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 technology is for writing different information depending on an object into an electronic tag. The above problem is solved by an electronic tag writing system including a writing device that writes write information into an electronic tag, and an information acquisition section that acquires write information related to an object associated with the electronic tag, in which the write information acquired by the information acquisition section is written into the electronic tag using the writing device.

A label application system includes an item conveyor along which an item moves in a conveyance direction, the item having an item movement path. A plurality of label applying fingers are provided, each label applying finger having a retained end and a free end. Each retained end is positioned outside the item movement path so as to avoid contact with the item. At least part of each finger between the retained end and the free end is positioned within the item movement path in order to contact the item for pressing a label against the item. A label applier for wiping labels onto moving items includes a plurality of label applying fingers, each label applying finger having a retained end and a free end, each label applying finger is of thin plate configuration such that each label applying finger is capable of flexing independently of each other label applying finger.

A labeling apparatus includes a label holder and a controller. The label holder is configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position that is closer to a conveyer than is the retracted position, and receive a label on an end of the label holder facing the conveyer. The controller is configured to control the label holder to move towards a standby position between the retracted position and the extended position until an object to be labeled is conveyed on the conveyer to a position facing the label holder, and then towards the extended position such that the label is attached to the object.

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 apparatus includes a label holder and a controller. The label holder is configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position that is closer to a conveyer than is the retracted position, and receive a label on an end of the label holder facing the conveyer. The controller is configured to control the label holder to move towards a standby position between the retracted position and the extended position until an object to be labeled is conveyed on the conveyer to a position facing the label holder, and then towards the extended position such that the label is attached to the object.

A label supply apparatus includes a suction portion having a suction surface on which a label with an adhesive is to be held, sensors on the suction surface, and a controller configured to determine whether the label is held on the suction surface at a proper position or an improper position based on sensing results from the sensors.

A product transfer apparatus includes a product suction pad part having a suction cup part capable of sucking a plate-like product, a transfer base whose lower part has the product suction pad part, and a label suction part having a label pad, which is able to suck a label to be pasted to the product, and an up-down function of moving the label pad up and down between a position upper than and a position lower than the position of a front end of the suction cup part.

A label applicator with a label peeling function includes a frame supported by a support machine, a suction unit that is supported by the frame and has a suction pad, a claw member having a sharp tip that is disposed under the suction pad, a moving mechanism that is supported by the frame, and supports the claw member so as to be movable in an up-down direction relative to the suction pad, and a lock device that locks movement of the claw member in the up-down direction relative to the suction pad, in a state where the suction pad is placed on top of and in contact with an end of a label lying on the tip of the claw member.

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.