Adhesive sheet separator

0001This invention relates to a device for quickly and reliably separating an uppermost sheet of a stack of sheets in a pad, wherein each sheet in the stack is secured to the next underlying sheet by a pair of low tack, repositionable adhesive strips.

<b>BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION</b>

0002Note pads comprising a stack of sheets adhesively secured along one edge are by now well known, and include the Note Stix® brand pads manufactured and sold by the assignee of this invention. The self-stick adhesive strips applied to the underside of the sheets in such pads permits one sheet to be peeled from the next, and the separated sheet may then be re-adhered to another surface. This adhesive is also well known, and is often referred to as "low tack" or "repositionable" adhesive. As will be appreciated, the advent of such node pads has given rise to a variety of pad constructions for use in many fields. One relatively new application relates to a label pad in which individual label sheets are provided with low tack or repositionable adhesive along two opposite edges of each label sheet within the pad. This type of pad is used, for example, by product manufacturers who remove the labels, one at a time, from the pad and then adhere them to finished products (for example, prefabricated window assemblies) prior to shipment. A problem exists in that it is often difficult to locate an edge (or portion of an edge) of the label sheet which will most easily permit removal of the sheet from the pad. If, for example, one were to attempt to peel the label from the pad along one of the two edges extending perpendicular to the opposite adhesive edges, the label sheet will often tear. Moreover, upon peeling the label sheet from the pad, edge curling often occurs. Because of the low tack nature of the adhesive, the one or more curled edges tend to override the sticking power of the adhesive so that the label edges curl away from the product to which the label is ultimately adhered. In a case of severe curling, the label sheet may completely separate from the product.

0003It is the principal object of this invention to provide a simple mechanical device which will quickly and reliably separate an uppermost label sheet from a pad of such sheets, without tearing and without incurring curled edges. In other words, the label sheet as separated from the stack in accordance with this invention remains in a substantially flat condition so that it may be reliably adhered to a product or other "end use" surface.

0004US-A-4637600 describes a method and an automated picking assembly for removing a label from the bottom of a supply of labels according to respectively the preambles of Claim 1 and 2. Prior to a blade entering the stack of labels, suction means 70 applies a vacuum to an edge of the label stack so as to begin the peeling off of a label. The blade which has a plain front edge then enters the stack and moves through it but the blade does not extend to the side edges of the stack.

0005FR-A-446023 also describes apparatus for removing the bottom sheet from a stack of sheets. The arrangement uses a flexible pick to create a bow in the bottom sheet of the stack allowing the sheet to pass downwardly through an opening in a movable plate. As the sheets do not carry adhesive they fall through the opening and there is no positive blade separating action.

0006In one aspect the invention provides a method of separating a sheet of a pad of sheets which comprises initially separating a transverse edge of a foremost sheet of the pad from the remainder of the pad and then moving a blade means in a first direction transverse to the transverse edge through the pad to separate the foremost sheet from the remainder of the pad,    characterised in that the pad has each sheet adhered to an underlying sheet by a pair of laterally spaced substantially parallel strips of light tack adhesive located along opposite side edges of the sheet, and the foremost sheet is the top sheet of the pad, the first direction is parallel to said strips of light tack adhesive, the transverse edge is separated by lifting upwardly a central portion of the transverse edge under which the blade means is inserted, initially at the lifted central portion of the transverse edge and thereafter through the adhesive side edges.

0007In another aspect the invention provides a device for separating a sheet of pad of sheets comprising separating means for initially separating a transverse edge of a foremost sheet of the pad from the reminder of the pad; <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>blade means for insertion between said foremost sheet and the remainder of the pad;</li><li>said blade means being mounted for movement in a first direction transverse to the transverse edge through the pad to thereby separate the foremost sheet from the underlying sheet;    characterised in that the separating means is a lifting means arranged to lift upwardly a central portion of the transverse edge, and the blade means has an entry projection shaped and arranged to initially enter the pad under the central lifted portion of the edge of the top sheet of the pad and side portions extending from the entry projection to positively separate the edges of the top sheet from the remainder of the pad.</li></ul>

0008In an exemplary embodiment, the device of this invention includes a housing supporting a pad of label sheets, urging the pad or stack upwardly to a reference position where the uppermost label sheet may be removed as described herein. The housing mounts a sheet separator mechanism for manually driven reciprocating movement in opposite horizontal directions relative to the housing and to the stack.

0009The sheet separator includes geared drive wheels movable along laterally spaced gear tracks which confine the sheet separator to straight-line (or axial), reciprocating movements, i.e., in a forward direction to separate the uppermost sheet and in a rearward direction to re-set the separator mechanism. In the exemplary embodiment, the pad is oriented so that adhesive edges of the label sheets lie along the gear tracks, i.e., parallel to the direction of movement of the sheet separator. The separator mechanism includes a substantially planar blade member which acts in concert with a "pick wheel" which, in turn, is arranged to initially lift the uppermost label sheet slightly, at an intermediate, localized area along a transverse edge of the label sheet. Immediately upon lifting of the localized edge portion, and as the separator mechanism continues to be driven in the separating direction, the separator blade will move through the pad, beneath the uppermost sheet. As the blade progresses through the pad, the uppermost sheet is progressively separated along the two opposite adhesive edges. Upon completion of the forward stroke of the separator mechanism, the uppermost label sheet is simply lifted off the separator mechanism in a flat condition, and is re-adhered to another surface as desired. The separator mechanism is then returned and re-set for separation of the next uppermost label sheet.

0010The pick wheel is caused to rotate by means of a gear train connected to the geared drive wheels. The gear connection is such that the pick wheel rotates in a direction opposite to that of the drive wheels. Both the pick wheel and the blade are secured to the sheet separator mechanism in substantially fixed axial relationship to each other.

0011It will be appreciated that the apparatus described herein is highly advantageous in any circumstance where it is desired to successively remove sheets from an adhesive pad without tearing the sheet and/or curling the edges of the separated sheet. Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the detailed description which follows.

<b>BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS</b>

0012<ul id="ul0002" list-style="none"><li>FIGURE 1 is a partial side view, partly in section and partly in schematic form, of a sheet separating mechanism of a device in accordance with the invention;</li><li>FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a separator mechanism and pick wheel device incorporated in the apparatus of Figure 1;</li><li>FIGURE 3 is a partial perspective view of the sheet separating device in accordance with this invention;</li><li>FIGURE 4 is similar to Figure 1 but illustrates the separating mechanism upon initial insertion of the separator blade between the uppermost sheet and the remaining sheets of the stack or pad;;</li><li>FIGURES 5 through 8 are partial plan views, illustrating the separator blade at successive stages of travel through the stack;</li><li>FIGURE 9 is a partial plan view illustrating the drive wheels of the sheet separating mechanism and the geared connection to the pick wheel; and</li><li>FIGURE 10 is a partial side view of the drive mechanism shown in Figure 9.</li></ul>

<b>DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS</b>

0013With reference now to Figures 1-3, the apparatus 10 of this invention includes a support plate 12 which supports an adhesive pad or stack 14 of adhesive label sheets. The stack or pad is biased upwardly by any suitable means, such as one or more coil springs 16 mounted between the bottom wall 18 of an enclosure or housing and the underside of the plate 12.

0014The separator mechanism includes a frame 20 movable horizontally to the right as viewed in Figure 1 (and as indicated by the arrow 22) relative to the stack 14. The frame 20 is fixed by any suitable means) to a planar separator blade 24 which has a generally square or rectangular shape (as determined by the size and shape of the label sheets). The blade 24 is formed of relatively thin metal sheet, and has an irregularly (but symmetrical) opening 26 stamped therein, through which the uppermost label sheet will pass as the blade 24 moves under the latter, as described below.

0015The opening 26 includes a straight, transverse (to the direction of movement of the blade) edge 28 which connects to straight, rearwardly extending edges 30, 32 which, in turn, flare outwardly and rearwardly at 34, 36, respectively. Edges 34, 36 terminate at a pair of short, rearwardly extending edges 38, 40, respectively which are substantially parallel to edges 30, 32. These edges 38, 40 are laterally spaced a distance slightly greater than the transverse dimension of the label sheets, and serve to guide and hold the uppermost sheet as the blade moves through the stack, as also described below. The edges 38, 40 are connected at the rearward end of opening 26 by a pair of double arc curves 42, 44 and 42', 44' which are joined at the center of the blade by an elongated, rearwardly extending slot 46. At the interface of slot 46 and curves 44 and 44', there are formed a pair of entry projections 48, 48' which are the first blade elements to be inserted between the uppermost label sheet and the remainder of the stack.

0016A rubber pick wheel 50 is located in the slot 46, and is mounted for rotation on a shaft 52 which, in turn, is supported at opposite sides of the frame 20. With brief reference to Figure 10, it should be noted that the shaft 52 is mounted in vertically extending slots 54 (one shown) formed in the sides of frame 20, thus permitting upward movement of the pick wheel 50 as explained below.

0017The shaft 52 of the pick wheel 50 is also secured to a trip lever 56 which, at its forward end, is secured for pivotal movement relative to a shaft 58 supported at opposite ends in the frame 20. The shaft 58 also supports two pair of rollers 60, 62 and 64, 66, one pair on each side of the lever 56 as best seen in Figure 2. Rollers 60, 62, 64 and 66 facilitate movement of the separator mechanism including frame 20 across the stack 14 by rolling over the uppermost sheet of the stack during forward and rearward movement of the frame 20. The lever 56 is also biased in an upward direction by a pair of springs (one shown at 68) adjacent the respective frame sides, and connected between a handle portion 70 of the frame and the shaft 52. In a set position, prior to an operative forward stroke of the separator mechanism, the lever 56 and pick wheel 50 are held in the position shown in Figure 1 by a trip release arm 72 fixed to the housing. In order to insure a precise release point for the lever 56, the arm 72 and its support 74 are adjustable in forward and rearward directions, as indicated by arrow 76.

0018Turning briefly to Figures 9 and 10, the frame 20 is supported at its rearward end by an axle or main drive shaft 78 and a pair of geared drive wheels 80, 82 secured at the ends of the shaft 78. Drive wheels 80, 82, engage laterally spaced, fixed gear tracks 84, 86 which extend in the direction of travel of the separator mechanism. The pick wheel shaft 52 is drivingly connected to the main drive shaft 78 through a gear train including gears 88, 90, 92 and 94 which establishes a desired relative speed as between the drive wheels 80, 82 and pick wheel 50, and which also establishes a counterclockwise rotation for the pick wheel 50 upon forward, clockwise rotation of the drive wheels 80, 82.

0019The operation of the device will now be described with particular reference to Figures 1, 3, 4 and the sequence of blade/label sheet relative positions shown in Figures 5 through 8.

0020To set the device for an initial separation of an uppermost sheet 96 in the stack or pad 14, the frame 20 is moved to the left, to the position shown in Figure 1, with the blade 24 overlying the sheet 96 as best seen in Figure 2. Note that in this position, the pick wheel 50 is spaced slightly to the left of the sheet edge 98, but slightly ahead of the blade entry projections 48, 48'.

0021The operator, grasping the handle portion 70 of the frame 20, then moves the frame 20 to the right, as indicated by arrow 22. The pick wheel 50 rotating in a counterclockwise direction, will first engage the edge 98 of the uppermost label sheet 96 and will lift the edge, centrally of the sheet, keeping in mind that the adhesive stripe 100, 102 extend along the opposite edges which extend parallel to the direction of movement of the frame. This initial lifting of the central portion of edge 98 is best seen in Figure 3. Immediately upon lifting of the edge 98, projections 48 and 48' enter the space between the uppermost sheet 96 and the next adjacent sheet 104. Simultaneously, the rear edge of lever 56 moves beyond the appropriately adjusted trip release arm 72, so that springs 68 will lift shaft 62 and pick wheel 50 upwardly (about the shaft 68) to the position shown in Figure 4. This action will also disconnect gear 94 from gear 92 as the shaft 58 moves upwardly in the slot 94. The pick wheel 50 is now, in essence, an idler roll, and is positioned so as not to interfere with the separation of the sheet 96 by the blade 24 as the frame 20 continues to move forward.

0022As frame 20 continues its forward or separating stroke, the uppermost sheet 96 will move through the opening 26 in the blade 24, with progressive outward separation along the edge 98 effected by the curved edges 44, 44' and then 42, 42' of the blade opening. Separation at the location of adhesive strips 100, 102 occurs initially as the outwardmost portions of edges 42, 42' separate the outermost portions of edge 98 as depicted in Figures 6 and 7. From this point, the adhesive strips 100, 102 continue to be separated as the frame 20 moves through the final portion of its forward stroke as shown in Figure 8. During the entire forward stroke of frame 20 and associated blade 24, the uppermost sheet 96 does not move horizontally relative to the stack or pad 14. It is merely separated therefrom so that upon completion of the stroke, the now separated sheet 96 may be lifted off the stack in a substantially flat condition, without curled edges.

0023The frame 20 is then retracted to the left, to its initial, Figure 1 position, and the lever 56 is pushed downwardly so that its rearward edge can be secured under the trip/release arm 72, and so that the gear 94 is re-engaged with gear 92. The device is now ready for the separation of the next label sheet 104 from the stack 14 (which has been raised the minute but necessary distance by springs 16).

0024With reference again to Figure 1, it will be appreciated that the re-setting of lever 56 may be effected automatically by, for example, a pivotally mounted re-set bar 106. The bar 106 may be activated electrically or mechanically to press the lever 56 downwardly and to release the latter once under the trip/release bar 72.

0025It will also be appreciated that other modifications may be made to the above described apparatus and nevertheless remain within the scope of the invention. For example, an ejection wheel may be provided to move the separated sheet horizontally away from the stack. In addition, the various mechanical elements as described may be combined with or replaced by suitable electronic means to achieve the same result.

0026While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the scope of the appended claims.