Patent ID: 8245752

Claim:
A vacuum drum assembly for applying labels to objects, comprising: a generally cylindrical drum body having an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface; a plurality of apertures in an outer circumferential surface of the vacuum drum assembly, said apertures defining locations on said outer circumferential surface for supporting labels thereon; a plurality of passages in said drum body, between said inner peripheral surface and said outer peripheral surface, at fixed circumferential locations thereon, said passages adapted to communicate with a vacuum source; each said aperture in fluid communication with one of said passages such that vacuum pressure may be developed at said apertures through said respective passages; the vacuum drum assembly being adjustable to vary at least one of an axial configuration or a circumferential configuration of said plurality of apertures in fluid communication with the vacuum source, such that the vacuum drum assembly is adapted to support differently sized labels on said outer circumferential surface; and at least one first ring received over said outer peripheral surface of said drum body and defining at least a portion of said outer circumferential surface of the vacuum drum assembly; wherein said plurality of passages in said drum body comprises a plurality of first passages; and wherein said plurality of apertures comprises a plurality of first apertures in said first ring, each said first aperture communicating with one of said first passages; said first ring being rotatable around said outer peripheral surface of said drum body while said first apertures are in communication with said first passages to thereby adjust the circumferential locations of said first apertures relative to said drum body.