Linerless label printer control

Abstract

A thermal printer for printing linerless labels is operated so that the pressure sensitive adhesive of the second face of the labels does not stick to a drive roller which advances and reverses the labels, and cooperates with the thermal print head to effect printing. A cutter is disposed downstream of the print head and drive roll from a linerless label roll takeoff. Between the cutter and the drive roller is an air knife which directs a substantially uniform flow of gas to the peripheral surface of the drive roller to prevent the adhesive of the labels from sticking to the drive roller peripheral surface. Air flow through the air knife is at a pressure of about 20-50 psi (preferably about 30 psi) and the air flow may be provided continuously or only during initiation and continuation of printing and advancing the printer. Operation of the drive roller is also controlled to prevent sticking by advancing the roll of linerless labels so that the leading edge is aligned with the cutter, completely formatting the printer while the leading edge is aligned with the cutter, reversing the label leading edge by operating the drive roll so that the leading edge moves to an initial position for printing of the leading label of the roll, and with a delay of less than 0.5 seconds (i.e. substantially immediately) initiating printing and advancing so that the adhesive does not have any opportunity to stick to the drive roller.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.