A method and apparatus for reuse and/or recycling of liner material layers from a label supply which typically includes the liner material layer and a label supply material in which the labels are formed and from which the labels are subsequently applied to one or more articles. The invention allows the separation and processing and recycling of the liner material layer which, otherwise and conventionally would be treated as waste. The invention allows this to be achieved without the need for the application of any material to the label supply following the formation of the same. The recycling can be in the form of forming the liner material into a raw material for subsequent processing or, alternatively, using the liner material as an adhesive tape or, alternatively, directly reusing the liner material layer as part of another label supply.

A labelling machine comprises a supply spool support for supporting a supply spool comprising label stock; a take-up spool support adapted to take up a portion of the label stock; a movable element which defines a portion of a web path between the supply spool and the take-up spool support; a sensor configured to produce a sensor signal indicative of the position of the movable element; a controller configured to receive the sensor signal and output a brake assembly control signal based upon the sensor signal; and a brake assembly configured to apply a braking force to one of said spool supports based upon the brake assembly control signal, the braking force resisting rotation of said one of said spool supports. The controller is configured to control the brake assembly based upon the sensor signal so as to cause the moveable element to move towards a desired position.

A winding device includes a first roller that winds label roll paper that is composed with a continues base sheet, a plurality of labels and a marginal portion, a second roller that winds the marginal portion peeled off the label roll paper, a drive part that generates a driving force for the second roller to rotate, a drive transmission control part that is provided between the drive part and the second roller such that the driving force is transmitted to the second roller from the driving part, and stops transmitting the driving force to the second roller if a load placed on the second roller exceeds a prescribed load, a detection part that detects a rotation of the second roller, and a control part that determines a cutoff of the marginal portion based on the rotation of the second roller detected by the detection part.

A mounting system for supporting equipment above a surface, such as, for example, a label dispensing unit, is provided. The system includes bracket having a first segment cantilevering from a housing and a second segment extending perpendicularly from the first segment and spaced apart from the housing. The housing and first and second segments form a channel to receive a support structure therein. The support structure is sized to fit within the channel to support the equipment above a surface when the bracket is disposed over the support structure.

A printer prints label data on a self-adhesive label that has a tabbed backing to produce a printed label on the tabbed backing. Also, a label feeder is positioned relative to the printer to transport the printed label on the tabbed backing away from the printer. A label applicator is positioned, relative to the feeder, to remove the printed label on the tabbed backing from the feeder. The tabbed backing includes a first section, covering an adhesive area of the printed label, and a tab extending from the first section. The label applicator includes a holder, that is shaped to grasp the tab of the tabbed backing, and a moveable element that is configured to remove the printed label from the tabbed backing and affix the adhesive area of the printed label to an item.

A labelling machine comprises a supply spool support for supporting a supply spool comprising label stock comprising a web and a plurality of labels attached to the web and which are separable from the web; a take-up spool support adapted to take up a portion of web; a motive means configured to propel the web along a web path from the supply spool support towards the take up spool support. A sensor has a transmitter portion and a receiver portion, the receiver portion comprising a plurality of receivers, the transmitter portion and receiver portion are configured to receive a portion of the label stock therebetween, and the plurality of receivers are each configured to produce a respective sensor signal which is a function of a property of a portion of label stock at a plurality of positions spaced from one another in a direction non-parallel to the web path. In addition, a controller is configured to monitor each of the sensor signals produced by the receivers and to select one of the sensor signals produced by the receivers based on said monitoring of each of the sensor signals produced by the receivers.

A printer prints label data on a self-adhesive label that has a tabbed backing to produce a printed label on the tabbed backing. Also, a label feeder is positioned relative to the printer to transport the printed label on the tabbed backing away from the printer. A label applicator is positioned, relative to the feeder, to remove the printed label on the tabbed backing from the feeder. The tabbed backing includes a first section, covering an adhesive area of the printed label, and a tab extending from the first section. The label applicator includes a holder, that is shaped to grasp the tab of the tabbed backing, and a moveable element that is configured to remove the printed label from the tabbed backing and affix the adhesive area of the printed label to an item.

A labelling machine comprises a supply spool support for supporting a supply spool comprising label stock comprising a web and a plurality of labels attached to the web and which are separable from the web; a take-up spool support adapted to take up a portion of web; a motive means configured to propel the web along a web path from the supply spool support towards the take up spool support. A sensor has a transmitter portion and a receiver portion, the receiver portion comprising a plurality of receivers, the transmitter portion and receiver portion are configured to receive a portion of the label stock therebetween, and the plurality of receivers are each configured to produce a respective sensor signal which is a function of a property of a portion of label stock at a plurality of positions spaced from one another in a direction non-parallel to the web path. In addition, a controller is configured to monitor each of the sensor signals produced by the receivers and to select one of the sensor signals produced by the receivers based on said monitoring of each of the sensor signals produced by the receivers.

A dispenser dispenses a material that is adhesive on at least one side, wherein at least one adhesive side of the material is covered with a liner, which has at least one slit running in a longitudinal direction, with the material placed on the liner being wound into a roll in the form of an Archimedean spiral and at least one slit being located beneath the material covered with the liner. The dispenser comprises a (i) frame, one end of which has a receptacle for the material, so that the material roll is rotatably mounted, (ii) a first guiding device, by means of which the material is guided together with the liner to a first dispensing edge, at which at least a first liner strip is pulled off, with the liner being separated at the slit located under the material, while the material with the remaining second liner strip is guided to a second dispensing edge, and (iii) a second guiding device, by means of which the material, together with the remaining liner strips, is guided to a second dispensing edge, at which the remaining second liner strip can be pulled off.

A winding device includes a first roller that winds label roll paper that is composed with a continues base sheet, a plurality of labels and a marginal portion, a second roller that winds the marginal portion peeled off the label roll paper, a drive part that generates a driving force for the second roller to rotate, a drive transmission control part that is provided between the drive part and the second roller such that the driving force is transmitted to the second roller from the driving part, and stops transmitting the driving force to the second roller if a load placed on the second roller exceeds a prescribed load, a detection part that detects a rotation of the second roller, and a control part that determines a cutoff of the marginal portion based on the rotation of the second roller detected by the detection part.