The present invention is a method and apparatus conveying a roll of liner stock
bearing removably adhered components such as labels. The liner is pulled through
the feeder by a capstan drive having opposed fluted nip rollers driven by a stepper
motor. Advance of the stepper motor is controlled by a programmable electronic
controller. The linered labels are led through a tensioner and around an acute-angle
peeler edge which separates the labels from the liner. The peeling action advances
a label onto a platform comprising a bed of rollers having an inherently low-adherence
surface. Preferably the rollers are undercut to form circumferential ridges and
reduce the surface area in contact with the label adhesive and to minimize adherence
thereto. When peeling of a label is completed, the label has been advanced onto
the roller bed to precisely the proper location for acquisition by a pick-and-place
machine. The presence of a label on the platform is confirmed by a sensor that
signals the controller to stop further liner advance. The signal also serves to
reset the feeder for advance of the next label after the first label is picked
from the roller bed.
