CA1168105A - Label printing and applying apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

LABEL PRINTING AND APPLYING APPARATUS

Abstract of the Disclosure There i disclosed a hand-held label printing and applying apparatus for printing on labels releasably adhered to a web of supporting material, the apparatus having a print head and a platen with an impression control mechanism for the print head, a traveling inker with an easily replaceable inking member, a mechanism for adjusting the registration of a label with respect to the print head, and a return spring sub-assembly or module which is easy to handle and assemble into operative relation with the reminder of the apparatus.

Description

- ~ ~681~5 ~ocket ~-4 0 ~EI. PRINT~G AND APPLYING ~PARATtJ~

"a O~ th~
r~ oe th~
Thi~ in~ren~io~:L relat~s to ~che art o label printing and applyin~ apparatu~r ~ ri~ D~scxi tion of the Prior Art The ~ollowirlg U.S. pa~ent~ made of :reeord- 741,520 gramted October 13, 1903 to ~ankiewic%; 3,3~4~855 graYlted January 23, 1968 to ~oek~loc~ et al; 3, 4 91, 685 gra~ted January 27, 1970 to Trampo~ch; 3~9029952 granted Septe~ber 2, 1975 to Penaluna; 3~957,5S2 granted May 18, 1976 to Hami~ch, Jr.;
3~968,745 grant~d July 13, 197~ to }Iami~ch, Jr.; 4,057,,452 granted N~vember 8, I977 to Yo Sa~o: 4,072,105 gran~d February 7, 1978 to B~cker e~ al; 4~113,544 grar~ted~ September 12~ lg78 to Yo Sato 4,116,747 granted September 26, ~1978 to Hamisch, Jr~,:
4,125,419 granted ~io~ember 14, }978 to ~lamisch, Jr.; ~,125,420 gra~ted November 14, 1978 to Hami ch, JrO; 4el25~421 granted ~ou~mber 14, 1978 to Ha~isch, Jr~ arld 4,14g~462 granted April 17f 197~ to Yo SatoO
20 ~e~b~
The inve~tion relat~ to a hand-held appaxatu~ for prin~ing an~ applying pre~3~ure ~en~itive labels rel~a~ably c~ried on a we~ o~ ~upporting ma$erial. The apparatu~ include~
an improved arr;!mg~ment for ~ecting ~pres~on Gontrol so that printing ~pr~ion~ on ~uc:ce~ive l~bels ar~ e~entially the ~ e irre~pectiv~ o~ whe~:her the u3er op~3rates itY manually e~gageable ac~uator quickly or slowly, s:~r wi~h ~mall or large ~, a~unt~ o~ ac~uating pr-338UXe. The apparatu~, according to a ~ ~8 ~ ~
rket M~4 0 2 -la- .

] ~pe~ific emdosliment, include~ a frana~ having a handle, an actuator dispo~ed at the handle and moveabl~ be~ween ~n initiaï
po~ition ~nd an actua~ed position~ a platen, a prin~ head, the print he~d b~ing mounted for movemeTlt into and ou~ of printing cooperation with the platen, mean~ for delaminating printed labels 7 means fox applying printed la~el~ asld a linkage i~cludin~T a pivotally mounted lever and a spring devic~ coupled to the lever for coupling the actuator and th2 print head, - mean~ for preven~lng ~svement of the prin~ head toward the platen 10 durinr3 m~vesnan~ of ~e actuator from it:8 initial po~ition toward it3 actuated pvsition u~til the actuator has ~vad through a predetermin~d di~tanc:e, the rpring device ena~ling the actuator to mov~ from the initial po~ition t~ the actuated position whlle the movement of the prin~ head i~ preven~d ~d mean~ ef f ec:tive when the actuator has mov~d through a predetermined di~ ance for relea~ing the pr.int h~ad into printing cooperation with the platen. The pr:Lnt head i~ preferably mounted for 3traight line mo~r0men~ l:oward and away from the pla~en. More ~pecifi~ally the prevel~tlng means include~ a la~ch or in~erposer and a lo~t-motion conrl~ction for couplin~ the interposer and the linkage to enable the spring device to load before th~ interposer is m~ved to effect relea~e of the print head~i According to the prsf~rred embodiment, the ac~uator includes a lever and a f~rs~ gear section is coupled to the levar . A second gear section rne~he~ with the f irst gear sectior~, the second gear ~ectio~ being connec:~ed to the linkage~
Tha $nvention al~o include~ an inker ha~ing a~ ink ro~ler having spaced shaft portions . The inker ~ nclude~ a pivotally mounted holder ~or the ink roll~r. The holder has a pair of spaeed ~ockets for r~ceiving the sha~t po~tions~, The holder includ~s a pair of relatively mov~able jaw members which provide the ~ockets. The one jaw member i~ composed of flexible re~ilient material for enabling the socket to receive the re~pective ~haft portion. The holder i~ moun~ed by a carrier which i~ controlled by calm means orl the print head. Th~re is mean fo~ limi~ing the pivotal movement of the holder relative tc~ the carrier and means ~or urging the lnk roller ln one direction with re~pect ~o the pr~ n~ ~ead but enabling th~ holder to yield ups:~n pres~ure contact with the print head~

11$81d5 Dockat M-4 02 -2~

In acoordance: with another feature o~ the invention, 1:here i~ provided a ma~lc for l~l~ing t~e prinking to a single label,. The ma~ located and configured to ~ k ofP the printing on th~ lab~l i~uQediately ahead of the printing zone or printing positlon. A pair of arms conslec~ed ~o ~h~ ma~k hold dowrl the 12lbel whic:h is Zlt th~ printing po~ition.

FIGU~LE 1 is an exploded per~pe~tive vle~r ore a label printing and applying apparatu~3 in ac~:ordance with th~ inventiorl;
PIGUR~ 2 i~ a ~ide elevatic~ al, partly s~ctional view of the appaxatus, with th~ various component p~rts being shown in the~r initial positions;
~IGURF. 3 i~ a elevat~ orlal vi~3w partly in sectioIl ~hc~wi~g the csther side of the app~ratu~; from that !Qhown in FIC;URE 2, with th~ compon~nt part~ being in the 1 r initial ition~;
FIGURE 4 is a ~iew ~imilar to PIGURE 3 but ~howing various compo~ent pa~t~ ed aw~y from t~eir initial positions ~ow~rd th~ir ac:tuatlsd position3;
FIG~RE 5 is a view ~imilar to FIGURE 4, but qhowing variou~ component p~rt~ th~ir actuated po~itions, ~GU~ 6 i~ an enlarged ~ide elevational Yiew showing th~ inlcing~ mech~ni~zD in its initial po~ition;
FIGURE 7 ~ a side elevational view similar to FIGlJRE
6 but showing the print head as contac:ting the inking mem~er;
PI~:;URE ~ is a ~ide elevational view ~ilar ~o FIGUR~:
6 showing the inking mechanism traveling relative to the print head;
FIGWRE 9 i~ a side elevational ~i~w similar tG ~IGURE
8 but ~howing the inklng m~ r a:; haviag ms~ved clear of the pr~nt head;
FXGURE 10 i~ a ~ragmentary vlew ~howing a portion o~
the coupLing between the pri~t head operating linkage and the interpo~er;
FIt:URE 11 i~ a ~ec:tional vi~w o~ the drlve ~or the feed wheel taken along line 11-~11 of FIGURE 10;
E'IGURE 12 i~ a sectional view taken along line 12 -12 o~ FIGURE ïl:

Doc:ket -~- 4 0 2 _ 3;

FIGURE: 13 i~ a ~ectional view ~a}cen along line 13-~13 o~ FIGURE 11;
FIGUE~ 14 i~ a vie~ similar to FIGU~E 11 bu~ ~howlng t~3 ratchet wheel unclutched from the f e~d wh~el;
E'IGURE lS i$ 21 sectional view of a subassembly or cont~olling the return o~ the co~apo~en'c part to their initial poxit~ons; and FI :;URE 16 i~ a s~ ::tional viaw of a sprir~g de~ice utilized in the 1~ rlkag~ for m~Ying the print head .
10 Detallad De~criP~ion of Jche Pre~erred E:rnbodiment~
With reference to FI~:;TJRE 1 ~here is ~hown a :Label prînting and applyirlg apparatu~ generally indicated at 20. The apparatu~3 20 ~nclude~ a fram~ gen~rally indicatad a~ 21 ha~ing a pair o~ frame sectis:~n 22 aTid 23 . A subframa generally indic:ated at 24 include~3 two pairs o~ ~ubfra~ ~ection~ 25 and 26~ asld 27 a~d 28~ The apparatus 20 includ~ an actuator generally ir~dicated a~ 29 which i~ ~ho~n to take the ~onn of ~ lavF~r 30O The fr~ne3 has a handle generally indicated at 31 and include~ handle p~rtions 32 and 33 of ~ec tions 22 and 23, 20 respec~ivelyO The lever 30 i~ pivotally mounted at the outer end portion Ql~ ~he handle 31 on a po~t 34 whic:h extends into a hol~ 35 at the outer end portion of thle lever 3 0 . The actuator 29 is coupled to a~d is preferably molded integrally with a gear section 36. ~he geax sectlor~ 3k xne~he~ with a gear - ~sct~on 37 . The geax ~action 37 and ~he print haad 57 are connect~d by a 1inkage genexally indicated at 4 0 ' . Th~ gear ection 37 i~ cs~ cted to a link 38 by a pin 39. ~?he link 38 i ~ connec:ted to a two~a~ed lever generally indicated at 4û ,.
The lever 40 has~ an ~rm 41 to which the link 38 is connected by 30 a pin 42., The leve~ 40 al~o ha~ an arm 43 having a tubular member 44. The lever 40 ha~ a hub 45 pivotally moun~ed on a tubular po~t 46. The hub 45 ha~ an integrally ~ormed ~pr~ng f i~Qge~r or l~af 3pring 4 5 ' which provides a brake . A po~t 4 7 is s2cured tu the frame ~ection 22 which ex~ends thro7lgh th~a tubular po81: 460 The bushing 48 axially aJ.igned with a hub 45 i9 rotat-ably rec~lved abo~t the po~t~ 4 6 on tha sub~rame sections 24 and 26. The pushing 48 i~ keyed to the hub 45 by oppo~ed rece~e~
49 which xeceiv~s prc~jections 5~ on th~s hub 45. The bushing 48 ha8 an tubular portion 51 cc~nnec:ted to the bu~hing 4 8 , ' ' 810~
vocke~ 4 0 2 4 -by an arm 520 A pin 53 passes through the tubular portion 51,through a hole 54 i:n a spring device generally indic:at~d ~t 55 and into a hole 5~ in ~he tu~aular ~emlber 44O The spri2lg device 55, shs:~wn in sec:tion in FI(;URE 16, is co~nectad tc~ a print h~ad generally indicated at 57 ~y an integral pin 5~ pivotally recaived in opposed tubular members 58 ' 7 The linkage 4~ ' is lllustrat~d as including the link 38, the lever 4 0, and the ~pr~ng device 55.
li~ith refer~:nce to FI(~URES 3 ~ 4 and 5, the print head 10 57 i~ shown to in~lude a ~top 5~ havin~ a stop sha ~der 5~i.
The stop 59 i~ molded integrally with the ~ide pla~e 60 of the print head 57~ An interpc~ser or latch 61 i~3 coupled ~o the qear ~ection 37 by a lo~t-mo~ion connection gener311y indicated at 62 ~howrl in detail in FIGURE 10. The interpo~3er 61 has An ~nlarged portion 63 with an opening 64. Pin 65 integxally cormec~ed to the gear sec~ion 37 is received in the opening 64~ In the po~ition of the piTl 65 in the opening 64 as ~ho~m in FIGURES 3 and 10, the interposer 61 is ir~ its initial po~ition in the path of th~ prin~ head ~top 5~. The prin~ head S7 has oppos~d ball 20 track~ 63 and fi4 and sec~clons 22 and 23 have mating ball tracks 65 and 66~ Ball bearin~ strip~: 67 and 68 received in r~spective trasks 63 a3~d 65, and 64 and 66 guide the print head 57 for straight line movement. If the lever is actua~ed away from its ~nitial position, the gear ~ection 36 rotates the gear ~ection 37 through an arc causing the link 38 to moveO The link 38 c~uses the lever 40 to pivc~t. The lever 40 drives the spring device 55 which ir~ turn drive~ ~he print head 57. When the ~ hould~3r 59 ' of the ~top 59 contacts the interposer 61, and as~uming continu~3d m~vem~3n~ of the ac~uator 29 from it~ initial 30 position toward lt~ actuated po ition,, a spring 67 in th~ spring device 55 i~ loaded. As 1:he loading continue~, th~ pin 65 nx)~re~
away frc)m abutment or shoulder 61' (FIGURE 10~ of the interposer 61 through the po~i~cion shown in FIGUR13 4, and when the pin 65 ac:ts upon abutment or shoulder 51~ the interposer 61 i~ shifted.
When 'che interps:~er 61 ha~ shi~ted to a po3ition when i'c~
kerminal end 68 cl~ars t:he stop shoulder 59 ', the loaded spring 67 will cause ~he print head 57 to b~ driven toward a platen 6 9 into print~ng ;:ooperation with a lab~31 L. Bec:ause of the ~ ~8 1 05 et M- ~ 0 2 --5 xQla.ti~e movement between the actuator 29 and the print head 57, the 5pring d~Yic~ 55 is con3idered to prov:Ld~ a 105t-mo~cion ~::onn~ctlon. ~hen the acltu~tor 29 i~3 released, a spring 185 ln a ~u~a~3emb1y 181 returns ~he aotua~or 29, ~he gear sectio~ 36 and 37s th~: link 389 1:he lever 40, the ~pring device 55, the print head 57 a~ad the interposex 61 to their initial po~ition~.
During return o~ the!~3e compc~n~nt part~3 to their initial pc ~tions, the pin 65 will l~ave contact with the abutment face 61" and will ms~ve through ~he po$ition shown in FI(;URE 4 back to ~he in1 tial 10 po~ition ~hown in E'IGURE 3. By the ti~ne the interp~ser 61 r~ve~
~aack to i~ ini;:ial po~:ition, ~he s~op 5~ will have cleared ~he int~rpo~er 61 ~o that thera i~ no interferenc~ betwe~n the s op 59 a~d the interpos~r 61 upon re~urn of ~h~ prillt head 57 to it~
initial po~ition. The in~erpo~;er 61 i~ ~lidably ~upported in a gulde groove 73. Tha guide groove has a small rece~ 74 for rec~iving er~d portion 75 ' of ~ spring finger or lea:E ~pring 75 formad int~grally with the intl3rposer. The 3pring finger 75 cooperating with the r~ce~ 74 proYides a detent for hc-ldir~g the iAterpo~er 61 in it~ in~Ltial po~itioll. Moreover, when th~
20 interposer or latch 61 is other than i:n i~ initial po~ition"
there i~ i~rictional drag between the end portion 75 ' o~ the spr~lng finger 75 and the guide 73 ~o t.hat the int~rpo~er 61 is ~ot accidentally ~hifted, for example, wh~n the apparatu~ i~
dropped. The guide 73 also support~ ~.he ira~er~er 61 against th~ ~orce exerted ~y ~che prirlt head 57 when 1:he spring 67 exert~
a force on th~ print head 57.
In reference to FIGURE 1 there i~ ~hown a po~t 76 secured to the frame ~ec:tion 22 and having a ~plined erld portior 77. With reference to ~IGURE~ 11 through 14, the gear sec~ion 30 37 is ~hown to have a hub 7~ rotatably received on the po~t 76.
- A pawl member generally indic:ated at 79 i~ shown to be secured against rotatio~ to non-circular portion 80 of the hub 78. The pawl member 79 ha~ a pair of flexlble xesilient drive ~inger~ or pawLR 81 cooperable with radially spaced teeth 82 of ratchet wheel generally indicated at 83. A feed wheal 84 i5 res~eived about and ~upported by the ratchet wheel 83. The feed wheel 84 ha3 a plurality of teeth 85 at it:3 outer peripheryO ~g best shown in ~IGURE~S 11 arld 14, the ratchet wheel 83 ha~3 a tubular ~rtion 86 received within a tubular portion 87 of the eed ~ ~68~5 Docket M-402 6~
wheel 8d~. The outer periph~ry of the tubular portion B6 has radially spaced axially ~xtending grooY~S or ~lots 88 and the i~ner periphery of the tubulax portion 87 ha~ a plurality of projections 89 which ext~d into the groove~ B~. ~he projections 83 are considerably narrower than ~h~ grooves 88 to afford limited rotational travel of the eed wheel ~4 relati~re to the rat~het whe~l 83. Thf~ ratchet wheel 83 ha~ an end wall 9O
joined to the tubular ps~rtion a60 The eed wheel 84 ha~; an and p~3rtion 91 joined tv the tubular portio3l 87. The ratchet wheel lO 83 ha~ a frusto;~conical portion 92 be ~een the tubular portion 8S and the end wall 90, and the feed wheel 84 has a f:ru~to-conical portion 93 between the tubular port~on 87 and the end wall 91 Th~ fru~tc~-conical por~ion5 92 and 93 have re~3pective mating toothed clutch ~ember~ 94 and 95 be~t shown in ~I~URE 14 where the clut~h mem~er g4 and 95, whlch compri~e a ::lutch g~nerally irldicated at 96,, are -~hown to be di~engaged. The s~lu$ch 96 i5 ~hown engag~d in ~IÇIJRE llo A manually ~ngageable, shiftable and ~eotat~le operating member 97 i~ ~hown to b~ rotatably mounted on a tubular portion 98 which i~ joined to the end wall 20 90. The member 97 ha~ opposed lug~ 99 received in open-ended ~lots 100 o~ a tubular portion 101 forxned integrally with the end wall 91~ I:n order to di~engage th,e clutch 96, the user depres~es the melllber 97 which in turn 11lOV~8 the clutch member 94 to th~ right a~ ~hown ir~ FI~URE 11 to th~ ition shown in .~ FIGURE 14. ~t i~ preerred to depre~s th~ member 97 with a coin recei~red irl a ::oin slot 102 ~o that when ~ho ~ember 97 is in ~h~
po~ition ~hown in FIGURE 14, the coin carl be used to rotate the f~d wheal 84 in either ~he forward or the r~v~r~e dir~ction to ad just the pos~ tion tc~ which a la~el L 1~ brouyht into r~gistry 30with the print h~ad 570 The force exerted upon the member 97 by the user overeome~ the force o~ a compres~ion spring 103.
When the member 97 ~8 released following adju~tment of the feed wh~el 84, th~ ~ pring 103 returns the clu ch membex 94 int~
clutching engagement with the clutch m~mber 95. In so doing it is n~ted that the ratchet wheel 83 i~ shi~ted axially with re~pect to the fPed ~h~el 84. It is also noted that the spring 103 acts again~t one end of the tubular portion 86 and again~t a flange 104 of a 31eeve 105 received about the hub por~ion 78.
Th~ flange 104 has the additional function~ of rotatably mounting 1 0 ~
L~ocket i~q 4 0 2 7 the ~eed wheel 84 and for preventing the ratchet wheel 83 ~rom moving th~3 feed wheel 84 axially again t ~ub~raxne sec~ 26 In order to prevent rotation o~ the fe!ed wheel 84 while the clutch 96 is engaged, an ar~ti-backup pawl member general~ y indicated at lû6 havlng a paix of pawl3 107 i~ pro~lded to engag~ he ratc:he~ t~3eth 82~ In order to prevent ~he ratchet wheel. 83 frc3m xotati.ng when the member 97 i~ shif~ed to the po~ition sho~n in FIGURE 14, there i~ provi~ed a clutch generally indicated at 108. The clutch 108 include~ a ~ries of ~in~
10 t~lth 109 formed in~egrally wi~h the pawl member 106 and a serie3 of ~a~ing fine tee1:h 110 ormed in~egrally w~ th the end wall 90~ The ~ee~h ln9 and 110 are axlally aïigned and are shown disengag~d in FIGURE 11 a~d engaged in FIGURE 14.
~ i~h re~ererlce to FIGU~ES } and 2, th~ apparatu~ 20 i8 shown to m~unt a roll ~ of a c~omposite W2b C }la'Jitlg ~he labels I.
rel~asably carriQd on a web of supporting mllterial 5~ A~ be~t shown in FIG~RE: 2, the web S pa~se~ through an operling 111 bounded by co~v2rging pc-r~ion~ 112 of frame sections 22 and 23 and a roller 1130 From there the w~ S and the web L which it 20 carrie~ pa~s~s between converging guide member~ 114 and 115.
I~ thL~ positlon shown in ~IGURE 2, khe br~ke 4 5 ' presses the weh C against the guide 114 to ~::lasnp the web C against n~ovement in the downstream direction. From there the web S passes between a pair of roller~ lL6 and a cu~ed guide plate 117 molded integrally with the platen 69. Adiacant ~he platen 69 i~ a d~laminator 118 ~or delaminating labels I. from the supporting web S. The dç~laminator 118 is ~hown to ~ake the ~orm of a pael roller. The leading label L i~ shown in ~IGURE 2 to be in label applying r~lation~hip with~ an applicator 119 shown to take the ~onn o~ a 30 roller. The applicator 119 1~3 shown ~o be rotatably mounted on a pin or post 120 the end portion~ of which are received in arms 121 of a member 122. The r~ember 122 ha~ a through-b~re 123 at it3 upper er~d oppo~it~ the applicator 119 for rec~iving a post 123 ~ . The member 122 senre~ to shi~ld th~ print head 57 and inking mechanism 124 from damage wh~n the app~ratu~ 20 is abused and al~o as a cover to ~eep dU51~: and ~he like ~rom entexing the s~?ace within the frame 21. The member 122 i~ pivotal to an ope~ posi~ion allowlng acce~ for cleanlng the print head 57 1 0 ~
.cket M- 4 0 2 _ ~

and for changing an inking m~el 125 o the mechani~n 1240 The member 122 can be latched tc~ the frartle by a pair of opposed latch~s 126, only one of which i~ shown.
Aft:er pas~ing about the delaminator 118, the web S
p~sse~ partially around a roller 126 disposed below the plate 117.
The roller 126 is also aaounted by ~he p:La~en 69. ~rom ~h~re the web S passe~ between guides 127 and 1~8. The guide 128 ext~nds to a positiorl oppo~ite a die roller 129 which i5 contoured to allow clearance ~or the tee~ 85. The die roller i~ unted by lo a holder 129 ' ~, ~he die roller 129 i cooperable with ~che feed wheel 84 ~o feed ~he web S. A stripper 130 strip~ ~chs~ web S
~rom the teeth 85. ~rom there t~e web S pass~s between guides 131 and 132~ The guide 131 is part of the subframe section 27 and the g~ide 13~ i~ p~rt of ~he ~ ram2 section 28. Th{~ exi~
end of th~ guide 132 i~ provided with a cutting edyq 133 for severing excess amoun~ts of the web S. The subframe sections 27 and 28 have :bores 134 for receiving ~ubular pO8~S 135. A post 136 ~ecured to ~he frame sec~ion 22 extend~ through the tubular po9~t:5 135. The ~frame ections 27 and 28 ar~ suitably connected 20 through po~t~ 137 so that the sub~xam~ ~ec~ion~ 27 and 2B can pivot as a unit abc~ut the po~t 136, The subfram~o sectiorls have re~ilient asms 138 which rotatably mount hub members 139. The hub member~ 130 mount the label roll R. The arm3 13B hat7e latches 140 (only one of which is 3howrl) for latching ~che subframa sectio~s 27 and 28 in ~che normal position of use as ~hown in FIGU~E 2. The subfram~ section~ 27 and 28 have projection~
141 received in arcua'c~ ~lot~ 142 fox limiting the ex~ent to whi~h ~hç! ~ec~cions 27 and 28 can be plvoted into an open position~, Thi~ pivoting is accomplished to expo~e the guides 131 and 132 30 and the f~ed wheel 83 for cleaning purpos~s.
The frame ~ections 22 and ~3 have openings 143 whic:h provide a window for o~erving which printing character 57P is at the printing position P~ The prink head 57 contains a series of axially aligned printing member~ 57' whis::h ar~ selec~ively ~3ttable by a Qelector 144. The selector includes a knob 145.
A ~crew 146 pas$e~ through the knob 145 and a connector 147 and i~ received by a selector shaft 144 ' ~ The connector 147 is guided for movemerlt in the same directlon a~ the print head 57.
rhe connectox 147 tele~copes into a cc3nnector 148 formed integrally with an indica~or 149. The indicator 149 has a pointer 150 ~or ~ 1~8 ~ 0 5 3cket M-402 _9 indic~ting the printing member 57 t with which the selec~or 144 i~ c:oupled. The indica'cor 149 is slidably mountesL in opposed grooves 151~ The ~;elect:or 144 and the indicator 149 are mov~ble in the axial direction5, but in addition the selector 144 can be rota~ced,, As ~he print head 57 ~ve~ toward and away from 'che pla~en, the telescoping connector~ 147 and 148 maintain the 108t;motioll cor~nection be~ween thf3 selector 144 and th~ indicator 149. As ~he selector 144 is ~;hifted axially ~he connec:tors 147 a~ad 148 causP the indicator 14~ to also be ~;hifted axially a~ a lo unit with the sel~ctor 144~
With re~erence to FIG~JRES 1 and 2, the inking mechanism 124 is shown to include a c~rrlex 151 having a pair of arms 15Z
join~ by a bar 153. The arm~ 152 hav~ opposed followers 154 received in cam ~ra k8 155 c~n ~id~ plate~ 156 o~ the print head 57~, ~he carrier 151 ha~ a pair of aligned holes 157 ~or receiving pc>~3t~ 158 on ~he frame ~eGtions 22 and 23., Thus, the carrier 151 is pivotally mounted on the frame 21. The pivotal movement of th~ carrier 151 i:3 controlled by the cam tracks 155 and the ~ollowers 154 to cau~e the inking memb~er 125 to move from the 20 initial position3 shown ir~ F~IGUR~S 2, ~ and 6, throu~h the itio~s shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, and into the fully ac:tuated positior~ as shown in E~IGURES 4 ,, 5 and 9 as the print head 57 moves from its initi~l position ~o the printing position shown in FIGURES 5 and 9 and vic~ versa . Referring to FI(:URE 6, ~or example, the arm~; lS2 have respective aligned holes 159 ~or recei~ing ~haft portion~ 160 of a holder 161. The hcllder 161 has a pair of arms 162 recelved in oper~ings 163 (FIGU~E 6 ~ . The arms 152 have concave bearing ~urfaces 164 and l:he arm~ 16~ have bearing surface~ 1650 ~ one-plece molded leaf spring 166 has 30 integrally ~o~d bearings 167 captively received at reqpective b2aring surfaces 164 and 165. The sprirlg~ 166 bia~ the holder 161 cl;:~ckwise as viewed in ~IGURE 6 to a po~ition in which the arms are in abutment w~th a stop ~ace 168 formed by the openings 163. As sho~rn, the ln~cing member 125 is ou~ of contact with the printing membess 57 ~ in the initial po~ition as ~hown in FIGURE
6, ~or example. When the print head 57 move~ to the po~ition show~ in FIGURE 7, th~ inking mem~er 125 ir~ he printing el~nents 57P which are at the printing po~ition P and the a~ns 1 :~68 ~5 Docke~ M-402 -10 162 move away from the ~top fa~:e 168 to the po!3ition ~hown in FIGUR}3 7. A5 ~he print head 57 continues to movQ toward the platen 69 to the p~sition ~ho~ ~rl FIGU~E 8 ~ the prings 167 cause the inking member 125 to exert the proper pre3~ure again~t th~ prirlting elenients 57P~ n the inking m~er 125 has moved clear of ~he print head 57, the arms 162 are agairl in contact with ~he ~kop face~ 168~ Th~ holder 161 include~ two pair~ of jaw members 169 a~d 170~ Eac:h ~aw ~ er 16~ ha~ an arcuate ~urface 171 and each ~aw member 170 has an arcuate ~ur~ ce 172.
lo The arcuatç! ~urfaces 17:L and 172 of the respective jaw member~
169 and 170 provide a socke~ ~or rec~ivlng a re~pecti~e shaft portiorl 173 of th~ inking melllber 125~ Th~ inking member 125 is shown to take th~ of a rotatable roll having a circular cylindri~:al sectlon 174L o~ porou~ inlc receptive material. The ja~ lnember~ 169 are uny:}eldable ~o that: the pre~Rure ~ontact betw~en the inking m~ber 125 and the printing elem~nt~ 27P is controlled by the ~prings 166 a~ i3 pra~erred. IiE desired, however9 arm~ 175 of re~pective m~nbers 169 can be made flexible.
The member~ 169 have re3pective cam ~tlrface~ 177 and ~he members {~ 20 170 have re~pective c~m surface~ 1780 The movement of each jaw member~ 170 toward the re~pectiv~ jaw menlber~ 169 is limited by a pin 179 on the jaw member 169. The pins 179 are contacted by th~ respectiv~ jaw members 170 in the position howTI in FIGtJRE
6 ~ The ir~;ing me~ber 1~5 is secuxely held in the sockets pros7ided by the oppo~ed palss of conc:ave surfac:e 171 and 172. ~owever, the inking member 125 Gan be re~nvved hy li fting up on a handle 180 1:o ~eparate the jaw mem~ers 169 and 170 to open up the sockets to allo~ the in3ci3lg roller to be removed. A new ink roll~r can be ~n~ert~d by lining up ~he shaft portion~ 173 wi~h the pair~ of jaw mem~er~ 169 and 170 and pushing the ~ha~t ~ rtions 173 against the respective cam ~ur~ace 177 alld 178 to mo~re the jaw membes~ 170 relative to respective jaw members 169 until ~he ~haft portions 173 are in the po~ition shown in FIGURE
6. ~cordingly" lt 1~ easy to remove a spe3~t inki~g member 125 . ~ and to inser~ a new inking member 125~
With reference ~3specially to PIGURE 2 ~ there i~ shown a ~ubasse3nbly gene~ally indicated at 181 disposed at and within th~ handle 31 be~een legs 182 and 183 c~f ~he actuating lever 30.

~1~8~5 k~. M-402 11--!

Th~ subassembly 181 has a pair of telescoping members 184 ~nd 185 acted upon by the spring 186. Tha member 184 has a bearing 187 received aqainst a cc~ncave bearing surface 188 of the lever 3û betw~en arms 182 and 183. The mem~er 185 has a bearing 189 received in the concave bearing surface 190 c~l~ the handle 31. The ~uba~embly 181 is shown in greater detail in FIGURE 15 in both ~olid line and phantom positions~, The tel~scop~ng mem~ers 184 and 185 have an internal opening for receiving the ~prin~ 186., The ~;prin~ 186 is a compression spxing. The subas~embly 181 lo include~ a pawl and ratche~ mechallism generally indicated at 191 which in~ludes a s~raight ratchet 192 formed on the outer sur~ace of the telesc:oping member 184 and a pawl 193 pivotally mounted on a pirl 194. The mesl-ber 185 ha~ a pair of depending arm~ 195 which xe<::eive the pin 194. q~he pawl 193 i~ coope:rable with u~::ces3ive tee~h of the ratche~ 192 as the rnember 184 ~elescope~
into ~he member 185 when the ac~uator 29 i~ moved out o~ 5 initial position towaxd i s ac~uat~d position. In the event the u~er should release the actuator 29 before moving the actuator 29 to the ac~uated posit~on, the pa~l 193 cooperates with one of 20 the ratchst teeth 192 to prevent return movement of the actuator 29 ar~d as~ociated component part unt:il such time as the actuator 29 i~ ~ully ac~ua~ed. When the actua~:or ~9 reach~ its actuated position, the interposer 61 has moved clear of the stop 59 and the print head 57 is released to prin~: on the label L and the pawl member 7 9 ha~ moved f ar enough to en~age a pair o f teeth 8 2 .
Upon movement of th~ actuator 29 to its actuated po~ition, the lever 4 ¢ has pivoted far e~ough ~o that the brake 4 5 ' no longer applies braking force to the web C; al~o a trip member or xelease member 196 formed integrally with ~he member 184 will engage an 30 ann 197 of the pawl 193 to pivot the pawl clookwi3e a~ ~iewed in FIGIJRE 15. The return ~pring 186 is there~lpon free Jco move the tele~coping member~ 184 and 185 relatively apart ~co return the actuator 29, the gear section2; 36 and 37 ~ the link 3a, the lever 40, the ~pring device 55, the print head 57 and the interpo~er 61 to their initial posikions. Al~o the pawl member 79 drives ~he ratchet wheel 83 to driv~ the fe~ad wheel ~14 o advanc:e the web S. When the ac~uator 29 i~ in it~ initial position, the cam 198 acting on an arm 199 of the pawl 193 mo-res ~nto the ~olid line position shown in FIGU~E 15 to pivot the pawl 193 counter ~ 1~8~
sket M-402 -12-1 clockwise thus initlating movement o~ the pawl 193 ~o its i~itial po3ition~ The pawl 193 i~ controlled by an overcenter mechanism generally indicated at 200 ~hich includes a leaf spring 201 having integrally formed bearing~ 202 and 203. The b~aring 202 and the pin 194 are on the same centerline C~. Xn the initial position the bearing member 203 which is rotatably receiYed ~y the pawl 193 in a socket 203 tends to hold the pawl 193 in the ini~ial posltion. When the m~mber 196 acts on the arm 197 ~nd the pawl 193 is pivot~d clockwise, the ~pring 201 is lo flexed and a~ ~oon as the bearing 203 exerts an overcenter force on the pawl 193, the pawl 193 is quickly moved to ~e ~hanto~
line position shown in FIGURE 15.
In ord~r to assure that printing i9 limited to the lab~l L at the printing zone or position P, a ~ask 210 i5 pro~id~d to cover th~ immediately adjacent up~tream label. The mas~ 210 ., 15 thin and tapers to a fea~hered adge 2110 A pair of spaced arms 212 hold down marginal side edge~ of the label at the,print-in~ position. The ma~k 210 has a lateral strengthening rib 213.
The platen 69 has spaced apar~ posts 214 cooperable with cutouts 215 in ~he m~sk 210 to locate the mask ~10 and its hold down fingers 212 relative to the platen 69" The mask 210 has a pair of projections 216 at the rib 213~ The pro3ec~ions are received and held in pockets 217 in ~ubrame sections 24 and 26.
When getting ready to operate the apparatu~ 20, the ~arious printing member~ 57' ar~ first set by ~electively shifting and rotating the selector 144 o that their printing elements 57P Frint the desired data~ The actuator 29, the print head 57 and the intermediate linkage 40, the int~rposer 61, . and the ink~nq mechaAism 24 are i~ ~heir in~tial po~itions in v 30 FI~RE 2. The ~andl~ 31 i~ manually gra~ped an~ ~he user'~
finger~ are used to operate th~ actuator 29. Upon operation of the actuator 29, the qear se~tion 36 moves the geax ~ection 37 ~
the gear ~ection 37 ~ova~ the link 38 which p~vots the lever 40.
The l~ver 4~ moves ~he ~pring deYice 55 wlthout compre~sing the spring 67 and în turn the spring device 55 moves the print head 57 toward the platen 6~. During movement of the actuator 29, the pawl L93 cooperate~ with ucc~3~ive teeth of the ratchet 192 and the pawl memb2r 79 al o moves. Thus, relea~e o~ the actuator 29 doe~ no~ allow either the actua~or 29, the gear ections 36 ~ ~8 105 .~cket M~402 -13-1 or 37, the linkage 40~ or the print head 57 to retuxn to th~ir initial positions and does not allow ~he pawl member 79 to move the fe~d wheel 84 because the pawl 193 ha~ ~ot moved far enough.
When th~ stop 59 con~ac s the intexpo~er 61 the movement o~ the print head 57 is ~rre~ted e~en though the user continues to ~ove the actuator 29 toward it~ ac~uated position. This cau~es the : pln 65 to con~act abutmen~ face 61' to move the interposer 61 out of the path of ~he stop 59. '~hen the interposer 61 has moved clear of the stop 59, the ~priny 67 fires th~ print head 57 into printing cooperation with the platen 6g. Slight addition al mov~ment of the actuator 29 will cause the release me~ber 196 to move the pawl 1~3 to its overcenter position so t~at the ac~uator 29 can return to its ini~ial positionO By the time tha .- xelease me~bar 196 actuates the pawl 193, the pawl member 79 has moved to a position Ln which ~he pawls 81 are in the path of the next adjacent teeth so that releas of he actuator 2~ will cau~e the ratchet wheel 83 to drive the feed wheel 84 through the engaged clutch 96. During movement of the actuator 29 toward the ac~uat~d position, the inkin~ mechanism 1~4 mov~s through the positions shown successively in FIGURES 6 through 9 and the opposite movement occurs when the actuator 29 is released.
The brake 45~ has moved to its ineffective position when the actuator 29 is in its actuat2d position and remains in its ineffective position until the actuator 2g has returned ~ery close to its initial po~i~ion shown in ~IG~RE 2 ~ When the actuator 2 9 re~urns to its initial position, the Gam 198 causes return of .~ the pawl l9 3 into a ratche~ing posltion in cooperation with ~che ratchet 192 and return of the prin~ head 57, the linkage, the gear sections 36 and 37 and the int~rposer 61 to their initlal pOsition~
All parts of the apparatus are preferably composed of molded plastics materials except various connecting scr~ws, springs 67, 103 and ~86, and ~he ink roller 125, ~hu~ making for a durable, ligh~weight low-cost apparatus 20.
Other embodlme~s and modifications of khis invention will suggest them~elves ~o those skilled in the art, and all uch of these as come within the spirit of this in~ention are included within its scope a~ best defined by the appended claim~.

Claims (15)

Docket M-402-C-l The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a hand-held label printing and applying apparatus for printing and applying labels releasably carried on a web of supporting material, a frame having a handle, printing means, means for advancing the web, means for delaminating a printed label, a manually operable actuator disposed at the handle, and means coupled to the actuator for driving the printing means to print on the labels and for moving the web advancing means to effect label delamination, an inking mechanism wherein the inker includes an ink roller having spaced shaft portions, a pivotally mounted holder for the ink roller, the holder having means providing a pair of spaced socket for receiving the shaft portions, the improvement comprising that the holder has at least one pair of relatively movable jaw members, the jaw members providing one of the sockets, one jaw member including an arm comprised of a flexible resilient material for enabling the respective socket to open to receive a respective shaft portion, the printing means includes a laterally extending print head, wherein the ink roller extends laterally and is positioned to ink the print head, means for applying a printed label disposed at the front end portion of the frame, a member for shielding the print head disposed at the front end portion of the frame adjacent the label applying means, the print head and the ink roller, and means movably mounting the member to the frame to provide access to both the print head and the ink roller.

2. Printing apparatus, comprising: a movably mounted print head, a traveling inker including a carrier, means for pivotally mounting the carrier, an inking member, a holder for the inking member, means pivotally mounting the holder to the carrier, means for limiting the pivotal movement of the holder relative to the carrier, means for urging the ink roller in one direction with respect to the print head but enabling the holder to yield upon presure contact with the print head, wherein the Docket M-402-C-l carrier includes a pair of arms, means rigidly connecting the arms for movement as a unit, the arms having respective first bearing surfaces, the holder having second bearing surfaces, a pair of leaf springs each having first and second bearing surfaces, each leaf spring first bearing surface acting on a respective arm first bearing surface and each leaf spring second bearing surface acting on a respective holder second bearing surface, the arms having openings, the limiting means comprising a pair of projections received in the openings, the leaf spring being received in the openings, the carrier and the holder being composed of molded plastics material.

3. Printing apparatus comprising: a movably mounted print head, a traveling inker including a carrier, means for pivotally mounting the carrier, an inking member, a holder for the inking member, means pivotally mounting the holder to the carrier, means for limiting the pivotal movement of the holder relative to the carrier, means for urging the ink roller in one direction with respect to the print head but enabling the holder to yield upon pressure contact with the print head, wherein the print head has a pair of cam tracks, means mounting the print head for straight line movement, the carrier having a pair of followers received in the respective cam tracks so that movement of the print head causes traveling movement of the inker through a cycle as the print head moves into and out of printing coopera-tion with the platen, the cycle involving no movement of the inker as the print head moves into contact with the inking member and involving traveling movement of the inker as the print head continues to move toward the platen.

4. In a hand-held label printing and applying apparatus for printing and applying labels releasably carried on a web of supporting material, a frame having a handle, printing means, means for advancing the web, means for delaminating a printed label, a manually operable actuator disposed at the handle, means coupled to the actuator for driving the printing means to print on the labels and for moving the web advancing means to effect label delamination, the printing means including a print head and a cooperable platen, the improvement comprising Docket M-402-C-l a mask disposed adjacent the platen for limiting the printing to a single label, a subframe mounted by the frame, means connecting the platen to the frame, guide means mounted by the platen for guiding the web to beneath the mask, the print head and the platen being cooperable to print on a label a a printing position, the mask having a pair of spaced hold down members formed integrally with the mask for holding down the label which is at the printing position, the mask acting to mask off the leading marginal edge of a label upstream of the printing position.

5. In an apparatus as defined in claim 4, the improvement further comprising means for locating the mask and the hold-down members with respect to the platen.

6. Hand-held apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels releasably carried on a web of supporting material, comprising: a frame having a handle, an actuator disposed at the handle and movable between an initial position and an actuated position, a platen, a print head, means mounting the print head for straight line movement between an initial position away from the platen and a printing position in cooperation with the platen, means disposed adjacent the platen for delaminating printed labels, means coupled to the actuator for moving the print head, the moving means including a linkage having a spring device, the print head having means defining a shoulder movable in a straight path, an interposer alternately movable between an effective position in the path of the shoulder and an ineffective position out of the path of the shoulder, the interposer being in the effective position in the initial position of the print head, the shoulder being spaced from the interposer in the initial position of the print head, the spring device being loaded when the actuator is operated and the linkage moves and drives the print head shoulder against the interposer during a portion of the movement of the actuator from its initial position to its actuated position, and means coupling the interposer and the moving means for moving the interposer out of the path of the shoulder to release the print head into printing cooperation with the platen.

Docket M-402-C-1

7. Hand-held apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the means coupling the interposer and the moving means includes a lost-motion connection.

8. Hand-held apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the moving means includes a first gear section coupled to the actuator and a second gear section meshing with the first gear section, means coupled to the second gear section for advancing the web, wherein the means coupling the interposer and the moving means includes a lost motion connection coupled to the second gear section, and means connecting the second gear section and the linkage.

9. Hand-held apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels releasably carried on a web of supporting material, comprising: a frame having a handle, an actuator disposed at the handle and movable between an initial position and an actuated position, a platen, a print head, means mounting the print head for straight line movement between an initial position away from the platen and a printing position in cooperation with the platen, means disposed adjacent the platen for delaminating printed labels, means coupled to the actuator for moving the print head, the moving means including gearing and a spring device driven by the gearing, the print head having means defining a shoulder movable in a straight path, an interposer alternately movable between an effective position in the path of the shoulder and an ineffective position out of the path of the shoulder, the interposer being in the effective position in the initial position of the print head, the shoulder being spaced from the interposer in the initial position of the print head, the spring device being loaded when the actuator is operated and the gearing moves and drives the print head shoulder against the interposer during a portion d the movement of the actuator from its initial position to its actuated position, and means coupling the interposer and the moving means for moving the interposer out of the path of the shoulder to release the print head into printing cooperation with the platen.

Docket M-402-C-l

10. Hand-held apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the means coupling the interposer and the moving means includes a lost-motion connection.

11. Hand-held apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the gearing includes a first gear section coupled to the actuator and a second gear section meshing with the first gear section, means coupled to the second gear section for advancing the web, wherein the means coupling the interposer and the moving means includes a lost-motion connection coupled to the second gear section,and wherein the moving means further includes means coupling the second gear section and the spring device.

12. Hand held apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels releasably carried on a web of supporting material, comprising: a frame having a handle, an actuator disposed at the handle, a platen, a print head, means mounting the print head for movement in a straight path into and out of printing cooperation with the platen, means for inking the print head including a traveling inker having a carrier, means for pivotally mounting the carrier, a holder pivotally mounted to the carrier, an ink roller rotatably supported by the holder, means for urging the holder and the ink roller which it carries in one direction relative to the print head but enabling the holder to yield upon pressure contact with the print head, means responsive to movement of the actuator for moving the print head into and out of printing cooperation with the platen, the ink roller being spaced from the print head in the initial position of the actuator and in the initial position of the print head, means for limiting the pivotal movement of the holder and the ink roller in the one direction, and cam means controlled by the print head and acting on the carrier for moving the holder and the ink roller generally laterally with respect to the path of movement of the print head to ink the print head.

13. Hand-held apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the cam means includes a pair of cam tracks and a pair of follower means confined in the cam tracks to effect movement of the ink roller throughout a complete cycle.

Docket M-402-C-1

14. Hand-held apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the cam means includes means for driving the inker in opposite directions through a complete cycle.

15. Hand-held apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the cam means includes a pair of cam tracks on the print head and a pair of followers on the carrier received in the cam tracks.