Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1Z15~DS
Docket ~-429 -1-
PRINTING APPARATUS
Baek~round of the Invention
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the art of printing
apparatus.
Brief Description of the Prior Art
_ _ _ _ _ _ .
The print head of the invention relates to the
general type disclosed in U.S. patent 4, 283,832 f~ranted
Augllst 18, 1981 to Paul H. Hamisch, Jr. The impression
control mechanism used in the apparatus relates to the
general type disclosed in U.S. patent 2,265,584 ~ranted
December 9, 1941 to Stiegler, U.S. patent 4,290,840 granted
July 28, 1981 tp Paul H. Hamisch, Jr. et al and U.S. patent
4,290,840 granted September 22, 1981 to Robert M. Pabodie
et al.
Summary of the Invention
_ _ _
The invention includes a T-shaped one-piece print
head body composed of molded plastics material, the body
having a plate portion joined to a unting portion between
end edges of the mounting portion, together with printing
bands, selectors for advancing the bands, and side plates
for straddling the plate por-tion.
The invention also includes an impression control
device having a latch cooperable with an interposer to
enable loadin-~ of a spring and release of the print head
after the prin-t head has been driven through a predeterrnilled
distance. The latch is movable between effective and
ineffective positions. The print head is held away from
printing cooperation with a platen until the interposer is
moved to its ineffec-tive position.
..
5~S
Docket M-~2'J -2-
Brief Descr_tio _of_the Drawlngs
Fl(,llRE 1 is a r~art ly broken-away perspective view
of a ta~-le-tol) marking lnachine accordirlg to the invention;
FIGlJRE 2 is a partly exi~loded perspec-ti.ve view of
the machine shown in ~IG~IR~ l;
FIGiiRE 3 is a vertical sectional view showing the
relationship of a clrive cam in relation to other structure,
FIGUF~E 4 is a fragmentary partly exploded perspective
view showing the drive for the print head and the feeding
mechanism;
FIGI)RE 5 is a vertical sectional view of the rnachine;
FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the machine;
FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7--7
of FIGURE 6;
FIGU~E 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8--8
of E'IGURE 7;
FIGURE 9 is a f ragmentary perspective view showing
tlle detent for the feeding mechanism;
FIGURE 10 is a view taken along 1 ine 10--10 of
FIGURE 8;
FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary elevational view showing
how the follower for the feeding mechanism is rnounted;
FIGURE 12 is a sectional view taken along 1 ine 12--12
of FIGURE 11;
FIGURE 13 is an exploded perspective view showing a
portion of the drive mechanism for the print head, with parts
rotated for clarity;
FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary perspective view with
parts rotated showing the manner in which the print head is
releasably coupled to the drive mechanism for the print head;
FIGllRE 15 is an exploded perspective view of an
alternative embodiment from that shown in FIGURES 13 and 14 and
shows a portion of the alternative drive mechanisrn and the print
head, with the print head being rotated for clarity;
s~
Docket M-42~ -3-
FIGIJRE 16 is a sectional assemble~ view of thealternative embodiment shown in FIGURE 15;
FIGURE 17 is a broken-away sectional view of the
supply roll mounting s-tructure;
FIGU~ 18 is a broken-away exploded perspective view
of the supply roll mounting str~cture;
FIGIIRE 19 is a perspective view of a one-piece molded
plastics de~ent also shown in FIGURE 18;
FIGVRE 20 is a sectional view taken along line 20--
20 of FIGURE 17;
FIGURE 21 is a sectional view taken along line 21--21
of FIGURE 17;
FIGURE 22 is a sectional elevational view showing a
feed finger in solid lines in preparation for assembly onto
its holder and in phantom lines partially assembled onto the
holder;
FIGURE 23 is a view similar to FIGURE 22 but showing
the feed finger in its feeding position;
FIGURE 24 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view
best showing the construction by which the feed finger is
pivotally coupled to the holder;
FIGURE 25 is an exploded perspective view of an
inking mechanism according to the invention;
FIGU~E 26 is an exploded perspective view of a
fountain roller also shown in FIGURE 25 for example;
FIGURE 27 is a fragmentary sectional view showing an
ink cartridge which includes the fountain roller, with the
co~er of the ink cartridge shown in the closed position;
FIGURE 28 is a view similar to FIGURE 27, but showing
the cover in the open position;
FIGURE 29 is a partly exploded perspective view of
the print head;
FIGURE 30 is a fragmentary view of one side plate and
a disc of the reel shown in FIGURES 1 and 2;
FIGU~E 31 is a perspective view of a hand-operated
version of the marking machine of the embodiments of FIGURES 1
through 30;
~3
~g~l~
)ocke-t M-429 4
FIGURE 32 is A partly exploded and rotated view of
the print head support and a fragmentary portion of the print
head with an impression control arrangement in accordance with
another ~nbodiment of the invention;
FIGURE 33 is a partly sectional side elevational view
of the components shown in FIGUR~ 32 moving as a unit;
FIG~RE 34 is a view similar to FIGURE 33 but showing
the print head in profile in both solid line and phantom line
positions and also showing other components in different
positions;
FIGURE 35 is a partly exploded and rota~ed view of
the print head and a fragmentary portion of the print head with
an alternative impression control arrangement;
FIGURE 36 is a partly sectional side elevational view
of the c~nponents shown in FIGURE 35; and
FIGURE 37 is a view similar to FIGURE 36 but showing
certain components in a moved position from the positicn shown
in FIGURE ~6.
Detailed_Descri~tion of the Preferred Em odiment_
With reference initially to FIGURE 1, there is shown
a printing apparatus generally indicated at 40 for printiny on a
web of record members R from the supply roll R' or R". The
apparatus 40 includes a housing or frame generally indicated
at 41 having a generally L-shaped frame meMber 42 or front
panel with a rearwardly extending flange 42'. A cover 43 is
shown in FIGURE 1 to be in its open position in which a
print head 44, an inking mechanism 45, and a feeding mechanism
46 are uncovered. The roll R' is shown to be mounted on a
support member or support arm 47 which is movable from the
solid line position shown to a phantom line position indicated
by lines 47 PL. The solid line position is best adapted for
standard type tags or labels, wherea~ the phantom line
position for the arm 47 is best adapted for string tags of
which roll R" is comprised. The frame member 42 has an
upstanding or vertical portion 48 and a horizontal portion
49. A control panel 50 is disposed at the front of the
apparatus 40 and is accessible even when the cover 43 is in
~s~s
Docket M-429
the closed posi~ionO Wi-th reEerence to FIG~IRE 2, there is
shown an upstanding metal frame plate 51 which is secured by
fasterlers to the rear side of upstanding portion 48. An
electric motor 52 has an output shaft 53 to which a pinion
54 is secured. The electric motor 52 is suitably secured to
the plate 51. The shaft 53 passes through hole 55 in the
plate 51 and the pinion 54 meshes with a gear 56 having
teeth 56' shown to be formed at ~he outer periphery of a cam
57. The cam 57 is of one-piece molded plastics construction
and the gear 56 is molded integrally therewith. The cam 57
has a single cam path 58. ~lthough the cam path 58 is shown
to be defined by a pair of spaced walls or surfaces 59 and 60
between which follower rollers 61 and 62 are captive, a cam
path S8 can also be provided by a single wall or surface in
which event a spring would be required to keep the respective
roller 61 or 62 in contact therewith during rotation of the
cam 57. Accordingly, while the walls 59 and 60 do provide a
cam track, the term "track" is not considered to be limited
to the preferred dual wall cam arrangement illustrated. The
roller 61 is received on a stud 63 of a bellcrank generally
indicated at 64. The bellcrank 64 which is a follower is
pivotally mounted on a pivot 65 secured to the plate 51.
The bellcrank 64 has arms 66 and 67. The stud 63 is carried
by the arm 66 and the arm 67 carries a drive member or drive
pin 68. The drive member 68 extends through a slot 69 in
the upstanding portion 48 and drives a coupling device
generally indicated at 70. The drive member 68 is received
in a recess or socket 71' in a coupling mem~er 71 of the
device 70. The upstanding portion 48 has a pair of spaced
lands 72 and 73 to which a support generally indicated at 74
is secured by suitable fasteners 75. The support 74 includes
a U-shaped cutout or slot 76 generally aligned with the slot
69 to allow movement of the drive member 68. The support 74
is shown to have a pair of opposed track members or guides
77 and 78 for receiving mating track members 79 and 80
of a coupling member 81. The coupling members 71 and 81
are coupled to each other and are capable of relative movement
against the urging of a spring 82 as will be described in
greater detail ',elow~ The coupling member 81 is releasably
~ 5~3
Docket M-429
coupled to the print head 44. The coupling device 70 also
includes the coupling member ~1 ancl the spring 82.
One complete revolution oE the cam 57 moves the
print head 44 once into and out of printing coopera-tion with
the platen and ~ves the feed finger assembly 86 once in the
forward direction toward the print head 44 and once away from
the print head 44. Printing preceeds feeding.
The roller 62 is received on a drive member or pin
83 of a slide or holder 84. The slide 84 is slidab]y mounted
between a pair of track members 85 and 85' mounted to the
frame plate 51 as best shown in FIGURE 12. The slide 84 has
a pin 84' which drives a feed finger assembly generally
indicated at 86. A platen generally indicated at 87 is
suitably secured to a land 88 of the horizontal portion 49.
The upper surface of the platen 87 is perpendicular to t'ne
straight path of the print head 44, the path of the print
head 44 being determined by the straight track members 77
and 78 and the cooperable straight tracX members 79 and 80.
The frame 41 also includes a rear cover or panel 89 which
mates with the upstanding portion 48. The cover ag has an
annular hole 90 only slightly larger than the gear 56. The
teeth 56' of the gear 56 terminate short of rear face 91 of
the gear 56 so that the teeth 56' are not exposed, so as to
prevent injury. The cover 89 has an inte~rally formed
recess 92 (FIGURE 31) provided by an inwardly extending
wall 93 (FIGURE 2). The recess 92 is accessible to the user's
fingers and serves as a handle by which the apparatus 40 or
40' can be carried. Underlying the upstanding and horizontal
portions 48 and 49 is a bottom panel or cover 94 which
serves to clo~e off the inside of the apparatus 40. The
panel 94 can be constructed of sheet metal or plastic and
has four spaced mounting pads 95. The lower portions of
the upstanding portion 48 and the horizontal section 49
constitute a base 42'.
With reference to FIGURE 4, the feed finger assembly
86 is shown to be slidably mounted on a support 96. The
support 96 has a pair of pivot pins 97 by which the support
96 is pivotally mounted by recesses 97' in upstanding portion
48. The support 96 is normally in the position shown in
~LZl~i~6S
)ocket M-429
F`IGURES 7 and 8 for example in overlying parallel relationship
with respect to the platen ~7, but it is pivotal about pivots
or pisls 47 to a r~iq~3 position to expose the portion of the
platen 87 w~ich it no~nally overlies. The platen 87 is
illustrated as being longer -than the width of the print head
44 and provides a guide surface for the web of record members R.
With reference to FIGURES 7 and 8, the support 96
is shown to have a groove 98 for receiving a flange or tang
~9 of a holder or slide 100. The feed finger aqsembly 86 is
part of the 91 ide 100. The support 96 also has a yroove 101
for receiving a projection 102 at the underside of the slide
100. The slide 100 is thus guided for reciprocal straig~t
line movement in the directions of double-headed arrow
A (FIGURE 4) perpendicular to the path of straight line move-
ment of the print head 44 as indicated by double-headed arrow
B.
The slide 84 has a drive member 103 which terminates
at depending annular member or pin 94'. The pin 84' is
received in a slot 105 inclined at an angle other than perpendi-
cular with respect to the path of movement of the slide 84
The slot 105 is provided in an adjusting member 106. The
adjusting member 106 slides on a flanye 107 of holder 100.
Th~ adjusting member 106 is guided for movement perpendicular
to the direction of travel of the slide 84 between a pair
of parallel spaced walls 108 in the slide 84 (FIGURE 6).
The adjusting member 106 includes a detent generally indicated
at 109 shown in greater detail in FIGURE 9. The detent 109
holds the adjusting member 106 in any adjusteA position.
Hcwever, by depressing button 109', the adjusting member 106
which is flexihle and resilient will deflect and teeth 11l
will move out of the gap between adjacent pairs of teeth 112
so that the adjusting member 106 can be shifted laterally.
Shifting the adjusted member 106 laterally will change the
initial and final positions of travel of feed fingers 110,
thereby changing the start and stop positions of the record
members R. The adjusting device 106 can thus be used to
adjust the registry of the record members R with respect to
the print head 44. Once the adjusting member 106 has been
o ~-
I)oc~et M-92~)
adjusted, finger pressure on the button 109' can be released
and the teeth 111 will ascend into the spaces between
corresponding pairs of teeth 112. The detent device 109
will thus hold the adjusting member 106 in the correct
position relative to the pin 104.
The hol~er 100 piv~tally ~unts the feed fingers
llO as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. ~hile
it is preferred that three feed fingers 110 be used to
accommodate webs of record members R of different widths having
different arrangelnents of feed holes F, any desired number can
he used. The holder 100 has slots 110' in which the feed
fingers are guided for pivotal movement. The holder 100 also
includes an integrally molded separate leaf spring or spring
finger 112 for each feed finger 110. The leading edge of each
feed finger 110 is stepped as best indicated at 113 in FIGURE
2~ for example. Each spring finger 112 exerts a force on the
arm 112' of ~he respective feed finger 110, thereby urging the
feed finger 110 into contact with the web of record members ~.
Each feed finger 110 is assemble~ in the manner illustrated in
FIGI~ES 22 through 24. With reference to these figures, the
holder 100 is shown to have depending members 114 each having
a generally rounded lower surface 115 and terminating at a
shoulder 116. Each feed finger 110 has an undercut recess
generally indicated at 117. Each feed finger 110 has a
shoulder 117' which cooperates with the shoulder 116 to hold
the feed finger 110 captive. The feed finger 110 is assembled
onto the holder 100 ~y pushing the feed finger 110 in the
attitude shown in solid lines in FIGURE 22. When the feed
finger 110 has been inserted to a position in which the
shoulders 116 and 117' are face-to-face, the feed finger 110 is
pivoted in the clockwise direction through the position shown
by phantom lines 110 PL in FIGURE 22 to the solid line
position shown in FIGURE 23. The feed finger 110 is now
assembled onto the holder 110 and is hooked to the holder 100
even through there are no separate pieces used to accomplish
thls. It is noted that when the Eeed finger 110 has been
Docket M-429 _9_
moved to the position shown in FIGU~E 23, the spring finger
112 is flexed from the as-molded position shown in FIGURE 22.
The support 96 includes a pair of laterally spaced
spring fingers 118 molded in-tegrally therewith. Each spring
finger 118 has an inverted iJ-shaped portion 119 having a slot
119' for receiving respective non-circular shaft~portions 1~0.
The shaf~c portions l~O constitute part of a one-way clutch 121
on which an elastomeric sleeve 122 cnposed oE frictional
material and having annular rings 123 is Fositioned. The
one-way clutch 121 and the sleeve 122 prevent retrograde
movement of the web of record members R which rnay be ca~sed
during the return stroke of the feed fingers 110. Accordingly,
with reference to FIGU~<E 8 the one-way clutch 121 allows the
sleeve 122 to rotate clo~;kwise as the feed fingers 110 advance
the web of record Irembers R from right to left but prevents
the sleeve 122 from rotating clockwise and thus t~le sleeve 122
prevents the web of record members from moving from left to
right.
The platen 87 has a lateral extension 125 cooperable
with latch members 126 for latching the support 96 in the
operating position shown in FIGURE 7 for example. The latch
members 126 have shoulders 127 which engage the underside of the
platen extension 125. The latch members 126 are deflectable
and the shoultlers 127 are normally engaged with the underside
of the platen extension 125. However, the latch members 126
have finger-engageable tabs or pads 128 (FIGURE 6) engageable
for instance by the thumb and index finger of the user's one
hand. By applying a manual squeezing action to the tabs 128,
the shc>ulders 127 swing clear of the extension 125 and the
support 96 can be pivote-l upwardly about pins 97 to allow
access to the platen 87. Each latch 126 is joined to the
s~pport 96 by an integral flexible resilient hinqe 126'. The
feed fingers 110 can conveniently be assembled when the holder
100 is in its upwardly pivotal position.
Jocket M-429 10
The underside of the support 96 is provided with a
cam 129 shown in FI~URE 10. The purpose of the cam 129 is
to cam the strings S of strlng tags T out from between the
tags T an-~ the ~late~ 87. The cam 129 also serves to keep the
strings S untanyled. The cam 129 is molded integrally with
the underside oE the support 96.
With reference to FIGURE 13, the coupling member 71
is shown to have a vertically extending sleeve portion 130 for
receiving the spring 82. The upper end 131 of the spring 82
bears against a shoulder 132 ~FIGURE 5). The shoulder 1~2
forms the lower portion of the socket 71'. The coupling
member 71 has a vertically extending wall 133. Extending
outwardly from the wall 133 are ~-shaped members 134 each
having a vertically extending leg 135 and another vertically
extending leg 136. Coupling member 81 is shown to have a
vertically extending wall 137 and a pair of spaced vertically
extending sections 138. L-shaped members 140 are joined to the
respective sections 138. Each L-shaped member 140 has a
horizontal portion 141 and a vertical portion 142. The
coupling member 81 also has a land or abutment face 143 against
which other end 144 of the spring 82 abuts. The coupling
members 71 and 81 can be assembled by first inserting the
spring 82 into the sleeve 130, thereafter bringing the coupling
members 71 and 81 into alignment so that the end 144 of the
spring 82 abuts the land 143, moving the coupling members 71
and 81 relative to each other to compress the spring 82, pushing
the connector members 134 into gaps 145 between vertically
adjacent connector members 140, and allowing the spring 82
to urge th~ connector members 134 against portions 141. The
coupling members 71 and 81 and the spring 82 are thus
assembled and provide a spring module which can be easily
handled even though the spring is partly loaded. Each portion
136 can slide in face-to-face relationship with its respective
vertical portion 142 without the members 71 and 81 becoming
uncoupled because the spring 82 only moves through a short
distance. However, the coupling members 71 and 81 can be
uncoupled by moving them through a substantially greater
L)ccl~et M-429
--11--
distance and withdrawing the connector members 134 out of the
gaps 145. Such disassembly may be bene~icial should maintenance
be required. The spriny 82 compresses slightly each time tlle
print head 44 encounters resistance specifically when it moves
into cooperation with the platen ~37 to cushion the printing.
with reference to FIGURE 14 there is shown a
fraymentary portion of a T-shaped frame or body generally
indicated at 146 of the print hea~ 44. The print head frame
146 has a pair of vertically extending walls or p~ate portions
147 and 148 joined at a right angle. The joinder of walls 147
and 148 is shown to be approximately midway between ends 148
of the wall 148. The walls 147 and 148 are inl:egrally
molded of moldable plastics rnaterial. The wall 148 which is a
mounting portion has a pair of channels 149 and 150 spaced
apart by a vertically extending flange or projection 151.
The one side of each channel 149 is formed hy a bar portion
152 having a depending projection 153 which extends into a
socket or recess 154 of the coupling member 81. The track
members 79 and 80 are notched as indicated at 155 and 156
and receive the bar Fx:~rtion 152. The track members 79 and 80
also have projections or loca ors 157 and 158 received in
respective recesses 159 and 160 in the wall 148. The coupling
member 81 also has a pair of spaced projections 161 which
straddle the projection 151 and fit snugly into channels 149
and 150. The projections 161 define a recess 162 in which
the projection 151 is received. The locators 151 152, 157
and 158 and respective locator-receiving recesses 162~ 155
and 156, and 159 and 160 as well as the projection 153 and
the socket 154 serve to locate and partially couple the
coupling member 81 and the wall 148 of the print head frame
146 to each other.
There ic; a connector 163 having a pair o~ spaced
notches 164 for receiving latcl~ meTIlbers 165. The upper portion
of ~he track members 79 and 80 are joined to latch members 165
by flexible and resilient integral hinges 165' so that when
finger engageable tabs or pads 166 are squeezed between the
user s thumb and index finger of one h~nd the latch members
165 move clear of the connector 163. In the assembled
position of the latches 165, shoulders 167 of latch nembers
Dock~t M-429
-12-
165 extend through recesses 164 and engage the bar 163.
Terminal ends of the latches 165 have cam faces 165" which
cam the latches l65 outwardly during assembly to enable the
latches 165 to snap into locked position.
The embodi~nent o~ ~r~IGURES 15 and 16 is the same
as the previously described e~bodiment except as indicated
hereinafter. Wherever possible the same reference characters
are used to designate like co,nponents. Coupling member 168
is the same as coupling member 71 except that the upper portion
is channel-shaped as indicated at 169. ~he upper end 131 of
the spring 82 acts on lower face of a land 170. Coupling
member 171 is the same as the coupling member 81 except that
the projection 172 is longer than the projection 153 and the
recess 173 is longer than the recess 154. In addition, the
coupling member 171 is releasably latched to the print head
frame 146 by a latch genérally indicated at 174 which
differs from the latch arrangement described above. The
latch 174 includes a projection 175 received in a recess 176
having a shoulder 177. The projection 175 has a yieldable
portion 178 joined at an integral hinge 179 to an end section
180. Terminal end 180' of end portion i80 is not attached to
wall 148. The yieldable portion 178 has a tooth 178' cooperable
with the tooth 177 as shown in FIGURE 16 to hold the print
head frame 164 to the coupling member 171. The print head
44 is removable from the coupling member 171 by pressing on
a finger-engageable portion 181, thereby causing the yieldable
portion 178 to deflect until the teeth 177 and 180 are
disengaged, whereupon the print head 44 is released and can be
removed from the coupling member 171. Latching of the
print head 44 to the coupling member 171 is accomplished by
inserting the projection 172 into the recess 176 and pivoting
the print head 44 so that the proj~ction 175 is inserted
into the recess 176 until the tooth 178' snaps over tooth
]77. Such insertion results in resilient deflection of the
yieldable member 178 and when the tooth 178' clears the
tooth 177 the yieldable member 178 moves to the position
shown.
S
Docket M-429 -13-
With reference to FIGURES 1 through 3, the support
member 47 is mounted to the vertical portion 48 by a pivot
screw 47a having a threaded portion 47b received in a
threaded bore 47c in vertical portion 48. The pivot screw
47a has a head 47~. A compression spring 47e is received
about screw 47a between the head 47d and a boss 47f on the
support member 47. The other side of the support member 47
has an integrally m~lded non-circular, specifically five-sided,
projection 47g which is shown exploded away in FIGURE 2. The
projection 47g can be received in any one of a plurality,
specifically two, of operating positions in a mating non-circular,
specifically five-sided, recess 47h in vertical portion 48.
The support member 47 has spaced holes 47i and 47j. A
screw 47k can be selectively inserted through either hole
47i or 47j and removably threaded into a hub or hub member
47m. A disc 47n has a hole 47p which can be snapped onto
hub 47m so that a small tang 47q fits into groove 47r.
Another disc 47s i5 coupled to the hub 47m by a member 47t.
The side portion 47n and 47s and hub 47m are considered to
comprise a reel 47R. The roll R' of standard type tags or
labels R is mounted on the support member 47 in the solid line
position shown in FIGURE 1 in which event the screw 47k extends
through hole 47i. The roll R" of string tags T is preferably
mounted on the support member 47 in the position shown by
phantom lines 47PL in which event the screw 47k extends through
either hole 47i or 47j. In both positions of the support member
47, the web passes over a flexible resilient member or leaf
spring 47u (omitted in FIGURES 1 and 6). The flexing of the
spring 47u is especially useful when string tags R" are used
because the movement of the spring 47u imparts an undulating
untangling vement to the strings as the web is inter-
mittently advanced by the feed fingers 110.
With reference to FIGURES 17, 18 and 19, there is
shown an alternative arrangement hy ~ich a roll support member
can be held in a selected position. Support member 47' is
the same as the support member 47 except for the manner in
which it is mounted to vertical portion 48 and the way the hub
265
Docket M-429
-14-
member is rem~vably connected to the support member 47'.
The support member 47' is shown to have a pair of integrally
molded, outwardly sprung projections 182 having tapered end
portions 183 terminating at shoulders or teeth 184. A
detent or detent mechanism generally indicated at 185 includes
a detent member 186 and an opening 187 formed in the upstanding
portion 48 of the frame 41. The detent member l86 is shown to
have a rectangular hole 18~ which is stepped to provide a pair
of teeth 189 snap-fitted and cooperable with the teeth 184
to hold the detent member 186 coupled to the projections
182. It is apparent that the detent member 186 xotates
toge~her with the support member 47'. The detent member 186
has a pair of aligned slots 190 which open into the rectangular
hole 188. The support member 47 has lugs 191 received in
the slots 190. The lugs 191 in slots 190 help to key the
detent member 186 to the support member 47'. The detent
member 186 i~ molded integrally with an annular member or shaft
192 which is rotatable in an annular hole or opening 193 in
the upstandiny portion 48. The opening 187 is lar~er than
the opening 193 and the frame portion 48 includes a shoulder
193'. The detent rnember 186 also has a pair of yieldable
members 194. The yieldable members 194 have respective,
integral, rounded projections 195. More specifically,
the yieldable members 194 include springs 196 integrally
joined at their opposite ends to a hub 197 and the portions
of the springs 196 between opposite enAs of the springs 196
are spaced from the hub 197 to allow the springs 196 to
deflect as the projections 195 move out of one pair of
recesses 198 onto arcuate portions 199 of the socket 187.
The springs 196 will therafter deflect outwardly when the
projections 195 are aligned with another pair of recesses
198. The detent mechanism 185 releasably holds the support
member 47' in either the position shown in solid lines in
FIGURE 1 or in the position shown by phantom lines 47 PL.
The sul~port member 47' supports a hub 201 which is the same
as the hub 47m but is removably connected to the support
member 47' in a different manner. The hub 201 is connectable
~5~j~
Docket M-429 -15-
to the support member 47' in one of two posi.tions, namely,
either with socket 202 or with socke~ 203. The soc~ets 202
and 203 are identical and can alternately cooperate with a
bar 2G4 on hub 201. The hub 201 can be connected to tile
supp~rt member 47' by inserting the bar ~04 through the slot
205 and rotating the hub 201 in the ~irection of arrow 206.
The bar rides up the cam surfaces 207 until the bar 204
seats in notches 208. Although a bayonet-type lock is used,
other forms of connectors can be used instead.
~ h reference to FIGURES 2 and 25, there is shown
the inking mechanism 45 having a carrier generally indicated
at 210 and a cartridge generally indicated at 211. A pair of
spiral springs 212 (FIGURE 2) received about pins 213 act
against the support 74 and against projections 214 to urge
the carrier 211 to the position shown in FIGURE 5. The
carrier 211 includes a pair of generally parallel, spaced
a~ls 215 molded inteqrally with a transverse or lateral
connectin~ portion 216 having a generally arcuate configuration.
The ink cartridge 211 includes a cover 211' having
a pair of rotary members specifically cover members 217 and
218 and an ink roller generally indicated at 21~. The ink
roller 219 has a pair of stud shafts or shaft portions 220.
Each shaft portion 220 is stepped and has a large diameter
portion 221 and a reduced diameter portion 222. To rotatably
mount the ink roller 219 to the cover member 218, the shaft
portions 220 are aligned with slots 223 in spaced, generally
annular, end walls 224. The slots 223 are sli~htly tapered
and have minimum depth adjacent holes 225. The shaft
portions 220 deflect the end walls slightly as the shaft
portions 220 slide along the slots 223 toward holes 225.
When the shaft portions 220 are aligned with the through-holes
225 the ink roller 219 is held captive and is rotatably
mounted by the cover member 218. The end walls 224 are
joined by an arcuate transversely extending portion 226.
Each end wall 224 has an outwardly extending annular projection
227. The holes 225 pass throu~h respective projections 227.
Each projection 227 is received in a respective annular hole
228 by flexing respective arm 229. The arms 229 are located
~t opposite ends of arcuate or curved portion 230 of the
~z~
~ocket M-429 -16-
cpver member 217. The cover member 217 can thus pivot
between the position shown in FI~URE 27 and the position
shown in FIGURE 28. An advantage of the cartridge 211 is
that it can be cc>~pled to the carrier 210 without smud~3ing
the ~ser's fin~e~s with ink r In acldition, because the cover
members 2~7 and 218 and end walls 224 enclose the ink roller
219, there is less tendency for the ink roller 219 to
collect dust, or to dry out if such is the nature of the
ink. FIG~RE 27 shows the position in which the cartridge
211 is first nested in the transverse rnember 216 of the
carrier 210. The cartridge 211 is positione~ between the
arms 215. As shown in FIGURES 27 and 28, the cover member
218 has a small diameter portion 231 joined to a large
diameter portion 232. ~le member 216 has an edge 234 that
terminates at a step 233 (where portions 231 and 232 are
joined) and a terminal end 235 tnat terminates at a flange
236 of member 218. In FIGURE 27, the cartridge 211 is shown
to be in its closed position in which cover members 217 and
218 and end walls 224 provide a closed chamber 237 for the
ink roller 219. As shown, end edges 234 and 236 of the
cover member 218 overlap end edges 238 and 239 of cover
member 217. In the closed position, it is impossible for
the user's hands to becane smudged with ink from the ink
roller 219. This would be true even if the cover member 217
were perforate or grid-like instead of solid as illustrated.
To couple the cartridge 211 to the carrier 210, the cover
member 217 is pivoted to the position shown in FIGURE 28 to
expose the ink roller 219 for inking the print head 44. As
shown in FIGURE 28, the transverse member 216 is captive
in a gap 211" between the cover members 217 and 218 so that
the cartridge 211 is held securely to the transverse member
216. The gap 211" is of course, filled by the transverse
memher 216. The underside of the cover member 217 has a
pair of projections 240 cooperable with the recesses 241 on
the outsides of the walls 224 in the position shown in
FIGlJ~E 27, so as to hold the cover member 217 and 218 detented
in the closed position with respect to each other. The
nember 216 also has recesses 241', only one of which is
sl~-)wr, cooperable with the projections 240 to keep the cover
.n- ~'~ releasably detented in the coupled position
526~
Docket M-429 -17-
shown in FIGURE 28. There is enough flexibility and
resilience in the members 216, 217 and 21~ to enable the
projections 240 to be moved into and out of the pairs of
recesses 241 and 241'. A pair of projections 217' on the
cover member 217 are manually engageable by the user to move
the cover member 217 between the positions shown in FIGURES
27 and 28. There is a gap or slot 261' in the transverse
member 216 adjacent each arm 215 to allow clearance for the
arms 229. The transverse member 216 also has a pair of
projections 2~5' received in notches or recesses 236'.
The projections 235' and recesses 236' locate and help to
ke~ the cover member 218 with respect to the transverse
member 216. The projections 235' also function to prevent
damage to the apparatus 40 in the event the apparatus is
opera-ted without a cartridge 211. Should this happen the
projections 235', w~ich are aligned with lower side edges 251'
of plates 251, are cammed clockwise (FIGURE 5) to the fully
actuated position so that the entire carrier 210 is moved out
of the path of the print head 44 as the print head 44 descends.
Should it happen that there is an obstruction such
as the web of record member in the path of the inking
mechanism 45 as it swings from its actuated position to its
home or initial position shown in FIGURE 5, projections 44'
on side plates 251 will contact projections 215' on arms 215
as the print head 44 ascends to the initial or home position
to cam the inking mechanism to the initial position shown in
FIGI~E 5. In FIGURE 5, the projections are illustrated by
phantom lines 210 PL as being in the path of projections 44'.
When the cover member 217 has been returned to th~
position shown in FIGURE 27 the cover is again in the closed
position and the ink cartridge 211 can be re~oved from the
apparatus 40 without the possibility that ink from the ink
roller 21~ will s~udge the user's hands. l~hen the ink cartridge
211 is spent of its ink supply, it can be replaced with a new
ink cartridge.
~s~
Dock~t M-429 -18-
The ink roller 219 is shown to have a pair of
identica] tubular hub members 242 and 243. Each hub member
242 and 243 has the stepped portion 220 integrally joined to
a flange 244 ~ich in -turn is inte~rally joined -to a
perforate tubular sleeve 245. A sleeve or roll 246 of porous
ink receptive ~aterial 246 is received on the respective roll
mounting portion 245. The roll mounting portions 245 are
connected by a one-piece connector generally indicated at
247. The connector 247 inclu~es a solid flange or disc 248
and a tubular projec~,ion or connector portion 24g extending
o~twardly from each side of the flange 248. The outer marginal
end 250 of each projection 249 is tapered for ease of assembly
into the open end of the respective roll mounting portion
245. T~e central recess within each roll mounting portion is
charged with ink. Each roll mounting portion 245 feeds ink
to its respective sleeve 246 through holes 245'. The color
of the ink in the one roll mounting portion and its
respective sleeve 246 can differ from the color within the
other roll mounting portion 245 and its respective sleeve
246. The flange 248 blocks ink flow from within one roll
mounting portiorl 245 to the adjacent roll mounting portion
which the flange 248 separates. For example, one color
could be black and the other color could be red. In this way
the print head 44 can print black characters or two lines
on one record member R and the print head 44 can prin-t red
characters in two other lines on the adjacent record member
R. Because of the stage printing, resulting record members R
would have two lines of black characters and two lines of red
characters. The solid flange or disc 248 also closes off
any passage of ink between adjacent sleeves 246. The flanges
244 and 248 are bearing rolls that roll on edges 251' of
side plates 251 and on edge 147' of wall 147 while sleeves
246 ink printing members 257.
With reference to FIGURE 29, there is shown another
view of the print head frame 146. The print head 44 also
includes a pair of side walls or side plates 251 which
straddle the wall 147. Each selector 252 extends through
the side plates 251 and is selectively engageable with any
~2~
Docket M-429
--19--
one of an aligne~ series of drive wheels 253. Each series
of drive wheels 253 has both internal and external teeth
and is rota~ably suL)pvrted at its outer periphery at a concave
mounting surface 254. Each mounting surface 254 is formed
integrally with a respective mounting block 255 and each
mounting block 255 is shown to have an integrally formed
support or anvil 256~ Printing members or bands 257 are
trained about respective drive wheels 253 and a respective
support 256. The platen 87 has two pairs of upstanding
truncated V-shaped guides 258 which are spaced to provide a
tapered opening 259. The side plates 251 have respective
guided portions 260 which are guided into the respective
openings 259 between adjacent guides 258. Thus, the print
head 44 is guided into its final printing position near the
very end of the printing stroke.
The wall 147 of the print head 44 is disposed
generally medially between the side plates 251 for balancing
the forces applied by the printing bands 256 on opposite
sides of the wall 147. The print head frame 146 is of one-
piece molded plastics construction.
With reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, the cover 43 is
shown to be pivotally mounted at the upper part of the
upstanding portion 48 and is movable from the normal operatiny
position shown in FIGURE 5 in which moving components of the
apparatus are enclosed during use to the position shown in
FIGURE 1 in which the operating components are accessible. The
support 74 has a horizontally extending groove 261. A one-
piece hinge member generally indicated at 262 has a projection
or ridge 263 coextensive with and received in the groove 261.
The projection 263 is formed on a portion 264 of the hinge
member 262 which is clamped between the upstanding portion 48
and the support 74. No additional means of holding the
portion 264 to the upstanding portion 48 is rquired. The
hinge member 262 also includes a hinge 265 which connects the
portion 264 and a bifurcated cover holding portion 266 which
straddles a portion of panel 43' of the cover 43.
With reference to FIG~RES 2, 3 and 5, there is shown
a printed circui~ board 267 extending horizontally and spaced
upwardly from the pa~el 94 a~ld disposed below the horizontal
Z65
~ck~t M-429 -20-
portion 49. The printed circuit board 267 carries the
control6 for the printer. The circuit board 267 mourlts the
contr~l ~ar~ 0 which has a series of switches 5~' which
extend throu~ , a~ [~eninq in the hQri~ontal portion 49. The
circuit boa~d ~67 c-a~rie~ a sensor 26~ which is responsive to
a ma~3net 269 secured to the cam 57. The sensor 268 senses
the position of the cam 57 so that the apparatus 40 is always
brought to an initial position in which the print head 40 is
in its upper or horne position ~Id the feed fingers 110 are
farthest to the right as viewed in FIGURE 1. The components
on the circui-t board 267 control the electric motor 52.
With reference to FIGURE 31, there is shown a
printing apparatus generally indicated at 40' which is
identical to the apparatus 40 except that the electric motor
52, gear 54, sensor 268, the rnagnet 269 and the circuit board
267 have been omitted. The cam 57 has a handle or knob 270
which can be used to turn the cam 57 manually to cycle the
apparatus 40'.
To ensure good lateral registration of the web of
record members R, the platen 87 is stepped by a guide ed~e
87a. As best shown in FIGURE 10 the axis 120a of the shaft
portions 120 and hence of the sleeve 122 is canted slightly
with respect to the perpendicular P to the edge 87a. Thus, as
the sleeve 122 is rotated by the advancing web, one edge of
the web is driven against the edge 87a because of this slight
canting. The upper surface of the platen 87 is a guide
surface for the web.
As shown in FIGURES 1 and 30, the side plate 47s
has a pair of circumferentially spaced identical ridges 47v.
FIGURE 30 shows that the ridge 47v has a concave circum-
ferentially extending surface 47w. A ring or disc 47x is
shown to have a continuous, circular, convex inner edge or
opening 47y which interfits with the surface 47w. The radius
of the opening 47y is less than the radius of the side plate
47s to either ridge 47v. The sides of the side plate 47s
and the disc 47x are shown to be co-planar. The disc 47x
serves as an extension of the side plate 47s and is useful
w~ere the rolls R' or R" have larger diameters than shown in
~526~
Docket M-429 -21-
the dr~wings. The side plate 47s and the disc 47x are
relatively t~in and at lea~t the side of the side plate 47s
and the side of the disc 47x adjacent the roll R' or R"
should preferably be co-planar to avoid problems d~ring
unwinding or paying out of the web. The disc 47x can be
easily flexed and snapped onto or removed from the disc 47s.
Although the disc 47n is not illustrated as having the feature
of an extended side plate as when side plate 47s and disc
47x are used, the outer circumference of the side plate 47r.
can be like the outer circumference of the side plate 47s
with its ridges 47v and a disc such as the disc 47x can be
used therewith so that side plate 47n can also be extended.
With reference to the embodiment of FIGURES 32
through 34, there is shown the print head support generally
indicated at 280 which is similar to the print head support
74. The structure for mounting the inking mechanism 45 is
identical to that shown and described in connection with the
support 74 but is not illustrated for the sake of clarity
and to avoid redundancy. ~here is shown an impression
control device or mechanism generally indicated at 281 which
includes a leaf spring 282 molded integrally with the support
28~. The leaf spring 282 has a pair of laterally spaced stop
faces 283 and a cam surface or face 285 disposed between the
stop faces 283. The print head 44 is secured to the support
280 by a coupling device 286. Coupling member 287 differs
from the coupling member 71 in that the coupling member 287
has a pair of laterally spaced shoulders or abutment faces
288 aligned with the stop faces 283. The coupling member 287
has a cam member 289 molded integrally with rear wall 290.
The cam member 289 is aligned with the cam face 285. The
shoulders 288 are equally displaced from the cam member 289
so that the shoulders 288 on coupling member 171 contact both
5 top faces 283 before the cam member 289 contacts cam face
285. As the drive member 68 moves from its uppermost position
toward its lowermost position, the coupling device 286 including
its coupling members 171 and 287 and the print head 44 move
~ocket M-429 -22-
as a unit toward the platen 87. Upon continued movement, the
shoulders 288 contact the stop ~aces 283. As movement of
drive member ~8 eontinues the loading of spring 82 increases
because the movement of the coupling mernber 171 is stopped
but the movement of the coupl:ing member 287 continL~es. The
loading of the spring 82 continues un~il the cam mernber 289
ac~:s on the c~n surface 285 and deflects ~he leaf spring 282
by a predetermined amoullt. When this happens, the stop faces
283 move out of contact with shoulders 288 as shown in the
solid line position of FIGURE 34 and the spring 82 acting on
land 143 (Irives the print head 44 into printing cooperation
with two of the record members R on the platen 87. The
imprint caused by the print head 44 on the record members R
is thus not dependent on the speed at which the drive rnember
68 moves as it drives the print head 44 toward the platen 87.
The printing members 257 are shown in FIGU~cE 34 in both solid
line and phantom line positions. I~lhen the drive member 68
starts moving upwardly again, the shoulders 288 move to
positions upward of the stop faces 283, and the cam member
289 moves out of contact with the cam surface 285. As the
cam member 289 rnoves upwardly the amount of force exerted by
the cam member on the cam surface 285 decreases and the leaf
spring 282 returns to the position shown in FIGURE 33. As
~he drive member 68 continues to move upwardly the print head
44 and the coupling device 286 move as a unit until the drive
member 68 stops at its home or initial position.
With reference to the embodiment of FIGURES 35
through 37, there is shown a support generally indicated at
290. The support 290 i~ very similar to the support 74 but
again the structure associated with the inking mechanism has
been o~nitted. The support 290 has spaced guides 77' and 78'
for sliclably mounting coupling mernber 291 of coupling device
292D The coupling device 292 is the same as the coupling
device 286 except as described below. The support 290 has a
wall 293 with a cutout 294. A pair of spaced brackets 295 are
suitably secured as by screws 296, only one of which is shown,
to the wall 293. T~le brackets 295 have guide members 297 spacecl
S
Dock~ 29 -23-
from the wall 293. The space between the wall 293 and each
guide member 297 provides a s~ot 298 in which an interposer
generally indicated at 299 in the form of a bar 300 is
slidably guided by guide members 297. The bar 300 has channels
303 and holes 304 opening into the channels 303. The ~rackets
295 mount aligned pins 305 press-fitted into respective
holes 306. One end portion 307 vf a spring 308 is hooked
to each pin 305, and the other end portion 309 of each
spring 308 extends into the respective channel 303 and is
hooked into the hole 304. The springs 308 urge the
interposer 299 upwardly (FIGURES 35 through 37) but the
interposer 299 doe~ not bottom on surfaces 310. Each pin 305
extends into holes 311 in latch or latch member 312.
There is sufficient clearance between the pins 305 and their
respective holes 311 to enable the latch members 312 to pivot.
~ach latch member 312 has a stop or stop face 313. FIGURE
3~ shows stop face 313 of one latch member 312 to be in the pa~h
of abutment face 314 of track member 79'. The front surface
315 of bar 300 provides a stop or stop face for each of the
shoulders or abutment faces 316 of latch member 312. Each
latch member 312 also has a cam surface 317 which provides a
lead into abutment face 316. The stop faces 313 are in the
path of the abut~nent faces 314 when abutment faces 316 are
against stop face 315. In this position of the interposer
299, the latch members 312 cannot pivot clockwise from the
position shown in FIGURE 36. Thus, as the drive member 68
received in slot 318 in coupling member 291 is driven downwardly,
the shoulder 314 is moved into abutment with stop face 313.
As the drive member 68 continues to rnove downwardly the
spring 82 continues to be loaded further. When end surface
or abutment face 319 of coupling member 320 starts to contact
upper surface 321 of bar 300, the print head 44 is still
spaced slightly from the record members R on which the print
head 44 is to print. When the stop face 315 of the bar
300 of the interposer 299 moves to a ~osition out of the path
of the abutment face 316 as shown in FIGURE 37 the abutment
faces 314 act on the stop faces 313 to pivot the latch
l~oc~t M-42'~
members 312 clockwise in the direction of arrow C. This
pivoting occ~rs because the faces 314 act on the latch members
312 at shoulders 313 that are offset from the axis of pins
305. In the position sho~n in FIGURÆ 37 the coupling member
291 is being released (FIGURE 37 illustrating the release)
and the co~pling member 291 and the print head 44 are driven
downwardly by the spring 82 from the solid line position to
the phantom line position PL. The print head 44 thus is
driven into cooperation with the platen 87. When tlle drive
melnber 68 thereafter moves upwardly on its return stroke,
surfaces 322 move upwardly to a position clear of termina]
ends 323 of the latch members 312. Upon continued upward
movement of the drive member 68, the interposer 299 is pulled
upwardly by springs 308 and cams latch members 312 counterclock-
wise from the position in FIGURE 37 to the position shown in
FIGI~RE 36. Now the stop faces 313 are again in alignment
with the abutment faces 314. The upward movement of the
coupling member 320 continues even after the interposer 299
contact shoulders 316' of latch members 312. When the drive
member 68 completes its return stroke, ~he abutment faces 314
are spaced above the stop faces 313 with which they are
aligned.
There are certain differences between the supports
74, 280 and 290, and there are also certain differences
between the coupling members 70, 168, 286 and 292. These
differences have all been described. In addition the pairs
of coupling members 168 and 171, 287 and 171, and 320 and 291
are all coupled in the same way as the coupling members 71
and 81 as described above in considerable detail and as shown
in considerable detail in the appended drawings.
Almost the entire printing apparatus is composed of
molded plastics material. There are relatively few metal
parts namely plate 51, motor 52 and its shaft 53, bellcrank
64, platen 87, springs 47e, 82, 212 and 308, possibly panel
~4, feed fingers 110, clutch 121, printed circuit board 267
Docket M-429
-25-
~in part), sensor 268, magnet 269, pins 305, and various
screws. Ink-receptive material 246 can be molded or extruded
and printing bands 259 are also mo]ded. With the above
construct.ion~ multiple functions are huilt into relatively
few molded plastics parts. Thus, the total number of parts
is kept to a bare minimum resulting in a low~cost printing
apparatus which is easy to manufacture even in large quar-tities.
The apparatus 40, 40' is lightweight and portableO
The electrically operated printing apparatus 40 of
any of the disclosed embodiments wei~hs about thirteen pounds,
but the apparatu~ 40' of the embodiment of FIGURE 31 weighs
about seven pounds
Other embodiments and modifications of the
invention will ~uggest themselves to those skilled in the
art, and all such of these as come within the spirit of
this invention are included within its scope as best defined
by the appended claims.
