Patent ID: 8151850

Claim:
A label application device configured to apply a label supplied from a label supplying unit, the label application device comprising: a label holding unit configured to attract and hold the label supplied from the label supplying unit; and a folding and applying unit configured to fold and protrude a portion of the label held by the label holding unit from the back side of the label towards the front surface side in a mountain-shape so as to form a folded portion having a first side face and a second side face with an apex portion as a border therebetween, the label including a first outer end portion separated from the first side face by a first bent portion and a second outer end portion separated from the second side face by a second bent portion; the folding and applying unit configured to apply to an article each outer end portion of the label; wherein the label holding unit comprises a divided body comprising a pair of members, the divided body configured to attract and hold the label; and the folding and applying unit comprising: a folding unit, wherein the members of the pair of members are positioned and configured to approach each other and to separate from each other so as to fold the folded portion of the label by pressing the label so as to form the folded portion; and a movement control unit positioned and configured to control the approach and separation of the pair of members of the folding unit, wherein the movement control unit is configured to control the folding and applying unit to define positions of the pair of members with respect to each other, including a folded portion forming position where the members are at a position separated by a predetermined interval from each other so as to form a space between the first side face and the second side face of the label, and the label application device is configured to apply the label to the article when the folding and applying unit is in the folded portion forming position, wherein the movement control unit is configured and positioned to define additional positions of the members of the divided body with respect to each other, the positions including a joining position where the members abut each other so as to hold the label when the label is supplied from the label supplying unit, and a separation position where the members are separated from each other enabling folding of the label before the members are moved to the folded portion forming position where the members approach each other from the separation position for forming the folded portion; further comprising a position detection sensor configured to detect a position of the label when the pair of members reach the folded portion forming position based on sensing a position of the folded portion of the label, wherein the movement control unit is configured to stop air supply to the label based on the detecting by the position detection sensor.