Tab dispensing apparatus and related method

Abstract

An apparatus for dispensing an adhesive tab ready for placement on the an edge of a substantially flat article, such as a folded mailer or the like. Adhesive tabs are disposed on a roll formed of a reverse-wound backing strip housed in the base of the apparatus. A manually operable feeder assembly advances the backing strip past an L-shaped stripper secured in the base. In addition to guiding the strip, the stripper assists the foremost tab in partially separating from the backing. The combined action of the advancing strip and the stripper serve to remove the tab from the backing and place the tab over a receiving slot. The article is then inserted into the receiving slot, thereby pressing and sealing the tab onto the edge. Adjustment means allow the advancing motion provided by the feeder to be altered based on the size of tab or spacing between the tabs on the strip. The receiving slot is also fitted with an adjustable applicator for assisting in pressing the tab onto the article edges. A method of manually dispensing tabs for application to the edges of substantially flat articles is also disclosed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.