Postage label dispensing system having a peeler plow for dispensing application ready and/or lined postage labels

Abstract

A postage label dispensing system for dispensing adhesive-backed labels includes a conveyance system for displacing a supply of label material along a feed path wherein the label material includes a face material having an adhesive backing and a liner material detachably bonded to the adhesive backing. The adhesive backing defines a pair of longitudinal adhesive strips and a non-adhesive region disposed therebetween. The liner material has a longitudinal cut disposed adjacent to, and aligned with, the non-adhesive region to define a pair of liner strips. A peeler plow is disposed downstream of a bending means which induces a bend in the label material along an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal cut, i.e., in an area corresponding to the non-adhesive region, which bend produces an opening between the face material and the liner strips. The peeler plow includes a tip portion operative to penetrate the opening between the face material and the liner strips, and an arcuate blade, disposed to each side of the tip portion, operative to peel the liner strips from the adhesive backing of the face material. A processor is operative to control the conveyance system such that the tip portion of the peeler plow penetrates the opening and the liner strips are peeled from the face material to dispense an application ready printed label. Alternatively, the peeler plow may be repositioned, from a first to a second position, such that the label material is conveyed over an upper surface of the peeler plow to dispense a plurality of lined labels.