CA1099987A - Apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels - Google Patents

Abstract

Docket M-274-C-2 APPARATUS FOR PRINTING AND APPLYING
PRESSURE SENSITIVE LABELS

Abstract of the Disclosure The disclosure relates to apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels carried on a web of supporting material. The apparatus includes a frame, a platen and a print head mounted for relative movement by the frame. The apparatus also includes a delaminator for delaminating printed labels from the supporting material web and an applicator for applying the printed labels. A toothed feed wheel is engageable with the web. Ratchet teeth are coupled to the feed wheel. A pawl is cooperable with a tooth of the ratchet teeth for driving the feed wheel. There is a mechanism for driving the print head relative to the platen and for thereafter operating the pawl to drive the feed wheel. There is a rolling-contact type one-way clutch coupled to the frame for mounting the feed wheel and for enabling the pawl to drive the feed wheel and advance the web and for preventing reverse rotation of the feed wheel to obviate loss of tension in the supporting material web after the web has been fed.

Description

Bac3caround of the Inverltion E'ield of t~e Invention This invention relates to the art of label printing and applying apparatus ar~d composite label webs.

-2- ~k Summary of the Invention This invention relates to apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels carried on a ~eb of supporting material. The apparatus includes a frame, a platen and a print head mounted ~or relative movement by the rame.
The apparatus also includes a delaminator for delaminating printed labels from the supporting material web and an applicator for applying the printed labels. A toothed feed wheel is engageable with the web. Ratchet teeth are coupled to the eed wheel. A pawl is cooperable with a tooth of the ratchet teeth for driving the feed wheel~ There is a mechanism fox dri~ing the print head relative to the platen and for thereafter operating the pawl to drive the feed wheel.
There is a rolling-contact type one-way clutch coupled to the frame for mounting the feed wheel and for enabling the pawl to drive the feed wheel and advance the web and for preventing reYerse rotation of the feed wheel to obviate loss of tension in the supporting ma~erial web after the web has been fed.
There is preferably a support secured to the frame which has a circular cylindrical outer surface. The clutch is received about the support in cooperable relationship with the outer surface. The support is preferably tubular and a drive shaft extends thxough the support and carries the pawl. The clutch is preferably press-fitted into the feed wheel.

Brief Description of the Drawings FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of label printing and apply:ing apparatus, together with a roll-type composite label web supply;
FIGURE 2 is a partly broken-away top plan view of the composite label web;
FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE l;
FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4--~ of FIGURE 3 showing track structure for mounting a print head of the apparatus;
FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of a feed wheel for the apparatus;
FIGURE 5A is a view similar to FIGURE 5 but on a larger scale and showing a cured adherent coating;
FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the feed wheel shown in FIGURE 5;
FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the apparatus;
FIGURE ~ is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of label printing and applying apparatus together with an improved roll-type composite label web supply;
FIGURE 9 is a partly broken away top plan view of the composite label web;
FIGUR~ 10 is a side elevational view of the apparatus with one handle section and a removable housing section being removed for clarity;
FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary elevational view of the other side of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 10;

-~r 9~ ~3 7 FIGURE 12 is a view taken generally along line 12--12 of FIGURE 10;
FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary elevational view o another handle section, showing means for locking ~he eccentric support in position;
FIGUR~ 14 iq a fragmentary end elevational view of a manually operable actuator and one end portion o~ the eccentric support;
~ IGURE 15 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the other ~ide of the actuator from that shown in FIGURE 14 and the other end portion of the support;
FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary elevational viaw of the one handle section;
FIGURE 17 is an exploded perspQctive view of a drive gear, a feed wheel, rol1ing-contact type one-way anti-backup clutch, a ratchet wheel selectively positionable with respec~
to the ~eed wheel, a clamp, and a drive pawl;
FIGURE 18 is a partly assembled view o~ the components shown in FIGURE 17;
FIGURE 19 is a fragmentary perspective view showing how the clutch is secured in the ~eed wheel and clutched with an annular support;
FIGURE 20 is a view similar to Vi2W 19 but showing the clutch unclutched a~ wh~n the feed wheel is rotated in the direction of ~he arrow;
FIGURE 21 is a fragmentary elevational view showin~
the side of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 11 with certain parts omitted for clarity, the operative component~ being shown in FIGUR~ 21 in a position which facilitat~ loading of the apparatus ~g~
FIGURE 22 is a view similar to FIGURB 21 with the operativ~ components heing shown in a posltion caused by a first actuation of the ac~uator following loading;
FIGURE 23 is a view sim.ilar to ~IGURES 21 and 22, showing many o~ the operative components thereof, the brake mechanism being in its effectiva hraking position caused by return of the print head, FIGURE 24 is a fragmentary perspe~tive exploded view of the locking mechanism for the removable housing section;
FIGURE 25 is a partly sectional view of the locking mechanism in its assembled condition;
FIGURE 26 is a fragmentary perspective exploded view of a resilient device and mounting structure therefor;
FIGUR~ 27 is a fragmen ary perspective exploded ViW
showing a delaminator and a portion of the platen;
FIGURE 28 is a sectional view showing in detail an ink roll of the inking mechanism;
FIGVRE 29 is a sectional view taken along line 29--29 of ~IGURE 28;
FIGURE 30 is a left end elevational view of the ink roll shown in FIGURE 28;
FIGURE 31 is a sectional view showing fragmentary portions of one housing section and the rame plate and the means for holding the same together;
FIGURE 32 is a sectional view of the reel;
FIGURE 33 is an elevational view ~howing a fragmentary portion of the apparatus to which a rewinder is connected;

FIGURE 34 is a ~ide elevational view of an alternate form of rewinder;
FIGURE 35 is a sectional view taken along line 35--35 of FIGURE 34; and FIGURE 36 is an enlarged sectional fragmentary view of the feed whe~1 showing lands and intervening gaps~
Description of the Preferred Embadiments Tha embodiments o~ FIGURES 1 and 3 through 6 and the embodiment of FIGURE 7 are adapted to utilize a composite l~bel web 30 illustrated in detail in FIGURE 20 The composite web 30 o~ label material 31 is releasably adhered to and carried by supporting or backing material 32. The label material 31 is cut transversely by transverse cuts 33 extending all the way across the web 31 of label material to the side edges 34 and 35 of the composite web 30. The cuts 33 known as "butt cuts"
separate the web 31 of label material into a sexies of end-to-end labels 36. The u~derside of the web 31 of label material has a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive 37 which adheres strongly to the web 31 of label materialO The web 32 of supporting material carries a thin film or coating (not shown) which allows the labels to be peeled from the web 32 of supporting material.

Groups 38 of cuts are provided at equally spaced-apart intervals along the length of the composite web 30.
Each group 38 of cuts is shown to extend through the supporting material as well as through the label matexial~ Each group of cuts is shown to be made in a generally I-shaped con~iguration comprised of cuts 39S, 40S and 41S in the supporting material and aligned cuts 39L, 40L and 41L in the label material. The part of the web 32 between the one end of the cut 39S and the cut 40S provides a frangible portion 43S and the part of the web 32 between the other end of the cut 39S and the cut 41S
provid~s fran~ible portion 42S. In like mannex, the part of the label material between the end of th~ cut 3~L and the cut 40L provides a frangible portion 43L and the part between the other end of the cut 39L and the cut 41L provides a frangible portion 42L.
With reference to the embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 3 through 6, there is shown label printing and applying apparatus generally indicated at 50. The apparatus 50 has a frame generally indicated at 51 which is shown to include frame sections 52 and 54 to which a cover section 53 .is removably connected. A subframe 55 in the form of a single, rigid, metal plate is suitably secured to the frame section 5? as for example -8- . .

'7 by screws 56. The screws 56 pass through rP p~ctive holes 57 in the ~ubframe 55, and are threadably received in re~pective bosses 58 in the frame section 52. The frame 51 has a ha~dle generally indicated at 59 comprised in part of handl~ portion 60 of the frame section 52 and in part by the frame section 54J
The ~ections 53 and 54 are connected to the frame section 52 by snap-fit connections including generall.y snap-fitted flexible resilient members 61 engageable in undercut recesses 62 in the housing section 52.
~ he subframe 55 mounts a print head generally lndicated at 63, a feed wheel 64, a ratchet wheel 65 (FIGURE 3) having teeth and being formed integrally with the ~eed wheel 64~
a gear or gear segment or gear section 66 formed integrally with a lever 67, an applicator 68 in the form o~ a roll, a platen 69 and an integral guide 69', a delaminator 70 provided by an edge o the platen 69~ rollers 71 and 72, a post or stud 73, a post or stud 74, a post or stud 75, and a stripper plate 76 and an ~ntegrally formed guide 77. The handle portion 60 and the frame section 54 mount a pivot 78 in respective bosses 79 and 80. The p~vot 78 pivotally mounts an actuator 81 shown to be in the form of a lever. When the user grips the handle 59, the actuator Bl can be engaged by the user's fingers~ while the thumb passes around the frame section 54 (assuming the user grips the handle 59 with the right hancl). Tha actuator 81 carries a gear or gear segment or gear section 82 which meshes with the gear 66. A
~pring assembly 82', i.ncluding a compression spring 82~, bear~
against the handle portion 60 and the actuator 81 and uxges th~
actuator 81 counterclockwise (FIGURES 1 and 3)0 Accordingly, _g_ the actuator 81 and the gear 82 are initially in the position ~h~wn by sol~d lines in FIGURE 3, but upon operation are moved to the position indicated by phantom lines 81'. The feed wheel 64, the ratchet wheel 65, and the gear 66 are coaxially mounted on the post 74. The gear 66 carrie~ a pawl 83 which is coop-erable with the ratchet wheel 65~ As the actuator 8~ moves from the solid line pssition to the phantom l ine poYition in FIGURE 3, the gear 66 rotates counterclockwi~e until the pawl 83 passes over a tooth 84 of the ratchet wheel 65, and when the actuator 81 is released the spring assembly 829 drive~ the gear 66 clockwise and causes the pawl 83 to drive the feed wheel 64 clockwise. Clockwise rotation of the ratchet wheel 65 and hence the feed wheel 64 is prevented by a flexible re~ilient pawl 84' which cooperates with the ratchet wheel 65.
The lever S7 lies in a plane which is off~et from the plane of the gear 66. As best shown in FIGURE 1, a lateral portion 85 integrally connects the gear 66 and the lever 67.
The lateral portion 85 pas~e~ ~hrough an arcuate slot 86' in the subframe 55. The lever 67 is conn0cted to the print head 63 by a pin-type connection generally indicated at 860 The pin-type connection 8 6 is a pin-and-slot connection and i~ shown to comprise an elongated ~lot 87 in th~ leve~ 67 and a pin 88 having a roller 89 received in the ~lot 87. P.

~ 7 washer 90 and a clip 91 hold the roller 89 on the pin 88.
The pin 88 i5 sec~red to the prin~ head 63. As be~t shown in FIGURES 1 and 4, the print head 63 i~ provided with a pair of elongatsd parallel ball tracks 92 a~d 93. The subframe 55 mounts a pair of ball tracks 94 and 95. Ball bearing strips 96 and 97 are received in respec:tive ball tracks 92 and 94, and 93 and 95. The ball tracks 92 thro~gh 35 are considered to comprise track structure for mounting the pr$nt head 63 for reciprocating movement toward and away from the platen 69. The ball track 95 is mounted to move relative to the ball track 93. Compression springs 9S' urge the ball track 95 toward the ball track 93 and compen-~ate for clearance between the ball tracks 93 and 95r The apparatus 50 provides what is known as a two-line machine, having two lines Ll and L2 of selectively settable printing bands 98 and 99. The bands 98 of line Ll are selectively settable by manual operation of a knob 100 and the band~ 99 of line L2 are selecti~ely settable by manual operation of a knob 101. The knobs 100 and 101 project through an opening 53' in the cover section 53.
A die roll 64a, having a groove 64b through which the te~th 64' of the feed wheel 64 can pass 9 i~ rokatably .

mounted on an arm 64c. The arm 64c is mounted on the post 73. The arm 64c has an integral lateral tab 64g which extends through a slot 64f in the subframe 55. A tension spring 64d is connected to a post 64e secured to the subframe 55 and to the tab 64g. The spring 64d urges th~ die roll 64a against the feed wheel 64. When the feed wheel 64 rotates, the teeth 64' of the feed wheel 64 cooperate with.the die roll 64a to break the frangible portions 42S and 43S in the supporting material web 32, thus making feed holes in the supporting material web 32.
An inking mechanism 102 includes an arm 103 pivotally mounted on a pivot 104 secured to the sub~rame 55. A retainer 105 keeps the arm 103 on the pivot 104. The arm 103 carries a small diameter laterally extending pin 106 which mounts an ink roll 107. The pin 106 extends through an arcuat~ slot 108 in the subframe 55. A tension spring 109 acts at its one end on a lateral tab 110 carried by the arm 103 and at its other end on a pin 111 secured to the print head 63. The locations o~
the tab 110 and the pin 111 are selected so that there is substantially no extension or distention of the spring 109 a~
the print head 63 moves during the printing stroke between the solid line position and the phantom line lprinting) position shown by phantom lines 63'. Likewise on th~ return str~ke there ~S no substantial extension or distention of the spring 109 as the print head 63 moves between these positions~ The ,:

-~2- .

location of the pivot 104 causes the ink roll 107 to be pushed from its solid line position to the phantom llne position indicated by phantom lines 107' during the printing stroke from which the ink roll 10? is returned to the solid line position during the return stroke of khe print head 63. In addition, the force of the spring 109 causes tha ball track 92 to be urgQd toward the ball track 94, thereby compensating for clearance.
The composite label web in roll orm can have a circular cylindrical core 112 composed of paperboard or other suitable material. A hub 113 composed of plastic or other suitable materials has three flexible resilient sections 114 onto which the core can be snap-fitted and from which the core 112 of a spent roll can be readily removed. The hub 113 is rotatably mounted on the post 75 and i5 retained by a clip 113'.
With reference to FIGURES 5 and 6, the periphery of the feed wheel 64 is shown to have evenly spaced apart generally V-shaped lateral grooves 115. These grooves 115 greatly reduce the area of contact that the supporting material web 32 makes with the feed wheel 64. This greatly minimizes any tendency for gum which may be o~ the supporting material web 32 to be transferred to tha feed wheel 64. Gum on the eed wheel 64 can cause problems in feeding the composite web 30. Lands 116 at the peripllery of the feed wheel 64 are about one-fifth as long as the pitch distance d, and thus the grooves 115 reduce the area of contac:t by eighty pexcent over a feed wheel with a continuous, uninterrupted periphery.

In loading the apparatus 50, the cover section 53 is unsnapped and removed, and the composite label web supply roll is snapped onto the hub 113. The die roll 64a and its arm 64b are moved to the over-center position. With the actuator 81 moved partly toward the phantom line position (FIGURE 3), the free end of the composite web 30 is passed between a brake roll 117 and a plate 118 secured to the subframe 55. The free end of the composite web 30 is passed under and partly around the roll 71, over the platen 69, around the delaminator 70, under the platen 69, under and partly around the roller 71, partly around the roller 72, over and partly around the feed wheel 64, over the stripper plate 76, and over the guide 77. Now the actuatox 81 can be released, whereupon the brake roll 117 is contacted by the end of the print head 63, causing the brake roll 117 to press the web 30 against the plate 118 to prevent paying out of he web 30 during application of a label 36. The die roll 64a and its arm 64c can now be moved to the position shown in FI~URE 3, and the cover section 53 can be snapped into place.
When it is desired to print and apply a label 36, the printing and feeding cycle is commenced when the actuator 81 is squeezed, and this causes the gear 82 to drive the gear 66 and hence the lever 67. Pivoting of the lever 67 causes the print head 63 to be driven into printing cooperation with the platen 69 to print data on a la~el 36. When the actuator 81 is released, the pawl 83 drives the feed wheel 64 to feed the label 36 that was just printed into lahel applying position relative to the applicator 68, in this position the trailing '7 edge of the label 36 is still adhered to the supporting material web 32. Also the next successive label 36 is properly positioned on the platen 69 for printing during the next printing cycle.
In the embodiment of FIGURE 7 the same reference characters are applied to functionally similar parts as those disclosed in the embodiment of EIGURES 1 and 3 through 6.
Referring to FIGURE 7, the actuator 81 carries a pivot 130.
A link 131 is pivotally connected to the pivot 130. A pivot 132 carried ~y the link 131 pivotally connects the link 131 and a lever 133. ~he lever 133 is pivotally mounted by the post 74. The lever 133 carries a pawl 134 which performs the same function as the pawl 83 (FIGURE 3). The pin-type connection 86 is provided by a pivot or pin 135 secured to the print head 63 which extends through a circular hole 136 in the lever 133. Instead of being provided with the track structure of the embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 3 through 6, sub-frame 55 in the embodiment of FIGURE 7 has track structure provided by an elongated slot 137. The print head 63 carries a pin 138 which mounts a roller 139. The roller 139 is received in the slot 137. In that the pin 135 follows a slight arc as the lever 133 moves, the right end of the print head 63 also travels in a slight arc. The left end of the print head 63 has movement which is essentially reciprocating in that the roller 139 moves in a straight line. When the print head 63 is in the printing position, the pivot 135 is in the position indicated by phantom lines 13S' and in this position the print head 63 is perpendicular to the platen 69. When the actuator 81 is released the spring assembly 82' (FIGURE 1) causes the actuator 81 to pivot counterclockwise which drives the lever 133 clockwise to retuxn the print head 63 to the position shown in FIGURE 7, and at the same tim~ the pawl 134 drives the feed '7 wheel 64 to advance the composite web 30 a distance equal to thP length of one ~abel 36. In the embodiment of FIGUR~
7, the gear 82 has been eliminated from the actuator ~1.
The apparatus of the ~bodiment of FIGU~E5 1 and 3 through 6, and 7, is constructed mainly of molded plastic material. The subframe 55 is preferably composed of steel. The actuator Ul, the gear 66 and lever 67, the ratchet and feed wlleels 65 and 64, a substantial portion of the print head 63, sections 52, 53 and 54, the hub 113, and tracks 94 and 95 are composed of a suitable molded plastic material. With reference to FIGURE 7, link 131 and lever 133 are also composed of plastic material.
In practice it has been found that, in some instances, minor amounts of gummy pressure-sensitive adhesive remains on the supporting web 32 after the labels have bee~ separated.
I this occurs, when the supporting web is contacted with the feed wheel 64 transfer of this gummy subs$ance to the feed wheel can be encountered, which during con~inued u~e of the apparatus, may interfere with efficient operation.
The feed wheel 64 has a web contacting surfac~ 116 of both disclosed embodi~ents of the in~ention treated to provide a coatin~ 116' having non stick or relaase properties sufficien~
to substantially retard or prevent transfer of gum or pressure-sensitive adhesive, which may ba prese~t on the supportiny web 32, to the feed wheel. Preferably the web contacting sur~ace of the feed wheel should readily release a pressure-se~sitive tape (e.g., 3M Transparent Tape 5910) after the pressure-sensitive tape has ~een applied to ~he feed wheel under 10 p. i. pressure for 2-5 secon~s.

,_7 ~ .

A particularly preferred method of imparting enhanced release properties to the ~eedl wheel, formed from a m~tal, or an organic polymeric plasti.c material, such as polyacetal resins, polycarbonate resins~ phenylene oxides, nylons, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resins, unsaturated polyester molding resins and the like, is to apply to the supporting web contacting surf~ces of the feed wheel an adherent continuous coating o~ a resinous coa~ing composition having a lower surface energy than the substrate polymeric material from which the wheel is formed. The presently preferred .coating ~ompositions include those based on a ma~erial such as moisture cured, one component, all silicone rssins theretofore utilized in the art for forming aircra~t and maintenance protective finishes, and solvent based paper curable coating compositions based on silicone polymers heretofore described in the art as useful in forming release paper for pressure-se~sitive a~hesive compositions. Since the coati~g must have ufficient adhesion to the feed wheel so that it is not removed during use, it may be desirable to etch or otherwise slightly roughen the surface to be coated prior to applying and curing ~he coating.
This preferred method is distinguishable ~ram the ~thod in which the surface of the feed wheel which contacts the web has means providing material possessing release properti~s ~ufficient to retard the accumulation of yum by incorporating a lu~ricant in the feed wheel while the feed wheel i~ molded and it is al80 distinguishable from the method i~ which a liquid lubricant is applied to the feed wheel for this purpo~e.
While these other methods are advantageou~, the prefexred method is more effective for longer periods of time~
With reference to the embodiment of FIGURES 8 and 10 through 36, there is shown label printing and applying apparatus generally indicated at 150. The apparatus 150 has a frame generally indicated at 151 which is ~hown to comprise a frame or housing having housing section~ 152, 153 and 154 ~nd a subframe comprising a single, rigid, metal ~rame plate 155. The housing is essentiall~ closed. The frame 151 has a handle generally indicated at 159 comprised in part of a handle portion 160 and i.n part of the frame section 154. The housing s~ction 154 is secured to the housing section 152 by screws 161 received in respective threaded holes 162. The frame section 153 is positioned in front of a lip 163 of the section 154 and projections 164 on the section 153 extend behind a wall 165. The section 153 is connected to the section 152 by snap-f~t connections including generally snap-~haped flexible resilient member~ 166 engageable in respective undercut rece~ses 167 in the section 152. The section 153 is also provided wi~h locating .
~tuds 168 received in respective recesses 169 o the s~ction 152.
The frame plate 155 mounts a print head 170, a feed wheel 17}, a gear or gear seyment 172, an applicator 173 shown to be in the form of a roll, a platen 174, a delaminator 175, a mounting pin 176 and a plurality of rollers 177; mounting posts 178, 179, 180 and 181, and a support 236.
The frame plate 155 is provided wi~h two ~paced-apart precisely located rectangular holes 18~ in which respective square 9~

mating locating pins or studs 183 ar~ received. The holes 182 extend at right angles to each other and the two opposed side faces of each stud contacts the corresponding long sides of the respective rectangular hole 182. The pins 183 are cooperable with the respective holes 182 to locate the frame plate 155 previsely relative to the housing section 152. Thexe are three $dentical hold-down conne~tions which secure the frame plate 155 to the housing section 152, although only one is shown in detail in FIGURE 31~ The frame plate 155 has three enlarged holes or cutouts 184. The housiny section 152 has pins or studs 185 which extend through the cutouts 184. With reference to FIGUR~
31, a retainer in the form of a grip ring 186 grips a stud 185.
A compression spring 187 received about the stud 185 bears against ~he fram~ plate 155 and against the retainer 186~ With age and continued use of thP apparatus the stud 185 tends to elongate.
The spring 187 insures that the plate 155 will lways be held solidly against the housing section 152. In that the stud 185 is considerably small~r in diameter than the cutout 184, location of the frame plate 155 relative to the housing section 152 remains to be accomplished by the pins 183 in respective recesses 182.
The frame plate 155 has a pair of elongated cutou~s or open ended slots 188 and a pair of opposif~ly f acing elongated cutouts or open ended slots 189. The slots 188 and 189 communi-cate with larger respective cutouts 190 and 191. Opposit~ly facing ball tracts 192 and 193 are received in respective cu~outs 190 and 191. The print head 170 comprise~ a print head ~rame 194 having a pair of oppositely facing ~all trac~s 195 and 196. ~ ball bearing s~rlp 197 i receiv~d i3'7 in mating ball bearing tracks 192 and 195 and a ball bearing strip 198 is received in mating ball. bearing tracks 193 and 196.
The ball tracks 192 and 193 are shown to be generally channel-ahaped in ~onstruction. When the ball. track~ 192 and 193 are in the position a~ shown in FIGURES 10 and 11, the ball ~rac~s 192 and 193 are received by the frame plate 155. Threaded fasteners 199 extend through the cutouts 188 and are threadably received in hole~ 199' in the ball track 192. Similarly, threaded fastsners 200 ext~nd through cutout~ 189 and are threadably received in holes 200' in the ball track 193. The print head 170 is capable of printing two line~ of data in that the print head 1~0 has two lines of printing band~ as ~hown in detail in FIGURE 31 of above-mentioned patent application S.N.
312,454. It i~ important to printing quality that the print head 170 move relatively to the platen 174 such that the characterY on the printing bands 201 contact the label 207 on the platen uniformly. If the print head 170 i8 lmproperly aligned with the platen 174, some of the selected charactex3 will bç
printed and other~ will not be prl~ted at all or will only be faintly printed. In that the cutout~ 188 and 1~9 are larger than the diameters of ~a~teners 199 and ~00 which extend therethrough, the ball track~ 192 a~d 193 can be precisely positioned during manufacture of the apparatus 80 that the print head 1~0 is precisely al~gned with the platen 174 and so that clearance between the ball track~ and the~r respect$ve ball bearing strip i~ held to a minimum~ Print head ~rame 194 and the ball track-~ 195 and 196 which are molded lnt~grally therewith and the ball track~ 192 and 193 are :` ~

8'~

composed of plastics materialO Th~ balls of the ball ~trips 197 and 198 are comprised of a hard material such as steel.
As shown diagrammatically in FIGURES 21 through 23, the type characters or faces 202 extend parallel to the platen 174.
The print head 170 is caused to move in a straight lina because all the ball tracks 192 through 195 ars straight.
Consequently, for quality printing the print head 170 should move perpendicularly with re~pect to the platen 174. There i9 ~hus provided means whereby the travel of the print head into printing cooperation with the labels of the composite ~7eb can .
be adjusted during manufac~ure or even subsequent thereto to insure precise alignment of the print head 170 with the platen 174.
The apparatus 150 i~ shown to utilize a composite web 203. The composite web 203 of label material 204 is releasably adhered to ~upporting a backing material 205~ The label material 204 is cut transversely by bar cuts or slits 206 extending all the w~y across the web 204 of label material, thereby separating the label material 204 into a series of end-to-end labels 207.
The composite web 203 is wound onto a circular cylindrical core 208 composed of paperboard or other suitable material. The composite web roll i~ mounted on a reel generally indicated at 209. The reel 209 i~ compriqed of a generally ~lat disc 210 having a central hole 211. Disc 210 has a plurality of equally spaced-apart pins 212 disposed at equal distance~ from the ~21-¢ent~al hole 211. Th~ disc 210, the hole 211 and the inte~ral Pips 212 are formed when the disc 210 is molded in an injection ~olding machine. The reel 209 also includes a hub generally ~d~cated at 213. The hub 213 has a central tubular hub portion ~1~ joined to an end wall 21S. The pins 212 are received in matiAg hoLes 212' in the end wall, thereby keying the disc 210 and the hub 213 for rotation together as a unit. Spaced out-wardly from the hub portion 214 and joined integrally to the end wall 215 are a plurality of flexible, resilient, cantilever mounted fingers 216. The fingers 216 extend slightly outwardly and away from each other while the core 208 is disposed thereon.
The free ends of the fingers 216 have proiections 217. Each of the projeotions 217 has a pair of sloping faces 218 and 219.
The face 218 facilitates loading of the label roll onto the hub 213, and the face 219 provides a ramp which preven~s accidental shifting of the roll off rom the hub 213, but enables the spent core 208 to be readily removed by the user, ~hen the supply roll is loaded onto the reel 209 and when the spent core 208 is removed, the fingers 216 deflect inwardly. The post or shaft 1~1 extends through the hole 211 in the disc 210 and through a bore 200 in the hub portion 214. A retainer 221 received ~y the marginal end of the ~haft 181 prevents the reel 209 from shifting off the post or shaft 181 and prevents the hub 213 from separating from the disc 210 so that the pi~s 212 do not lose engagement with the holes 212'. Th~ hub 213 is also injection molded. The disc 210 definas one edge of ~he fa¢d path so that the composite web 203 which gs paid out of the roli starts in precise alignment with the platen 174 and th~ foc~ wheel 17].

i'7 An actuator generally indicatled at 222 is shown to take the form of a pivotally operated lever mounted by support 3tructure generally indicated at 2~2s including a pivot pin 223 received in an eccentric 224 in the ~orm of a le~ve. The actuator 222 is urged in a counterclockwise direction (FIGURES
8 and 10) by a spring assembly 225. Briefly stated, the spri~g assembly 225 includes a compression spri~g ~26.
~ he actuator 222 carrie~ a gsar or gear ~ection 227 having an opening 228 provided by a missi~g too~h. ~he gear ~ection 227 is i~ meshing engagement with thQ gear ~ection 229 of the gear 172. The gear section ~29 has one large tooth 230 which meshes with the teeth adjacent the spac~ 228. In that the ~ooth 230 can only fit into the opening 228~ th ~ctuator 222 can only be assembled in the proper relative po~ition with respect to the g4ar 172. The gear 172 also has a gear section or segment 231 in meshing engagement with the gear section or r~ck 232 formed in~egrally with ~he pri~ head frame 194. The gear section 231 has an opening 233 provided by a missing tooth and the gear section 232 has o~e larg~ tooth 234 received in the opening 233 so that the prin~ head 170 can only be assembled in the proper relative po~itio~ with respect to the gear 172. Assuming the handle 159 i3 being held ln ths u~er's hand, the user's fingers can operate the act~lator 222 to pivot the actuator 222 cloclcwise (FIGURES 8 and 10 ) again~t th~ force o the spring 226 in the spring device 225, ther~by '`
.
;: .

--~3-- .

,a~

causing the gear 172 to rotate counterclockwise to in turn drive the print head 170 into printing cooperation with a label 207 which is dispos~d in overlying relationship on the platen 174. Release of the actuator 222 enables the spring 226 to return the actuator 222, the gear 172, and the print head 170 as well as other components to be described below, to their initial positions. Sections 152 and 154 have stops 151'.
A drive shaft 235 is m~lcled integrally with the gear 172. A support 236 in the form of a tube or tubular beariny is suitably secured in a hole 237l in the frame plate 155 as best shown in FIGURE 18. The feed wheel 171 has a plurality of pairs of transversely spaced-apart te~th 171' which engage the supporting material web 205, as is described below in greater detail. The tseth 171' are shown exaggeratedly in FIGURE 21 to be inclined in the forward direction so as to catch the feed edges in the web 205. The feed wheel 171 is shown to include a rim 238 to which the teeth 171' are integrally join~d.
The rim 238 is comprised of annular peripheral web engageable sections or beads 238' and an intervening space or gap provided by an annular s~ction 23~" having a reduced or lesser diam~ter than the sections 238'. As shown in FIGURE 36, the sections 238' having lands 116a which are shown to comprise relatively sharp ridges so as to pxovide essentially line contact betw~en the web 205 and the lands 116a. Gaps i~ the form of grooves 115a between the lands 116a and the section 238" reduce the contact area ~o a v2ry small percentage, less than fifty percent and as illustrated preferably less than ~en percent o~ the pexipheral area which would otherwise constitute tho surface area of the feed wheel 171. Some adhesive, gum or the like that adheres to the feed wheel 171 will collect in tha gaps 115a, but because of this, the external diameter of the ~eed wheel 171 as defined by the lands 116a will not increase; such an increase in diameter would be detrimental in that it would inc:rease the lengths of the web which the feed wheel 171 would feecl upon each actuation of actuator 222. By way of example not limitation, the depth of ths gaps 115a is about 0~025 inch and each section 238' has one hundred nineteen lands 116a. Although the lands 116a are characteriæed as being sharp they do not cut into the web 205.
Feeding is brought about through engagement of the teeth 171' with the web. The feed wheel being comprised at least at its periphery of plastics material (which inherently has a low coefficient of friction). Additionally, the peripheral surface of the feed wheel 171 is preferably coated with either a liquid or a permanent coating of a material that tends to retard the accumulation of adhesive, gum or the like, or to incorporate a suitable lubricant along with the plastics material rom which the feed wheel 171 is molded. An annular wall 239 joi~s the rim 238 and a hub portion 240. The hub portion 240 has a bor~
portion 241 which merges into a larger bore portion 242. The bore portion 242 is provided with projections comprised of a great numher of grooves and ridges or flutes 244 which extend in the axial direction. A rolling-contact type one way clutch 243 is receivcd in the bore portion 242. The initial internal diametor of the bore portion 242 defined by the cre~ts o the projec~ions, that is, ridges 244 is less than the outer diame~er clutch 243 is assen-blad into the feed wheel 171 by ~orcing the clutch 243 into the bore portion 242 and the ridges 244 yield slightly and frictionally hold the clutch 243 in the po~ition shown in FIGURE 18. The clutch 243 ha.~ a plurality of r~ller3 245 which contact the outer circular cylindrical surface 246 o~
the support 236. The one-way clutch 243 act3 as a bearing and enable~ the feed wheel 171 to rotate clockwi~e a~ view~d in FIGURES 8 and 17 but prevents count~rclockwise movement. By way of example not limitation, a ~pecific embodiment of a clutch which is useful in the present invention is made by The Torrington Company, Torrington, Connecticut 06790 U~S.A. and is de4cribed in their catalog RC-6, Copyright 19~9, and is reerred to as a roller clutch, catalog No. RC~081208.
A fragmenta~y portion of the clutch ~43 i~ shown in FIGURES 19 and 20. In the position shown in FIGU~E 19, the clutch 243 is prevent~ng the feed wheel 171 from rotating counter-clockwise in that the rollers 245 are in wedging contact with respective inclined surface~ 247, wherea~ ln FIGURE 20 the feed wheel 171 is shown to be rotating in the d~rection of arrow A and the rollers 245 are not binding betwe~n the ~ur~ace~ 247 and the sur~ace 246. The clutch 243 is ~pring loaded in that springs diagrammatically indicated at 248 urge the roller~
245 con~inuou~ly against both the surface~ 246 and 247 so that any backlash of the clutch 243 is neglig~ble and i~ sub-stantially less than in the event a pawl i~ u~ed. The fe~d wheel 171 also includes webs 249 which join the rim 238, the wall 239, and the hub 240. The inner p~riphery o~ the :q:! ~ Y, ~ .

rim 238 on one side of the wall 23~ has a plurality of grooves 250 and ridges 251 in an annular arrangement~ The gxooves 250 and ridges 251 extend.in the axial direction. A ratchet wheel generally indicated at 252 ha~ a plurality of ratchet teeth 253~
The eeth 253 are formed integrally with one ~id~ o~ a wall 254.
An annular wall or flange 255 shown to have a plurality of equally spaced-apart openings 256 has a plurallty of grooves 257 ~nd ridges 258. The grooves 250 2~d ridges 251 and the grooves 257 and ridges 258 have the same pitch and are complementary with respect to each other. The xatchet wheel 252 also has an annular hub 259 with an internal bore 260. The support 236 is adapted to extend into the bore 260 to a position in which the end of the hub 259 contacts one end of the clutch 243. In this position, the ridges 258 and grooves 257 of ~he ratchet wheel 252 are received respectively in the compleme~tary respective grooves 250 and ridges 251 of the fePd wheel 171.
By moving the ratehet wheel out of its as~embled position to the position shown in FIGURE 18, ~he position of ~he ratchet wheel 252 relative ~o the feed wheel 171 can be selectively changed. Such a change will result in a change of registration of ~he label 207 at the printing zone between the print head 170 and the platen 174 and in a chan~e in position to which the web 205 and the leading label 207 are advanced relative to th.
delaminator 175. The mechanism by which this is accomplished i8 similar in some respects and different ir~ others from that disclosed in U.S. patent No. 3,783,0830 The grooves 250 and ridges 251 cooperable ~ith respective ridges 258 and grooves 257 key ths feed wheel 171 and the ratchet wheel 252 together against relative rotationO
~lso the feed wheel L71 and the ratchet wheel 252 can rotate only in one direction due o the action of the clutch ~43.

Drive shaft 235 is rotatably mounted in a circular cylindrical bore 261 in the ~upport 236. The drive shaft 235 receives a split yieldable hub 263 of pawl structure generally indicated at 264. The pawl structure 264 includes a pawl 265 which is cooperable with the teeth 253 one-at-a-time as seen fox example, in FIGURE lO. Like thle gear 172, the feed wheel 171 and the ratchet wheel 252, the pawl structure 264 is composed of molded plastics material. The s,plit hub 263 ha an internal bore 266 with a flat 267 which is received a~ainst a flat 262 on the shaft 235. A clamp 268 is received about the hub 263.
The clamp 268 places the split hub 263 undsr hoop compression so that the pawl structure 264 is securely and reliably but removably mounted on the shaft 235. Becau~e of the cooperable flats 262 and 267 and because the drive shaft 235 is formed integrally with the gear 172, the pawl structure 264 and the gear 172 rotate as a unit. When the operator ~2 is pivoted clock-wise~ as viewed in FI~URES 8 and lO, the gear 172, as previously described, rotates counterclockwise. Counterclockwise rotation of the gear 172 causes the pawl structure 264 to also rotate counterclockwise, thereby bringing the pawl 265 into drivi~g relationship with the next successive tooth 253. Upon release of the actuator 222, the return spring 226 causes the gear 172 and the pawl structure 264 to rotate clockwise. Accordingly, the drive end 269 of the pawl 265 drives the ratchet wheel 25~
and the feed wheel 171 in a clockwise diraction, thereby causing advance of the composite web 203.

-2~-~9~'7 With reference to FIGURES 21 through 23 there is sho~ a brake mechanism generally indicated at 270~ The brake mechanism 270 includes a brake member 271 and an arm 272 integrally joined by a hub 2730 The hub 273 i5 pivotally mounted on a stud 273' secured to the frame plate 155. Tha brake member 271 includes a flexib.le resilient brake shoe 274 for applying a braking force against the composit~ web 203.
tension spring 275 (FIGURES 8 and 11) is connec~ed at one end to a turned-up tab 276 o~ the frame plate 155 and at its other end to a post 277 formed integrally with the brake member 271.
The post 277 extends through an-arcuate slot 278 in the frame plate 155 and the spring 275 connects the tab 276 and the post 277 on the front side of the frame plate 155 as viewed in FIGURE
11. The tab 276 and the post 277 are so situated relative to the axis of the stud 273' that the spring 275 normally urges the brake member 271 and the arm 272 i~to one of two overcenter positions. In FIGURE 23, the spring 275 is ~xerting a spring force along centerline 279.
The print head 170 is shown to be provided with a pair of spaced-apart abutments 280 and 281~ In the retracted position of the print head 170 shown in FIGURE 23, the arm 272 is against the abutment 280 and the brake shoe 274 is in contact with th~
composite web 203 upstream of the platen 174. Upon operation of the actuator 222, the print head 170 is driven from the retracted position shown in FIGURE 23 to the extended position show~ in FIGURE 22, causing abutment 281 to contact and pi~ot the arm 272 and to consequently pivot the brake member 271 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 22, and thus moving the brake shee 274 out of braking cooperation with the composite web 203. In the position as shown in FIGURE 22, the spring 275 exerts a for~e along centerline 282 which is now on the other side of the axis of the stud 273'. The ar:m 272 and the brake member 271 remain in the position shown i~ FIGU~E 22 until such time as the print head moves far enough away ~rom the platen 174 toward its retracted position to enable the abutment 280 to contact the arm 272. When the abutment 280 contacts the arm 272, the arm 272 and the brake member 271 are pivoted so that the spring force is again exerted along centerline 279, thereby causing the arm 272 and~the brake member 271 to remain in the position shown in FIGURE 23, until the next cycle, when the print head 170 again moves toward the platen 174 and th~ arm 272 is contacted by the abutment 281.
Due to the overcenter arrangement, the anm 272 and the brake member 271 remain in the position shown in FIGURE 22 until almost the very end of the movement of the print head 170 to its retracted position ~FIGURE 23). During the retract d movement of the print head 170, the pawl 26~ drives the ratchet wheel 252 and the feed wh~el 171 ~o adva~ce the composi~e web 203. The bxake 270 is effectivo ~ubætan~ially simultaneously with the completion of feed~ng of tha web 203.

-30~-

3~'~

With reference to FIGURE 22 initially, the brake mechanism 270 is also shown to include a brake member 283 which has a brake shoe 28~ composed of a flexible resilient material.
During use of the apparatus, the brake member 283 is stationary in the position shown in FIGURE 22. However, during loading of the composite web 203, the brake member 283 can be moved manually to its ineffective position shown in FIGURE 21. The brake member 283 is integrally joined by a hub 285 to a slotted arm 286. The hub 285 is pivotally mounted on the post 178. The arm 286 has an elongated slot 287. A slide 288 has an elongated slot 289 which receives the post 178 and a pin 290 secured to the arm to provide a pin-and-slot connection. The slide 288 has a finger-engageable projection 288' by which the slide 288 can be moved between the position shown in FIGURE 22 and the position shown in FIGURE 21. As the slide 288 moves from the position shown in FIGURE 22 to the position shown in FIGURE 21, the pin 290 cooperates with the slot 287 to pivot the arm 286 and the brake member 283 counterclockwise so that the brake member 283 is in its ineffective position shown in FIGURE 21. A shaft 291 extends through a bore 292 in the slide 288. Because of the position of the axis of the shaft 291 as viewed in FIGURE 21, in which the arm 286 is counterclockwise of the position shown in FIGURE 22, the brake member 283 is in its ineffective position.
When the shaft 291 has moved to the position shown in FIGURES
22 and 23, the arm 286 has moved clockwise and hence the brake member 283 is in its effective position. With reference to FIGURE 23, due to the inclination of the brake member 271 and the location of the brake shoe 274 relative to the brake shoe ~ Q g~ 7 284 the brake 270 is self-energizing. Thus, when a lab~l 207 is bein~ applied, the tug that the label exerts on the web 203 upstream o the delaMinator 175 causes the ~rake 270 to exert an even greater braking force on the web 203.
The shaft 291 mounts a roll generally indicated at 293 comprised of a roll ~ember 294 on one side of th~ slide 28 and a roll member 295 on the other side o the slide 288. The shaft 291 also passes through an e!lon~ated arcuate slot 296 of an arm 297 which is pivotally connected to a pin 29~ (FIGURES
8, 17 and 21) of the gear 172. A washer 299 (FIGURæ 8) is disposed on the shaft 291 between the roll member 29~ and the arm 297 and a retractable guide 300 is disposed on the shaft 291 between the roll member 295 and a retainer 301 secured to the marginal end of the shaft 291. Guide section 312 has an integral pin 300' received in an elongated slot 300" in the guide 300. In the position shown in FIGURE 10 in which ~he guide 300 is shown in its retracted solid line position, the guide 300 is out o~ guiding relationship with respect to ~he sida edge of the composite web 203. In the position shown in phantom lines 300PL in FIGURE 10~ the guide 300 is in its effective guiding position.
The shaft 291 is secured to an arm 302 (FIGU~ES 21 through 23) pivotally mounted on a stud 303 carried by the frame plate 155. A tension spring 304 ~ 8 connected at its one end to a tab 305 formed integrally with khe arm 302 and at its other end to a pin 306 secuxed to the frame plate 155. I~
the po~ition shot~n in FIGURE 22, ~he roll 293 is in cooperation with the fee~ wheel 171 and the arm 302 is in it~ most clock-wise position. In this position of the arm 302, the spring 304 exerts a force along centerline 307 on one side of axis 308 of the stud 303 tending to urg~e the arm 302 and the roll 293 which it carries into their most clockwise positions best shown in FIGURE 22. In FIGURE 21, the arm 302 and the roll 293 are in their most counterclockwise position~ and the spring 304 exerts a force along centerline 305 on the other side of the axis 308 to hold the arm 302 and the roll 293 in the position sho~n.
With reference tc FIGURE 10, it i~ apparent that the user can shift the slide 288 into the position shown by exerting a force to the le~t on the projection 288 ', Not only are the roll 293, the guide 300, the arm 302 which it carries, the associated arm 286, and the brake member 283 moved to the position shown in FIGURE 10 and hence the roll 293, the guide 300, and th2 brake 270 are deactivated, but the spring 304 (FIGURE 21) holds these components in that position for easy loading of the ~pparatus lS0. It is ~oted in ~IGURE 10, that the shaft 291 is at one end of the slot 296 in the arm 297.
Assuming the apparatus has been threaded with the lab~l supply, upon the first actuation of the actuator 222, the arm 297 acting on the shaft 2~1 will cause the arm 302 to ~e pivot2d counter-clo~kwise (FIGURE 10) so that the roll 293 is returned to cooperation with the supporting material web 203 and the eed wheel 171, so that the ~uide 300 is moved into guiding cooperation with the side edge of the web 203~ and so that the brake member 283 .is moved to its eff~ctive position as shown in FIGURE 23. Suhsequent operation of the actuator 222 will cause the arm 297 to move relative to the shaft ~91 but because of the slot 296 the arm 297 will have no effect on the shaft 291.
Optionally, the slide 288 and the operatively associated components can be returned from the position hown in FIGURES
10 and 21 to the position shown in :FIGURE 23 by pushing the projection 288' to the right as viewed in FIGURE 10.
From the place where the composite web 203 is paid out of the roll, it passes over and in contact wi~h a resilient device 310 in the form of a curved leaf springO The resilient device 310 deflects when the feed wheel 171 is advancing the composite web 203 and after the brake 270 is applied the device 310 gradually returns as additional web 203 is caused to be paid out of the supply roll~ Track structure generally indicated at 311 includes guide track sections 312, 313 and 31~. The track section 312 has a forked end 3I5 which is received by marginal end 316 of an extension 318 of the platen 174. The track section 312 has a short tubular portion 319 which i~
received by the post 179. Accordingly, the track section 312 is securely held in position relative to the frame plate 155 by the mar~inal end 316 and by the post 179. After passing in contact with the resilient de~ice 310, the composite we~ 203 enters a first zonQ Zl above the track structure 312 and below the print head 1700 The print head 170 carrie~ a roll 320 comprised of a plurality of for exampl2, three rollers 321 rotatably moun'ed on a shaft 322 mounted on the print head 17~.
The rollers 321 def.lect the composite web 203 into contact with the track section 312 as the print head 170; moves between its retracted position shown in solid lines in FIGURE 10 and the printing position shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 10.
The roll 320 reduces to a minimum t:he frictional force which would otherwise exist if the compoC;ite web 203 would be rubbed by the print head 170. In that there are a plurality of rollers 321 there is no tendency to bind on the shaft 322 as if only one long roll ~not sho~m) were providedO ~rom the zone Z1 the composite web 203 passes partly around a roll yenerally indicated at 323 which is comprised o~ a plurality, for example three, rollers 177. The rollers 177 can rotate freely on the post 176. In that a plurality of rollers 177 are provided, there is no tendency of these rollers 177 to bind on the post 176 as i~ only one long roll (not shown) were provided. After the composite web 203 passes around the roll 323, a label 207 of the composite web 203 i~ disposed be~ween the platen 174 and the print head 170. FIGU~E 10 shows one of the labels 207 as being almost entirely delaminated from the supporting material web 205 and ready to be applied by applicator 173. The applicator 173 is shown to comprise a roll rotatably mounted on a post 325 ~ecured to the frame plate 155~ although othar types of applica-tors can be used instead if desired. A removable retainer 326 maintains the applicator 173 on the post 325. In the loading position shown in FIGURE 10, the composite web 203 passes partly around an end of the slide 28a and partly around the roll 293 and from there partly around the feed whesl 171. The shaft 178 carries a roller 327 (FIGURE 8) between the hub 285 and the frame plate 155 and a roller 328 disposed betwe~n the slide 288 and a retainer 329. When the ~lide 288 is in the position shown in FIGURE 22, for example, the web 205 is in sliding contact with the end of the slide 288 and in rolling contact with thc rollers 327 and 328.
The track section 313 cooperates with the track section 314 to provide a discharge chuta at a zone Z2 through which the supporting material web 205 exit~. The track section 313 has a pair o~ spaced-apart tubular portions 330 and 331 received respectively by posts 179 a~d 180. The trac~ section 313 has an integrally formed curved retaining braclcet 332 which passes partly around a flan~e 333 of a post 334. Thu~, the track section 313 is secured to the frame plate 155 and to the housing section 152. The trac~ section 313 includes a channel-shaped portion 335 to which the connector 332 is join~d.
The track section 314 has an offset flange 336 which fits into ~he channel-shaped portion 335 to i~terlock the track section 314 with the track section 313. The track section 314 also has a curYed retaining bracket 337 which extends partly around the flange 333 and has a pair of spaced-apaxt offset flanges 338 and 339 which fit against the outside of the chænne}-shaped portion 335. A tubular portion 330' secures one end o~ the trac~
section 314 to the frameplate and the flanges 336, 338 and 339 interloc~; the track sections 313 and 314~ The tubulsr portion 319 is received by the post 179 between the tubular portion 330 and 330'. The track structure 311 also include~ a stripper 340 which engages the smooth annular outer surface 171a of the feed wheel 171. The stripper 340 is provided with a pair of ofset flanges 341 and 342 which fit respectively into grooves 343 and 344 in the track section 313. The post 179 is longer than the com-bined lengths of the tubular poxtions 319, 330 and 330' and `

8'7 thus a projection 345 formed integrally with the stripper 340 can fit snugly into the end of the tubular portion 331.
As best shown in FIGURE 26, the ~silient devic~
310 has a marginal end 346 ha~ing a pair of holes 347. A
connector 348 includes a plate section 349, a pair of upstanding aligned members 350 which lie in one plane, and a member 351 which lies in a plane parallel to the plane o~ members 350.
Each member 350 includes a tapered stud 352. The device 310 can be assembled onto the connector 348 by passing the marginal portion 346 batween the members 350 and 351 until the studs 352 are received in the holes 347; the marginal end 346 flexes slightly to allow this to happen. The member 351 retains the spring device 310 in the assembled position relative to the connector. The connector 348 is received in an undercut recess 353 in ~he track section 312 as shown in FIGURE 10. The housing is shown to have an opening 354 (FIGVRE 10) having relatively sharp external edges 35S and 356 whic~ can s~rv~
as cutting edges for removing the excess w~b 205. The knife 355 can cut the web 205 ~y drawing the web 205 upwardly and the knife 356 can cut the web by pulling the web downwardly.
The housing section 153 mounts a lo~k generally indicated at 357 best shown in FIGURES 4 a~d 25. The lock 357 includes a slide member 358 received in an elonga~ed pocket 359 in the housing section 153. The slide 358 include3 a manually engageable projectio~ 360 for moving tha slide 357 against the force of a compression spring 361. The spring 361 bea~
against a flange 362 and the end of the ~lot 3~3. The slide .,,~.,~

358 includes a pair of spaced apart generally parallel flexible resiliQnt arms 364 ha~ing respective projections 365 and tapered faces 366. In assembling the slide 358 onto the housing section 153, the slide is manually pressed into the slot 363; this causes the arms 364 to yiel~ resiliently and to return once their projections 365 are against the inside o~ the housing section 153 as shown in FIGUnE 25,. A blocX 367 disposed between and spaced from the arms 364 has a blind hole 368 for receiving the other end portion of the spring 361. In its assembled condition, the spring 361 urges on the block 367 toward end 36g of the slot 363, When the housing section 153 is in the position to be locked, a curved tip or retaining edge 370 o the block 367 is received in an annular recess 371 in the post 179, thereby locking the section 153 in place. To unlock the lock 3S7 and remove the housing section 153, the projection 360 is pushed generally to the left as viewed in FIGURE 24, thereby moving the tip 370 out of the recess 371 and compressing the spring 361, and thereupon the section 153 can be unsnapped from the remainder of the housingO ~Ihen it i~ desirad to replace the housing section 153, the housing section 153 is positioned so ~hat the flanges 164 (FIGURE 8) are behind the flange 165 and then the housing section 153 is simply snapped into its final locked position. In so doing, the member~ 166 snap into recessas 167 and the lock 357 lock automatically~ This automatic locking of the lock 357 is feasible b~cause of the cam face 372 on the block 367 which cooperates with a chamfered or cam face 373 on the post 179. As the housin~ section 153 is pushed into place the cam face 372 cooperates with the cam face 373 ~o cause the slide 358 to be moved generally to the l~ft (FIGURE
24) away from end 369 of the slot 363. When the housing section 153 is snapped into place, the tip 370 moves into alignment with the recess 371, and this allows the entire slide 358 to move generally to the right ~FIGURE 24) to cause tha tip 370 to be received in the recess 371, thereby locking the housing section 153 in place.
It is conducive to smooth operation o~ tha gear section 227 and the gear section 229 of the gear 172 to have precise meshing engagement in spite of manufacturing variati~ns.
This is especiall~ true in that the gear 172 is mounted by a support 236 secured to ~he frame plate 155 and the a~tuator 222 is mounted in the handle 159 of the housing at a consi~erable dis~ance from the axis of the support 236. The eccentric 224 has an outer circ~lar cylindrical surfa~e and an eccentric internal bore 376. The pin 223 is received ~n the bore 376. The housing sec~ion 154 has a boss 379. A hole generally indicated at 380 extends through the housing se~tion 154 and its boss 379. The hole is stepped so as to provide a houlder 381. A self-tapping screw 382 passes through the hole 3S0 and is threadably received in an elongated hole 223' in the pin 223. As the screw 382 is tightened, the end of the pin 223 is drawn against the shoulder 381 by the head o~ th~ screw 382. The housin~ section 160 has a boss 383 with a grea~

number of ridges 3~4 and grooves 385 as best ~hown in FIGUR~
13. Th~ eccentric 224 has external ridges 386 and grooves 3~7 arranged concentrically with respect to the eccentric hole 223'.
A hole g~nerally indicated at 388 extend~ through the housing ~ection 160 and its boss 383. The hole 388 is of reduced diamet~
at a shoulder 389. A self-tapping screw 390 bears against the shoulder 389 and is threaded into the hole 223' in ~he ~leeve ~23. It is apparent that by loosening the screw 382 and removinc the housing section 154 and by shifting the eccentric 224 on the sleeve 223 so that the ridges 386 and grooves 387 lose contact with the respective grooves 385 and ridges 384, the eccentric 224 can be manually rotated relative to the housing section 160 on the sleeve 223 until ~he eccentric 224 is at the selected position and then the eccentric 224 can b~ shifted back into the holes 388 so that its ridges 3~6 and grooves 387 are again in locking engagement with respective grooves 385 and ridges 3840 In this manner the meshing engagement of the gear sections 227 and 229 can be initially precisely adjusted and maintained in adjustment during use. As an aid to rotating the eccentric 224 while making the adjustment, the eccentric 224 is provided with a knurled sectio~ 391 which can be ea~ily gripped by the assembler's fingers.
With reference to FIGURE 27 there is ~hown the delaminator 175. The delamin~tor comprises an injection molded one-piece support 392 having a pair of forked end sec~ions 393, a plate-like retainer portion 394, and a c~annel-shaped end portion 395. The forked portions 393 are received in respective cutouts 396 of the platen 174 and the channel-shaped portion 395 received under a marginal end 397 of the platen 174. The portion 394 is flexible and resili.ent so as to enable a projection 398 to snap into a hole 398~ in the platen 174 as shown in FIGURE 27. The hole 398' is disposed so that between the places where the printing bancls 201 contact the platen 174 so that the hole 398' will not int:erfere with ~he printing function. A plurality of small diame~er rollers 400, ~or example, seven in number, are rotatably moun~ed on a rod 399. It i~
preferred that the diameter of the rollers 400 be as small as possible so that the supporting material web 205 is caused to undergo a very sharp change in direction. By way of ex~mple, not limitation, the outer diameter of the rollers 400 is about 0.08 inch, the inside diamater is about 0005 inchl and the length is about 0.150 inch. The outside diameter of the shaft 399 is about 0.04 inch. There are a plurality of relatively small rollers 400 in that tha rollers 400 rotate considerably more freely than would a roll haYing a combined length of all the rollers 400.
With ref~rence to FIGURE 11, ink roll 401 is shown to be rotatably mounted on a post 401 a secured to an arm 402.
The arm 402 is pivotally mounted on a post 403 secured to the frame plate 155. A tension spring 404 is connected at one end to an upstanding tab 405 on the arm 402 and its other end to a post 406 mounted on the frame plata 155. The arm 402 and ~he ink roll 401 are shown in one extreme position by solid lines in which the print head is in its re~racted position and by phanto~ lines in which the print head 170 is in its e~tended or printing position. The shaft 401' extends through an arcuate slot 407 in the frame plate 155. With reference to FIGURE 28, the ink roll 401 is shown to comprise a hub generally indicated at 408. The hub 408 is shown to include a pair of hub portions 409 and 410 having respective bores 411 and 412 align~d with respect to each other. Tlle shaft 401' is shown to be received in the bores 411 and 412. The hub portion 409 has a reduce~-diameter, continuous, annular projection 413 received in a continuous annular socket 414. The projection 413 has a continuous annular external groove 415 and the hub portion 410 has a continuous annular internal bead or projection 416. The groove 415 is shallow and the mating bead 416 is relatively small so that the projection 413 can be snap-fitted into tbe socket 414 a~ the flexible resilient material o which the hub portions 409 and 410 is composed yields, It is a feature of the invention that the head 416 in the socket 414 provides an ink tight seal so that ink contained in a porous roll 417 received about the hub 408 cannot seep into the bores 411 and 412 to cake or gum up which would intexfere with the free rotation of the ink roll 401 on the shaft 401'~
The hub portions 409 and 410 have raspective annular outwardly extending flanges 41~. The flanges 418 bear a~ainst bearing surfaces 419 at each side of the print head 170. The groove 415 and the mating bead 416 obviate the need for a separatP
seal ~ember (not shown). ~ washer 420 i5 received by the shaft 401' between the hub section 410 and the frame plate 155. IIub section 409 has an inte~rally formed flexible resilient finger or projection 421 shown to be received in a continuous annular groov~ 422 near the free end sf tha shaft 401'~ As the ink roll 173 is inserted onto the shaft 401~, the finger 421 yields g{1~7 and then i9 received in the groove 422 to removably hold the xoll 401 on the shaft 401'. The hub portion ~09 also has an exten~ion 423 al~d an obs'cxuction 424 in t:he form of a ridge which extend~ into alignment with the bore~ 411 and 412. The obstruction 424 prevent:s the ink roll 401 from ~eing inserted onto ~he ~haft 401' in the wrong direction in which even~ the resilien~ finger 421 would not be able to cooperate with the groove 422 ancl the ink roll 401 might shit of~ the shaft 401'.
Referring to FIGURE 9 there is shown the composite web 203 which constitute~ an improvemen~ over U.S. patent No. 3,783,083. Group~ 425 of bar cut~ or ~lit5 are provided at longitudinally spaced-apart interval~ along the length of the composite web 203~ Although there are show~ ~o be two spaced-part group-~ 425 of cut-q disposed betw~en the but~-cut~ 206 which define the end 2dges of each label ~07, one or mox~ than two groups 425 ca~ be provided in each label 207, and although the groups 425 are ~hown to be generally centrally loca~ed between the end edge~ o~ the respective labels 207, ~he group 425 can be at other iocation~, Each group 425 of cu~ is sho~n to be in a generally T-shaped configuration and to comprise a transversely aligned pair of bar cut~ or 31it~ 426~ in and preferably ~hxough the label material 204 and a transYer~ely nllgnad pair of bar cuts or ~l~ts 426S in th~ supporting ma~erial 205. The respective pair~ of cut~ 426L and 426S are ~eparated by respective land~ 427L and 427S. Longitudinally extending bar cuts or slit~ 428L and 428S are shown to ~xtend ~n and preferably through the label material 204 and through supporting material 205 respectively to the respective lands 427L and 427S. There ara also two longitudinally extending bar cuts or slits 429 which extend in and preferably through the label material 204 across each of the butt-cuts 206 into the marginal e~ds of the labels 207. The cuts 429 however extend only throuqh the label material 204. The two cuts 426S and the cut 428S of a group are aligned with respective two cuts 426L and the cut 428L
of the yroup. When the teeth 171' of the ~eed wheel 171 engage the supporting material 205 at the cuts 428S, ~he portion of the web betwee.n the adjacent ends of both cuts ~26S and the ~ut 428S tears or ruptures to form a hole in the supporting material web 205. A tooth 171' is preferably almost as wide as the combined length of adjacent cuts 426S and the intervening land 427S so that a substantial portion of the length of each cut 426S provides a drive face.
In order to load the apparatus 150, the housing section 153 is first removed by moving the projection 360 generally to the right ~FIGURE 8). ~ext the projection 288' is moved generally to the left as viewed in FIGURE 10 to cause brake member 283, roll 293 and guide 300 to move to their ineffective positions~ If there is a spen~ core 208 on the reel 209, then the core 208 is removed manually and a new supply roll is pushed onto the hub 213. The leading end of the composite web 203 is passed over the resilient device 310 and pushed i~to the zone Zl as best shown in FIGURE 10. From there the web 203 is passed around roll 323 and around the delaminator 175~, and from there the web 203 is passed around the end of the slide 288 and under the roll 293. From there the web 203 i~ passed partly around the feed wheel 171 and through the zone Z2. The entire threading of the composite web 203 just described can be accomplished without removing any of the labels 207 from the supporting material web 205. Now the print head 170 can be set to print the selected indicia on the label 207 which is registered with the platen 174. Upon the first actuation of the actuator 222, the gear 172 causes the arm 297 to pull slide 288 to the right as viewed in FIGURE 10 r thereby causing the roll 293 to move into cooperation with the web 203 and the feed wheel 171, to cause the brake member 283 to move into its effective position as shown in FIGURE 23, and to cause the guide 300 to move to its effective position shown by phantom lines 300PL. In that the first actuation of the actuator 222 from its initial position drives the gear 172 to in turn drive the print head 170 into printing cooperation with the platen 174, the label 207 at the printing position or zone will be printed. When the print head 170 is in printing cooperation with the platen 174, the drive end 269 of the pawl 265 has moved into position adjacent the next successive tooth 253 of the ratchet wheel 252. Upon release of the actuator 222, the spring 226 of the assembly 225 will cause the actuator 222 to pivot counterclockwise (FIGURE 10 ) thereby causing the gear 172 and the pawl 265 to move clockwise. This vement of the pawl 265 causes the feed wheel 171 to rotate clockwise. In that the feed wheel 171 and the roll 293 are in cooperation the teeth 171' will break through the portion of the supporting material 205 between the ends of the bar-cut 428S and the adjacent ends of the bar-cuts 426S.
The ~eeth 171' enyage the drive faces formed by the bar-cuts 426S to advance the web 2~3 when the feed wheel 171 is rotated.

; 9C~7 The cycle operation is complete when the actuator 222 has returned to its initial position. During continued operation of the apparatus 150, labels ~07 are successively delaminated from the supporting material web 205. It is apparent that upon each actuation and release of the actllator 222 t the print head 170 is first moved into printing cooperation with a label 207 and thereafter that label is advanced to a positio~ shown i~
FIGURE 10 in which the leading label 207 is shown almost entirely delaminated from the supporting material web 205. The leading label 207 is thus lightly adhered to the web 205 at its trailing end until it is applied to an article.
Referring to FIGURES 8 and 33, a rewinder 440 is shown to include a unitary body 441 having a generally annular portion 442 defining a compartment 443. The body 441 has an inlet portion or inlet 444 with an inlet slit or narrow slot 445.
The annular portion 442 is open at its one side as shown and has a side wall 446 closing off its other sideO The inlet 444 has a connector 447 including a pair o notches 448 and 449 adjacent flanges 450 and 451. The rewinder 440 is removably connected to the apparatus 150 by sliding the connector 447 through the open end of the opening 354. As the supporting material web 205 passes through ~one Z2 lt enter~ the inlet slot 445 and winds into a roll as shown in FIGURE 33. The inside o~
the annular portion 442 is provided with a scalloped configura-tion defined by ridge~ 335 and intervening grooves 336. As the web 205 contacts only the ridges 335 there is very little friction betwecn the portion of the web 205 and the ridges 335. In addition, the inside of the compartment 443 can be coated with a suitable lubricant such as silicone~ Viewing both FIGURES 10 and 33, it is noted that the web 205 is wound up in the rewinder 440 in the same direction of curl of the web 205 caused by the web 205 being wound on the roll R. This facilitates rewinding. The end of the inlet slot 445 terminates at a cuttin~ edge or knife 457 by which the portion of the web 205 in the co~partment 443 can be severed from the remainder of the web 205 simply by reaching into tha open side of the compartment 443 and pulling the web 205 against the kni~e 457.
In the embodiment of FIGURES 34 and 35, a rewinder 460 is shown to include a unitary body 461 having a generally annular portion 462 defining a compartment 463~ The body 461 has an inlet portion or inlet 464 with an inlet slit or narrow 510t 445. The annular portion 462 has a side wall 466 closing off one side. The inlet 464 has a connec*or 467 identical to the connector 447. The inside of the annular portion 462 is provided with a scalloped configuration like that of the rewinder embodiment of FIGURES 8 and 33. The inlet 464 terminates at a cutting edge or knife 477. A shaft 478 is formed integrally with the wall 466 and rotatably mounts a spool or reel 479. The reel 479 includes a hub 480 integrally joined to a disc 481. A compression spring 482 received about the shaft 478 bears against the side wall 466 and a shoulder 483 inside the hub 480. A shaft 484, snap-fitted into spaced-apart holders 485, is joine~ to an annular portion 486. The annular portion 486 seats a flcxible resilient O-ring or other suitable -frictional drive member 487. The drive member 487 is in ~ictional contact with the disc 481 and the disc 210. The drive member 487 contacts a radiused annular portion 488 of ~he disc 4~1 and the surface of disc 210. The holders ~85 have respective annular portions 489 which extend through slightly more than 130 so that the shaft 484 can be snapped anto the annular portions 489 or removed therefrom if desired.
A compression spring 490 received about the shaft 484 exerts a force on one of the holders 485 and the annular portion 4~6.
The force exerted by the spring 490 is greater than the ~orce exerted by the spring 482 so the drive member 487 is always urged into contact with the disc 210 and the drive member 487 is always urged into contact with the disc 481.
A finger 491 i5 formed integrally with the disc 481 and extends generally parallel to the hub 480. Marginal end 205' of the supporting material web 205 is received betwee~ the hub 480 and the finger 491. The annular portion 486 and the drive member 487 constitutes an idler or idler wheel generally indicated at 492. It i~ apparent that the reel 209 is drivingly coupled to the reel 479. As the apparatus 150 is operated the disc 21~ turns, thereby driving the idler wheel 49~ which in turn drives the reel 479. The purpose of the idler whsel 492 is to cause the reel 479 to rotat in ~he direction of the natural curl of the web 205 on the roll R. In the illustrated embodiment the reel 479 turns in the same direction as the roel 209.

Claims (14)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels carried on a web, comprising: a platen, a print head cooperable with the platen to print on labels, a feed wheel, means for moving the print head into and out of printing cooperation with the platen and for moving the web, ratchet teeth drivingly coupled to the feed wheel, a pawl cooperable with the ratchet teeth for advancing the label carrying web, and a rolling-contact type one-way clutch for mounting the feed wheel and for preventing rotation of the feed wheel in the opposite direction.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the moving means includes a gear section coupled to the print head and a gear in meshing contact with the gear section.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, the apparatus including a manually engageable handle, wherein the moving means includes a manually engageable actuator disposed at the handle.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, the apparatus including a manually engageable handle, wherein the moving means includes a manually engageable actuator disposed at the handle, a gear section coupled to the actuator and a gear meshing with the gear section and coupled to the pawl.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 or in claim 4, a stationary tubular support for mounting the clutch, the support having an elongated hole, and a drive shaft secured to the gear and being coaxial therewith, the drive shaft being rotatably mounted in the elongated hole, and the pawl being secured to the drive shaft.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 or in claim 4, wherein the pawl includes a split hub, a drive shaft secured to the gear and received by the split hub, and a clamp for holding the split hub in hoop compression to maintain the pawl securely and reliably to the drive shaft.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 or claim 3, including means for adjusting the position of the ratchet teeth and the feed wheel relative to each other.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a stationary support having a circular cylindrical outer surface, the clutch being mounted on and cooperable with the outer surface of the support.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the moving means includes a gear, wherein there is an elongated hole through the support, and a drive shaft rotatably mounted in the elongated hole and secured to the gear and to the pawl.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, including a stationary support having a circular cylindrical outer surface, the clutch being mounted on and cooperable with the outer surface of the support.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the moving means includes a gear, wherein there is an elongated hole through the support, and a drive shaft rotatably mounted in the elongated hole and secured to the gear and to the pawl.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, a ratchet wheel including the ratchet teeth, wherein the feed wheel and the ratchet wheel are separable for adjustment relative to each other, the feed wheel including a generally annular portion having a plurality of grooves and ridges, the ratchet wheel including a generally annular portion having a plurality of grooves and ridges cooperable with the feed wheel ridges and grooves respectively to enable the ratchet wheel to be positioned in a selected rotational position relative to the feed wheel.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the ratchet teeth are part of a ratchet wheel, first teeth coupled to the feed wheel and second teeth coupled to the ratchet wheel and cooperable with the first teeth to cause the ratchet and feed wheels to rotate as a unit, means mounting the first and second teeth for axial separational movement relative to each other to enable the ratchet wheel to be rotated relative to the feed wheel to a different selected relative rotational orientation and for axial movement toward each other until the first and second teeth engage to hold the feed wheel and the ratchet wheel in the selected relative rotational orientation.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 or in claim 3, wherein the clutch comprises a plurality of rollers.