Automated labeling method and apparatus

Abstract

An automated labeling method and apparatus includes a label web-severing mechanism and a label-applying assembly, the web-severing mechanism configured to synchronously sever a plurality of labels from a self-wound label web, and the label-applying assembly configured to synchronously apply the plurality of severed labels to a corresponding plurality of articles to be labeled.

1 . An automated method for labeling of an article, comprising:
 severing a label from a label web;   extending the end of a label-applying head to pick up the severed label;   retracting the end of the label-applying head with the picked-up label;   rotating the end of the label-applying head with the picked-up label; and   extending the end of the label-applying head so as to apply the picked-up label to the article.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising utilizing a web-severing mechanism for the step of severing, wherein the step of rotating includes rotating the end of the label-applying head about an axis that is parallel to a feed axis feeding the web through the web-severing mechanism.