjustment plate and the print head. The adjustment plate can also have at least one elongated slot and at least one fastener wherein the at least one fastener is selectively mounted to the printer bracket within the at least one elongated slot to selectively mount the adjustment plate at a particular longitudinal position with respect to the printer bracket. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a frontal view of label printer/applicator apparatus incorporating the principles of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the applicator mechanism along line  2 — 2  of FIG. 1 having an upper and a lower cutting knife thereon; 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the printer/applicator apparatus of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along line  5 — 5  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial top view of the print head of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the lower cutting knife depicted in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the upper cutting knife depicted in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 9 is a schematic elevational view of the applicator of FIG. 4 shown in a retracted position above an object to be labeled in phantom outline; 
     FIG. 10 is a schematic elevational view of the applicator of FIG. 4 shown in a cutting position whereby a discrete length of a continuous label material is severed from the remaining web; 
     FIG. 11 is a schematic elevational view of the applicator of FIG. 4 shown in an extended position whereby an upper knife is retained against stops on the applicator and an applicator head moves past the stops to apply a label to the object; 
     FIG. 12 is schematic elevational view of the applicator of FIG. 4 shown returned to a retracted position ready to receive a next discrete length of the continuous label material; and 
     FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective view of the applicator of FIG. 4 showing the removable mounting of the printer and the applicator to the main housing. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings and to FIGS. 1-4 in particular, a label printing and applying apparatus  100  is shown comprising a housing  101  which mounts a printing apparatus  105  and an applicator  110 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the housing  101  rotatably mounts a supply reel  114 . The supply reel  114  carries a wound length of a continuous web of label material  112  applied to a backing material  116 . An idler roller  115  can be provided laterally adjacent to the supply reel  114  and is used primarily for guiding a tensioned length of the continuous web of label material  112  and the backing material  116  toward the printer  105 . A first idler roller  118  is rotatably mounted to the housing  101  to further guide the continuous web of label material  112  toward the printer  105 . A primary drive roller  121  is rotatably mounted to the housing  101  and driven by a conventional stepper motor through an endless belt  125 . A secondary drive roller  122  is also rotatably mounted to the housing  101  and driven by the motor  120  also through the belt  125 . The secondary drive roller  122  is preferably mounted to the housing  101  by a mounting bracket  126  mounted to the housing  101  in a conventional fashion, such as by fasteners  124 . The gear ratio of the secondary drive roller  122  can be varied with respect to the primary drive roller  121  so that any slack in the backing material  116  between the primary and secondary drive rollers  121  and  122  is minimized. Of course, if a linerless label material  112  is employed, the secondary drive roller  122  is not necessary. 
     The primary drive roller  121  is located adjacent the applicator  110 . The primary drive roller  121  is located within a recess of a bracket  131  fastened to the housing  101  by fasteners  132 . The bracket  131  includes an upper surface which has a leading edge located adjacent an outer circumference of the primary drive roller  121  referred to as a “peeler tip”  139  for facilitating removal of the label material  112  from the backing material  116  if a backing material  116  is used. 
     The apparatus  100  operates generally by providing the supply reel  114  with a length of label material  112 . The label material  112  is fed over the idler roller  115  and the idler roller  118  and into the printer  105  where the label material  112  is printed with any desired text and graphics. After the label is printed, the label material  112  is fed to the applicator  110  where a discrete length of the label material  112  is severed from the continuous web and applied to an object. If a label material  112  having the backing material  116  is used, the remaining backing material  116  is fed between the secondary drive roller  122  and idler roller  123 , and is accumulated on the take-up reel  125 . 
     The printer  105  is shown in FIG.  1  and in greater detail in FIGS. 3,  5 , and  6 . The printer  105  comprises a printer bracket  130  defined by a pair of depending walls  133  which have a laterally-extending upper plate  214  extending therebetween. The depending walls  133  and, in turn, the printer  105 , are pivotally mounted to a shaft  134  which extends from the housing  101 . The printer  105  is preferably pivotally movable about the shaft  134  between a first position shown in FIG. 1 and a second, disengaged position shown in FIG.  5 . The printer  105  is preferably retained in the first position shown in FIG. 1 by a releasable mechanism, such as a movable pin  127  which engages within an aperture  205  in the housing  101 . The pin  127  preferably has one end provided with a cross pin  128  which extends laterally from either side of the pin  127 . Further, the wall  133  adjacent the housing  101  is preferably provided with a sloped flange  129  which is engaged by the cross pin  128  as the pin  127  is urged within the aperture  205 . The abutment of the cross pin  128  of the pin  127  against the sloped flange  129  creates a cam and cam follower relationship which facilitates removal of the pin  127  from the aperture  205 . Thus, the printer  105  can be moved from the first position as shown in FIG. 1 by rotating the pin  127  and moving the cross pin  128  out of engagement with the sloped flange  129  of the aperture  205  and moving the printer  105  to the second position as shown in FIG.  5 . Preferably, a spring (not shown) biases the pin  127  into the aperture  205  and the sloped flange  129  allows the pin  127  to be removed against the bias of the spring by rotating the pin  127 . 
     An arcuate slot  216  is located in the depending wall  133  spaced from and preferably coaxial with, the shaft  134  extending through the walls  133 . A rearwardly-extending arm  210 , with an idler roller  123  rotatably mounted thereto, is pivotally mounted to the printer  105  around the shaft  134 . The arm  210  is provided with an inwardly-extending pin  215  which is adapted to travel within the arcuate slot  216  in the depending wall  133  of the printer  105 . A conventional arm spring  210  is mounted around the shaft  134  and has a pair of resilient arms  213  and  217  extending therefrom which abut an inner surface of the laterally-extending plate  214  and the pin  215  on the arm  210  located within the slot  216 , respectively. The spring  212  thereby provides a clockwise bias (in the orientation shown in the drawings) so that the idler roller  123  is biased against the secondary drive roller  122  when the printer  105  is located in the first position shown in FIG.  1 . The engagement of the idler roller  123  mounted to the printer  105  against the secondary drive roller  122  mounted to the housing  101  provides a positive traction for the backing material  116  following separation from the label material  112  and thereby positively drives the backing material  116  away from the printer  105  toward the take-up reel  125 . 
     Preferably, the shaft  134  comprises a threaded member, such as a conventional shoulder bolt, which threads into a socket (not shown) in the housing  101  so that the shaft  139  can be removed therefrom. This permits an operator, upon failure of any component of the printer  105  to remove the entire printer  105  by disengaging the pin  127  from aperture  205  and removing the shaft  134 . This reduces the “down time” for the apparatus  100  because a substitute printer  105  can be mounted in place of the failed printer  105  by this simple operation and the apparatus  100  can be restarted. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1,  5 , and  6 , a forward portion of each of the depending walls  133  of the printer  105  is provided with a laterally-extending shaft  200  therebetween which pivotally mounts a forwardly-extending plate  141 . A lower portion of the plate  141  is provided with a support plate  143  with a conventional print head  140  mounted thereto by a conventional fastener  144  which passes through a cut-away portion of the plate  141 . Elongated slots  146  allow for longitudinal positioning of the support plate  143  with respect to the plate  141  by movement of screws  142  within the elongated openings  146 , thus connecting support plate  143  to the plate  141 . A pair of laterally-spaced set screws  145  or the like mount within threaded openings in the plate  141  and engage against the support plate  143  to allow for angular adjustments about a longitudinal axis of the print head  140  with respect to the plate  141  for appropriate adjustment of the print head  140  to provide optimum printing results. A conventional data connection  161  between the print head  140  and a suitable data source (not shown) generates a signal corresponding to the indicia to be printed by the print head  140 . By removing the fastener  144  and data connection  161 , the print head  140  can be easily removed for servicing and replaced. 
     A pair of springs  201  are disposed around the shaft  200  at either lateral side of the plate  141  and are provided with oppositely-biased arms which contact the plate  141  and a pressure adjustment plate  220 , respectively, so that the plate  141  is biased clockwise with respect to the plate  220  in the orientation shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. The pressure adjustment plate  220  has a pair of longitudinal slots  222  which receive fasteners  224  to adjustably mount the plate  220  to the surface  214  of the bracket  130 . The longitudinal position of the pressure adjustment plate  220  can be varied with respect to the slots  222  so that different tensions in springs  210  can be obtained and, in turn, allowing an accurate adjustment of the pressure of the print head  140  against the primary drive roller  121 . Preferably, the cross-section of the pressure adjustment plate  220  is contoured to follow that of the surface  214  and associated wall  133  so that the pressure adjustment plate  220  is restricted to longitudinal motion with respect to the surface  214  to ensure a balance of the tension in the springs  201  and prevent misalignment of the print head  140 . When the bracket  130  is mounted in the first position shown in FIG. 1, the print head  140  abuts the primary drive roller  121  and is biased thereagainst by the springs  201  at a pressure defined by the position of the pressure adjustment plate  220  with respect to the surface  214 . The bias provided by the springs  201  provides for more reliable contact of the print head  140  against the primary drive roller  121  so that label material  112  passing therebetween is optimally printed by the print head  140 . 
     Thus, when the printer  105  is moved to the first position shown in FIG. 1 whereby the pin  127  is engaged within the aperture  205 , the idler roller  123  is biased against the secondary drive roller  122  by the spring  212  and the print head  140  is biased against the primary drive roller  121  by the springs  201 . 
     The applicator  110  comprises a pneumatic cylinder  150  mounted within a housing  152  supported between a pair of opposed mounting plates  153  and  154 . The applicator  110  is pivotally and releasably mounted to the housing  101  by a pair of vertically-spaced conventional quick-release hinges  111  so that the applicator is movable between a first operational position shown in FIG. 1 and a second service position as shown in the phantom outline of FIG. 3 whereby the entire applicator assembly  100  can be easily removed and replaced to prevent down time due to failure of the applicator  110 . The applicator  110  is preferably retained in the first operational position shown in FIG. 1 by a pin  108  which extends between the applicator  110  and the housing  101 . The pin  108  is preferably mounted to the housing  101  by a conventional manner, such as having a threaded end mounted within a tapped aperture (not shown) in the housing  101 . Alternatively, the pin  108  can have a spring-loaded quick-release mechanism similar to that provided on the pin  127  or a conventional spring-loaded ball pin as is well known in the art. The pivotal and releasable mounting of the applicator  110  to the housing  101  by the hinges  111  allows the applicator to be easily accessed and replaced for cleaning, servicing and the like when pivoted to the second position and/or removed. 
     The cylinder  150  of the applicator  110  has an axially-extendable piston  151  which is attached to an applicator head  155  by a conventional mounting flange  156 , such as the threaded nut shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. A pair of vertically-spaced guides  158  can be provided within the housing  152  in a spaced relationship so that the applicator head  155  is restricted to slidable vertical movement along the guides  158 . Actuation of the cylinder  150  moves the piston  151  with respect thereto and, in turn, moves the applicator head  155  with respect to the housing  152 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 2-4, the applicator head  155  generally comprises an upper plate  176 , mounted to the piston  151  through the mounting flange  156 , and a lower vacuum head  174  for movement between a retracted position shown in FIG. 4 to an extended position shown schematically in FIG.  9 . The vacuum head  174  includes a port  181  for interconnection with a conventional vacuum source (not shown) and an internal conduit  182  which extends toward a lower surface of the vacuum  174  where it is interconnected with a vacuum plate  179  having several apertures therein. Suction applied to the port  181  by the vacuum source travels through the internal conduit  182  and is applied through the apertures in the vacuum plate  179 . The vacuum head  174  and attachment plate  176  cooperate to define an indentation  178  in a lateral sidewall of the applicator head  155  which terminates in a lower laterally-extending flange  175 . 
     A knife assembly, shown integral with the applicator  110  in FIGS. 2-4 and in components in FIGS. 7 and 8, comprises a fixed lower knife  163  and a movable upper knife  167 . The lower knife  163  is shown in FIG.  7  and has an upper surface provided with a cutting edge  166  and opposing ends provided with vertically-extending guides  165  thereon. The lower knife  163  is mounted to the applicator  110  by conventional fasteners and is located upstream from the applicator head  155 . The movable upper knife  167  is shown in FIG.  8  and has a cutting edge  168  on a lower surface thereof. A flange  177  extends rearwardly adjacent an upper edge of the upper knife  167  and is adapted to be slidably mounted against the indentation  178  located on the applicator head  155 . 
     In assembly, the flange  177  on the upper knife  167  is placed within the indentation  178  on the applicator head  155  between the applicator head  155  and the guides  165 . A pair of springs  171  are mounted to rearwardly-extending flanges  160  on each of the plates  153  and  154  of the applicator  110  which extend toward and mount within apertures  170  on the movable upper knife  167 . Preferably, the springs are disposed at an angle with respect to the upper knife  167 , such as between 0 and 90 degrees and preferably about 30 to 45 degrees with respect to the plane of the blades  163  and  167 . The springs  171  bias the upper knife  167  against the lower knife  163  during the operation of the applicator  110  and specifically during the cutting of the label material  112  entering the applicator  110 . The springs  171  also bias the upper knife  167  downwardly with respect to the applicator head  155  so that the upper knife  167  is biased against either the extending flange  175  or against the stops  183  on the plates  153  and  154  during application of a length of the label material  112 . 
     In operation, a supply of label material  112  is advanced into the printer  105  over the rollers  115  and  118  and between the print head  140  and the primary drive roller  121  where the print head  140  is actuated through signals sent through the data connection  161  with a conventional printer driver to print indicia on the label material  112 . If the label  112  is provided with a backing material  116 , the backing material is passed around the peeler tip  139  of the bracket  131  and rearwardly between the idler roller  123  and the secondary drive roller  122  for accumulation on the take-up reel  125 . As described above, the spring  212  biases the arm  210  and the idler roller  123  against the drive roller  122  to provide positive traction for urging the backing material  116  toward the take-up reel  125 . 
     As shown in the drawings and schematically in FIG. 9, the printed label material  112 , with any backing material  116  removed, is advanced between the lower knife  163  and the upper knife  167  while the applicator head  155  is positioned in a raised, retracted position by the cylinder  150 . It will be understood that a conventional pneumatic source can be interconnected with the cylinder  150  for actuation thereof. 
     When a sufficient length of label material  112  is advanced beneath the applicator head  155 , the cylinder  150  is actuated to extend the piston  151  therefrom which lowers the applicator head  155  toward a cutting position with respect to the label material  112  located therebeneath. The bias of the springs  171  urge the upper knife  167  downwardly so that the flange  177  on the upper knife  167  abuts the shoulder  175  beneath the indentation  178  on the applicator head  155  as the piston  151  moves downwardly from the retracted position. The vacuum source is applied to the port  181  so that the vacuum applied to the port  181  retains the label material  112  on the vacuum plate  179  through the vacuum applied through the apertures therein. 
     As shown in the drawings and schematically in FIG. 10, the applicator head  155  is advanced downwardly by the cylinder and piston  150  and  151  so that the cutting edge  168  of the upper knife  167  passes directly adjacent to the cutting edge  166  of the lower knife  163 . A length  164  of the label material  112  is severed from the remaining web. 
     As shown schematically in FIG. 11, the discrete length  164  of label material  112  is carried downwardly by the applicator head  155  and retained thereto by the vacuum source supplied to the port  181  through the vacuum plate  179 . The applicator head  155  travels further toward an extended position. 
     The plates  153  and  154  have an inwardly-extending shoulder  183  located directly adjacent each lateral end of the upper knife  167 . The shoulders  183  located on each plate  153  and  154  provide a lower stop for vertical motion of the upper knife  167  during downward movement of the applicator head  155  between the retracted and extended positions. The upper knife  167  is thereby prevented from traveling further with the applicator head  155  after the cutting position so that the cut label  164  is stripped from the upper knife  167  after the cutting operation when the upper knife  167  reaches the shoulders  183 . 
     Thus, the applicator head  155  forcibly removes the cut label from the upper knife  167  when the applicator head  155  reaches the cutting position so that any adhesive buildup on the upper knife blade  167  does not affect the separation of the cut label  164  from the applicator head  155  or the upper knife blade  167 . As the applicator head  155  continues to move from the cutting position to the extended position shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, respectively, the upper knife  167  slides with respect to the applicator head  155  by the mounting of the flange  177  of the upper knife  167  within the indentation  178  defined within the applicator head  155 . Thus, the applicator head  155  is allowed to travel further downwardly while the upper knife  167  is stopped by the flanges  183 . 
     During the extension of the piston  151  and, in turn, the applicator head  155 , the springs  171  provide an angularly-directed force to the upper knife  167  so that the cutting edge  168  is urged toward the lower knife  163 . The angular urging of the upper knife  167  against the lower knife  163  holds the upper knife  167  in close contact with the lower knife  163 . 
     As the applicator head  155  reaches the extended position, it is urged downwardly and against an object  162 , shown in phantom outline in FIGS. 9-12, on which the label material  112  is to be applied. The vacuum to the vacuum plate  179  is deactivated so that the label remains on the object. As shown in FIG. 12, the object  162  can be moved from beneath the applicator  110  and the piston  151  is retracted within the cylinder  150  so that the applicator head  155  is returned to a raised position to await cutting and applying a next length of label material  112  to the next object to be labeled. 
     As the applicator head  155  is returned to the retracted position as shown in FIG. 12, the shoulder  175  returns to engagement with the flange  177  on the upper knife  167  and raises the upper knife  167  to the retraced position against the bias of the springs  171  to the position illustrated in FIGS. 2,  4 ,  9  and  12 . 
     The springs  171  urge the cutting edge  168  of the upper knife  167  against the lower knife  163  so that any misalignment of the upper knife  167  with respect to the lower knife  163  does not cause an undesirable cutting operation to be performed. Rather, the angular bias of the springs  171  with respect to the upper knife  167  causes the cutting edge  168  of the upper knife  167  to bear against the lower knife  163  so that the cutting edges  166  and  168  of the upper and lower knives  163  and  167  consistently pass directly adjacent one another. 
     The invention solves a problem of undesirable retention of a cut label on the upper knife  167  when the vacuum pressure to the applicator head is released. Although adhesive may continue to build up on the upper knife  167 , it does not affect the labeling operation. Thus, the applicator  110  of the present invention provides longer operational times and reduces cost associated with labeling objects and servicing the apparatus  100 . 
     The pivotal mounting of the printer  105  and applicator  110  enables an operator to easily access the print head  140  and knives  163  and  167  for servicing and cleaning. Further, as shown schematically in FIG. 13, each of the printer  105  and applicator  110  can be independently removed to prevent the deactivation of the apparatus  100  and its associated printing line for an extended period of time. It will be understood that the printer  105  can pivot beyond a small acute angle to a servicing position. Further, the printer  105  is able to pivot up to and beyond  90  degrees to allow easy access to its components. 
     In addition, the construction of the printer  105  and applicator  110  have been made with many fewer parts than in prior art label application machines. The printer  105  essentially comprises a printer bracket with a forward pivotal arm  141  which mounts the print head  140  and a rearward assembly which mounts an idler roller  123  thereon. Prior art label application machines typically required several threaded fasteners, welding operations, and many parts to form the printer  105  and applicator  110 . In the apparatus  100  of the present invention, the number of parts required to assemble the apparatus  100  has been substantially reduced. The reduction of parts also reduces the probability of failure of one or more of the components of the apparatus  100 . Thus, the apparatus  100  of the present invention offers substantial improvements in the effective operation time of the apparatus  100  as well as reduced time and cost associated with servicing the apparatus  100 . 
     While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto since modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope of the foregoing disclosure of the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention.