Label stripping apparatus for use with label handling apparatus

Claim 1

A label stripping apparatus for use with a label handling apparatus including a base plate and means mounted on the base plate for moving, under tension along a first path, label stock comprising a plurality of labels positioned along a strip of label stock backing, said label stripping apparatus comprising: a. a label stock guide means including a support member and first and second guide members, said first and second guide members being spaced apart from each other on said support member and extending in a substantially parallel direction to each other from said support member, said second guide member having a longitudinal axis aligned with said substantially parallel direction, b. means mounting said label stock guide means on the base plate for rotation about an axis coincident with said longitudinal axis of said second guide member between first and second positions so that said first and second guide members are transverse to the first path of the label stock, and positioning said label stock guide means with respect to the first path so that the label stock extends along said first path between said first and second guide members when said label stock guide means is in said first postion, and the label stock is moved away from said first path when said label stock guide means is rotated to said second position wherein said first guide member moves the label stock into contact with the second guide member to distort the label stock about said second guide member to separate at least a portion of a label adjacent said second guide member from the label stock backing, and, c. means for moving said label stock guide member between said first and said second positions.