A protective film that can be included in multi-layer film laminates for use in marketing, advertising campaigns, particularly outdoor or other environment impacted promotions and safety applications. The film includes at least two different polyurethane polymers and is free or substantially free of polyvinyl chloride based polymer. One polyurethane has an ultimate elongation less than 200%, and another polyurethane has an ultimate elongation more than 400%. The film may be transparent, translucent, clear or have other desirable optical properties.

An apparatus and method for applying a label on an article is described. The apparatus may include a first and a second channels. Each of the channels may comprise a first surface and a second surface positioned opposite the first surface. The second surface may comprise a curved edge. The curved edge may further comprise an open end curved towards the first surface. The applicator assembly may be used to provide assistance with applying a label held on a label securing assembly to an article. The first surface of each of the first channel and the second channel may be adapted to restrict a curvature of the label. The open end of the second surface of each of the first channel and the second channel may be adapted to contact an adhesive side of the label.

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.

Broadly described herein are methods for using the same pumping and metering system to apply two different seaming agents consecutively without cleaning the system between the two seaming agents. This is useful when it is desired to produce high shrink wrap labels and low-shrink labels on the same production line. The two seaming agents are soluble in each other at loadings (w/w) of 1:10 to 10:1. Two sets of seaming agents are also disclosed, (a) a polar low-shrink seaming agent and a polar high-shrink seaming agent; and (b) a non-polar low-shrink seaming agent and a non-polar high-shrink seaming agent.

Systems and methods for applying decorations onto substrates. Decorations can be transported on a web along the web path to an application station at which the decorations are applied to substrates. Movement of substrates through the application station can be controlled to effect transfer of a decoration to a substrate. The web and a substrate support that urges a substrate into contact with a decoration on the web can be moved in the same direction, e.g., at different speeds. The substrate can be rotated during decoration transfer about an axis that passes through the substrate, e.g., the substrate can be rotated 180 degrees or more during transfer.

Provided is a pressure sensitive adhesive sheet for tires that enables continuous and efficient labeling on tires using a labeling apparatus. The pressure sensitive adhesive sheet includes a release material (C), a first pressure sensitive adhesive layer (B1), a first substrate (A1), a second pressure sensitive adhesive layer (B2), and a second substrate (A2), in this order, and satisfies Requirement (1): in a planar view of the pressure sensitive adhesive sheet, the outline of the first pressure sensitive adhesive layer (B1) exists inside the outline of the second substrate (A2); and Requirement (2): the MD stiffness of the second substrate (A2), measured in the Gurley method according to JIS L 1085, is 0.10 mN or more.

An apparatus for labeling support structures includes: a chassis having a locomotive assembly, and supporting a label generator and an effector assembly with an end movable relative to the chassis and carrying a label manipulator with an image sensor; a controller coupled to the locomotive assembly, label generator, effector assembly and label manipulator, and configured to: obtain label placement data defining a location relative to a support structure reference feature for replacement of a previous label with a new label; control the locomotive assembly to travel to the support structure; detect the reference feature via image data captured at the image sensor; control the effector assembly to place the label manipulator at the location relative to the reference feature; control the effector assembly and the label manipulator to remove and discard the previous label, retrieve the new label from the label generator, and place the new label at the location.

An object can be heat-shrinkable packaged by placing an object inside of heat-shrinkable film, sealing the heat-shrinkable film around the object to form a heat-shrinkable package, coupling a first portion of a label to the heat-shrinkable package, and causing the heat-shrinkable film to shrink into heat-shrunk film and the heat-shrinkable package to form into a heat-shrunk package. The label includes an identifier on a second portion of the label. The label remains coupled to the heat-shrunk film after the heat-shrinkable film is caused to shrink into heat-shrunk film. The second portion of the label remains substantially undeformed after the heat-shrinkable film is caused to shrink into heat-shrunk film.

Systems and methods for forming and applying decorations onto substrates are disclosed. According to some aspects, a decoration may be formed on a carrier web at a decoration forming station positioned along a web path. The decorations may be transported along the web path to an application station at which the decorations are applied to substrates from the carrier web.

A label processing apparatus including a head configured to cause a wire pin to move toward and away from a label medium for performing processing on the label medium, a first wall member located at a position in a first direction from the transport path surface including a first communication hole communicating with outside, and a fan configured to blow air onto a ventilation region including a region located at the head side of the first surface in the transport direction, and to then cause the air to be discharged to the outside through the first communication hole.