CA1042850A

CA1042850A - Matrix label applicator

Info

Publication number: CA1042850A
Application number: CA270,793A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Leo Kucheck; Michael Crankshaw
Original assignee: Label Aire Inc
Current assignee: Label Aire Inc
Priority date: 1976-03-08
Filing date: 1977-02-01
Publication date: 1978-11-21
Also published as: DK99177A; FR2343653A1; US4046613A; DE2708353A1; BE852206A; JPS6031698B2; GB1575050A; NL7702120A; JPS52109400A; FR2343653B1; DE2708353C2

Abstract

MATRIX LABEL APPLICATOR

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A movable conveyor belt having first and second belt surfaces and an opening extending between the belt surfaces, a mechanism for deposting a label on the first belt surface at a first station, and a pressure source for blowing air under pressure through the opening to transfer the label from the belt at a second station to at least one object.

Description

~i lOgZ850 ~,¦ BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

31 In a conventional labeling operation, articles to be 4~ labeled are conveyed single file through a labeling station.
51 A label applicator at the labeling station applies a label to 6~ each article as such article passes through the labeling 71 station.
8~
9l There are instances in which it is desirable to 10j label articles which are arranged in side-by-side relationship 11 on a conveyor. For example, some packaging equipment provides 12,~an output which includes side-by-side packages. There are 13¦1also instances in which multiple rows of containers in open 14¦ltop cartons must be labeled.
15 l `~
16 1 One way to label side-by-side articles is to employ 17 !1 a wide backing strip carrying side-by-side labels and a wide 18 1peeling bar to remove the side-by-side labels from the backing 19 strip. Label applicators of this type are known. However, the wide backing strip wastes a large amount of paper especially 21 when the labels are relatively small and the articles to be 22 labeled are relatively large and/or widely spaced. Thus, this 23 approach becomes more impractical as the overall combined width ~ -24 of the side-by-side articles to be labeled increases. In addition, this method of label application cannot utilize the 26 standard single row of labels on a backing strip.

28 SUNMARY_OF THE INVENTION

30 ¦ The present invention provides a label applicator . 1. .-: '" ' . : .

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1~lwhich is particularly adapted for labeling articles arranged

2~1in side-by-side relationship. The label applicator of this 311 invention uses labels arranged in a conventional manner in a 4 single row on the backing strip and so no paper is wasted.
5~
6~1 The environment in which the present invention is 7 particularly adapted to operate includes a conveyor or other 8~ means for conveying articles to be labeled along parallel 9l paths to a labeling station. The articles to be labeled do 101 not pass ~ngle file through the labeling station, but rather 11 pass through the labeling station in side-by-side relationship 12 ~ forming sets or columns.

14~¦ In order to label the column of articles, the present invention provides for moving a plurality of labels arranged in 16 a row along a label path at a labeling station. The axes of 17 the row and the label path are generally parallel to each 18 other and to the column. Thus, the labels and the articles 19 can be brought into registry, and the labels can be transferred to the articles of the column.

22 Typically, the articles are moved in a first direction 23 through the labeling station in multiple rows. The axes of the 24 rows of labels and the label path are angularly related to the first direction, i.e. nonparallel to the first direction. In 26 other words, the row of labels extends across the multiple rows 27 of the articles, and preferably the axes of the row of labels 28 ¦ and the label path are transverse to the first direction.
29 ~

30 I The labels can be advantageously transported along ~04Z850 the label path-by a conveyor belt. The labels are deposited in sequence on the belt at a depositing station and the belt moves the labels along the label path. The labels can be retained on the belt by differential fluid pressure. In order to accomplish this, the conveyor belt preferably includes opening means so that a subatmospheric pressure can be applied to the opening means to retain the labels against the belt. The opening means can also be used to enaole air `
under pressure to be blown through the opening means to transfer the labels from the conveyor belt to the articles to be labeled.
Before a label is applied to an article, it must be ~ :
properly positioned on the belt so that it is in registry with an associated article. This may be accomplished in whole or in part by synchronizing the movement of the article conveyor with the rate at which labels are deposited on the belt. In a preferred embodiment, such synchronization is employed to roughly position the labels on the belt. Fine positioning is obtained by positioning means which is extendible through the opening means of the belt to engage the labels and retain them in the desired position. Once the labels are engaged by the positioning means they slip on the belt while the belt continues to run. One advantage of vacuum retention means for holding the labels on the belt is that such means allows the labels to slip on the belt to allow the labels to be positioned correctly.
The invention, together with further features and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying 1 illustrative drawing. 1042850 ~:

3 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. l is a partially schematic side elevational 6 view of a label applicator constructed in accordance with the 7 teachings of this invention suitably mounted in position above 8 a conveyor for articles to be labeled.
Fig. 2 i8 a fragmentary plan view of the construction 11 shown in Fig. l. I
12 l :
13 ~ Fig. 3 is a perspective view with parts broken away ~411 of a portion of the label applicator and the article conveyor.
15~1 `16ll Fig. 4 i9 a somewhat schematic fragmentary sectional 17 view of a portion of the label applicator with the labels being 18 positioned above the articles to be labeled.
19 : .
Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 after 21 the articles have been labeled and with the positioning pins 22 withdrawn to the unactuated position.
23 .

. . ;
26 Fig. l shows a label applicator ll which generally 27 includes a supporting ~tructure 13 and a label transport 15 28 mounted on the supporting structure. A web or backing strip 17 29 carrying adhesive labels l9 in the usual manner is wound on a 331 supply reel 21 which in turn is rotatably mounted on the 32 ~

4. i -1 ! supporting structure 13 or on another structure (not shown), if 2 desired. The backing strip 17 extends over a plurality of guide '~-3 rollers 23 and between drive rollers 25 to a take-up reel 27.
4 The drive rollers 25 include one pinch roller and one power roller .
The drive rollers 25 are driven by an electric motor (not shown) 6 through a clutch and brake as is conventional in the label appli-7 cating field. A peeling bar 29 is suitably mounted on the sup-8 porting structure 13, and the web 17 extends over the peeling bar.
9 :
10 The label transport 15 includes a housing 31 which is ~-11 adapted to contain air at less than atmospheric pressure which ¦
12 may be provided by a suitable vacuum source such as a vacuum 13 pump 33. The housing 31 is substantially sealed except for the 14 lower end thereof which is gas pervious. As described more fully hereinbelow, a conveyor belt or label transport belt 35 is mount-16 ed for movement along the bottom of the housing 31.
17 , 18 Movement of the web 17 across the peeling bar 29 se-19 quentially removes the labels 19 and deposits them at a deposit-ing station on the conveyor belt 35. The labels are releasably 21 retained on the conveyor belt 35 as described more particularly 22 hereinbelow by the vacuum pressure within the housing 31. As 23 the labels 19 are deposited on the conveyor belt 35, they are 24 moved along a label path in the direction of the arrow A in Fig.
2. The labels 19 on the conveyor belt 35 are arranged in a row, 26 the axis of which coincides with the axis of the label path.
27 .
28 As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the label path extends 239 above a conveyor 37 for three rows 39, 41 and 43 of articles 45.

31 . .
32~

~042850 lllThe conveyor 37, which may be of any construction suitable for 2~¦moving articles to be labeled through a labeling station, moves 3 ¦the rows 39, 41 and 43 along spaced parallel paths in the 4 direction of the arrow B in Fig. 2. Although three rows of the

5 articles 45 are shown on the conveyor 37, this is purely

6 illustrative, and any desired number of rows of articles may

7 be labeled with the label applicator 11. In the embodiment

8 illustrated, the direction of movement of the articles is

9 transverse to the direction of movement of the labels 19 on the belt 35.

12 ¦ As shown by way of example in Fig. 2, the articles 45 13 ¦ of the rows 39, 41, and 43 are arranged in side-by-side re-14ll lationship with the articles 45 beneath the conveyor belt 35, 1511 i.e. the articles at the labeling station, forming a set or 16¦l column of articles. The axis of the column of articles 45 is l7!lparallel to the axes of the row of labels 19 on the conveyor 18 belt 35 and to the axis of movement of the labels 19 on the 19 conveyor belt.

21 As the articles 45 come into registry with the 22 lab~ls 19, the labels 19 on the conveyor belt 35 are trans-23 ferred to the articles 45, respectively. This transferring 24l can be advantageously carried out utilizing air at greater 25 than atmospheric pressure obtained from suitable pressure ;~
26 source (not shown) through a valve, such as a solenoid valve 47.
27 The articles 45 of a column may be labeled sequentially or ~ ;
28 simultaneously. `

31 Figs. 3-5 show a preferred construction for the . 6. .

04zlB50 1ll label transport 15. In some respects the label transport 15 is 2 similar to conventional vacuum belt transports. In Fig. 3, the 3 housing 31 has been broken away to expose the interior of the 4 label transport 15.

6 In the embodiment illustrated, the conveyor belt 35 is 7 an endless belt and comprises a plurality of endless flexible con-8 veyor strips or belts 49. Adjacent strips 49 are spaced apart to 9l define opening means in the form of elongated slots 51. The con-veyor belt 35 has an interior belt surface 53 (Fig. 4) and an ex-11 terior belt surface SS (Fig. 4).

13 The belt 35 is mounted for movement by a plurality 14 (three being illustrated) of idler rollers 57 and a drive roller S9 each of which is suitably rotatably mounted on the housing 31.
16 The drive roller 59 is driven by a suitable motor 60 through a 17 clutch and brake unit 62. In the embodiment illustrated, the 1 rollers 57 and 59 are arranged at four corners of a trapezoid 19 and this allows the belt 35 to surround other important struc-ture of the label transport 15; however, obviously other config-21 urations can be utilized.

A plate 61 is suitably mounted on the remainder of the 24 housing 31 and forms a bottom wall for the housing. The plate 61 has a plurality of apertures 63 extending therethrough with 26 the apertures being in registry with the slots 51. The plate 61 228 is continuous and unbroken and is shown broken away in Fig. 3 to expose other portions of the transport 15.

Various different arrangements can be used to . . ~ , ' ' 1 selectively provide air under pressure for removing the labels 2 19 from the conveyor belt 35, and the arrangement shown is merely 3 illustrative. As shown in Fig. 3, two air manifolds 65 are 4 mounted on a back wall 66 of the housing 31. Each of the mani-folds 65 is of identical construction and has a plurality of 6 I ports 67, each of which is adapted for connection to one end of 7 a flexible tube 69. The other end of each of the flexible tubes 8 69 is coupled to a rigid tube 71. The other end of the rigid tub ¦s 9 71 can be slidably received within any of the apertures 63. When the valve 47 (Fig. 1) is opened, fluid under pressure flows from 11 the valve 47 through the manifolds 65, the ports 67, the assoc-12 iated flexible tubes 69, the rigid tubes 71, the apertures 63, 13 and the slots Sl to the exterior of the label transport lS. The 14 ~ pattern of the air blast can be selected by inserting the rigid tube 71 into selected ones of the apertures 63. The manifold 16 and tube construction shown herein may be similar or identical 17 to the construction shown in common assignee's U.S. Patent No.
18 3,885,705.
19 ~ '., The present invention also provides means for positive-21¦ ly and accurately positioning the labels 19 on the conveyor belt 22¦ 35 so that the labels will be in the correct positions to be ap-23 plied to the articles 45 therebelow. Although various position-24 ing arrangements and devices can be used, the present invention 251 positions the labels 19 on the conveyor belt 35 in two ways.

26¦ First, during the time that the labels 19 are being deposited on 71 the belt 51 and being positioned, the movement on the conveyor 28 belt 35 is continuous, and the movement of the backing strip 17 29 over the peeling bar 29 is intermittent. Intexmittent movement of the backing strip 17 can be accomplished by appropriately 31 starting and stopping the drive rollers 25 in . :.

8. ~

.. . . , . . .. .. . . , . .. ...

1~)4Z850 llla manner well known in the label applicating art. By properly 2Ijrelating the speed of movement of the conveyor belt 35 and the 3~length of time that the backing strip 17 is at rest, the 4 labels 19 can be roughly positioned and spaced on the conveyor 5 belt 35.

In fact, if it is desired to employ very accurate 81¦ controls, the timing of the continuous movement of the con-9 ¦ veyor belt 35 and the intermittent movement of the backing

10 ~strip 17 would alone be sufficient to properly space and

11 ¦ position the labels 19 on the conveyor belt 35. However, in ~ -

12 ! the embodiment illustrated, this only provides rough positioning

13 ! of the label 19 on the conveyor belt 35.

14 15l Fine or accurate positioning of the labels 19 is 16l provided for by three pairs of stops in the form of pins 73, 17 75, and 77. Each of the pins 73, 75, and 77 is adapted to 18 project through a slot 79 in the plate 61 and through one of 19 the slots 51. Each of the pins 73, 75, and 77 is movable between an extended or actuated position in which it projects 21 into the path of movement of the labels 19 on the conveyor 22 belt 35 and a retracted or unactuated position in which it is 23 out of the path of movement of the labels 19 on the conveyor 24 belt 35. Although this motion of the pins can be brought about in different ways, in the embodiment illustrated it is accom-26 plished by air cylinders 81, one of which is provided for each 27 of the pins. The pins are carried by the cylinders 81, respec-28 tively. The air cylinders 81 are mounted in groups of two on 29 L-shaped brackets 83 which are in turn suitably mounted on the 31 back wall 66. The brae~kets 83 are preferably mounted to allow 32 ~
. 9. ~' :

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lV4Z850 1 1 the position of the brackets, the cylinders 81, and the associated 2 jpins to be adjusted. This can be accomplished, for example, by 3 I a slot 85 in each of the brackets 83 and suitable threaded fasten-4 I ers 87. The slots 79 in the plate 61 allow the pins 73,75 and 77 5 ¦ to be moved.

7 The air cylinders 81 are double acting. Although the 8 air cylinders can be controlled in different ways, in the embodi-9 ment illustrated, each of them receives air under pressure from a four-way valve ~9 to simultaneously move the pins 73,75, and 11 77 between the extended and retracted positions. As each of the 12 pins is individually controlled by one of the cylinders 81, the ¦
13 I pins can be extended and retracted according to any desired pro-14 gram.

16 In operation of the label applicator ll, the drive 17 rollers 25 (Fig. l) operate intermittently to intermittently move 18 the backing strip ll over the peeling bar 29. During each period 19 of intermittent motion, the peeling bar 29 removes one of the labels l9 from the backing strip 17 and deposits such removed 21 label at a depositing station at the left end (as viewed in Fig. .
22 3) of the exterior belt surface 55 of the conveyor belt 35. The 23 differential pressure created by the suction force from the vac-24 uum pump 33 acts through the apertures 63 and the slots 51 to hold each of the labels l9 deposited on the belt 35 against the 26 exterior belt surface 55. The belt 35 is driven by the motor 60 271 through the clutch and brake 62 to advance each of the labels l9 `
28 deposited thereon away from the depositing station and along a 29 label path. The pins 73,75 and 77 are in the retracted position 31 so they do not interfere with movement .: ' 10. ~`~'` '."' .

1ll 4Z~50 1 of the labels 19 along the conveyor belt 35.

3~1 After the first label 19 is deposited on the conveyor 41¦ belt 35, the drive rollers 25 stop the backing strip 17 for a 5 ¦predetermined period of time to allow the first labelrl9 to 6 advance away from the depositing station. At the end of this 7 predetermined period, the drive rollers ~5 are started to move 8 the backing strip 17 to deposit a second label 19 on the 9 belt 35. The operation described above is repeated to deposit a third label on the conveyor belt 35. The intermittent movement 11 of the backing strip 17 and the continuous movement of the belt 12 35 are synchronized and controlled to roughly space the three 13 ~ labels 19 on the belt 35. This results in the labels 19 on 14 ¦ the belt 35 being spaced further apart than when the labels

15¦¦ were in the backing strip. The conveyor belt 35 advances the

16 I three labels 19 toward their final positions on the belt 35,

17 i.e. the positions from which these labels will be removed

18 from the belt.

19 Prior to the time that the labels 19 reach their 21 final positions and after the second label 19 has passed by the 22 axis of the pins 73, the air cylinders 81 are actuated by the 23 four-way valve 89 to move the pins 73, 75, and 77 to the 24 extended position shown in Fig. 4. The manner in which the four-way valve 89 may be caused to actuate the cylinder 81 at 26 the proper time will be apparent to those skilled in the art 27 and may be accompli~hed in a variety of ways. For example, the 28 valve 89 may actuate the cylinders 81 a predetermined period of 29 time after any event in the cycle of operation, such as a pre-determined time after the first label 19 is deposited on the 32 .
. ~ .:

1 belt 35. Alternatively, the valve 89 can actuate the cylinders 2 81 a predetermined period of time after the third label 19 is de-posited on the belt 35.

5 The pins are moved simultaneously to the extended posi- -6 tion, and ultimately the first, second and third labels contact 7 the pins 77,75 and 73, respectively, whereupon movement of the 8 labels along the conveyor belt 35 is arrested. The belt 35 con-9 tinues to move for a short period after movement of the three labels 19 is terminated, and the belt and labels slip relative 11 to each other. The clutch and brake 62 may be appropriately auto-12 I matically controlled so that a predetermined period after the 13 ¦ valve 89 causes the pins 73-77 to ve to the extended position, ~ -14 ¦ the clutch is disengaged and the brake is engaged to stop the -15 ¦ belt 51 while allowing the motor 60 to continue running. The 16 ~ belt 51 moves continuously in the sense that ltS movement is con-17 tinuous from prior to the time that the first of the labels 19 18 is deposited thereon until all three labels are correctly posi-19 tioned. A predetermined period after the belt 51 stops, the valve 89 is operated to cause the cylinders 81 to simultaneously 21 retract the pins 73-77.
22 ~ . -23 When the conveyor 37 brings the three articles 45 be-24 neath the labels 19 on the belt 35, a product signal from a photo cell, or other means known in the label applicating art, is pro-26 vided in accordance with conventional practice. Appropriate 27 control logic, the nature of which is apparent to those skilled 28 in the art, is responsive to the product signal to open the 29 valve 47 to provide a blast of air through the manifolds 65, the -tubes 69 and 71, the apertures 63, and the slots 51 of sufficient 31 .

~ 12.

1~)4'~850 1jl force to simultaneously blow the three labels l9 from the con-2j veyor belt 35 and onto the articles 45, respectively, to adhes-3~1 ively attach the labels to the articles. The labels l9 can be 4 ~ blown off of the belt 35 according to any program desired.
5 l 6 The drive rollers 25 are driven intermittently in ac-7 cordance with a predetermined timed program to deposit the three 8 labels on the belt 35 and then stop. This timed program is re-9 peated following each opening of the valve 47 to deposit three additional labels 19 on the belt 35. Similarly, the clutch of 11 the clutch and brake unit 62 is engaged and the brake of that unit 12 is disengaged a predetermined short interval after the valve 47 13 opens to restart the belt 35. The sequencing of these functions, 14 as well as the other control functions described herein can be 15 ¦ readily implemented, either automatically or manually, by those 16 ¦ skilled in the art.

181 Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has 19¦ been shown and described, many changes, modifications and sub-stitutions may be made by those with ordinary skill in the 21 art without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of 23 this invention.

ll ''' ~
' ll 13.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
-- 1. A label applicator for applying labels to articles wherein the articles travel in multiple rows through a labeling station in a first direction with the articles forming at least one set of articles at the labeling station, said label applicator comprising:
a supporting structure;
conveying means for conveying labels in a row along a label path at the labeling station, the axes of said row and said label path being angularly related to the first dir-ection whereby the labels can be brought into registry with the set of articles at the labeling station, means for transferring the labels from said con-veying means to said set of articles at the labeling sta-tion; and said conveying means including means for sequen-tially feeding a plurality of labels on a backing strip to a depositing station, a conveyor movable past said deposit-ing station, means for transferring said labels at said de-positing station from said backing strip to said conveyor, and means for synchronizing said feeding means and said conveyor to cause the spacing of said labels on said con-veyor to differ from the spacing of labels on said backing strip. --
2. The applicator of Claim 1 wherein said conveying means comprises means for spacing said labels along said conveying means in accordance with the spacing between said articles of said set.
3. The applicator of Claim 1 additionally including spacing control means on said supporting structure engageable with said labels on said conveyor and causing at least some of said labels to move relative to said conveyor so as to assume accurately a predetermined spacing therealong.
4. The applicator of Claim 3 wherein said spacing control means comprises a plurality of pins mounted on said supporting structure and movable between an actuated position and an unactuated position, said pins in said actuated position extending into the label path at spaced intervals and being effective to limit travel of said labels with said conveyor, said pins in said un-actuated position being ineffective to limit travel of said labels with said conveyor.
5. The applicator of Claim 4 wherein said con-veyor comprises a plurality of spaced parallel conveyor belts, and wherein said pins in said actuated position ex-tend intermediate said belts into the travel path of said labels.
6. The applicator of Claim 4 including means to actuate at least one of said pins independently of at least another of said pins.
7. The applicator of Claim 1 wherein said con-veyor means includes a plurality of spaced parallel convey-or belts and means for applying reduced air pressure inter-mediate said conveyor belts to retain the labels on the conveyor belts.
8. The applicator of Claim 1 wherein said con-veyor means includes a conveyor belt extending between first and second stations, said conveyor belt having air passages extending between opposite first and second conveyor sur-faces thereof, means for moving said conveyor belt between said first and second stations, means for applying labels to said first conveyor surface at said first station, and means for applying suction to at least a first of said air passages, thereby enabling said conveyor to transport said labels from said first station to said second station, and wherein said transferring means comprises means for blowing air under pressure through at least one of said air passages to cause the labels to be forcibly transferred from said conveyor belt to said set of articles.
9. A method of labeling articles comprising:
depositing labels on a conveyor surface;
moving the conveyor surface unidirectionally through the labeling station to thereby move the labels along a substantially unidirectional label path at the labeling station with the labels being arranged in a row and with the axes of the row and the label path being gen-erally parallel;
transporting articles nonparallel to the label path through the labeling station with the articles form-ing a column of articles at the labeling station and with the axes of the row and the label path;
carrying out said steps of moving and transporting until the labels of the row are in registry with the column of the articles at the labeling station; and transferring the labels of said row to the arti-cles of said column.
10. A method as defined in claim 9 wherein said method includes providing a label feeding device for de-positing labels on said conveyor surface and operating said feeding device intermittently to sequentially deposit a first group of labels on the conveyor surface, and where-in said step of moving includes running said conveyor con-tinuously at least during the period that the first group of labels is deposited thereon.
11. A method as defined in claim 9 wherein said step of depositing includes providing a single row of labels on a backing strip, removing the labels from the backing strip, transferring the labels to the con-veyor surface, and spacing the labels on the conveyor surface further apart than the labels on the backing strip.
12. A method as defined in claim 11 wherein said step of spacing includes synchronizing the movement of the conveyor surface and the transferring of the labels to the conveyor surface to provide roughly the desired space between adjacent labels on the conveyor surface and stopping the labels at predetermined positions along the conveyor surface to provide said desired space more accurately.
13. A method as defined in claim 9 wherein said step of depositing includes providing a label feed-ing device for depositing labels on said conveyor surface and operating said feeding device intermittently to se-quentially deposit a first group of labels on the con-veyor surface, and wherein said step of moving includes running said conveyor surface continuously at least dur-ing the period that the first group of labels is deposited thereon.

-- 14. A label applicator as defined in claim 1 wherein said conveyor comprises a plurality of spaced parallel strips at least partially defining opening means therebetween. ---- 15. A label applicator as defined in
claim 14 including means positionable between at least two of said spaced parallel strips for engag-ing at least one of the labels and restraining it from going past a predetermined position. ---- 16. A label applicator as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for transferring labels to said conveyor includes a peeling bar, means for mount-ing said peeling bar closely adjacent said conveyor, and means for passing the backing strip having the plurality of labels thereon over said peeling bar. ---- 17. The applicator of claim 1 wherein said conveyor is endless. ---- 18. The applicator of claim 1 wherein said conveyor comprises a plurality of spaced parallel strips at least partially defining opening means there-between and said applicator includes a stop movable be-tween first and second positions, said stop in said first position extending intermediate said strips into the path of travel of at least one of said labels and in said second position being ineffective to limit the travel of said one label. ---- 19. The applicator of claim 1 wherein said conveying means deposits a set of n labels seriatim on said conveyor, and said first-mentioned transferring means is effective to transfer said set of n labels tub-stantially simultaneously from said conveyor to said set of articles. --