US3369952A

US3369952A - Label dispenser

Info

Publication number: US3369952A
Application number: US420951A
Authority: US
Inventors: Nelson M Rieger
Original assignee: PRESTO ADHESIVE PAPER Co
Current assignee: PRESTO ADHESIVE PAPER Co; PRESTO ADHESIVE PAPER COMPANY Inc
Priority date: 1964-12-24
Filing date: 1964-12-24
Publication date: 1968-02-20
Anticipated expiration: 1985-02-20

Description

Feb. 20, 1968 N. M. RIEGER 3,369,952

LABEL DISPENSER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec 24, 1964 FIG-l FIG-2 v INVENTOR. NELSON M. RIEGER Feb. 20, 1968 RlEGER 3,369,952

LABEL DI SPENSER Filed Dec. 24, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG-6 FIG-7 III! I FIG-8 94 INVENTOR.

7'7 88 80 NELSON M. RIEGER Mg mymgfj ATTORNEYS V United States Patent 3,369,952 LABEL DISPENSER Nelson M. Rieger, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to Presto Adhesive Paper Company, Incorporated, Miarnishurg, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Dec. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 420,951 9 Claims. (Cl. 156577) This invention relates to apparatus for applying labels to articles, and particularly to a label dispenser which is both automatic and portable.

Labels having a pressure sensitive on one side can be purchased in large quantities on an elongated paper tape which is coiled for ease in handling. The labels are disposed end to end on this tape and can be removed either manually or by automatic machines which are disposed in a permanent location along a conveyor to remove the labels from this tape and apply them only to containers of uniform configuration as they move along the conveyor. These permanently installed label dispensers are thus suited for use with uniformly shaped objects and therefore it is impossible to use them to apply the labels to objects of different shapes and in different locations. For example, the machines cannot be used to apply labels to a stack of articles which is in a storage warehouse, nor can they apply the labels to a surface of an irregular shaped object, such as a tire.

Accordingly, an important object of this invention is to provide a lightweight label dispenser which is portable so that it can be carried to the objects to which the labels are to be applied thus enabling the labels to be secured in place on objects of different size and c0nfiguration and while they are in a stored condition.

Another object of this invention is to provide a portable label dispenser which removes labels from an elongated tape and applies them to objects of substantially any configuration, and particularly to provide a label dispenser of the aforesaid type which is automatically operated by the touch of a trigger switch to apply the label to the object with a minimum of difliculty and a maximum of speed.

A further object of this invention is to provide a portable label dispenser which is adapted to handle rolls of labels of different sizes and to reel up the tape after the labels have been removed therefrom, and particularly to provide a portable power operated label dispenser which is simple in design for maximum dependability and long life while being comparatively inexpensive in cost.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

' In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention shown in its operative position applying the label to a square carton;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side view of the label dispenser without the drive belt and showing the manner in which the labels are removed from the tape;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is another perspective view illustrating the movement of the tape through the label dispenser;

FIG. 5 is a plan view, partially in section, of the label dispenser;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section view showing a roll of tape having a smaller inside diameter mounted on the unreeling mechanism;

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the handle and drive mechanism for the invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 88 of FIG. 2; and

3,369,352 Patented Feb. 20, 1968 ice FIG. 9 is another sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown, FIG. 1 illustrates the portable label dispenser 10 which includes a fiat mounting plate 11 having a drive mechanism 12 mounted on one side thereof, and a tape conveying mechanism 14 on the other side thereof. The mounting plate 11 is rigid and its outer configuration is designed so that the outer edges thereof project beyond most of the components of the tape mechanism 14, and this plate may be made of any suitable strong, lightweight material, e.g., formica plastic.

The drive mechanism 12 (FIG. 5) consists of a small electrical motor 16 secured at one end 17 to the mounting plate 11 by the brackets 20 which consists of the elongated frame members 21 and 22 (FIG. 7) having their

bases

23 and 24 secured to the mounting plate 11 by the screws 25. The other ends 26 and 27 of these members are secured to the motor 16 by the screws 30 (FIG. 5). The brace 31 extends between the

frame members

21 and 22 and rigidly interconnects them for adding strength to this bracket.

The other end 33 of the motor 16 has a Worm gear unit 35 mounted rigidly thereto for reducing the output speed of the motor 16 and for changing its direction degrees, as will be seen. The gear unit 35 has a rectangular plate 36 on the end thereof which is secured to the mounting plate 11 by the four bolts 38, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 9. The plate 36 has an extension 40 thereon which passes through a complementary opening 41 in the mounting plate 11, and the drive shaft 43 of the gear reduction unit 35 extends therethrough to the opposite side of the mounting plate 11 as shown in FIG. 8. The threaded pin 44 (FIG. 9) is received in a complementary threaded bore 45 which rigidly locks the gear reduction unit 35 to the plate 36, and thus the motor 16 and the gear reduction unit 35 are mounted securely on the mounting plate 11.

The motor 16 has a handle 46 (FIG. 5) thereon in the form of a pistol type grip with a trigger switch 47 at the base thereof adjacent the motor 16 so that the operator can energize the motor 16 by merely pulling the trigger switch 47 while the dispenser 10 is supported by the grip 46. A suitable source of electrical current is supplied to the motor 16 through the conductor 48.

An elongated driving gear 50 (FIG. 8) is secured against rotation on the drive shaft 43 of the gear reduction unit 35 by the pin 51 which is received in a slot 52 (FIG. 8) in the end of the drive shaft 43 and the complementary slots 54 (FIG. 2) in the internal diameter of the elongated gear 50. Both the gear 50 and the pin 51 are held in place against axial movement by the snap ring 56 which engages a groove in the end of the shaft 43. An idler gear 57 is mounted immediately adjacent this drive gear and is slightly longer in length (FIG. 8) and this idler gear is held in place by the elongated bolt 60 whose head 61 is larger than the bore 63 extending through the gear 57. The bolt 60 is threadedly received within the threaded bore 64 in the plate 36 and bearing 65 is provided between the plate 36 and the gear 57 so that the latter rotates freely on this mounting shaft. Both the

gears

50 and 57 have teeth 66 of complementary design so that their engagement causes the drive gear 50 to rotate the idler gear 57. However, the teeth 66 of these gears are rather loosely intermeshed so that the paper tape 70 can be fed therethrough, as will be further explained.

An annular groove 72 (FIG. 8) is formed circumferentially around the outermost end of the idler gear 57 for receiving the drive or rewind spring 73 which drives the take-up roll 75. At the lowermost part of the groove 72 is a smaller groove which receives a rubber O-ring 76 for frictional engagement of the spring 73 and the gear 57. The take-up roll 75 is secured to the mounting plate 11 by the support shaft 77 which extends through the opening 80 in the plate so that the extension 81 thereof passes through the opening 82 in the support block 83. The end of the extension 81 is threaded for receiving the nut 84 which applies pressure to the washer 85 and the block 83 to hold the shoulder 86 of the shaft 77 against this block. The snap ring 88 is mounted in a groove in the shaft 77 between the take-up roller 75 and the plate 11 to hold shaft 77 on the plate 11. The screw 89 is received in a threaded bore in the end of the shaft 77 so that its head engages the shoulders 91 formed in the counter-sunk portion of the roll 75 to hold this roll in position.

A rewind pulley 92 is secured by the press fitted roll pins 94 on the end of the take-up roll 75 so that the rewind spring 73 is received in the groove 95 thereof. This groove also has an O-ring 96 at the deepest portion thereof to reduce slippage, although some slippage does occur since the rewind mechanism is designed to overdrive the take-up roll 75 to tension the tape 70 even when the diameter of the take-up roll 97 (FIG. 2) is relatively small. A relatively large clearance is provided radially around the take-up roll 75 to permit a large roll 97 of used tape to be wound thereon.

Mounted adjacent the drive gear 50 is a peeler plate 100 (FIGS. 2 and 4) which serves to separate the labels 101 from the tape 70, and is secured by the screws 103 which extend through the base 104 thereof into the mounting plate 11. The plate 100 is coextensive with the drive gear 50 for accommodating the entire width of the labels 101 and the downstream portion 105 thereof is slightly curved to allow the tape 70 with the labels 101 thereon to be fed between the guide rollers 107 and this plate 100. The end edge 108 of the plate 100 is smoothly rounded and extends perpendicularly to the direction of travel of the tape to cause the labels 101 to separate from the tape 70 as will be explained.

The guide roller 107 (FIG. 3) is secured in place in much the same manner as the take-up roll 75, that is, the elongated shaft 110 extends through the central opening 111 in the roll 107 and into the aperture 113 in the mounting plate 11. The smaller diameter extension 114 thereon through the mounting block 115, and a nut 116 fits on the threaded portion 117 of this extension and holds the block between the shoulder 119 on the shaft 110 and the washer 120. The snap rings 121 and 123 engage complementary grooves in the shaft 110 on either end of the roller 107 to hold the shaft 110 and this roller against axial movement. The roll 107 is made of a relatively hard plastic or equivalent material and its function is merely that of guiding the tape 70 onto the plate 100.

The applicator roll 125 is an important part of the invention and is mounted on the end portion 127 of the mounting plate '11 so that the outer surface 128 thereof extends radially a substantial distance (see FIGS. 2 and 5 beyond the mounting plate 11 so that this roll can engage a surface S (FIG. 1) to which a label 101 is to be applied. The roll 125 is secured to the mounting plate 11 in much the same manner as the guide roll 107, and thus the shaft 130 extends centrally through an opening in the roll 125 and the opening 133 in the end portion 127 in the mounting plate 11. The extension 134 of this shaft then passes through the spacer block 136, and the nut 137 engages the threads on the end of this extension to hold the block between the shoulder 138 of the shaft and the washer 141. The snap rings 142 and 144 engage grooves in the shaft 130 on either side of the roll 125 to hold it in position against any axial movement while permitting rotary movement thereof. The roll 125 is made of a relatively soft sponge rubber material which is resilient and which will conform to the surface S, whether smooth or irregular, to which the label 101 is to be applied thereto. The central portion 145 of the I011 125, however, is made of a rigid material which supports the sponge rubber for rotation.

Immediately adjacent the applicator roll 125 is the handle (FIGS. l-3) which consists of a support bracket 151 secured by the fasteners 152 to the end portion 127 of the mounting plate 11. The knob 154 which is threaded onto the upper end of the support bracket 151, and when in use, is disposed above and forward of the applicator roll 125 in use. Moreover, the knob 154 is positioned at one end of this roll so that the operator can readily see the position and the surface S to which the label 101 is being applied.

The unwinding mechanism (FIGS. 4-6) is also an im portant part of the invention, and it consists of a support shaft which is secured to the mouting plate 11 by the nut 161 which engages the threads on the extension 163 to hold the shoulder 164 of the shaft against the mounting-plate 11. This shaft 160 has a flat portion 166 thereon which is received in a complementary opening 167 in the disk-shaped retainer 170 to prevent rotation therebetween. The retainer plate however can move axially on the shaft 160 to accommodate any width of tape 70 between a very narrow width and a width equal to slightly less than the length of the shaft 160. An enlarged diameter portion 172 is provided centrally on one side of the retainer 170 for use with rolls 173 having an internal diameter sleeve 174 (FIG. 5) equal to the outer diameter of tape of this shoulder portion 172. The plate 170 can be reversed on the shaft 160, so that rolls 176 of tape having a sleeve 177 (FIG. 6) with an internal diameter equal to the outer diameter to the shaft 160 can also be accommodated thereby.

The retainer 170 continually applied a predetermined amount of tension to the roll of tape 70 to prevent rotation thereof except as effected by the drive mechanism. This tensioning mechanism includes a coil spring 180 which is interposed around the threaded extension 18 0f the shaft 160 between the retainer 170 and the enlarged bearing surface 182 of the screw member 184. The screw engages the threaded extension 181 so that, by manually rotating the screw 184, the tension of the spring 180 can be proportionally increased or decreased thereby changing the tension applied to the roll of tape 70.

In operation, a roll of tape 70 with labels 101 thereon is placed on the unwind mechanism by removing the tensioning screw 184, the spring 180, and the retainer 170, and then placing the

roll

173 or 176 on the shaft 160. The retainer 170, the spring 180, and the screw 184 are then replaced in position and the tension on the roll appropriately set by adjusting the screw 184. The tape 70 is then unwound and fed between the guide I011 107 and the plate 100 with the labels 101 on the side of the tape 70 opposite the plate 100. From the plate 100, the tape 70 extends abruptly around the edge 108 and between the upper side (FIG. 2) of the drive gear 50 and the plate 100, and then between the drive and idler gears 50 and 57 whose meshing teeth 66 positively en-'- gage the tape 70. From this point, the end of the tape 70 is placed in a slot in the rewind roller 75 so that as. the roll 75 rotates, the tape 70 is wound thereon.

The label dispenser 10 is then ready for operation, and assuming that the electrical power is connected to the motor 16, the dispenser is taken to the object to be labeled. The proper location of the label is selected by the operator merely maneuvering the dispenser 10 into position by use of the hand grip 46 and the knob 154, keeping in mind that the applicator roll 125 determines the positioning of the label 101. When this proper location is selected the trigger switch 47 is actuated causing the motor 16 to be energized and impart rotation to the reduction unit 35 and the drive gear 50.

This action causes the tape 70 to be unwound from the

roll

173 or 176 and pulled between the guide roller 107 around the blunt edge 108 on the plate 100, at which point the relatively stiff paper label 101 is separated from the smooth coating on the tape 70. The tape 70 is suitably coated with a material to make it very smooth so that the pressure sensitive adhesive on the label 101 can be easily separated therefrom. As this separation occurs, the label 101 contacts the surface S and the applicator roll 125 moves with the dispenser to the right causing the pressure of the roller 125 to secure the pressure sensitive label 101 to the surface S. As indicated above, the roller 125 is relatively soft so that it will accommodate irregular surfaces (e.g. an automobile tire) thereby engaging the entire surface area of each label 101 to insure that the pressure sensitive adhesive material engages over a maximum area to hold the label in place.

After the label 101 is removed from the tape 70, the latter passes between the drive and the

idler gear

50 and 57 and then to the take-up roll 75 which is being driven from the idler gear 57 by the spring type belt 73 at a slightly greater speed than the unwind

roll

173 or 176 thereby tensioning and rewinding the tape 70. As soon as the label 101 is applied to the surface S, the trigger switch 47 is released, and the dispenser 10 ceases to operate. The operator then selects the next position of the label and repeats the above operation.

It should thus be appreciated that the invention has provided a lightweight portable label dispenser which can be taken to the objects or container to be labeled and which will readily apply a label to a smooth or irregular surface. The dispenser is relatively simple in design and therefore is inexpensive, and is adapted to take rolls of labels of different widths and of different core sizes. In addition, the dispenser rewinds the used tape after the labels have been removed therefrom so that when the roll is exhausted, it is merely necessary to remove the drive spring and slide the used tape from the rewind roller.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable label dispenser for applying labels having a pressure sensitive adhesive on one side thereof and being stored adjacent one another on a tape which is coiled into a roll, comprising a mounting member, means for securing the roll of tape on said mounting member, a separator plate secured to said mounting member and having an edge perpendicular to the path of movement of the tape, take-up means on said mounting member for moving the tape sharply around said edge with the labels on the outside of the tape to cause the labels to be removed therefrom, an applicator roller mounted on said mounting member parallel and closely spaced from said edge, said roller being adapted to roll smoothly over the surface to which the label is to be applied and to apply pressure to thela-bel as it is fed between said applicator roller and the surface, power operated means for operating said take-up means to move the tape around said edge to separate the labels from the tape and feed the labels to a position where said applicator roll applies the labels to the surface, and hand grip means on said mounting member adjacent said applicator roller for use in placing said roller in position to apply a label to the surface. I

2. A portable label dispenser for applying labels having a pressure sensitive adhesive on one side thereof and being stored adjacent one another on a tape which is coiled into a roll, comprising a mounting member, means for securing the roll of tape on said mounting member,

a separator plate secured to said mounting member and having an edge perpendicular to the path of movement of the tape, take-up means on said mounting member for pulling the tape sharply around said edge causing the labels to be removed therefrom, an applicator roller mounted on said mounting member parallel and closelyspaced from said edge, said roller being resilient and adapted to roll over an irregular surface to which the label is to be applied to apply pressure to the label as it is fed between said applicator roller and the surface, manually controlled power operated means for operating said take-up means to move the tape around said edge to separate the labels from the tape and feed the labels to a position where said applicator roll applies the labels to the surface, and hand grip means on said mounting member adjacent said applicator roller foruse in placing said roller in position to apply a label to the surface.

3. A portable label dispenser for applying labels having a pressure sensitive adhesive on one side thereof and being stored adjacent one another on a tape which is coiled into a roll, comprising a mounting member, means for securing the roll of tape on said mounting member, a separator plate secured to said mounting member and having an edge perpendicular to the path of movement of the tape, take-up means on said mounting member for pulling the tape sharply around said edge causing the labels to be removed therefrom, said take-up means including a pair of loosely meshed gears mounted for rotation on said mounting member and disposed to pull the tape sharply around said edge, an applicator roller mounted on said mounting member parallel and closely spaced from said edge, said roller being adapted to roll smoothly over the surface to which the label is to be applied and to apply pressure to the label as it is fed between said roller and the surface, manually controlled power operated means for operating said take-up means to move the tape around said edge to separate the labels from the tape and feed the labels to a position where said applicator roll applies the labels to the surface, and hand grip means on said mounting member adjacent said applicator roller for use in placing said roller in position to apply a label to the surface.

4. A portable label dispenser for applying labels having a pressure sensitive adhesive on one side thereof and being stored adjacent one another on a tape which is coiled into a roll, comprising a mounting member, means for securing the roll of tape on said mounting member, a separator plate secured to said mounting member and having an edge perpendicular to the path of movement of the tape, take-up means on said mounting member for pulling the tape sharply around said edge causing the labels to be removed therefrom, said take-up means including a pair of loosely meshed gears mounted for rotation on said mounting member and disposed to engage and pull the tape sharply around said edge, a take-up roll on said mounting means and operated in conjunction with said gears to wind-up the tape, an applicator roller mounted on said mounting member parallel and closely spaced from said edge, said roller being adapted to roll smoothly over the surface to which the label is to be applied and to apply pressure to the label as it is fed between said roller and the surface, manually controlled power operated means for operating said take-up means to move the tape around said edge to separate the labels from the tape and feed the labels to a position where said applicator roll applies the labels to the surface, and hand grip means on said mounting member adjacent said applicator roller for use in placing said roller in position to apply a label to the surface.

5. A portable label dispenser for applying labels having a pressure sensitive adhesive on one side thereof and being stored adjacent one another on a paper tape which is coiled into a roll, comprising a flat mounting plate, means for securing the roll of paper tape with one side of the roll disposed flat against one side of said mounting plate, a separator plate secured to said one side of said mounting plate and having an edge perpendicular to said mounting plate, take-up means for pulling the tape sharply around said edge causing the labels to be removed therefrom, an applicator roller mounted on said one side of said mounting plate parallel and closely spaced from said edge, said roller being adapted to roll smoothly over the surface to which the label is to be applied and to apply pressure to the label as it is fed between said roller and the surface, manually controlled power operated means for operating said take-up means to feed the tape and apply the labels, and hand gripping means on said mounting plate adjacent said applicator roller for placing said roller in position to apply a label to the surface.

6. A portable label dispenser for applying labels having a pressure sensitive adhesive on one side thereof and being stored adjacent one another on a paper tape which is coiled into a roll, comprising a flat mounting plate, means for securing the roll of paper tape with one side of the roll disposed fiat against one side of said mounting plate, a separator plate secured to said one side of said mounting plate and having an edge perpendicular to said mounting plate, take-up means for pulling the tape sharply around said edge causing the labels to be removed therefrom, an applicator roller mounted on said one side of said mounting plate parallel and closely spaced from said edge, said roller being adapted to roll smoothly over the surface to which the label is to be applied and to apply pressure to the label as it is fed between said applicator roller and the surface, and manually controlled power operated means for operating said take-up means to pull said tape around said edge to separate the labels from the tape and move the labels into position to be applied to the surface by said applicator roll.

7. A portable label dispenser for applying labels having a pressure sensitive adhesive on one side thereof and being stored adjacent one another on a tape which is coiled into a roll, comprising a mounting member, unreeling means for securing the roll of tape on said mounting member, a separator plate secured to said one side of said mounting member and having an edge perpendicular to the path of movement of the tape, take-up means on said mounting member for pulling the tape sharply around said edge causing the labels to be removed therefrom, an applicator roller mounted on said mounting member parallel and closely spaced from said edge, said roller being adapted to roll smoothly over the surface to which the label is to be applied and to apply pressure to the label as it is fed between said roller and the surface, manually controlled electrical motor for operating said take-up means to move the tape around said edge to separate the labels from the tape and feed the labels to a position where said applicator roll applies the labels to the surface, and hand grip means on said mounting member adjacent said applicator roller, and on said motor for use in placing the dispenser in position to apply a label to the surface.

8. A portable label dispenser for applying labels having a pressure sensitive adhesive on one side thereof and being stored adjacent one another on a tape which is coiled into a roll, comprising a fiat mounting plate, unreeling means on said mounting plate for securing a roll of tape on one side of said mounting plate and for applying tension to the tape, said unreeling means adapted to receive rolls of different widths and core diameters, a separator plate secured to said one side of said mounting plate having an edge perpendicular to the path of movement of the tape, guide roll means on said one side of Cit said mounting plate for directing the movement of the tape from said unreeling means onto one side of said separator plate, take-up means on said one side of mounting plate for pulling the tape sharply around said edge causing the labels to be moved therefrom, said take-up means including a pair of loosely meshed gears mounted for rotation on said one side of said mounting plate and adapted to have the tape insert therebetween so that rotation of said gears pulls the tape sharply around said edge, a take-up roll on said one side of said mounting plate operated in conjunction with said gears to wind up the tape, a resilient applicator roller mounted on said one side of said mounting plate parallel and closely spaced from said edge, said roller extending radially beyond said mounting plate so that it will roll smoothly over the surface to which the label is to be applied and apply pressure to the label as it is fed between said roller and the surface, and manually controlled motor means on the opposite side of said mounting plate for driving said gears to move the tape around said edge to separate the labels from the tape and feed the labels to a position where said applicator roll applies the labels to the surface.

9. A portable label dispenser for applying labels having a pressure sensitive adhesive on one side thereof and being stored adjacent one another on a tape which is coiled into a roll, comprising a flat mounting plate, unreeling means on said mounting plate for securing a roll of tape on one side of said mounting plate and for applying tension to the tape, said unreeling means adapted to receive rolls of different widths and core diameters, a separator plate secured to said one side of said mounting plate and having an edge perpendicular to the path of movement of the tape, take-up means on said one side of mounting plate for pulling the tape sharply around said edge causing the labels to be moved therefrom, said take-up means including a pair of loosely meshed gears mounted for rotation on said one side of said mounting plate and adapted to have the tape insert therebetween so that rotation of said gears pulls the tape sharply around said edge, a take-up roll on said one side of said mounting plate operated in conjunction with said gears to wind up the tape, a resilient applicator roller mounted on said one side of said mounting plate parallel and closely spaced from said edge, said roller being adapted to roll smoothly over the surface to which the label is to be applied and to apply pressure to the label as it is fed between said roller and the surface, manually controlled motor means on the opposite side of said mounting plate for driving said gears to move the tape around said edge to separate the labels from the tape and feed the labels to a position where said applicator roll applies the labels to the surface, and hand grip means on said mounting plate adjacent said applicator roller and on said motor means for use in placing the label dispenser in position to apply a label to the surface.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,754,994 7/1956 Cole 221-73 3,186,589 6/1965 West et a1. 22173 3,222,242 12/1965 Ingalls et al. 22l73 3,265,553 8/1966 Kind et al. l56540 DOUGLAS J. DRUMMOND, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A PORTABLE LABEL DISPENSER FOR APPLYING LABELS HAVING A PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE ON ONE SIDE THEREOF AND BEING STORED ADJACENT ONE ANOTHER ON A TAPE WHICH IS COILED INTO A ROLL, COMPRISING A MOUNTING MEMBER, MEANS FOR SECURING THE ROLL OF TAPE ON SAID MOUNTING MEMBER, A SEPARATOR PLATE SECURED TO SAID OUNTING MEMBER AND HAVING AN EDGE PERPENDICULAR TO THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF THE TAPE, TAKE-UP MEANS ON SAID MOUNTING MEMBER FOR MOVING THE TAPE SHARPLY AROUND SAID EDGE WITH THE LABELS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TAPE TO CAUSE THE LABELS TO BE REMOVED THEREFROM, AN APPLICATOR ROLLER MOUNTED ON SAID MOUNTING MEMBER PARALLEL AND CLOSELY SPACED FROM SAID EDGE, SAID ROLLER BEING ADAPTED TO ROLL SMOOTHLY OVER THE SURFACE TO WHICH THE LABEL IS TO BE APPLIED AND TO APPLY