Labeling apparatus for multisheet labels

Claim 2

The apparatus according to claim 2 in which said label sheet-preventing means includes vacuum means on said transfer member adapted to hold at least one of said label sheets tightly against said transfer member undercut portion and out of contact with said adhesive-applying means.

Claim 3

In an apparatus for transferring labels of the type having one or more information-bearing sheets projecting loosely from a common stem onto articles, the combination of: means for feeding articles to be labeled forward; label transfer means including a label carrier adapted to bring said labels into contact with said articles; means for applying adhesive to the stems of said labels on the carrier before the labels are brought into contact with said articles; means operable to prevent said label sheets from contacting said adhesive-applying means to avoid the application of adhesive to said label sheets and possible undesired adhering of said label sheets to said articles, said label carrier comprising a rotatable wheellike transfer member operatively disposed adjacent said article-feeding means, said transfer member having at least one radially projecting peripheral surface portion adapted on rotation of said transfer member to carry labels past said adhesive-applying means for application of adhesive onto the stem portions thereof and thereafter into contact with the article being labeled, said transfer member peripheral surface portion being undercut where said label sheets normally overlay said transfer wheel surface portion, said label sheet-preventing means including at least one movable fingerlike member adapted to force said label sheets toward said transfer member undercut portion and out of contact with said adhesive-applying means.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 4 including means for operating said finger in timed relation with rotation of said transfer member so that said finger is moved toward said label sheets as said label sheets are carried past said adhesive-applying means by said transfer member.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 4 in which said adhesive-applying means comprises an applicator roller having an adhesive-bearing periphery in juxtaposition with said transfer member radial surface portion so that on rotation of said transfer member therepast said roller applies adhesive to the stem of labels on said transfer member surface portion; said adhesive-applying roller having at least one circumferential recess about the periphery thereof to enable said finger to retract therewithin at least while said roller applies adhesive to said label stem.

Claim 6

A label transfer wheel for use with multisheet labels, said wheel having at least one radially projecting land adapted to support on the periphery thereof individual ones of said labels for application of adhesive to the label and transfer of the label to the article being labeled, said transfer wheel land including an undercut portion substantially coextensive with said label sheets to enable said label sheets to assume a position below the periphery of said land and avoid undesired application of adhesive to said label sheets.

Claim 7

The label transfer wheel of claim 7 including means to hold said label sheets against said land undercut portion and thereby prevent application of adhesive thereto.