Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~g2765
ELECTRONIC HAND LABELER
2 BACKGROUND OF ~rHE INVENTION
6 ~ .
8 This invention relates generally to a
9 thermal printer for printing and dispensing labels and
more specifically to both a desktop version and a hand
11 held version of such thermal printers. Both types of
12 label printers, or labelers for short, include the
13 means for selectively removing printed labels from
14 their backing sheet or leaving them on the backing
sheet. The hand held labeler is in particular suitable
16 to be easily carried about in one hand and operated for
17 marking prices on merchandise and printing labels with
18 price bar codes. The hand held labeler can be inter-
19 faced to an optical reader or the like to read the
price bar code and as such it may be used, for example,
21 at checkout counters.
22 Stationary, desktop-type printers are often
23 used for printing labels and for applying the labels to
24 merchandise. Such desktop printers are however large
and heavy and require that the merchandise be brought
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1 to the printer. This and the cumbersome way in which
2 the labels are attached to the merchandise makes the
3 overall process of printing and applying labels ineffi-
4 cient.
Portable label printing and attaching
6- devices ("hand labelers") are often used in place of
7 the bulkier desktop printers. However, hand labelers
8 are not as sophisticated as desktop printers and are
9 more likely to produce errors in handling data such as
prices, check sum digits and the like. They also pro-
11 duce an inferior printing quality, which is of concern
12 particularly with respe~t to bar code printing where
13 precision in printing is important.
14 Accordingly, the present invention provides
an electronic hand labeler with a thermal print head
16 which incorporates the more desirable features of both
17 desktop printers and hand labelers to thus provide good
18 overall operational efficiency and high precision in
19 printing.
Conventional hand labelers employ rollers
21 which engage or pull a strip-like backing sheet to
22 which a plurality of thermal labels are detachably
23 adhered. A motor operates the rollers so that the
24 strip-like backing sheet is forcibly paid out at the
rear of a main unit.
26 This ordinary labeler dispenses labels on a
27 "label-by-label" basis. In label-by-label feeding, a
28 plurality of thermally-printed labels are detachably
29 adhered to a strip-like backing sheet. After being
printed, the labels are peeled off the backing sheet by
31 a bending pin which is located toward the front of the
32 main unit of the labeler. At the bendins pin, the
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1 travel direction of the backing sheet bends sharply
2 rearwardly which detaches the labels from the backing
3 sheet and the labels come to rest on a label applicator
4 located at the front of the main unit. The peeled
S labels are then affixed to merchandise by a label af-
6- fixing means.
7 A labeler which provides only a label-by-
8 label feeding capability is not sufficiently versatile.
9 For example, a salesperson, stationed at a sales
counter in a supermar~et, or one who delivers merchan-
11 dise, usually requires a large quantity of preprinted
12 labels which are still attached to their backing sheet.
13 It is intended that th~e salesperson or deliverer will
14 peel the labels manually, for example, by fingertip or
the like, and apply them to the merchandise, without
16 using any tool. The term "label strip" herein refers
17 to such printed labels which are delivered out of the
18 labeler still adhered to their backing sheet.
19 Because of the disadvantage of having only
label-by-label capability, some labelers are designed
21 to accept a separate attachment piece which is attach-
22 able to the labeler to provide "label strip" feeding
23 capability. The fitting and removal of such an attach-
24 ment is, however, cumbersome.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
26 The present invention seeks to provide an
27 electronic, thermal print head type labeler which is
28 self contained and operable -for printing and applying
29 labels and which requires no special attachme~ts for
performing those functions.
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1 Further, the invention seeks to provide the
2 labeler with a capability of supplying both single peeled
3 labels and continuous label strips.
4 Still further, the invention seeks to enable
the labeler to print information on a tag strip, using
6 the technique that is employed for producing continuous
7 label strips.
8 ~he invention comprehends a labeler, comprising
9 a labeler housing which defines an interior for supporting
a label printing mechanism therein, an openable bottom
11 cover mounted to the labeler housing, the bottom
12 cover being openable to provide access to the interior
13 and being movable between an open position and a closed
14 position and a thermal print head supported in the labeler
housing for printing information on labels which are
16 conveyed through the labeler. Means is provided for
17 guiding a backing sheet, to which the labels are de-
18 tachably attached, past the print head, and a first
19 cutter is located on the bottom cover in a first location
thereon to cut sections of the backing sheet which
21 emerge from the labeler during a first mode of operation
22 of the labeler. A second cutter is located on the bottom
23 cover in a second location thereon, the second cutter
24 being effective to enable cutting a leading section of
the backing sheet from which the printed labels have
26 been peeled off and which leading section emerges from
27 the labeler adjacent to the second cutter, during a
28 second mode of operation of the labeler.
29 More particularly~ the present invention
provides a thermal hand labeler comprised of a platen
31 roller which is juxtaposed to a thermal print head to
32 enable paying out discrete peeled thermal labels and
33 continuous strips of labels or tags. A transport
~s
1 roller located to the rear of the platen roller pulls the
2 strip-like backing sheet around a bending pin for causing
3 the labels to peel off the backing sheet. If desired,
4 the backing sheet may instead by guided directly to the
front of and then out of the labeler, to provide label
6 strips, rather than peeled labels. Both the platen
7 roller and the transport roller are driven by a motor
8 in a manner which enables the labels to be supplied
9 either one by one or as continuous label strips. A
bottom cover for the labeler is hingedly mounted and
11 readily openable to enable easy loading of a web or roll
12 of labels into the labeler.
13 The desktop thermal printer also disclosed in
14 this application is the subject of Canadian Application
Serial No. 501,584. It is small in size and easily
16 carried from place to place, and can be used for printing
17 labels while being located on any available flat surface.
18 It can print and feed the labels in either peeled or
19 unpeeled form, making it usable as a wide range output
device applicable in various fields.
21 Other aspects and advantages of the
22 present invention will become apparent from the follow-
23
24
26
27
28
29
lZ9`~GS
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1 ing description of the invention which refers to the
2 accompanying drawings.
3 ~RIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
4 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a printer-
labeler unit, a control unit and a pen scanner setup
6 according to a first embodiment of the portable labeler
7 of the invention.
8 Fig. 2 is a side view of the printer-
9 labeler unit shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3A is an enlarged cross-sectional view
11 of the main parts of the printer-labeler unit.
12 Fig. 3B shows the label routing, through
13 the labeler of Fig. 1, with the printer-labeler unit
14 cover and platen arm in an open position.
Fig. 4 is a partially cutaway side view of
16 the platen arm retaining device of the printer-labeler
17 unit.
18 Fig. 5 shows the drive transmission for the
19 platen roller and the traction/transport roller of the
~rinter-labeler unit.
21 Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of
22 the printer-labeler unit.
23 Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a label
24 cutting device which is provided on the bottom cover of
the printer-labeler unit~ as shown with Fig. 5.
26 Fig. 8 is an,exploded perspective view of
27 the control unit including a keyboard, a display and
28 batteries.
29 Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a label/tag
printing apparatus and a stand therefor according to a
31 second embodiment of a portable labeler according to
32 the present invention.
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1 Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the
2 desktop thermal printer according to the present inven-
3 tion.
Fig. 11 is a sectional side view of the
embodiment of Fig. 10.
6 ~ Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a segment
7 of the label strip.
8 Fig. 13 is a sectional side view of an
9 important part of the desktop labeler embodiment illus-
trated in Figs. 10 and 11.
11 DETAILED DESCR~PTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
12 The text whi,ch follows describes a first
13 version of the invention which pertains to a hand held
14 labeler and a second version which concerns a desktop
model of a labeler according to the present invention.
16 Two embodiments of the hand held labeler are presented
17 by reference to Figs. 1-9. The single embodiment of
18 the desktop labeler of the present invention refers to
19 Figs. 10-13.
Referring to Fig. 1, an electronic hand
21 labeler of the present invention includes a printer-
22 labeler unit 1 that is suited for single-hand opera-
23 tion; a separate, self-contained, control unit 100
24 which is connected by a cable 2 to printer-labeler unit
1; and a pen scanner 4 which is connected to control
26 unit 100 by cable 5. All of these are portable and may
27 be carried in a person's pocket or hung on his belt.
28 Control unit 100 includes keyboard 103,
29 display 104, batteries 105, and a holder 7 for holding
pen scanner 4. Reference numerals 3a, 3b and 6 denote
31 cable plugs.
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1 Referring to Figs. 2, 3A and 3B, a label
2 web holder 13 for holding a continuous roll 95 of ther-
3 mal-labels is provided on the upper portion of an outer
4 frame 11 of printer-labeler unit 1. A grip 20 which
allows the unit to be gripped and operated single-
6 handedly is at the rear of holder 13. Within the inte-
7 rior of outer frame 11, which defines a labeler hous-
8 ing, is disposed a label printing and dispensing
9 mechanism which includes a thermal printing device 30,
a label transporting device 70 and a label applicator
11 90. At label holder 13, an approximately semicircular
12 label case 14, which encases the label roll 95, is
13 affixed to a spindle 15 which is located at the forward
14 part of outer frame 11. Case 14 is easily openable
around spindle 15 toward the front of the labeler. In
16 its illustrated closed position, the case 14 is engaged
17 by an engaging portion 16.
18 As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, grip 20 houses a
19 microswitch 22 which is operated by a push button 21.
Microswitch 22 is detachably connected to connector 8
21 and from there to the plug 3a of cable 2. That cable
22 is connected to batteries-105 disposed inside control
23 unit 100. Microswitch 22 is also connected to thermal
24 print head 36 of a thermal printing device 30, to motor
M of a label transport device 70, to diode type emis-
26 sion reflection lamp L and to reflection type sensor S.
27 The thermal printing device 30, as seen in
28 Figs. 3A, 3B and 6, is attached to an inner frame 12
29 provided at one portion of outer frame 11. Device 30
is comprised of a combination of a thermal unit 31 and
31 a platen roller 51. More specifically, a heat radia-
32 tion member 3~ of a unit baseplate 32 is attached to
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1 the thermal unit 31 by a fixing screw 41. A thermal
2 print head 36 is attached, by means of a thermal print
3 head retainer plate 38, an O-ring 39 and a fixing screw
4 40, to the forward portion of heat radiation member 34.
A flexible ribbon cable 37 is connected to thermal
6 print head 36 and extends toward the rear thereof, and
7 O-ring 39 is arranged at the join portion to provide a
8 secure attachment. The ribbon cable 37 is wired to
g connector 8 via the microswitch 22, the wiring of rib-
bon cable 37 being effected at circuit board 17 which
11 is located in grip 20.
12 The entire thermal unit 31 is secured to
13 inner frame 12 by a pair of mounting bosses 32a which
14 are provided on baseplate 32 and which engage socket
portions in inner frame 12 in a manner which enables
16 the front part of thermal unit 31 to swing. A stepped
17 portion 35a formed at the front edge of heat radiation
18 member 34 is spaced from and opposes main unit fixing
19 portion 26.
Two resilient engaging members 33a and 33b
21 are disposed on the upper region of thermal unit 31.
22 Engaging members 33a and 33b are constructed of a
23 springy material and are attached to the baseplate 32.
24 The free ends of engaging members 33a and 33b abut,
respectively, motor fixing portion 23a and unit fixing
26 portion 23b, in inner frame 12.
27 Thermal print head 36 is positioned at the
28 lower front surface portion of thermal unit 31 and is
29 aligned into position with the help of an alignment
step portion 35a formed on heat radiation member 34.
31 Thus, only when the front edge of the thermal print
32 head 36 fits into step portion 35a is the thermal print
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1 head 36 resiliently urged into its correct position.
2 The above arrangement assures correct alignment of
3 thermal print head 36 relative to platen roller 51
4 which is located opposite the head. Through-holes 25a
carry away heat generated by motor M and hole 25b pro-
6' vides a window for lamp L.
7 The platen roller 51 is normally urged
8 against the thermal print head 36 by the resilience of
9 engaging members 33a and 33b, and that roller is rotat-
ably mounted on platen arm 50. Platen roller 51 ro-
11 tates on spindle 52. The ends of the spindle are
12 housed in retainer portions 53 consisting of cutouts in
13 ~he frame of platen arm 50. Motor M drives platen
14 roller 51. Information is imprinted on thermal labels
96 as platen roller 51 both moves and presses the la-
16 bels against thermal print head 36. At the tip of the
17 platen roller 51, backing sheet 97 bends sharply around
18 bending pin 54 to cause thermal labels 96 to peel off
19 backing sheet 97. ~laten arm 50 is supported on pivot
77 to pivot counterclockwise as seen in Fig. 3B.
21 A label retainer member 72, the movement of
22 which is interlocked with the rotation of platen arm
23 50, is provided in the main unit. A coupling pin 76,
2g disposed on coupling portion 55 and curving upwardly
toward the back of platen arm 50, is fitted into a slot
26 75 in label retainer member 72. Moving together with
27 platen arm 50, label retainer member 72 pivots about
28 fixed guide roller 74 which is located at one end of
29 the label retainer member 72, such that the movable
guide roller 73 which is located at the other end on
31 retainer member 72 is displaced away from the solid
32 line toward the double-dot chain line. Therefore,
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1 guide rollers 73 and 74 which are ordinarily in contact
2 with the inclined label guide passage surface 19, which
3 is located below label holder 13, become separated from
4 the label guide passage surface 19 to form a wide label
insertion passage.
6 ~ For pulling backing sheet 97 around bending
7 pin 54, there is a label transport device 70 which
8 includes traction roller 71 located near and generally
9 below label retainer member 72. Traction roller 71 is
driven by motor M. A pressure roller 83 is set inside
11 lower casing 80 to exert a pressure on traction roller
12 71. As a result, the strip-like backing sheet 97 is
13 held tightly between rollers 71 and 83 and is driven by
14 the rotation of these rollers out through the rear of
the main unit. The section of the backing sheet 97,
16 which extends between traction roller 71 and bending
17 pin 54, is therefore taut to provide reliable peeling
18 of the thermal labels 96 from backing sheet 97.
19 Although roller 71 engages backing sheet 97
by friction, other pulling arrangements for pulling the
21 backing sheet may be envisioned. One such alternate
22 embodiment may include an engagement roller comprised
23 of, for example, a rotating member having radially
24 extending engaging pins along its circumference for
engaging conveying holes or perforations provided in
26 the backing sheet 97. Thus, rotation of the engagement
27 roller will produce the desired driving of backing
28 sheet 97.
29 The details of the mechanical interconnec-
tion of motor M to platen roller 51 and traction roller
31 71 are illustrated in Fig. 5. Thus, rotation of motor
32 M is transmitted to platen roller 51 through rotation
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1 of motor gear wheel 42 whose rotation is in turn commu-
2 nicated via intermediate gear wheels 43 and 44 which
3 mesh with a gear wheel 45 with which platen roller 51
4 is coaxially mounted. Traction roller 71 is also ro-
tated by motor M because the motor is coupled thereto
6 ' via belt 47 which is mounted on pulleys 46a and 46b.
7 The belt 47 rotates gear wheel 48 which in turn rotates
8 traction roller gear wheel 49 of traction roller 71.
9 It is desired that traction roller 71 be
driven at a higher speed than platen roller 51. This
11 is needed in order to apply extra traction to backing
12 sheet 97 downstream of platen roller 51. Stated dif-
13 ferently, the section of the backing sheet 97 between
14 platen roller 51 and traction roller 71 must be taut to
reliably separate labels 96 from backing sheet 97.
16 A bottom cover 80 to cover the bottom of
17 the main unit is mounted to pivot about a spindle 92
18 which is part of label applicator roller 91. Thus
19 bottom cover 80 is openable by being pivoted clockwise
with respect to spindle 92. In its closed state, bot-
21 tom cover 80 encloses an auxiliary peeling pin 81 which
22 is located adjacent to bending pin 54 of platen arm 50.
23 The other end of bottom cover 80 supports a pressure
24 roller 83 which lies adjacent a backing-sheet guide
roller 82. Pressure roller 83 is supported on a spin-
26 dle 84 which is provided with ends which fit into re-
27 taining slots 85 which,are provided in the frame of
28 bottom cover 80.
29 Insets 86 which are also located at the
rear end of bottom cover 80 accommodate a resiliently-
31 urged set pin 27 that is fitted into guide slot 28
32 which is formed in outer frame 11.
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1 Set pin 27 is interlocked with a retaining
2 device 60 which is associated with platen arm 50, as
3 depicted in Fig. 4. Specifically, a link 61 brings set
4 pin 27 in contact with a spring 61b which spring is
mounted on a spring shaft 61a which is in turn attached
6' to inner frame 12. Spring 61b urges link 61 toward the
7 front - that is to the left in Fig. 4. Thus, spring
8 61b urges pin 27 toward the left end of guide slot 28.
9 A coupling pin 62 serves to attach a hook
63 to the end of link 61. Hook 63 is pivotable about a
11 shaft 64 and is provided with a tip in the form of an
12 engaging portion 63a which is suitable for engaging and
13 disengaging with an enga~ging projection 56 which is
14 formed on platen arm 50, as better seen in Fig. 6. A
spring shaft 65a which is secured to inner frame 12
16 supports a spring 65b. One end of spring 65b fits
17 against link 61 and the other end thereof abuts against
18 the spring stops 24. Link 61 is thereby urged in a
19 counterclockwise direction and thus facilitates opening
of platen arm 50.
21 Inner frame 12 supports, in addition, a
22 backing-sheet roller arm 66 which is designed to urge
23 traction roller 71 against pressure roller 83 of bottom
24 cover 80. Roller arm 66 is mounted pivotably on ful-
crum shaft 67 and is provided with a housing portion 68
26 in which there is located a spring 69 which abuts
27 against a step portion 12a on inner frame 12. Conse-
28 quently, the entire roller arm 66 is urged to rotate in
29 a clockwise direction.
Traction roller 71, which is located on the
31 lower part of roller arm 66, is therefore urged in a counter-
32 clockwise direction. AS a result, the backing sheet
lZ9Z76S
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1 97, which is guided between traction roller 71 and
2 pressure roller 83, is caused to be paid out from the
3 rear of the main unit. Simultaneously, any slip which
4 may develop between the fast moving traction roller 71
and the backing sheet 97 is taken up by the action of
6~ spring 69 which is provided in roller arm 66. As shown
7 in Figs. 3B and 6, a screw driver access hole 57 is
8 provided in platen arm 50. Access hole 57 is posi-
9 tioned so that it is in alignment with the fixing screw
40 of thermal printing device 30, when platen arm 50 is
11 in its inclined open position.
12 One side of,platen arm 50 is provided with
13 an engaging projection 56 which serves to engage an
14 engaging portion 63a of hook 63.
The bottom cover 80, as may been seen in
16 Figs. 3A, 6 and 7, is provided at its rear with a rear
17 cutter 87 for cutting sections of backing sheet 97
18 which emerge from the rear of the main unit. A front
19 cutter 88, located toward the front of bottom cover 80,
enables a strip of thermal label roll 95 to be cut as
21 required for the operational mode wherein the labeler
22 is used for producing label strips.
23 For imprinting bar codes on thermal labels
24 96, the labels are loaded, during a first stage, into
the main unit in the form of a continuous strip which
26 is wound onto label roll 95 which is supported in turn
27 on label holder 13.
28 A short section of the strip is pulled from
29 the label roll 95. As best seen in Fig. 38, loading of
~0 the label strip is substantially facilitated by opening
31 bottom cover 80 and causing platen arm 50 to swing
32 counterclockwise to thereby create a clear and easily
129Z~
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1 accessible opening for the label roll 95. The label
2 roll 95 is guided around bending pin 54 so that its
3 moving path is redirected to the rear of printer-label-
4 er unit 1.
Information is imprinted on thermal labels
6 96 as they pass by and between print head 36 and platen
7 roller 51. Thereafter thermal labels 96 emerge from
8 the main unit through the outlet 29. The backing sheet
9 97, unlike the thermal labels 96, is guided toward the
rear where the backing sheet 97 is held and pulled by
11 the pressure exerted thereon by roller 83 and traction
12 roller 71. As noted, m~tor M rotates roller 71, caus-
13 ing backing sheet 97 to emerge from the rear of the
14 main unit.
Data for printing a bar code on the labels
16 is derived from control unit 100 seen in Fig. 8. Con-
17 trol unit 100 is a self contained unit, independent of
18 printer-label unit 1, and includes in it the main key-
19 board 103, display 104 and batteries 105. Control unit
100 has a controller section 101 which includes the
21 keyboard 103, the display 104 and a battery section 102
22 which holds batteries 105.
23 Controller section 101 includes a cover 106
24 having a keyboard face plate 107 which fits over key-
board 103 and a display window 108 which fits over
26 display 104. An electronic component circuit board 110
27 includes a connector for interfacing to the keyboard
28 103, an electronic device board 109, display 104 and
29 electronic devices 111. Connector 113 connects control
unit 100 to the printer-label unit 1 and connector 114
31 provides a connection to pen scanner 4. Controller
32 section 101 further includes a support frame 11~ which
33 is provided with a switch 116.
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1 Battery section 102 has a battery cover 119
2 and a dovetail groove 120 formed thereon. Batteries
3 105 are coupled to connector 123, to enable the batter-
4 ies to be connected to an outside power source for
recharging batteries 105.
6 ~onnector 122, which is also connected to
7 batteries 105, is electrically coupled to a plug 121 of
8 controller section 101 to provide a path for the flow
9 of electrical power from the batteries 105 to control-
ler section 101. Battery section 102 has a lower cover
11 124.
12 8attery sectiion 102 is mechanically coupled
13 to controller section 101 by the inter-engagement of
14 the dovetail groove 120 on the battery cover 119 and a
hook member 117 provided at controller section 101.
16 The hook member 117 is guided by the dovetail groove
17 120 to engage a junction opening 118, which is provided
18 in support frame 115, and is held by battery section
19 102 and controller section 101 by its natural resilien-
cy.
21 Reference is now made to Figs. 2, 3A, 3B, 5
22 and 8 for a description of the operation of the present
23 embodiment, involving the printing of bar codes on the
24 thermal labels 96.
In operation, switch 116 at control unit
26 100 is switched to an ON position and data that is to
27 be printed on the labels in inputted via the keys of
28 keyboard 103. Typically, a merchandise code and a
29 price of the merchandise or the like are keyed into
control unit 100. Thereafter the number of labels that
31 are to be printed is entered. Control unit 100 auto-
32 matically ~enerates check sum digits for the inputted
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1 data and displays the check sum digits on the display
2 104.
3 Subsequently, during a first printing
4 stage, microswitch 22 is activated to an ON position by
pressing push button 21 on printer-label unit 1.
6 t Thereupon and in accordance with electrical commands
7 from the control section 10Q certain heating elements
8 in thermal print head 36 are caused to heat up in a
9 manner which causes a bar code of a certain pattern to
appear on the thermally sensitive thermal labels 96
11 which are pressed by platen roller 51 against the print
12 head 36.
13 Motor M is energized to cause platen roller
14 51 to rotate by a given amount to advance thermal label
roll 9S on platen roller 51 by a set distance. At the
16 same time, traction roller 71 is similarly rotated via
17 the action of belt 47 and gear wheels 48 and 49.
18 The movement of thermal label roll 95
l9 causes thermal labels 96 to peel from thermal label
roll 95 at backing sheet bending pin 54. The activa-
21 tion.of motor M, platen rollers 51 and traction roller
22 71 is repeated until all the information on one label
23 is imprinted thereon.
24 Following completion of the printing of one
label, thermal label roll 95 advances further until a
26 sensing mark (not shown) which is located on the back
27 side of the strip-shaped backing sheet 97 is detected
28 by a sensor S.
29 The thermal labels 96 are thus sequentially
conveyed past print head 36 and are then peeled from
31 the strip-shaped backing sheet at sheet bending pin 54.
32 They are then guided out from the labeler unit l via an
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1 outlet 29. The peeled labels are temporarily held by a
2 label application section 90.
3 The labels move below a label applicator 91
4 and rest on an auxiliary peeling pin 81. An operator
S carrying the printer-labeler unit 1 by its grip 20 is
6 able, by sliding the label applicator roller 91 across
7 the surface of an article, to apply the thermal label
8 on which the printed bar code has been formed to the
9 article.
The labeler unit senses when a preset
11 number of labels have been produced and thereafter
12 causes the electrical and mechanical operations of the
13 labeler unit 1 to cease.
14 The foregoing description refers to the
mode where the labels are delivered one by one in a
16 peeled state from the labeler unit. Where the labels
17 are to be delivered in a state of being still attached
18 to the backing sheet 97, the backing sheet is threaded
19 in the labeler such that it is not bent at bending pin
54. Instead, the backing sheet is guided over passage
21 surface 19 and brought to outlet 29 from platen roller
22 51. Platen arm 50 and bottom cover 80 are then closed.
23 The printing operation for this operational
24 mode of the labeler, which involves delivery of the
labels on the backing sheet, proceeds by pushing push
26 button 21 on printer-labeler 1 to start rotation of
27 motor M to cause platen roller 51 to rotate via the
28 associated gear wheels substantially as set forth
29 above.
The labeler of the present invention is
31 also provided with computer-like on-line capabilities.
32 Connector 112 of control unit 100 may be connected to a
~tis
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1 personal computer and data from the personal computer
2 itself or from the semiconductor or disk memory of the
3 personal computer may be communicated to the printer-
4 labeler unit 1 for specifying the type and particulars
of the information that is to appear on the thermal
6 labels. Data may also be entered to printer-labeler
7 unit 1 via pen scanner 4.
8 The various means for cutting the label
9 strip will now be described with reference to Figs. 3
and 7. Labels are fed out through the front of print-
11 er-labeler unit 1 either as a continuous strip of la-
12 bels which are adhered ~o their backing sheet or as
13 individual peeled labels. In the mode in which peeled
14 labels are provided, the roll of thermal label roll 95
is imprinted with required information at print head 36
16 and driven by platen roller 51 toward bending pin 54.
17 ~here thermal labels 96 are separated from backing
18 sheet 97 as a result of the sharp bend which is provid-
19 ed in backing sheet 97 at that location. Backing sheet
97 is guided by means of guide roller 82 and is pulled
21 out of the main unit by the traction force of roller 71
22 and pressure roller 83.
23 After a given length of backing sheet 97
24 has emerged from the rear of the main unit of the la-
beler that excess backing sheet is cut off with cutter
26 87 which is located toward the rear on bottom cover 80.
27 In the seco~d mode of operation which
28 requires the labels to remain adhered to the backing
29 sheet and to issue through the front of the labeler as
a label strip, the label strip is cut off with front
31 cutter 88 which is disposed at a front region on bottom
32 cover 80. Thus, bottom cover 80 which is provided with
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1 both a rear cutter 87 and a front cutter 88 provides
2 greater versatility and convenience in operation.
3 A second embodiment of the hand held
4 labeler of the present invention will now be described
with reference to Figs. 3A, 3B and 9. Although the
6 ' electronic hand labeler of the present invention is
7 usually employed for printing thermal labels, it is
8 constructed in a manner which allows its use for print-
9 ing thermal tag strips. As illustrated in Fig. 9, a
continuous strip of thermal tags is wound onto a roll
11 140. Control unit 100 having its keyboard 103, display
12 104 and batteries 105 a~d the printer-labeler unit 1 is
13 set on a stand 130.
14 Stand 130 is provided with a control unit
channel 133, which is disposed on a control unit side
16 131 of stand 130, on which control unit 100 is located.
17 A printer-labeler channel 134 on a printer-labeler side
18 132 of the stand 130 is provided for holding printer-
19 labeler unit 1. Control unit side 131 of stand 130 is
formed with a low-set incline to provide easy access to
21 the operational components and keys of control unit
22 100. The other side of stand 130 which is designed to
23 hold printer-labeler unit 1 is arranged to lie parallel
24 to outlet 29 of the printer-labeler unit and further
incorporates an anti-vibration baffle 135.
26 At a location thereof which faces the rear
27 of printer-labeler unit 1, stand 130 includes a tag
28 reel 136 which is rotatably supported on a rear support
29 upright 137. The free end of a thermal tag strip which
is supported on roll 140 faces an opening 18 which is
31 formed on label case 14. Opening 18 is accessible to
32 the thermal tag strip even when~ label case 14 is
lZ927~i5
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1 closed. The thermal tag strip can then be easily load-
2 ed as follows. With bottom cover 80 and platen arm 50
3 in their opened state, the leading end of the thermal
4 tag strip is inserted in the opening 18. It is guided
over label guide passage surface 19 toward label guide
6 ~ passage surface 78 of platen arm 50, substantially
7 along a straight line.
8 Platen arm 50 and bottom cover 80 are then
9 closed so that the leading end of thermal tag roll 140
extends along a straight line toward outlet 29, in a
11 manner similar to the feedin~ of the continuous strips
12 of labels. During the foregoing mode of operation,
13 printer-labeler unit 1 is positioned in its printer-
14 labeler channel 134 on stand 130. With the roll 140
wound into printer-labeler unit 1, the keys of keyboard
16 103 on control unit 100 are operated to input data that
17 will be imprinted on the thermal tag strip. To this
18 end, push button 21 of printer-labeler unit 1 is
19 pressed to begin the printing operation and to feed the
tag strip toward outlet 29, substantially as previously
21 described.
22 The printer-labeler unit 1 and control unit
23 100 are securely and stably held on the stand 130 to
24 provide comfortable operation of the keyboard of con-
trol unit 100 and to facilitate issuance of the tag
26 strips from the main unit. This concludes the descrip-
27 tion of the hand held labeler version of the present
28 application.
29 The desktop label printer according to the
present invention is described below by reference to
31 Figs. 10-13.
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1 The desktop thermal printer 201 comprises a
2 main unit 202 having a horizontal top surface 203, a
3 bottom surface 204, an inclined top surface 205, a
4 front surface 206 and left and right side surfaces 207.
Horizontal top surface 203 is provided with a keyboard
62 208 having a number of keys for data entry, while a
7 portion of inclined top surface 205 located adjacent to
8 horizontal top surface 203 is provided with a display
9 209, on which useful data is displayed. A pair of
start buttons 210 (one is shown), one on each of the
11 side surfaces 207, are provided at positions below
12 horizontal top surface 203 and an open/close button 211
13 is positioned on one of side surfaces 207 at the upper
14 portion thereof. Front surface 206 includes a cover
212 for enclosing an opening into a compartment for
16 battery 234 and furthermore defines an outlet 213
17 through which a backing sheet S passes out of main unit
18 202. A cutter 214 is positioned at the upper edge of
19 outlet 213.
As can be seen from Fig. 11, which
21 illustrates the internal structure of thermal printer
22 201, a retaining member 215 for retaining a roll R of
23 label strip T is positioned below inclined top surface
24 205. Label strip T passes from roll R into a label
strip guide path or passage 217, and is guided by guide
26 roller 216. As shown in Fig. 12, label strip T con-
27 sists of a backing sheet S on which are located a plu-
28 rality of thermosensitive labels L. Each of the labels
29 L has an adhesive back surface by which it is detach-
ably adhered to label strip S. ~he labels follow one
31 another along the length of the backing sheet.
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1 Label strip T passes over a guide roller
2 218, then passes a label sensor 219 and thereafter is
3 engaged between a thermal printing head 220 and a plat-
4 en roller 221. At the thermal printing head 220 the
label L is printed with characters, marks or the like
6 ' which, depending on the data input from keyboard 208,
7 may form a bar code B as shown in Fig. 12. Thermal
8 printing head 220 is pivotably supported on pin 222 and
9 it is so arranged that the pressure of the head can be
adjusted by means of spring 223 and screw 224.
11 In one mode of operation, after printing of
12 a label L is completed,jthe path of backing sheet S
13 bends sharply at sheet bending pin 225. The sharp
14 bending causes label L to be peeled from backing sheet
S by a combination of this sharp bending action assist-
16 ed by the action of an auxiliary peeling roller 226.
17 The peeled label L is then fed out of main unit 202 and
18 comes to rest on a label receiving cushion 227. Back-
19 ing sheet S proceeds over guide roller 228 and is en-
gaged by sheet drive roller 229 by which it is dis-
21 charged outside of main unit 202 through outlet 213.
22 The length of backing sheet S that has passed out of
23 main unit 202 can be conveniently cut off by cutter
24 214.
When a new roll R of label strip T is to be
26 loaded in main unit 202, button 211 is operated to
27 allow a portion which includes platen roller 221 to
28 swing upwardly about a pin 230, making it possible to
29 insert a new roll R.
As shown in Fig. 13, platen roller 221 is
31 linked with stepping motor 231 through plunger gear
32 260, an idle gear 261, an idle pulley 262, timing belt
lZ~Z765
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1 263 and driving pulley 264, while sheet drive roller
2 229 is linked with stepping motor 231 through a shaft
3 265, gear 266, slip mechanism 267 and timing belt 232.
4 Stepped rotation of stepping motor 231, in response to
dri~ing pulses, is transmitted to platen roller 221 and
6- sheet drive roller 229, causing them to rotate as indi-
7 cated by the arrow in Fig. 11.
8 Control circuit 233 is located inside main
9 unit 202, at a position beneath keyboard 208. Control
circuit 233 is electrically connected by means not
11 illustrated in the figures to label sensor 219, thermal
12 printing head 220, stepping motor 231, keyboard 208,
13 display 209, start buttons 210 and battery 234 which is
~ housed in a compartment located under cont~rol circuit
233.
16 The horizontal top surface 203 of main unit
17 202 is provided with a key guard 235, and bottom sur-
18 face 204 includes two pairs of legs 236 (only one pair
19 shown) for supporting thermal printer 201 on any avail-
able flat surface D. As shown in Fig. 10, side surfac-
21 es 207 are respectively provided with recessed portions
22 237 (only one shown) for making it easier to hold the
23 thermal printer 201 in one hand while operating the
24 keys of the keyboard 208 with the other. Further, as
shown in Fig. 12, the backing sheet S of the label
26 strip T is provided with cuts C for engagement by sheet
27 drive roller 229.
28 The operation of the thermal printer will
29 now be explained. Printer 201 can be placed on any
flat surface D during operation. It can be easily
31 transported by hand from one location to another, en-
32 abling the printing of labels at any convenient place.
129Z765
(
- 25 -
1 When the thermal printer 201 is operated in
2 a first mode during which the labels are separated from
3 the backing sheet S one at a time, backing sheet S
4 alone is sharply bent and redirected at sheet bending
pin 225, thus causing the labels L to peel off backing
6 ' sheet S.
7 In this mode of operation, when roll R
8 containing label strip T is loaded into thermal printer
9 201, label backing sheet S is inserted between guide
roller 228 and sheet drive roller 229. Thus, any slack
11 of backing sheet S between sheet bending pin 225 and
12 sheet drive roller 229 ~s taken up by rotation of sheet
13 drive roller 229. Since gear 266 associated with sheet
14 drive roller 229 is provided with slip mechanism 267,
backing sheet S is thereafter fed toward outlet 213 by
16 slipping rotation of sheet drive roller 229.
17 It is to be noted that the mechanism which
18 includes sheet drive roller 229 and its slip mechanism
19 267 and the manner in which these elements are connect-
ed to stepping motor 231 are such that the drive roller
21 229 feeds the backing sheet faster than the speed with
22 which platen roller 221 would feed the label strip.
23 Therefore, when the label strip is initially loaded
24 into the device, for the mode whereby the labels are
separated from the backing sheet, the leading end of
26 the backing sheet is fed faster than the trailing end
27 thereof and any slack in the ribbon is taken up due to
28 this effect. In operation the label strip is pinched
29 between the thermal printing head 220 and the platen
roller 221. Conse~uen~ly, the faster moving sheet
31 drive roller 229 and the slip mechanism 267 assure that
32 the section of the backing sheet between drive roller
125~Z765
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1 229 and the printing head is taut. This assures that
2 separation of the labels from the backing sheet will
3 take place in a very reliable manner. As previously
4 noted the feeding of the backing sheet via the sheet
drive roller 229 is optional. Hence, the desktop ther-
6 s mal printer according to the present invention enables
7 ready switching from a label separating mode to a label
8 non-separating mode and vice versa.
9 To operate the printer, the operator
presses the keys of keyboard 208 to input the desired
11 data. The data appears on display 209 and its accuracy
12 can therefore be easily,verified. Next, one of start
13 buttons 210 is depressed causing stepping motor 231 to
14 rotate sheet drive roller 229 to advance label strip T,
by one label. At the same time thermal printing head
16 220 prints one of labels L with a bar code B or any
17 other desired pattern or characters.
18 After the printing operation, backing sheet
19 S which bears the printed label L is bent around sheet
bending pin 225 causing label L to be peeled off back-
21 ing sheet S and to be deposited onto label receiving
22 cushion 227. The operator can then remove the peeled-
23 off label L from main unit 202 with his fingers and
24 affix it on an object (not shown) for example, a mer-
chandise item or a parcel to be delivered or the like.
26 The printed label can be used for data administration.
27 Alternatively, the object receiving the label may be
28 drawn across the top of the thermal printer in the
29 direction indicated by arrow A whereupon label L will
be directly affixed thereupon.
31 When thermal printer 201 is to be operated
32 in the second mode in which the labels are not separat-
129Z76S
- 27 -
1 ed from backing sheet S and are instead fed out from
2 inclined top surface 205 on backing sheet S, it is
3 sufficient to thread label strip T so that backing
4 sheet S is not bent back by sheet bending pin. Instead
it is drawn together with labels L in the direction of
6 label receiving cushion 227. In this case, label strip
7 T retained between platen roller 221 and thermal print-
8 ing head 220 is pulled by rotation transmitted to plat-
9 en roller 221 by stepping motor 231.
Thermal printer 201, rather than being
11 placed on the flat surface D, can also be operated
12 while being held by hand. In this case, the operator
13 grasps the thermal printer at recessed portions 237
14 with, for example, his or her left hand and operates
the keys of keyboard 208 with his or her right hand.
16 For stability on a flat surface, legs 236
17 located under the printer can have suctions cups or the
18 like.
19 Although the invention has been described
to include a keyboard for data input, other arrange-
21 ments are also possible. For example, as shown by a
22 phantom line in Fig. 11, it is possible to provide an
23 input terminal 242 which is connected to control cir-
24 cuit 233. Input terminal 242 will receive data direct-
ly from a master device or a central computer and di-
26 rect it to control circuit 233, whereby thermal printer
27 201 can be a computer-controlled device. Alternative-
28 ly, a reader, e.g., a pen reader, can be connected to
29 input terminal 242 and data may be obtained by reading
OCR characters, bar codes or the like and then input to
31 control circuit 233. Moreover, control circuit 233 may
32 comprise a ROM (read only memory) in which a control
lZ9Z765
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1 program and/or various data are stored. In this case,
2 the control program and data can be easily changed by
3 simple ROM replacement.
4 Although in the above embodiment stepping
motor 231 and sheet drive roller 229 comprise two dis-
6' tinct components, it is alternatively possible to in-
7 corporate stepping motor 231 into sheet drive roller
8 229 and to drive platen roller 221 from roller 229 via
9 timing belt 263 or the like. In this case, it is nec-
essary to couple slip mechanism 267 to platen roller
11 221 instead of sheet drive roller 229, or to provide a
12 drive switching mechani$m such as a change-over lever
13 for making and breaking the connection between the
14 power source and platen roller 221. In the latter
case, label strip T is first moved out by platen roller
16 221 and then, while platen roller 221 is disconnected
17 from the power source by means of the drive switching
18 mechanism, backing sheet S is conveyed by sheet drive
19 roller 229. Next, after the slack in backing sheet S
has been taken up, platen roller 221 is again connected
21 to the drive source.
22 Although the present invention has been
23 described in relation to particular embodiments there-
24 of, many other variations and modifications and other
uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art.
26 It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention
27 be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but
28 only by the appended claims.
