Patent ID: 8783320

Claim:
A label applying apparatus, comprising: a label applicator comprising a displaceable piston defining an applicator surface configured to receive a label from a substantially continuous supply of labels, the piston, having the label on the applicator surface thereof, being displaceable in an application direction; and a receptacle defining an opening configured to receive at least one article defining a label application surface therethrough such that the at least one article extends from the opening, and comprising: an end wall configured to support the at least one article such that the label application surface thereof is substantially parallel with the end wall and the applicator surface of the displaceable piston, upon the displaceable piston extending in the application direction into the receptacle to apply the label to the label application surface; a bottom wall and at least one sidewall configured to cooperate to support the at least one article such that the label application surface is disposed at a selected position with respect to the applicator surface of the displaceable piston; and a pivotable cover member opposed to the bottom wall and configured to be pivotable toward and away from the end wall, the pivotable cover member having a distal end configured to engage the at least one article extending from the receptacle through the opening, so as to urge the at least one article against the end wall, when pivoted toward the end wall.