Patent ID: 7343953

Claim:
An apparatus for transferring labels or other items to an outer surface of parcels being conveyed along a conveying path, said path having a width and defined by a conveying surface having a portion lying in a conveying plane, said parcels having horizontal and vertical surfaces, said apparatus comprising: a relatively stationary frame; a first turntable assembly, said first turntable assembly itself comprising: a first stationary turntable portion attached relative to said stationary frame; and a first rotating turntable portion rotatably attached relative to said first stationary turntable portion such that said first rotating turntable portion can rotate about a first turntable axis relative to said first stationary turntable portion and said frame; a second turntable assembly, said second turntable assembly itself comprising: a second stationary turntable portion attached relative to said stationary frame; and a second rotating turntable portion rotatably attached relative to said second stationary turntable portion such that said second rotating turntable portion can rotate about a second turntable axis relative to said second stationary turntable portion and said frame; a first elongate arm mounted relative to said first rotating turntable portion so as to allow for linear movement of said first elongate arm relative to said first rotating turntable portion along a first linear path substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said first elongate arm, yet said first elongate arm is also allowed to rotate about said first turntable axis along with said first rotating turntable portion; a second elongate arm mounted relative to said second rotating turntable portion so as to allow for linear movement of said second elongate arm relative to said second rotating turntable portion along a second linear path substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said second elongate arm, yet said second elongate arm is also allowed to rotate about said second turntable axis along with said second rotating turntable portion; a pivoting connection intermediate and connecting said first and second elongate arms; a first arm drive means to provide a force sufficient to cause said first elongate arm to move along said first linear path relative to said first rotating turntable portion; a second arm drive means to provide a force sufficient to cause said second elongate arm to move along said second linear path relative to said second rotating turntable portion; and a label application head attached relative to one of said first and second elongate arms, such that said label application head may be moved to various locations across the width of said conveyor path and at different heights relative to said conveyor surface, and said label application head may be manipulated to dispense labels or other items upon surfaces of parcels being conveyed along said conveying surface.