EP1175348B1

EP1175348B1 - Label transfering system

Info

Publication number: EP1175348B1
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: 2005-09-14
Anticipated expiration: 2020-05-08
Also published as: ATE304479T1; WO2000068091A1; DE60022641T2; EP1175348A1; DE60022641D1

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

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. A label transfer system is known from WO 99 03737 in which a sensor monitors the position of a label and effects adjustment when the label is offset when compared to a predetermined standard. Label transfer systems are also disclosed in US-A-5256239 and EP-A-0852203.

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.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a label handling system comprising a label handling system comprising a product labelling system, a product supply apparatus, and a control system which is operable to detect the position and speed of a product carried on the product supply apparatus and also the position and speed of a corresponding label to be applied by the product labelling means to said product at a label application position, wherein the control system is further operable to adjust the speed and position of the product and its corresponding label to compensate for differences in the speed and position between that label and the product to which it is to be applied based on said detected positions and speeds to enable the label to be brought into contact with the product surface at the label application position by juxtaposition of the product labelling means and the product at the label application position and to control the speed of that label and that of the corresponding product such that the label and corresponding product 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.

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 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.

Preferably, the label handling system further comprises a label supply which supplies labels to the label application means. More preferably the label supply comprises 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 carrier means 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 a face side of said label material 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 a label from 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).

The process of label cutting generally generates a waste matrix of label material around the label(s).

Accordingly, any excess material generated by the label cutting operation, i.e. waste matrix may be 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 a 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 it 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 carrier means, the static holding of a cut label to the carrier means 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 carrier means. As regards the latter parameter, the use of static attraction to support the label on the carrier means, 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 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 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.

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.

In 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.

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 213 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 24 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 24 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 212 the smaller radius facilitates label release from the belt 208 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 the smaller 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 diameter of the release roller 212 around which it passes, the diameter of which is determined by the flexibility of the label and its desire to remain attached to the belt 208.

Referring now, in particular to Figure 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 conveyor.

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 29 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 this is operable to detect any inconsistencies in the transfer of labels from the transfer mechanism 212 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 200 via the drum 212 at which point they are separated from the carrier 208 and applied to the drum 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 24 upon the drum 17.

The drum 17 modifies the pitch of labels supplied 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 conveyor 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' i.e. 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 32 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 210 under servo control of the label supply motor.

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 32, 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-In, 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

A label handling system comprising a product labelling system (10), a product supply apparatus (14), and a control system (100) which is operable to detect the position and speed of a product (34) carried on the product supply apparatus (14) and also the position and speed of a corresponding label (24) to be applied by the product labelling means (10) to said product (34) at a label application position (32), wherein the control system (100) is further operable to adjust the speed and position of the product (34) and its corresponding label (24) to compensate for differences in the speed and position between that label and the product to which it is to be applied based on said detected positions and speeds to enable the label to be brought into contact with the product surface at the label application position by juxtaposition of the product labelling means (10) and the product (34) at the label application position (32) and to control the speed of that label and that of the corresponding product such that the label (24) and corresponding product (34) have a substantially common speed throughout label application.
A system according to claim 1 comprising at least one sensor (20, 22) operable to detect said position and speed.
A system according to claim 1 comprising at least one optical sensor (18, 20, 22) which is operable to detect the presence of a specified portion of a label or product.
A system according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 in which the product labelling means (10) is electronically coupled to the product supply apparatus (14).
A system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the product labelling means (10) comprises label application means (17) which is operable to apply a label (24) to a corresponding product surface (36) with continuous motion such that said label (24) is applied at a constant speed.
A system according to claim 5, wherein the label application means (17) comprises a pressure drum for rotating the labels (24) and which is operable to apply a label (24) to a corresponding product by positive pressure.
A system according to claim 5 or 6, in which the label application means (17) is operable to adjust the position of a label (24) relative to corresponding product (34) prior to label application so that the label (24) and product (34) approach each other with common speed.
A system according to any one of claims 5 to 7 comprising a label supply (200) which supplies labels (24) to the label application means (17).
A system according to claim 8 in which the label supply (200) comprises a re-usable carrier means (208) for supporting a label material by means of static attraction generated between the carrier means (208) and said label material.
A system according to claim 9 in which the static attraction is generated by applying high voltage current to at least a portion of the carrier means (208).
A system according to claim 9 in which the static attraction is generated by using a static inducing member (220) adjacent a portion of the carrier (208) so as to generate a static charge.
A system according to any one of claims 9 to 11 in which the speed of the carrier means (208) is adjustable to compensate for said detected differences in speed and position of a label (24) and corresponding product (34).
A system according to any one of claims 9 to 12 comprising label cutting means (204) and in which the carrier means (208) supports label material during cutting of a label (24) from said label material by said label cutting means (204).
A system according to claim 13 wherein the cutting means (204) is a laser, the system further comprising a laser controller for controlling beam intensity of the laser, and cutting in response to changes in carrier means speed.
A system according to any one of claims 13 to 14 comprising label transfer means (212) for effecting release of a cut label (24) from the carrier means (208) and for transferring said label (24) to the label application means 17).
A system according to claim 15, in which the carrier means (208) is a continuous belt.
A system according to claim 16 wherein the belt is conveyed about two drums (210, 212) one of which constitutes the label transfer means (212) and which drum (212) has a smaller diameter than the other drum (210) in order to facilitate label (24) release.
A system according to claims 9 to 17, in which the carrier means (208) is flexible. ,
A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising a measurement system which is operable to measure the placement of a label once applied to a product and is also further operable to adjust the position of a predetermined following label to be applied.