Label Handling And Stacking Apparatus

Abstract

Apparatus for converting printed label tape into packed containers of labels, employing a combination of components for cutting the label tape, folding the labels, advancing each to stacking comb means, and specially elevating each stack into synchronously advanced containers of a packer. The packer employs an intermittently advanced and locked turntable synchronously cooperative with the label stacking and elevating functions.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to label handling apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus cooperable with a label cut and fold mechanism for automatically packing stacks of labels or like articles in containers.

In the manufacture of clothing labels, the label stock is normally initially advanced in the form of a ribbon or strip, and is then cut into individual labels. Commonly these cut labels are folded with an end fold, a center fold, a miter fold, or other fold configuration. They are then stacked and manually packed into containers, e.g., elongated trays and/or cartons. Manual packing of the labels requires a full-time operator who deftly transfers labels out of the cut and fold machine with tweezers or sometimes her fingers, into containers. This transfer requires considerable skill to avoid loss of organization of the labels. However, once the task is learned, it becomes monotonous and tedious. The full-time attention of the operator is also expensive, as well as constituting a limit on production.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide apparatus for automatically packing stacks of sheetlike articles, particularly labels, into containers. The apparatus is cooperative with a label cut and fold machine such that the labels are stacked continuously in stacks of a predetermined number, and the stacks are periodically transferred into containers in controlled synchronism with the stacking operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus enabling stacks of labels to be packed into magazines in a turntable that retains the labels at successively advanced stations for removal, as by an operator servicing a series of such machines.

Another object of this invention is to provide a combination label cutting, folding, stacking, and packing machine capable of high speed, synchronized output of packages of labels from a printed ribbon of stock. All that an operator needs to do is feed reels of ribbon into the machine and remove packages of labels.

The machine feeds the tape from a reel through feed control means to a cutter where it is cut into individual labels. These are advanced through folding and ironing means to a support comb. Fingers cooperative with the comb stack the labels, and partially elevate the label stack. Special transfer means further elevate the stack to label stack retention means and package retention means mounted on a synchronously shifting turntable containing a plurality of such stations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the label handling combination;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, side elevational, partially sectioned view of the apparatus, viewed from the opposite direction as in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view taken of plane IV--IV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational, fragmentary view of the apparatus taken on plane V--V of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a portion of the apparatus taken on plane VI--VI of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the clutch portion of the apparatus, taken on plane VII--VII of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view taken on plane VIII--VIII of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on plane IX--IX of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged partially sectioned view of the rotational platform positioning means of the apparatus taken on plane X--X of FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is a sectional elevational view of the rotational platform, taken on plane XI--XI of FIG. 5;

FIG. 12A is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the label gripping and folding apparatus;

FIG. 12B is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the label ironing and advancing apparatus.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the packing mechanism taken on plane XIII--XIII of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the apparatus in FIG. 13, taken on plane XIV--XIV of FIG. 13.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The combination assembly 10 (FIG. 2) basically comprises a label strip advancing subassembly 12 (FIGS. 1-3), a label cutting subassembly 14 (FIGS. 2-3), individual label folding subassembly 15 (FIG. 2), label advancing and ironing subassembly 16 (FIGS. 2-3), label stacking subassembly 18 (FIGS. 2 and 8), and label packing and turntable subassembly 20.

The apparatus takes a label strip LS from a reel R, (FIG. 3) specially advances it with subassembly 12 to a position where it is cut into individual labels by subassembly 14. These individual labels are then folded at 15 and specially advanced with subassembly 16 to the stacker subassembly 18. The stacks are packed into cartons or the like repeatedly by portions of subassembly 20 which intermittently and subsequently advances full and empty cartons.

LABEL STRIP FEED

Subassembly 12 includes means such as axle 24 for supporting a reel R of label strip which previously has been printed with a repeat label pattern, the individual label portions being separated or otherwise indicated as by indicia markings M (FIG. 2). Label strip LS is advanced to cutter subassembly 14, chiefly by a pair of strip pulling feed rolls 26 and 28. Feed roll 26 is powered and feed roll 28 is an idler biased to squeeze the label strip against roll 26. Label strip stock is unwound from reel R by a reciprocating strip-pulling arm 22 to provide label strip slack for feed rolls 26 and 28.

When the bent outer end 22' of arm 22 pulls slack from reel R (FIG. 3), the preceding label strip portion is prevented from being pulled backwards by a simple one-way clutch-brake 19 composed, for example, of a series of annular washers 23 suspended on a rod 25 and positioned between a pair of flat surfaces, on bars 21, at an angle to each other. Hence the label strip can be pulled forwardly through unit 19, but reverse force causes washers 23 to bind into and against the flat surfaces of bars 21 to prevent reverse strip movement.

Feed roll 26 is power driven by belt 30, which in turn is driven form pulley 32. Pulley 32 is mounted on shaft 34 of a one-way clutch 36. Also mounted on this shaft is a spur gear 38 which meshes with a gear rack 40. Gear rack 40 has one end pivotally mounted at 42 to the outer radial end 178 of an oscillating arm assembly 44 that pivots about shaft 46. Arm assembly 44 includes a threaded adjuster 48 to enable variation of the radial displacement between point 42 and shaft 46. This enables the mechanism to advance the label strip differing amounts as desired. Also attached to shaft 46 is one end of a crank, 50, to the other end of which is connected a connecting rod 52. The opposite end of connecting rod 52 is eccentrically mounted on rotational gear 54 driven form gear 56 with which it meshes. Gear 56 is mounted on shaft 58 of a power motor 60. Also mounted on shaft 58 is an eccentric annular cam track 62 receiving a cam follower 64. Cam follower 64 is mounted to the lower end of a pivot arm which is pivotally mounted at its center to pin 66 and has a slot and pin connection on its upper end to a slide 68 to be discussed more fully hereinafter.

Feed rolls 26 and 28 therefore have an intermittent rotational drive in only one direction. This is caused as follows. Rotation of gears 56 and 54 oscillates connecting rod 52. Rod 52 in turn oscillates crank 50 arcuately. This rotates shaft 46 in oscillatory fashion, shifting arm assembly 44 back and forth in an arc to reciprocate gear rack 40. The gear rack rotates spur gear 38 back and forth, but one-way clutch 36 causes this to drive shaft 34 only in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3. This drive belt 30 hence moves intermittently in one direction, to rotate feed roll 26 intermittently in one direction to advance label strip LS from left to right as viewed in FIG. 3. The label strip is guided by a pair of straddling fingers 17.

Cutting of the clothing labels must be exact. It his been found that the feed rolls, although serving effectively for high speed intermittent advancement of the label strip, do not cause the label to stop sufficiently accurately enough for cutter subassembly 14 to cut these off exactly enough. The exact positioning of the label strip each time is accomplished by the additional mechanism illustrated in FIG. 3. More specifically, the indicia marking for each label is detected by a sensor such as photoelectric detector 72, usually by reflecting a beam of light from light source and lens means 74 off the label strip LS while it is held flat by a presser foot 76. The label strip slides under gravity controlled presser foot 76 as advanced by the feed rolls. Preferably, units 72 and 74 are activated only during a small portion of the period of time after each label strip advancement by the feed rolls. During this momentary period of time, slide 68, over which label strip LS passes, moves in a reverse direction to back the label strip up to an exact location. Slide 68 is driven in reverse and then returned forwardly by an oscillating pivot arm 65 which is pivotally mounted at its center to pin 66, has a slot on its upper end receiving slide pin 68' of slide 68, and has a cam follower 64 on its lower end. Cam follower 64 follows eccentric rotational cam track 62 to oscillate arm 65. To reverse the label strip, it is momentarily gripped to the reversing slide in controlled fashion. Specifically, extending upwardly from slide 68 and secured thereto is a frame 78 to which a solenoid 80 or equivalent actuator, e.g., pneumatic, is mounted. Connected to armature 82 of this solenoid is a pivot arm 84 pivoted at one end 86 and having a presser leg 88 at the other end for controllably forcing label strip LS tightly against slide 68. During a controlled portion of the reverse movement of this slide, presser element 88 holds label strip LS in tight engagement therewith to pull the label strip back a small fraction of an inch until sensor 72 detects an indicia marking. At this point, solenoid 80 is deactivated so that continued reverse movement of slide 68 does not shift the label strip further, and so that this slide can move back to its original position without further shifting of the label strip.

CUTTING SUBASSEMBLY

When the mechanism just described has positioned the label strip exactly with respect to the cutting unit, the vertically reciprocating blade 100 is shifted upwardly adjacent the fixed blade 102 in a shearing action to snip each label from the end of the label strip. Blade 100 is mounted to a support 104 which in turn has a cam follower 106 driven by a cam 108 on rotational shaft 110. Hence, cam 108 reciprocates the blade upwardly against the bias of compression spring 112 in synchronous fashion with respect to the strip feed.

LABEL FOLDING

When the label is cut by subassembly 14, it is immediately gripped and folded by subassembly 15 before being advanced by subassembly 16 toward stacker subassembly 18.

Subassembly 15 includes a pair of upper and lower gripper jaws 110 and 110' (FIG. 4) which are pivotally interconnected with each other at one end thereof to be openable and closeable about pivot 113. Both are mounted on a carriage 111 to be vertically movable and longitudinally movable. Also, they are biased to closed gripping condition by upper jaw 110 being biased toward lower jaw 110' by spring 109. Upper jaw 110' can be raised by rod 111a operated by pivot crank 115a off cam 117a. The open jaws are initially at the lower position where the movement starts, to receive the label being cut (indicated by the phantom lines L in FIG. 4). The jaws are closed by spring 109 to grip label L while leaving one or both edges free to be folded. The carriage 111 is then elevated by arm 115 which is rocked about its pivotal center (adjacent pivot arm 115a) by a rotational configurated cam 117 (adjacent cam 117a). This elevates the closed grippers and label to position the label at the height of the edge folding flanges 112. These folders (FIGS. 4 and 12) are L-shaped in cross section and are attached to the lower end of supports 112a (FIG. 4) that extend upwardly and have cam followers 112 b at the upper ends to engage cams 199 a on cam shafts 198a and 198b (FIGS. 4 and 8). As folders 112 first lower, they fold the edges of the label down adjacent the grippers. The relative vertical movement is also caused by elevation of grippers 110 and 110' by lever 115 raising body 111 against the bias of springs 111c and 111d. (Note that body 111 has upper and lower portions abutting on tapered edges 111f for length adjustment of body 111.) Then as ironers 112 move toward each other, they fold the label edges underneath the grippers. The center of the label is then released by grippers 110 and 110' , as the edges are gripped between the under surfaces of fixed elongated ironer supports 121 and a pair of vertically reciprocable ironers 110 (FIGS. 4 and 12B) to iron the folded edges and also to hold the label until elongated gripper bars 116 and 118 grip its center. Supports 121, ironers 119, and label advancing gripper bars 116 and 118 extend the entire length of subassembly 16 from the label cutoff zone to the label stacking subassembly 18. The pair of ironers 119 are suspended on the lower ends of support rods 119a and 119b (FIG. 4), the upper ends of which engage cams 199f and 199 g on cam shafts 198a and 198b.

LABEL ADVANCING

Gripper bars 116 and 118 cooperate with supports 121 and ironers 119 (FIG. 4) which laterally straddle bars 116 and 118. Strips 119 support the series of labels being advanced one behind the other by the labels having their edges resting on the strips. Bars 116 and 118 function by vertically moving together to grip the center portions of the series of sequential labels, shifting forwardly toward the stacker to simultaneously advance the labels a sufficient distance for another label to be deposited at the tail end by grippers 110, vertically moving apart to momentarily lay the labels on strips 119 (during which the labels are ironed), reversing to the starting position, and then repeating this sequence as illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 4. Bars 116 and 118 are vertically shifted and longitudinally horizontally shifted by mechanism to which they are mounted. Specifically, upper and lower gripper bars 116 and 118 are respectfully attached to one end of transverse supports 116a and 116b (FIGS. 2 and 5). These extend laterally and have their opposite ends pivotally mounted to the top and bottom of slide block 117a at pivot pins 117b and 117c. They are biased apart by spring 117f and cammed together. Block 117a is attached to slide 118c, as is connector 323 which operates shaft 321 in manner to be described hereinafter.

STACKER SUBASSEMBLY

As each individual label L is advanced to the stacker subassembly 18, it is deposited by gripper bars 116 and 118 on a fixed comb-type support 180 (FIG. 4). It includes a base 182 and a plurality of spaced, generally parallel, upright transverse platelets 184 (FIGS. 4 and 8). The second and subsequent labels sequentially deposited on the comb are advanced in like fashion, with the previously deposited labels being temporarily elevated during the deposit of each label underneath them and on comb plates 184. These labels are elevated from plates 184 by shifting, spaced, plate-type fingers 186 and 186' which project between platelets 184 beneath the upper surface thereof, and momentarily rise above this upper surface to lift the forming stack of labels to allow another one to be deposited, and then drop the labels down on the new one. Fingers 186 and 186' (FIGS. 8 and 9) are mounted at the outer ends thereof to supports 190 and 190' , respectively. These supports are attached to the lower end of a pair of pivot arms 192 and 192', respectively, pivotally mounted on shafts 194 and 194' , respectively, and having respective cam followers 196 and 196' on the opposite ends thereof. A pair of rotational cams 198 and 198' on camshafts 198b and 198a (FIGS. 7) cause levers 192 and 192' to reciprocate during rotation of the cams to move the platelike fingers 186 and 186' inwardly and upwardly to elevate all labels therein, and then downwardly and outwardly to lower the labels onto the newly deposited label on plates 184. This subassembly not only stacks the labels, but also participates in the packing process to the described.

LABEL PACKING SUBASSEMBLY

Once a predetermined number of labels is stacked upon the lower fixed comb, and specifically on plates 184 thereof, these are packed as a stack by the novel subassembly 20. This subassembly includes a turntable platform 250 which rotates successively through angular segments thereof, here shown to be quadrants, to successively position each of a series of vertically upright carton support and label guide devices 252 (FIG. 5) at the stacker. Each device 252 is composed of four upright angle members 252a-d positioned and oriented to define a rectangularly cross sectioned and vertically extending space therebetween. Two of these components 252a and 252b are mounted to one bracket 254 (FIG. 2) and the other two, namely 252c and 252d, are mounted on a second bracket 256. These brackets are in turn attached to turntable 250 and are adjustable toward each thereon to accommodate various lengths label. Attached to uprights 252a-d are four pivotal label holdup members 253 (FIG. 13 and 14). Each is pivotally mounted adjacent the upper end at 253a and has a hook 253b on the lower end. These are biased by springs 253c toward a mutual relationship wherein the hooks underlie the rectangular label receiving space. The lower portions of the hooks are convexly curved to enable labels being elevated to pivot the members outwardly for passage of the labels, after which the hooks return toward each other under the labels to hold them. These hooks are positioned above comb 184 the distance of several labels thickness to engage under the top portion of the label stack being formed while the bottom several labels remain beneath them. As will be understood, the upper labels in the stack are progressively pushed up into the container. In FIG. 2, two of these units are shown mounted at 90.degree. angle with respect to each other, while the other two are shown removed to enable the remainder of the apparatus to be more readily visualized. The inner surfaces of these four elements guide a stack of labels during vertical movement thereof, while the outer surfaces retain and align cartons C (FIG. 1) which have their open lower ends slid down over the upper ends of elements 252a-d for packing of label stacks thereinto. Thus, in FIG. 1, for example, the guide 252 immediately adjacent and above the comb is positioned to support a carton into which the labels are packed, (12 o'clock position while guide 252 at the 9 o'clock position supports a carton packed with labels and ready to be removed, and the device 252 at the 3 o'clock position receives an empty carton to be packed at the next shift of turntable 250.

The stack of labels on the comb is elevated in two stages into the carton. The first stage is elevation by fingers 186 and 186' , and the second stage by a paddle element 256 (FIGS. 1 and 2) which moves in a rectangular path, first inwardly beneath the partially elevated label stack and above the comb, then upwardly to push the label stack into the carton, then rearwardly to retract, and then downwardly to be ready for the next label stack. Horizontal insertion and retraction of paddle 256 is controlled by reciprocal shifting of a slide 262, to which the rear end of paddle 256 is attached. Attached to slide 262 is a connecting rod 270 operably eccentrically connected to rotary crank 268. Crank 268 is rotationally driven by power form a gear rack 320 when the fluid cylinder 265 engages the clutch assembly 266 which acts as a synchronizing clutch subassembly. specifically cylinder 265 (FIG. 7) shifts shaft 267 longitudinally, shifting sleeve 269 and gear 271. Gear 271 thus engages gear 273 on sleeve 275, to which crank 268 is attached to be rotated thereby. Gear rack 320 engages spur gear 322 on sleeve 269 so that, when rack 320 is shifted tangential to sleeve 269, and when gears 271 and 273 are engaged, rack 320 will rotate crank 268 to advance slide 262 (FIG. 2) and lifter 256. Rack 320 is attached to a reciprocating drive rod 321 (FIGS. 2 and 5) connected by coupler 323 to the drive for label advancing gripper bars 116 and 118. Actually, lifter 256 is not attached directly to slide 262 but rather is mounted on the upper end of a cylinder rod of a vertical fluid cylinder 328 (FIGS. 5 and 6) that is mounted at its upper end to slide 262 to move back and forth with it. Extension of cylinder 328 elevates lifter plate 256 and retraction lowers it. In sequence, the lifter, when actuated, is horizontally advanced beneath the center of a stack of labels after the labels are partially elevated off comb 184 by the fingers 186 and 186' which rise under the ends of the label stack. Then cylinder 328 elevates the lifter and label stack into device 252 where they are retained from falling. The lifter is then lowered by cylinder 328, and the slide, with cylinder, is retracted. When a multiple of such stacks have been so elevated, they pass up into the carton C held by device 252 to fill it. When the carton is full, the turntable is rotated 90.degree. to position another station with its device 252 and carton at the stacker.

Turntable 250 is rotated by a piston and link assembly, and is locked in place at each position. More specifically, turntable 250 is mounted on a fixed support 270 (FIG. 11) and specifically is mounted on ball bearing 274 around center pin 272. Power cylinder 278 (FIG. 2) is fixedly mounted to support 270 and rotates the turntable through a linkage arrangement (FIG. 10). That is, piston rod 280 of cylinder 278 is connected to a slide link 282 which in turn is connected to one end of a double pivot link 284, the other end of which is connected to an arcuately shiftable link 286 which is mounted on center post 272 and is engaged with turntable 250 through a one-way clutch (not shown). Slide 282, when shifted by cylinder 278, moves longitudinally along slide guide 290 (FIG. 10) so that, when cylinder 278 is extended, it rotates arcuately shifting link 286 through slide 282 and link 284 to rotate the turntable 90.degree. and then return. The turntable is locked in position at each angular position to obtain effective alignment of each label and carton guide and supports 252 with the label stack elevating paddle 256. This lock is effected by a spring biased pawl 294 (FIG. 10) housed in link 286 (FIG. 11) and biased by spring 296 into respective notches 298 (FIGS. 10 and 11) located 90.degree. apart in an annular depending skirt portion 250a projecting down from the center turntable hub 250b which mounts the turntable platform 250. To unlock pawl 294 from the turntable assembly, a powered depressing wedge 300 forming an extension of piston rod 300a of fluid cylinder 302 (FIGS. 10 and 11) is employed. This cylinder is mounted as a part of the fixed support 270.

As readily noted, camshafts 198a and 198b are driven by suitable motor means 350 (FIGS. 3 and 4) through shaft 352. These control the folders, the ironers, the stacker fingers and, indirectly, the grippers 110 and 110' , as well as the noted reciprocating drive for gripper bars 116 and 118 and input to clutch 266.

The sequence of operations of the packing subassembly is controlled step by step, and synchronized and correlated with the feed from the label advancing subassembly 16 to the stacker 18. This is the interconnection previously described and by appropriate placement of circuit controlling limit switches LS-1 through LS-8. LS-1 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is mounted on the side of the machine, is actuated by the drive for gripper bars 116 and 118, to interlock the timing of the lifter slide with the label advancing subassembly at the beginning of the label stack elevating cycle. LS-2 (FIG. 2) is mounted on the side of the rotary turntable, is actuated by the forwardly shifted lifter slide, to determine when the lifter slide has reached forward (i.e. inserted) position beneath the partially elevated label stack. LS-3 (FIG. 2) is mounted on the back of the rotary turntable and serves as an interlock to determine when the lifter slide has reached retracted position. LS-4 (FIG. 2) is mounted on the machine base under the packer and serves as an interlock to determine when the lifter has fully extended upwardly. LS-5 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is mounted on the side of the machine and serves to interlock the timing of the lifter with the machine at the end of the label stack transfer cycle. LS-6 (FIG. 2) is mounted on the side of the rotary table and serves as an interlock to determine when the lifter has retracted to clear the rotary table sufficiently to rotatably index the rotary turntable. LS-7 (FIG. 2) is mounted on the back of the rotary table and serves as an interlock to determine when the rotary table has completed its rotary index step. LS-8 (FIGS. 2 and 11) is mounted on the back of the rotary table and serves as an interlock to determine when the rotary table is locked in position.

OPERATION

The operation of the apparatus is apparent from the preceding detailed description. Basically, label strip slack is pulled off reel R by oscillating arm 22, with strip already advanced being prevented from reversing by unit 19. Feed rolls 26, 28 pull the strip slack intermittently toward the cutters, with accurate registry of strip LS with respect to cutters 100, 102 being achieved by controlled momentary reverse strip movement. This reverse action is achieved by oscillating platform 68 and clamp 88, controlled by detector 72, 72 of indicia M. The cut labels are individually gripped by fingers 110, 110', folded on these fingers by downward and inward movement of folders 112. The cut, folded labels are then edge gripped between fixed supports 121 and rising ironer bars 119. Then the label is gripped between closing gripper bars 116, 118 while released by members 119, 121, and then advanced one step toward the stacker where members 119, 121 release and members 116, 118 regrip it. Successive labels are thus advanced. The labels are deposited one by one on comb 180, with previously deposited labels being elevated momentarily by fingers 186 for insertion of individual following labels thereunder.

After several labels build up in a stack on comb 180, the topmost labels reach the bottom of hooks 253b and are pushed thereagainst to temporarily spread members 253. They thus enter guide 252. After a predetermined number of labels have been stacked and elevated, paddle lifter 256 is inserted between comb 180 and the bottom of the labels, in timed relation to the label advancing equipment. This is done through clutch 266, crank 270, and slide 262. Paddle 256 is then elevated by cylinder 328, pushing the label stack up between elements 252a-d and into an inverted carton C retained on these elements. Unit 256 then retracts and lowers.

When a predetermined number of these labels are so inserted turntable 250 is rotated 90.degree. and locked in aligned position to enable an operator to remove the filled cartons and to position an empty guide and carton in alignment with the stacker.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows.

1. Label forming and handling apparatus comprising: label tape advancing means; label tape cutoff means to cut the tape into individual labels; label tape reverse-pull positioning means for positioning the tape exactly with respect to said cutoff means; indicia detector control means operably associated with said positioning means to control it in relation to indicia on the label tape; label folding means adjacent said cutoff means; elongated label advancing gripping means having a receiving end at said folding means and having a discharge end; label stacking means at said discharge end comprising intermeshing comb and fingers vertically movable with respect to each other; and label packing means cooperative with said stacking means to lift a stack from said label stacking means and push it into a pack; said fingers being in two groups extending toward but terminating spaced from each other, said intermeshing comb and fingers being movable between an intermeshing position where the labels rest on said comb, to a separated position where the edges of the labels rest on said two groups of fingers above said comb; said label packing means including a label stack lifting means shiftable from a first withdrawn position to a second position inserted vertically between said comb and fingers, and laterally between said two groups of fingers, and then to a third lifting position; power means connected to said label advancing gripping means and to said fingers, and connected through clutch means to said lifting means; and said clutch means being controllably energized to cause periodic synchronized insertion and lifting of said lifting means.