Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for applying tags with attached elastic anchor bands onto the tops of objects such as bottles in a high speed packaging application. The apparatus includes an infeed assembly for feeding a web, a conveyor assembly that receives a web and conveys it along a path in an upstream direction, a rotating selector wheel, a placement assembly, a pair of rotating jaw assemblies, a vacuum cup of the selector wheel, and stretched elastic bands over the tops of respective bottles being conveyed along a path below the placing assembly. The elastic bands then snap onto the tops of their respective bottles to secure the tags to the bottles.

Abstract: An automated placement of flat valves on a balloon strip. Included is a vacuum platen which receives the free end of a row of valve films. A cutting blade severs a single valve from the film, which is held in place by the vacuum platen. The vacuum platen is then moved through a series of motions for positioning above a heating element which is raised to bond the valve to the balloon strip.

Abstract: A process for producing pictorial labels representing content of a composition of food, the process including the following steps: obtaining nutritional data for a composition of food, the nutritional data representing a quantity of a nutrient in the composition; defining a pictorial image representing a standard for daily human consumption of the nutrient; defining an area representing the quantity; and printing a label having the pictorial image and the respective area, to form a pictorial comparison of the quantity of the nutrient in the composition with the standard.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying labels to containers including a label application station having a label dispensing magazine for holding a stack of labels and releasing the end label of the stack through an opening formed in the magazine to a container. Means are provided for rolling containers past the magazine so that when a leading edge of an end label on a stack is adhered to a side of a container the label is rolled onto the container and withdrawn from the magazine. A plurality of retaining fingers extend in front of the magazine opening to retain the stack of labels in the magazine. Control arms associated with the retaining fingers are adapted to retract the retaining fingers out of label retaining position in response to contact with a container rolling past the magazine.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying labels to cans of a straight or substantially frustoconical design is disclosed. The apparatus uses an elongated track for supporting one edge of the can and a single belt extending longitudinally above the track and adapted to selectively engage an edge of the can to rotate and advance the can along the track. Movement of the can transverse relative to the track is restrained by retaining the can against a pair of spaced, longitudinally extending nonmagnetic guide surfaces. The can is retained against the guide surfaces through magnetic attraction of the can by a series of magnets positioned intermediate of but offset from the guide surfaces. As the can moves along the track, a suitable label is affixed to the surface of the can.

Abstract: Upwardly conically tapered containers having glue on their peripheries are conveyed horizontally in succession through a labeling station while being rotated on their vertical axes. A stack of curved labels having their longer edges arranged lowermost at the labeling station receive constant forward pressure applied to the rear of the stack while the forward end of the stack is being engaged and held by a system of top and bottom adjustable knives which establish a twisted configuration to the labels in the stack. The arrangement allows each leading label in the stack to be taken therefrom by a rotating tapered container and to be applied to the tapered periphery of the container with the leading and trailing ends of the label substantially perfectly aligned and registered. A range of container sizes having varying degrees of taper can be accommodated by the labeling apparatus.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the covering of playing balls, in particular tennis balls, utilize two essentially dumbbell-shaped cover parts and apply the parts interlockingly at an angle of 90.degree., successively to the adhesive coated ball core by rolling over the laid out, dumbbell-shaped cover parts. The cover parts are stacked to form a magazine and are provided with a layer of an adhesive so that only their peripheral surfaces are coated. The adhesive coated ball cores are rolled successively, initially by means of a contact pressure device in the longitudinal direction over a first cover part magazine and subsequently by means of a second contact pressure device and second cover part magazine extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the first cover part magazine. The edge of the second cover part engages the bight of the cover part already in position at a decorative seam gap.

Abstract: A modification assembly to be supplied either as original equipment or as a replacement improvement to a tapered article labelling machine wherein there is provided the combined and cooperative improved mechanical retention and conveyable guidance of a succession of tapered articles through the labelling machine, and in addition an improved tapered article adhesive applicator assembly and adhesive application method whereby successive individual tapered article lateral wrap alignment of each label respectively thereupon of the tapered article succession is greatly improved in addition to being able to more closely conform the label to a tapered article from the point of label application contact thereto through completion of wrap with a corresponding elimination of label bulge and after-application label popping problems.

Abstract: A tapered article labelling machine and method providing the capability for automated high-speed accurate register continuous application of generally crescent shaped labels to curved and tapered articles, including auxiliary sub-assembly machine stations for accomplishing continuous tapered article infeed, adhesive application and label feed and application respectively to the sidewall surface thereof, label compression after adhesive application to accomplish label conformation to the tapered article exterior sidewall supporting surface during adhesive set, and thereafter automatic delivery of labeled articles from the machine to inspection and cartoning stations or the like.

Abstract: In a labeling machine for cylindrical objects such as cans, having conventional means to apply glue to such object in a line parallel to the axis thereof, and having means for causing the object to roll over a stack of labels such that one end of the uppermost label in the stack is picked up by adhering to said line of glue, and is rolled around the object as it progresses in its rolling path; means are disclosed to apply a line of glue under pressure to the uppermost label in the stack at its trailing end in timed relation to the movement of the object in its path so that the trailing edge of the label adheres to the object as it continues its rolling path. Means are provided to adjust for objects of varying length and diameter, and for labels of different lengths.

Abstract: Disclosed are a labelling machine and method, a label for use therein, a container having the label secured thereto, and an adhesive applicator head especially adapted for use in the machine and the method. Adhesive is applied to the container in a pattern corresponding to a line of holes adjacent the leading edge of the label with a portion of the adhesive contacting the label adjacent the leading edge and a portion exposed through said holes to contact the portion of the label adjacent the trailing edge which is overlapped over said leading edge and said holes.

Abstract: A magazine-type label feed mechanism for a two-table labeling machine is disclosed. Labels to be affixed to containers are loaded on and fed by primary and secondary feed mechanisms in such a manner that an operator can continuously replenish the supply of labels while the labeling machine is operating. Fluid drive means control the position of the label-feed tables and provide a relatively-constant feed pressure.