Apparatus for separating label assembly

Abstract

A label assembly including a face sheet, a back sheet, and a layer of an adhesive positioned between the face sheet and the back sheet. A separation line divides the label assembly into at least two portions. The separation line is formed by a first tearable line of separation extending across the back sheet and a second tearable line of separation extending across the face sheet. The first tearable line of separation is offset with respect to the second tearable line of separation, and at least one of the first and second tearable lines of separation includes a non-linear portion directed toward and/or an angled portion extending at an angle to an other of the at least one of the first and second tearable lines of separation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A label assembly, comprising:
 a face sheet, a back sheet, and a layer of an adhesive positioned between said face sheet and the back sheet, the adhesive adhering to the face sheet more than to the back sheet, the face sheet defined by an outer peripheral edge surrounding the face sheet;   a first label column of a first plurality of labels cut within the face sheet;   a second label column of a second plurality of labels cut within the face sheet and spaced apart from the first label column, the second label column having a first side disposed toward the first label column and a second side disposed opposite the first side;   a line of weakening cut in and across the back sheet and dividing the back sheet into at least two portions, the line of weakening extending under each of the second plurality of labels at the first side of the second label column, the line of weakening including a linear first section parallel to and offset from a side edge of the first side of the second label column, the line of weakening further including an arcuate second section curved from the linear first section in a direction toward the side edge of the first side of the second label column, wherein the linear first section comprises a plurality of cuts and ties and the arcuate second section comprises a cut and no ties.   
     
     
         2 . The label assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein a first end of the arcuate second section is connected to the linear first section and a second end of the arcuate second section contacts an edge of the back sheet. 
     
     
         3 . The label assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second line of weakening cut in and across the face sheet, a label section of the second line of weakening defining a side of each label of the second plurality of labels, and the second line of weakening extending from each end of the side edge of the first side of the second label column to an edge of the face sheet, wherein the arcuate second section is curved from the linear first section in a direction toward the second line of weakening. 
     
     
         4 . The label assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the arcuate second section crosses the second line of weakening between the second label column and the outer peripheral edge. 
     
     
         5 . The label assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second line of weakening cut in and extending across the back sheet and dividing the back sheet into an additional portion, the second line of weakening extending under each of the first plurality of labels of the first label column, the second line of weakening including a second linear first section parallel to and offset from a side edge of a first label column side that is facing away from the second label column, the second line of weakening further including a second arcuate second section, wherein the second linear first section comprises a plurality of cuts and ties and the second arcuate second section comprises a cut and no ties. 
     
     
         6 . A label assembly, comprising:
 a face sheet including a first face sheet end edge and a second face sheet end edge opposite the first face sheet end edge;   a back sheet including a first back sheet end edge and a second back sheet end edge opposite the first back sheet end edge, wherein the second back sheet end edge is disposed adjacent along the second face sheet end edge;   a layer of an adhesive positioned between said face sheet and the back sheet, the adhesive adhering to the face sheet more than to the back sheet;   a first label column of a first plurality of labels cut within the face sheet;   a second label column of a second plurality of labels cut within the face sheet, the second label column spaced apart from the first label column and having a first side disposed toward the first label column and a second side disposed opposite the first side, the first side formed by a first tearable line of separation that extends from the first face sheet end edge to the second face sheet end edge;   a matrix surrounding the second label column, the matrix including a first portion between the second label column and the first face sheet end edge and a second portion between the second label column and the second face sheet end edge;   a second tearable line of separation cut within and extending across the back sheet from the first back sheet end edge to the second back sheet end edge, the second tearable line of separation including a linear section offset from the first side of the second label column and underlying each label of the second plurality of labels, and the second tearable line of separation including a non-linear section angled or curved from the linear portion toward the first tearable line of separation, wherein the non-linear section underlies the second portion of the matrix between the second label column and the second face sheet end edge.   
     
     
         7 . The label assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the first tearable line of separation includes a matrix section cut within the second portion of the matrix between the second label column and the second face sheet end edge, wherein the matrix section is linear and parallel to and extending from the first side of the second label column. 
     
     
         8 . The label assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the linear first portion comprises a plurality of cuts and ties and the non-linear section comprises a cut and no ties. 
     
     
         9 . The label assembly according to  claim 8 , further comprising a breakable material bridge or a tie between the non-linear section and the second back sheet end edge. 
     
     
         10 . The label assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the first tearable line of separation comprises a second non-linear section cut in the first portion of the matrix and extending between the second label column and the first face sheet end edge. 
     
     
         11 . The label assembly according to  claim 6 , further comprising a third tearable line of separation cut within and extending across the back sheet and underlying each label of the first plurality of labels at a side of the first label column that is facing away from the second label column, the second tearable line of separation including a second non-linear section angled or curved between an end of the first label column and the second back sheet end edge, and underlying the second portion of the matrix between the first label column and the second face sheet end edge. 
     
     
         12 . A label assembly, comprising:
 a face sheet including a first face sheet end edge and a second face sheet end edge opposite the first face sheet end edge;   a back sheet including a first back sheet end edge and a second back sheet end edge opposite the first back sheet end edge, wherein the first back sheet end edge is disposed adjacent along the first face sheet end edge;   a layer of an adhesive positioned between said face sheet and the back sheet, the adhesive adhering to the face sheet more than to the back sheet;   a first label column of a first plurality of labels cut within the face sheet;   a second label column of a second plurality of labels cut within the face sheet, the second label column spaced apart from the first label column and having a first side disposed toward the first label column and a second side disposed opposite the first side;   a first tearable line of separation cut within the face sheet and extending between the first face sheet end edge and the second face sheet end edge, a label section of the first tearable line defining ends of the labels of the second plurality of labels;   a second tearable line of separation cut within the back sheet and extending between the first back sheet end edge and the second back sheet end edge, the second tearable line of separation offset from the first tearable line of separation and including a linear section extending under each label of the plurality of labels, wherein the linear section is offset from the ends of the labels of the second label column, and the linear section extends between the second label column and the first back sheet end edge;   the first tearable line of separation including a first non-linear section angled or curved from an end of the label section and extending to the first face sheet end edge, wherein the first non-linear section is angled or curved from the end of the label section toward the portion of the linear section of the second tearable line of separation that extends between the second label column and the first back sheet end edge.   
     
     
         13 . The label assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the first tearable line of separation and the second tearable line of separation do not intersect with each other. 
     
     
         14 . The label assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the first tearable line of separation intersects the first face sheet end edge at a distance from an intersection of the second tearable line of separation and the first back sheet end edge. 
     
     
         15 . The label assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the first tearable line of separation and the second tearable line of separation divide the label assembly into two portions that are separable from each other. 
     
     
         16 . The label assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the non-linear section extends across the second tearable line of separation and intersects the first face sheet end edge. 
     
     
         17 . The label assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the non-linear section crosses the second tearable line of separation and intersects the first face sheet end edge at a distance from an intersection of the second tearable line of separation and the first back sheet end edge. 
     
     
         18 . The label assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the second tearable line of separation includes a second non-linear section angled or curved between the second label column and the second back sheet end edge. 
     
     
         19 . The label assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein the first non-linear section arcs in a first direction toward the first face sheet end edge, the second non-linear section arcs in a second direction toward the second back sheet end edge, and the first direction is generally opposite the second direction. 
     
     
         20 . In the label assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein the first non-linear section is at an opposite end of the second label column from the second non-linear section.