Peel-off label dispenser, system and method

Abstract

A label dispenser for peel-off labels pulls a web with peel-off labels attached from a label supply location to a take-up spool. The label dispenser maintains the web in a taut condition when the web passes over a peeling edge by providing first and second rods about which the web wraps in a sinuous flow path on the feed side of the peeling edge. The take-up spool resists turning in the reverse direction to maintain the web in a taut condition. A cam is selectably rotatable about an axis that is spaced apart from the center of curvature at each location on the curved surface that may contact the web to adjust the thickness of the flow path of the web at the peeling edge.

Claims

1. An apparatus for dispensing peel-off labels from a roll of peel-off labels or an accordion-folded stack of peel-off labels, the peel-off labels being adhered to a web along a longitudinal direction of the web, the web having a width normal to the web longitudinal direction, the apparatus comprising: a. a label supply location and a flow path from the label supply location, the web being movable along the flow path from the label supply location; b. a peeling edge, the peeling edge being disposed along the flow path, the flow path having a configuration to peel the peel-off labels from the web at the peeling edge as the web moves along the flow path; c. the configuration of the flow path to peel the peel-off labels from the web at the peeling edge comprising a cam disposed along the flow path immediate prior to the peeling edge as the web moves along the flow path from the label supply location, the cam being movable with respect to the peeling edge, the cam being configured to bear on the web immediately prior to the peeling edge as the web moves along the flow path, the configuration of the flow path to peel the peel-off labels from the web at the peeling edge further comprising a change in a flow path direction at the peeling edge, the cam defining the change in the flow path direction at the peeling edge when the cam bears upon the web immediately prior to the peeling edge as the web moves along the flow path, the change in the flow path direction at the peeling edge as the web moves across the peeling edge being user selectable by a movement of the movable cam.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cam in combination with the peeling edge defining a peeling edge flow path thickness across the width of the web immediately prior to the peeling edge as the web moves along the flow path, the peeling edge flow path thickness being a distance between the peeling edge and a location on the cam at which the cam bears upon the web as the web moves along the flow path, the peeling edge flow path thickness being user-selectable by the movement of the cam.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the cam has a curved surface and wherein the configuration of the cam to bear upon the web immediately prior to the peeling edge being that the curved surface bears upon the web and is movable with respect to the peeling edge immediately prior to the peeling edge.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the curved surface has a radius of curvature and a center of curvature, the cam being rotatable about an axis of rotation, wherein the axis of rotation is in a spaced apart relation to the center of curvature of the curved surface so that a rotation of the cam about the axis of rotation selects the change in the flow path direction at the peeling edge as the web moves along the flow path and the curved surface bears upon the web.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the cam is a cylinder, a semicylinder, or a section of a cylinder.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, the apparatus further comprising: a lip, the lip being non-planar, the lip supporting the peeling edge, the peeling edge defining a lip first end, the lip extending from the peeling edge along the flow path toward the label supply location, the lip has a lip second end opposite the peeling edge, the lip in combination with the movable cam defining a lip flow path thickness, the lip flow path thickness at the lip second end is greater than the peeling edge flow path thickness immediately prior to the peeling edge when the movable cam bears upon the web.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the lip defines the peeling edge.

8. A system for dispensing peel-off labels, the system comprising: a. a roll of peel-off labels or an accordion-folded stack of peel-off labels, the peel-off labels being adhered to a web along a longitudinal direction of the web, the web having a width normal to the web longitudinal direction; b. a flow path of the web along the web longitudinal direction from a label supply location to a peeling edge, the flow path having a configuration to peel the peel-off labels from the web at the peeling edge, the configuration of the flow path to peel the peel-off labels from the web at the peeling edge comprising a cam disposed along the flow path immediate prior to the peeling edge as the web moves along the flow path from the label supply location, the cam being movable with respect to the peeling edge, the cam being configured to bear on the web immediately prior to the peeling edge as the web moves along the flow path, the configuration of the flow path to peel the peel-off labels from the web at the peeling edge further comprising a change in a flow path direction at the peeling edge, the cam defining the change in the flow path direction at the peeling edge when the cam bears upon the web immediately prior to the peeling edge as the web moves along the flow path, the change in the flow path direction at the peeling edge as the web moves across the peeling edge being user selectable by a movement of the movable cam.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the cam in combination with the peeling edge defining a peeling edge flow path thickness across the width of the web immediately prior to the peeling edge as the web moves along the flow path, the peeling edge flow path thickness being a distance between the peeling edge and a location on the cam at which the cam bears upon the web as the web moves along the flow path, the peeling edge flow path thickness being user-selectable by the movement of the cam.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the cam has a curved surface and wherein the configuration of the cam to bear upon the web immediately prior to the peeling edge being that the curved surface bears upon the web and is movable with respect to the peeling edge immediately prior to the peeling edge.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the curved surface has a radius of curvature and a center of curvature, the cam being rotatable about an axis of rotation, wherein the axis of rotation is in a spaced apart relation to the center of curvature of the curved surface so that a rotation of the cam about the axis of rotation selects the change in the flow path direction at the peeling edge as the web moves along the flow path and the curved surface bears upon the web.

12. The system off claim 11 wherein the cam is a cylinder, a semicylinder, or a section of the cylinder.

13. The system of claim 8, the system further comprising: a lip, the lip being non-planar, the lip supporting the peeling edge, the peeling edge defining a lip first end, the lip extending from the peeling edge along the flow path toward the label supply location, the lip has a lip second end opposite the peeling edge, the lip in combination with the movable cam defining a lip flow path thickness, the lip flow path thickness at the lip second end is greater than the peeling edge flow path thickness immediately prior to the peeling edge when the movable cam bears upon the web.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the lip defines the peeling edge.

15. A method for dispensing peel-off labels, the method comprising: a. obtaining a roll of peel-off labels or an accordion-folded stack of peel-off labels, the peel-off labels being adhered to a web along a longitudinal direction of the web, the web having a width normal to the web longitudinal direction, b. obtaining a label dispenser having a label supply location and a flow path from the label supply location, the web being movable along the flow path from the label supply location, the label dispenser having a peeling edge, the peeling edge being disposed along the flow path, the flow path having a configuration to peel the peel-off labels from the web at the peeling edge as the web moves along the flow path, the configuration of the flow path to peel the peel-off labels from the web at the peeling edge comprising a cam disposed along the flow path immediate prior to the peeling edge as the web moves along the flow path from the label supply location, the cam being movable with respect to the peeling edge, the cam being configured to bear on the web immediately prior to the peeling edge as the web moves along the flow path, the configuration of the flow path to peel the peel-off labels from the web at the peeling edge further comprising a change in a flow path direction at the peeling edge, the cam defining the change in the flow path direction at the peeling edge when the cam bears upon the web immediately prior to the peeling edge as the web moves along the flow path, the change in the flow path direction at the peeling edge as the web moves across the peeling edge being user selectable by a movement of the movable cam; c. placing the roll or stack of peel-off labels in the label feeding location; d. selecting the change in the flow path direction at the peeling edge by moving the cam with respect to the peeling edge so that the peel-off labels will separate from the web at the peeling edge when the web moves along the flow path from the label supply location; e. separating the peel-off labels from the web at the peeling edge by moving the web from the label supply location along the flow path and across the peeling edge.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the cam in combination with the peeling edge defining a peeling edge flow path thickness across the width of the web immediately prior to the peeling edge as the web moves along the flow path, the peeling edge flow path thickness being a distance between the peeling edge and a location on the cam at which the cam bears upon the web as the web moves along the flow path, the peeling edge flow path thickness being user-selectable by the movement of the cam.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the cam has a curved surface and wherein the configuration of the cam to bear upon the web immediately prior to the peeling edge being that the curved surface bears upon the web and is movable with respect to the peeling edge.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the cam is a cylinder, a semicylinder, or a section of the cylinder.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the label dispenser includes a lip, the lip being non-planar, the lip supporting the peeling edge at a lip first end, the lip extending from the peeling edge along the flow path toward the label supply location, the lip has a lip second end opposite the peeling edge, the lip in combination with the movable cam defining a lip flow path thickness, the lip flow path thickness at the lip second end is greater than the peeling edge flow path thickness immediately prior to the peeling edge when the movable cam bears upon the web.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the lip defines the peeling edge.

Description

III. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a cutaway perspective view of the label dispenser loaded with a roll of peel-off labels.

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a roll of peel-off labels.

(3) FIG. 3 is a detail side view of a peel-off label

(4) FIG. 4 is a detail side view of the flow path of the web at the peeling edge.

(5) FIG. 5 is a detail side view of the flow path of the web at the first and second rods.

(6) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the label dispenser without peel-off labels.

(7) FIG. 7 is a cutaway view of the label dispenser of FIG. 6.

(8) FIG. 8 is a section side view of the label dispenser drawing labels from a roll of peel-off labels.

(9) FIG. 9 is a section side view of the label dispenser drawing labels from an accordion stack of peel-off labels.

(10) FIG. 10 is a side section view of an interference fit of the take-up spool.

(11) FIG. 11 is a side section view of a friction clutch on the take-up spool.

(12) FIG. 12 illustrates the minimum and maximum values for the feed distance.

(13) FIG. 13 illustrates the penetration distance.

IV. DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

(14) The Invention is a label dispenser 2 for separating peel-off labels 4 from a web 6 so that the peel-off label 4 may be adhered to an object to be labeled, for example a wire or connector in a wiring harness. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the label dispenser 2 loaded with a roll 10 of peel-off labels 4 and with a dispenser side 8 cut away to show the internal components of the label dispenser 2. FIGS. 2 and 3 show a roll 10 of the peel-off labels 4 and a detail side view of a peel-off label 4, respectively.

(15) From FIGS. 2 and 3, the peel-off labels 4 are adhered weakly by a pressure-sensitive adhesive 14 to a release agent 12 on a web 6. The web 6 may be disposed in a roll 10, as shown by FIGS. 1 and 8, or as an accordion-fold stack 16, as shown by FIG. 9. The peel-off labels 4 are disposed on the web 6 in a spaced-apart relation along the longitudinal direction 18 of the web 6. The label dispenser 2 will serially peel peel-off labels 4 from the web 6, as described below. The roll 10 has a roll axis of rotation 24 and unrolls to feed peel-off labels 4 through the label dispenser 2. When the peel-off label 4 is peeled from the web 6, the pressure-sensitive adhesive 14 remains with the peel-off label 4, ready to adhere the peel-off label 4 to the object to be labeled.

(16) As shown by FIGS. 2 and 3, the web 6 may feature lines of perforations 20. The lines of perforations 20 extend across the width 22 of the web 6 and penetrate the web 6 and the release agent 12. The lines of perforations 20 locally weaken the web 6 in flexure, so that the web 6 may readily fold at the perforations 20.

(17) From FIGS. 1, the label dispenser defines a label supply location 26 from which the web 6 is dispensed with the peel-off labels 4 attached. The label supply location 26 may comprise a roll support rod 28 to support the roll 10 of peel-off labels 4. Additionally or alternatively, the label supply location 26 may support an accordion-fold stack 16 of peel-off labels 4 as shown by FIG. 9.

(18) From FIG. 1, the label dispenser includes a take-up spool 30. The take-up spool 30 receives the web 6 after the peel-off labels 4 are peeled from the web 6. The take-up spool 30 is rotated to apply tension to the web 6 and pull the web 6 and peel-off labels 4 through the label dispenser 2. A user may turn the take-up spool 30 manually using a thumb wheel 32 as shown by FIGS. 1, 6, 7, 10 and 11. Alternatively, the user may turn the take-up spool 30 manually using a crank or foot pedal operably attached to the take-up spool 30. An electric or pneumatic motor or hydraulic cylinder may turn the take-up spool 30.

(19) From FIGS. 1, 8 and 9, the label dispenser 2 defines a flow path 34 for the web 6 as the web 6 travels through the label dispenser 2 between the web feed location 26 and the take-up spool 30. As the web 6 travels along the flow path 34, the web 6 with peel-off labels 4 attached passes over a peeling edge 36. At the peeling edge 36, the web 6 changes direction abruptly and at an acute angle. Because of the stiffness in flexure of the peel-off label 4, the peel-off label 4 resists bending around the peeling edge 36. Because of he abrupt change in direction and acute angle of the web 6, the area of the pressure-sensitive adhesive 14 pulling the peel-off label 4 in the new direction is small. As a result, the stiffness and resistance to flexure of the peel-off label 4 exceeds the peeling threshold of the adhesive bond of the pressure-sensitive adhesive 14 to the release agent 12 and the peel-off label 4 peels from the web 6 as the web passes over the peeling edge 36.

(20) As the trailing edge of the peel-off label 4 peels from the web 6, the peel-off label 4 is pulled by the web 6 past the peeling edge 36 and is collected on a helical collection spring 38. The helical collection spring 38 may be a helical metal or polymer spring supported by a rod. Alternatively, the helical collection spring 38 may be any structure that has a very small surface area to which the pressure sensitive adhesive can adhere. The helical collection spring 38 provides adequate surface area for adhesion for temporary storage of the peel-off label 4, but not enough surface area that the user cannot readily remove the peel-off label 4 from the helical collection spring 38.

(21) To ensure that the change in web 6 direction is both abrupt and acute at the peeling edge 36, the web 6 must be taut on both the feed side 40 and take-up side 42, as previously defined, of the peeling edge 36. The web 6 on the take-up side 42 of the peeling edge 36 is placed in a taut condition by the tension applied by the take-up spool 30.

(22) From FIGS. 1 and 5, to maintain the web 6 on the feed side 40 in a taut condition, the label dispenser 2 utilizes a first rod 44 having a first rod longitudinal axis 46 and a second rod 48 having a second rod longitudinal axis 50. The longitudinal axes 46, 50 of the first and second rods 44, 48 are oriented normal to the longitudinal direction 18 of the web 6 and parallel to the width 22 of the web 6. The lengths of the first and second rods 44, 48 may be greater than the width 22 of the web 6. From the web supply location 26, the web 6 following the web flow path 34 wraps about the first rod 44 and about the second rod 48. The web 6 reverses direction around both the first and second rods to move toward the take-up spool 30.

(23) From FIG. 5, the diameters of the first and second rods 44, 48 are adequately large that the peeling threshold is not exceeded and the peel-off labels 4 do not peel from the web 6 as the web 6 wraps about the first and second rods 44, 48. The arrow on FIG. 5 indicates the direction of travel of the web 6. The first and second rods 44, 48 are spaced apart by a separation distance 52 greater than the thickness of the web 6 with the peel-off labels 4 attached. While the first and second rods 44, 48 may be separated by any greater separation distance 52, a separation distance 52 of less than the diameter of the first or second rod 44, 48 has proven suitable in practice. The location of the first and second rods 44, 48, the distance between the first and second rods 44, 48 and the flow path 34 may be selected so that the web 6 wraps about more than 180 degrees of the circumference of the second rod 48. While the first and second rods 44, 48 are illustrated as being circular in cross section, the first and second rods 44, 48 may be of any other suitable shape, such as elliptical or ovoid.

(24) The resistance to bending of the web 6 with the peel-off labels 4 attached as the web 6 and labels 4 pass through the serpentine flow path 34 created by the first and second rods 44, 48 coupled to the friction of the web 6 and peel-off labels 4 passing over the first and second rods 44, 48 resist pulling of the web 6 by the take-up spool 30. As a result, the take-up spool 30 may pull taut the web 6 on the feed side 40 of the peeling edge 36.

(25) From FIGS. 1 and 4, to control the acute angle at which the web 6 changes direction at the peeling edge 36, the label dispenser 2 features a cam 56. The arrow on FIG. 4 indicated the direction of travel of the web 6. The web 6 following the flow path 34 passes between the cam 56 and the peeling edge 36 immediately before the web 6 passes over the peeling edge 36.

(26) The cam 56 is movable to select a separation distance between cam 56 and the peeling edge 36. The separation distance is at least the thickness of the web 6 with the peel-off label 4 attached, but may be greater than the minimum thickness. Once the user moves the cam 56 and thereby selects the separation distance, the cam 56 will remain in the selected position with respect to the peeling edge 36 until the user again moves the cam 56.

(27) To move the the cam 56, the cam 56 is selectably rotatable about a cam axis of rotation 58. The cam 56 defines a curved surface 68 that may contact the web 6 as the web moves along the feed path 34. The cam axis of rotation 58 is in a spaced apart relation to the center of curvature of the curved surface 68 of each location on the cam 56 that may contact the web 6 as the web 6 passes between the cam 56 and the peeling edge 36. As a result, the cam 56 defines an eccentric and the rotation of the cam 56 changes the separation distance between the cam 56 and peeling edge 36 through which the web 6 will pass.

(28) The cam 56 may be retained in the selected position by any mechanism known in the art, such as a threaded fastener, pin, clip, clutch, detent, or other mechanism for selectably retaining an object in a rotatable position.

(29) As shown by FIG. 4, a non-planar lip 70 supports the peeling edge 36 and an opposing lip second end 72. The flow path 34 passes between the lip second end 72 and the cam 56 on the feed side 40 of the label dispenser 2. The thickness of the flow path 34 at the lip second end 72 is greater than the thickness of the flow path 34 at the peeling edge 36 when the cam 56 is in contact with the web 6.

(30) FIGS. 1, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9 show the cam 56 as being circular or ovoid in cross section; however, the cam 56 may be of any other suitable shape. For example, the cam 56 may define a semicylinder or other portion of a cylinder or may be elliptical or parabolic or an irregular curve or any other curve in cross section, provided that the axis of rotation of the cam 56 is in a spaced apart relation to the center of curvature of any point on the curve that may contact the web 6 as the web 6 moves along the flow path 34.

(31) FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views of the label dispenser 2 without the web 6 and peel-off labels 4. FIG. 6 shows the dispenser side 8 in place and FIG. 7 shows the label dispenser 2 with the dispenser side 8 removed to show the internal parts of the label dispenser 2.

(32) FIG. 8 shows the flow path 34 of the web 6 from the roll 10 of peel-off labels 4 to the take-up spool 30 as the take-up spool 30 is rotated to move the web 6 through the label dispenser 2. From the roll 10 of peel-off labels 4, the web 6 wraps about the first rod 44, reversing direction and wrapping about the second rod 48. The web 6 again reverses direction and passes between the cam 56 and the peeling edge 36.

(33) From FIG. 8, the web 6 with peel-off labels 4 attached is relatively stiff and resists changing direction around the first and second rods 44, 48. The stiffness of the web 6 and peel-off labels 4, combined with the friction of the web 6 wrapped about the first and second rods 44, 48, causes the web 6 to resist moving through the first and second rods 44, 48 toward the take-up spool 30. The tension applied to the web 6 by the combination of the first and second rods 44, 48 and the take-up spool 30 causes the web to be taut when the web passes over the peeling edge 36.

(34) At the peeling edge 36, the taut web 6 changes direction abruptly and at an acute angle, causing the peel-off labels 4 to separate from the web 6. The peel-off labels 4 with the pressure sensitive adhesive 14 attached are captured by the helical collection spring 38, ready for application by the user to an object to be labelled. The web 6, now separated from the peel-off label 4, continues to the take-up spool 30.

(35) FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 8, except that the supply of peel-off labels 4 is drawn from an accordion-fold stack 16 of peel-off labels 4 at the label supply location 26. The web 6 is perforated, as described above, to allow ready folding of the web 6 between the peel-off labels 4 adhered to the web 6.

(36) FIGS. 10 and 11 are section views showing example mechanisms to provide that the take-up spool 30 resists turning in the reverse direction when the turning force on the take-up spool 30 is released. By preventing the take-up spool 30 from turning in the reverse direction, the web 6 is maintained in a taut condition over the peeling edge 36 even 3.6 when the label dispenser 2 is not in active use. The label dispenser 2 is therefore ready to immediately begin dispensing peel-off labels 4 as soon as the user turns the take-up spool 30.

(37) In FIG. 10, the take-up reel 30 passes through an opening in the label dispenser wall 8 in an interference fit. The interference fit provides resistance to turning of the take-up reel 30.

(38) In FIG. 11, a clutch 60, in this instance a friction clutch 62, bears on both the thumb wheel 32 and the label dispenser wall 8, resisting turning of the take-up spool 30. The friction clutch 62 may comprise a wave spring that is compressed by a threaded connection. The clutch may be a one-way clutch, such as a ratchet and pawl or a Sprague clutch, as are known in the art of one-way motion control.

(39) The thumb wheel 32 is one manner in which a user may manually turn the take-up spool 30. Rather than or in addition to the thumb wheel 32, the user may turn a crank or may move a foot pedal to turn the take-up spool 30, advance the web 6 and dispense peel-off labels. Alternatively, the take-up spool 30 may be powered by a motor or spring, such as an electric or pneumatic motor, hydraulic cylinder, or a power spring.

(40) FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate that the first and second rods 44, 48 are most effective for providing tension on the feed side of the peeling edge when the feed distance 64A and 64B is a whole number multiple of the perforation distance 66. As shown by FIG. 13, the perforation distance 66 is the distance between adjacent lines of perforations 20 across the width 22 of the web 6.

(41) From FIG. 12, the feed distance 64A and 64B is the distance along the flow path 34 that the web 6 travels starting at a location at which the web 6 touches the second rod 48 and ending at the peeling edge 36. Because the web is wrapped about more than half the circumference of the second rod 48, the feed distance is nota single value and is instead a range of values dependent on the diameters of the first and second rods 44, 48 and the separation distance 52 between the first and second rods 44, 48. The minimum value for the feed distance along the flow path 34 is indicated by arrow 64A on FIG. 12. The maximum value for the feed distance along the flow path 34 is indicated by arrow 64B on FIG. 12. Any feed distance value between the minimum 64A and maximum 64B that is a whole number multiple of the perforation distance is effective. The label dispenser may be most effective when a row of perforations 20 is in contact with the second rod when the leading edge of a peel-off label 4 reaches the peeling edge 36 because the tendency of the web 6 to fold at the row of perforations 20 increases the resistance to movement of the web 6 over the second rod 48 and hence increases the tension on the web 6 when the leading edge of the peel-off label 4 passes over the peeling edge 36.

(42) To accommodate peel-off labels of sizes for which whole number multiples of the perforation distance 66 falls outside the minimum 64A and maximum 64B range for feed distance, the feed distance may be user-selectable. For example, the label dispenser may provide additional locations at which the first and second rods 44, 48 may be installed.

(43) The following is a list of numbered elements from the Specification and drawings: label dispenser 2 peel-off labels 4 a web 6 dispenser side 8 a roll 10 release agent 12 pressure-sensitive adhesive 14 an accordion-folded stack 16 a longitudinal direction 18 row of perforations 20 a width 22 roll axis of rotation 24 a label supply location 26 a roll support rod 28 a take-up spool 30 thumb wheel 32 a flow path 34 a peeling edge 36 a helical collection spring 38 a feed side 40 a take-up side 42 a first rod 44 a first rod longitudinal axis 46 a second rod 48 a second rod longitudinal axis 50 a separation distance 52 a cam 56 a cam axis of rotation 58 a clutch 60 a friction clutch 62 minimum feed distance 64A maximum feed distance 64B perforation distance 66 curved surface 68 Non-planar lip 70 Lip second end 72 Non-planar lip 70 Lip second end 72