Patent ID: 7441578

Claim:
A release liner staging unit comprising: an accumulator configured to store a quantity of release liner while said release liner is waiting to be dispensed, said accumulator defining therein a release liner inlet, a release liner storage compartment and a release liner outlet, said outlet disposed vertically below said inlet to facilitate the movement of release liner therebetween; a drive mechanism configured such that after attainment of a predetermined level of said release liner in said storage compartment, said drive mechanism continues to introduce release liner until a saturated level of release liner is formed in said storage compartment, said drive mechanism comprising: at least one release liner advancing member responsive to a motor and configured to contact said release liner; and a brake cooperative with said release liner advancing member such that upon operation of said release liner advancing member, said brake does not substantially inhibit the movement of said release liner into said accumulator, and upon cessation of operation of said release liner advancing member, said brake engages said release liner to substantially inhibit the movement of said release liner into said accumulator; and a controller cooperative with said drive mechanism, said controller comprising: a sensor configured to detect a fill level of said release liner in said accumulator; and a feedback mechanism configured to operate said release liner advancing member and said brake upon receipt of an appropriate fill level signal from said sensor.