Moore Business Forms, Inc.

Jimme A Harrod

Nancy G Mitchell

Joseph W Langan

John R Soltysiak

Khaled M Khatib

Jeffrey J Boreali

John C Bane

Timothy J Russ

Francis R Smith

Dennis D Hubbell

Daniel P Ratka

Paul M Cumming

Frank L Benchik

A thermal printer for printing linerless labels is operated so that the pressure sensitive adhesive of the second face of the labels does not stick to a drive roller which advances and reverses the labels, and cooperates with the thermal print head to effect printing. A cutter is disposed downstream of the print head and drive roll from a linerless label roll takeoff. Between the cutter and the drive roller is an air knife which directs a substantially uniform flow of gas to the peripheral surface of the drive roller to prevent the adhesive of the labels from sticking to the drive roller peripheral surface. Air flow through the air knife is at a pressure of about 20-50 psi (preferably about 30 psi) and the air flow may be provided continuously or only during initiation and continuation of printing and advancing the printer. Operation of the drive roller is also controlled to prevent sticking by advancing the roll of linerless labels so that the leading edge is aligned with the cutter, completely formatting the printer while the leading edge is aligned with the cutter, reversing the label leading edge by operating the drive roll so that the leading edge moves to an initial position for printing of the leading label of the roll, and with a delay of less than 0.5 seconds (i.e. substantially immediately) initiating printing and advancing so that the adhesive does not have any opportunity to stick to the drive roller.

Linerless label printer control

An apparatus and method provide for the alternate manufacture of permanent adhesive or repositional linerless labels utilizing the same equipment. Indicia is applied such as by using an intelligent imaging system by at least one print station. With repositional labels, a tie coat is applied and dried, whereas with permanent labels a barrier coating is applied. Coating stations apply a repositional adhesive and release coat in the construction of repositional adhesive labels. The coating station is followed by a dryer and chill rolls. In the construction of permanent adhesive labels a coating station for applying a release coat and a release coat curing station, as well as permanent adhesive application station, are also provided. Changeover time from the manufacture of one type of label to the other is short.

Apparatus for manufacturing linerless labels

Method and apparatus for manufacturing linerless labels

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Grand Island, NY, United States of America

Jimme A Harrod