Method and apparatus for applying variable coded labels to items of produce

摘要

An apparatus and method are provided for automatically labeling individual produce items. Individual produce items are conveyed towards a rotary bellows or other applicator. A sensor senses at least one variable characteristic, such as size of each of the produce items. The sensed variable is transmitted to a laser coding device and a variable human or machine readable code is printed on an individual label prior to application of that label to the specific item of produce for which the variable characteristic was sensed. The laser coding beam either reacts with a reactive or ablatable film on each label.