Abstract: An article feeding device is disclosed which comprises a straight scroll for feeding articles held between the scroll flights one by one along a straight path. A star wheel having peripheral pockets is arranged so that the wheel lies approximately tangentially to the scroll and rotates as the scroll turns. By this means, the articles are engaged in the star wheel pockets and are moved slightly away from the scroll at which point labels are applied thereto, and then the articles are returned to the scroll and released from the star wheel for continued feeding by the scroll.

Abstract: The invention provides that labels are applied to containers. The labels have a pressure sensitive side and they are applied by a machine so as to lie tangentially to the bottle necks. The bottles then move through the machine and as they so move, a camming means which moves with the bottle engages the label and wraps it round the bottle neck. The camming means comprises a pair of arms which operate scissor like but in sequence as the bottles move through the machine.

Abstract: The invention provides that a vacuum drum with rows of vacuum ports over its surface is used to transport self adhesive labels from a first location at which the labels are applied (adhesive surface outwards) to the drum to a second location at which the labels are detached from the drum. The labels are held to the drum during the transport by applying vacuum to the ports until the label reaches the second location, when the first and second rows of ports at the leading edge of the label are applied with air under pressure, the pressure of the air supplied to the second row of ports being less than that supplied to the first row and slightly in advance in the time sequence, so that the edge of the label is slightly inwardly of the adjacent label extremity, initially lifted from the drum and then the extremity is blown sharply away from the drum providing effective, positive and reliable detachment of the labels from the drum.

Abstract: A multichannel interactive telephone answering apparatus (300) adapted for use with a captured telephone line (26) is responsive to the detection (318, 324, 326, 310, 328, 330) of designated arming signals transmitted by the calling party, such as from the keypad of a Touch-Tone phone, for enabling multiple and/or restricted messages to be provided and/or recorded and/or user and caller selectable screening and/or directing of calls. This can be used to direct or screen calls to a particular telephone extension in the home or to record and/or playback private messages.

Abstract: An interactive telephone answering system (20) connectable to a captured telephone line (26) is responsive to the detection (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42) of tones transmitted by the calling party from the keypad of a Touch-Tone phone for enabling caller selectable routing of an incoming call to a desired receiving phone (110) in accordance with a verbally interactive prerecorded decision tree format. The various selectable decision trees are prerecorded on a multitrack endless loop tape for playback (60, 62) of the channels selected (52, 54, 56, 58) by the calling party with the ultimate branches thereof each having a prerecorded arming signal which, when detected, activates the appropriate relay (50) to connect the caller to the desired telephone extension. The receiving party may also screen calls or have calls forwarded to another number by use of prerecorded codes on the tape.