Linerless label applicator

A linerless label applicator for forming and applying a discrete linerless label to a document, the linerless label being formed from a continuous source of linerless label material having an adhesive applied to a side thereof, the apparatus being adapted to receive and advance a plurality of documents, one at a time, along a document path through the applicator, the linerless label material having a first, adhesive carrying side and a second, non-adhesive carrying side, the applicator comprising:

• a label storage and feed section adapted to store the continuous source of linerless label material on a label storage member, said section having a drive element being adapted to feed the label material therefrom along a label feedpath, the storage and feed section including a horizontally oriented, vertically moveable label material feed member having the label material in a roll form positioned thereon and being configured to hold and feed the label material therefrom, and a horizontally oriented tangent roll, said feed member being vertically moveable relative to said tangent roll so as to maintain contact therebetween as the label material is fed therefrom, said feed member including a brake element thereon to provide tension in the label material as it is fed from said feed member;
• a label cutting section including label drive means, label guide means and a label cutting assembly, said cutting section being adapted to receive the continuous label, advance the material in discrete, predetermined amounts and cut labels from the continuous label material, said guide means including a vacuum manifold being configured to receive the label material thereon and including a plurality of guide elements projecting generally transversely from said manifold defining a label travel path, said label cutting assembly including a stationary cutting element and a moveable cutting element mounted adjacent to said stationary element and configured to coact therewith for cutting the label material at a predetermined position to form the discrete label, said moveable blade including a cutting edge and having drive means operably connected thereto for moving said blade in a reciprocating path toward and away from, and transverse to, a plane defined by said label travel path;
• a label application section having a pivotally driven paddle member mounted thereto, said paddle member being pivotal between a receiving position and an applying position and being configured to receive the label material thereon when in said receiving position and secure the label thereto when the label material is being cut into the discrete label, and further adapted to pivot to said applying position to apply the label to the document passing in proximity thereto along the document path;
• and
• control means operably connected to the applicator, said control means including sensing means configured to detect the presence of at least one of the linerless label material in said label feed path, and the document in the document path.

A linerless label applicator for forming and applying a discrete linerless label to a document, the linerless label being formed from a continuous source of linerless label material, the apparatus being adapted to receive and advance a plurality of documents, one at a time, along a document path through the applicator, the linerless label material having a first, adhesive carrying side and a second, non-adhesive carrying side, the applicator comprising:

• a label storage and feed section adapted to store the continuous source of linerless label material on a label storage member, said section having a drive element being adapted to feed the material therefrom along a label feedpath;
• a label cutting section including label drive means, label guide means and a label cutting assembly, said cutting section being adapted to receive the continuous label, advance the material in discrete, predetermined amounts, and cut labels from the continuous label material, said guide means including a vacuum manifold having a surface configured to receive the label material with the non-adhesive side thereon, said surface defining a plurality of vacuum openings therein being in flow communication with an associated vacuum producing source for effecting a vacuum in said openings, said guide means further including a plurality of guide elements projecting generally transversely from said surface, said guide elements defining a label travel path for guiding the label material through the cutting section, said label cutting assembly including a stationary cutting blade and a moveable cutting blade mounted adjacent to said stationary blade and configured to coact therewith for cutting the label material at a predetermined position to form the discrete label, said moveable blade including a cutting edge and having drive means operably connected thereto for moving said blade in a reciprocating path toward and away from and transverse to a plane defined by said label travel path, said moveable blade further including a stripper member mounted thereto;
• a label application section having a pivotal paddle member mounted thereto, said paddle member having drive means for pivoting said paddle member between a receiving position and an applying position and being configured to receive the label material thereon when in said receiving position and secure the label thereto when the label material is being cut into the discrete label, and further adapted to pivot to said applying position to apply the label to the document passing in proximity thereto along the document path;
• and
• control means including sensing means configured to detect the presence of at least one of the linerless label material in said label feed path and the document in the document path, and to generate at least one control signal in response thereto.