An automatic, thermal print on demand labeler is provided. The thermal print head is placed above the axis of rotation of the rotary head, with a cylindrical platen mounted horizontally opposite the print head. A stripper pin is mounted below the platen; the pin is positioned very close to the print region of the print head. This positioning of components results in a label being printed and dispensed onto a bellow in one index of the multi-bellow rotary head. Independent direct gear drive trains are provided for the rotary head and label tape drive.