Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention processes roll fed labels for application to articles to be labelled. Adhesive is applied to or activated on the leading edge of the first to be applied label and the label is subsequently cut from the label supply and advanced by a conveyor in timed synchronization with an article to be labelled. Preferably, adhesive is applied to or activated on the leading edge of such first label as it is held essentially stationary on a vacuum bed in slipping engagement with continuously driven belts.

Abstract: A label magazine for supplying labels to a labeller has a label stack tray, a label picker for withdrawing individual labels from the stack and a device for advancing the stack of labels towards the label picker. The device for advancing the labels exerts a repetitive varying pressure on the label stack to advance it by alternately increasing pressure on the stack of labels for compressing same and subsequently reducing the pressure on the stack of labels.

Abstract: A speed control system for a container processing line is disclosed. The container processing line has a container capper and a labeller for applying labels to capped containers, the speed control system providing improved line performance, smooth bottle handling and continuity in operation of the units. The speed control system synchronizes the labeller speed with the capper speed when a predetermined backlog of containers has accumulated upstream of the labeller.

Abstract: Disclosed is an impulse drive device that includes at least one stator having magnetic means to define an array of parallel spaced apart regions of magnetic field with a major component perpendicular to the plane of the stator; a slidor incorporating series-connected conductive strips in an array of similar spacing and orientation to the array of magnetic regions on the stator; and means for generating sequences of current pulses and for delivering those pulses to the conductive strips on the slidor. With appropriate timing and polarity, current pulses in the conductive strips on the slidor can be employed to both accelerate and decelerate the slidor with respect to the stator, thereby permitting rapid controlled movement of the slidor between predetermined positions in its plane.