In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a produce label applicator machine is retrofitted with a system such that the positive/negative air pressure at the label applicator bellows is configured to introduce and apply a bacteria or maturity inhibiting substance/gas/chemical to the surfaces of the labels as they are being applied to the produce. A source of bacteria or maturity inhibiting substance/gas/chemical is coupled to a fast-acting valve, that is in communication with the air passageway of the label dispensing arms/bellows.

A labeling machine includes a base structure which rotatably supports a conveyance carousel for the containers to be labeled and at least one protection structure which can move, with respect to the base structure, from an active condition, in which it prevents access from the outside to at least one portion of the conveyance carousel, to an inactive condition, in which it allows access from the outside to the at least one portion of the conveyance carousel, and vice versa; the protection structure includes a supporting framework for components of the protection structure, which includes a profiled bar having an arc-like extension around the axis of the conveyance carousel, which is arranged above the base structure and forms at least one engagement seat for elements for fixing to the supporting framework at least one of the components.

A method of applying a linerless label to an article wherein a web of joined labels is die cut from a web of label material in which the adhesive is protected by a water-soluble coating which provides a cushion between an anvil and die cutting means. The water-soluble coating is at least partially removed by exposure to water in a press following die-cutting, in a label applicator, or in an off-line unit. The web of joined labels may be wound and unwound between each of the above options. The web of joined labels may be separated in a label applicator by breaking a weakened boundary between adjoining labels or by cutting at a boundary between the label and the adjoining label. The linerless label may contain anti-counterfeit means that may be subsequently identified overtly and/or covertly.

The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for applying labels to containers or packs, comprising the following steps: taking over a label from a label providing unit by means of a pallet such that a glue application surface of the label faces away from the pallet; conveying the label by means of the pallet past a glue application unit, where the glue application surface of the label has cold glue applied thereto, at least over part of its area; and, subsequently, directly transferring the glue-coated label to a container conveyed by a conveyer or to a pack conveyed by the conveyor.

Methods for forming high shrink wrap label sleeves directly from a roll are disclosed herein. A seaming agent is applied to the label, where the trailing edge will overlap the leading edge to form a seam. The seaming agent is then exposed to radiation to cure the seaming agent and form a sleeve. The label comprises a film with at least one external layer that has a Hildebrand solubility parameter, and the seaming agent includes a component having a Hildebrand solubility parameter that is within 2.2 MPa.sup.1/2 or within 4.4 calories.sup.1/2.Math.cm.sup.3/2 of the Hildebrand solubility parameter of the external layer of the film. The seaming agent also has a viscosity of at least 1 centipoise and less than 1000 centipoise when measured at any temperature between ambient temperature and 60 C.

The present disclosure relates to a labeling apparatus for labeling articles. In one implementation, the apparatus may include a transfer drum having at least one label retaining segment adapted to receive and to retain at least one label, a glue application unit adapted to apply glue onto the label, a cleaning unit adapted to clean the transfer drum and a control unit adapted to selectively activate the cleaning unit into at least any one of: a partial cleaning configuration in which the cleaning unit is configured to partially clean the at least one label retaining segment or a full cleaning configuration in which the cleaning unit is configured to fully clean the at least one label retaining segment.

A label printer includes a print head configured to perform printing on a label sheet, a transporting roller configured to transport the label sheet downstream, a peeling roller configured to transport a backing sheet in a direction different from a travelling direction of a label to peel the label from the backing sheet, and a control unit configured to control rotation of the transporting roller and rotation of the peeling roller, wherein when controlling a current value supplied to a peeling motor configured to rotate the peeling roller, the control unit supplies, to the peeling motor, a current value that is greater in an acceleration period for accelerating the rotation of the peeling roller than in any of a constant-speed period for rotating the peeling roller at a constant-speed and a deceleration period for decelerating the rotation of the peeling roller.

Systems and methods for applying decorations from a web onto a substrates are disclosed. According to some aspects, a decoration may be transferred from the web directly to a substrate based on contact of the substrate with an adhesive of a portion of the decoration while the portion of the decoration is attached to the web.

An apparatus for producing reels of adhesive label laminate, the apparatus comprising a transfer device, the transfer device comprising: a transfer unit, which comprises a perforating blade, and a transfer surface, an adhesive applicator unit for providing an adhesive layer on the transfer surface, a motor to rotate the transfer unit about a first rotation axis, an actuator unit to move the first rotation axis from a standby position to a cutting position,
wherein the transfer device is arranged to form a perforation in the label laminate by cutting with the blade of the rotating transfer unit when the first rotation axis is in the cutting position,
wherein the transfer device is arranged to form an adhesive region on the label laminate by pressing the transfer surface of the rotating transfer unit onto the label laminate such that the adhesive layer is transferred to the label laminate, wherein the transfer device is arranged to move the first rotation axis back to the standby position.

A labeling apparatus comprises a separation member configured to promote detachment of an adhesive label from liner web. Adhesive labels are fed to the separation member such that a surface of the facestock contacts the separation member. The separation member has a surface exhibiting a tack such that the tack force between the facestock and the separation member is greater than the release force between the release liner and the adhesive layer of the labels. The labels become associated with the separation member, and the label is applied to a surface of a substrate by contacting the exposed adhesive layer with a surface of a substrate, which causes the adhesive label to detach from the separation member.