Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
Docket ~r340 1~25
Back round of 'che Invention
o~ e~e Inv-~tio~
Thi~ invention relates to the art of labelersO
U.S. patent to William A. Jenkins No. 3,968,745
grant~d July 13, 1976 disc:loses a labeler with a frame and a
subframe, a platen and a prislt head mou~ted on ~he subf rame,
an actuator having a pair of gear sec~ions, ~ars driven by
the gear sectiorls, and a pair of gear sections or racks on
the print head coopera~le with the gears. ~ toothed feed
wheel and a rakch@t wheel are disposed be~ween the gears.
The ratchet wheel is adju.~table relative to the feed wheel~
A removable ~ection is pivotally mour~tad on the f rameO The
remo~Table section c~rries an inking me.chanism, The subframe
1;5 mounts a die roll in rnating cooperation with the feed wheelO
The ~rame mounts an applicator in the form of a roll. I~ one
embodiment, the front end of the labeler has a pivotal frarne
section to enable replace3;lent of the i.nk roller.
U~S. pateYIt application Ser~ al ~o. 649,945, filed
January 19, 1976 of Paul H. ~amisch, Jr. and Doslald L. ~arn,
now patent No. 4,035,225 granted July 12 , 1977~ dis-
closes a cur~ed leaf spring which assists in ~:he gradual
paying out: of ~ composite label web from the label roll,
and further disclo~es in two different embodiments structure
for adjus~ing a feed wheel and a ratchet wheel relative to
each other~
U~S. patent application Serial No. 604,389, filed
August 13, 1975 of Paul ~. ~lamisch, Jr~, now patent Mo. 4, 044, 677
gran~ed August 30 , 1977, discloses int~rfere~ce mem~ers
for enabli~ n inker body or carrier to be a~sembled :3nto a
removable member but preven~ the carrier f rom becoming dis-
assembled when ~he ink roller on the carrier is in i~s operative
~ 25~
Docket M~340
position with respect to the print head. U.S. patent to
Paul H. Hamisch, Sr.~ No. 3,440,123, granted April 22,
1969 discloses a cam-controlled inker.
The invention provides an improved mechanism for
adjusting the relative positions of the ratchet wheel and
the feed wheel to vary the registration of the labels with
respect to the delaminating means and to the printing means.
This mechanism includes a paix of clutch members which can be
shifted apart and rstated relati~e to each other to change
the adjustment between the eed and ratchet wheels. The user
can make the adjustment by manually driving the feed wheel
when the clutch members have been shiEted axially out of
clutching engagement with respect to each othex. More
specifically, there is a drive connect:ion between one clutch
member and the feed wheel which prevents relative rotation
between that one clutch member and the ~eed wheel but allows
relative shifting movement between that clutch member and the
feed wheel. A spring normally holds that clutch member and
the other clutch member in clut~hing engagement with each
other. The other clutch member is coupled to the ra~chet
wheel. The ratchet wheel is mounted by one side of the
subframe and the feed wheel is mounted by the other side o
the subframe. The subframe is aisposed in the pace within
the frame. The frame mounts a shat and the shaft mounts a
movable section or cover which is movable between closed and
open positions, an applicator roll, and a portion of an
inking mechanism. The inking mechanism is simple in construc-
tion and easy to assemble, but the inking mechanism will stay
in its assembled position e~en through the labeler is dropped
on the floor. The inking mechanism includes a pivotally
Docke~ M-340
mounted carrier mounted on the cover and a leaf spring con-
nected to the shaft and to the carrier. The carrier mounts a
roller which is urged against a cam on the print head by the
leaf spring. The print head preferably has two lines of
printing members for printing two lines of ~ata. A hold-down
device is used to hold a label and the underlying supporting
mat~rial web down so that there is no gap between the web and
the platen. This feature is conducive to quality printing
because the print need not move the label and ~he web toward
the platen and because if it can be assured that the web lies
against the platen, then the distance ~etween the print head
in the home or rest position and the platen can be kept to a
minimum. It is pr~f~rred that a die roll be used to urge the
supporting material web against the toothed feed wheel . In
addition, the die roll is spring-urged against the web to
accommodate for manufacturing variations in the labeler. The
die roll is carried by a holder which is nested i~ the
subframe and which includes a pair of leaf springs. Thus,
adequate mating cooperation between the die and feed wheels
is assured. A leaf spring is disposed in cooperation with
the web where it is fir~t paid out a~ the label rollO The
leaf spring has a mou~ting portion keyed to the subframe.
Th~ leaf spring is conducive to the gradual paying out of the
web from the labeL roll. The leaf spxi~g and its mounting
portion are comprised of one-piece molded plastics material.
There is a brak~ which acts on the composite la~el web
between the place where the compo~ite web is paid out of the
label roll and the plat~n. The brake includes a roll which is
Docket M-340
loosely mounted in the subframe and the print haad carrier
leaf springs which contact a brake roll at spaced-apart
locations. The use of such separate leaf springs is con-
ducive to effective braking action against the composite web
in spite of manufacturing variatio~s.
FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspecti~e view of a
hand-held label printing and applying apparatus in accordance
with the i~vention;
FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of a composite web of
labels capable of being used in the apparatus;
FI~URE 3 is a ragmentary side elevational
view partly in section;
FIGURE 4 is a side elevatio:nal view of one of the
subframe sections of the subframe;
FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of the other
subfxame section;
FIGURE 6 i~ a top plan view of the apparatus with
the cover in the open position;
FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary view of ~he cover;
FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken along line
8--8 of FIGURE 7;
FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9- 9
of FIGURE B;
FIGURE 10 is a top plan view of a~ ink rollr and
its carrier;
FIGURE 11 is a sectional vi~w taken generally along
line 11--11 of FIGURE 10;
FIGURE 1~ is a sectional view taken along line
12--12 ~f FIGURE 3;
~ ~ ~ 5
Docket M-340
FIGURE 13 is a partly sPctional view taken along
line 13--13 o FIGURE 3;
FIGURE 14 is an enlarged sectional view showing
fragm~ntary portions of the frame, the subframe~ drive gears,
S ~he feed wheel, a ratchet and a mechanism ~or adjusting the
position of the ratchet wheel relative to the feed wheel;
FIGURE 15 is a sectional view taken along line
15--15 of FIGURE 14: .
FIGURE 16 is a view of one of the gears and a pawl
which it car~ies, the ratchet teeth being shown in phantom
lines;
FIGURE 17 is a sectional view taken alo~g lines
17-~17 of FIGURæ 16:
FIGURE 18 is a sectional view tak~n along lines
1518--18 of FIGURE 16;
FIGURE 1~ is a sectional view taken along line
19--19 of FIGURE 3;
FIGVRE 20 is a perspective view of a label hold-down
and guiding device and a portion of the subfram~;
20FIGURE 21 is a view showing fragmentary portions of
the carrier and a leaf spring beore they are connected to
each other~
FIGURE 22 is a sectional view showing the mounting
structure for one side of a label roll; and
25FIGURE 23 is a view taken ge~erally along a line
23--23 of FIGURE 22~
Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Referri~g initially to FIGURE 1, there is shown a
label printing and applying apparatus or labeler generally
30indicated at 30 having a frame or body genexally indicated at
31 which includes a frame section or body section 32 and a
~rame section or body section 33a The ~r~me section 32 is
S
Doc~et M-340 ~ ~2 5 ~6
shown to ha~e tubular posts or shafts 34', 35 9 36, 37 and 38
and the body section 33 is shown to have generally tubular
aligned p~sts 34, 35', 367, 37' and 38'~ 5crews 39 are
received in the posts 34', 35, 36, 38 and 39 and are threadably
received in respective posts 34, 35', 36' and 38'. The
frame sections 32 and 33 are mates to each other and are
substantially mirror-images o each other.
A sub~rame generally indicated at 40 is shown to
include subframe sections 41 and 42. The subframe section 41
is shown to have male projections 43 received in and held in
a snap-fit manner in apertures 44. With reference also to
FIGURES 4 and 5, the subframe section~ 41 and 42 have res
pective ball tracks 45 and 46 for receiving respec~ive xolling-
co~tact bearing members specifically ball-bearing strips 47
and 48. The subfxam~ sections 41 and 42 have respective
guideways 49 and S0 and 49i and 50 ' . The subframe sections
41 and 42 have respective posts 51 and 52 and 51' and 52 '
for receiving respective ~ubular rollers 53 and 54. The
posts 51 and 51' rotatably mount the tubular roller 53 and
~h~ posts 52 and 52' ro~ata}:)ly mourl~ the tubular roller 54.
The subframe sections 41 and 42 have respective round holes
55 and 56 for rotatably mounting a feed wheel assem~ly generally
indicated at 570 The subframe sections 41 and 42 have res-
pective non-circular, specifically dove-tail, recesses 58 and
58' for receiving a holder 59. The holder 59 is of one-piece
molded plastics construction and includes a pair of lea
springs or spring fin~ers 60 and 61 having a pair of res-
pective sockets 62 a~d 63. The sockets are prefarably open-sided
and preferably extend for more than 180 but substantially
Docket ~340 ~ ~ ~ 5~
less than 350 so as to receive respective stub ends 64 and
65 of a die roller 66. The die roller 66 has a pair of
grooves 67 that correspond in contour and alignment to teeth
68 of toothed feed wheel 69 of the assembly 57. The teeth 68
are staggered and axe disposed in two annular rows. A guide
plate 70 which is disposed between the rows of teeth 68 has
oppositely extending posts 71. The posts are received in
h~les 72 and 73 of the respective subframe sections 41 and 42
to confine the supparting material we~ S of the composite web
C in proxLmity to the surface of the feed wheel 69~ The
subframe sections 41 and 42 ha~e respective non-circular
recesses 74 and 74' for keying end portions of a non-circular
post 75 of a latch 76. A bar 76" is connected to the post
75 by a leaf spxing 77. The bar 76" has a pair of manually
engageable projections 78 and 79 which extend through res-
pective openings ao and 80' in sub~rame sections 40 and 41and through respective openings 81 and 81' in the frame
se~tions 32 and 33. Shields 82 and 83 are disposed inbound of
the projections 78 and 79. The shield 82 is disposed between
the ~rame section 32 and the subrame section 41 and the
shield B3 is disposed between the frame section 33 and the
subframe section 42. ~he shields 82 and 83 serve to keep
dust out of the inside of the labeler 30. The subframe
sec io~s 41 and 42 have elongated recesses 84 and 84'.
Marginal side portions of a platen 85 are received in the
r~spective recesses 84 and 84' and marginal ends oE a de-
laminator, specifically a peel roller 86, are received in the
same elongated recesses 84 and 84'~ The peel roller 86 is in
direct contact with shoulders S7 at the ends of the marginal
--7--
Docket M-340 ~ ~ 2 5`~ ~
sides of the platen 85. The shoulders B7 define an end edge
of the platen 85. There is a minimum of friction between the
shoulders 87 and the peel roller 86 because o~ minimal contact.
In addition, any non linearity of the peel roller 86 will
have Little or no effect because only the end portions of the
peel roller 86 are contacted by the shoulders 870 It is
apparent that both the platen 85 and the peel roller 86 are
captive in the same respecti~e recesses 84 and 84'. The
guideways 49 and 49' are fo~med in part by guides 8B and 8~.
Spaced from the respective guides 88 and 89 are projections
90 and 91. A hsld down and guide member generally indicated
at 92 i5 shown to have a hold-down or guide member 93 which
is disposed in overlying relationship with respect to the
platen 85 and a direction-changing gui.de member 94. A mounting
m~mber 91' is interlocked between guide 88 and projection 90
and between the guide 89 and the projection 91 as shown in
FIGURES 1 and 20. In addition, the subframe sections 41 and
42 have posts 95 and 95' received in a hole 96 in the member
94. The member 94 has a plurality of ridges 97 and inter-
vening grooves 98 which ext~nd i~ the direc~ion of label
travel shown ~y phantom lines PL in FIGURE 20~
The subframe sections 41 and 42 have respective
retaining recesses 99 and 99' ~or receiving stub ends 100 and
10 of a brake roller 102 of a brake 103. The roller 102 is
shown to have annular grooves 104 for receiving spaced~apart
0-rings 104~o
A one-piece resilient device ge~erally indicated at
105 includes a leaf spring or spring finger 106 which is
shown to be curved and which is integrally connected to a
moun~ing portion 107~ The subframe sections 41 and 42 have
--8--
Doc~et M-340 ~ 5-~3~
respective recesses 1~8 and 108' into which marginal sides of
the mounting portion 107 are received. The resilient device
105 is shown to be disposed in ov~rlying relationship with
respect to label roll R adjacent the place where the composite
we~ C is paid out. The composite web C passes over the
resilient device 105 and from there between the roller 102
and brake surfaces 109 and 109'. The brake 103 also includes
a plurality of separate spaced-apart leaf springs 103',
~pecifically ~wo, which ar~ in contact wi~h the O-rings lQ4'
of the rollex 102 at spaced apart locations. The use of at
least two such springs 103' facilitates reliabLe braking in spite
of manufacturing variation~.
The frame 31 has a handle generally indicated at 110
: and includes handle portions 111 and 112. The posts 37 and
37' are disposed at the outer end portion of the handle 110.
A manually operable ac~uator generally indicated at 113 is
sh~wn to include a lever 114 having a hole 115. The posts 37
and 37' are received in opposite ends of the hole 115 to
pivotally mount the actuator 113. The actuator 113 is shown
to includa a pair of spaced-apart gear sections or segmental
gears 116 and 1170 The gear sections 116 and 117 mesh with
respective gears 118 and 11~ rotatably mounted on an axis A'.
A print head generally indicated at 120 includes a pair of racks
or gear sections 121 and 122 which mesh with respecti~e gears
~5 118 and 119. A resilient device generally indicated at 123
bears against ~he handle 110 and 110' and against the inside of
the actuator 113 to urge the a~tuator 113', the feed assembly
57 and the print head 120 to their initial or rest positions
as shown in FIG~RE 3. The resilient device 123 is shown to
include a compression spri~g 124 which urges sections 125 and
126 to extended positions with respect to each other.
Docket M-340
The print head 120 is shown to have two sets of
~ pri.nting members 127 and 128 (FIGURES 1, 3 and 6) for printing
; two lines of data on a label L. The lin s are printed in
fields F and F' disposed on opposite sides of the hcld~down
member 93. Each line of printing members 127 and 128 has
selectively manually settable selectors 129 and 130 so that
each line can print the selected data on the label h. The
print head 120 also has a pair of tracks 131 and 132 co-
operable with respective tracks 45 and 46 of respec~ive
subframe sections 41 and 42. The ball hearing strip 47 is in
rolling contact with and between the tracks 131 and 45 and
the ball bearing strip 48 is in rolling contact with and
between the tracks 46 and 132. Accordingly, the print head 120
is mounted for movement into and out of cooperation with the
platen 85. The racks or gear sections 121 and 122 are shown
to be straight as are the tracks 45, 46, 131 and 132 so that
the print head 120 moves in a straight line as is pxeferred.
With re~erence to FIGURES 14 and 15, the eed
assem~ly 57 is shown to include the feed wheel 69 and a
drive wheel, specifically ratchet wheel 133 having teeth 133'
dîsposed in an annular arrangement. The feed wheel 69 and
the ratchet wheel 133 are shown to be selectively movable
with resp~ct ~o each other. The feed wheel 69 is shown to
have an annular rim 134 which is connected to a tubular hub
portion or pr~iection 135 by a web 136. The tubular portion
135 has an open end 137 and a closed end portion 138. The
tubular portion 135 is shown to be rotatably mounted in an
annular hole 139 in tha subframe section 41. A projection or
retainex 140 joined to the end portlon 138 extends in the
axial direction. The ratchet wheel 133 includes a plurality,
specifically three, spring fingers 142 having respective
--10--
. ~
f~5~ ~
Docket M~340
projections or teeth 143. The spring fingers 142 extend
through elongated slots or holes 144 in the web 136. When
the ratchet wheel 133 is assembled onto the fe~d wheel 69,
the projections Lnitially cam the spring fingers 14~ inwardly
and as the projections 143 pass through the holes 144, they
snap radially outwardly so that the ratchet wheel 133 is
coupled in a~sembled relationship to the feed wheel 69 for
limited rotational movement. The ratchet wheel 133 is
therefore adjustable to a limited extent as limited by the
leng~h of the holes 144. The ratchet wheel 133 has a clutch
member 145 with an inner surface beveled with respect to axis
A' which is provided with a plurality of small closely spaced
teeth 146~ A clutch member generally indicated at 147 is
shown to have a plurality of mating l:eeth 148 disposed on a
bevel for cooperation with the teeth 146 of the clutch member
145. The clutch member 147 has tubu:Lar portions 149 and 150
which extend in opposi~e dir~ctions. The tu~ular portion 149
has a closed end portion 150' with a coi~ slot 151. A
three-lohed ~eat 152 is joined to the end portion 150'. The
outer surface of the tubular portion 150 is splined, having
what is illustrated as being three splines 153 which are
received in a splined hole 154 in the tubular portion 135.
The splined hole has spline grooves 1S5. Accordingly, the
clutch member 147 is keyed against rotation with respect to
the feed wheel 69 but is slidable axially with respect $o
the feed wheel 69. The connection between the clutch member 147
and the feed wheel 69 is considered to be a splined connection.
A compression spring 156, received within the tubular portions
135, 149 and 150, bears at its opposite ends against the end
por$ion 138 and the seat 152. The projec~ion 140 ser~es to
locate and retain the spring 156 approximately axially disposed
within the feed wheel 69. The position of the clutch members
145 and 147 relative to each other can be varied by the user
//
Do~ket M-340 ~ ~ ~ 5 ~ ~
by simply inserting a coin into the slot 151 and exerting
an inward force to compress the spring 156, and as goon as
the teeth 146 and 148 of the respecti~e clutch me~bers 145
and 147 are ou~ of clutching engagement, the user can rotate
S the tubular portion 149 and hence the clutch member 147 and
move it to a different selected position with respect to the
clutch member 145r Rotation of the clutch member 147 causes
simultaneous rotation of the feed wheel 69 because of the
splined connection. As soon as the user releases ~he force
on the end portion 150', the spring 156 returns the clutch
member 147 into clutching e~gagement with ~he clutch member
145.
The ~ear 118 is shown to be rotatably mounted on
the projection 135 between the frame section 32 and the
subframe section 41. The frame section 32 has an annular
boss 157 which is shown to be out of contact wi~h the tubular
portion 135 bu~ in contact with the gear 118. Accordingly,
the gear 118 is captive between the subframe section 41 and
the bos~ 157. Th~ gear 119 includes an annular rim 158 with
teeth 159 at its peripheryO A web 160 is joined to one side
of ~he rim 158 and to a tubular hub portion 161. The hub
portion 161 is rotatably mounted o~ the tubular portion 149.
The weh 160 abuts the texminal end 162 o~ the ratche~ wheel 133
and the tubular portion 161 abuts the end o a~ a~nular flange
163 of the frame section 33. Neither the frame section 33
nor its flange 163 contacts the tubular portion 149. Accordingly,
the gear 119 is held captive between the ratchet wheel 133
and the flange 163~ It is apparent that the eed assembly 57
is mounted to the subframe 40 which in turn is mounted by th~
frame 31. The adjustment is made from only one side of the
-12-
Coc~et M~3~0
frame 31 without tne need to shift the f~ed or drive wheels
relative to each other. The gear 119 carries a pawl unit
generally indicated at 164. The web 160 has a hole or aperture
165. Th~ pawl unit 164 has an integrally formed snap pro~
jection generally indicated at 166 which includes a split
pivot or post 167 and projections 168 with beveled cam faces
169. In the position shown in FIGURE 17, the pivot 167
rotatably mounts the pawl unit 164 to the gear 119 and the
projections 168 prPvent the pawl unit from being separated
rom the gear 119. The cam faces 169 facilitate connecting
the pawl unit 164 to the gear 119. In assemblins the pawl
unit 164 onto the gear 119, the cam faces 169 are inserted
into the hole 165, and by pushing the pawl 164 further into
the space within the rim 158, the pawl 164 is coupled for
pivotal movement as shown in FIG~RE 17. The pawl unit 164
includes a pawl 16~' having an integral projection or post
170 which can move to a limited extent in a slot 171. The
projection 170 can cooperate with a stop face 172 to limit
the travel of the pawl 164'. Without a means to limit the
pivotal movement of ~he pawl 164' it would be more difficult
to assemhle th~ pawl unit 164 with the ratchet wheel 133 because
the pawl unit 164 could assume any of a wide variet~ of
positions. Once th~ pawl unit 164 is assembled into coopera-
tive re~ationship with respect to ~he ratchet wheel 133, the
ratchet wheel 133 holds the pawl unit 164 in a position in
which the projection 170 is out of contact with the stop face
- 172. However, i the gear is disassembled so that the pawl
164 is moved out of contact with the ratchet wheel 133, the
stop face 172 again cooperates witn the post 170. Formed
integrally with the pawl 164' is a leaf spring or spring
finger 173~ The leaf spring 173 is connected to the pawl
164' adjacent the pawl tooth 174 and the other end portion
~ ~ ~ 5~3
Docket M~340
of the leaf spring 173 contacts the underside of the rim 158.
The spring 173 urges the pawl tooth 174 into the path of the
teeth 133'~ It is seen that the pawl unit 164 is disposed
almost entir21y within the space defined by the rim 158.
When the user actuates the actuator 113, the gear
segments 116 and 117 rotate gears 118 and 119 which move
the print head 120 into printing cooperation with the plat~n
85, and the pawl tooth 174 moves into position to cooperate
with the next tooth 133' on the ratchet wheel 133~ When the
user releases the actuator 113 the resilient device 123 urges
the actuator clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 3 to return the
print head 120 to its initial position shown in FIGURE 3 and
to dri~e the pawl 164' to advance the ratchet wheel 113 and
hence the feed wheel 69.
~ith re~erence ~specially to FIGURES 1, 22 and 23,
the label roll R is shown to be mounted for rotation on hub
members 17S and ~76. The hub members 175 and 176 are mounted
on leaf springs 41' and 42' formed integrally with subframe
sections 41 and 42. The hub members 175 and 176 are identical.
Hence, only the hub member 175 will be discussed in detail.
Th~ hub member 175 is generally disc-shaped and has an annular
hole 177. The leaf springs 41' has an annular flange 178
received in the hole 177 for rotatably mounting the hub
member 175. The hub mem~er 175 is retained on the flange 178
; 25 by a retainer generally indicated at 179. The retainer
includes an annular disc-shaped portion 180 and a split shaft
or post 181 ha~ing a pair of projections 182. The shaft 181
can be inserted through a hole 183 to ~he position shown in
FIGURE 22 and the projections 182 hold the retainer 179 in
the assembled position. A pair of identical discs or side
plates 184 and 185 ar~ used to support the sides of the roll
-14-
5.`~
Docket M-340
R ~o that the roll R does not telescope. The discs 184 and
185 can be assembled onto the appaxatus even after the retainers
179 are in place. The disc 185, for example, has a pair of
holes 186 and 187 which communicate with each other at a gap
188~ The gap 18a is defined by projections 189. The hole
186 extends through more than 180 but substantially less
than 360. The hole 187 is at least slightly larger in
diameter than the outsida diameter of the hub member 175.
The hub member 175 can be inserted through the hole 187 and
~hereupon the disc 184 can be shif~ed until a boss 190 on the
hub member 175 deflects the projection 189 and is received in
the hole 1860 The disc 184 is composed of a resilient
material, preferably a thin sheet of transparent plastics
material. The disc 184 can be assembled onto ~he apparatus
after the hub member 185 and the retainer 179 are in their
assembled position, even though the outer periphery of the
disc 134 is continuous.
With reference to FIGURES 1, 3, and 6 through 9,
ther~ is shown a movable bod~ section or cover generally
îndicatçd at 191 for mounting an inking mechanism generally
indicated at 192. The cover 191 is pi~rotally mounted
on the posts or shafts 34 and 34'. The post 34 together with
the post 34' can be considered to be a post or shaft. The
cover 191 is a pair of spaced side walls 193 and 194 joined
by a panel 195. The section 191 has a pair o spaced apart
arms 196 and 197 which are bifurcated and which have snap
soc~ets 198 and 199. The snap sockets 198 and 199 have
aligned sockets 200 which are annular in configuration and
which extend through more than 180 but substantially
less than 360 as shown. The sockets 200 are axially
aligned and can receive the respec~ive posts 34 and 34'~ It
Docket ~-3~0 ~ ~ 5 '~
is apparent that the cover 191 can move between a normally
closed position shown in FIGURE 3 and an open position shown
in FIGURE 6. The saction 191 can be easily assembled onto
the posts 34 and 34' and the user can remove the entire cover
191 and replace the entire inking mecha~ism, if desired. The
panel 195 has a pair of slots or cutouts 201 and 202 to
enablP the knobs 129 and 130, which are part of the print
head 120, to move as the print head 120 moves between the
initial or rest position shown in FIGURE 3 and the printing
position in which the print head 120 cooperates with the
platen 85. The cover 191 can be readily latched in the
closed po~ition by latch assembly 76. The assembly 76 is
formed in part by projections 204 on ~he cover 191 which have
respective cam fac s 205 which terminate at shoulders 206.
The assembly 76 is also formed in part by the latch 76'.
When the cover 191 is moved to the closed position, the cam
fàces 205 contact cam face 207 on the bar 76" thereby causing
the leaf spring 77 to bend as the bar 76 n mDves generally to
the right as shown in FIGURE 3. When the shoulders 206 have
cleared the cam face 207 they move into underlying relation-
ship with respect to the bar 76" and the leaf spring 77
returns the bar 76" to the position shown in FIGURE 3. The
cover 191 is now latched in the closed position. To unlatch
~he latch assembly 76, the user manually engage~ the projections
78 and 79 and moves them rearwardly away from the front o~
the apparatus 30. When the shoulders 206 are clear of the bar
76" the cover 191 can be pi~oted to the open position.
The cover 191 has a pair of dove-tail slots 208 and
209. The slots 208 and 209 can slidably receive mating
dove-tail bearing blocks 210 and 211. The bearing bloc~s
have respective aligned holes 212 and 2130 When the blocks
210 and 211 are slid into their respective slots 208 and 209
shallow projections 214 and 21S respectively project slightly
1~ .
Docket i~ 3 4 0
into the respective holes 212 and 213. There is enough
resiliency in the materials of which the cover 191 and the
bearing bloclcs 210 and 211 are composed o let the bearing
blocks 210 and 211 slide into place to a position in which
the projections 214 and 215 extend into respective holes 212
and 213. .~ inker body or carrier genexally indicated at 216
and shown in considerable detail in FIGURES 10 and 11 has a
pair of side members 217 and 218 and a pair of transve~se
members 219 and 220~ Arms 221 and 222 are connected to the
respective side members 217 and 218. The arms 221 and 222
have respective aligned holes 223 and 224 for receiving
respecti~e stub ends 225 and 226 of ink roller 227. The side
members are roughened as indicated at 228 and 229. When it
is desired to remove the ink roller 227 the side members 217
and 218 are grasped by and between the thumb and index fingers
at the roughening 228 and 229 and squee~ed so that the arms
221 and 222 spread apart. The stub en.ds 225 and 226 will
ac~ordingly fall out of the respective holes 223 and 224 and
a new ink roller 227 can be mounted to the arms 221 and 222
~y simply squeezing the side members 217 and 218 to spread
the arms 221 and 222 to receive the stu~ ends 225 and 226.
The side members 217 and 218 diverge outwardly and have
outwardly extending aligned mounting portions 230 and 231,
on arms 230' and 231', received in the holes 212 and 2130
The mounting portions 230 and 231 are received in the res-
pective holes 212 and 213 of bearing blocks 210 and 211 while
the bearing blocks 210 and 211 are slid into slots 208 and
209. Thereafter the carrier 216 is swung into the position
shown in FIGURE 3. In this position the arm 230' is disposed
for movement between the surface 208' and interference member
201' on the panel 195 and the arm Z31~ is disposed for movement
between the surface 209' and interference member 20Z' on the
-17-
~ocket M-340 ~25 `~
panel 195 so that the carrier 216 cannot be disconnected from
the cover section, as when the labeler 30 is dropped~ With
reference to FIGURES 1 and 3 r a spring member generally
indicated at 232 includes a leaf spring or spring finger 233,
S a transverse connector or m~mber 234 disposed at one end
portion of the leaf spring 233, a mounting portion 235 disposed
at the other end portion o the leaf spring 233, and another
mounting portion 236. The mounting portion 236 is bifurcated
and receives an end por~ion of the panel 195. The mounting
portion 235 has an elongated slot 237 which receives the post
34 ~o provide a pin-and-slot connection. The mounting portion
235 is disposed between rolls 238 and 239 of an applicator
roll 240. As best shown in FIGURE 12, the rolls 238 and 239
straddle the mounting portion 235 and the arms 196 and 197
straddle the roLls 238 and 239 and the mounting portion 235.
The transverse member 234 is received in aligned elongated
holes 241 and 242 of a pin-and-slot connection. The transverse
member 234 has opp~si~ely extending tran~verse por~ions 243
and 244~ The transverse portion 243 extends into the hale
241 and the ~ransverse portion 244 extends into the hole 242.
~he transverse portion 243, for example, can be inser~ed into
the hole 241 while the transverse member 234 is canted with
resp~ct to the axis of the holes 241 and 242 and moved into
posi ion and thereafter the other transverse portion 234 is
moved into alignment with the hole 242~ When the transverse
portion~ 243 and 244 are received in respective holes 241 and
242, the spriny 232 can be brought to its normal position in
which the sides o the spring 232 are disposed between opposed
shoulders 245 and 246 which limit the lateral movement o the
transverse member 234. The transverse portions 243 and 244
-18-
Docket M-340
are long enough to prevent them from coming out of the
respective holes 241 and 242 when the shoulders 245 and 246
cooperate with the sides of the spring 232.
In the initial or rest position of the print head
12U, the spring member 232 urges the carrier 216 to the solid
line position shown in FIGURE 3. The carrier 216 has a pair
o spaced-apart snap sockets 247 and 248 (FIGURES 10 and 11)
having aligned openings 249 and 250~ Stub ends 251 and 252
~FIGURE 1) of a roller 253 are received in respective openings
249 and 250. The openings 249 and 250 extend through moxe
than 180 but substantially less than 360 so that the stub
ends 251 and 252 can be snapped into them. The print head
120 carries a c~m ganerally indicated at 254 with a dwell
portion 255, a relatively steep ramp 256, and another dwell
portion 257. The ink roller 227 is shown to be spaced from
~he print head 120 in FIGURE 3, when the roller 253 bears
against the dwell portion 255. When the print head 120 moves
toward the inX roller 227, the endmost printing me~bers
127 and 128 con~act the ink roller 227. About that time,
with continued movement of the print head 120, the roller 253
rolls in contact with the ramp 256 to pivot the carrier 216
clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 3. r.~hen the prin~ head 120 is
in printing cooperation with the label L on the platen 85,
the carrier 216 and the ink roller 227 which it carries are
in the position indicated by phantom lines PL'. When the
print head 120 is in printing cooperation with the label L,
the roller 253 is in cvntact with the dwell portion 257. As
the print head 120 is returned to its rest or initial position~
the roller 253 moves out of contact with the dwell portion
257, thereafter the roller 253 rolls along the ramp 256, and
thereafter the roller 253 rolls onto the dwell portion 255
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~oGket M-340
until the caxrier 216 and its roller 227 are returned to ~he
initial position. Because the carrier 216 moves on fixed
pivots, a lost-motion connection is provided by the elongated
holes 241 and 242 and a lost-motion connection is also
provided by enlarged hole 237 in the mounting portion 235.
In operation, a label roll R is loaded onto the hub
members 175 and 176 between the discs 184 and 185. The roll
R consists of the composite web C composed o a web of
supporting material S to which the labels L are releasa~ly
. adhered by pressure sensitive adhesive A. The leading
marginal end of the composite web C is passed over the
resilient device 105, and between the brake roller 102 and
the surfaces 109 and 109'. It is preferred to squeeæe the
actuator 113 slightly while the leading marginal end is being
threaded through the labeler so that the print head 120 is
moved away from the initial position to release the brake 102
and so that the brake roller 102 doe~; not exert a braking
force on the composite web C. The leadi~g end portion of the
composite web C is passed alons the guideway provided by ~;
~ guides 49 and 49'. The composite web C then passes out o~
the front of the apparatus adjacent the roller 54 and thereupon
the u~er inserts the composite web C between the platen 85
and the hold-down member 93. The guide por~ion 94 guides the
composite web out of the apparatus to a position where it ca~
be grasped by the user who will pull on the composite web C
to draw several additional inches off the roll R. The com-
posite web C is thereupon passed around the roller 53, and
with the actuator 113 preferably in the fully squeezed or
fully op~rated position, the leading end of the composite web C
-20-
Docket M- 340
is ~nserted between the die roller 67 and the feed wheel 69.
T~hen the actautor 113 is released, the teeth b8 break through
a f rangible portion FS on the supporting material web S
and the rPlated frangible portion FL of the label material L.
Repeated actuation of the actuator 113 will cause any slack
to be taken out of the web S and thereupon labels h will be
dispe~sed int~ label applying relationship with the applicator
240 as shown ~n FI~URE 3. In this position the trailing
; marginal end of the leading label L is still adhered to the
web S. When the user appli~s the label L~ the label L being
applied is pulled from the web S. The brake 103 is effective
to prevent the composite web C from being paid out of the
roll R during application o a label L and an anti-backup
pawl 258 ~FIG~RE 1) which cooperates with the ratchet wheel
113 obviates loss of tension in the wab S.
When it is desired to replac~ an ink roller 227,
the user pulls on the knobs 78 and 79 to move the bar 76"
away from the shoulders 206 on the cover section 191. The
user can thereupon pivot the cover section 191 to ~he ope~
position shown in FIG~RE 6. By squeezing the side mem~ers 228
and 229, the spe~t ink roller falls out of the holes 223 and
224, A new i~k roller can be inserted by squeezing ~he side
members 228 and 229 so that the holes 223 and 224 can r~ceive
the stub ends 225 and 226 of a fresh ink rollex. Thereupon
the user xeturns the cover section 191 to the position shown
in FIGU~E 13. The cams or cam faces 205 on the cover cooperate ~;
with the cam face 207 of the bar 76", thereby de1ecting the
leaf spring 227 until the cover section 191 is latched
in the position shown in FIGURE 3.
-21-
,
~oc~cet M-340
Other embodiments and ~ di~ications of this
invention will suggest themselves to those skilled in the
art, and all such of thPse as come within the spirit of this
invention are included within its scope as best defined by
S ~he appended claims.
--22--
