Illinois Tool Works Inc.

James P Gonzalez

David E Zurawski

David B Vaughn

A label applicator system provides for high speed, accurate label transfer from a web to items moving on an item transport along a path relative to the system. The items, such as bottles, have a contoured surface. The applicator includes a supply reel for supplying labels on a web and a take-up for taking up the web after transfer of the label. A drive roller moves the web through the applicator system. The system includes a web positioning assembly and a movable label applicator head. A contour sensor senses the bottle contour and develops a profile for the head to follow to apply the labels to the bottles. The supply, take-up and the drive are operably engaged with one another to maintain a relatively constant tension in the web. The web positioning assembly is configured to advance and retract the web to accommodate a pitch difference between the bottles in the bottle transport and the labels on the web and to accommodate movement of the decorating head toward and away from the bottles in the bottle transport.

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Lancaster, NY, United States of America

James P Gonzalez