Tabber with bulge in peeler

Abstract

A system for dispensing tabs from a carrier substrate, each of the tabs having an adhesive backing for securing the tabs in spaced-apart relation to the carrier substrate. The system includes an input mechanism operative to supply an input stream of the tab stock and an output mechanism operative to accept and take away an output stream of carrier substrate from the tab stock supplied by the input mechanism. The system further includes a peeler bar having first and second surfaces disposed on the periphery of the peeler bar. The peeler bar, furthermore is interposed between the input and output streams such that the underside surface of the carrier substrate slideably engages the first and second peripheral surfaces. The first peripheral surface has an arcuate shape along an elongate axis of the peeler bar and is oriented relative to the second peripheral surface so as to effect an abrupt directional change with respect to the input and output streams. The arcuate surface imparts curvature to the tab stock in a direction tending to (i) increase the bending stiffness of each tab about an axis parallel to the elongate axis, (ii) facilitate separation of each tab from the carrier substrate, and (iii) favorably position each tab with respect to the free edges of a folded substrate material during tabbing operations.