Pin–Feed Labels

The pin-feed label is one of those inventions that´s all about making office life easier. Originally developed in the early days of computing, pin-feed labels are still in common use around the world. We´ve all seen them: they´re the labels with regularly spaced holes along the sides that allow them to be fed through a continuous form printer. A pin-feed label may start out blank, with all the appropriate data applied by the printer, but it´s more likely to be partially printed in advance. Instead of hand printing a label every time you need one, you can use a pin-feed label to get the job done more efficiently. Whether you use them for postal purposes, inventory control, or asset tracking, all you have to do is type the relevant information into a computer, hit Print, and step aside while the printer does its work. Within minutes, you´ll have a neat, professional-looking label in your hand, ready to be applied wherever it can do the most good. If you´ve ever used a continuous form printer, you know the drill. Pin-feed labels are affixed to a folded stack of waxed paper with a row of pre-punched holes on either side. To get started, you roll the pin-feed labels over the platen, which has a series of plastic pins at each end. These engage the holes on either edge of the paper, moving it right along as your pin-feed label is printed. Usually the paper is perforated between labels, so it´s easy to tear off your completed masterpiece and take it where it´s needed.