Adhesive components peel and apply apparatus and method

In a system for adhesively applying to an item components that have a broad adhesive first face and a broad opposed second face, wherein the components are initially attached to a web by the first face, apparatus for securely holding the component while on the web and peeling the web from the held component, the apparatus comprising:

• a stationary first surface;
• a peeler plate having a second surface and a peeling edge mounted for translatory motion in a first direction to a first position away from the first surface and in a second direction to a second position toward the first surface;
• a web moving means for pulling the web along the first surface and the second surface and around the peeling edge;
• a component chuck means for removably engaging the second face of the component, the component chuck means mounted for motion between at least two locations, a first location in which the chuck means is above the component when the peeler plate is in lthe first position, and a second location wherein the chuck means is pressed against the entire component, the web, and the second surface when the peeler plate is in the first position, the chuck means being provided with means for securely holding the component;
• sensor means for sensing position of a component on the web while the web is being pulled across the first surface and peeler plate and past the sensor means;
• brake means for arresting motion of the web, the brake means mounted adjacent the first surface and positioned so as to press the web against the first surface when actuated in response to the sensing means sensing that a component is entirely beneath the chuck means;
• means forcing the chuck means from the first location to the second location when the sensing means indicates that a component is entirely beneath the chuck means;
• puller means for pulling the web across the peeling plate from the first position to the second position while the component is securely held by the chuck means and the web is held by the brake means so as to peel the web from the held component,
• spring bias is provided for moving the peeler plate from the second to the first position;
• the chuck means is provided with a vacuum for securely holding the component;
• and
• the puller means comprises a mechanism that forces the web moving means in the second direction to thereby peel the web from the held component and to cause the moving web to move the peeler plate to the second position, and then force the web moving means in the first direction, causing the web to lose tension and thereby allowing the spring bias to move the peeler plate back to the first position.

In a system for adhesively applying components that have a broad adhesive first face and a broad opposed second face to items wherein the components are initially attached by the first face to an elongate web in a source of components, a method for securely holding the component and peeling the web from the held component ready for applying the held component to an item, the method comprising:

• A) pulling the web in a motion from the source of components across a peeler plate, between the peeler plate and a component holding chuck and over a peeling edge on the peeler plate;
• B) when a component is located entirely between the peeler plate and the chuck, arresting the motion of the web from the source;
• C) forcing the chuck against the second face of the component while the component is motionless on the web and entirely supported by the web and the peeler plate therebelow;
• D) applying suction to the chuck to hold the component securely and immobile thereon;
• and
• E) pulling the web around the peeling edge to peel the web from the first face of the held component and to cause the pulled web to move the peeler plate from beneath the component so as to peel the web from the first face of the held component.