| 摘要 |
An apparatus is provided for applying adhesive labels, that are initially coupled together end-to-end in a label strip that has a non-adhesive backing material, onto a product. The apparatus has a frame with a supply container mounted thereto for containing a supply of the labels. A plurality of guide rollers is provided for guiding the strip of labels through the apparatus. A label sensor is mounted to the frame for detecting when an individual label has been moved past the label sensor. The frame further has mounted thereto an applicator head equipped with a stripper plate for removing the backing material from the label strip, which is thereafter wound onto a take-up container. The label strip and the removed backing material are moved with a supply motor that is mounted to the frame. The applicator head further has an applicator motor for rotating a break-away roller. Mounted directly beneath the break-away roller is an idler roller that cooperates with the break-away roller to hold a separated label in position. A product sensor is provided to detect a product needing to be labeled by the applicator head. Further a process is provided for separating an individual label from a series of labels and for applying the label to a product. The first step of the process involves detecting the presence of a product needing a label. Next, a first motor on the apparatus is activated to feed a label, held between a break-away roller and an idler roller, onto the product. A second motor is activated simultaneously with the first motor to feed a forward-most label from a strip of labels into the area vacated by the previous label. A backing strip is then peeled from the strip of labels as the forward-most label is fed forwardly by the second motor, thus exposing an adhesive material on the back of the strip of labels. The process further involves monitoring the label strip being advanced and determining when one complete label has been advanced. Next, when one complete label has been advanced, the first and second motors are deactivated, and a brake is applied to the label which immediately precedes the forward-most label, and the first motor is reactivated to separate the forward-most label from the remaining strip of labels.
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