Abstract: An apparatus for applying labels from a label web to moving articles such as a form web includes a moving belt, through which is applied a vacuum force, which successively receives a non-adhesive side of each label as they are removed from the backing web. A control system accelerates the belt in order to place the label onto a moving article located beneath the belt. The control system the decelerates the belt in order to receive another label and repeat the process of applying the label.

Abstract: A vacuum apparatus and method are provided for controlling operation of a vacuum force to be applied through a vacuum cup for use in lifting objects such as cardboard boxes, so as to unload a pallet holding one or more of the boxes. The apparatus includes a valve body defining an inner chamber, a lift vacuum passage extending through the valve body to the chamber, a pilot vacuum passage extending through the valve body to the chamber, and a vacuum cup passage extending through the valve body to the chamber. A vacuum cup is connected to the valve body in airflow communication with the vacuum cup passage. A piston is disposed in the chamber and positioned for reciprocal movement between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the piston provides an airflow passageway between the pilot vacuum passage and the vacuum cup passage such that, if the vacuum cup is obstructed, the piston is pulled down by the pilot vacuum force to a second position.

Abstract: A furniture cover including a sheet of material having a top side and a bottom side and being sized to cover a piece of furniture. The sheet includes a plurality of hole pairs with each hole pair including a first hole spaced from a corresponding second hole. A plurality of ties are looped through the hole pairs. Each of the ties passes through one of the first holes, extends across the bottom side of the sheet between the first hole and the corresponding second hole, and passes through the second hole. When the furniture cover is placed over a piece of furniture, the hole pairs are located at selected positions along the front and back of the piece of furniture such that when the ties are tied, the sheet is cinched into a bunched configuration. In the bunched configuration, the sheet conforms to the shape of the piece of furniture and has a fitted appearance.