System and method for environmentally cleaning a package for a heat transfer decorating machine

A method for applying a heat transfer label to a contaminated article, said method comprising:

• (a) receiving said contaminated article by an in-feed mechanism;
• (b) removing said contamination from said contaminated article;
• (c) sensing ambient environmental conditions and adjusting, automatically, said removal of said environmental contamination in response to said sensed ambient environmental conditions;
• (d) conveying said decontaminated article to a label applicator;
• and
• (e) applying a heat transfer label to said decontaminated article.

An apparatus for applying a heat transfer label to an article, said apparatus comprising:

• an in-feed mechanism, said in-feed mechanism operable to receive said article and remove environmental contamination from said article prior to said article having a heat transfer label applied;
• a label applicator operative to apply a heat transfer label to said article;
• and
• a conveyor coupled with said in-feed mechanism and said label applicator and operative to convey said article from said in-feed mechanism to said label applicator;
• wherein said article is filled with a chilled content characterized by a first temperature, said apparatus operative to apply said label to said article without raising said first temperature by more than 1° F.

An apparatus for applying a heat transfer label to an article, said apparatus comprising:

• an in-feed mechanism, comprising:
• a sensor operative to sense ambient environmental conditions;
• wherein said in-feed mechanism is operable to receive said article, remove environmental contamination from said article prior to said article having a heat transfer label applied, and automatically adjust said removal of said environmental contamination in response to said sensed ambient environmental conditions;
• a label applicator operative to apply a heat transfer label to said article;
• and
• a conveyor coupled with said in-feed mechanism and said label applicator and operative to convey said article from said in-feed mechanism to said label applicator.