Printing control apparatus for a label printer, method of using the apparatus, and a label used in conjunction with the apparatus

A printing assembly for printing labels using a printer controlled by a printing control apparatus, said assembly comprising:

• (a) a printer comprising:
• (i) a thermal head having a plurality of thermal elements which are disposed transversely to the direction of travel of said labels;
• (ii) means for placing said head into contact with a printable surface of a thermosensitive color label;
• (iii) means for energizing said thermal elements in accordance with printing information received from said printing control apparatus;
• (iv) means for transporting said label parallel to said printable surface and perpendicularly to said transversely disposed thermal elements for printing predetermined indicia on said label;
• and
• (b) a printing control apparatus including:
• (i) means for selectively preventing said thermal head from being placed into an operative printing condition, wherein said means for selectively preventing said thermal head from being placed into an operative printing condition comprises means for moving said thermal head into contact with and away from a label at any point along said label, wherein said moving means comprises means for bringing said thermal head into contact with said label at any point therealong when said thermal elements are energized and maintaining said head away from said label at any point therealong when said thermal elements are de-energized;
• and
• (ii) means for controlling the feed rate of transport of said label by transporting said label at a first rate when said thermal head is maintained away from said label and at a second rate when said thermal head is in contact with said label, wherein said first rate is substantially greater than said second rate.