Abstract: Linerless label media comprises a substrate, a thermally-sensitive coating, and an adhesive. The substrate has a front side and a back side opposite the front side. The thermally-sensitive coating is disposed on the front side of the substrate. The adhesive is disposed on a portion of the back side of the substrate. The adhesive may comprise emulsion polymer particles and high-aspect reinforcement particles dispersed within the emulsion polymer particles to provide a relatively high level of reinforcement per reinforcement particle. The adhesive may include a tapered surface interconnecting first and second adhesive edge surfaces which extend substantially parallel to a longitudinally-extending axis. The substrate may comprise a transparent material. The thermally-sensitive coating may comprise a clear material.

Abstract: A thermal transfer ribbon comprises a substrate, and a clear thermal transfer coating disposed on one side of the substrate, wherein the clear thermal transfer coating is substantially devoid of pigment material. Also, a method of manufacturing a thermal transfer ribbon for finishing a printed label comprises applying to one major side surface of a substrate a clear thermal transfer coating which is substantially devoid of pigment material. Further, an apparatus comprises a label printer, a thermal transfer printer, and an in-line feeding mechanism which interconnects the label printer and the thermal transfer printer to feed a printed label from the label printer to the thermal transfer printer so that the thermal transfer printer can thermally transfer a clear thermal transfer coating to the printed label to provide a finished label.

Abstract: A thermal transfer ribbon comprises a substrate, and a clear thermal transfer coating disposed on one side of the substrate, wherein the clear thermal transfer coating is substantially devoid of pigment material. Also, a method of manufacturing a thermal transfer ribbon for finishing a printed label comprises applying to one major side surface of a substrate a clear thermal transfer coating which is substantially devoid of pigment material. Further, an apparatus comprises a label printer, a thermal transfer printer, and an in-line feeding mechanism which interconnects the label printer and the thermal transfer printer to feed a printed label from the label printer to the thermal transfer printer so that the thermal transfer printer can thermally transfer a clear thermal transfer coating to the printed label to provide a finished label.

Abstract: Linerless label media comprises a substrate, a thermally-sensitive coating, and an adhesive. The substrate has a front side and a back side opposite the front side. The thermally-sensitive coating is disposed on the front side of the substrate. The adhesive is disposed on a portion of the back side of the substrate. The adhesive may comprise emulsion polymer particles and high-aspect reinforcement particles dispersed within the emulsion polymer particles to provide a relatively high level of reinforcement per reinforcement particle. The adhesive may include a tapered surface interconnecting first and second adhesive edge surfaces which extend substantially parallel to a longitudinally-extending axis. The substrate may comprise a transparent material. The thermally-sensitive coating may comprise a clear material.