Apparatus and method for configuring, locating, and applying information to a label, and printing and applying labels to articles

A label transfer mechanism, comprising:

• a support frame;
• a peel plate carried for articulating movement relative to the support frame and operative to deliver labels from a carrier onto articles which co-act in engagement with the peel plate such that relative movement occurs between the peel plate and the support frame;
• a sensor configured to detect relative movement between the peel plate and the support frame;
• and
• control circuitry communicating with the sensor and configured to receive an output signal from the sensor, and operative to controllably deliver labels in response to the output signal.

A labelling machine operable for applying carrier-supported labels for delivery to produce articles arranged in rows in a tray, comprising:

• at least one label transfer mechanism operative to apply labels from a carrier onto produce articles;
• memory operative to store print information;
• a printer positioned upstream of the label transfer mechanism and operative to print user-configurable print information;
• control circuitry electrically coupled to the printer and the memory, and operative to configure the printer to print user-configurable print information;
• a user interface signal-coupled to the control circuitry and memory, and operable by a user to select the user-configurable print information to be printed by the printer;
• and
• a sensor associated with a peel plate of the peel plate assembly, and operative to detect displacement of the peel plate with a produce article during label delivery thereto.