A printing system provides a printer for printing indicia on a container within a vending machine. The printing system may print indicia based on information relevant to a purchase transaction. The vending machine may transmit to a remote server data relating to a purchase transaction entered into the vending machine, the remote server retrieving data relevant to the purchase transaction and/or to the purchaser and transmitting to the vending machine the data relevant to the purchase transaction, such that the printing apparatus prints indicia on the container based on the received data relevant to the purchase transaction.

The invention relates to a method and a system for moving and labelling reels (R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, . . . R.sub.n) of a web material such as paper or nonwoven in which each reel has a central core piece (3) which is hollow and around which the web material is wound. A robot arm (6) is inserted into the central core piece (3) of at least one reel (R.sub.1) and is then used to move the (R.sub.1) from a first position (P1) to a second position (P2) and to fix an inner label (15) onto the central core piece (3). According to the invention, the inner label (15) is placed on the robot arm (6) before the robot arm (6) is inserted into the central core piece (3) and the robot arm (6) is used both to fix the inner label (15) to the central core piece (3) and to move the at least one reel (R.sub.1).

The invention relates to a method and a system for moving and labelling reels (R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, . . . R.sub.n) of a web material such as paper or nonwoven in which each reel has a central core piece (3) which is hollow and around which the web material is wound. A robot arm (6) is inserted into the central core piece (3) of at least one reel (R.sub.1) and is then used to move the (R.sub.1) from a first position (P1) to a second position (P2) and to fix an inner label (15) onto the central core piece (3). According to the invention, the inner label (15) is placed on the robot arm (6) before the robot arm (6) is inserted into the central core piece (3) and the robot arm (6) is used both to fix the inner label (15) to the central core piece (3) and to move the at least one reel (R.sub.1).

An elongated object label applicator has a driver operably connected to a wrapping mechanism. The wrapping mechanism has a plurality of guide rollers spaced about a central portion. A belt is tensioned around the guide rollers and across an opening in the central portion through which an object to labeled is received. The belt is deflectable against an elastic force such that the belt can be recessed with the central portion by a force provided by the object to be labeled. The wrapping mechanism is driven by the driver to rotate the guide rollers about an axis of rotation of the wrapping mechanism passing through the central portion. The wrapping mechanism orbits the object to be labeled located within the central portion.

A container-labeling apparatus includes a label-strip feeder having a vacuum drum and a vacuum cylinder that has vacuum regions extending between different angular ranges. A first vacuum source provides the vacuum at the vacuum drum and a second vacuum source provides the vacuum at the vacuum cylinder. During operation, the vacuum regions provide different under-pressures.

An automatic, high speed labeling machine is provided for applying individual labels to large and variable size produce items. The label strips used are much larger and heavier than known label strips used for small produce such as apples and pears. The increased weight causes label strip overrun when the labeler is paused and also causes slippage of the label strip. A label strip deflector is provided which causes the larger and heavier label strip to fold back on itself rather than to overrun and foul the application of labels. The drive rollers are modified to eliminate slippage of the heavier label strip.

An automatic, high speed labeling machine is provided for applying individual labels to large and variable size produce items. The label strips used are much larger and heavier than known label strips used for small produce such as apples and pears. The increased weight causes label strip overrun when the labeler is paused and also causes slippage of the label strip. A label strip deflector is provided which causes the larger and heavier label strip to fold back on itself rather than to overrun and foul the application of labels. The drive rollers are modified to eliminate slippage of the heavier label strip.

A vending machine includes: a printing apparatus contained in the vending machine for printing printable data onto a substrate, wherein the substrate is a container for containing one or more products to be dispensed or is a label for the container; and a user interface for enabling customization of the printable data for each dispensing cycle. The user interface is configured to provide, at the time of use for dispensing, a user with at least one option to incorporate selected custom data into the printable data for printing onto the substrate thereby to customize the container.

A vending machine includes: a printing apparatus contained in the vending machine for printing printable data onto a substrate, wherein the substrate is a container for containing one or more products to be dispensed or is a label for the container; and a user interface for enabling customization of the printable data for each dispensing cycle. The user interface is configured to provide, at the time of use for dispensing, a user with at least one option to incorporate selected custom data into the printable data for printing onto the substrate thereby to customize the container.

An elongated object label applicator has a driver operably connected to a wrapping mechanism. The wrapping mechanism has a plurality of guide rollers spaced about a central portion. A belt is tensioned around the guide rollers and across an opening in the central portion through which an object to labeled is received. The belt is deflectable against an elastic force such that the belt can be recessed with the central portion by a force provided by the object to be labeled. The wrapping mechanism is driven by the driver to rotate the guide rollers about an axis of rotation of the wrapping mechanism passing through the central portion. The wrapping mechanism orbits the object to be labeled located within the central portion.