A pressure sensitive label is constructed of three basic elements: Facestock, Adhesive & Liner. All three should be considered when choosing a label for your application. Some applications can also call for a topcoat/laminate or an RFID Inlay
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Label Applications
Utilizing various facestocks with specific adhesives, Global Venture can create unique labels for difficult and unusual applications. Whatever your needs may be, Global Venture can fulfill them. In most cases, a selection of materials is available to satisfy even the most challenging applications.
• RFID Labels
• Laser & Stock Labels
• Apparel Labels
• Prime Labels
• Pharmaceutical Labels
• Meat, Poultry, Seafood Labels
• Labels for the Gaming Industry
• Labels for the Airlines Industry
• Labels for Warehouse & Distribution
• Produce Labels
Color
Ink and base stock color choices commonly conform to the Pantone® Matching System (PMS) colors. The Pantone system is very dominant in the label printing industry. Additionally specialty inks such as metallic, UV ink, magnetic ink, and more are available. Ink is usually transparent however it can be made opaque.
Label Dispenser
A bench top Label Dispenser is a machine built to simplify the process of removing a label from its liner or backing tape. Label dispensers are designed with varying sizes and features which are often specific to the type of label they can dispense.
The labels are then applied by either Manual Application or Automatic Application.
Manual label dispenser
Manual label dispensers are designed for light-duty use. They are operated by hand and are not automated, but still assist in the process of removing labels from their liners. Many manual label dispensers can dispense multiple rolls at once, and can dispense tape as well.
Semi-automatic label dispenser
Semi-automatic label dispensers are often designed for heavy-duty use. These dispensers advance individual labels and remove them from their lining so that they are ready to be taken by the operator. Label advancement occurs when a trigger on the dispenser detects the absence of a label, or when the operator removes a label.
Semi-automatic label dispensers are often built to withstand industrial conditions. While plastic-metal combination dispensers exist, the ideal construction is all-metal. It also gives the dispensers a sturdier frame and allows for heavier rolls to be dispensed.
Components
- Motor: The motor automates the label dispenser and controls the speed at which labels are dispensed.
- Take-up hub: The take-up hub consists of a bar and a liner holder, which are connected to the motor. In operation, they turn in sync with the motor and wind the label liner in order to collect it in one place. As the take-up hub turns, pressure is placed in the liner and it is stretched across the strip plate, where peeling, or separation, occurs.
- Strip plate: A component of the machine which acts as a separator for the label and its liner. Each label is pulled across the strip plate until it is recognized by a photo sensor or limit switch. Strip plates can be of varying design and material, but they are often made of plastic, metal coil, or aluminum. The ideal design is to have a sharp strip plate, which can handle all types of labels and liners, as opposed to common sheet metal or a metal coil.
- Photodetector or Limit switch: Used to trigger label advancement. Every semi-automatic label dispenser is equipped with one or the other. These detect the absence or presence of a label to facilitate dispensing.
- Limit Switch Is the preferred method used for most applications since it can detect a wider variety of labels, and also is not affected by lighting conditions.
Label Printers
A label printer is a computer peripheral that prints on self-adhesive label material and sometimes card-stock (also called tags). Label printers are different from ordinary printers because they need to have special feed mechanisms to handle rolled stock, or tear sheet (fanfold) stock. Common connectivity for label printers include RS-232 serial, USB serial, parallel, Ethernet and wireless.
When printing on continuous label stock, there is a tendency for the print location to shift slightly from label to label. To ensure registration of the print area with the target media, label printers use a sensor that detects a gap, notch, line or perforation between labels. This allows the printer to adjust the intake of label stock so that the print aligns correctly with the media.
Label printers have a wide variety of applications, including supply chain management, retail price marking, packaging labels, blood and laboratory specimen marking, and fixed assets management.