Labeling machine

Claim 1

IN APPARATUS FOR APPLYING LABELS FROM A SUPPLY IN THE FORM OF A CARRIER STRIP WITH LABELS SPACED THEREALONG AND ATTACHED THERETO, THE COMBINATION OF, LABEL-REMOVING MEANS, FEED MEANS FOR PASSING THE STRIP IN LABEL-REMOVING RELATIONSHIP WITH RESPECT TO SAID LABEL-REMOVING MEANS WHEREBY SAID LABELS ARE REMOVED SERIALLY, LABEL-APPLYING MEANS POSITIONED TO RECEIVE EACH OF SAID LABELS AFTER IT IS REMOVED AND OPERATIVE TO APPLY IT TO A SURFACE, SAID LABELAPPLYING MEANS COMPRISING A PLUNGER HAVING A PLUNGER HEAD WHICH IS ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A LABEL AND TO MOVE TOWARD THE SURFACE OF AN ARTICLE OR THE LIKE THEREBY TO APPLY THE LABEL AND DRIVE MEANS FOR SAID PLUNGER INCLUDING MEANS WHICH AUTOMATICALLY DISCONTINUES THE DRIVING MOVEMENT WHEN THE PLUNGER ENCOUNTERS RESISTANCE OF A PREDETERMINED MAGNITUDE, AND CYCLIC CONTROL MEANS WHICH INCLUDES MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE COMPLETION OF EACH LABEL-APPLYING OPERATION OF SAID LABEL-APPLYING MEANS THEREAFTER TO OPERATE SAID FEED MEANS TO FEED THE CARRIER STRIP AND TO REMOVE ANOTHER LABEL THEREFROM, SAID CONTROL MEANS ALSO INCLUDING MEANS TO DETECT THE ARRIVAL OF THE NEXT LABEL TO BE REMOVED AT SAID LABEL-REMOVING MEANS AND TO STOP THE FEEDING OF THE CARRIER STRIP IN RESPONSE THERETO.