16 tape feed table 50 is mounted on a feeding apparatus 70 which feeds tape into and from tape printer assembly 61 into apparatus 1 which is essentially the same as shown in fig8 14 the tape feeding assembly 70 may be one of a number of conventional devices as shown it is a roll feeder the tape printer assembly 61 may also be one of a number of suitable devices the feed table 50 as shown in fig8 and 16 is a cooled surface over which the tape is fed to heated blade 30 the cooling of feed table 50 and platen 20 is achieved by flow of a cooling substance e g water through passageway 51 of table 50 and through passageway 21 of platen 20 using tubing 16 which interconnects the cooled elements and is attached to a cooling substance supply e g faucet or recirculating pump and at its other end to a discharge exit or drain the blade is heated to a temperature significantly greater than the fusion or melting temperature of the tape this temperature can be readily set for the particular tape polymer using the teachings set forth herein and observing the quality of the label ends the temperature of the cooling elements is maintained substantially below the fusion or melting temperature of the tape in the operation of automated apparatus 60 tape is.