CA2304942A1 - Label printer/applicator with adjustable, floating print head - Google Patents
Label printer/applicator with adjustable, floating print head Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2304942A1 CA2304942A1 CA002304942A CA2304942A CA2304942A1 CA 2304942 A1 CA2304942 A1 CA 2304942A1 CA 002304942 A CA002304942 A CA 002304942A CA 2304942 A CA2304942 A CA 2304942A CA 2304942 A1 CA2304942 A1 CA 2304942A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- printer
- print head
- application apparatus
- label application
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 19
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000011159 matrix material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000002372 labelling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- -1 thermal transfer Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J3/00—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed
- B41J3/407—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for marking on special material
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J25/00—Actions or mechanisms not otherwise provided for
- B41J25/304—Bodily-movable mechanisms for print heads or carriages movable towards or from paper surface
- B41J25/308—Bodily-movable mechanisms for print heads or carriages movable towards or from paper surface with print gap adjustment mechanisms
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65C—LABELLING OR TAGGING MACHINES, APPARATUS, OR PROCESSES
- B65C11/00—Manually-controlled or manually-operable label dispensers, e.g. modified for the application of labels to articles
- B65C11/02—Manually-controlled or manually-operable label dispensers, e.g. modified for the application of labels to articles having printing equipment
- B65C11/0289—Manually-controlled or manually-operable label dispensers, e.g. modified for the application of labels to articles having printing equipment using electrical or electro-mechanical means
Abstract
An improved a label application apparatus comprises a main housing having a print roller mounted thereto for rotation about a print roller axis. A supply reel is mounted to the main housing and has an indefinite length web with label material thereon. A printer including a printer housing and a print head is positioned in abutting relationship to the print roller, the printer housing being mounted to the main housing for pivotal movement about a printer axis. A spring is preferably mounted between the printer and the main housing and biasing the print head against the print roller. An improvement thereto that facilitates more reliable contact between the print head and the print roller comprises a pivot mounting between the print head and the printer housing for mounting the print head for pivotal movement with respect to the printer housing about a print head axis, the print head axis being generally transverse to the printer axis. The print head is thereby adjustable about two axes with respect to the print roller to reduce misalignment between the print head and the print roller.
Description
-1_ LABEL PRINTER/APPLICATOR WITH ADJUSTABLE, FLOATING PRINT HEAD
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the lnvention The invention relates to a label printing and applying printed labels to articles. In one of its aspects, the invention relates to a label printing apparatus with I 0 improved contact between a print head and a print roller. In another of its aspects, the invention relates to a label printing apparatus with a print head mounting for easily positioning the print head in a non-use cleaning position. In another of its aspects, the invention relates to a method of printing labels.
Description of the Related Art In labeling objects such as packages, envelopes and the like, a label pasting and cutting apparatus is typically provided with a web of label material on a continuous backing web or the like. Alternatively, the web label material can be "linerless", i.e., without backing material. Typically, the label material web on the backing layer is advanced from a supply reel, and through a printer, which can provide desired indicia such as text and graphics onto the label, in addition to any indicia already pre-printed onto the label. If the label web has a backing web, the backing web is advanced over a label separator roller or "peeler" bar onto a.take-up reel while the label web, separated from the backing web, is advanced to a cutter and label applicator. By means of the cutter, the printed label is cut from the continuous web of label material and is transferred to an object, such as package or envelope or the like, by the applicator.
Several problems have arisen in prior art label printing, cutting and applying devices. Many times a print head becomes misaligned with a print roller in the label printer. This misalignment can cause undesirable printing of labels such as reduced contact points resulting in light or nonexistent printing. Further, print heads often become dirty and must be either cleaned or replaced. Prior art printing devices are often difficult to access the print head for cleaning or replacing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, a label application apparatus comprising a main housing having a print roller mounted thereto for rotation about a print roller axis, a supply reel mounted to the main housing and with an indefinite length web with label material thereon, and a printer including a printer housing and a print head positioned in abutting relationship to the print roller. The printer housing is preferably mounted to the main housing for pivotal movement about a printer axis. A spring is preferably mounted between the printer and the main housing and biasing the print head against the print roller.
A pivot mounting between the print head and the printer housing mounts the print head for pivotal movement with respect to the printer housing about a print head axis for improved contact between the print head and print roller. The print head axis is preferably generally transverse to the printer axis. The print head is thereby adjustable about two axes with respect to the print roller to reduce misalignment between the print head and the print roller.
The pivot mounting can comprise a bearing on one of the print head and the printer housing. The pivot mounting can further comprise an elongated rod mounted to the other of the print head and the printer housing. The bearing can receive an end of the elongated rod. The print head axis can be generally perpendicular to the printer axis. The print head axis can also be generally perpendicular to the print roller axis.
A retainer can be provided thereon for releasably securing the print head in a service location spaced from the print roller for servicing the label application apparatus: The retainer can be movably mounted to the main housing so that the printer housing has unobstructed movement with respect to the main housing to and from the service location when the retainer is in a retracted position. The retainer can comprise at least one movable pin movably mounted to the main housing between a retracted and an extended position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the lnvention The invention relates to a label printing and applying printed labels to articles. In one of its aspects, the invention relates to a label printing apparatus with I 0 improved contact between a print head and a print roller. In another of its aspects, the invention relates to a label printing apparatus with a print head mounting for easily positioning the print head in a non-use cleaning position. In another of its aspects, the invention relates to a method of printing labels.
Description of the Related Art In labeling objects such as packages, envelopes and the like, a label pasting and cutting apparatus is typically provided with a web of label material on a continuous backing web or the like. Alternatively, the web label material can be "linerless", i.e., without backing material. Typically, the label material web on the backing layer is advanced from a supply reel, and through a printer, which can provide desired indicia such as text and graphics onto the label, in addition to any indicia already pre-printed onto the label. If the label web has a backing web, the backing web is advanced over a label separator roller or "peeler" bar onto a.take-up reel while the label web, separated from the backing web, is advanced to a cutter and label applicator. By means of the cutter, the printed label is cut from the continuous web of label material and is transferred to an object, such as package or envelope or the like, by the applicator.
Several problems have arisen in prior art label printing, cutting and applying devices. Many times a print head becomes misaligned with a print roller in the label printer. This misalignment can cause undesirable printing of labels such as reduced contact points resulting in light or nonexistent printing. Further, print heads often become dirty and must be either cleaned or replaced. Prior art printing devices are often difficult to access the print head for cleaning or replacing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, a label application apparatus comprising a main housing having a print roller mounted thereto for rotation about a print roller axis, a supply reel mounted to the main housing and with an indefinite length web with label material thereon, and a printer including a printer housing and a print head positioned in abutting relationship to the print roller. The printer housing is preferably mounted to the main housing for pivotal movement about a printer axis. A spring is preferably mounted between the printer and the main housing and biasing the print head against the print roller.
A pivot mounting between the print head and the printer housing mounts the print head for pivotal movement with respect to the printer housing about a print head axis for improved contact between the print head and print roller. The print head axis is preferably generally transverse to the printer axis. The print head is thereby adjustable about two axes with respect to the print roller to reduce misalignment between the print head and the print roller.
The pivot mounting can comprise a bearing on one of the print head and the printer housing. The pivot mounting can further comprise an elongated rod mounted to the other of the print head and the printer housing. The bearing can receive an end of the elongated rod. The print head axis can be generally perpendicular to the printer axis. The print head axis can also be generally perpendicular to the print roller axis.
A retainer can be provided thereon for releasably securing the print head in a service location spaced from the print roller for servicing the label application apparatus: The retainer can be movably mounted to the main housing so that the printer housing has unobstructed movement with respect to the main housing to and from the service location when the retainer is in a retracted position. The retainer can comprise at least one movable pin movably mounted to the main housing between a retracted and an extended position.
An applicator can be mounted to the main housing adjacent to the printer for applying a label to an object such as a package or a box. A feed mechanism can be provided thereon for feeding the continuous web of label material from the supply reel to the printer and applicator.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a label printer with an adjustable, floating print head according to the invention and comprising an applicator with a vacuum head interconnected to a source of vacuum (V) and pressurized air (C) via a shuttle valve;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the print head for the label printer of FIG. 1 showing the print head having a housing interconnected with a shaft via bearings so that the print head is rotatably mounted to the shaft whereby the print 1 S head abuts a print roller and is self correcting for any misalignment of the print head relative to a print roller;
FIG. 3 is an end elevational view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3 showing the print head and the print roller with label web therebetween whereby misaligned positions of the print roller and print head are shown in phantom outline form and the rotatable mounting of the print head on the shaft corrects for any misalignment; and FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the print head for the label printer of FIG. 1 and illustrating the print head rotated to and retained in a non-use position for servicing.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings and to FIG. 1 in particular, a label printer/applicator 100 is shown comprising a housing 102 which mounts a printer 104 and an applicator 106.
The housing 102 rotatably mounts a supply reel 108. The supply reel 108 carnes a wound length of a continuous web of label material 110 which is often applied to a backing material (not shown). In the description provided herein, the printer/applicator 100 is shown operating with a "linerless" label web 110, although it can be plainly seen that an alternative label web I 10 having a backing material can be used without departing from the scope of this invention.
The supply reel 108 is rotatably mounted on a support axle 112 which, in turn, is mounted to the housing 102. One or more slack rollers 114 can be rotatably mounted to the housing 102 for guiding a tensioned length of the label web 110 toward the printer 104.
The housing 102 has a printer platform 116 adapted to receive the label web 110 from the supply reel 108 located adjacent a lower portion of the housing which has a recess 118. A print roller 120 is rotatably mounted to the housing within the recess 118. The print roller 120 is preferably imparted with rotational motion by a conventional motor (not shown) which is mounted to the housing 102.
The print roller 120 preferably has an outer diameter sized with the recess 118 so that an outer surface of the print roller 120 is generally flush with an outer surface of the printer platform 116. It has also been found that the print roller 120 can extend beyond the recess 118 a small amount to allow for abutment of the label material 110 passing over the recess 118.
The printer 104 comprises a printer housing 122 which has a lower portion 124 provided with a conventional print head 126. The print head 126 can be any conventional print head from the many known in the art such as a dot matrix, thermal transfer, ink jet, etc. It will be understood that the print head 126 is interconnected to an information store (not shown) which provides proper instructions to the print head 126. The printer housing 122 is mounted to the housing 102 by a shaft 196 mounted to a sleeve 194 rotatably mounted to the housing 102.
The applicator 106 is mounted to the housing 102 downstream of the printer 104 and generally comprises a head 128 which is adapted to receive a length of printed label web 110 from the printer 104, retain the length of printed label web 110 while a label is severed from the remaining continuous length of label web 110 and apply the severed label to an object adjacent to the printer/applicator 110.
The printer/applicator 100 operates generally by providing the supply reel 108 witl~a length of label web 110. The label web 110 is trained over the slack rollers 114, onto the printer platform 116 and between the print roller 12U and the print head 126 where the label web 110 is printed with any desired indicia such as text and graphics. Rotation of the print roller I 20 drives the label web I I 0 between the print head 126 and the print roller 120.
After the label web 110 is printed, the label web 110 is fed to the applicator 106 shown in FIGS. 1-2 where a discrete length of the label web 110 is severed from the continuous web as a label and applied to an object. If a label web 110 having backing material is used, the backing web (not shown in FIG. 1 ) is collected on a secondary accumulator such as a take-up reel as is well known in the art.
Turning to FIG. l and to FIG. 3 in particular, the print head 126 of the printer 104 is preferably biased against the print roller 120 to ensure the highest quality printing onto the label material 110. This is especially true if the print head 126 is a dot matrix or a thermal transfer or other type of known print head where increased pressure of the print head against the label material results in an increase in print quality. The biasing of the print head 126 is accomplished by a torsional spring 192 which biases a rotatable sleeve 194 in a clockwise manner in the orientation shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 so that the shaft 196 movably mounted to the sleeve 194 is biased in a clockwise fashion as well.
This rotational bias serves to urge the print head 126 against the print roller 120 and against any label web 110 located therebetween. However, this bias is typically not sufficient to ensure a consistent engagement of the print head 126 against the print roller 120. The print roller 120 and the print head 126 can often become misaligned during the rigors of repeated use - and can often be misaligned from the first use of the apparatus 100 due to a manufacturing flaw wherein the print roller 120 was installed in a misaligned fashion to the housing 102. Therefore, it is an important feature of this invention that the printer 104 has a self correction feature whereby misalignment of the print head 126 and the print roller 120 is corrected because the print head 126 is rotatably mounted along an axis of the same direction as the advancing label material 110 (and the shaft 196 in the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 3).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a label printer with an adjustable, floating print head according to the invention and comprising an applicator with a vacuum head interconnected to a source of vacuum (V) and pressurized air (C) via a shuttle valve;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the print head for the label printer of FIG. 1 showing the print head having a housing interconnected with a shaft via bearings so that the print head is rotatably mounted to the shaft whereby the print 1 S head abuts a print roller and is self correcting for any misalignment of the print head relative to a print roller;
FIG. 3 is an end elevational view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3 showing the print head and the print roller with label web therebetween whereby misaligned positions of the print roller and print head are shown in phantom outline form and the rotatable mounting of the print head on the shaft corrects for any misalignment; and FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the print head for the label printer of FIG. 1 and illustrating the print head rotated to and retained in a non-use position for servicing.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings and to FIG. 1 in particular, a label printer/applicator 100 is shown comprising a housing 102 which mounts a printer 104 and an applicator 106.
The housing 102 rotatably mounts a supply reel 108. The supply reel 108 carnes a wound length of a continuous web of label material 110 which is often applied to a backing material (not shown). In the description provided herein, the printer/applicator 100 is shown operating with a "linerless" label web 110, although it can be plainly seen that an alternative label web I 10 having a backing material can be used without departing from the scope of this invention.
The supply reel 108 is rotatably mounted on a support axle 112 which, in turn, is mounted to the housing 102. One or more slack rollers 114 can be rotatably mounted to the housing 102 for guiding a tensioned length of the label web 110 toward the printer 104.
The housing 102 has a printer platform 116 adapted to receive the label web 110 from the supply reel 108 located adjacent a lower portion of the housing which has a recess 118. A print roller 120 is rotatably mounted to the housing within the recess 118. The print roller 120 is preferably imparted with rotational motion by a conventional motor (not shown) which is mounted to the housing 102.
The print roller 120 preferably has an outer diameter sized with the recess 118 so that an outer surface of the print roller 120 is generally flush with an outer surface of the printer platform 116. It has also been found that the print roller 120 can extend beyond the recess 118 a small amount to allow for abutment of the label material 110 passing over the recess 118.
The printer 104 comprises a printer housing 122 which has a lower portion 124 provided with a conventional print head 126. The print head 126 can be any conventional print head from the many known in the art such as a dot matrix, thermal transfer, ink jet, etc. It will be understood that the print head 126 is interconnected to an information store (not shown) which provides proper instructions to the print head 126. The printer housing 122 is mounted to the housing 102 by a shaft 196 mounted to a sleeve 194 rotatably mounted to the housing 102.
The applicator 106 is mounted to the housing 102 downstream of the printer 104 and generally comprises a head 128 which is adapted to receive a length of printed label web 110 from the printer 104, retain the length of printed label web 110 while a label is severed from the remaining continuous length of label web 110 and apply the severed label to an object adjacent to the printer/applicator 110.
The printer/applicator 100 operates generally by providing the supply reel 108 witl~a length of label web 110. The label web 110 is trained over the slack rollers 114, onto the printer platform 116 and between the print roller 12U and the print head 126 where the label web 110 is printed with any desired indicia such as text and graphics. Rotation of the print roller I 20 drives the label web I I 0 between the print head 126 and the print roller 120.
After the label web 110 is printed, the label web 110 is fed to the applicator 106 shown in FIGS. 1-2 where a discrete length of the label web 110 is severed from the continuous web as a label and applied to an object. If a label web 110 having backing material is used, the backing web (not shown in FIG. 1 ) is collected on a secondary accumulator such as a take-up reel as is well known in the art.
Turning to FIG. l and to FIG. 3 in particular, the print head 126 of the printer 104 is preferably biased against the print roller 120 to ensure the highest quality printing onto the label material 110. This is especially true if the print head 126 is a dot matrix or a thermal transfer or other type of known print head where increased pressure of the print head against the label material results in an increase in print quality. The biasing of the print head 126 is accomplished by a torsional spring 192 which biases a rotatable sleeve 194 in a clockwise manner in the orientation shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 so that the shaft 196 movably mounted to the sleeve 194 is biased in a clockwise fashion as well.
This rotational bias serves to urge the print head 126 against the print roller 120 and against any label web 110 located therebetween. However, this bias is typically not sufficient to ensure a consistent engagement of the print head 126 against the print roller 120. The print roller 120 and the print head 126 can often become misaligned during the rigors of repeated use - and can often be misaligned from the first use of the apparatus 100 due to a manufacturing flaw wherein the print roller 120 was installed in a misaligned fashion to the housing 102. Therefore, it is an important feature of this invention that the printer 104 has a self correction feature whereby misalignment of the print head 126 and the print roller 120 is corrected because the print head 126 is rotatably mounted along an axis of the same direction as the advancing label material 110 (and the shaft 196 in the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 3).
The rotational mounting of the print head 126 relative to the shaft 196 is accomplished with a pair of bearings 198 on either end of the housing 122 as shown in FIG. 2. The housing 122 is thereby rotatably mounted about the shaft 196 on the bearings 198. The print head 126 is thereby automatically aligned along the print S roller 120 by the combination of the rotational bias imparted by the spring 192 and the perpendicular rotational movement allowed by the journalling of the shaft 196 within the bearings 198.
FIG. 3 shows the print roller 120 in both aligned (solid lines) and pair of misaligned (phantom lines) positions. In any of these states of misalignment of the print head 126 with respect to the print roller 120, the spring 192 urges the print head 126 against the print roller - shown figuratively by arrow "A" in FIG. 3.
Further, once contact is established between the print head 126 and the print roller 120, the rotational mounting of the shaft 196 within the bearings 198 (shown by arrow "B" in FIG. 3) allows for the print head 126 to fully contact the print roller 120 along its transverse length in any of the aligned and misaligned positions of FIG. 3.
Thus, proper contact between the label web 110 located between the print head 126 and the print roller 120 is maintained. Print quality and performance by the print head 126 is increased and the printer/applicator 100 can be operated for longer periods of time before the print head 126 needs servicing or replacement.
To the extent that the print head 126 eventually does need cleaning or replacing, it is also a feature of this apparatus 100 that the printer includes a convenient apparatus for positioning the print head 126 in a position for servicing.
Thus, while FIG. 3 shows the print head 126 in contact with the print roller 120 in a printing position for marking the label web I 10, FIG. 4 shows the printer housing 122 pivoted to a servicing position. The print head 126 has thereby been moved out of abutment with the print roller 120 and can be cleaned and/or serviced.
The printer housing 122 and, therefore, the print head 126 are retained in the servicing position by a first retaining pin 200 which is movably mounted to the housing 102 between an extended and a retracted position. The extended position of the first retaining pin 200 is shown in FIG. 4 in solid lines and the retracted position is shown in phantom lines.
_7_ The first retaining pin 200 is normally stored in the retracted position wherein the retaining pin 200 is removed from the path of rotational travel of a distal end 202 of the shaft I96. To position the printer 104 into the servicing position, the distal end 202 of the shaft 196 is urged by an operator in a counterclockwise direction until the distal end 202 of the shaft 196 is located below the vertical height of the retaining pin 200 and contacts the pin 204 which serves as a rotation limit for the shaft 196 and a lever to define a minimum range of motion for the shaft 196. The retaining pin 200 is then pulled by the operator to the extended position whereby the retaining pin extends laterally from the housing 102 a greater extent than in the retracted position.
The distal end 202 of the shaft 196 is then released so that the normal bias of the spring 192 attempts to urge the shaft 196 to rotate in a clockwise manner once again.
However, the retaining pin 200, now in the extended position, obstructs the arc of rotational travel of the shaft I96 so that the distal end 202 thereof is retained beneath the retaining pin 200.
1 S The printer 104 is thereby maintained in the servicing position until the retaining pin 200 is returned to the retracted position toward the housing 102 so that the spring 192 again urges the print head 126 clockwise against the print roller 120 and normal operation of the printer/applicator 100 can resume.
While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto since modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. - Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope of the foregoing disclosure without departing from the spirit of the invention which is defined by the appended claims.
FIG. 3 shows the print roller 120 in both aligned (solid lines) and pair of misaligned (phantom lines) positions. In any of these states of misalignment of the print head 126 with respect to the print roller 120, the spring 192 urges the print head 126 against the print roller - shown figuratively by arrow "A" in FIG. 3.
Further, once contact is established between the print head 126 and the print roller 120, the rotational mounting of the shaft 196 within the bearings 198 (shown by arrow "B" in FIG. 3) allows for the print head 126 to fully contact the print roller 120 along its transverse length in any of the aligned and misaligned positions of FIG. 3.
Thus, proper contact between the label web 110 located between the print head 126 and the print roller 120 is maintained. Print quality and performance by the print head 126 is increased and the printer/applicator 100 can be operated for longer periods of time before the print head 126 needs servicing or replacement.
To the extent that the print head 126 eventually does need cleaning or replacing, it is also a feature of this apparatus 100 that the printer includes a convenient apparatus for positioning the print head 126 in a position for servicing.
Thus, while FIG. 3 shows the print head 126 in contact with the print roller 120 in a printing position for marking the label web I 10, FIG. 4 shows the printer housing 122 pivoted to a servicing position. The print head 126 has thereby been moved out of abutment with the print roller 120 and can be cleaned and/or serviced.
The printer housing 122 and, therefore, the print head 126 are retained in the servicing position by a first retaining pin 200 which is movably mounted to the housing 102 between an extended and a retracted position. The extended position of the first retaining pin 200 is shown in FIG. 4 in solid lines and the retracted position is shown in phantom lines.
_7_ The first retaining pin 200 is normally stored in the retracted position wherein the retaining pin 200 is removed from the path of rotational travel of a distal end 202 of the shaft I96. To position the printer 104 into the servicing position, the distal end 202 of the shaft 196 is urged by an operator in a counterclockwise direction until the distal end 202 of the shaft 196 is located below the vertical height of the retaining pin 200 and contacts the pin 204 which serves as a rotation limit for the shaft 196 and a lever to define a minimum range of motion for the shaft 196. The retaining pin 200 is then pulled by the operator to the extended position whereby the retaining pin extends laterally from the housing 102 a greater extent than in the retracted position.
The distal end 202 of the shaft 196 is then released so that the normal bias of the spring 192 attempts to urge the shaft 196 to rotate in a clockwise manner once again.
However, the retaining pin 200, now in the extended position, obstructs the arc of rotational travel of the shaft I96 so that the distal end 202 thereof is retained beneath the retaining pin 200.
1 S The printer 104 is thereby maintained in the servicing position until the retaining pin 200 is returned to the retracted position toward the housing 102 so that the spring 192 again urges the print head 126 clockwise against the print roller 120 and normal operation of the printer/applicator 100 can resume.
While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto since modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. - Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope of the foregoing disclosure without departing from the spirit of the invention which is defined by the appended claims.
Claims (21)
1. In a label application apparatus comprising:
a main housing having a print roller mounted thereto for rotation about a print roller axis;
a supply reel mounted to the main housing and having an indefinite length web with label material thereon;
a printer including a printer housing and a print head positioned in abutting relationship to the print roller, the printer housing being mounted to the main housing for pivotal movement about a printer axis;
a spring mounted between the printer and the main housing and biasing the print head against the print roller;
the improvement comprising:
a pivot mounting between the print head and the printer housing for mounting the print head for pivotal movement with respect to the printer housing about a print head axis, the print head axis being generally transverse to the printer axis;
whereby the print head is adjustable about two axes with respect to the print roller to reduce misalignment between the print head and the print roller.
a main housing having a print roller mounted thereto for rotation about a print roller axis;
a supply reel mounted to the main housing and having an indefinite length web with label material thereon;
a printer including a printer housing and a print head positioned in abutting relationship to the print roller, the printer housing being mounted to the main housing for pivotal movement about a printer axis;
a spring mounted between the printer and the main housing and biasing the print head against the print roller;
the improvement comprising:
a pivot mounting between the print head and the printer housing for mounting the print head for pivotal movement with respect to the printer housing about a print head axis, the print head axis being generally transverse to the printer axis;
whereby the print head is adjustable about two axes with respect to the print roller to reduce misalignment between the print head and the print roller.
2. The label application apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pivot mounting comprises a bearing on one of the print head and the printer housing.
3. The label application apparatus of claim 2 wherein the pivot mounting further comprises an elongated rod mounted to the other of the print head and the printer housing.
4. The label application apparatus of claim 3 wherein the bearing receives an end of the elongated rod.
5. The label application apparatus of claim 4 wherein the print head axis is generally perpendicular to the printer axis.
6. The label application apparatus of claim 5 wherein the print head axis is generally perpendicular to the print roller axis.
7. The label application apparatus of claim 6 and further comprising a retainer for releasably securing the print head in a service location spaced from the print roller for servicing the label application apparatus.
8. The label application apparatus of claim 7 wherein the retainer is movably mounted to the main housing so that the printer housing has unobstructed movement with respect to the main housing to and from the service location when the retainer is in a retracted position.
9. The label application apparatus of claim 8 wherein the retainer comprises at least one movable pin movably mounted to the main housing between a retracted and an extended position.
10. The label application apparatus of claim 9 and further comprising an applicator mounted to the main housing adjacent to the printer for applying a label to an object.
11. The label application apparatus of claim 10 and further comprising a feed mechanism for feeding the continuous web of label material from the supply reel to the printer and applicator.
12. The label application apparatus of claim 11 and further comprising a cutting mechanism associated with the applicator to cut the labels between the printer and the applicator.
13. The label application apparatus of claim 1 wherein the printer housing comprises an elongated rod, the print head further comprises a bearing, and a distal end of the elongated rod is pivotally received by the bearing.
14. The label application apparatus of claim 1 wherein the print head axis is generally perpendicular to the printer axis.
15. The label application apparatus of claim 1 wherein the print head axis is generally perpendicular to the print roller axis.
16. The label application apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising a retainer for releasably securing the print head in a service location spaced from the print roller for servicing the label application apparatus.
17. The label application apparatus of claim 16 wherein the retainer is movably mounted to the main housing so that the printer housing has unobstructed movement with respect to the main housing to and from the service location when the retainer is in a retracted position.
18. The label application apparatus of claim 17 wherein the retainer comprises at least one movable pin movably mounted to the main housing between a retracted and an extended position.
19. The label application apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising an applicator mounted to the main housing adjacent to the printer for applying a label to an object.
20. The label application apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising a feed mechanism for feeding the continuous web of label material from the supply reel to the printer and applicator.
21. The label application apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising a cutting mechanism associated with the applicator to cut the labels between the printer and the applicator.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US12889699P | 1999-04-12 | 1999-04-12 | |
| US60/128,896 | 1999-04-12 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2304942A1 true CA2304942A1 (en) | 2000-10-12 |
Family
ID=22437521
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002304942A Abandoned CA2304942A1 (en) | 1999-04-12 | 2000-04-10 | Label printer/applicator with adjustable, floating print head |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US6350070B1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2304942A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN116476536A (en) * | 2023-02-24 | 2023-07-25 | 珠海芯烨电子科技有限公司 | Printing sheet mounting assembly and printer |
Families Citing this family (13)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6811019B2 (en) * | 2001-06-29 | 2004-11-02 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Method and apparatus utilizing servo motors for placing parts onto a moving web |
| US7469736B2 (en) * | 2003-04-22 | 2008-12-30 | Hellermanntyton Corporation | Label applicator |
| US7131774B2 (en) * | 2004-03-30 | 2006-11-07 | Premark Feg L.L.C. | Self-aligning print head mechanism and related printer and method |
| US8100253B2 (en) | 2009-06-30 | 2012-01-24 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Methods and apparatuses for transferring discrete articles between carriers |
| US8833542B2 (en) | 2012-04-16 | 2014-09-16 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Fluid systems and methods for transferring discrete articles |
| US8820513B2 (en) | 2012-04-16 | 2014-09-02 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Methods for transferring discrete articles |
| US8720666B2 (en) | 2012-04-16 | 2014-05-13 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Apparatuses for transferring discrete articles |
| US8607959B2 (en) | 2012-04-16 | 2013-12-17 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Rotational assemblies and methods for transferring discrete articles |
| EP2911628B1 (en) | 2012-10-23 | 2019-05-15 | The Procter and Gamble Company | Carrier members or transfer surfaces having a resilient member |
| US20150010725A1 (en) * | 2013-07-03 | 2015-01-08 | Identive Group, Inc | Label Roll Including an Electronic Element |
| US9463942B2 (en) | 2013-09-24 | 2016-10-11 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Apparatus for positioning an advancing web |
| US9511952B1 (en) | 2015-06-23 | 2016-12-06 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Methods for transferring discrete articles |
| US9511951B1 (en) | 2015-06-23 | 2016-12-06 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Methods for transferring discrete articles |
Family Cites Families (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2387788A1 (en) | 1977-04-20 | 1978-11-17 | Sato Kenkyusho | CONSTANT PRESSURE PRINTING MECHANISM FOR HAND LABELING MACHINE |
| JPS53141731A (en) | 1977-05-16 | 1978-12-09 | Sato Co Ltd | Constant pressure printing mechanism for hand labeller or like |
| US4205607A (en) | 1977-05-27 | 1980-06-03 | Kabushiki Kaisha Sato | Constant pressure printing mechanism for portable label printing machine |
| US4125419A (en) | 1977-07-18 | 1978-11-14 | Monarch Marking Systems, Inc. | Hand-held labeler and labeling method |
| US4350554A (en) | 1980-01-09 | 1982-09-21 | Monarch Marking Systems, Inc. | Label printing and applying apparatus |
| US5013387A (en) | 1990-04-10 | 1991-05-07 | Monarch Marking Systems, Inc. | Hand-held labeller |
| US5541635A (en) * | 1994-03-18 | 1996-07-30 | Mettler-Toledo, Inc. | Printer mechanism |
| US5804023A (en) | 1996-09-20 | 1998-09-08 | Grand Rapids Label Company | Label cutting and applying apparatus |
| US6182730B1 (en) * | 1997-04-11 | 2001-02-06 | Grand Rapids Label Company | Label cutting apparatus |
| US5882126A (en) * | 1998-02-12 | 1999-03-16 | Premark Feg L.L.C. | Laterally adjustable print head |
-
2000
- 2000-04-06 US US09/543,643 patent/US6350070B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2000-04-10 CA CA002304942A patent/CA2304942A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN116476536A (en) * | 2023-02-24 | 2023-07-25 | 珠海芯烨电子科技有限公司 | Printing sheet mounting assembly and printer |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US6350070B1 (en) | 2002-02-26 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US6350070B1 (en) | Label printer/applicator with adjustable, floating print head | |
| EP0733482B1 (en) | A cassette for a thermal printer | |
| US5427460A (en) | Label printer and label strip feed mechanism therefor | |
| JPH025968Y2 (en) | ||
| US6182730B1 (en) | Label cutting apparatus | |
| JP4494063B2 (en) | Labeling device | |
| EP0764542A1 (en) | A printing apparatus having an auto cutter | |
| US6634400B2 (en) | Labeling machine | |
| CA1094941A (en) | Rotary die cutting assembly for cutting labels | |
| US4657418A (en) | High capacity ribbon supply arrangement | |
| US5804023A (en) | Label cutting and applying apparatus | |
| US6049347A (en) | Apparatus for variable image printing on tape | |
| US5769548A (en) | Hot stamp imprinting system with latchable ink ribbon cassette & handle | |
| US6491080B2 (en) | Label printer/applicator with improved label cutting, control and application and method for doing the same | |
| US5882126A (en) | Laterally adjustable print head | |
| JPS63296B2 (en) | ||
| US20070062393A1 (en) | Label application device | |
| CA1220976A (en) | Thermal printer | |
| JP2742197B2 (en) | Postage printer | |
| US7396170B2 (en) | Device for printing one or several objects moving in a feed direction | |
| JP5063545B2 (en) | Printer | |
| JP4512396B2 (en) | Labeling device | |
| US5372443A (en) | Adjustable platen for label printer | |
| JPH0655730A (en) | Ink jet printer | |
| JP3273100B2 (en) | Print head pressure adjustment mechanism of the printing device |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |