A dispensing mechanism dispenses labels having a pressure sensitive adhesive face and an adhesive release material coated face. A guide serves to guide the labels in web form along plasma-coated surfaces to a printer and then to a cutter mechanism for forming discrete labels and dispensing the labels. An open-cell foam sponge is provided for wiping the rotary cutter using silicone oil wicked into the wiper. A plate projects from the exit opening of the dispenser at an angle to the guide path to maintain the cut label on the dispenser plate. Additionally, a hub assembly is provided wherein the hub has a contact area in excess of 50% of the available contact area along the inside of the core mounting the label supply.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The use of linerless labels is becoming widespread due to relatively low 
cost of such labels and due to their relative environmental friendliness. 
A number of different dispensers has been developed--such as shown in the 
above-mentioned U.S. patent application, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,375,752 and 
5,417,783, European published application 0577241, and co-pending U.S. 
application Ser. No. 08/312,068 filed Sep. 26, 1994--to facilitate 
dispensing of such labels. Each of those dispensers is particularly suited 
for certain dispensing requirements and can successfully dispense 
linerless labels without prohibitive difficulties. However, there are some 
circumstances for which such dispensers are not ideally suited, and 
therefore the linerless label dispenser according to the above-mentioned 
U.S. patent application--and its associated cutting mechanism--have been 
developed. 
The linerless label dispenser, and its associated cutting mechanism, 
according to the invention disclosed in the above-identified patent 
application are ideally suited for dispensing linerless labels from a roll 
even when the labels are not perforated on the roll. The dispenser can 
automatically print the labels just prior to dispensing, and dispenses 
them in a manner that substantially avoids jamming of the printer or the 
cutting mechanism. 
According to one aspect of that invention a linerless label dispenser is 
provided comprising the following components: A support for a supply of 
continuous form linerless labels, each label having a pressure sensitive 
adhesive face and an adhesive-release material coated face. An 
adhesive-release material guide structure for engaging the adhesive face 
of labels from the supply of labels. A print head, on the opposite side of 
the guide structure from the supply of labels, for printing the release 
material coated face of labels from the supply of labels. A stripper 
surface, on the opposite side of the print head from the release material 
structure, the stripper surface of adhesive-release material. A stationary 
anvil blade, on the opposite side of the stripper surface from the print 
head, for engaging the adhesive face of labels from the supply of labels. 
And an automatic rotary cutter cooperating with the stationary anvil blade 
for engaging the release material coated face of labels from the supply of 
labels, and cutting individual labels to be dispensed from the supply of 
continuous form of linerless labels. 
The support for the continuous form linerless labels of that invention 
comprised a conventional shaft mounting a hub about 25% of the length of 
the core of a roll of linerless labels mounted on the hub. The linerless 
labels may either be perforated, or may have marks applied thereto 
indicating the approximate position at which the web of labels from the 
roll are to be severed into individual labels. 
The adhesive-release material guide structure is mounted adjacent a plastic 
guide which engages the release material face of the labels, and 
preferably the adhesive-release material thereof is a plasma coating such 
as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,752, the disclosure of which is hereby 
incorporated by reference herein. 
After the guide structure, the labels typically pass under a sensor which 
either senses the perforations or marks indicating the division between 
labels, which cooperates with a control mechanism for the printer and 
subsequent rotary cutter. The print head may be of any conventional type 
that is capable of printing on the release material, preferably a 
non-impact printer such as an ink jet printer. Where a thermosensitive 
coating is also provided for the labels, the print head may be a thermal 
print head or a thermal transfer print head. Typically the print head 
cooperates with a print roller, which may be plasma coated, but preferably 
is a silicone roller. 
Just downstream of the print head is a support which supports the stripper 
surface and the stationary anvil blade. The adhesive-release material of 
the stripper surface preferably also is a plasma coating, and the stripper 
surface is disposed at an upwardly directed (from the print head) angle of 
between about 20-35.degree. (preferably about 27.degree.) with respect to 
the horizontal so that the labels printed by the print head move upwardly 
at an angle from the print head to the rotary cutter. The provision of 
such an angle has been found to minimize jams of the printer and the 
cutter. A stripper surface also may have a plurality of upwardly extending 
extensions formed on at least a part thereof (e.g. a portion of between 
5-20% of the width of a linerless label passing thereover) for decreasing 
the surface tension thereof. 
The stationary anvil blade is preferably also coated with a release 
material such as plasma coatings or textured paint and is immediately 
adjacent the stripper surface. It has been found according to the present 
invention that jamming of the printer and rotary cutter are minimized if 
the anvil blade projects upwardly from a support surface and downwardly 
spaced for a stripper surface a sufficient distance to insure that the 
leading edge of the label (the edge being cut) is not smashed. It has been 
found that being set slightly below the stripper surface in a range 
between about 0.001-0.008 inches (preferably about 0.002-0.004 inches) is 
most effective. 
The rotary cutter may comprise a conventional off the shelf structure, 
except for the release coated rotary blade, such as a Hitachi rotary 
cutter Model #V15A. The release coat may be plasma coatings or textured 
paint. 
Under some circumstances it is desirable to have an exit roller downstream 
of the rotary cutoff mechanism to facilitate dispensing of the cut labels, 
such as through an exit opening in a housing. Such an exit roller, when 
provided, also preferably has a release coated surface, and that surface 
is also preferably grooved (between about 5-20% of the width of a 
linerless label engaged thereby) and typically cooperates with a hold down 
mechanism of any conventional type. 
While the dispenser as described in prior application Ser. No. 08/544,132 
is considered eminently suitable for its purposes, it has been found that 
many thermal and other non-impact printers are typically placed on their 
side due to space constraints or cabinet constructions rather than on 
their base or vertical axis. Wiper elements are conventionally used to 
prevent the accumulation of adhesive on the rotary cutting blade. Such 
wiper elements are typically formed of felt or other cloth material which 
have a tendency to allow the silicone oil necessary to clean the blade to 
migrate toward the side of the blade which is face down. That is, the 
silicone oil migrates toward one end of the wiper due to the forces of 
gravity. Consequently, an unacceptable situation arises as only part of 
the blade is being coated with silicone oil while adhesive is allowed to 
build up on another part of the blade. This requires cleaning or 
replacement of the blade, as well as replacement or refilling of the wiper 
element. 
According to the present invention, it has been discovered that an 
open-celled foam wiper or sponge retains the silicone oil substantially 
across the entirety of its surface such that the silicone oil is applied 
to the entire surface of the blade notwithstanding an orientation of the 
rotary cutter and wiper other than horizontally as intended. It is 
believed that the enhanced wicking action of the foam material maintains 
the silicone oil along the entire surface of the wiper element whether it 
extends horizontally or vertically. Thus, the open-celled foam material is 
the material of choice for the wiper element due to its superior wicking 
ability. 
A further difficulty with linerless label dispensers resides in the 
tendency of exit rollers of printers to continue to drive the label after 
the label has been severed from the web by a cutter. If there is 
insufficient area for the label to rest at the exit port of the housing, 
then the label can simply fall out of the printer requiring the user to 
pick the label up off the floor. If the adhesive side falls face down, the 
label is lost and the user has to print a second label and take the time 
to remove the label from the floor. Also, the label may catch itself on 
the exterior of the housing and then swing into contact with the housing 
itself. This causes the label to stick to the outside of the housing and 
repeated instances can cause blockage of the exit port of the housing. 
In accordance with the present invention and to alleviate that problem, the 
exit port of the printer housing is provided with a plate which not only 
provides a surface area for the label to rest until needed but also serves 
to lift the label slightly from the guide path of the labels egressing 
from the printer to avoid the problem of the label getting caught and 
swinging down into contact with the housing. The upward angle of the plate 
extends within a range of 5.degree. to about 25.degree. relative to the 
guide path and an optimum angle is about 10-20.degree.. Thus, an obtuse 
angle of approximately 155.degree. to 175.degree. with a preferred obtuse 
angle of 160-170.degree. is provided relative to the path of movement of 
the label exiting the housing. The plate may extend from the housing about 
1/2 inch but longer or shorter lengths of plates can be used depending 
upon the length of the label. The plate can either be coated with a plasma 
coating or, more preferably, with a textured paint which prevents the 
label from sticking to the surface. Because the plate is not an active 
transport surface for the label material, a textured paint rather than a 
plasma coating is preferred. The textured paint affords a release surface 
but not as great a release surface as that provided by a plasma coating. 
Thus, the label can beneficially cling to the plate having the textured 
paint coating yet can be easily removed when needed. If the printer is 
orientated on its side, the label is ejected from the printer and grasps 
the plate so that it is still substantially perpendicular to the floor 
thus facilitating grasping of the label. 
In another aspect of the present invention, feeding linered base material 
through a printer from a supply has not caused problems for the supply to 
track through the printer because the stock simply unwinds itself due to 
the low coefficient of friction created by the release liner. Thus, the 
label supply would not wobble nor would the label stock skew when entering 
the printing section of the printer. Many conventional label printers are 
provided with a shaft on which a small hub is provided to accommodate the 
label material. The size of the hub did not matter with the liner-based 
stock as there was no additional forces applied to the stock. Thus, a very 
small hub, having a contacting area approximately 25% of the contact area 
of the core of the supply of linered stock, was typically provided. 
However, this standard hub did not operate satisfactorily in a linerless 
environment. 
Linerless labels, due to the absence of the release layer, have a 
substantially increased peeling force to remove the label material from 
the next layer of labels due to the pressure sensitive adhesive face on 
the supply. This creates an additional force which causes tracking 
problems within the printer. Thus, the linerless label material would 
sometimes be skewed when it entered the printhead or may contact coated 
face of linerless labels and cutting the labels and a plate carried by the 
housing and extending outwardly of the exit opening, the plate being 
angled to form an obtuse angle with the predetermined path and lying along 
the pressure sensitive adhesive face of the linerless label passing 
through the exit opening. 
In a further preferred embodiment according to the present invention, there 
is provided a cutting mechanism for linerless labels each having a 
pressure sensitive adhesive face and an adhesive-release material coated 
face, the mechanism comprising a stripper surface of adhesive-release 
material for engaging the adhesive face of linerless labels, an anvil 
blade adjacent the stripper surface for engaging one of the adhesive face 
and release material coated face of linerless labels, a rotary cutter 
cooperating with the blade for engaging another of the adhesive face and 
the release material coated face of linerless labels and cutting the 
labels and a wiper impregnated with silicone oil for wiping the rotary 
cutter to prevent build up of adhesive on the rotary cutter, the wiper 
being formed of an open-cell foam material. 
In a still further preferred embodiment according to the present invention, 
there is provided a linerless label dispenser comprising a support for a 
supply of continuous form linerless labels wound on a core, each label 
having a pressure sensitive adhesive face and an adhesive-release material 
coated face, the support including a hub mounted for rotation and having a 
contact area with the core in excess of 50% of the area of the core of the 
supply of linerless labels, a guide structure for engaging the labels from 
the supply of labels, a printhead, on the opposite side of the guide 
structure from the supply of labels, for surfaces beyond the active 
transport surfaces which are not protected with release coatings so that 
the label material may stick to the unprotected portions of the dispenser. 
In accordance with the present invention, an adapter hub is provided on the 
shaft so that the contact area between the adapter hub and the 
conventional machine hub with the inside diameter of the core of the 
linerless label supply is in excess of 50% of the area of the core of the 
label supply. Thus, by adding an additional hub, the problem of skewing 
and tracking of the supply label through the dispenser and printer can be 
eliminated. The area covered by the hub can be as high as 100% of the area 
of the core but a hub combination which covers up to about 75% of the 
surface area works well. Additionally, because of the different sizes of 
the labels, an adapter hub which increases the contact area to 75%, for 
example, for a 4 inch wide label web, may fit a 3 inch wide label led 
affording 100% contact area. Consequently, a single adapter hub may serve 
a number of different sizes of cores. 
In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, there is 
provided a dispensing mechanism for linerless labels each having a 
pressure sensitive adhesive face and an adhesive-release material coated 
face, the mechanism comprising a housing defining a guide path for 
linerless labels including a stripper surface of adhesive-release material 
for engaging the adhesive face of linerless labels and an exit opening for 
supplying linerless labels from the mechanism along a predetermined path, 
an anvil blade adjacent the stripper surface for engaging the adhesive 
face of linerless labels, a cutter cooperating with the anvil blade for 
engaging the release material printing the release material coated face of 
the labels from the supply of labels, a stripper surface on the opposite 
side of the printhead from the release material structure, and formed of 
adhesive-release material, an anvil blade, on the opposite side of the 
stripper surface from the printhead, for engaging one of the adhesive 
release material coated face and the pressure sensitive adhesive face of 
labels from the supply of labels and a rotatory cutter cooperating with 
the anvil blade for engaging another of the adhesive-release material 
coated face and the pressure sensitive adhesive face of labels from the 
supply of labels, and cutting individual labels to be dispensed from the 
supply of continuous form of linerless labels. 
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an effective 
linerless label dispenser and a cutting mechanism for use therewith. This 
and other objects of the invention will become clear from an inspection of 
the detailed description of the invention, and from the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an exemplary dispenser that may be 
provided according to the present invention for dispensing linerless 
labels e.g. in a roll 10 which is a supply of continuous form linerless 
labels. The linerless labels in the roll 10 may either have perforations 
between the labels, or may be devoid of perforations. Sensor marks may be 
provided so that where a label begins and ends may be determined. The 
dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1 may include a common housing shown merely 
in dotted lines schematically at 11 in FIG. 1. 
The supply of linerless labels 10 is mounted on a support. The support is 
illustrated only schematically at 12 in FIG. 1 and in detail in FIG. 1A 
described hereafter. The roll 10 rotates in a direction indicated by arrow 
13 as the labels are taken off the roll 10, decreasing in size. The 
linerless labels forming the roll 10 are--as is common for all linerless 
labels--formed by (see the schematic illustration in FIG. 3) a substrate 
14, typically of paper, with a pressure sensitive adhesive coating 15 on 
one face thereof and an adhesive release material coating (e.g. silicone) 
16 on the other face thereof. 
From the roll 10 the linerless labels preferably pass underneath a plastic 
guide 18 which engages the release material coating 16 face thereof, and 
then to an adhesive-release material guide structure 19 which engages the 
adhesive face 15. Preferably the structure 19 comprises a plasma coated 
ramp, for example disposed at an angle .beta. with respect to the 
horizontal (indicated at 20 in FIG. 1). The angle .beta. is typically 
between about 20-35.degree. (e.g. about 27.degree.). The ramp 19 
preferably includes an arcuate lead-in portion 21. 
Linerless labels in continuous form, illustrated schematically at 22 in the 
drawings, typically pass underneath the sensor 24, such as a conventional 
optical sensor. The sensor 24 senses either the perforation lines between 
individual labels of the web 22, or applied marks for that purpose 
indicating the demarcation between labels. Sensor 24 may cooperate with a 
computer control 25 or the like, computer control 25 also typically 
controlling a print head illustrated schematically at 26 in FIG. 1, and a 
rotary cutter, illustrated schematically at 27 in FIG. 1, and in more 
detail in FIG. 2. After receiving input from sensor 24 the control 25 
properly controls the print head 26 and cutter 27. 
The print head 26 cooperates with the release material face 16 of the web 
22 to print indicia thereon, typically variable indicia under the control 
of the computer control 25. The printer 26 may be any suitable type that 
can print on the release material face 16, such as a non-impact printer 
like an ink jet printer. Where the web 22 comprises linerless labels with 
a thermosensitive coat beneath a release coating 16, or surrounded thereby 
(as is conventional in the art), the print head 26 may be a thermal or 
thermal transfer print head. Normally the print head 26 cooperates with 
the print roller 28, which is a silicone roller but may also be plasma 
coated so as to have adhesive-release properties. 
Downstream in the direction of movement of the label 22, which direction is 
illustrated by the arrow 29 in FIGS. 1 and 2, is a support 30. The support 
30 preferably supports a stripper surface 31, seen in FIGS. 1 through 3, 
and a stationary anvil blade 32. The stripper surface 31 is preferably a 
generally planar surface of a block or other shape of metal 33, the 
surface 31 being plasma coated so that it will not stick to the adhesive 
15 which it engages. The stripper surface 31 is disposed at the angle 
.alpha. (see FIG. 2) with respect to the horizontal 20, the angle .alpha. 
typically being about the same as the angle .beta. that is between about 
20-35.degree., preferably about 27.degree.. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the 
surface 31 is upwardly directed from the print head 26 toward the rotary 
cutting mechanism 27, which has been found to minimize jamming. 
As illustrated schematically in FIG. 3, the surface 31 may include a 
plurality of upwardly extending extensions 34 formed on at least a part 
thereof. For example, twenty such extensions 34 may be formed on the 
surface 31, the total extent of the extensions 34 being between about 
5-20% of the width of the linerless label 22 passing thereover. The 
purpose of the extensions 34 (which are also plasma coated) is to decrease 
the surface tension of the stripper surface 31 and thereby minimize the 
possibility of the adhesive sticking thereto. While the extensions 34 are 
illustrated as dimples in FIG. 3, they may have any desired operable 
configuration and relative dimensions. 
Immediately downstream of the stripper surface 31 is the anvil blade 32. 
The anvil blade 32 is of hardened steel or the like, and preferably also 
is plasma coated or covered by textured paint, at least the portions 
thereof that are likely to come into contact with the adhesive of labels 
being cut. The hardened blade 32 has a portion 36 thereof which projects 
upwardly from the support 30 a distance t and downwardly from the stripper 
surface 31 at distance s. The amount of upward and downward spacing is 
preferably between about 0.001-0.008 inches, most preferably between about 
0.002-0.004 inches. It has been found that this slight, but significant, 
projection of the portion 36 of the blade 32 also minimizes jamming of the 
entire dispenser, particularly the print head 26 and the rotary cutter 27. 
The rotary cutter 27 typically includes a rotary blade 38 mounted on a 
rotating, powered, shaft 39 (e.g. typically powered by an electrical motor 
under the control of computer control 25). The rotary blade 38--even 
though it initially engages only the release material face 16 of the web 
22--may also be plasma coated. Preferably, however, the blade 38 may be 
coated with a textured paint or varnish. The blade 38 cooperates with the 
blade 32 to sever the linerless label web 22 into individual labels, such 
as the individual label 41 illustrated schematically in FIG. 1 downstream 
of the rotary cutter mechanism 27 in the direction 29. The rotary cutting 
mechanism 27 may be an off-the-shelf rotary cutter, such as a Hitachi 
rotary cutter Model #V15A and provided with a release coating such as 
textured paint or the like. 
In order to even further prevent sticking of the adhesive 15 of the web 22 
to the anvil blade 32, after a cut is made the web 22 may be retracted 
slightly (moved in a direction opposite the direction 29), on the order of 
about one-eighth to one inch. This would be accomplished by the computer 
control 25 reversing the direction of the print roll 28, or reversing the 
direction of other conveyance mechanisms (such as rollers, belts, or the 
like) that may be associated with the dispenser of FIG. 1, but are not 
illustrated in FIG. 1. 
Downstream of the cutter 27 an exit roller 43 may be provided. While the 
exit roller 43 is not essential, it does help in dispensing cut labels 41 
through an exit opening 44 in the housing 11. The exit roller 43 also is 
preferably plasma coated, and since it is very important the labels not 
stick to it (since that would preclude dispensing thereof through the 
opening 44), the plasma coated surface of the roller 43 may be grooved to 
reduce the overall surface tension of the roller 43. One configuration the 
grooving might take is illustrated schematically in FIG. 4 where annular 
depressions 45 are provided between annular lands 46. The grooving of the 
roller 43 need not necessarily be over the entire width thereof, but--as 
with the extension 34 of the surface 31--may be provided over a portion 
equal to about 5-20% of a width of a linerless label passing thereover. 
The exit roller 43 may cooperate with a conventional hold down mechanism, 
illustrated only schematically at 48 in FIG. 1. The hold down mechanism 
may be of any conventional type, engaging the release material coated face 
16 of the label 41. For example, it may be another roller either gravity 
or spring pressed into place, or a low friction material slide either 
gravity or spring pressed into place, or spring fingers exerting light 
downward pressure, or other conventional mechanisms. 
With respect to all of the adhesive release surfaces described above it is 
preferred that they are plasma coated. However, under some circumstances 
they may comprise other release materials, such as silicone coatings. 
Referring back now to FIG. 1, it will be appreciated that there is the 
possibility of a build up of adhesive on the rotary cutter blade 38 and 
that wipers formed of traditional felt or cloth containing silicone oil 
have previously been used to maintain the cutter blade free of adhesive 
build up. However, because of the possibility of different orientations of 
the dispenser, it has been found that the silicone oil, with such 
conventional wiper elements, is not applied uniformly or at all along 
portions of the wiper in other than horizontal orientations of the 
dispenser. To enable the entirety of blade 38 to be continuously cleaned 
with a wiper element containing silicone oil, the wiper element 50 of the 
present invention is formed of an open-celled foam sponge-like material. 
The foam material retains the silicone oil substantially uniformly across 
its entire surface due to its superior wicking action notwithstanding 
changes in orientation of the wiper. That is, even with the wiper element 
on its side, the wicking action of the foam material will pull the 
silicone oil from any pool or source of oil such that it may be 
substantially uniformly applied across the cutter blade 38 to maintain the 
latter clear of adhesive residue. 
Referring to FIG. 1A, there is illustrated a mounting for the supply of 
labels 10. Typically, labels 10 are supplied in roll form about a core 52 
preferably formed of a cardboard material. In prior liner-labelled 
constructions, a single hub 54 was mounted on a shaft 56 forming part of 
the dispenser. The hub was typically approximately 25% of the length, 
i.e., had a contact area approximately 25% of the contact area available 
on the interior surface of the core 52. Tracking, wobbling or skewing 
problems did not occur in the linered labels. However, because the peel 
strength of linerless labels is substantially greater than the peel 
strength of linered labels, it has been found that this arrangement does 
in fact cause skewing and out of track movement of the labels as they pass 
through the dispenser. To preclude this, an additional adapter hub 58 is 
provided on the axle 56. The adapter hub 58 has the same diameter as the 
conventional hub 54. However, the two hubs combined provide a contact area 
in excess of 50% of the available contact area along the inside of the 
core 52. The area covered by the hubs can be as high as 100% of the area 
of the core but it has been found that a hub combination which covers up 
to 75% of the available area of the core works well. 
It will thus be seen that according to the present invention a simple yet 
versatile yet effective linerless label dispenser, and cutting mechanism 
for linerless labels, have been provided. While the invention has been 
herein shown and described in what is presently conceived to be the most 
practical and preferred embodiment thereof, it will be apparent to those 
ordinary skill in the art that many modifications may be made thereof 
within the scope of the invention, which scope is to be accorded the 
broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all 
equivalent structures and devices.