What Is a Labeling Machine?

A Labeling Machine has a conveyor system that moves items at a constant speed. When it senses a product, the device pauses it to allow a label to be attached.

This equipment can handle different shapes, sizes and capacities simultaneously. It also has a synchronous chain emendation system that ensures steady performance.

Pressure-Sensitive Labeling Machines

Pressure sensitive labeling machines adhere labels with an adhesive glue to containers, boxes and shipping cases. These labelers can handle all shapes and sizes of product labels as well as an endless variety of compatible label materials. These labelers can also be built to be able to switch between label formats on the fly, reducing downtime due to changes in label size.

These labelers typically use self-adhesive labels that are made of a wide range of materials, including paper, plastic film, foil and vinyl. They have the adhesive on one side and are protected by a silicone-coated paper backing until they are applied to products. Labelers utilize a series of rollers to feed the label stock onto a label applicator. The label is then pressed against the package or container by brushes or tampers to ensure proper adhesion. The labelers then rewind the unapplied label stock to prevent waste and make it easy to apply new labels.

Specialty labeling equipment for bottles and other types of packaging includes front and back labelers that can apply two different labels to a single Automatic capping machine product at once, or neck labelers that wrap a label around the top of a bottle. These labels can display UPC barcodes, expiration dates, warning information or shipping details. Some labelers can even print and apply labels that display price-by-weight information on products like meat or cheese.

Thermal Transfer Labeling Machines

Thermal label printers function like regular printers but print using heat to reproduce an image. They work on a variety of label faces, including paper, packaging films and (most) plastics. They can also use specialty adhesives that maintain adhesion at high or low temperatures, or can withstand water and chemicals.

Labels produced by a thermal transfer label printing machine utilize a ribbon that contains wax or resin-based ink. The ribbon is positioned between the label and a printhead, which uses a series of heating pins to create an image on the blank label surface. A microprocessor determines which heating pins are active and what kind of print to produce. The ribbon is heated by the printhead, melting and transferring the ink to the label surface. The resulting labels are highly durable and legible.

Unlike direct thermal printing, which requires the label material to be heat-activated, the thermal transfer method can accept a broader variety of “regular” label materials, including polyester and polypropylene. The print on these labels is also impervious to liquids and will not blacken when a fingernail is drawn across it, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.

For more permanent solutions, consider a thermal transfer labeler that can also apply tape. These models are ideal for a variety of applications, such as product identification, circuit board tracking, inventory and asset tags and certification labels. They are particularly useful in environments that require a long lifespan, such as cold storage or outdoor environments. These labels also eliminate the need for liners, reducing waste and cutting down on disposal costs.

Cold Glue Labeling Machines

Cold glue labeling machines apply pre-cut paper labels to glass and metal round bottles, jars, and other containers using water soluble resin adhesive. They are ideal for labeling products that are sensitive to heat or require a high level of moisture resistance, and they are especially suitable for applying front, neck, and shoulder labels as well as tamper-evident seals in humid environments and on wet surfaces. Gernep’s Labetta labeling aggregates offer precise wrap-around bottle labeling thanks to a range of different gluing designs that can be flexibly implemented on the same rotary cut and stack cold glue labeler. Features include adjustable rubberized glue palettes, stainless steel glue rollers, a split glue scraper blade for glue-saving application, and oil-lubricated gears.

The labelling process is fully automated. During operation, the labeling system first applies the resin adhesive to the labeling metal rod, then transfers the labels from the label box onto the labeling head by rotating and then sucking them to the main label drums. At this point, the labels are applied to the bottles and pressed on by the pressing belt unit. The labeling machine can be used alone or in conjunction with fillers, cappers, and sealers. It can also be adapted to work with different bottle shapes and sizes.

Label Applicators

Label applicators are the core of labeling machines. They perform several essential functions: media handling, label separation and application, and product transport. They can apply a variety of labels, including roll-on labels (one or two sides), wrap-around labels and tamper-evident labeling. They can also be configured for side-, top- and bottom-labeling.

They typically have a tamp-blow or blow-on labeling system, which uses a pneumatic or electric cylinder to extend and touch (tamp) Automatic Capping Machine Manufacturer the adhesive side of the labels to the products. Another type of label applicator is a wipe-on or brush-on labeling system, which uses hoses and brushes to apply the labels. Both of these systems can be used on round, flat, or irregular-shaped products.

In addition to the above-mentioned labeling techniques, they can also include a code assurance function, which provides accurate and consistent bar codes and print data. These features can help prevent labeling errors and improve efficiencies and accuracy.

Other features that can be included in labeling machines are product inspection systems, which provide feedback on the condition of products as they pass through the machine. These are an important safety measure, as they ensure that only tamper-evident labels are applied. Some machines may also feature a locking electrical box, which can only be powered on when there are products on the conveyor system.