Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
:
Bac~ground of the Invention
Field of the Invention
.~ This invention relates to the art of label printing
and applying appa,atus and composite label webs.
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Summary of the Invention
This invention relates to apparatus for printing
and applying pressure sensîtive labels carried on a web of
supporting material. The apparatus includes a frame, a platen
and a print head mounted for relative movement by the frame.
The apparatus also includes a delaminator for delaminating
printed labels from the supporting material web and an
applicator for applying the printed labels. A toothed feed
wheel is engageable with the web. Ratchet teeth are coupled
to the feed wheel. A pawl is cooperable with a tooth of the
ratchet teeth for driving the feed wheel. There is a
mechanism for driving th~ print head relative to the platen
and for thereaftar operating the pawl to drive the feed wheel.
There is a rolling-contact type one-way clutch coupled to the
frame for mounting the feed wheel and for enabling the pawl to
drive the feed wheel and advance the web and for preventing
reverse rotation of the feed wheel to obviate loss of tension
in the supporting matèrial web after the web has b~en fed.
There is preferably a support secured to the frame which has
a circular cylindrical outer surface. The clutch,is received
about the support in cooperable relationship with the outer
surface. The support is preferably tubular and a drive shaft
extends through the support and carries the pawl. The clutch
is preferably press-fitted into the feed wheel.
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Brief Descri~tion of the Drawinqs
. FIGURE l is an exploded perspective view of one
embodiment of label printing and applying apparatus,
together with a roll-type composite label web supply;
FIGURE 2 is a partly broken-away top plan view
of the composite label web;
FIGURE 3 is a fraqmentary elevational view of the
apparatus shown in FIGURE l;
FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken
along line 4--4 of FIGURE 3 showing track structure for
mounting a print head of the apparatus;
FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational
view of a feed wheel for the apparatus;
FIGURE 5A is a view similar to FIGURE 5 but on a
larger scale and showing a cured adherent coating;
FIGURE 6 i~ an enlarged fragmentary top plan view
of the feed wheel shown in FIGURE S;
FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary ~ide elevational view of
an alternative embodiment of the apparatus;
FIGURE 8 is an exploded perspective view of another
embodiment of label printing and applying apparatus together
with an improved roll-type composite label web supply;
FIGURE 9 is a partly broken away top plan view of
thc composite label web;
FIGURE 10 is a side elevational view of the apparatus
with one handle section and a removable housing section being
r~moved for clarity;
FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary elevational view of the
other sidc o~ the apparatus shown in FIGURE lO;
FIGURE ~2 is a view taken generally along line 12--12
: of FIGURE 10;
FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary elevational view of another
handle section, showing means for locking ~he eccentric support
in position;
FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary end elevational view of a
manually operable actuator and one end portion of the eccentric
support;
FIGURE lS is a fragmentary elevational view showing
the other side of the actuator from that shawn in FIGURE 14 and
the other end portion of the support;
FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary elevational view of the
one handle section;
FIGURE 17 is an exploded perspective view of a drive
gear, a feed wheel, rolling-contact type one-way anti-backup
clutch, a ratchet wheel selectively positionable with respect
to the feed wheel, a clamp, and a drive pawl;
FIGURE 18 is a partly a sembled view of the components
shown in FIGURE 17;
FIGURE 19 is a frag~entaxy perspective view showing
how the clutch is secured in the feed wheel and clutched with
an annular support;
FIGURE 20 i~ a view similar to view 19 but showing
the clutch unclutched as when the feed wheel is rotated in the
direction of the arrow;
FIGURE 21 is a fragmentary elevational view showing
the side of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 11 with certain parts
omitted for clarity, the operative components being shown in
FICUR$ 21 in a position which facllitate~ loading of the pparatus
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FIGURE 22 is a view similar to FIGURE 21 with the
operative components being shown in a position caused by a
fir~t actuation of the actuator following loading;
FIGU~E 23 is a view similar to FIGU~S 21 and 22,
showing many of the operativa oompone~ts thareof, the brake
mechanism being in its effective braking position caused by
return of the print head;
FI~URE 24 is a fraqmentary perspective exploded view
of the locking mechanism for the removable housing section;
FIGURE 25 is a partly sectional view of the locking
mechanism in its assembled condition;
FIGURE 26 is a fragmentary perspective exploded view
of a resilient device and mounting structure therefor;
FIGURE 27 is a fragmentary perspective exploded view
showing a delaminator and a portion of the platen;
FIGURE 28 is a sectional view showing in detail an
ink roll of the inking mechanism;
FIGURE 29 is a sectional view taken along line 29--29
of FIGURE 28;
FIGURE 30 is a left end elevational view of the ink
roll shown in FIGURE 28;
FIGURE 31 is a sectional view showing fragmentary
portions of one housing section and the frame plate and the
means for holding the same together;
FIGURE 32 is a sectional view of the reel;
FIGVRE 33 is an elevational view showing a fragmentary
portion of the apparatus to which a rewinder is connected; .
-6-
FIGURE 34 is a ~ide elevational view of an alternate
form of rewinder;
FIGURE 35 is a sectional view taken along line 35--35
of FIGURE 34; and
FIGURE 36 is an enlarged sectional fragmentary view
of the feed wheel showing lands and intervening gaps.
Description of the Preferred Embodiments
The embodiments of FIGURES 1 and 3 through 6 and
the embodiment of FIGURE 7 are adapted to utilize a composite
label web 30 illustrated in detail in FIGURE 2. The composite
web 30 of label material 31 is releasably adhered to and carried
by supporting or backing material 32. The label material 31
is cut transversely by transverse cuts 33 extending all the way
acrocs the web 31 of label material to the side edges 34 and 35
of the composite web 30. The cuts 33 ~nown as "butt cuts"
separate the web 31 of label material into a serieq of end-to-
end labels 36. The u~derside of the web 31 of label material
has a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive 37 which adheres
strongly to the web 31 of label material. The web 32 of
supporting material carries a thin film or co~ating ~not shown)
which allows the labels to be peeled from the web 32 of
supporting material.
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Groups 38 of cuts are provided at equally spaced-
apart intervals along the length of the composite web 30.
Each group 38 of cuts is shown to extend through the supporting
material as well as through the la~el material. Each qroup of
cuts is shown to be made in a generally I-shaped configuration
comprised of cuts 39S, 40S and 41S in the supporting material
and aligned cuts 39L, 40L and 41L in the label material. The
part of the web 32 between the one end of the cut 39S and the
cut 40S provides a frangible portion 43S and the part of the
web 32 between the other end of the cut 3~S and the cut 41S
provides frangible portion 42S. In like manner, the part of
the label material between the end of the cut 39L and the cut
40L providcs a frangible portion 43L and the part between the
other end of the cut 39L and the cut 41L provides a frangible
portion 42L.
With reference to the embodlment of FIGUR~S 1
and 3 through 6, there is shown label printing and applying
apparatus generally indicated at 50. The apparatus 50 has a
frame generally indicated at 51 which is shown to include frame
sections 52 and 54 to which a cover section 53 is removably
connected. A subframe 55 in the form of a single, rigid, metal
plate is suitably secured to the frame section 5? as for example
.
~ $~ J
.,
by screws 56. The screws 56 pass through respective holes 57
in the subframe 55, and are threadably received in respective
bosses 58 in the frame section 52. The fram~ 51 has a handle
generally indicated at 59 comprised in part of handle portion 60
of the frame section 52 and in part by the frame section 54.
The sections 53 and 54 are connected to the frame section 52 by
snap-fit connectibns including generally snap-fitted flexible
resilient members 61 engageable in undercut recesse~ 62 in the
housing section 52.
The subframe 55 mounts a print head generally
indicated at 63, a feed wheel 64, a ratchet wheel 65 ~FIGURE 3)
having teeth and being formed integrally with the feed wheel 64,
~ gear or gear segment or gear section 66 formed integrally with
a lever 67, an applicator 68 in the form of a roll, a platen 69
and an integral guide 69', a delaminator 70 provided by an edge
of the platen 69, rollers 71 and 72, a post or stud 73, a post
or stud 74, a post or stud 75, and a stripper plate 76 and an
integrally formed guide 77. ~he handle portion 60 and the frame
section 54 mount a pivot 78 in respective bosses 79 and 80. The
pivot 78 pivotally mounts an actuator 81 shown to be in the form
of a lever. ~hen the user grips the handle 59, the actuator 81
can be engaged by the user~s fingers, while the thumb passes
around the frame section 54 (assuming the user grips the handle
59 with the right hand). The actuator 81 carries a gear or gear
segment or gear section 82 which mcshes with the gear 66. A
spring assembly 82', including a compression spring 82~, bears-
against the handle portion 60 and the actuator 81 and urges the
actua~or 81 counterclockwise (FIGURES 1 and 3). Accordingly,
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the actuator 81 and the gear 82 are inLtial~y Ln the position
shown by solid lines in FIGURE 3, but upon operation are moved
to the position indicated by phantom lines 81'. The feed wheel
64, the ratchet wheel 65, and the gear 66 are coaxially mounted
on the po~t 74. The gear 66 carries a pawl 83 which is coop-
erabl~ with the ratchet wheel 65. As the actuator 81 moves
from the solid line position to the phantom line position in
FIGURE 3, the gear 66 rotates counterclockwise until the pawl
83 passes over a tooth 84 of the ratchet wheel 65, and when the
actuator 81 i8 released the spring assembly 82' drives the gsar
66 clockwise and causes the pawl 83 to drive the feed wheel 64
clockwise. Clockwise rotation of the ratchet wheel 65 and hence
the feed wheel 64 is prevented by a flexible re~ilient pawl 84'
which cooperates with the ratchet wheel 65.
The lever 67 lies in a plane which is offset from
the plane of the gear 66. As best shown in FIGURE 1, a lateral
portion 85 integrally connects the gear 66 and the lever 67.
The lateral portion 85 passes through an arcuate 810t ~6'
.;
in the subframe 55. The lever 67 is connected to the print
head 63 by a pin-type connection generally indica~ted at 86.
The pin-type connection 86 is a pin-and-slot connection and
i8 shown to comprise an elongated slot 87 in the lever 67
and a pin 88 having a roller 89 received in the sl4t 87. A
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wa~her 90 and a clip 91 hold the rol7,er 89 on the pin 88.
The pin 88 i~ secured to the print head 63. As best shown
in FIGURES 1 and 4, the print head 63 is provided with a pair
o~ elongated parallel ball tracks 92 and 93. The subframe
55 mounts a pair of ball tracks 94 and 95. Ball bearing
strips 96 and 97 are received in respective ball tracks 92
and 94, and 93 and 9S. The ball tracks 92 through 95 are
considered to comprise track structure for mounting the
print head 63 for reciprocating movement toward and away
from the platen 69. The ball track 95 is mounted to move
relative to the ball track 93. Compression springs 95'
urge the ball track 95 toward the ball track 93 and compen-
sate for clearance between the ball tracks 93 and 95.
The apparatus 50 provides what is known as a two-
line machine, having two lines Ll and L2 of selectively
settable printing bands 98 and 99. The bands 98 of line Ll
are selectively settable by manual operation of a knob 100
and the bands 99 of line L2 are selectively settable by
manual operation of a knob 101. The knobs 100 and 101
project through an opening 53' in the cover section 53.
A die roll 64a, having a groove 64b through which
the teeth 64' of the feed wheel 64 can pass, is rotatably
r
mounted on an arm 64c. The arm 64c is mounted on the post
73. The arm 64c has an integral lateral tab 64g which extends
through a slot 64f in the subframe 55. A tension spring 64d
is connected to a post 64e secured to the subframe 55 and to
the tab 64g. The spring 64d urges the die roll ~4a against the
feed wheel 64. When the feed whael 64 rotates, the teeth 64'
of the feed wheel 64 cooperate with.the die roll 64a to break
the frangible portions 42S and 43S in the supporting material
web 32, thus making feed holes in the ~upporting material web 32.
An inking mechanism 102 includes an arm 103 pivotally
mounted on a pivot 104 secured to the subframe 55. A retainer
105 keeps the arm 103 on the pivot 104. The arm 103 carries
a small diameter laterally extending pin 106 which mounts an
ink roll 107. The pin 106 extends through an arcuate 810t 108
in the subframe 55~ A tension spring 109 acts at its one end on
a lateral tab 110 carried by the arm 103 and at its other end
on a pin 111 secured to the print head 63. The locations of
the tab 110 and the pin 111 are selected so that there is
substantially no extension or distention of the spring 109 as
the print head 63 moves during the printing stroke between
the solid line position and the phantom line tprinting) position
shown by phantom lines 63'. Likewise on tho return s~roke
there is no substantial extension or distention of the spring
109 as the print head 63 moves between these pos$tions. The
12
location of the pivot 104 causes the ink roll 107 to be
pushed from its solid line position to the phantom line
position indicated by phantom lines 107' during the
printing stroke from which the ink roll 107 is returned
to the solid line position during the return stro~e of the
print head 63. In addition, the force of the spring 109
causes the ball track 92 to be urged toward the ball track
94, thereby compensating for clearance.
The composite label web in roll form can have
a circular cylindrical core 112 composed of paperboard or
other suitable material. A hub 113 composed of plastic or
other suitable materials has three flexible resilient sections
114 onto which the core can be snap-fitted and from which the
core 112 of a spent roll can be readily removed. The hub 113
is rotatably mounted on the post 75 and is retained by a clip
113'.
With reference to FIGURES 5 and 6, the periphery of
the feed wheel 64 is shown to have evenly spaced apart generally
V-shaped lateral grooves 115. These grooves 115 greatly reduce
the area of contact that the supporting material web 32 makes
with the feed wheel 64. This greatly minimizès any tendency
for gum which may be on the supporting material web 32 to be
transferred to the feed wheel 64. Gum on the feed wheel 64
can cause problems in feeding the composite web 30. Lands 116
at the periphery of the feed wheel 64 are about one-fifth as
long as the pitch distance d, and thus the grooves 115 reduce
the area of contact by eighty percent over a feed wheel with
a continuous, uninterrupted periphery.
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In loading the apparatus ~, the cover section 53
is unsnapped an~ removed, and the co~posite label web supply
roll is snapped onto the hub 113. The die roll 64~ and its
arm 64b are moved to the over-center position. ~ith the
actuator 81 moved partly toward the phantom line position
(FIGURE 3), the free end of the composite web 30 is passed
between a bra~e roll 117 and a platé 11& secured ta the
subframe 55. The free end of the composite web 30 is passed
under and partly around the roll 71, over the platen 69,
around the delaminator 70, under the platen 69, under and
partly around the roller 71, partly around the roller 72, over
and partly around the feed wheel 64, over the stripper plate
76, and over the guide 77. Now the actuator 81 can be released,
whereupon the brake roll 117 is contacted by the end of the
print head 63, causing the brake roll 117 to press the web 30
against the plate 118 to prevent paying out of the web 30
during application of a label 36. The die roll 64a and its
arm 64c can now be moved to the position shown in FIGURE 3, and
the cover section 53 can be snapped into place.
When it is desired to print and apply a label 36,
the printing and feeding cycle is commenced when the actuator
81 is squeezed, and this causes the gear 82 to drive the gear
66 and hence the lever 67. Pivoting of the lever 67 causes
the print head 63 to be driven into printing cooperation with
the platen 69 to print data on a label 36. When the actuator
81 is released, the pawl 83 drive~ the feed wh,eel 64 to feed
the label 36 that was just printed into label applying position
relative to the applicator 68, in this pOSitiOh the trailing
~~
edge of the label 36 is still adhered to the supporting material
web 32. Also the next successive label 36 is properly positioned
on the olaten 69 Cor printins during the ~e~ printing cycle.
In the embodiment of FIGURE 7 the same reference
characters are appLied to functionally similar parts as those
disclosed in the embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 3 through 6.
Referring to FIGURE 7, the actuator 81 carries a pivot 130.
A link 131 is pivotally connected to the pivot 130. A pivot
132 carried by the link 131 pivotally connects the link 131
and a lever 133. The lever 133 is oivotally mounted by the
post 74. The lever 133 carries a pawl 134 which performs
the same function as the pawl 83 (FIGURE 3). The pin-type
connection 86 is provided by a pivot or pin 135 secured to
the print head 63 which extends through a circul~r hole 136
in the lever 133. Instead of being provided with the track
structure of the embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 3 through 6, sub-
frame 55 in the embodiment of FIGURE 7 has track structure
provided by an elongated slot 137. The print head 63 carries
a pin 138 which ~ounts a roller 139. The roller 139 is received
in the slot 137. In that the pin 135 follows a slisht arc as
the lever 133 moves, the right end of the pr,int head 63 also
travels in a slight arc. The left end of the print head 63
has movement which is essentially reciprocating in that the
roller 139 moves in a straight line. When the print head 63
is in the printing position, the pivot 135 is in the position
indicated by phantom lines 135' and in this position the print
head 63 is perpendicular to the platen 69. When the actuator
81 is released the spring assembly 82' (FIGURE 1) causes the
actuator 81 to pivot countercloc.~wise which drives the lever 133
clockwise to return the print head 63 to the~position shown in
FIGURE 7, and at the same time the pawl 134 drives the feed
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wheel 64 to advance the composite we~ 30 a distancc equal
to tha length of one label 36. In the em~odiment of FIGURE
7, the gear 82 has been eliminated rom the actuator ~1.
The apparatus of the ~bodiment of FIGURES 1
and 3 throuqh 6, and 7, is constructed mainly of molded
plastic material. The subframe 55 is preferably composed of
steel. The actuator ~1, the gear 66 and lever 6~, the ratchet
and feed wheels 65 and 64, a substantial portion of the print
head 63, sections 52, 53 and 54, the hub 113, and tracks 94 and
95 are composed of a suitable molded plastic material. With
reference to FIGURE 7, link 131 and lever 133 are also composed
of plastic material.
In practice it has been found that, in some in3tances,
minor amounts of gummy pressure-sensitive adhesive re~ains on
the supporting web 32 after the labels have been separated.
If this occurs, when the supporting web is contacted ~ith the
feed wheel 64 transfer of this gur,~my substance to ~he feed wheel
can be encountered, which during con~inued use of the apparatus,
may interfere with efficient operation.
The feed wheel 6~ has a web contacting surface 116
of both disclosed embodir,lents of the invention treated to provide
a coating 116' having non-stick or release properties sufficient
to substantially retard or prevent transfer of gum or pre~sure-
sensitive adhesive, which may be present on the supporting web 32,
to the feed wheel. Preferably the web contacting surfac~ of the
feed wheel should r~adily release a pre~sure-sensitive tape ~e.g.,
3M Transparent Tape 5910) after the pressure-sensitive tape has
been applied to the feed wheel under 10 p.s.i. pressure for
2-5 seconds.
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~ particularly preferred method of imparting
enhanced release prop2rties to the feed wheel, formed from
a metal, or an organic polymeric plastic material, ~uch as
polyacetal resins, polycarbonate resins, phenylene oxides,
nylons, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resins, unsaturated
polyester molding resins and the like, i3 to apply to the
supporting web contacting surfaces of the feed wheel an
adherent continuous coating of a resinous coating composition
having a lower surface energy than the substrate polymeric
material from which the wheel is formed. The presently preferred
coating compositions include those based on a material such as
moisture cured, one component, all silicone resins theretofore
utilized in the art for forming aircraft and maintenance
protective finishes, and solvent based paper curable coating
compositions based on silicone polymers heretofore described
ln the art as useful in forming release paper for pressure-
sensitive adhesive compositions. Since the coating must have
sufficient adhesion to the feed wheel so that it is not removed
during use, it may be desirable to etch or otherwise slightly
roughen the surface to be coated prior to apply * g and curing
the coating.
This preferred method is distinguishable from the
method in which the surface of the feed wheel which contacts
the web has means providing material possessing release properties
~ufficient to retard the accumulation of gum by incorporating a
lubricant in the feed wheel while the feed wheel is molded and it i~
al~o distinguishable from the method in which a liyuid
lubricant is applied to the feed wheel ~r this purpo~e.
While these other method~ are ad~antageou~, the preferred
method is more effective for longer periods of time.
With reference to the embodiment of FIGURES a and
10 through 36, there is shown la~el printing and applying
apparatus generally indicated at 150. The apparatu~ 150
has a frame generally indicated a~ 151 which is shown to comprise
a frame or housing having housing sections 152, 153 and 154
and a subframe comprising a single, rigid, metal frame plate
155. The housing is essentially closed. The frame 151 has
a handle generally indicated at 159 comprised in part of a handle
portion 160 and in part of the frame section 154. The housing
8ection 154 is secured to the housing section 152 by screws
161 received in respective threaded holes 162. The frame
section 153 is positioned in front of a lip 163 of the section
154 and projections 164 on the section 153 extend behind a wall
165. The section 153 is connected to the section 152 by snap-
f~t connections including generally snap-shaped flexible resilient
members 166 engageable in respective undercut recesses 167 in
the section 152. The section 153 is also provided with locating
8tuds 168 received in respective recesses 169 of the section 152.
The frame plate 155 mounts a print head 170, a feed
wheel 171, a gear or gear segment 172, an applicator 173 shown
~o be in the form of a roll, a platen 174, a delamlnator 175,
a mounting pin 176 and a plurality of rollers 177, mounting
posts 178, 179, 180 and 181, and a support 236.
The frame plate 155 i~ provided with two ~paced-apart
precisely located rectangular holes 182 in which re-~pective square
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mating locating pins or studs 183 are received. The holes 182
extend at right angles to each other a,nd the two opposed side
faces of each stud contacts the corresponding long sides of the
respective rectangular hole 182. The pins 183 are cooperable
with the respective holes 182 to locate the frame plate 155
previsely relative to the hou~ing section 152. There are three
~dentical hold-down connections which secure the frame plate 155
to the housing section 152, although only one is shown in detail
in FIGURE 31. The frame plate 155 has three enlarged holes or
cutouts 184. The housing section 152 has pins or studs 185
which extend through the cutouts 184. With reference to FIGURE
31, a retainer in the form of a grip ring 186 grips a stud 185.
A compression spring 187 received about the stud 185 bears against
the frame plate 155 and against the retainer 186. With age and
continued use of the apparatus the stud 185 tends to elongate.
The spring 187 insures that the plate 155 will always be held
solidly against the housing section 152. In that the stud 185
i~ considerably smaller in diameter than the cutout 184, location
of the frame plate 155 relative to the housing section 152 remains
to be accomplished by the pins 183 in respective recesses 182.
The frame plate 155 has a pair of elongated cutouts
or open ended slots 188 and a pair of oppositely facing elongated
cutouts or open ended slots 189. The slots 188 and 189 communi-
cate with larger respective cutouts 190 and 191. Oppositely
facing ball tracts 192 and 193 are received in respective
cutouts 190 and 191. The print head 170 comprlses a print
head Çrame 194 having a pair of oppositely facing ball
trac~s 195 and 196. A ball bearing strip 197 $~ received
--19--
in mating ~all bearing tracks 192 and 195 and a ball bear$ng
strip 198 is received in mating ball bearing tracks 1~3 and 196.
The ball tracks 192 and 193 are shown to be generally channel-
shaped in construction. When the ball track-~ 192 and 193 are
in the position as shown in FIGURES 10 and 11, the ball tracks
192 and 193 are received by the frame plate 155. Threaded
fa~tener~ 199 extend through the cutouts 188 and are threadably
received in holes 199' in the ball track 192. Sim$larly,
threaded fasteners 200 extend through cutouts 189 and are
threadably received in holes 200' in the ball track 193. The
print head 170 i9 capable of printing two l$nes of data in that
the print head 170 has two lines of printing band~ as shown in
detail in FIGURE 31 of above-mentioned patent application S.N.
312,454. ~t is important to printing quality that the print
head 170 move relatively to the platen 174 such that the
characters on the printing bands 201 contact the label 207 on
the platen uniformly. If the print head 170 is improperly aligned
. .
with the platen 174, some of the selected character~ will be
printed and other~ will not be printed at all or will only be
faintly printed. In that the cutouts 188 and 189 are larger
than the diameters of fasteners 199 and 200 which extend
therethrough, the ball tracks 192 and 193 can be precisely
positioned during manufacture of the apparatu~ 80 that the
print head 170 is precisely aligned with the pl~ten 174 and 80
that clearance between the ball tracks and their respective
ball bearing strip is held to a minimum. Print head frame 194
and the ball tracks 195 and 196 which are molded integrally
therewith and the ball tracks 192 and 193 are
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.
composed of plastics material. Th~ balls of the ball strips
. ~ .
197 and 198 are comprised o a hard material such as steel.
As shown diagrammatically in FIGURES 21 through 23, the type
characters or faces 202 extend parallel to the platen 174.
The print head 170 is caused to move in a ~traight line
because all the ball tracks 192 through 195 are straight.
Consequently, for quality printing the print head 170 should
move perpendicularly with re~pect to the platen 174. There is
thus provided means whereby the travel of the print head into
printing cooperation with the labels of the composite web can
be adjusted during manufacture or even subsequent thereto to
insure precise alignment of the print head 170 wi~h the platen
1~4.
~ hQ apparatus 150 is shown to utilise a composite web
203. The composite web 203 of label material 204 is releasably
adhered to supporting a backing material 205. The label material
204 is cut transversely by bar cuts or ~lits 206 extending all
the way across the web 204 of label material, thereby separating
the label material 204 into a series of end-to-end labels 207.
The composite web 203 is wound onto a circular cyiindrical core
208 composed of paperboard or other suitable material. The
composite web roll is mounted on a reel generally indicated at
209. The reel 209 is comprised of a generally flat disc 210
having a central hole 211. Disc 210 has a plurality of equally
spaced-apart pins 212 disposed at equal distance3 from the
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¢ent~al hole 211. Thq disc 210, the hole 211 and the inte~ral
Pins 212 are for~ed when the disc 210 is molded in an injection
~olding machine. The reel 209 also includes a hub generally
~ndicated at 213. The hub 213 has a central tubular hub portion
~4 joined to an end wall 215. The pins 212 are received in
mating holes 212' in the end wall, thereby keying the disc 210
and the hub 213 for rotation together a~ a unit. Spaced out-
wardly from the hub portion 214 and joined integrally to the
end wall 215 are a plurality of flexi~le, resilient, cantilever
mounted fingers 216. The fingers 216 extend slightly outwardly
and away from each other while the core 208 is disposed thereor..
The free ends of the fingers 216 have projections 217. Each of
the projection~ 217 has a pair of sloping faces 218 and 219,
The face 218 facilitates loading of the label roll onto the
hub 213, and the face 219 provides a ramp which prevents
accidental shifting of the roll off from the hub 213, but enables
the spent core 208 to be roadily re~oved by the user. ~hen the
supply roll is loaded onto the reel 209 and when the spent core
208 is removed, the fingers 216 deflect inwardly. $he post or
shaft 131 extends through the hole 211 in the disc 210 and
through a bore 200 in the hub portion 214. i retainer 221
rcceived by the marginal end of the shaft 181 prevents the
reel 209 from shifting off the post or shaft 181 and prevents
the hub 213 from separating from the disc 210 50 that the pins
212 do not lose engagement with the holes 212'. The hub`'213 is
also injection molded. The disc 210 definQs one edge of the
Q~d path so that the composite web 203 ~hich `is paid out of
~he roll starts in precise alignment with the platen 1~4 and
thQ fccd wheel 171.
.
An actuator generally indicated at 222 i9 shown to
take the form of a pivotally operated lever mounted by support
~trùcture generally indicated at 222 including a pivot pin
223 received in an eccentric 224 in the form of a sleeve. The
~ctuator 222 i9 urged in a counterclockwise direction (FIGURES
8 and 10) by a ~pring assembly 225. Briefly stated, the spring
a~sembly 225 includes a compression spring 226.
The actuator 222 carries a gear or gear section 227
having an opening 228 provided by a missing tooth. The gear
~ection 227 is in meshing sngagement with the gear section 229
of the gear 172. The gear section 229 has one large tooth
230 which meshe~ with the teeth adjacent the space 228. In
that the tooth 230 can only fit into the opening 228, the
actuator 222 can only be assembled in the proper relative
position with respect to the gear 172. The gear 172 also has
a gear section or segment 231 in meshing engagement with the
gear section or rack 232 formed integrally with the print head
framQ 194. The gear section 231 has an opening 233 provided by
a miqsing tooth and the gear section 232 has one"large tooth
234 received in the opening 233 so that the print head 170 can
only be assembled in the proper relative position with respect
to the gear 172. Assuming the handle 159 is being held ~n the
user's hand, the user's fingers can operate the act~ator 222 to
pivot the actuator 222 clockwise (FIGURES 8 and 10) again~t
the force of the spring 226 in the spring dev~c~ 225, thereby
-23-
~ J
causing the gear 172 to rotate countercloc~wise to in turn
drive the print head 170 into printing cooperation with a
label 207 which is disposed in overlying relation~hip on the
platen 174. Release of the actuator 222 enables the spring
226 to return the actuator 222, the gear 172, and the print
head 170 as wqll as other components to be described below,
to their initial positions. Sections 152 and 154 have stops
151' .
A drive shaft 235 is molded integrally with the
gear 172. A support 236 in the form of a tube or tubular bearin~
is suitably secured in a hole 237' in the frame plate 155 as best
shown in FIGURE 18. The feed wheel 171 has a plurality of pairs
of transversely spaced-apart teeth 171' which engage the
supporting material web 205, as is described below in greater
detail. The teeth 171' are shown exaggeratedly in FIGURE 21
to be inclined in the forward direction so as to catch the
feed edges in the web 205. The feed wheel 171 i8 shown to
include a rim 238 to which the teeth 171' are integrally joined.
Tbe rim 238 is comprised of annular peripheral we~ engageable
sections or beads 238' and an intervening spac~e or gap provided
by an annular section 238~ having a reduced or lesser diameter
than the sections 238'. As shown in FIG~RE 36, the ~ections 238'
having lands 116a which are shown to comprise relatively sharp
-
ridges so as to provide essentially line contact between the web
205 and the lands 116a. Gaps in the form of grooves 115a between
the lands 116a and the section 238~ reduce the contact area to
a very small percentage, less than fifty percent and as illustrated
-24-
~ 'J
preferably less than ten percent of the ~eripheral area which
would otherwise canstitu~e th~ surface aroa of the ~eed wheel
171. Some adhesive, gum or the like that adheres to the feed
wheel 171 will collect in the gaps llSa, but because of this,
the external diameter of the feed wheel 171 as defined by the
lands 116a will not increase; such an increase in diameter would
be detrimental in that it would increase the lengths of the web
which the feed wheel 171 would feed upon each actuation of
actuator 222. 3y way of example not limitation, tAe depth of
ths gaps llSa is about 0.025 inch and each section 238' has
one hundred nineteen lands 116a. ~lthough the lands 116a are
characterized as being sharp they do not cut into the web 205.
Feeding is brought about through engagement of the teeth 171'
with the web. The feed wheel being comprised at least at its
periphery of plastics material (which inherently has a low
coefficient of friction). Additionally, the peripheral surface
of the feed wheel 171 is preferably coated with either a liquid
or a permanent coating of a material that tends to retard the
accumulation of adhesive, gum or the like, or to incorporate
a suitable lubricant along with the plastics ~aterial from which
the feed wheel 171 is molded. An annular wall 239 joins the ri~
238 and a hub portion 240. The hub portion 240 has a boro
portion 241 which merges into a larger bore portion 242. Th~
bore portion 242 is provided with projections comprised of a
great numbcr of grooves and ridges or flutes 244 which extend
in the axial direction. A rolling-contact type one-way clutch
243 is reccivcd in the bore portion 242. The initial internal
diametcr of the bore portion 242 defined by the cre~ts of the
projections, that is, ridges 244 is less than the outer diameter
-2S-
clutch 243 is assembled into the feed wheel 171 by forcing the
clutch 243 into the bore portion 242 and the ridges 244 yleld
slightly and frictionally hold the clutch 243 in the pos~t~on
shown in FIGURE 18. The clutch 243 has a plurality o~ rollers
245 which contac~ the outer circular cylindrical surface 246 of
the s~upport 236. The one-way clutch 243 acts a~ a bearing and
enable~ the feed wheel 171 to rotate clockwise as viewed in
FIGURES 8 and 17 but prevents counterclockwise movement. By
way of example not limitation, a specific embodlment of a clutch
which i~ useful in the present invention is made by The
~orrington Company, Torrington, Connecticut 06790 U.S.A. and is
described in their catalog RC-6, Copyright 1969 r and is referred
to as a roller clutch, catalog No. RC-081208.
A fragmentary portion of the clutch 243 i9 shown
in FIGURES 19 and 20. In the position shown ln FIGURE lg, the
clutch 243 is preventing the feed wheel 171 from rotating counter-
clockwise in that the rollers 245 are in wedging contact with
respective inclined surfaces 247, whereas in FIGURE 20 the
feed wheel 171 is shown to be rotating in the d~ection of arrow
A and the rollers 245 are not binding between the surfaces 247
and the surface 246. The clutch 243 i8 spring loaded in that
springs diagram~atically indicated at 248 urge the rollers
245 continuously against both the surfaces 246 and 24~ so that
any backlash of the clutch 243 is negligible and ls sub-
stantially less than in the event a pawl i~ us~d. ThQ feed
wheel 171 also includes webs 249 which ~oin the rlm 23~,
the wall 239, and the hub 240. The inner p~riphery o~ tha
-26-
~ I , ,, )
'
~ J
rim 238 on one side of the wall 239 has a plurality of grooveq
250 and rid~es 251 in an annUlar arran~ement. The grooves 250
and ridges 251 extend in the axial direction. A ratchet wheel
generally indicated at 252 ha~ a plurality of ratchet teeth 253.
The teeth 253 are formed integrally with o~e ~ide of a wall 254.
An annular wall or flange 255 shown to haYe a plurality of
equally spaced-apart openings 256 has a plurality of grooves 257
and ridges 258. The groovea 250 and ridges 251 and the grooves
257 and ridges 258 have the same pitch and are complementary
with respect to each other. The ratchet wheel 252 also has an
~nnular hub 259 with an internal bore 260. The support 236
~8 adapted to extend into the bore 260 to a position in which
the end of the hub 259 contacts one end of the clutch 243. In
thi5 position, the ridges 258 and grooves 257 of the ratchet
wheel 252 are received respectively in the complementary
respective grooves 250 and ridges 251 of the feed wheel 171.
By moving the ratchet wheel out of its assembled po~ition to
the position shown in FIGURE 18, the position of the ratchet
wheel 252 relative to the feed wheel 171 can be selectively
changed. Such a change will result in a change of registration
of the label 207 at the printing zone between the print head 170
and the platen 174 and in a change in position to which the
web 205 and the leading label 207 are advanced relative to the
delaminator 175. The mechanism by which this is accomplished
is similar in some respects and different in others from that
disclosed in U.S. patent No. 3,783,083.
The grooves 2S0 and ridges 251 cooperable with
respective ridges 258 and groove3 257 key th~ feed wheel 171
and the ratchet wheel 252 together against relative rotation.
Also the feed wheel 171 and the ratchet wheel 252 can rotate
only in one direction due to the action of the clutch 243.
.
-27-
Drive shaft 235 is rotatably mounted in a circular
cylindrical bore 261 in the support 236. ~he dxive shaft 235
receives a 8plit yieldable hub 263 of pawl structure generally
indicated at 264. The pawl structure 264 includes a pawl 265
which is cooperable with the teeth 253 one-at-a-time as seen
for example, in FIGURE 10. Like the gear 172, the feed wheel
171 and the ratchet wheel 252, the pawl structure 264 is composed
of molded plastics material. The split hub 263 has an internal
bore 266 with a flat 267 which is received against a flat 262
on the shaft 235. A clamp 268 is received about the hub 263.
The clamp 26~ places the split hub 263 under hoop compression
so that the pawl structure 264 is securely and reliably but
removably mounted on the shaft 235. Because of the cooperable
flats 262 and 267 and because the drive shaft 235 is formed
integrally with the gear 172, the pawl structure 264 and the gear
172 rotate as a unit. When the operator 222 i9 pivoted clock-
wise, as viewed in FI~URES 8 and 10, the gear 172, as yreviously
described, rotates counterclockwise. Counterclockwise rotation
of the gear 172 causes the pawl structure 264 to also rotate
counterclockwise, thereby bringing the pawl ~65 into driving
relationship with the next successive tooth 253. Upon release
of the actuator 222, the return spring 226 causes the gear 172
and the pawl structure 264 to rotate clockwise. Accordingly,
the drive end 269 of the pawl 265 drives the ratchet wheel 25~
and the feed wheel 171 in a clockwise direction, thereby``causing
advance of the composite web 203.
. .
-28-
:
` With reference to FIGURES 21 through 23 there i5
. . .
shown a brake mechanism generally indicated at 270. The
brake mechanism 270 includes a brake member 271 and an arm
272 ~ntegrally joined by a hub 273. The hub 273 i8 pivotally
mounted on a stud 27~' secured to the frame plate 155. The
brake member 271 includes a flexible resilient brake shoe 274
for applying a braking force against the composite web 203.
tension spring 275 (FIGURES 8 and 11) is connected at one end
to a turned-up tab 276 of the frame plate 155 and at its other
end to a post 277 formed integrally with the brake member 271.
The post 277 extends through an arcuate slot 278 in the frame
plate 155 and the spring 275 connect~ the tab 276 and the post
277 on the front side of the frame plate 155 as viewed in FIGURE
11. The tab 276 and the post 277 are so situated relative to
the axis of the stud 273' that the spring 275 normally urges the
brake member 271 and the arm 272 into one of two overcenter
positions. In FIGURE 23, the spring 275 is exerting a spring
force along centerline 279.
The print head 170 is shown to be provided with a pair
of spaced-apart abutments 280 and 281. In thQ retracted position
of the print head 170 shown in FIGURE 23, the arm 272 i~ against
the abutment 280 and the brake shoe 274 i~ in contact with the
composite web 203 upstream of the platen 174. Upon operation of
the actuator 222, the print head 170 i8 driven from the retracted
position shown in FIGURE 23 to the extended po8ition ~hown in
PIGURE 22, causing abutmant 281 to contact and pivot the arm 272
-29- ~
and to consequently pivot the brake member 271 to the position
illustrated in FIGURE 22, and thus movi~g the brake s~oe 274
out of braking cooperation with the compositc web 2a 3. In
the position as shown in FIGURE 22, the spring 2~5 exert a
force along c~enterline 282 which is now on the o~her side of
the axis of the stud 273'. The arm 272 and the brake member
271 remain in the position shown in FIGURE 22 until such time
a~ the print head moves far enough away from the platen 174
toward its retracted position to enable the abutment 280 to
contact the arm 272. When the abutment 280 contacts the arm
272, the arm 272 and the brake member 271 are pivoted so that
the spring force i~ again exerted along centerline 279, thereby
causing the arm 272 and the bra~e member 271 to remain in the
position shown in FIGURE 23, until the next cycle, when the
print head 170 again moves toward the platen 174 and the arm
272 is contacted by the abutment 281.
Due to the overcenter arrangement, the arm 272 and
: the brake member 271 remain in the position shown in FIGURE 22
until almost the very end of the movement of the print head
170 to its retracted position ~FIGURE 23). During the
retracted movement of the print head 170, the pawl 26S drives
the ratchet wheel 252 and the feed wheel 171 to advance the
composite web 203. The brake 270 i~ effective ~ubstan~ially
simultaneously with the completion of feeding of the web 203.
,' : '
.
-30-
,; '
.
~$~
.
With reference to FIGUR~ 22 initially, the brake
mechanism 270 is also shown ~o inclu~e a brake me~mber 283 which
has a brake shoe 284 composed of a flexible resilient material.
During use of the apparatus, the brake member 283 is stationary
in the position shown in FIGURE 22. However, during loading of
the composite web 203, the brake member 283 can be moved manually
to its ineffective position sho~m in FIGURE 21. The brake
member 283 is integrally joined by a hub 285 to a slotted arm
286. The hub 285 is pivotally mounted on the post 178. The
arm 236 has an elongated slot 287. A slide 288 has an elongated
slot 289 which receives the post 178 and a pin 290 secured to the
arm to provide a pin-and-slot connection. The slide 288 has a
finger-engageable projection 288' by which the slide 28~ can
be moved between the position shown in FIGURE 22 and the
position shown in FIGURE 21. As the slide 288 moves from the
position shown in FIGURE 22 to the position shot~n in FIGU~E 21,
the pin 290 cooperates with the slot 237 to pivot the arm 286
and the brake member 283 counterclockwise so that the brake member
283 is in its ineffective position shown in FIGURE 21. A shaft
291 extends through a bore 292 in the slide 288. Because of the
position of the axis of the shaft 291 as viewed in FlGURE 21,
in which the arm 286 is counterclockwise of th~ position shown
in FIGURE 22, the brake member 233 is in its Lneffective posi.ion.
When the shaft 291 has moved to the position shown in FIGURES
22 and 23, the arm 236 has moved clockwise and hence the brake
member 2~3 is in its effective position. With reference to
FIG~RE 23, due to the inclination of the brake member 271 and
the location of the brake shoe 274 relative to the brake shoe
284 the brake 270 i~ self-energizing. Thus, when a label
207 i~ being applied, the tuq that the label exerts on the web
203 upstream of the dclamina~or L75 causes th~ brake 270 to
exert an even greater braking force on the web 203.
~ he shaft 291 mounts a roll generally indicated at
293 comprised of a roll member 294 on one side of the slide 288
and a roll member 295 on the other side of the slide 288. The
shaft 291 also passe~ through an elongated arcuate slot 296 of
an arm 297 which is pivotally connected to a pin 29~ (FIGURES
8, 17 and 21) of the gear 172. A washer 299 (FIGURE 8) is
disposed on the shaft 291 between the roll member 294 and the
arm 297 and a retractable guide 300 is disposed on the shaft 291
between the roll member 295 and a retainer 301 secured to the
marginal end of the shaft 291. Guide section 312 has an
$ntegral pin 300' received in an elongated slot 300" in the
guide 300. In the position shown in FIGURE 10 in which the
guide 300 is shown in its retracted solid line position, the
guide 300 is out of guiding relationship with respect to the
side edge of the composite web 203. In the position shown in
phantom lines 300PL in FIGURE 10, the guide 300 is in its
effective guiding position. -
The shaft 291 is secured to an arm 302 (FIGURES 21through 23) pivotally mounted on a stud 303 carried by the
fra~e plate 155. A tension spring 304 i3 connected at its one
end to a tab 305 formed integrally with the arm 302 and at its
other end to a pin 306 secured to the frame plate 155. In
the position shown in FIGURE 22, the roll 293 ig in cooperation
.
'
-32-
'
..
-
with the feed wheel 171 and the arm 302 is in its most clock-
wise position. In this position of the arm 302, the spring
304 exerts a force along centerline 307 on one side of axis
308 of the stud 303 tending to urge the arm 302 and the roll
293 which it carries into their most clockwise positions best
shown in FIGURE 22. In FIGURE 21, the arm 302 and the roll 293
are in their ~ost counterclockwise positions and the spring 304
exerts a force along centerline 305 on the other side of the
axis 308 to hold the arm 302 and the roll 293 in the position
shown .
With reference to FIGURE 10, it is apparent that the
user can shift the slide 288 into the position shown by
exerting a force to the left on the projection 238'. Not only
are the roll 293, the guide 300, the arm 302 which it carries,
the associated arm 286, and the brake member 283 moved to the
position shown in FIGURE 10 and hence the roll 293, the guide
300, and the brake 270 are deactivated, but the spring 304
(FIGURE 21) holds these components in that position for easy
loading of the apparatus 150. It ~.s noted in FIGURE 10, that
the shaft 291 is at one end of the slot 296 in the arm 297.
Assuming the apparatus has been threaded with the label supply,
upon the first actuation of the actuator 222, the arm 297 acting
on the shaft 2gl will cause the arm 302 to be pivoted counter-
clockwise (FIGURE 10) so that the roll 293 is returned to
cooperation with the supporting material web 203 and the feed
wheel 171, so that the guide 300 is moved into gu~ding
cooperation with the side edge of the web 203, and so that the
brake member 283 is moved to its effective position as shown in
-33-
'',`J
FIGURE 23. Subsequent operation of the actuator 222 will cause
the arm 297 to move relatiYe to the shaft 291 but because of
the slot 296 the arm 297 will have no effect on the shaft 291.
Optionally, the slide 28~ and the operatively associated
components can be returned fro~ the position shown in FIGUR~S
10 and 21 to the position shown in FIGURE 23 by pushing the
projection 288' to the right as viewed in FIGURE 10.
From the place where the composite web 203 is paid
out of the roll, it passes over and in contact with a resilient
device 310 in the form of a curved leaf spring. The resilient
device 310 deflects when the feed wheel 171 i9 advancing the
composite web 203 and after the brake 270 is applied the device
310 gradually returns as additional web 203 is caused to be
paid out of the supply roll. Track structure generally indicated
at 311 includes guide track sections 312, 313 and 314. The
track section 312 has a forked end 315 which is received by
marginal end 316 of an extension 318 of the platen 174. The
track section 312 has a short tubular portion 319 which i~
received by the post 179. Accordingly, the track section 312
i9 securely held in position relative to the ~ra,me plate 155 by
the mar~inal end 316 and by the post 179. After passing in
contact with the resilient device 310, the composite web 203
enters a first zone Zl above the track structure 312 and below
the print head 170. The print head 170 carries a roll 320
comprised of a plurality of for example, three rollers 321
rotatably mounted on a shaft 322 mounted on the print head 170.
The rollers 321 deflect the composite web 203 into contact
with the trac~ section 312 as the print head 170 moves between
-34-
its retracted position shown in solid lines in FIGURE 10 and
the printing position shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 10.
The roll 320 reduccs to a minimum the frictional force which
would otherwise exist if the composite wcb 203 would be rubbed
by the print head 170. In that there are a plurality of rollers
321 there is no tendency to bind on the shaft 322 as if only
one long roll (not shown) were provided. From the zone Zl
the co~posite web 203 passes partly around a roll yenerally
indicated at 323 which is comprised of a plurality, for example
three, rollers 177. The rollers 177 can rotate freely on the
post 176. In that a plurality of rollers 177 are provided,
there is no tendency of these rollers 177 to bind on the post
176 as if only one long roll (not shown) were provided. After
the composite web 203 passes around the roll 323, a label 207
of the composite web 203 is disposed between the platen 174 and
the print head 170. FIGUnE 10 shows one of the labels 207 as
being almost entirely delaminated from the supporting material
web 205 and ready to be applied by applicator 173. The applicator
173 is shown to comprise a roll rotatably mounted on a post 325
secured to the frame plate lS5, although other types of applica-
tors can be used instead if desired. A re và~le retainer 326
maintains the applicator 173 on the post 325. In the loading
position shown in FIGURE 10, the composite web 203 passes partly
around an end of the slide 288 and partly around the roll 293
and from there partly around the feed wheel 171~ ~he shaft
178 carries a roller 327 ~FIGURE 8) between the hub 285 and
thc frame plate 155 and a roller 328 disposed between the
slide 283 and a retaincr 329. ~hen the slide 288 is in the
-35-
position shown in FIGURE 22, for example~ the web 205 i5 in
sliding contact with the en~ of the slide 288 and in rolling
contact with thc rollers 327 and 328.
The track section 313 cooperates wi~h the track
section 314 to provide a discharge chute at a zone Z2 through
which the supporting material web 205 exits. The track section
313 has a pair of spaced-apart tubular portionq 330 and 331
received respectively by posts 179 and 180. The track section
313 has an integrally formed curved retaining bracket 332
which passes partly around a flange 333 of a post 334. Thu~,
the track section 313 is secured to the fr me plats 155 and
to the housing section 152. The track section 313 includes a
channel-shaped portion 335 to which the connector 332 is joined.
The track section 314 has an offset flange 336 which fits into
the channel-shaped portion 335 to interlock the track section
314 with the track section 313. The track section 314.also has
a curved retaining bracket 337 which extends partly around the
flange 333 and has a pair of spaced-apart offset flanges 338
and 339 which fit against the outside of the channel-shaped
portion 335. A tubular portion 330' secures one end of the trac~
section 314 to the frameplate and the flanges 336, 338 and 339
interlock the track sections 313 and 314. The tubular portion 319
is received by the post 179 between the tubular portion 330 and
330'. The track structure 311 also includes a str~pper 340 which
engages the smooth annular outer surface 171a of the feed wheel
171. The stripper 340 is provided with a pa~r of offset flanges
341 and 342 which fit respectively into grooves 343 and 344 in
the track section 313. The post 1~9 is longer than the com-
bined lengths of the tubular portions 319, 330 and 330' and
36-
thus a projection 345 formed integrally with the stripper 340
can fit snugly into the end of the tubular por~ion 331.
As best shown in FIGURE 26, h~ resilient device
310 has a marginal end 346 having a pair of hole~ 347. A
connector 348 includes a plate section 349, a pair of upstanding
aligned members 350 which lie in one plane, and a member 351
which lies in a plane parallel to the plane of members 350.
Each member 350 include~ a tapered stud 352. The device 310
can be assembled onto the connector 348 by passing the marginal
portion 346 between the members 350 and 351 until the studs
352 are received in the holes 347; the marginal end 346
flexes slightly to allow this to happen. The member 351
retains the spring device 310 in the assembled position relative
to the connector. The connector 348 is received in an undercut
recess 353 in the track section 312 as shown in FIGU~E 10. The
housing is shown to have an opening 354 (FIGURE 10) having
relatively sharp external edges 355 and 356 which can serve
as cutting edges for removing the excess web 205. The knife
355 can cut the web 205 by drawing the web 205 upwardly and the
knife 356 can cut the web by pulling the web downwardly.
The housing section 153 mounts a lock generally
indicated at 357 best shown in FIGURES 24 and 25. The lock 357
includes a slide member 358 received in an elongated pocket 359
in the housing section 153. The slide 358 includes a manually
engageable projection 360 for moving the slide 357 against the
force of a compression spring 361. The spring 361 bears -
against a flange 362 and the end of the 510t 363. The ~lide
-37-
-
358 includes a pair of spaced apart generally parall~l flexible
resilient arms 364 ha~ing respective projections 365 and
tapered faces 366. In assembling ~he slide 35B onto the
housing section 153, the slide i3 manually presced into the slot
363; this causes the arms 364 to yield resiliently and to return
once their projections 365 are against the inside of the housing
section 153 as shown in FIGUr~ 25. A block 367 disposed between
and spaced from the arms 364 has a blind hole 368 for receiving
the other end portion of the spring 361. In its assembled
condition, the spring 361 urges on the block 367 toward end
369 of the slot 363. When the housing section 153 i9 in the
position to be locked, a curved tip or retaining edge 370 of
the block 367 is received in an annular recess 371 in the
post 179, thereby locking the section 153 in place. To unlock
the lock 357 and remove the housing section 153, the projec~ion
360 is pushed generally to the left as viewed in FIGU~E 24,
thereby moving the tip 370 out of the recesq 371 and compressing
the spring 361, and thereupon the section 153 can be unsnapped
from the remainder of the housing. ~hen it is desired to replace
the housing section 153, the housing section 153 iq positioned
so that the flanges 164 ~FIGURE 8) are behind the flange 165 and
then the housing section 153 is simply snapped into its final
locked position. In so doing, the members 166 snap into recesses
167 and the lock 357 lock automatically. This automatic locking
of the lock 357 is feasible because of the cam face 372 on the
block 367 which cooperates with a chamfered or cam face 373
-38-
on the post 179. As the housing section 153 is pushed into
place the cam face 372 cooperate with the ca~ face 373 to
cause the slide 358 to be moved generally to the left ~FIGURE
24) away from end 369 of the slot 363. When the housing
section 153 is snapped into place, the tip 370 moves into
alignment wi~th the recess 371, and this allow~ the entire
slide 358 to move generally to the right ~FIGURE 24) to cause
the tip 370 to ~e received in the recess 371, thereby locking
the housing section 153 in place.
It is conducive to smooth operation of the gear
section 227 and the gear section 229 of the gear 172 to have
precise meshing engagement in spite of manufacturing variations.
This is especially true in that the gear 172 is mounted by a
support 236 secured to the frame plate 155 and the actuator
222 is mounted in the handle 159 of the housing at a
consi~erable distance from the axis of the support 236. The
eccentr$c 224 has an outer circular cylindrical surface and an
eccentric internal bore 376. The pin 223 is received in the
bore 376. The housing section 154 has a boss 379. A hole
generally indicated at 380 extends through the housing section
154 and its boss 379. The hole is stepped ao as to provide a
shoulder 381. A self-tapping screw 382 passes through the hole
380 and is threadably received in an elongated hole 223' in
the pin 223. As the screw 382 is ~iyhtened, the end of the pin
223 is drawn against the shoulder 381 by the head of the screw
382. The housing section 160 has a boss 383 with a great
-39-
number of ridges 3~4 and grooves 385 as best shown in FIGURE
13. Th~ eccentric 224 has external ridges 386 and grooves 3~7
arranged concentrically with respect to the eccentric hole 223'.
A hole generally indicated at 388 extends through the housing
section 160 and its boss 383. The hole 388 is of reduced diamete
at a shoulder 389. A self-tapping screw 390 bears against the
shoulder 389 and is threaded into the hole 223' in the sleeve
223. It is apparent that by loosening the screw 382 and removing
the housing section 154 and by shifting the eccentric 224 on
the sleeve 223 so that the ridges 386 and grooves 387 lose
contact wi~h the respective grooves 385 and ridges 384, the
eccentric 224 can be manually rotated relative to the housing
section 160 on the sleeve 223 until the eccentric 224 is at the
selected position and then the eccentric 224 can be shifted back
into the holes 388 so that its ridges 336 and grooves 387 are
again in locking engagement with respective grooves 385 and
ridges 384. In this manner th meshing engagement of the gear
sections 227 and 229 can be initially precisely adjusted and
maintainsd in adjustment during USQ. As an aid to rotating the
eccentric 224 while making the adjustment, the eccentric 224
1s provided with a knurled section 391 which can ~e easily
gripped by the assem~ler's fingers.
With reference to FIGURE 27 there is sh~wn the
delaminator 175. The delaminator comprises an injection molded
one-piece support 392 having a pair of forked end sections 393,
a plate-like retain¢r portion 394, and a channel-shaped~end
portion 395. The forked portions 393 are received in respec~ive
cutouts 396 of the platen 174 and the channel-shaped portion 395
-40-
. .
~ J
received under a marginal end 397 of the platen 174. Theportion 394 is flexible and resilient so as to enable a
projection 398 to snap into ~ hole 398' in the platen 174 a~
shown in FIGURE 27. The hole 398' is disposed so that between
the places where the printing bands 201 contact the platen 174
so that the hole 398' will not interfere with the printing
function. A plurality of small diameter rollers 400, for example,
seven in number, are rotatably mounted on a rod 399. It is
preferred that the diameter of the rollers 400 be as small as
possible so that the supporting material web 205 is caused to
undergo a very sharp change in direction. By way of example,
not limitation, the outer diameter of the rollers 400 is about
0.08 inch, the inside diameter is about 0.05 inch, and the length
is about 0.150 inch. The outside diameter of the shaft 399 is
about 0.04 inch. There are a plurality of relatively small
rollers 400 in that the rollers 400 rotate considerably more
freely than would a roll having a combined length of all the
rollers 400.
With reference to FIGURE 11, ink roll 401 is shown
to be rotatably mounted on a post 401' secured to an arm 402.
The arm 402 is pivotally mounted on a post 403 secured to the
frame plate 155. A tension spring 404 is connected at one end
to an upstanding tab 405 on the arm 402 and it~ other end to
a post 406 mounted on the frame plate 155. The arm 402 and
the ink roll 401 are shown in one extreme position by solid
lines in which the print head is in its retracted position and by
.
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:. :
:
phanto~ lines in which the print heacl 170 is in its extended
or printing po~ition. The shaft 401' extends through an
arcuate slot 407 in the frame plate 1~5. With reference to
FIGURE 28, the ink roll 401 is shown to comprise a hub
generally indica~ed at 408. The hub 408 is shown to include
a pair of hub portions 409 and 410 having respective bores 411
and 412 aligned with respect to each other. The shaft 401' is
shown to be received in the bores 411 and 412. The hub portion
409 has a reduced-diameter, continuous, annular projection 413
received in a continuous annular socket 414. The projection
.
413 has a continuous annular external groove 415 and the hub
portion 410 has a continuous annular internal bead or projection
416. The groove 415 is shallow and the mating bead 416 i5
relatively small so that the projection 413 can be snap-fitted
into the socket 414 as the flexible resilient material of
which the hub portions 409 and 410 is composed yields. It
is a feature of the invention that the head 416 in the socket
414 provides an ink-tight seal so that ink contained in a
porous roll 417 received about the hub 408 cannot seep into
the bores 411 and 412 to cake or gum up which would interfere
with the free rotation of the ink roll 401 on the shaft 401'.
The hub portions 409 and 410 have respective annular outwardly
extending flanges 41a. The flanges 418 bear against bearing
surfaces 419 at each side of the print head 170. The groove
415 and the mating bead 416 obviate the need for a separate
seal member ~not shown). A washer 42~ is received by the shaft
401' between the hub section 410 and th~ frame plate 155. IIub
section 409 has an inte~rally formed flexible resilient finger
or projection 421 shown to be received in a continuous annular
groove 422 near the free end of the shaft 401'. As the in~ roll
173 ~s inserted onto the shaft 401', the finger 421 yields
.
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and then is received in the groove 422 to removably hold
the roll 401 on the shaft 401'. The hub portion 409 also
has an extension 423 and an obstruction 424 in the form of
ridge which extends into alignment with the bores 411 and
412. The obstruction 424 prevent~ the ink roll 401 from
being in~erted onto the shaft 401' in the wrong direction in
which event the resilient finger 421 would not be able to
cooperate with the groove 422 and the ink roll 401 might
shift off the shaft 401'.
Referring to FIGU~E 9 there is shown the composite
web 203 which constitute~ an improvement over U.S. patent
No. 3,783,083. Groups 425 of bar cuts or slits are provided at
longitudinally spaced-apart intervals along the length of the
camposite web 203. Although there are shown to be two spaced-
part group~ 425 of cuts disposed between the butt-cut3 206
which define the end edges of each label 207, one or more than
two groups 425 can be provided in each label 207, and although
the groups 425 are shown to be generally centrally located
between the end edges of the respective labels 207, the group
425 can be at other iocations. Each group 425 of cuts i5 sho-~n
to be in a generally T-shaped configuration and to comprise
a tran~versely aligned pair of bar cuts or siits 426L in and
preferably through the label material 204 and a transversely
aligned pair of bar cuts or slits 426S in the suppoxting material
205. The respective pairs of cuts 426L and 426S are separated
by respective lands 427L and 427S. Longitudinally extending bar
cuts or slits 428L and 428S are shown to extend in and preferably
.
through the label material 204 and through supporting material
205 respectively to the respective l,and~ ~27L and 427S. There
are also two lonqitudinally extending bar cuts or slits 429
which extend in and preferably through the }abel material 204
across each of the butt-cuts 206 into the marginal ends of the
labels 207. The cuts 429 however extend only through the label
material 204. The two cuts 426S and the cut 428S of a group
are aligned with respective two cuts 426L and the cut 428L
of the group. When the teeth 171' of the feed wheel 171 engage
thQ supporting material 205 at the cuts 428S, the portion of
the web between the adjacent ends of both cuts 426S and the
cut 428S tears or ruptures to form a hole in the supporting
material web 205. A tooth 171' is preferably almost as wide as
the combined length of adjacent cuts 426S and the intervening
land 427S so that a substantial portion of the length of each
cut 426S provides a drive face.
In order to load the apparatus 150, the housing section
153 is first removed by moving the projection 360 generally to
the right (PIGURE 8). Next the projection 288' is moved
generally to the left as viewed in FIGURE lO to cause brake
member 283, roll 293 and guide 300 to move to their ineffective
positions. If there is a spent core 208 on the reel 209, then
the core 208 is removed manually and a new supply roll is pu3hed
onto the hub 213. The leading end of the composit~ web 203 is
passed over the resilient device 310 and pushed into the zone Zl
as best shown in FIGURE 10. From there the web 203 is passed
around roll 323 and around the delaminator 175~, and from there
the web 203 is passed around the end of the slide 288 and under
the roll 293. From there the web 203 i~ passed partly around
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the feed wheel 171 and through the zone Z2. The entire threading
of the composite web 203 jU5~ described can be accomplished
without removing any of the labels 207 from the s~pporting
material web 205. Now the print head 170 can be set to print
the ~elected indicia on the label 207 which is registered with
the platen 1~74. Upon the first actuation of the actuator 222,
the gear 172 causes the arm 297 to pull slide 288 to the right
as viewed in FIGURE 10, thereby causing the roll 293 to move
into cooperation with the web 203 and the feed wheel 171,
to cause the brake member 283 to move into its effective position
as shown in FIGU~E 23, and to cause the guide 300 to move to its
effective position shown by phantom lines 300PL. In that the
first actuation of the actuator 222 from its initial position
drives the gear 172 to in turn drive the print head 170 into
printing cooperation with the platen 174, the label 207 at
the p~inting position or zone will be printed. When the
print head 170 is in printing cooperation with the platen 174,
the drive end 269 of the pawl 26S has moved into po~ition adjacent
the next successive tooth 253 of the ratchet wheel 252. Upon
release of the actuator 222, the spring 226'~f the assembly
22S will cause the actuator 222 to pivot counterclockwise
(FIGURE 10) thereby cau~ing the gear 172 and the pawl 26~ to
move clockwise. This movement of the pawl 265 causes the feed
wheel 171 to rotate clockwise. $n that the feed wheel 171 and
the roll 293 are in cooperation the teeth 171' w}~1 break through
the portion of the supporting material 205 between the ends of
the bar-cut 428S and the adjacent ends of the bar-cuts 426S.
The teeth 171' engage the drive faces formed by the bar-cuts
426S to advance the web 203 when the feed wheel 171 is rotated.
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. ~
The cycle operation is complete when the actuator 222 has
returned to its initial position. During continued operation
of the apparatus 150, labels 207 are successively delaminated
from the supporting material web 205. It is ap~e~t that upon
each actuation and release of th~ actuat~r 222, ~he print head
170 is first moved into printing cooperation with a label 207
and thereaf~er that label is advanced to a position shown in
FIGURE 10 in which the leading label 207 is shown almost entirely~
delaminated from the supporting material web 205. The leading
label 207 is thus lightly adhered to the web 205 at its trailing
end until it is applied to an article.
Referring to FIGURES 8 and 33, a rewinder 440 is shown
to include a unitary body 441 having a generally annular portion
442 defining a compartment 443. The body 441 has an inlet
portion or inlet 444 with an inlet slit or narrow slot 445.
The annular portion 442 is open at its one side as shown and
has a side wall 446 closing off its other side. The inlet 444
has a connector 447 including a pair of notches 448 and 449
adjacent flanges 450 and 451. The rewinder 440 is removably
connected to the apparatus 150 by sliding the connector 447
through the open end of the opening 354. As~`the supporting
material web 205 passes through ~one Z2 it enters the inlet slot
445 and winds into a roll as shown in FIGURE 33. The inside of
the annular portion 442 is provided with a ~calloped configura-
tion defined by ridge~ 335 and intervening groove~ 336.~ As
the web 205 contacts only the ridges 335 there 1~ very little
~.
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friction betwecn the portion of the web 205 and the ridges
335. In addition, the inside of the compartment 443 can be
coated with a suitable lubricant such as silicone. Viewing
both FIGURES 10 and 33, it is noted that the web 205 is wound
up in the rewinder 440 in the same direction of curl of the
web 205 caused by the web 205 being wound on the roll R. This
facilitates`rewinding. The end of the inlet slot 445 terminates
at a cuttiny edge or knife 457 by which the portion of the web
205 in the compartment 443 can be severed from the remainder of
the web 205 simply by reaching into the open side of the
compartment 443 and pulling the web 205 against the knife 457.
In the em~odiment of FIGURES 34 and 35, a rewinder
460 is shown to include a unitary body 461 having a generaily
annular portion 462 defining a compartment 463. The body 461
has an inlet portion or inlet 464 with an inlet slit or narrow
slot 445. The annular portion 462 has a side wall 466 closing
off one side. The inlet 464 has a connector 467 identical to
the connector 447. The inside of the annular portion 462 is
provided with a scalloped configuration like that of the
rewinder embodiment of FIGURES 8 and 33. The inlet 464
terminates at a cutting edge or knife 477. ~ shaft 478 is formed
integrally with the wall 466 and rotatably mounts a spool or
reel 479. The reel 479 includes a hub 480 integrally joined to
a disc 481. A compression spring 482 received about the shaft
478 bears against the side wall 466 and a shoulder 483 inside
the hub 480. A shaft 484, snap-fitted into spaced-apart holders
485, is joined to an annular portion 486. The annular portion
486 seats a flexible resilient 0-ring or other suitable
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frictional drive member 487. The dri~e member 4~7 is in
~ictional contact with ~he disc 487 and the disc 210. The
d~ive member 4~7 contacts a radiused annular portion 488 of
the d~sc 4Rl and the surface of disc 210. The holders
~85 have respective annular portions 489 which extend through
~lightly more than 130 so that the shaft 484 can be snapped
into the annular portions 489 or removed therefrom if desired.
A compression ~pring 490 received about the shaft 434 exerts
a force on one of the holders 485 and the annular portion 4a6.
The force exerted by the spring 490 is greater than the force
~, .
exerted by the spring 982 so the drive member 487 is always
urged into contact with the disc 210 and the drive member 487
is always urged into contact with the disc 481.
A finger 491 is formed integrally with the disc 481
and extends generally parallel to the hub 480. Marginal end
205' of the supporting material web 205 is received between the
hub 480 and the finger 491. The annular portion 486 and the
drive member 487 constitutes an idler or idler wheel generall~
indicated at 492. It is apparent that the reel 209 is drivingly
coupled to the reel 479. As the apparatus 150 is operated the
disc 210 turns, thereby driving the idler wheel 492 which in
turn drives the reel 479. The purpose of the idler ~heel 492
ls to cause the reel 479 to rotate in the direction of the
natural curl of the web 205 on the roll R. In the illustrated
embodiment the reel 479 turns in the same direction as the
roel 209.
