This invention relates to application of labels from a supply of labels which are defined in sheet material and in which adjacent labels are joined together by a line of weakening to form a continuous label supply. The label sheet material is provided with a layer of adhesive which contacts with a backing layer to form the label supply. The leading label is provided with a leading edge portion detached from the backing layer from application at an application point to an article and the article and label feed movement are controlled such that the remainder of the label can be detached from the backing layer, and the line of weakening broken effectively and accurately and without the need for the sheet material of the label supply and/or backing layer to have a thickness to provide the level of rigidity or stiffness of the material which is conventionally required, thereby reducing material usage and wastage.

A vacuum drum for a labelling unit of a labelling machine has the segments arranged next to each other to collectively form a circumferential surface of the vacuum drum. A typical segment has vacuum-holders that holds ends of the label. The holders are offset along the drum's circumferential surface. The segment also has a carrier plate and a label arc between the first and second vacuum holders. The first vacuum-holder comprises a first housing and the second vacuum holder comprises a second housing. At least one of the carrier plate, the housings, and the label arc is formed by additive manufacturing.

A vacuum drum for a labelling unit of a labelling machine has the segments arranged next to each other to collectively form a circumferential surface of the vacuum drum. A typical segment has vacuum-holders that holds ends of the label. The holders are offset along the drum's circumferential surface. The segment also has a carrier plate and a label arc between the first and second vacuum holders. The first vacuum-holder comprises a first housing and the second vacuum holder comprises a second housing. At least one of the carrier plate, the housings, and the label arc is formed by additive manufacturing.

A device for removing labels from a label applicator in a produce labeling system is provided. The device includes a label pickup roller positioned in the downstream path of the label applicator. A spindle is positioned on the machine such that the label pickup roller can be positioned as described. When a label attempted to be applied to produce from the label applicator does not get applied for any reason, the pickup roller removes this unapplied label from the label applicator before the label applicator travels back to the label dispenser to receive another label for the next labeling cycle.

This invention relates to application of labels from a supply of labels which are defined in sheet material and in which adjacent labels are joined together by a line of weakening to form a continuous label supply. The label sheet material is provided with a layer of adhesive which contacts with a backing layer to form the label supply. The leading label is provided with a leading edge portion detached from the backing layer from application at an application point to an article and the article and label feed movement are controlled such that the remainder of the label can be detached from the backing layer, and the line of weakening broken effectively and accurately and without the need for the sheet material of the label supply and/or backing layer to have a thickness to provide the level of rigidity or stiffness of the material which is conventionally required, thereby reducing material usage and wastage.

A label application system for applying labels to relatively short, round, straight-walled articles is constructed and designed so that labels to be applied to passing articles are delivered to the label application zone on a carrier web in a short feed orientation, with each label being oriented lengthwise across a width of the carrier web. At the time of labeling, the label is held stationary on a flat vacuum surface, and the label is applied by spinning the articles past the vacuum surface. As a result, the system is capable of labeling articles at processing speeds of at least 450 articles per minute or more.

A label application system for applying labels to relatively short, round, straight-walled articles is constructed and designed so that labels to be applied to passing articles are delivered to the label application zone on a carrier web in a short feed orientation, with each label being oriented lengthwise across a width of the carrier web. At the time of labeling, the label is held stationary on a flat vacuum surface, and the label is applied by spinning the articles past the vacuum surface. As a result, the system is capable of labeling articles at processing speeds of at least 450 articles per minute or more.

A label application system for applying labels to relatively short, round, straight-walled articles is constructed and designed so that labels to be applied to passing articles are delivered to the label application zone on a carrier web in a short feed orientation, with each label being oriented lengthwise across a width of the carrier web. At the time of labeling, the label is held stationary on a flat vacuum surface, and the label is applied by spinning the articles past the vacuum surface. As a result, the system is capable of labeling articles at processing speeds of at least 450 articles per minute or more.

The invention relates to a vacuum cylinder unit for transferring labels to containers in a vacuum-supported manner, and a labeling device equipped with said unit. The vacuum cylinder unit comprises a drive shaft and a vacuum cylinder which is coupled thereto in a centered and driving manner by means of a zero-point clamping system. Because the zero-point clamping system comprises a clamping pin which is integrated into the vacuum cylinder and a clamping chuck which is rigidly connected to the drive shaft for securing the clamping pin, the vacuum cylinder can be manually lifted off the drive shaft by a small vertical stroke and the majority of the weight of the zero-point clamping system can be moved into the region of the drive shaft. This also reduces the amount of equipment needed for the vacuum cylinder which is designed as a format-specific interchangeable part.

A machine for carrying out at least one operation onto a first article and a second article is disclosed. The machine comprises feeding means for advancing a succession of the first article and the second article along a path and with a first speed; a first operative group, which comprises a first tool configured for carrying out operation onto the first article and which can be operated with a second speed associated to the first speed; gap creating means selectively controllable to create a first gap, which is arranged inside succession and is bounded between the first article and the second article; and a second operative group, which comprises a second tool configured for carrying out operation onto the second article and which can be operated at the second speed.