BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Field of the Disclosure

The invention relates in general to dispensing apparatuses, and more particularly, to a label dispenser apparatus which is configured to retain at least one, and preferably a plurality of label rolls, allowing the dispensing of individual labels from the label roll.

2. Background Art

The use of dispensers is known in the art. It is often the case that a rolled film is released from a roll and dispensed at a particular rate (i.e., in short pieces, etc.). A number of labels are often provided on a web or film (carrier liner), with the labels being positioned thereon in a repeating pattern.

There has been a deficiency in the art with respect to the dispensing of such label rolls. For example, many are manually unrolled with the user peeling a sticker manually. This is quite cumbersome. In other instances the application has been done with a machine (hand held, or otherwise). In each instance, there are drawbacks.

Thus, it is an object of the disclosure to provide an improved manner in which to dispense labels from a label roll.

It is another object of the disclosure to provide an improved manner in which to store labels and label rolls.

It is another object of the disclosure to provide a manual food wrapping machine integrated with a label apparatus.

It is another object of the disclosure to provide a label apparatus which does not include an axle or other member extending through the roll so that rolls can be placed side by side and removed as desired without disrupting the entire structure or the adjacent label rolls.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

A label dispenser apparatus configured for dispensing labels from a plurality of rolls of film having labels disposed thereon. In such an aspect of the disclosure, the label dispenser apparatus has at least one label dispensing unit that includes a lower roll retaining member and an upper tape guide assembly. The lower roll retaining member extends from a first side to a second side. The lower roll retaining member includes a front edge, a back edge and a concave surface therebetween. The concave surface is configured to cradle a roll of film having labels disposed thereon. The upper tape guide assembly is spaced apart from the lower roll retaining member and extends from the first side to the second side, in a configuration that is substantially parallel to the lower roll retaining member. In turn, a space is defined therebetween for positioning of a roll of film having labels disposed thereon.

The upper tape guide assembly further comprising a upper confining member, a peel shaft and a support shaft. The upper confining member extends from the first side to the second side and has a front edge substantially corresponding to a lower roll retaining member front edge. The peel shaft includes a rod that extends substantially parallel to the upper confining member, spaced apart therefrom, and spaced apart from a front edge of the upper confining member. The support shaft extends generally parallel to the peel shaft and is positioned outboard of the peel shaft.

A label guide path is defined to extend between the upper confining member and the peel shaft, and between the peel shaft and the support shaft. A label is released by the movement around the peel shaft, to, proceed between the upper confining member and the support shaft, while the film proceeds between the peel shaft and the support shaft, thereby separating the label from the film and facilitating the grasping thereof by a user.

In some configurations, the label roll is free from a structure extending through the hoop defined thereby. As a result, removal of the label roll from within the label dispensing unit is facilitated without first removing a structure that extends through a hoop defined thereby.

In some configurations, the apparatus further includes a pivot shaft extending between the first side and the second side. The pivot shaft is positioned between a back edge and the peel shaft and positioned in a spaced apart orientation relative to the upper confining member. A separator blade includes a first end having an opening extending therethrough, and a second end spaced apart therefrom. The pivot shaft extends through the opening such that the separator blade pivots therearound, with the second end being selectively pivotable so as to rest on the lower roll retaining member, and being pivotable therefrom.

In some configurations, a plurality of separator blades are positioned in a spaced apart relationship along the pivot shaft.

In some configurations, the opening of the separator blade comprises a snap on opening. Such a snap on opening can be snapped over the pivot shaft to facilitate coupling and decoupling therefrom selectively, and removal without necessitating the sliding along the pivot shaft to an end thereof.

In some configurations, the label guide path extends between the pivot shaft and the upper confining member prior to extending between the peel shaft and the upper confining member.

In some configurations, the separator blade includes a finger extending from the first end toward a back edge, when the second end of the separator blade is positioned to engage with the lower roll retaining member.

In some configurations, the concave surface of the lower roll retaining member further includes a central valley, with a front inclined surface extending therefrom toward the front edge, and terminating with a front lip, and a back inclined surface extending from the central valley toward the back edge, and terminating with a back lip.

In some configurations, the front inclined surface extends approximately two thirds of the distance from the central valley to the front lip. The back inclined surface extends approximately two thirds of the distance from the central valley to the back lip.

In some configurations, the upper confining member further includes a concave region that is concave in a downward and outward direction, and a planar region extending from the concave region to the front edge. The peel shaft is positioned proximate the concave region, and the support shaft positioned proximate the planar region.

In some configurations, a plurality of label dispenser units are positioned in a vertically stacked orientation. In such a configuration, the upper tape guide assembly of a first of the plurality of dispenser units and the lower roll retaining member of an immediately adjacent label dispenser unit are an integrally formed profile.

In some configurations, the integrally formed profile comprises an extruded member.

In some configurations, the plurality of label dispenser units are positioned within a cabinet having a back wall and defining an inner surface associated with the back edge of the label dispensing unit.

In some configurations, a product wrapping station being positioned below a lowest one of the label dispenser units.

In some configurations, a portion of the product wrapping station extends into the cabinet.

In some configurations, the support shaft is positioned between the peel shaft and a upper tape guide assembly front edge. The peel shaft has a plurality of dispenser rollers rotatably positioned about the support shaft in a generally side by side orientation.

In some configurations, the support shaft is defined by a door having an inner surface and an outer surface. The door extends at least partially from the first side to the second side, and is configured to extend toward the lower roll retaining member.

In some configurations, the door further includes a lower knife edge.

In some configurations, the door comprises at least a partially transparent member extending to the front edge of the lower roll retaining member. The film extends between the front edge of the lower roll retaining member and the door.

In another aspect of the disclosure, the disclosure is directed to a label dispenser apparatus configured for dispensing labels from a plurality of rolls of a carrier film having labels disposed thereon. The label dispenser apparatus has at least one label dispensing unit that includes a lower roll retaining member, and an upper tape guide assembly. The lower roll retaining member extends from a first side to a second side. The lower roll retaining member includes a front edge, a back edge and a concave surface therebetween. The concave surface is configured to cradle a roll of film having labels disposed thereon.

The upper tape guide assembly is spaced apart from the lower roll retaining member extending from the first side to the second side, in a configuration that is substantially parallel to the lower roll retaining member, thereby defining a space therebetween for positioning of a roll of film having labels disposed thereon. The upper tape guide assembly further includes a peel shaft, a support shaft and a carrier shaft. The peel shaft comprises a rod that extends substantially parallel to the back edge of the lower roll retaining member, and that is configured to be above the plurality of rolls of carrier film having labels disposed thereon. The support shaft extends generally parallel to the peel shaft positioned outboard of the peel shaft, and vertically closer to the lower roll retaining member. The carrier shaft extends generally parallel to the peel shaft and the support shaft, and is positioned so as to be substantially proximate the front edge of the lower roll retaining member and configured to be above the plurality of rolls of carrier film having labels disposed thereon. A film guide path is defined to extend behind and around the peel shaft, then between the peel shaft and the support shaft, looping around the support shaft so as to extend over the carrier shaft. As such, a label is released by the movement around the peel shaft, and the label path proceeds directly over the support shaft and the carrier shaft.

In some configurations, the support shaft and the carrier shaft are generally parallel to each other and generally equidistantly spaced from the lower roll retaining member.

In some configurations, the peel shaft is positioned so as to be further from the lower roll retaining member than the support shaft.

In some configurations, the peel shaft is positioned relative to the support shaft so that the carrier film is configured to extend approximately half way around the peel shaft.

In some configurations, the peel shaft is positioned proximate a back wall that extends upwardly from the rear edge of the lower roll retaining member, to, in turn, be configured to allow the carrier film to extend from the roll substantially parallel to the back wall to the peel shaft.

In some configurations the peel shaft is maintained in tension. In some such configurations, the tension in the peel shaft can be adjusted

