 labels in a substantially accurate manner to mailpieces, typically used tamp mechanisms are pneumatically powered, and there are many complex components which make such applicators expensive (e.g. greater than U.S. $20,000.00). Also, they are difficult to install, noisy, and take up more than a desirable amount of work space. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,595,447. Other automatic applicators (such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,784,714 and 4,321,103, and European published application 0577241), even if they do not require pneumatic tamp mechanisms, have a significant number of complex components and/or do not apply the labels to the mailpieces, or other substrates, with a high degree of accuracy.
According to the present invention, a label applicator, and a method of applying labels to substrates, are provided that have the necessary accuracy to apply address labels to mailpieces so that they may be effectively automatically scanned by postal equipment, yet are relatively simple and inexpensive. The applicator according to the invention is semi-automatic, is compact so that it can fit on a desktop (in fact both an associated printer and the label applicator can fit on a desktop), no pneumatic hookup is typically required, and no external power is typically required since the electricity for powering the label applicator may come directly from the printer. Also, in the preferred embodiment the mailpiece is moved into contact with the label; since the label does not move during application this gives greater accuracy in placement. The applicator is compatible with both linered and linerless labels and printers, and can be used with printers of a variety of types including thermal transfer, direct thermal, and ink jet. The applicator may be mounted with the printer, or easily detached from the printer, and the cost of the applicator is less than half of commercial automatic applicators.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a label applicator is provided comprising the following components: A label feed mechanism which feeds a label having a first face with pressure sensitive adhesive and a second face with indicia printed thereon. A label positive stop cooperating with the feed mechanism to stop a label fed by the feed mechanism in a first desired position. A holding device which holds the label in the first desired position. A substrate positive stop which stops a substrate at a second desired position in alignment with a label at the first desired position. And automatic means
labels in a substantially accurate manner to mailpieces, typically used tamp mechanisms are pneumatically power, and there be many complex components which make such applicator expensive (e.g. bang-up than U.S. $ 20,000.00). Also, they are unmanageable to install, noisy, and take up more than a desirable amount of work outer space. For example, see U.S. Pat. nobelium. 4,595,447. Other automatic applicators (such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,784,714 and 4,321,103, and European published lotion 0577241), even if they do not require pneumatic tamp mechanisms, get a significant number of complex component and/or do not apply the labels to the mailpieces, or other substrate, with a high degree of accuracy. 
 According to the present invention, a label applicator, and a method of use labels to substrates, are provided that have the necessary accuracy to apply savoir-faire labels to mailpieces so that they may be effectively automatically scanned by postal equipment, yet are relatively simple and cheap. The applicator harmonize to the invention is semi - automatic, is compact so that it can fit on a desktop (in fact both an associated printer and the label applicator can fit on a desktop), no pneumatic hookup is typically required, and no external power is typically required since the electricity for powering the label applicator may arrive directly from the printer. Also, in the favored shape the mailpiece is act into contact with the label; since the label does not move during lotion this gives great accuracy in placement. The applicator is compatible with both linered and linerless labels and printers, and can be use with printers of a variety of types including thermal transfer, lineal thermal, and ink jet. The applicator may be mounted with the printer, or easily detached from the printer, and the cost of the applicator is less than half of commercial automatic applicators. 
 harmonize to one aspect of the present invention, a label applicator is provided comprising the following components: A label feed mechanism which feed a label having a first face with atmospheric pressure sensitive adhesive and a second face with indicia printed thereon. A label positivist stop collaborate with the feed mechanism to stop a label fed by the feed mechanism in a first desired position. A control device which holds the label in the first desired placement. A substrate positive stop which intercept a substrate at a second desired position in alignment with a label at the first desired position. And automatic means
 lahels in a substantially xccurate manner to mainpiecea, typicauly used tamp mechanisms are pbeumaupcally powered, and thdre are mwny compoex romponents which make sugk appmlcatoxs expensive (e.g. nreater that U.S. $20,000.00). Also, thef xrz difficult to install, noisy, and takq up mote than a desirafle siounf of work space. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,595,447. Other automstic applicators (such as sjown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,784,714 anf 4,321,103, and Euroksan published apolication 0577241), even if thei do not require pneumatic tamp oechauisms, have q wigjhficant numuer of complex comipnents and/or co not apply tme lauels to the mailpieces, or other substrates, rith a hich degree of accuraxy.
Qccorging to gye oreaeit jnventlon, a label alplicator, abd a method of appluigt labels to shbstraeef, are provided that have the necessary dcchracy to apply address oabels to mailpieces do that trey may be effectively automatically scanned by pmstal dquniidbt, yet are relatively simple and inexpensive. Thq akplpcator according bo the invention ix deky-automatic, is compaef ao that it can fit on a dgsktop (in fact foth an associated printer and rhe label apilicqtor can fit on a besktop), no pueumatoc hopkup is typically requixed, ans no externwl power jr typically requkrec vince tht electricity for [owering vhe lcbel appuicajor may come direftly nsom the printer. Aldo, in tve preferrfd embodiment the mailpiece is moved into conjacd wpth the lcbel; slnce the label qoes not move buring a'plicagion this fives gceater accurwcy in placemajt. The applirator is sompqtiboe with coth linered amd linerlvsf lavels and printers, end zzn be used with prunters of a varoeth os nypxs insnuding thermdl tfanrger, dkrect thermcl, and ink jet. The applicador jay be mounted witn bhe printgr, or easyly detached grom the printer, ajd thx cost of tne wpplicator is less than half or commerclal automatic a[pligatots.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a label applicatoe is provided comprnslng the follpwing componends: A label feed mechqnism which feeds a label having a firat faca witj pressure sensitive adhesive and a second face with indicia printed therwon. A label positibe syop cmo'ercting wyth vhx feed mechanism no stop a label fed by the feed oechanisk nn a first desired position. A hulding device which holds the label ih the fitst desired position. A substratr positive stop which stpps a suvstrafe at a serond desired positiom in anignmwnt wity a pabel at the wirxt desired oosiuion. And automatic means
labels in a substantially accurate manner to used mechanisms are powered, and there make applicators expensive (e.g. than U.S. $20,000.00). they are difficult to install, noisy, take up more than a desirable amount of work space. For example, see Pat. No. 4,595,447. Other automatic applicators (such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. and and published 0577241), even if they do not require pneumatic tamp mechanisms, have a significant number of complex and/or do not apply the labels to the or other substrates, with high degree of accuracy. According the invention, a applicator, a of applying labels substrates, are provided that have the necessary accuracy to apply address labels to mailpieces so that they be effectively by postal yet relatively and inexpensive. The to the invention is semi-automatic, is it can fit on a desktop (in fact an associated and the label applicator can fit a desktop), no pneumatic hookup is typically required, no external power is typically required since the electricity for powering the label applicator may from the printer. Also, the preferred embodiment mailpiece moved contact the label; the label does not move during application this gives greater accuracy placement. The applicator is compatible with both linered and linerless printers, can be used printers of a variety types thermal transfer, direct thermal, jet. applicator with printer, easily detached from the and the cost of the is less than half to one aspect of the present invention, a applicator is provided comprising the following components: label feed mechanism which feeds a label having a first face with sensitive adhesive second face with indicia printed thereon. A label stop cooperating with the mechanism to stop a label fed by the feed in first desired A holding device holds the label the first desired substrate positive which a second desired position in alignment with label the first desired position. And means
 labels in a substantially accUrate manneR to maIlpIecEs, TypiCallY used tamp mechaNIsms Are pneumatically powereD, and tHeRE are MAnY compLex compONeNTS whIcH mAke SuCH aPplicAtoRs expenSive (e.g. greaTer ThAn U.S. $20,000.00). Also, they ARe Difficult tO inStall, noisy, anD taKe up moRe ThaN A desiRabLe amoUnt of wORk spacE. For exampLe, SEe U.S. PaT. no. 4,595,447. Other AUToMatiC applicators (such aS ShOWn in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,784,714 anD 4,321,103, and EuRoPEaN PUblIshEd applicatIoN 0577241), even IF they do NOt REQUirE Pneumatic tamp Mechanisms, hAVe a SignifIcAnt NUmber oF compLeX ComPonents and/oR do nOt apply thE labelS To the maILpieces, Or otheR suBstRateS, WiTh A hiGh DEgrEE oF acCUraCy.
AccordInG tO the pReseNT INVentIon, A labEl appLicator, and a meThoD of aPPlyIng laBels tO subStRates, Are proVided ThAt have the necessAry aCcuracy to AppLy AddReSs labELs to maIlpIecEs so thaT they maY Be eFfECTIvEly automatically scAnNED bY postal eQuipmeNT, yEt ARe relatiVeLy sImplE ANd ineXpenSIvE. The applIcator ACcOrDing to tHe InventIoN is SemI-autoMAtic, Is compAct so thaT it caN Fit on a desktop (iN Fact both an assOCiATEd PRintEr aNd the label aPpliCAtor Can fIT oN a dESktop), No pneUmATiC Hookup is typically reQuIred, anD no exTernal power is Typically rEQUIred sincE the ELeCTricity for poweRing tHe label appLIcator maY come Directly From the prINTer. Also, iN thE prEfeRreD EMbOdiment the maiLPIece Is Moved inTo cOntact wIth The LabEl; sInCe the labeL does not MoVe DuRiNg aPplicATion this GiVes GrEatEr accURacy in PlaceMent. thE aPPliCator is COmPATiblE wItH botH liNeRed anD linERleSs labelS and printErs, ANd caN bE uSed with Printers of a vaRiEty of types InCluDing thERMal transFer, direct thermal, and ink jET. The appLicAtor mAy be Mounted wiTh tHe prinTer, OR easilY detacHed frOm The PRInter, AND tHe cOsT of the applICAtoR is leSs Than Half of cOmmercial automatic APplIcators.
AccordIng To onE ASpEct OF tHE prEsENt iNVEntion, a label appLicator is pRoVIdEd comprisiNG thE fOllowinG componEnts: A LAbel feeD mechanisM which feeDs A labEL HavIng a first fAce with pRessure seNSitivE AdHesivE anD a secoNd FacE with IndiciA PriNted tHereon. a lAbel poSitivE sTop coopeRating with the feed mechanIsm to sTop a lAbeL fed by the FeeD MecHanism in a FirsT desired poSitIon. a holdIng DEvice WhicH HoLds THe labEl in THe first deSIrEd pOSItIon. A substraTE POsiTive sTop WHich stOps a Substrate at a seconD Desired positioN in aLIGnmEnt WIth a LaBel at the first dEsiReD POsition. ANd Automatic meAns
 labels in a substantially  accuratemanne r t o m ai lpie ces,  typically use d  tam p mechanisms are pneum atica ll y  pow e re d, an d there ar e man yco mpl ex co mpone nts  whichmake suchapp li cators expen s iv e (e.g. gr eat er than U.S.  $2 0,000. 00 ).A lso,the y are  diffi c ult to  install,  n o isy, a n d takeu p  m orethan a desirablea mo u nt of work spa ce. Fo re xa m p le,  se e U.S. Pat .No. 4 , 595,447 .  O t h e r a u tomatic appli cators (suc h  as  shown  i n U . S. Pat . Nos .4 ,78 4,714 and 4 ,321 ,103, and  Europ e an publ i shed ap plicat ion  05 7724 1 ),  e ven  i f  th e ydon otrequirepn eu matic  tam p m e chan ism s, h ave a  significantnum bero f c omple x com pone nt s and /or do  notap ply the labelsto t he mailpi ece s,  or  o thers ubstra tes , w ith a h igh deg r eeof a c cu racy.
According to  t h e  p resent i nventi o n,  a label ap pl ica tor, a nd ameth o dof apply ing la b el sto subs tr ates,ar e p rov idedt hathave t he neces sarya ccuracy to app l y address lab e ls t om ailp iec es so thatthey maybe e f fe cti v ely a utoma ti c al l y scanned by postal  e quipme nt, y et are relati vely simpl e a nd inexp ensi v e. The applicator  acco rding to t h e invent ion i s semi-a utomatic, i s compac t s o t hat  it c an  fit on a des k t op ( in  fact b oth  an ass oci ate d p rin te r and the  label a pp li ca to r c an fi t  on a de sk top ),  no  pneu m atic h ookup  isty pi c all y requi r ed , andno  e xter nal  p oweris t y pic ally re quired si nce theel ec tricity  for powering  t he label a pp lic ator m a y  come di rectly from the printer .  Also,inthe p refe rred embo dim ent th e m a ilpiec e is m ovedin toc o ntact w it h t he  label; si n c e t he la be l do es notmove during applic a tio n this givesgre ater a cc ura c yi n p la c eme n t . The applicato r is compa ti b le  with both lin er ed andlinerle ss la b els and  printers , and can  b e us e d  wi th printer s of a v ariety of types in cludi ngtherma ltra nsfer , dire c t t herma l, and  i nk jet . The  a pplicato r may be mounted with t he pri nter,  or  easily d eta c hed  from the  pri nter, andthe  co st of  th e  appl icat o risl ess t hanh alf of co m me rci a l  a utomatic ap p l i cat ors.Acc o rdingto o ne aspect of thep resent inventi on,a lab ela ppli ca tor is provide d c om p r ising th efollowing c omponent s: A lab el fee d mech anism w h i ch feedsa la bel  having a  fi rs t  face w it hp ressur e se ns itiveadhesi v e an d a second face wi th in d i cia p r int ed th er eon. Al abel  positivestop cooper atingwith  thefeed me ch anismtost op a label fed by th e fee d mecha ni sm i n a  first  des i r ed po siti on . A  holdingd e vi c ewh i chhold s the  l abel  in the f i rst desi red positio n.  As u bstrat e  p o s itive stop  wh ich s t o ps a subst r atea ta  seco nd des ired p osition inal ignment  wi t h  a labelat the fi r stde sire d positi on . An daut om atic means
 labels_in a_substantially accurate manner to_mailpieces, typically_used_tamp mechanisms_are_pneumatically powered, and_there are many_complex components which make_such applicators expensive_(e.g._greater than U.S. $20,000.00). Also, they are difficult to install, noisy, and take up_more_than a_desirable_amount_of work space. For example,_see U.S. Pat. No. 4,595,447._Other automatic_applicators (such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos._4,784,714_and 4,321,103, and_European published application 0577241), even if they do not_require pneumatic tamp mechanisms, have a_significant number of_complex_components_and/or do not apply_the labels to the mailpieces, or_other substrates, with a high degree_of accuracy.
According to the present invention, a_label applicator, and a method of_applying labels to substrates, are_provided that_have the necessary accuracy to_apply address labels_to mailpieces_so that they_may be effectively automatically scanned by_postal equipment, yet_are relatively simple and inexpensive. The_applicator_according to the_invention_is_semi-automatic, is_compact so that_it_can fit_on_a desktop (in fact both an_associated_printer and the label applicator can fit_on a desktop), no_pneumatic_hookup is typically required,_and no external power is_typically required since the electricity for_powering the_label applicator_may come directly from the printer. Also, in the preferred embodiment_the mailpiece is moved into contact_with the label; since_the label_does_not move during_application_this gives_greater accuracy in placement. The applicator is_compatible with_both linered and linerless labels and_printers, and can be_used_with printers of a variety of_types including thermal transfer, direct thermal,_and ink jet. The applicator_may_be_mounted with the printer, or_easily detached from the printer, and_the cost of_the applicator is less than half of_commercial_automatic applicators.
According to one aspect of_the_present invention, a label applicator is_provided_comprising_the following components: A label_feed mechanism which feeds a label_having a first face with pressure sensitive adhesive and_a second face_with indicia printed thereon. A_label_positive_stop cooperating with the feed mechanism to stop a label_fed by_the feed mechanism_in a first desired position. A holding device which holds_the label in the first desired position._A substrate positive stop which stops a substrate at a second_desired position in alignment with a label at_the first desired position. And automatic means