LABELING APPARATUS INCLUDING SPRING-LOADED APPLICATORS

An apparatus and method is described herein for applying labels to containers. The apparatus includes a guidance mechanism configured to provide a path for receiving a plurality of labels having a back surface with a fluid activatable adhesive that is non-tacky until activated, an adhesive activation station aligned with at least a portion of the guidance mechanism and configured to apply to the back surface of said labels a fluid to activate said adhesive along said back surface of said labels, and a label application station configured to apply at least one of said labels with said activated adhesive onto an exterior surface of a corresponding object located on a rotatable platform. The guidance mechanism includes at least one rotatable transfer member having a plurality of pallets. Each of the pallets includes multiple openings for communication of suction to enable at least one of the pallets to receive and releasably secure a front of the labels onto at least one pallet, and one or more rollers connected to each of the pallets by one or more tunable complaint members. The label application station includes a servo motor configured to drive a linear speed and a rotational direction of the platform.