Linerless label printer and methods

Method of printing, comprising:

• (a) providing a print head and a cooperable adhesive-resistant platen roll, (b) providing a roll of a linerless label web having a series of labels, the web being composed of a web of label material with a release coating on a printable side and a tacky adhesive on its other side, (c) moving the print head and the platen-roll relatively together into printing cooperation while the label web is positioned between the print head and the platen roll, (d) printing on a label at the printable side of the web while the web is being advanced, (e) applying the printed label, and thereafter (f) moving the print head and the platen roll relatively apart following printing and application of a label, and (g) repeating steps (c) through (f) for the next label of the web.

A printer for printing on a linerless label web having successive connected labels, wherein the web can be composed of a web of label material with a release coated printable side and a tacky adhesive on the other side, the printer comprising:

• a print head and a cooperable adhesive-resistant platen roll, a space for a roll of a linerless label web, and means for alternatively moving the print head and the platen roll relative to each other into and out of printing cooperation once for each successive label printed.

A printer for printing on a linerless label web having successive connected labels, wherein the web can be composed of a web of label material with a release-coated printable side and a tacky adhesive on the other side, the printer comprising:

• a print head and an adhesive-resistant platen roll cooperable during printing cycles, a space for a roll of a linerless label web, at least one electromagnet to move the print head and the platen roll relatively toward each other into printing cooperation to enable printing on a label of the web during each printing cycle, at least one spring to move the print head and the platen roll relatively away from each other out of printing cooperation after or upon completion of printing when the electromagnet is de-energized, and a controller to energize the electromagnet during the printing and to de-energize the electromagnet after or upon completion of the printing of each label.

A printer for printing on a linerless label web having successive connected labels, wherein the web can be composed of a web of label material with a release-coated printable side and a tacky adhesive on the side, comprising:

• a housing, a battery located on the housing, a thermal print head powered by the battery, an adhesive-resistant platen roll cooperable with the print head during printing cycles, the housing providing a space for a roll of a linerless label web, means for alternately relatively moving the print head and the platen roll into and out of printing cooperation once for each successive label printed, and wherein the moving means includes an electromagnet powered by the battery.

A printer for printing on a linerless label web having successive connected labels, wherein the label web can be composed of a web of label material with a release-coated printable side and a tacky adhesive on the other side, the printer comprising:

• a housing having a handle, a battery located on the housing, a thermal print head powered by the battery, an adhesive-resistant platen roll cooperable with the print head during successive printing cycles, the housing providing a space for a roll of a linerless label web, a label applicator on the housing, means for alternately relatively moving the print head and the platen roll into and out of printing cooperation once for each successive label printed, and wherein the moving means includes an electromagnet powered by the battery and energized throughout each printing cycle.