Apparatuses and methods for applying a transfer material onto the surface of an article are disclosed, including apparatuses and methods of transfer printing on and/or decorating three-dimensional articles, as well as the articles printed and/or decorated thereby. In some cases, the apparatuses and methods involve providing a deposition device, such as a printing device; providing a transfer component; depositing a material onto a portion of the transfer component with the deposition device; modifying the portion of the transfer component with the transfer material thereon to conform the transfer component to at least a portion of the surface of the three-dimensional article; and transferring the transfer material onto the surface of the article.

A printer assembly (30) for applying labels (36) on produce P being transported on a conveyance system (24). The printer assembly receives labels (36) mounted on a substrate tape (34) from a label supply (32) and prints content on the labels pertaining to the produce being transported. An accumulator (42), together with the printer (40), are mounted on a chassis (60). The accumulator receives labels from the printer, temporarily stores a variable number of the printed labels and supplies the stored labels as needed to an applicator (44). The applicator removes the labels from the substrate tape and applies the labels on the produce as the produce is being transported by the conveyance system. The accumulator accommodates the difference in the operational speeds of the printer relative to the applicator.

Apparatuses and methods for applying a transfer material onto the surface of an article are disclosed, including apparatuses and methods of transfer printing on and/or decorating three-dimensional articles, as well as the articles printed and/or decorated thereby. In some cases, the apparatuses and methods involve providing a deposition device, such as a printing device; providing a transfer component; depositing a material onto a portion of the transfer component with the deposition device; modifying the portion of the transfer component with the transfer material thereon to conform the transfer component to at least a portion of the surface of the three-dimensional article; and transferring the transfer material onto the surface of the article.

The invention relates to a device (1) for labelling individual products (2), in particular packages or goods, with a feed device (3) for transporting a respective product (2) along a transporting path, with a label application device (4) with a blower head (5) for applying a label (6) to the surface of the product (2), wherein the blower head (5) has holding means (7) for fixing the label (6) in a blow-off position (II) and blow-off means (8) for producing a blast of compressed air directed in a blow-off direction (A) from the blow-off position (II) to the feed device (3), and with a label dispensing device (9) for providing a label (6) in a dispensing position (I). In order to precisely transfer labels (6) to a surface of a product (2) to be labelled in the simplest way possible the invention proposes that the label application device (4) comprises a conveying unit (11) for transporting the respective label (6) from the dispensing position (I) to the blow-off position (II), wherein the conveying unit (11) has a transporting element (12) and pressing force generation means (14). The invention also relates to a method of labelling individual products (2).

An apparatus for processing, e.g., labelling, respective products, e.g., fruit and vegetables, contained in a suitable container, or crate, has a supporting framework, product feeder, and label applier having a plurality of label application devices provided or arranged side by side and/or arranged in a first and a second transversal row of devices. The apparatus may have an electronic processor for controlling the units of the apparatus, which, for each product, starting with the detected configuration of the respective batch, or crate of products, determine a product area, e.g., having a circular or oval shape, which is large enough to allow complete application of a corresponding label.

A printer assembly (30) for applying labels (36) on produce P being transported on a conveyance system (24). The printer assembly receives labels (36) mounted on a substrate tape (34) from a label supply (32) and prints content on the labels pertaining to the produce being transported. An accumulator (42), together with the printer (40), are mounted on a chassis (60). The accumulator receives labels from the printer, temporarily stores a variable number of the printed labels and supplies the stored labels as needed to an applicator (44). The applicator removes the labels from the substrate tape and applies the labels on the produce as the produce is being transported by the conveyance system. The accumulator accommodates the difference in the operational speeds of the printer relative to the applicator.

Apparatuses and methods for applying a transfer material onto the surface of an article are disclosed, including apparatuses and methods of transfer printing on and/or decorating three-dimensional articles, as well as the articles printed and/or decorated thereby. In some cases, the apparatuses and methods involve providing a deposition device, such as a printing device; providing a transfer component; depositing a material onto a portion of the transfer component with the deposition device; modifying the portion of the transfer component with the transfer material thereon to conform the transfer component to at least a portion of the surface of the three-dimensional article; and transferring the transfer material onto the surface of the article.

A labelling method includes receiving an occupied signal from a conveyor indicating that the next spot on the conveyor is occupied with an object to be labeled and instructing a turret motor to rotate a turret continuously from one application position to another application position to apply a second label to the second object. The method then includes determining the absence of an occupied signal within a time threshold, and instructing the turret motor to rotate the turret to an intermediate position and to slow the turret at the intermediate position. The intermediate position is between two consecutive application positions. The method then includes receiving another occupied signal indicating that the next spot on the conveyor is occupied, and instructing the turret motor to rotate the turret to the next application position to apply a third label to the object.

A label-affixing machine affixes a label, which is conveyed by a label conveying body, to the back surface of a product being conveyed. The label-affixing machine includes a label holding unit configured to hold a label so that an adhesive surface of the label faces outward, a pressing mechanism configured to press a label conveying body, which is disposed on a side facing the label holding unit, against the adhesive surface of the held label by moving the label conveying body toward the label holding unit, and a controller that controls the drive of the label conveying body and the pressing mechanism to affix the label to the back surface of the product.

A machine for carrying out at least one operation onto a first article and a second article is disclosed. The machine comprises feeding means for advancing a succession of the first article and the second article along a path and with a first speed; a first operative group, which comprises a first tool configured for carrying out operation onto the first article and which can be operated with a second speed associated to the first speed; gap creating means selectively controllable to create a first gap, which is arranged inside succession and is bounded between the first article and the second article; and a second operative group, which comprises a second tool configured for carrying out operation onto the second article and which can be operated at the second speed.