Patent ID: 6998006

Claim:
An apparatus for applying a heat transfer label to a first plurality of articles and a second plurality of articles, each of said first plurality of articles characterized by a first article configuration and each of second plurality of articles characterized by a second article configuration, said second article configuration different from said first article configuration, said apparatus comprising: an in-feed mechanism; an article conveyor coupled with said in-feed mechanism; and a label applicator coupled with said article conveyor; wherein in a first apparatus configuration, said apparatus is operable to supply each of said first plurality of articles to said article conveyor via said in-feed mechanism such that said label applicator may apply a heat transfer label to each of said first plurality of articles as they are conveyed along said article conveyor; said in-feed mechanism, said article conveyor and said label applicator being configured to accommodate said first article configuration; and further wherein in a second apparatus configuration, said apparatus is operable to supply each of said second plurality of articles to said article conveyor via said in-feed mechanism such that said label applicator may apply a heat transfer label to each of said second plurality of articles as they are conveyed along said article conveyor; said in-feed mechanism, said article conveyor and said label applicator being configured to accommodate said second article configuration; said apparatus further comprising: a motorized configuration mechanism coupled with at least said article conveyor and including a motor operative to enable an operator to switch at least a portion of said apparatus, including said article conveyor, from said first apparatus configuration to said second apparatus configuration, wherein said motorized configuration mechanism further comprises at least one of a lever, thumb wheel and hand crank.