CA1165171A - Selective printing apparatus - Google Patents
Selective printing apparatusInfo
- Publication number
- CA1165171A CA1165171A CA000417021A CA417021A CA1165171A CA 1165171 A CA1165171 A CA 1165171A CA 000417021 A CA000417021 A CA 000417021A CA 417021 A CA417021 A CA 417021A CA 1165171 A CA1165171 A CA 1165171A
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- Prior art keywords
- wheel
- socket
- base
- lug
- wheels
- 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.)
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Abstract
Docket M-395 SELECTIVE PRINTING APPARATUS
Abstract of the Disclosure The disclosure relates to a selective printing apparatus adapted to be used in a hand held labeler. The apparatus includes selectively settable printing members driven by wheels coupled by gearing with read wheels for indicating the selected data to be printed. The read and print wheels are driven by a manually movable, shiftable and rotatable selector shaft. The print wheels are detented and the selector shaft is detented within holes in the print wheels. An indicator slidably mounted by a stationary frame is coupled to the selector shaft through a lost-motion connection to enable the print head to move between print-ing and non printing positions.
Abstract of the Disclosure The disclosure relates to a selective printing apparatus adapted to be used in a hand held labeler. The apparatus includes selectively settable printing members driven by wheels coupled by gearing with read wheels for indicating the selected data to be printed. The read and print wheels are driven by a manually movable, shiftable and rotatable selector shaft. The print wheels are detented and the selector shaft is detented within holes in the print wheels. An indicator slidably mounted by a stationary frame is coupled to the selector shaft through a lost-motion connection to enable the print head to move between print-ing and non printing positions.
Description
5~7~
-Docket M-395 ~1-S~LECTIVE PRINTING APPARATUS
, _ _ _ _ Background of the Invention Field of the Invention .
This invention relates to the art of selective printing apparatus.
rlef Descri~ion of the Prior Art Various prior art U.S. patents N~s~ 3,330,207 to De Man dated July 11, 1967; 3,886,862 to Hamisch, Jr. dated June 3, 1975 3,908~543 to Wirth dated September 30, 1975; 3,968,745 to ~Iamisch, Jr~ ~ated July 13, 1976; 3,97~,281 to Sams dated August 3, 1976;
and 4,055,118 to Yo Sato dated October 25, 1977 and West German Offenlegungsschrift 2,350,537 are made of record.
Summary of the Inven~ion The invention includes an improved, compact, low-cost print head. The print head is simple to construct~ requiring relatively few parts, and yet the invention accomplishes effective detenting o~ a selectox shaft of the selector mechanism in sPite of a gear drive between the selector sha~t and wheel~ which the selector shaft drives. According to a specific embodiment of the invention, the s~lector mechanisnl cooperates with a series of wheels. In tha illustrated embodiment, each wheel ha~ a printing member wrapped about its periphery, and each printing member has a sPries of differ~nt printing elements. The printing members are thus considered t~ be coup~ed ~o the respective wheel~, but as far as the selector mechanism is concerned, each wheel could be coupled to a printing member by having the wheels and printing :.:
~ S llr~
Docket M-395 -;'-1 members being one-piece~ e.g~, a one-piece type wheel as in U.SO patent 3,908,543, or each wheel could be coupled to a printing member in the form of a pxin~ing band which is trained about the wheel and a fixed or movable ~upport as in U.SO patents 3,886,862 and 3~968,745 and West German Offenlegungs~chrift
-Docket M-395 ~1-S~LECTIVE PRINTING APPARATUS
, _ _ _ _ Background of the Invention Field of the Invention .
This invention relates to the art of selective printing apparatus.
rlef Descri~ion of the Prior Art Various prior art U.S. patents N~s~ 3,330,207 to De Man dated July 11, 1967; 3,886,862 to Hamisch, Jr. dated June 3, 1975 3,908~543 to Wirth dated September 30, 1975; 3,968,745 to ~Iamisch, Jr~ ~ated July 13, 1976; 3,97~,281 to Sams dated August 3, 1976;
and 4,055,118 to Yo Sato dated October 25, 1977 and West German Offenlegungsschrift 2,350,537 are made of record.
Summary of the Inven~ion The invention includes an improved, compact, low-cost print head. The print head is simple to construct~ requiring relatively few parts, and yet the invention accomplishes effective detenting o~ a selectox shaft of the selector mechanism in sPite of a gear drive between the selector sha~t and wheel~ which the selector shaft drives. According to a specific embodiment of the invention, the s~lector mechanisnl cooperates with a series of wheels. In tha illustrated embodiment, each wheel ha~ a printing member wrapped about its periphery, and each printing member has a sPries of differ~nt printing elements. The printing members are thus considered t~ be coup~ed ~o the respective wheel~, but as far as the selector mechanism is concerned, each wheel could be coupled to a printing member by having the wheels and printing :.:
~ S llr~
Docket M-395 -;'-1 members being one-piece~ e.g~, a one-piece type wheel as in U.SO patent 3,908,543, or each wheel could be coupled to a printing member in the form of a pxin~ing band which is trained about the wheel and a fixed or movable ~upport as in U.SO patents 3,886,862 and 3~968,745 and West German Offenlegungs~chrift
2~ 50 537. In the illustrated embodiment, the selector shaft, which is both shiftable and rotatable, is engageable with any selected wheel. The detent mechanism for the ~elector ~haft includes a slidably moun~ed yieldable detent member which can o hold the ~elector shaft in any selected position, and ~here i~
a rotary connection between the detent member and the selector shaft. Thus, ~he selector shaft moves the detent member and yet the selector shaft i~ rotatable relative to ~he detent member.
It is another feature of the inven~ion to provide a ~lide which helps ~upport the ~elector shaft. Thi~ slide perform~ the additional function of mounting the detent member. The selector ~haft is preferably also supported at another location ~paced from the slide. In addition to the~e feature~, the detent member is cooperable with the wheels with which the selector shaft engages. Detenting directly on the wheel~ enables wheel~
of any selected width or widths to be used without u~ing a different detent member or ~elec~or shaft~ The illustrated embodiMent utilizes a gear drive between the selector ~haft and the wheel~.
The invention al~o includes an arrangement for visually indicating the indicia to be prin~ed even though the print head i8 movably mounted with re~pect to an indicator. The print heaa moves between prin~ing and non-printing po~ition~ and there is a connectox between the print head and th~ indicator that allows such movement. According to an illu~trative embodimen~, there is a lo~t-~o~ion connection between the ~ele~tor shaft and the ind~cator. The illustrated connection is made by telescoping members. The indicator is shiftable ~n a stationary frame while the ~elector is both shi~table and rotatable.
In ac~ordance wi~h an~th~r feature of the invention, there i8 provided both an improved print wheel and an improved read wheel for a print head. The~e wheels have the feature of a generally annular ba~e and a printing member received about 6S~7~
Docket M-395 ~3~
1 the base. The base is provided with separate sockets and the marginal er~ds of the band has lugs which complement the sockets~
The one socke~ and i~s complementary lug are dissimilar from the other socket and the lug which is complemen~ary with the other socket. In ~his way ~he ban~ can be connected to the wheel only o,ne way. The wheel has means for orienting each wheel with respect to another similar wheel.
The invention also includes method of making the print head o~ the invention~
lo Brief Description of the Drawings FIGURE 1 is a partly exploded perspective view of a print head assem~ly in accordance with the invention;
FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of the assembled print head of the print head assembly;
FIGURE 3 is a se~tional view taken generally along line 3--3 of FIGURE 2;
FIGURE 4 is a sactional view ~aken generally along line 4--4 of FIGURE 27 FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken generally along line 5--5 of FIGURE 2;
FIGURE 6 is a top plan view taken along line 6--6 of FIGUR~ 5;
FIGURE 7 i5 a ~ragmentary sectional view of a print wheel;
FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary ~ectional view of a read wheel;
FI~URE 9 i~ a perspective view showing a fragmentary portion o a selector shaft and an associated slide and yieldable deten~ memher;
FIGURE 10, which appears on sheet 1, show~ the print wheel with one o~ the printing elements in a printing position adjacent the platen; and FIGUR2 ll is a perspective view of a fixture.
Detailed Desc_i~tion of the Preferred ~mbodiment Referring initially tc FIGURE 1, there i5 shown a prin~
head assembly generally indicated at 20 which includes a print head 21 and an indicator mechani~m generally indicated at 22.
The print head 21 i~ ~hown to include a pair of side plates 51'7~
Docket M-395 4 1 23 and 24 connected by posts 25, 26 and 27. Threaded fasteners 28 are received by the respective posts 25, 26 and 27 and one of the fasteners 28 is threadably received by a support generally indicated at 29~ The posts 25, 26 and 27 and the support 29 are thus securely connec~ed to the side plates 23 and 24 by the fasteners 28. The print head 21 includes a printing section 30 and a reading section 31. The printing section includes a series of wheels 32 rotatably mounted on ~he support 29 as best shown in FIGURE 2. In the illustrated embodiment, each wheel 32 includes a base 32' (FIGURE 7) about the periphery of which a printing member 33 is wrapped. The printing band 33 is shown to have a ~eries of different printing elements 34 so that, for example, characters 0 to 9 and one or more symbols can be printed~ ~he base 32' has a pair of narrow gaps 35 and 36. The gap 35 opens to the periphery of the base 32' and to a socket 37 and the gap 36 opens to the periphery of the base 32' and to a socket 38. Marginal end portions 39 and 40 of the printing member 33 are received in the respective gaps 35 and 36, and lugs 41 and 42 are received in respective sockets 37 and 38. The entries to the sockets 37 and 38 are beveled as shown at 43 and 44 for ease of the insertion of the lugs 41 and 42. The lugs 41 and 42 are considerably wider than the respec-tive gaps 35 and 36 so that the lugs 41 and 42 are captiv~ in the ~ockets 37 and 38. The printing members 33 are under slight tension so that they are held securely on their respective bases 32'.
The wheels 32 are selectively settable. The selection iQ accomplished by a ~elector or selector mechanism ~enerally indicate~ at 45 (FIGURE 13 which includes a selector shaft 46 which carries a gear 47 and a manually engageable knob 48 suitably secured thereto as by a threaded fastener 49. The support 29 has an opening or aperature 50 which provides a surface for rotatably supporting the selector shaft 46. The support 29 includes a ~uideway or slideway 51 which is shown to extend in the lengthwise direction parallel to the axis o~ the wheels 32. The axis o~ the selector shaft 46 is also parallel Docket M-395 ~5 1 to the axis of the wheels 32. The slideway 51 is shown to slidably mount a slide 52. The slide 52 mounts a yieldable detent member 53. The detent member 53 has a yieldable arm 53' (FIGURES 3 and 9) and a detent tooth 54. A generally central hole 55 in each wheel 32 is defined by an internal gear 56.
The internal gear 56 has beveled side edges 57 into which the ~ oth 54 of the detent member 53 can move. The tooth 54 is shown in FIGURE 3 to be detented be~waen adjacen~ wheels 3~ and the gear 47 is shown to be in mesh with a gear 56 of one of the lo wheels 32. ~y rotating the selector shaft 46, the wheel gear 56 with which the gear 47 i8 engaged is driven to bring a different printing element 34 to the printing position P adjacent a platen 58 to print on an intervening record R. The selector shaft 46 can be shif~ed by either pushing or pulling on the knob 48 to bring the gear 4~ into meshing engagement with any one of the other wheel gears 56. The detent member 53 and the slide 52 are connected to the selector shaft 46 as best shown with reference to FIGUR~S 3 and 9. The selector shaft 46 has an outwardly converging head 59 which merges with a reduced portîon 60. The reduced portion 6Q is disposed between the head 59 and the gear 47 as shown in FIGURE 3. ~he end of the head 59 adjacent the reduced portion 60 provides a shoulder 61. A socket 62 which is connected to the slide 52 and the detent member 53 provide~ a rotary connection with the selector shaft 46. The socket 62 has an inwardly extending projection with opposed shoulders 64 and 6~. The shoulder 64 abuts the should~r 61 and the shoulder 65 abuts the side of the gear 47. Thus, the socket 62 i8 captive between the shoulder 61 and the gear 47 so that the slide 52 and the detent ~ember 53 move together with ~he ~elector shaft 46 30 whenever the selector shaft 46 i~ ~hifted. Moreover, the projection 62 is generally annular as is the outer surface of the reduced poxtion 60 and thus the selector sha~t 46 can rotate rela ive to the slide 52 and to the detent member 53.
The soc~et 62 is sho~n to be split to enable in~ertion of the head 59 to the position shown in FIGURE 3~
Although the selector mechanism 45 ~s shown to be used in conjunction with whe~ls tha~ print, this selector mechanism 45 could al~o be used in conjunction with wheels that drive S~
Docket M 395 -6-1 pxint bands about a support as in U.S. patent 3,968,745 or in conjunction with wheels that driva prin~ wheels, for example.
The wheels 32 are shown to be detentPd in any selected position by a detent mechanism generally indicated at 66. The support 29 also includes a recess 67 which extends ln the lengthwise direction parallel to the axis of the wheels 32. The recess 67 is shown to open to the outer periphery of the support 29. The recess 67 receives a detent member in the form of a lo helical spriny 68. The spring 68 is pre~erably of one-piece construction so that it contacts and is common to all the wheels 32. The recess 67 is contoured so ~hat the spring 68 is contacted and supported in the recess at four loca~ions 69, 70, 71 and 72 and extends beyond the periphery of the support 29.
The spring 68 is essentially non-de$ormable, whereas the wheels 32 deform resiliently when indexed. The turns of the spring 68 are tightly wound as best shown in ~IGUR~ 3 and preferably the spring 68 is composed of metal, specificall~ small diameter wire.
The wire diameter is less than the thickness of a ~heel 32.
The ~ases 32' of the wheels 32 are composed of plastics material which is resiliently deformable when a wheel 32 is indexed~ The internal ~ear 56 has teeth 73 de~ined by pairs of converging surfaces 74. In a detented position as shown in ~IGURES 7 and 10 for example, the spring 68 is ~hown to be in contact with both conYerging surfaces 74 of a pair. ~ach pair of converging recesses 74 provides a recess. When a wheel 32 is advanced~ one pair of converging surfaces 74 leaves contact with the spring 68 and an adjacent pair of converging surfaces 74 are cammed into cooperation with the spring 68 by the spring 68 as the wheel returns to its original shape.
The reading wheel section 31 is shown to include a series of read wheels 75. The read wheels 75 have generally annular bases 76 about which ~ands 77 are wrapped. The bands 77 have human readable indicia 78 corresponding to the printing elements 34 on the wheels 32. The base 7~ ~FIGURE 8) of each wheel 75 has a pair of ~ockets 79 and 80 for receiving respective lugs 81 and 82. A narrow gap 83 opens into the socket 79 and to the outer periphery of the base 76 and a narrow gap 84 opens into the socket 80 and into the outer periphery o~ the base 76. The Docket M-395 -i-1 gaps 83 and 84 are narrower than respective lugs 81 and 82 so that the lugs 81 and 82 are held capti~e ~ respective sockets 79 and 80. There is a continuous bevel 85 in the side of the base 76 adjacent the sockets 81 and 82 and the ~aps 83 and 84 to facilitate insertion of the lugs 81 and 82, The bases 76 a~e shown to be rota~ahly mounted on a post or shaft 86. A
gear 87 is connected to each wheel 75 and is preferably molded integrally with the base 76. Each gear 87 meshes with a gear 88 which is connected to a respec~ive wheel 32. The lo gear 88 is preferably molded integrally with respective base 32'.
When the selector shaft 46 is rotated, the gear 88 associated with the selected wheel 32 drives a meshing gear 87 of a respective read wheel 75. The user can observe which printing elements 34 are at the printing position P by looking through transparent portions or windows 89 o~ respective members 90.
Each member 90 has a plurality of functions. ~ach member 90 i~ preferably molded ~rom pla3tics matexial. The surface of each member 90 is matte or non-transparent except for the window ~9, the outer surface o~ which is arched to provide a lens 89'.
20 The lenses 89' provide some magnification o~ indicia 78 on the read wheels 75.
The members 90 have recesses 91 which have a depth substantially equal to the width or thic,kness of the ~ear 87 which they guide. The members 90 are arranged in a stack so that the gears 87 are trapped between adjacent members gn~
Each member 90 has the same width (excapt for clearance~ as an associated wheel 32 and it is apparent that the members 90 ~uide the gears 87 for rotation in respective paths in alignment with respective meshing gears 88. The members 90 also serve a 30 shields to prevent damage to ~he gears 87 in the event the print head or the labeler or other printing apparatus of which it form3 a part should be dropped o~ otherwise abused.
While the user can visually observe the printing el~ments which are at the printing position by peering through the window 89~ the user is infor~ed a~ to the particular wheel 32 with which the selector shat 46 is coupled by means of the indicator mechanism 22. The indicator mechanism 22 is connected to the print head 21 by a connection generally indicated Docket M-395 -8-1 at 92 which enables the print head 21 to move into and out of printing cooperation with the platen 5B, while an indicator 93 is only slidable relative to a fixed frame 94. The indicator 93 i~ slidable in a track parallel to the direction of shifting movement of the selector shaft 46. The indicator 93 includes a pair of opposed pointers 95 which are aligned with the gear 47 of ~he selector ~5 and with the respective read wheel 75 at the window 89. The print head 21 is guided for back and forth movement by two pair~ of opposed ball tracks 96 and 97, lo and 98 and 99. The ball tracks ~7 and 99 are considered to be part of the frame 94. Ball bearing strips 100 and 101 are disposed between respective ball tracks 96 and 97, and 98 and 99. The connection 92 is more particularly a lost-motion connection~ Specifically, the connection between the print head 21 and the indicator 93 includes a pair of telescoping members 102 and 1~3. The member 102 is connected to the selector shaft 460 A tubular projection 104 on the knob 48 extends into a hole 105 in the member 102. The screw 49 extends through the knob 48 and into its tubular projection 104 and is threadably received by a hole 106 :in the selector shaft 46. The membex 102 is free to pivot on the projection 104. The opposite sides of the member 102 are prov:ided with guide members or lugs 107. The indicator 93 has a depending, essentially hollow member 108 having four spaced apart projections 109. The member 102 is telescopically recei~ed in the men~er 108. Each guide member 107 slides in slidable relationship between two respective pairs of the projections 109. The guide members 107 are in constant guided relationship with the projections 109 irrespec~ive of whether the print head 21 is in the printing position or is in the non-printing position in which the print head 21 i~ spaced from the platen 58. Notwithstanding the fact that the print head 21 moves between the printi~lg and non-printing positions, the indicator mechanism 22 remains coupled with the print head 21 and in particular remains coupled with the selector shaft 46.
~ he shaft 86 has an axially extending groove 110 which is shown to semi-circular, and each wheel base 76 has a groove or opening 110' which is shown to be semi-circular~ When the grooves 110 and 110' are aligned they form a locating hole or ~ 6 Docket M-395 9 1 opening 111. Each wheel has holes or openings 112 and 113 angularly spaced apart by other than 180. Xn assembling the print head 21, the support 29 is connected to the ~ide plate 23 by a screw 28. ~hen ~he suport 2~ is connected to the side plate 23, arcuate projection 50', which partially surrounds the axis of the hole 50, fits snugly into a hole 23' in the side plate 23. Thereupon, side plate 23 is placed in a fixture F with pins A, B and C sticking through respective holes or openin~s 111', 112' and 113' in the side plate ~3. The side plate ~4 also lo has coxresponding allgned holeq 111', 112' and 113'. A wheel 32 and a corresponding read wheel 75 are assembled in pairs onto respective supports 29 and 86~ The wheels 32 and 75 can only be assembled one way because of the pins A, B and C. Specifically the pin A extends throu~h the holes 111' (in side plate 23) and 111, the pin B extends through holes 112' and 112, and pin C
extend~ through holes 113' and 1130 As indicated above, the printing members 33 can only be assembled onto the respective wheels 32 one way, and the bands 77 can only be assembled onto the respective bases 76 one way. Each wheel 76 could be provided 20 with an additional aligning hole disposed at an angular position of other than 180 from the notch 110' but the same result can be obtained by observing that each gear ~8 must be spaced from the adjacent ~ear or gear~. Thus, if t~o ~ear~ 88 are in face-to face contact, then one of contacting gears 88 is turned the wrong way. ~hen all the wheels 32 and 75 are properly aligned, the readahle indicia 34 are all in a straight row showing blanks and the blank positions af labels 32 are at the printing position as shown in FIGURE 2 for example. When all the wheels 32 and 75 are ass~mbled, tbe selector shaft 46, coupled to ~he slide 52 and to 30 the detent member 53, is inserted into the space within the wheels 32 w~th its end portion 46' extending a short distance through hole ~3'. When thus po~itioning the selector shaft 46, the slide 52 i5 inserted through the end of the slideway 51. In this position of the selector shaft 46, the member 102 can be slid onto the projection 104 and the knob 48 can be slipped over the end portion 46' so that flat 46~ complements a corresponding flat (not ~h~wn~ on the knob 48. The knob 48 is thus non-rotatab-ly ~nnected to the ~haft 46 and the screw 49 keeps the knob 48 from slipping off the shaft 46. The ~crew 49 also spreads the Docket M-395 -10-1 projection 104 which is split to prevent the connector 102 from shiftin~ axially on the projection. Thereafter the side plate 24 is connected to the side plate 23 by the rest of the screws 28.
With the exception of the metal screws 28 and 49, the metal ball bearing strips 100 and 101, the metal spring ~8, and the bands 33 and 77 which are composed of elastomeric material, the entire assembly 20 is composed of moldable plastics material. The one-piece element w~lich comprises the slide 52, the detent member 53 and the socket 62 is constructed of a material that is sufficiently flexible and resilient to enable the arm 53' to flex as the selector shaft 46 is shifted axially and to enable the socket 62 to open to receive the head 59 during assembly~
~lso the entire shaft 46 and the gear 47 are molded as one piece.
While it is preferred to detent the selector 46 and the wheels 32 in the space within wheels 32, in another embodiment (not shown) the detentin~ of both the selector 46 and read wheels 75 is accomplished in the space within the read wheels 75.
Other embodiments and modificat:ions of this invention will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and all such of these as come within the spirit of this invention are included within its scope as best defined by the appended claims.
a rotary connection between the detent member and the selector shaft. Thus, ~he selector shaft moves the detent member and yet the selector shaft i~ rotatable relative to ~he detent member.
It is another feature of the inven~ion to provide a ~lide which helps ~upport the ~elector shaft. Thi~ slide perform~ the additional function of mounting the detent member. The selector ~haft is preferably also supported at another location ~paced from the slide. In addition to the~e feature~, the detent member is cooperable with the wheels with which the selector shaft engages. Detenting directly on the wheel~ enables wheel~
of any selected width or widths to be used without u~ing a different detent member or ~elec~or shaft~ The illustrated embodiMent utilizes a gear drive between the selector ~haft and the wheel~.
The invention al~o includes an arrangement for visually indicating the indicia to be prin~ed even though the print head i8 movably mounted with re~pect to an indicator. The print heaa moves between prin~ing and non-printing po~ition~ and there is a connectox between the print head and th~ indicator that allows such movement. According to an illu~trative embodimen~, there is a lo~t-~o~ion connection between the ~ele~tor shaft and the ind~cator. The illustrated connection is made by telescoping members. The indicator is shiftable ~n a stationary frame while the ~elector is both shi~table and rotatable.
In ac~ordance wi~h an~th~r feature of the invention, there i8 provided both an improved print wheel and an improved read wheel for a print head. The~e wheels have the feature of a generally annular ba~e and a printing member received about 6S~7~
Docket M-395 ~3~
1 the base. The base is provided with separate sockets and the marginal er~ds of the band has lugs which complement the sockets~
The one socke~ and i~s complementary lug are dissimilar from the other socket and the lug which is complemen~ary with the other socket. In ~his way ~he ban~ can be connected to the wheel only o,ne way. The wheel has means for orienting each wheel with respect to another similar wheel.
The invention also includes method of making the print head o~ the invention~
lo Brief Description of the Drawings FIGURE 1 is a partly exploded perspective view of a print head assem~ly in accordance with the invention;
FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of the assembled print head of the print head assembly;
FIGURE 3 is a se~tional view taken generally along line 3--3 of FIGURE 2;
FIGURE 4 is a sactional view ~aken generally along line 4--4 of FIGURE 27 FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken generally along line 5--5 of FIGURE 2;
FIGURE 6 is a top plan view taken along line 6--6 of FIGUR~ 5;
FIGURE 7 i5 a ~ragmentary sectional view of a print wheel;
FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary ~ectional view of a read wheel;
FI~URE 9 i~ a perspective view showing a fragmentary portion o a selector shaft and an associated slide and yieldable deten~ memher;
FIGURE 10, which appears on sheet 1, show~ the print wheel with one o~ the printing elements in a printing position adjacent the platen; and FIGUR2 ll is a perspective view of a fixture.
Detailed Desc_i~tion of the Preferred ~mbodiment Referring initially tc FIGURE 1, there i5 shown a prin~
head assembly generally indicated at 20 which includes a print head 21 and an indicator mechani~m generally indicated at 22.
The print head 21 i~ ~hown to include a pair of side plates 51'7~
Docket M-395 4 1 23 and 24 connected by posts 25, 26 and 27. Threaded fasteners 28 are received by the respective posts 25, 26 and 27 and one of the fasteners 28 is threadably received by a support generally indicated at 29~ The posts 25, 26 and 27 and the support 29 are thus securely connec~ed to the side plates 23 and 24 by the fasteners 28. The print head 21 includes a printing section 30 and a reading section 31. The printing section includes a series of wheels 32 rotatably mounted on ~he support 29 as best shown in FIGURE 2. In the illustrated embodiment, each wheel 32 includes a base 32' (FIGURE 7) about the periphery of which a printing member 33 is wrapped. The printing band 33 is shown to have a ~eries of different printing elements 34 so that, for example, characters 0 to 9 and one or more symbols can be printed~ ~he base 32' has a pair of narrow gaps 35 and 36. The gap 35 opens to the periphery of the base 32' and to a socket 37 and the gap 36 opens to the periphery of the base 32' and to a socket 38. Marginal end portions 39 and 40 of the printing member 33 are received in the respective gaps 35 and 36, and lugs 41 and 42 are received in respective sockets 37 and 38. The entries to the sockets 37 and 38 are beveled as shown at 43 and 44 for ease of the insertion of the lugs 41 and 42. The lugs 41 and 42 are considerably wider than the respec-tive gaps 35 and 36 so that the lugs 41 and 42 are captiv~ in the ~ockets 37 and 38. The printing members 33 are under slight tension so that they are held securely on their respective bases 32'.
The wheels 32 are selectively settable. The selection iQ accomplished by a ~elector or selector mechanism ~enerally indicate~ at 45 (FIGURE 13 which includes a selector shaft 46 which carries a gear 47 and a manually engageable knob 48 suitably secured thereto as by a threaded fastener 49. The support 29 has an opening or aperature 50 which provides a surface for rotatably supporting the selector shaft 46. The support 29 includes a ~uideway or slideway 51 which is shown to extend in the lengthwise direction parallel to the axis o~ the wheels 32. The axis o~ the selector shaft 46 is also parallel Docket M-395 ~5 1 to the axis of the wheels 32. The slideway 51 is shown to slidably mount a slide 52. The slide 52 mounts a yieldable detent member 53. The detent member 53 has a yieldable arm 53' (FIGURES 3 and 9) and a detent tooth 54. A generally central hole 55 in each wheel 32 is defined by an internal gear 56.
The internal gear 56 has beveled side edges 57 into which the ~ oth 54 of the detent member 53 can move. The tooth 54 is shown in FIGURE 3 to be detented be~waen adjacen~ wheels 3~ and the gear 47 is shown to be in mesh with a gear 56 of one of the lo wheels 32. ~y rotating the selector shaft 46, the wheel gear 56 with which the gear 47 i8 engaged is driven to bring a different printing element 34 to the printing position P adjacent a platen 58 to print on an intervening record R. The selector shaft 46 can be shif~ed by either pushing or pulling on the knob 48 to bring the gear 4~ into meshing engagement with any one of the other wheel gears 56. The detent member 53 and the slide 52 are connected to the selector shaft 46 as best shown with reference to FIGUR~S 3 and 9. The selector shaft 46 has an outwardly converging head 59 which merges with a reduced portîon 60. The reduced portion 6Q is disposed between the head 59 and the gear 47 as shown in FIGURE 3. ~he end of the head 59 adjacent the reduced portion 60 provides a shoulder 61. A socket 62 which is connected to the slide 52 and the detent member 53 provide~ a rotary connection with the selector shaft 46. The socket 62 has an inwardly extending projection with opposed shoulders 64 and 6~. The shoulder 64 abuts the should~r 61 and the shoulder 65 abuts the side of the gear 47. Thus, the socket 62 i8 captive between the shoulder 61 and the gear 47 so that the slide 52 and the detent ~ember 53 move together with ~he ~elector shaft 46 30 whenever the selector shaft 46 i~ ~hifted. Moreover, the projection 62 is generally annular as is the outer surface of the reduced poxtion 60 and thus the selector sha~t 46 can rotate rela ive to the slide 52 and to the detent member 53.
The soc~et 62 is sho~n to be split to enable in~ertion of the head 59 to the position shown in FIGURE 3~
Although the selector mechanism 45 ~s shown to be used in conjunction with whe~ls tha~ print, this selector mechanism 45 could al~o be used in conjunction with wheels that drive S~
Docket M 395 -6-1 pxint bands about a support as in U.S. patent 3,968,745 or in conjunction with wheels that driva prin~ wheels, for example.
The wheels 32 are shown to be detentPd in any selected position by a detent mechanism generally indicated at 66. The support 29 also includes a recess 67 which extends ln the lengthwise direction parallel to the axis of the wheels 32. The recess 67 is shown to open to the outer periphery of the support 29. The recess 67 receives a detent member in the form of a lo helical spriny 68. The spring 68 is pre~erably of one-piece construction so that it contacts and is common to all the wheels 32. The recess 67 is contoured so ~hat the spring 68 is contacted and supported in the recess at four loca~ions 69, 70, 71 and 72 and extends beyond the periphery of the support 29.
The spring 68 is essentially non-de$ormable, whereas the wheels 32 deform resiliently when indexed. The turns of the spring 68 are tightly wound as best shown in ~IGUR~ 3 and preferably the spring 68 is composed of metal, specificall~ small diameter wire.
The wire diameter is less than the thickness of a ~heel 32.
The ~ases 32' of the wheels 32 are composed of plastics material which is resiliently deformable when a wheel 32 is indexed~ The internal ~ear 56 has teeth 73 de~ined by pairs of converging surfaces 74. In a detented position as shown in ~IGURES 7 and 10 for example, the spring 68 is ~hown to be in contact with both conYerging surfaces 74 of a pair. ~ach pair of converging recesses 74 provides a recess. When a wheel 32 is advanced~ one pair of converging surfaces 74 leaves contact with the spring 68 and an adjacent pair of converging surfaces 74 are cammed into cooperation with the spring 68 by the spring 68 as the wheel returns to its original shape.
The reading wheel section 31 is shown to include a series of read wheels 75. The read wheels 75 have generally annular bases 76 about which ~ands 77 are wrapped. The bands 77 have human readable indicia 78 corresponding to the printing elements 34 on the wheels 32. The base 7~ ~FIGURE 8) of each wheel 75 has a pair of ~ockets 79 and 80 for receiving respective lugs 81 and 82. A narrow gap 83 opens into the socket 79 and to the outer periphery of the base 76 and a narrow gap 84 opens into the socket 80 and into the outer periphery o~ the base 76. The Docket M-395 -i-1 gaps 83 and 84 are narrower than respective lugs 81 and 82 so that the lugs 81 and 82 are held capti~e ~ respective sockets 79 and 80. There is a continuous bevel 85 in the side of the base 76 adjacent the sockets 81 and 82 and the ~aps 83 and 84 to facilitate insertion of the lugs 81 and 82, The bases 76 a~e shown to be rota~ahly mounted on a post or shaft 86. A
gear 87 is connected to each wheel 75 and is preferably molded integrally with the base 76. Each gear 87 meshes with a gear 88 which is connected to a respec~ive wheel 32. The lo gear 88 is preferably molded integrally with respective base 32'.
When the selector shaft 46 is rotated, the gear 88 associated with the selected wheel 32 drives a meshing gear 87 of a respective read wheel 75. The user can observe which printing elements 34 are at the printing position P by looking through transparent portions or windows 89 o~ respective members 90.
Each member 90 has a plurality of functions. ~ach member 90 i~ preferably molded ~rom pla3tics matexial. The surface of each member 90 is matte or non-transparent except for the window ~9, the outer surface o~ which is arched to provide a lens 89'.
20 The lenses 89' provide some magnification o~ indicia 78 on the read wheels 75.
The members 90 have recesses 91 which have a depth substantially equal to the width or thic,kness of the ~ear 87 which they guide. The members 90 are arranged in a stack so that the gears 87 are trapped between adjacent members gn~
Each member 90 has the same width (excapt for clearance~ as an associated wheel 32 and it is apparent that the members 90 ~uide the gears 87 for rotation in respective paths in alignment with respective meshing gears 88. The members 90 also serve a 30 shields to prevent damage to ~he gears 87 in the event the print head or the labeler or other printing apparatus of which it form3 a part should be dropped o~ otherwise abused.
While the user can visually observe the printing el~ments which are at the printing position by peering through the window 89~ the user is infor~ed a~ to the particular wheel 32 with which the selector shat 46 is coupled by means of the indicator mechanism 22. The indicator mechanism 22 is connected to the print head 21 by a connection generally indicated Docket M-395 -8-1 at 92 which enables the print head 21 to move into and out of printing cooperation with the platen 5B, while an indicator 93 is only slidable relative to a fixed frame 94. The indicator 93 i~ slidable in a track parallel to the direction of shifting movement of the selector shaft 46. The indicator 93 includes a pair of opposed pointers 95 which are aligned with the gear 47 of ~he selector ~5 and with the respective read wheel 75 at the window 89. The print head 21 is guided for back and forth movement by two pair~ of opposed ball tracks 96 and 97, lo and 98 and 99. The ball tracks ~7 and 99 are considered to be part of the frame 94. Ball bearing strips 100 and 101 are disposed between respective ball tracks 96 and 97, and 98 and 99. The connection 92 is more particularly a lost-motion connection~ Specifically, the connection between the print head 21 and the indicator 93 includes a pair of telescoping members 102 and 1~3. The member 102 is connected to the selector shaft 460 A tubular projection 104 on the knob 48 extends into a hole 105 in the member 102. The screw 49 extends through the knob 48 and into its tubular projection 104 and is threadably received by a hole 106 :in the selector shaft 46. The membex 102 is free to pivot on the projection 104. The opposite sides of the member 102 are prov:ided with guide members or lugs 107. The indicator 93 has a depending, essentially hollow member 108 having four spaced apart projections 109. The member 102 is telescopically recei~ed in the men~er 108. Each guide member 107 slides in slidable relationship between two respective pairs of the projections 109. The guide members 107 are in constant guided relationship with the projections 109 irrespec~ive of whether the print head 21 is in the printing position or is in the non-printing position in which the print head 21 i~ spaced from the platen 58. Notwithstanding the fact that the print head 21 moves between the printi~lg and non-printing positions, the indicator mechanism 22 remains coupled with the print head 21 and in particular remains coupled with the selector shaft 46.
~ he shaft 86 has an axially extending groove 110 which is shown to semi-circular, and each wheel base 76 has a groove or opening 110' which is shown to be semi-circular~ When the grooves 110 and 110' are aligned they form a locating hole or ~ 6 Docket M-395 9 1 opening 111. Each wheel has holes or openings 112 and 113 angularly spaced apart by other than 180. Xn assembling the print head 21, the support 29 is connected to the ~ide plate 23 by a screw 28. ~hen ~he suport 2~ is connected to the side plate 23, arcuate projection 50', which partially surrounds the axis of the hole 50, fits snugly into a hole 23' in the side plate 23. Thereupon, side plate 23 is placed in a fixture F with pins A, B and C sticking through respective holes or openin~s 111', 112' and 113' in the side plate ~3. The side plate ~4 also lo has coxresponding allgned holeq 111', 112' and 113'. A wheel 32 and a corresponding read wheel 75 are assembled in pairs onto respective supports 29 and 86~ The wheels 32 and 75 can only be assembled one way because of the pins A, B and C. Specifically the pin A extends throu~h the holes 111' (in side plate 23) and 111, the pin B extends through holes 112' and 112, and pin C
extend~ through holes 113' and 1130 As indicated above, the printing members 33 can only be assembled onto the respective wheels 32 one way, and the bands 77 can only be assembled onto the respective bases 76 one way. Each wheel 76 could be provided 20 with an additional aligning hole disposed at an angular position of other than 180 from the notch 110' but the same result can be obtained by observing that each gear ~8 must be spaced from the adjacent ~ear or gear~. Thus, if t~o ~ear~ 88 are in face-to face contact, then one of contacting gears 88 is turned the wrong way. ~hen all the wheels 32 and 75 are properly aligned, the readahle indicia 34 are all in a straight row showing blanks and the blank positions af labels 32 are at the printing position as shown in FIGURE 2 for example. When all the wheels 32 and 75 are ass~mbled, tbe selector shaft 46, coupled to ~he slide 52 and to 30 the detent member 53, is inserted into the space within the wheels 32 w~th its end portion 46' extending a short distance through hole ~3'. When thus po~itioning the selector shaft 46, the slide 52 i5 inserted through the end of the slideway 51. In this position of the selector shaft 46, the member 102 can be slid onto the projection 104 and the knob 48 can be slipped over the end portion 46' so that flat 46~ complements a corresponding flat (not ~h~wn~ on the knob 48. The knob 48 is thus non-rotatab-ly ~nnected to the ~haft 46 and the screw 49 keeps the knob 48 from slipping off the shaft 46. The ~crew 49 also spreads the Docket M-395 -10-1 projection 104 which is split to prevent the connector 102 from shiftin~ axially on the projection. Thereafter the side plate 24 is connected to the side plate 23 by the rest of the screws 28.
With the exception of the metal screws 28 and 49, the metal ball bearing strips 100 and 101, the metal spring ~8, and the bands 33 and 77 which are composed of elastomeric material, the entire assembly 20 is composed of moldable plastics material. The one-piece element w~lich comprises the slide 52, the detent member 53 and the socket 62 is constructed of a material that is sufficiently flexible and resilient to enable the arm 53' to flex as the selector shaft 46 is shifted axially and to enable the socket 62 to open to receive the head 59 during assembly~
~lso the entire shaft 46 and the gear 47 are molded as one piece.
While it is preferred to detent the selector 46 and the wheels 32 in the space within wheels 32, in another embodiment (not shown) the detentin~ of both the selector 46 and read wheels 75 is accomplished in the space within the read wheels 75.
Other embodiments and modificat:ions of this invention will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and all such of these as come within the spirit of this invention are included within its scope as best defined by the appended claims.
Claims (7)
1. In a print head: a wheel having a generally annular base, a pair of separate first and second sockets in the base disposed inwardly from the outer periphery of the base, a narrow first gap opening into the first socket and extending to the outer periphery of the base, a narrow second gap opening into the second socket and extending to the outer periphery of the base, an elongate band having first and second lugs at its opposite first and second end portions, the band being received about the base and having indicia at its outer surface, the first lug being wider than the first gap, the second lug being wider than the second gap, the first end portion being received in the first gap and the first lug being received in the first socket, and the second end portion being received in the second gap and the second lug being received in the second socket, wherein the first socket and the first lug are dissimilar from the second socket and the second lug.
2. A wheel as defined in claim 1, wherein the band has human readable characters at its outer periphery.
3. A wheel as defined in claim 1, wherein the band has printing characters at its outer periphery.
4. A wheel as defined in either of claims 2 or 3, wherein the wheel includes means for orienting the wheel with respect to another similar wheel.
5. A wheel as defined in claim 1, wherein the first socket and the first lug are generally circular and the second socket and the second lug are generally non-circular.
Docket M-395-C-1
Docket M-395-C-1
6. In a print head: a wheel having a generally annular base, a pair of separate first and second sockets in the base disposed inwardly from the outer periphery of the base, a narrow first gap opening into the first socket and extending to the outer periphery of the base, a narrow second gap opening into the second socket and extending to the outer periphery of the base, an elongated band having first and second lugs at its opposite first and second end portions, the band being received about the base and having indicia at its outer surface, the first lug being wider than the first gap, the second lug being wider than the second gap, the first end portion being received in the first gap and the first lug being received in the first socket, the second end portion being received in the second gap and the second lug being received in the second socket, and means for orienting the band only one way with respect to the base.
7. A wheel as defined in claim 6, wherein the wheel includes means for orienting the wheel with respect to another similar wheel.
Priority Applications (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000417021A CA1165171A (en) | 1979-11-19 | 1982-12-03 | Selective printing apparatus |
| CA000440028A CA1180943A (en) | 1979-11-19 | 1983-10-28 | Selective printing apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US95,854 | 1979-11-19 | ||
| US06/095,854 US4323010A (en) | 1979-11-19 | 1979-11-19 | Selective printing apparatus |
| CA000362397A CA1155331A (en) | 1979-11-19 | 1980-10-15 | Selective printing apparatus |
| CA000417021A CA1165171A (en) | 1979-11-19 | 1982-12-03 | Selective printing apparatus |
Related Child Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000440028A Division CA1180943A (en) | 1979-11-19 | 1983-10-28 | Selective printing apparatus |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1165171A true CA1165171A (en) | 1984-04-10 |
Family
ID=27166850
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000417021A Expired CA1165171A (en) | 1979-11-19 | 1982-12-03 | Selective printing apparatus |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1165171A (en) |
-
1982
- 1982-12-03 CA CA000417021A patent/CA1165171A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |