Labeling apparatus

Vacuum controlled apparatus for automatically applying a label to an item which may not lie desirably along a given plane. A label head consists of two separate elements forming a chamber to which a source of vacuum is connected. One of the elements contains openings extending between a label holding surface and the chamber. When the label head is moved to the item to be labeled, overtravel is provided, causing the two elements to separate, which reduces the vacuum and allows the element holding the label to align the label holding surface with the surface of the item to be labeled. Also disclosed is a device for enhancing the stripping of a label from a label carrier.