Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Systems and methods for applying decorations from a web onto substrates are disclosed. According to some aspects, a decoration may be transferred from the web directly to a substrate based on contact of the substrate with an adhesive of a portion of the decoration while the portion of the decoration is attached to the web.

Abstract: Systems and methods for applying decorations from a web onto substrates are disclosed. According to some aspects, a decoration may be transferred from the web directly to a substrate based on contact of the substrate with an adhesive of a portion of the decoration while the portion of the decoration is attached to the web.

Abstract: Systems and methods for applying decorations from a web onto a substrates are disclosed. According to some aspects, a decoration may be transferred from the web directly to a substrate based on contact of the substrate with an adhesive of a portion of the decoration while the portion of the decoration is attached to the web.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Systems and methods for applying decorations from a web onto a substrates are disclosed. According to some aspects, a decoration may be transferred from the web directly to a substrate based on contact of the substrate with an adhesive of a portion of the decoration while the portion of the decoration is attached to the web.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is described herein for automatically labeling using labels having a fluid activatable adhesive along the back surface of such label. The apparatus has multiple pallets each being positionable with the lowermost label of a stack of one or more labels to releasably secure by suction the label against the pallet, and multiple pads each being positionable with respect to pallets to receive labels from the pallets and then releasably retain such labels until application onto containers. Fluid for activating adhesive is applied by an applicator onto labels retained upon the pad to change the fluid activatable adhesive along the label's back surface from a non-tacky state to a tacky state just prior to application of the label onto container.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically modulating vacuum applied to a vacuum cup are described herein. More particularly an automated labeling apparatus and method for applying labels onto containers using a vacuum based transport mechanism is described herein.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liner-free label activator, adapted to be joined to another piece of equipment, such as a thermal printer. The activator has a housing including a reservoir for containing a solvent and a pump connected to the reservoir. The activator also has an applicator connected to the pump for applying solvent to a liner-free label passing thereby, an activator control system to connect to a control system of the printer, and structure for connecting the housing to the printer.

Abstract: Fluid activatable, multilayer adhesive compositions for use with liner-free labels, and methods of making and using thereof are described herein. The compositions contain a functional layer, such as an adhesive layer, which is applied to the label and a barrier layer which is applied on top of the adhesive layer. The multilayer composition prevents the adhesive layer on the label from interacting with the face of an adjacent label, particularly when the labels are stored as coils or folded stacks.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is described herein for applying labels to containers. The apparatus includes a guidance mechanism configured to provide a path for receiving a plurality of labels having a back surface with a fluid activatable adhesive that is non-tacky until activated, an adhesive activation station aligned with at least a portion of the guidance mechanism and configured to apply to the back surface of said labels a fluid to activate said adhesive along said back surface of said labels, and a label application station configured to apply at least one of said labels with said activated adhesive onto an exterior surface of a corresponding object located on a rotatable platform. The guidance mechanism includes at least one rotatable transfer member having a plurality of pallets.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is described herein for automatically labeling using labels having a fluid activatable adhesive along the back surface of the label. The apparatus includes a dispensing magazine for retaining a stack of labels, a first rotating transfer member, and an adhesive activation station aligned with the rotating transfer member. The dispensing magazine includes a dispensing end and a loading end. The first rotating transfer member is rotated in close proximity to the stack of labels and includes at least one belt having multiple openings for communication of suction to enable the belt to receive and releasably secure the front of the labels. The adhesive activation station is configured to apply to a fluid to the back of the labels to activate the adhesive such that the adhesive becomes tacky along the back surface of the label.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically modulating vacuum applied to a vacuum cup are described herein. More particularly an automated labeling apparatus and method for applying labels onto containers using a vacuum based transport mechanism is described herein.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically modulating vacuum applied to a vacuum cup are described herein. More particularly an automated labeling apparatus and method for applying labels onto containers using a vacuum based transport mechanism is described herein.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is described herein for automatically labeling using labels having a fluid activatable adhesive along the back surface of such label. The apparatus has multiple pallets each being positionable with the lowermost label of a stack of one or more labels to releasably secure by suction the label against the pallet, and multiple pads each being positionable with respect to pallets to receive labels from the pallets and then releasably retain such labels until application onto containers. Fluid for activating adhesive is applied by an applicator onto labels retained upon the pad to change the fluid activatable adhesive along the label's back surface from a non-tacky state to a tacky state just prior to application of the label onto container.

Abstract: Fluid activatable adhesive compositions and activating fluid(s) for activating the adhesive composition are described herein. The adhesive compositions contain at least two polymers with different hydrophilicities. The hydrophilic polymer has quick tack when exposed to a hydrophilic solvent, such as water or other aqueous solvent, while the hydrophobic polymer provides strong adhesion to a paper or polymeric substrate. The adhesive composition may contain particulate fillers which enable fast exhaustion of the activation fluid out of the adhesive when applied to a substrate, thereby allowing the hydrophobic polymers of the adhesive composition to achieve strong adhesion of the liner-free label to the paper or polymeric substrate. The particulate fillers may also function as anti-blocking agents when liner-free label media are tightly wound in a roll.