EP1175348A1

EP1175348A1 - Label transfering system

Info

Publication number: EP1175348A1
Application number: EP00927455A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alan Thomas Robert Nuttall; John Davies; John Baden Collins; Michael Sean King
Original assignee: Sonoco Ltd
Current assignee: Harland Machine Systems Ltd
Priority date: 1999-05-06
Filing date: 2000-05-08
Publication date: 2002-01-30
Anticipated expiration: 2020-05-08
Also published as: DE60022641D1; WO2000068091A1; DE60022641T2; ATE304479T1; EP1175348B1

Abstract

A label handling system (200) including a re-usable carrier (208) e.g. belt for supporting a label material by means of static generation generated between the carrier (208) and the label. In a preferred embodiment the label material is supported during laser cutting of labels. The invention also provides a product labelling system which includes a control system (100) which is operative to control the relative speed of the label and corresponding product such that the label and corresponding product have a substantially common speed throughout label application.

Description

LABEL TRANSFERING SYSTEM

This invention relates to a label handling system.

Label handling systems are well known. They usually comprise

conventional reel fed pressure sensitive systems wherein the laminate being

the face-material, adhesive, silicon release and liner are combined as a reel.

The printer then takes over and the material is printed, die cut and stored

on a reel. Established techniques are then used to subsequently dispense

and apply the laminate label onto an article. The liner is used as a transport

medium, a carrier, for the label from the reel to the dispensing point and it

is usual practice to discard the liner as waste having no further use in the

system.

More recently linerless, lightweight or down gauged synthetic

materials have been devised offering cost benefits but which may have

reduced tensile strength and high stretch characteristics. These

characteristics create added difficulties during the print, die cutting, reeling

process during conversion. After die cutting and stripping of the waste

material the laminate becomes less stable in stretch resulting variation in

reel winding tensions The down gauging of both face and liner requires

tight tolerances to be maintained during die cutting to prevent overcutting

of the label resulting in damage to the thin liner or carrier, or undercutting

resulting in the label remaining partially attached to the matrix.

A further major problem is the increased risk of web snaps or failure of the label to release from the liner during application especially at high

dispense speeds as a result of inconsistent die cutting.

The present invention seeks to overcome the above problems by

providing an improved label handling system in which label material is

handled with improved accuracy and efficiency.

Accordingly, in a first aspect of the invention there is, therefore,

provided a label handling system including a re-usable carrier means for

supporting a label material by means of static attraction generated between

the carrier means and the label.

The static attraction may be generated in any suitable manner, for

example, applying a high-voltage current to at least a portion of the belt or

by using a static inducing member adjacent a portion of the carrier so as to

generate a static charge.

Static support is especially suitable where the label material may have

a laminate construction, which incorporates an adhesive layer (e.g. for

adhesion to a product). The face layer may be treated or coated with e.g.

silicon to allow reel-storage of the label material.

For example, the label material may be a laminate construction

comprising a face material layer, having a first side, referred to herein as a

face side, which may be printed, and an opposite side which may be treated

with (e.g. coated with) an adhesive.

With such a label material construction, the label material may be supported on the carrier by static attraction generated between the face

side and the carrier. In this way the label material can be releasably

supported without undue stress being placed on the web. Also the

adhesive side is presented outwards, the advantage of which will become

clear from the description below.

In another embodiment the label material may incorporate a liner

which may support the face material prior to/during its attachment to the

carrier means.

The liner may be a lightweight liner, such as is used for supporting

label material for convenient storage of the label material in reel-form, prior

to printing/cutting of labels.

In a particular preferred embodiment the carrier means supports the

label material during cutting of the label material and to this end label

cutting means are located in opposite juxtaposition with the carrier.

The label cutting means may take any suitable form, however,

advantageously, this includes laser means for cutting the supported label

material.

The laser means may take any suitable form but preferably provides

suitably low powered and precise beam which can cut the label material

without cutting the carrier means.

This arrangement and particularly the combination of a static

supported material which is laser cut, allows for precise in-line label cutting, eliminating the process of die cutting the print/conversion

processes, enabling label cutting immediately prior to label application.

A laser controller may be incorporated in the system which controls

the beam intensity.

The use of a laser enables efficient and precise cutting of the label

material and also particularly advantageously allows cutting of the label

material adhesive side outwards, as the laser cutter is not effected by the

adhesive (as is the case with a conventional cutting blade).

This arrangement also means that label material is suitably supported

for convenient incorporation into a labelling system which is arranged to

handle labels in this way (as with the embodiment described in detail later)

The process of label cutting generally generates a waste matrix of

label material around the label(s).

Accordingly, preferably, prior to incorporation into the labelling

system, any excess material generated by the label cutting operation, i.e.

waste matrix is removed leaving the label(s) attached to the carrier means.

The waste matrix which may be in label form and may be wound up on

reels for removal from the system.

In systems which use a continuous feed of labelling material, any

breaks in the labelling material are re-jointed using established 'splicing' techniques. The joints are herein referred to as splices.

In a further embodiment of this invention, splices which may have

been performed during earlier processes such as coating, printing,

converting or any reel joining process are detected using conventional

splicing techniques which are well known to the skilled man in this field and

will therefore not be described in further detail here. Their presence is then

fed to the laser controller which inhibits the cutting process whilst the splice

passes, thus enabling it to be wound up as part of the waste matrix.

The label cutting operation may be carried out so as to leave

predetermined e.g. consistent equal gaps between each label or without any

gaps to create what are known as butt cut labels. This may be controlled

by the laser controller.

The carrier means may take any suitable form but preferably it is a

continuous belt.

The carrier means may be formed from any material however,

preferably the carrier is constructed from a material which can be

electrostatically charged, e.g. metal or a metallic material, such as steel,

stainless steel.

The system may include label transfer means for effecting release of

the label from the carrier means.

The label transfer means may take any suitable form but preferably

is a roller or drum which may be generally cylindrical and around which the

carrier means passes to effect release of the label from the carrier means.

Preferably, the drum has a sufficiently small diameter to encourage/effect

label release from the belt.

Preferably, the carrier means is flexible, and this end, a metallic/metal

carrier.

The flexibility of the carrier means enables the belt to pass around,

for example, a label transfer means comprising small diameter roller for

label release/transfer purposes, as described above.

To aid release from the belt, the static holding of the label to the belt

may be reduced or eliminated at the point of release thereby encouraging

separation of the label from the carrier means.

This is important in so far as the life expectancy of the carrier means

is considerably increased by maximising the diameter of the roller around

which it passes, the diameter of which is determined by the flexibility of the

label to the belt. As regards the latter parameter, the use of static

attraction to support the label on the carrier, is advantageous over utilising

the adhesive side of the label as this would normally require removal of the

label using a beak or peeler plate which place heavy stresses on the carrier/label material.

The above label handling system may be added to or incorporated

into a product labelling system.

Accordingly, cut labels may be transferred by the carrier means to the

product handling system by the above mentioned label transfer means.

The speed of the carrier means may be adjustable in accordance with

the speed of apparatus of the product labelling system and/or the label

transfer means.

The laser controller may be operative to adjust the cutting operation

in response to changes in carrier speed. To this end, the laser controller

is preferably in connection with a detector which detects the speed of the

carrier means.

The labels supported on the carrier means may be transferred by the

label transfer means described above, directly to a product or to a product

labelling system.

The product labelling system may take any suitable form and may be

a conventional labelling system.

However, preferably the product labelling system includes a control

system which is operative to control the relative speed of the label and

corresponding product such that the label and corresponding product have a substantially common speed throughout label application.

The control system may also be operable to control the speed of the

carrier means. The laser controller may operate independently or in

conjunction or under control of this control system.

Thus the speed of the labels fed to the product labelling system can

be synchronised with the speed of labels through the product labelling

system.

Preferably the control system is operative to control the relative speed

of the label and corresponding product surface such that the label and

corresponding product surface have a substantially common speed

throughout label application.

With this arrangement, the accuracy of label positioning can be

greatly improved because there is no relative movement between a label

and corresponding product surface as the label is applied to the product.

It will be appreciated that the speed of the label and product surface

during label application may be linear speed or rotational speed (in which the

label or product rotates about any axis) depending on the labelling operation

utilized.

Preferably, the label and product surface have a constant speed

during label application. With this arrangement the label can be applied to the product in a smooth manner, thereby enhancing the accuracy with

which the label can be applied.

The control system may take any suitable form and may be operable

to detect the relative position and speed of the label and/or corresponding

product surface prior to application of the label to the product surface.

To this end the control system may incorporate one or more sensors

which is/ are operable to detect the speed and/or position of the label and/or

product surface. The sensors may take any suitable form and may

incorporate any combination of electrical, magnetic, mechanical, optical

etc., devices.

Preferably there is at least one label sensor which may be optical and

which is operable to detect the presence of a specified portion e.g. leading

edge of the label e.g. whilst within the label handling system.

Preferably, the control system operable to adjust the speed and/or

position of the label and/or corresponding product surface prior to and/or

during label application.

Preferably the system incorporates a label application means which

is operable to apply the label to the product surface preferably with

continuous motion such that the label is applied at a constant speed.

Preferably the label application means is operable to effect positional adjustment of the label prior to application of the label to the product at a

label application position which is further preferably a predetermined

position.

The label application means may take any suitable form and may be

a rotary or linear device. It may be a direct contact device in which the

label is brought into contact with the product surface at the application

position by means of the juxtaposition of the label application means and

the product at the application position. One example of a rotary label

application means is a pressure drum which rotates the label and is operable

to apply the label by positive pressure which may be continuous or

intermittent e.g. pulsing pressure which may be under control of the control

system.

In a preferred embodiment, the label application mechanism moves

the label at a speed which is equal to the speed of the corresponding

product surface. In a particularly preferred embodiment the label application

means is operable to adjust the position of the label relative to the product

surface speed prior to label application so that the label and product surface

approach each other with a common speed at the label application position.

In this way any differences between the position of the product

surface and the label position can be compensated for by adjustment of the label application means.

The product labelling system may include product supply apparatus

which may incorporate linear apparatus e.g. a conveyer or rotary apparatus

e.g. a pressure cylinder or drum, or rotary turret.

Preferably the product supply apparatus is operable to supply the

product to (and particularly preferably in registration with) a predetermined

label application position.

The product may be retained stationary relative to the product supply

apparatus, or alternatively the product may move relative to the apparatus.

For example, a label may be wrapped around a product, and the product

may be rotated relative to the product supply apparatus to enable wrap¬

around labelling.

Advantageously, a label supply apparatus such as the label handling

system described above is electronically coupled to the product supply

apparatus, for example, by appropriate electronic gearing of feed rollers

and/or servo motor control or other actuator(s), so that the labels and

products are supplied at a substantially common speed. Furthermore, the

label handling system may be coupled to the label application means so that

a label once transferred to the label application means is substantially

matched to the product pitch. ln this application, product pitch is taken to refer to the distance

between consecutive product surfaces to be labelled. Thus, where a

product is, for instance rotated during the label application for wrap-around

labelling the pitch of the labels on the label application means will

accommodate for the combination of movement of the product rotation

about its own axis and the conveyer movement.

It is not essential that the label and product pitch are exactly the

same as the control system of the invention may compensate for differences

in the pitches by adjusting the relative position/speed of the label relative to

the product or vice versa e.g. by repositioning the label supported on the

label application means prior to label application so that the label is moved

to the label application position in register with the product.

Whereas the above embodiments refer to the application of a label on

to a product, the invention is not intended to be restricted to the application

of labels to consumer products and it will be immediately evident that the

invention could also be used for accurate positioning of labels on a label

carrier, liner or web, or even a further transfer device such as a rotary label

transfer drum.

The labelling system may also incorporate a measurement system

(such as a vision system) which is operable to measure the placement of labels once applied to the product.

This measurement system may also be operable to automatically

adjust the position of the next/consecutive, or any predetermined label to

be applied.

With this arrangement the system can prevent cumulative errors and

minimise individual position compensation and potentially enable very high

speeds of labelling to be attained.

The invention will now be described by way of example only and in

reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of one form of label handling

system according to the invention, incorporated into a product

labelling system;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation of one form of product

labelling system of Figure 1 ; and

Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the control system of the

product labelling system of Figure 1 .

Figure 4 is a schematic representation of an alternative embodiment of

the invention.

Referring to Figure 1 , a diagrammatic view of one form of labelling

handling system 200 according to the invention is shown incorporated with a preferred product labelling system 10.

The labelling system 200 incorporates a label unwind unit 202, a laser

unit 204 controlled by a laser controller (not shown) a label waste take-up

unit 206, a carrier means comprising a flexible, thin metal belt 208 in the

form of a loop which is rotated around a servo driven drum 210 and an

intermediate label transfer drum 212 having a smaller radius than the drum

210.

The product labelling system is shown more clearly in Figures 2 and

3 and will be described in detail later.

The label material has a laminate construction comprising face

material layer and an adhesive layer and is stored in reel form and supplied

to the label handling system 200 by motorised unwinding of the label

unwind unit 202 past a tensioning drum 201 and onto the carrier belt 208.

The carrier belt is statically charged by a charging bar 220 which

induces a static charge in the belt and label material is supported by the

static attraction generated between the label face material and the belt 208

with the adhesive side facing outwardly of the belt 208.

The label material is carried on the belt past a cutting station 212

where the laser unit 204 is located in operational juxaposition with the belt

208.

As the material passes through this position a low powered but

precise laser beam is applied to the material to cut labels as required, either

with or without gaps between subsequent labels. The waste label material

is taken up by the waste take-up unit 206, which rotates by a servo-

controlled motor with fine speed and tension control using tensioning drum

203 synchronised with the speed of the servo drum 210 and unwind unit

202. Any splices which have been performed during earlier operation e.g.

adhesive coating, printing, converting/reel joining operations are detected

by a conventional splice detecting device (not shown) and communicated

to the laser controller which inhibits the cutting process whilst the splice

passes the cutting station, thus enabling it to be wound up as part of the

waste matrix.

After cutting the labels 214 having been separated from the matrix

remain attached to the belt 208, statically supported with consistent gaps

between each label or without gaps should the laser be set to create butt

cut labels (i.e. with no gaps between labels). This continuation of belt and

label is then moved (by rotation of the servo controlled drum 210) to the

intermediate transfer mechanism 212 for transfer of the labels 214 to the

product labelling system. The speed of the belt 208 is determined by the control system 100 (shown in Figure 3) of the product labelling system 10, as part of the label

to product application process.

Any changes in belt speed are detected by the laser cutter unit,

which automatically adjusts the cutting process accordingly.

As the belt passes around the intermediate transfer mechanism the

smaller radius facilitates label release from the belt at which point it is

attached to the drum 17 of the product labelling system (described below).

The flexible nature of the belt enables it to pass around a small radius

roller 212 such that the label releases from the belt and re-attaches itself to

the drum 17. To aid this process the static charge holding the label to the

belt 208 is reduced or eliminated at the point of transfer thus encouraging

separation of the label from the belt 208. This is important in as much that

the belt life expectancy is considerably increased by maximising the diamer

of the release roller around which is passes, the diameter of which is

determined by the flexibility of the label and its desire to remain attached to

the belt.

Referring now, in particular to Figures 2 and 3, the product labelling

system 10 utilises the label handling system described above as a

continuous label supply (the labelling system 200 is only generally indicated

in these figures). The product labelling system 10 incorporates a product supply apparatus 14, a label application device 16, and a control system

100 (shown in Figure 2) which includes a main control unit (not shown) in

connection with optical label sensors 18 and 20 and an optical product

sensor 22. The optical sensors 18,20 and 22 are colour sensitive.

The main control unit includes data storage capabilities for storing

data captured by the sensors and other devices.

The label application mechanism 16 comprises a rubber coated

rotatable vacuum drum 17 which has apertures arranged on its outer

surface. The apertures are in fluid connection with a pneumatic system

which is operable to provide negative pressure (i.e. suction) for the

transport of labels thereon and positive pressure for the release of labels

therefrom. (The air pressure maybe controlled by the main control system

100).

The product supply apparatus 14 comprises a linear conveyer 15 in

which products 34 are supplied continuously and sequentially to the label

application point 32.

The label supply drum 210, vacuum drum 17 and product conveyer

15 are each operated by a respective servo controlled motor M each being

connected to the main control unit and other control system devices for the

communication of signals therebetween. Each component 210, 15, 17 has an associated servo axis and reference sensor which is also in

communication with the main control unit. Whereas in this embodiment,

the conveyor is under fully integrated servo control which allows

sophisticated fault correction manoeuvres to be performed as will be clear

from the description below. However, the conveyer may, alternatively,

have a reference encoder from an externally controlled system to enable

slave operation of the conveyer.

The optical label sensors comprise a label pitch sensor 18 which is

located adjacent the carrier belt 208 and is operative to detect the label

head pitch (i.e. the pitch of labels supplied to the product application system

and a label position sensor 20 which is located adjacent the drum 17

operative to detect the position of consecutive labels 24 on the drum 17.

The drum sensor is also operative to detect the pitch of labels on the drum

and positional errors in the labels approaching the application point 32 and

thus is operable to detect any inconsistencies in the transfer of labels from

the peeler plate 30 to the drum 17. Inconsistencies can be compensated for

by servo controlled adjustment of label head motor speed of the drum 210

or speed of the drum 17.

The optical product sensor 22 is located adjacent the conveyer 15

and is operative to detect the product pitch i.e. the distance between the product surfaces to be labelled which in this case is equal to the distance

between consecutive products. (The position of the product sensor is a

user-adjustable parameter).

Each sensor generates signals in response to colour detection of the

leading edge of consecutive labels or products as the case may be.

The drum 17 is also electronically geared to the conveyer 15 such

that the peripheral speed of the drum is matched to the conveyer speed for

normal application. With this arrangement the label 24 and product surface

36 to be labelled, approach each other at a common speed.

The label supply drum 210, and drum 17 are electronically geared so

that once the label is transferred to the drum the label pitch on the drum

(i.e. the distance between consecutive labels on the drum) is approximately

the same as the product pitch. The label supply 210 : drum 17 gear ratio

is constantly recalculated on the basis of stored average label and product

pitch values (i.e. " stacks') to ensure that labels are supplied at the correct

pitch. However it is not essential that the pitch of labels on the drum and

the pitch of products on the conveyor is exactly the same, as the invention

compensates for differences in product and label pitch as described below.

The system also allows for manual override of the label and product pitch.

The control system 100 responds to signals from the label sensor 18 and product sensor 22. Labels are transported to the drum 17 from the

label supply 12 via the drum 212 at which point they are separated from the

carrier 208 and applied to the label 17 (adhesive face outwards) which

supports each label in position over the drum apertures. The position of

each consecutive label supported on the drum 17 (label pitch) is identified

by the label position sensor 20 which detects the leading edge of each

label 24. In response the drum axis position is captured and stored. This

data identifies the position of the label upon the drum.

The drum modifies the pitch of labels supplied on the web 26 to a

pitch which is substantially matched to the product pitch.

When the leading edge of a product is identified by the product

sensor 22, drum axis position and conveyer axis position are captured and

stored thereby identifying the relative positions of the product and drum.

A search of the stored label position values (label stack) is then undertaken

by the control system to locate the 'target label' ie the label nearest the

application point using the distance between the product sensor 22 and

label application point 32. If a product is found at a similar (i.e. within

predetermined limits) distance from the application point 32 then the

differential distance is calculated and (if within predetermined limits) applied

to the drum axis position as a correction move. The drum 17 is effectively accelerated or decelerated under servo control of its dedicated motor M to

a position which is before (or upstream) from the application point 30 so as

to avoid any possibility of the label accelerating whilst at the application

point 32. This compensation move is superimposed upon the existing

electronic gear motion. The correction move is, by default, superimposed

upon the motion of the label supply under servo control of the label supply

motor at 210.

Inconsistencies between the label supply speed (the speed of drum

210) and drum speed are also compensated for by the correction move.

When the positions of both the product and label (on the drum 17)

are known, the label application position is calculated (assuming no

correction). Any error is applied to the drum motion as a correction move.

At the label application point, the vacuum supporting the label 24 is

reversed and positive pressure is applied progressively along the length of

the label, beginning with the leading edge so as to force the label

progressively and in a smooth continuous manner in the direction of , and

in precise registration with the product, the speed of the label (governed

by the rotational speed of the drum 17) being equal (within the tolerances

of the machinery) to the speed of the product. This operation is

automatically repeated for each label and corresponding product. Alternatively the air pressure may be reversed instantaneously along

the entire length of the label, or it may be pulsed under control of the

control system.

The control of the label cutting system may also be integrated with

the product labelling control system 100 by appropriate connection of the

laser controller (not shown) to the control system 100.

With this arrangement, the speed of each label is modified so that

throughout label application the label speed matches the speed of the

corresponding product .

It should be noted that the invention is not restricted to the use of a

vacuum drum 17. Other means of supporting labels on the drum may be

used e.g. the drum 17 may be statically charged to generate static

attraction between the labels 24 and the drum 17.

An alternative system is shown in Fig. 4, and described below

The system is as described above except in that with this alternative

system, the position of each product on the conveyor is captured and

placed on a First-ln, First-Out (FIFO) stack.

The position of each product is used to generate a label application

target position. Both the label handling system 200 and label application means have the product conveyor as their master axis, so the amount of

product movement required for the associated label to be dispensed from

the label web and around the label application means to the application

position can be calculated. This allows the calculation, for each product,

of a conveyor position at which the associated label feed should start. And

which takes into account the movement of the label from its start position

to the application position.

The label handling system 200 acts as a label delivery system that

applies labels to the label application means (drum 17) as the calculated

conveyor positions for each delivery are reached. In normal operation, with

constant pitched products and labels, and with correctly entered data, both

the label handling system 200 and drum 17 should run smoothly, in

continuous motion, as controlled by the product conveyor master axis.

The position of each label on the transfer mechanism may be sensed,

after full detachment from the label web, as it approaches the application

point. Any final positional errors, when compared to the associated product

position may be corrected by a controlled adjustment of the transfer

mechanism speed. The correction be completed, and the transfer

mechanism speed returned to the product speed, before the label reaches the application point.

The speed of the label web may be adjusted in order to allow

application of the label to the transfer mechanism at the required associated

conveyor position if the product pitch is not constant. In extreme cases the

label handling system 200 may be required to stop completely.

The label handling system 200 applies labels to the drum by individual

feeds, as indicated by the data on the product stack. The target position

for the label on the drum is calculated from the associated product position

on the conveyor and the predicted motion of the label from the beak,

around the drum, and up to the application position. The calculation of label

movement takes into account the motion while controlled by the label web;

the motion while controlled by the drum; and the effects of acceleration -

if required.

The aim of the system is to apply the labels to the products with all

modules in smooth, continuous motion. Any deviation from this will be the

result of irregularities in sensed data, errors in set-up data or inconsistencies

in label transfer.

Label pitch data will be collected during an initialising move of the

label web. If the data is consistent, a label average pitch value will be accepted and used as a basis for the subsequent calculations. The average

label pitch value may be updated during operation.

Product pitch information may be sampled, or entered by the

operator. The average product pitch information is less significant than the

product position, so 'reasonable approximations' may be used, especially

if the product pitch is known to be irregular. A good approximation will

result in smoother label handling system 200 operation when the product

pitch is consistent.

Depending on previous actions the label web may be feeding or static

at the start of the current feed.

If static, the current feed will be started from rest at a conveyor

position that is calculated to bring the label to the conveyor at the required

application position. The calculation assumes that the drum is running

constantly at the conveyor speed and a position on the conveyor can be

equated to a position on the drum.

If already feeding, the calculated application position of the label on

the conveyor (assuming no correction) is compared with the associated

product position. The calculation assumes that the drum is running

constantly at the conveyor speed and a position on the conveyor can be equated to a position on the drum. The magnitude of any resulting error is

compared with a limit value.

If the error is smaller than the limit, the label feed is appended to the

previous feed and the required correct is applied by a controlled adjustment

of the label web speed before the current label has become fully detached.

If the error is greater than the limit, the previous feed is terminated

with a controlled deceleration to rest. The current feed is started with a

controlled acceleration at a calculated conveyor position.

This allows the label handling system 200 to swap automatically

between continuous and intermittent operation as required, and to

compensate for missing products or variations in product pitch.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not to be

intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are

described by way of example only.

Claims

1 . A label handling system including a re-usable carrier means for

supporting a label material by means of static attraction generated between

the carrier means and the label.

2. A label handling system according to claim 1 in which the static

attraction is generated by applying high-voltage current to at least a portion

of the belt.

3. A label handling system according to claim 1 in which the static

attraction is generated by using a static inducing member adjacent a portion

of the carrier so as to generate a static charge.

4. A label handling system according to any preceding claim wherein the

label material may be supported on the carrier by static attraction generated

between a face side and the carrier.

5. A label handling system according to any preceding claim in which

the carrier means supports the label material during cutting of the label

material and to this end label cutting means are located in opposite

juxtaposition with the carrier.

6. A label handling system according to claim 5 in which the label

cutting means may take any suitable form, however, advantageously this

includes laser means for cutting the supported label material.

7. A label handling system according to claim 6 which incorporates a

laser controller in the system which controls the beam intensity.

8. A label handling system according to any preceding claim in which

the carrier means is a continuous belt.

9. A label handling system according to any preceding claim in which

the carrier is constructed from a material which can be electrostatically

charges e.g. metal or a metallic material, such as steel, stainless steel.

10. A label handling system according to any preceding claim in which

the system includes label transfer means for effecting release of the lable

from the carrier means.

1 1 . A label handling system according to claim 10 in which the

intermediate transfer mechanism comprises a roller or drum around which

the carrier means passes to effect release of the label from the carrier

means.

12. A label handling system according to any preceding claim in which

the carrier means is flexible.

13. A label handling system according to any preceding claim in which

the static holding of the label to the carrier means is reduced or eliminated

at the point of release thereby encouraging separation of the label from the

carrier means.

14. A label handling system according to any preceding claim

incorporating a product handling system wherein cut labels are transferred

by the carrier means to the product handling system by the transfer means.

15. A label handling system according to claim 14 in which the speed of

the carrier means is adjustable in accordance with the speed of apparatus

of the product labelling system and/or the label transfer means.

16. A label handling system according to claim 14 or claim 15 in which

the laser controller is operative to adjust the cutting operation in reponse to

changes in carrier speed.

17. A product handling system including a control system which is

operative to control the relative speed of the label and corresponding

product such that the label and corresponding product have a substantially

common speed throughout label application.

18. a product handling system incorporating the label handling system

according to any of claims 1 to 16.

19. A product labelling system according to claim 18 in which the control

system is operable to control the speed of the carrier means of the label

handling system.

20. A product handling system according to any of claims 17 to 19

wherein the control system is operative to control the relative speed of the label and corresponding product surface such that the corresponding

product surface have a substantially common speed throughout label

application.

21 . A product handling system according to any of claims 17 to 20 in

which the label and product surface have a constant speed during label

application.

22. A product handling system according to any of claims 17 to 21 in

which the control system is operable to detect the relative position and

speed of the label and/or corresponding product surface prior to application

of the label to the product surface.

23. A product handling system according to any of claim 17 to 22

incorporating one or more sensors which is/are operable to detect the speed

and/or position of the label and/or product surface.

24. A product handling system according to any of claims 17 to 23

incorporating at least one label sensor which may be optical and which is

operable to detect the presence of a specified portion.

25. A product handling system according to any of claims 17 to 23

wherein the control system is operable to adjust the speed and/or position

of the label and/or corresponding product surface prior to and/or during label

application.

26. A product handling system incorporating a label application means

which is operable to apply the label to the product surface preferably with

continuous motion such that the label is applied at a constant speed.

27. A product handling system according to claim 26 in which the

mechanism is operable to effect positional adjustment of the label prior to

application of the label to the product at a label application position.

28. A product handling system according to any of claims 17 to 27 in

which the label is brought into contact with the product surface at the

application position by means of the juxtaposition of the label application

means and the product at the application position.

29. A product handling device according to any of claims 17 to 28

incorporating a pressure drum which rotates the label and is operable to

apply the label by positive pressure which may be continuous or intermittent

e.g. pulsing pressure which may be under control of the control system.

30. A product handling system according to any of claims 17 to 29 in

which the label application means moves the label at a speed which is equal

to the speed of the corresponding product surface.

31 . A product handling system according to any of claims 17 to 30 in

which the label application means is operable to adjust the position of the

label relative to the product surface speed prior to label application so that the label and product surface approach each other with a common speed

at the label application position.

32. A product handling system according to any of claims 17 to 31 in

which the label handling apparatus is electronically coupled to the product

feed apparatus, for example, by appropriate electronic gearing of feed rollers

and/or servo motor control or other actuator(s) so that the labels and

products are supplied at a substantially common speed.

33. A product handling system according to claim 32 in which the

labelling system coupled to the label application means is substantially

matched to the product pitch.

34. A product handling system according to any of claims 17 to 33 which

is operable to measure the placement of labels once applied to the product.

35. A product handling system according to claim 34 in which the

measurement system is operable to automatically adjust the position of the

next/consecutive, or any predetermined label to be applied.