A heat transfer decorating machine is disclosed. In particular, the disclosed heat transfer decorating machine provides mechanisms to allow the machine to be rapidly re-configured from applying labels to a particular article configuration to applying labels to a different article configuration by an operator without substantial use of tools. In addition, the disclosed heat transfer labeling machine features a distributed drive system which provides a motor for all major movable mechanical elements rather than use a centralized drive system with a distributed transmission. Further, the disclosed heat transfer decorating machine is capable of labeling filled and chilled articles by providing for removal of environmental contamination prior to application of the labels.