CA1169032A - Label printing and applying apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Docket M-403 LABEL PRINTING AND APPLYING APPARATUS

Abstract of the Disclosure There is disclosed a hand-held label printing and applying apparatus for printing on labels releasably adhered to a web of supporting material, the apparatus having a print head and a platen with an impression control mechanism for the print head, a traveling inker with an easily replaceable inking member, a mechanism for adjusting the registration of a label with respect to the print head, and a return spring sub-assembly or module which is easy to handle and assemble into operative relation with the remainder of the apparatus.

Description

3'~

Docket M--4 0 3 -1-LABEL P~IN'rING AN~ APPLYI~IG APPAE~ATUS

Baclc~round of the Invention Field of the invention Thi~ inve~tion relat2~ to the art of label printing ` and applyi~g appara~u~.
:~ Brie~ De cription of the Prior Ar~
The following U.S. patent~ axe made of record: 741,520 : granted October 13, 1903 to ~ankiawicz; 3,364,8S5 granted ~anuary 23, 1968 to soekeloo et als 3,491,685 granted January 27, -~ 10 1970 ~o Tramposch; 39902,952 granted September 2, 1975 to Pe~aluna; 3,957~56~ grant~d May 18~ 1976 to ~ami~ch, Jr.~
~: 3,968,745 gxanted July 13, 1976 to ~amisch, Jr.; 4,057,4S2 ' gra~ted November 8, 1977 to Yo Sato; and 4~113,544 grant~d : Septe~ber 12, 1978 to ~o Sato.
~e =
The invention relat2s to a hand~held appara~u~ for printing and applying pressure ~ensitiv~ labels releasably carried on a w~b o~ supporting mat~rial. The apparatus include~
~: a~ impro~ed arsangement for vary~ng the po~ition to which ~ lab~l ,~ 20 i~ BdVanCed with respect to the printing zone and thi~ i8 accomplished by providing hand held ~pparatu~ having a andl~, an ac~ua~or di~ sed at the handl~, m~an~ ~'or pri~ting on~he label~, F~an~ for delaminati~q prin~ed labels, mean~
for applying printad label , a toothed feed wheel engageable w~th tha web, m~ans coupled to the ac~uato,r for moving the p~inting mean~ f~or prin~ing on a label:a~d ~'or moving the toothed wheel 3t~pwi~e ~Lnto registration with the printing mean~, ': :the moving mean~ includin~ a pawl and ratchet mechani~m, the pawl and ~atch~ mechani~m haying a ratchet whe~l, a co~perable 30 ~awl and:m~ans for varying the po~itio~ to which the label 1 , . . . . .

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~g 1:)3Z
-~ Docket M-403-C -2-advanced into registration with the printing means, wherein the feed wheel includes a tubular portion having an internal opening, the ratchet wheel includes a tubular portion received within the opening in the feed wheel tubular portion, the ratchet wheel having an internal opening and internal ratchet teeth and a selectively engageable and disengageable clutch for changing the positional relationship of the feed wheel with respect to the ratchet wheel. A specific embodiment of the invention also includes means for preventing rotation of the ratchet wheel while the clutch is engaged.
Brief Description of the Drawings . _ _ FIGURE 1 iB an exploded perspective view of a label printing and applying apparatus in accDrdance with the invention;
FIGURE 2 is a side elevational, partly sectional view of the apparatus, with the various component parts being shown in their initial positions;
FIGURE 3 is a elevevational view partly in section showing the other side of the apparatus from that shown in FIGURE 2, with the component parts heing in their initial positions;
FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but showing various component parts moved away from their initial po~ition~
toward their actuated po~itionQ;
FIGURE 5 is a view ~imilar to FIGUR~ 4, but showing various component partQ in their actuated pOSitiOnQ;
FIGURE 6 is an enlarged side elevational view showing the inking mechanism in it~ initial position;
FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view ~imilar to FIGURE
6 but showing the print head a~ contacting the inking member;
FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view similar to FIGURE
6 showing the inking mechanism traveling relative to the print head;
FIGURE 9 i8 a side elevational view similar to FIGURE
8 but showing the inking member as having moved clear of the ~- print head;
. FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of the coupling between the print head operating linkage and the interposer;
FIGURE 11, appearing on sheet 6, is a sectional view of the drive for the feed wheel taken along line 11--11 of FIGURE 10;
FIGURE 12 i8 a sectional view taken along line 12--12 ... . , .. . . ~ ~ _ . of FIGUR~ 11;

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Docket M-403-C -3-FIGU:I~E 13 is a sectional view taken along line 13--13 of FIGURE 11;
FIGURE 14 is a view similar to FIGURE 11 but showing the ratchet ~iheel unclutched from the feed wheel;
FIGVRE 15 is a sectional view of a subassembly for controlling the return o:f the component parts to their initial positions; and FIGURE 16, appearing on sheet 2, is a sectional view of a spring device utilized in the linkage for moving the print head.
Deta_ed Description of the Preferred Embod~ents With reference to FIGURE 1 there is shown a label printing and applying apparatus generally indicated at 20. The apparatus 20 includes a frame generally indicated at 21 having a pair of frame sections 22 and 23. A subframe generally indicated at 24 includes two pairs of subframe section~ 25 and 26, and 27 and 28. The apparatus 20 includes an actuator generally indicated at 29 which is shown -to take the form of a lever 30. The fram~ has a handle generally indicated at 31 and include~ handle portions 32 and 33 of sections 22 and 23, respectively. The lever 30 is pivotally mounted at the outer end portion of -the handle 31 on a post 34 which extends into a hole 35 at the outer end portion of the lever 30. The actuator 29 is coupled to and is preferably molded integrally with a gear section 36. The gear section 36 meshes with a gear section 37. The gear section 37 and the print head 57 are connected by a linkage generally indicated at 40'. The gear ~ection 37 is connected to a link 38 by a pin 39. The link 38 is connected to a two-armed lever generally indicated at 40.
The lever 40 has an arm 41 to which the link 38 is connected by a pin 42. The lever 40 also has an arm 43 having a tubular member 44. The lever 40 has a hub 45 pivotally mt~unted on a . tubular po~t 46. The hub 45 has an integrally formed spring finger or leaf spring 45' which provides a brake. A post 47 is `~ secur~d to the frarne section 22 which extend~ through the tubular post 46. The bushing 48 axially aligned with a hub 45 is rotat-ably received about the posts 46 on the subframe sections 24 and 26. The bushing 48 is keyed to the hub 45 k~ opposed recesses ! 49 which received projections 50 on the hub 45. The bushing 413 has a tubular portion Sl connected to the bushing 48 , - - . .
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', ~'~16~3 Dock~t M-403 --4~
by arl zlr~ 52. ~ pin 53 pPsse3 through ~che tubular portion 51, through a hol~ 54 in a ~pring devlce g~ner~lly ~ndic~ted at 55 and inte~ a hole 56 in ~:h~ ~ubular mem~er 44. T~e ~prlng device 55, 3hown in sectlon in E'I~J~: 16, i~ ~onnected to a prin~
head generally indicated a~ 57 by an integral pin 58 pivotally r~ce~ved in opposed tubular member~ 58 ' . The linkag~ 40 ' illu~trated a~ lnclud~ng ~he li2~k 38, the lever 4 O, and the ~prlng d~vice 55 .
With reference ~o ~IGURES 3, 4 and 5, ~he print head 57 ~ ~hown o i~clud~ ~ ~top 59 having . stop ~ha lLder 59~O
~I!h~ 8top 53 i~ molded integrally wi~h the side plate 60 of the prin~ head 57~, An interpo~r- or la~ch 61 i~ coupled ~o ~he gear ~ection 37 by a lo~t-mo~ion connection genera11y indicated at 62 ~hown in detail in ~}GUF~B 10. The interpo~er 61 ha-~ an enlar~
por.~i~n 63: with an ope~ning 64~ Pin 65 integra11y connected ~o thQ ~ear section 37 i~ r~ceived in t~e op~ni~g 64. In the position of th~ p~n 65 in the opening 64 as. ~hown in FIG7JR$S 3 arsd. 10, the ~nterpo~er 61 i~ in it~ itial position in th~3 path of ~}ae print head s1:s~p 59. Irhe print head: 57 has opposed b~11 tracks 63. 2~rul 64 and sl~CtiO213 22 and 23 have mat~ng b~11 tras::k~
65 and 66 . Ball bearing 8trip8 67 and 68 received ln re~pectiv~
tra ~ 63 and 65, and 64 and 66 guid~ th~ print head 57 ~or straight line movement. I~ the lelrer i~ actuated away ~rc)m it~
initia1 po~ition,7 ~he gea~ section 36 rotate3 the gear saction 37 through an arc cau~ing ~he 1~r~c 38 to m~v~. Th~ ak 38 causes the 1e~er 40 to pivo~. The 1evsr 40 drive~ the ~pring de~tice 55 which in turn drives th~ prin~ head 57~ When the ~hQulder 59 ' o~ the stop 59 contact~ the interposer 61, and a ~uming continued ~ovement o~ the ac~uator 29 rom lt~ ini~ial po~ition 'coward it~s actuated po3~ tion, a apring 67 in the ~pri~g device ~5 is loaded . As the 1c)ading cont~ nue~, the p1n 65 mDves ; aw~y ~rom abutmen~ or shou1der ~ IGURE 10) o~ the interpo~er 61 ~hrough ~he position ~hown i~ FIGU~E 4, and wh~n the pin 65 act~ upon abutment or ~houlder 61~ interpo~er 61 i8 sh~ edO
When th~3 interpo~er 61 ha~ ~h~ted to a po ition when its termina1 ~3nd 68 dear~ top ~houlder 59 ', the loaded 3prin~
67 wi11 cause th~ print head 57 to be driven toward a p1aten 69 into printing c:ooper~lon with a. lab~1 ~0 Becau~e of ~he ~ 6~C~3~
`` Docket ~ 4 0 3 - 5-relat~ve movement betwe~n the actuator 29 and the prlnt head 57,~e spring devlce 55 i~ con3idered ~co provlde a lost-motion connection. ~en the actuator 29 i~ released, a spring 186 ln a suba~se~ly 181 relturIls the actua~or 29, the ge~r ~ection~ 36 and 37, the lislk 38, the lever 409 the ~pring de~rice 559 th~3 print head 57 and the interpo~er 61 to their $nitial positions.
Dur~ ng return of the Q c:om~?onent parts to t~eir ini~ial po8ition8, the ptn 6S ~ leave con~act with th~ abutment face 61" And will move through l hQ posltion shown irl FIGURE 4 back to th~ inltial po~ition shown in ~IGURE 3 . By thR ti:me the int~rpos2r 61 ~ve~
back to lt~ initial po~.tion, the stop 59 will have cleaxed the~
interposer 61 80 that ~h~re i~ no inter~erence be~een the 3top 59 and the interpose~ 61-upon return o~ the pr$nt head 57 to its initial po3i~ion. Th~ interposer 61 i~ slidably supported in a guid~ groove 73. Th~ guid~ groove ha~ a cmall rece~s 74 for recei~ing end portion 75' of a spring ~inge~ or leaf spr~ng 75 formed integrally with th~ interposer. ~h~ sp~ing finger 75 cooperating wi~h the rece~~74 provide~ a detent for holding the in~arpo~e~ 61 in it~ lnitial po~ltion. Moreover, when the int0rpoaer or l~t~h 61 is other than in its initial positio~, there i~ frictional drag between the end port~on 7~' of the ~prlng finger 75 and the guide 73 so that the ~nterpo~ex fil i~
~ot accidentally ~hifted~ for exampla, when the apparatu~ is dropped~ The guide 73 al80 Suppor~s the interpo~er 61 aqainst the force exer~ed by ~he pr~nt head 57 when th~ ~pring 67 exert~
a ~orce on ~ ~ print head 57.
In referenC~ ~0 FIGVRE 1 there 1~ 3hOWn a POst 7S
~eCUred tO th~ fram~ ~eCtiO~ 22 ~nd ha~ing a ~plined e~nd por~ion 77 . With Eeferen~e ~0 F~GURES 11 thrOUgh 14, the gear eCtiOr~
37 1S ~hOW~ ~0 ha~e 21 hUS 78 rOtatab1Y reCeiV~d On ~he PO3~ 76.
A PaW1 member genera11Y ind1Cated at 79 1Y ~hOWn tO be SeCUred again~ rotation ~o non~circular portion 8G of the hub 78. Th~
pawl member 7g has a palr of ~lex$ble re~ilient drive finger~ or pawls 81 cooperable with radially ~paced teeth 82 of a ratchet wheel g~nerally ln~ic~ted at 83. A feed ~heel 84 i8 received about ~nd supported by the ratohet wheel 83. The feed wheel 84 ha~ a plur~l~ty of tea~h 85 a~ it outer perlphery. As bes$
~hown in FIGURES 11 and 14, the rat~het wheel 83 has a tubular portion 86 raceived withln a tubular por~ion 87 of ~he feed ~, , ., , _ . . . . , " , . . . . .

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Docket M- 4 0 3 o6~-wheel 84. ~he out~r periphery oi~ ~h~ ~ubular por~ion 86 has r~dlally spaced axially Qx~nding groo~e~ or ~lo~ 8 8 and the inner periphery of the ~ubulax pos~ion 87 ha~ a plurali~y of pro~ection~ 89 which extend into the groove~ 88. The projectio~
89 are con~iderably narrower than the grooves 88 to afford limi~ed rotaSional ~ravel o~ the feed wheel 84 relativ~ to th~s ra~che~ wheel 83. ~he r~tchet whee~l ~3 has an end ~r~11 90 joined to ~h~ tubular portlon 86~ Thç~ feed wheel 84 ha~ an @nd portion 91 join~d to th~ ~ubular por~o~ 87. Th~ ra~chet wheel 83 ha~ a fru~to~conical port~on 92 between ~he tubular por~$on 86 and ~che ~nd walL 90, and the feed wheel 84 has a fruslto-conlcal portio~ 93 ~etween the tu}~ular portion 87 and the end wall 91.
The ~ to-con~cal portions 92 and 93 h~v~ respe~ti~ m~ting toothed clutch m~nber~ 94 and 95 best 8hOl~m in FIGURE: 14 where th~ clutc:h ~emb~rs 94 and 95, which comprisQ a clutch generally indicated a.~ 96, ar~ ~hown to b~ di~e~gag~d. Th~ clutch 96 i~ -~hown engaged in FIGURE 11. ~ m~nually engageable, ~hiftable and rotatable oper~ng membe~e 97 i~ ~hown to b~ ro~atably mounted on a tubular portion 98 whlch is ~oined to ~he end w~ll 20 90. The ~e~nber 97 ha~ oppo~ed lug-~ 99 r~o~ived in open-~nded ~lot3 130 o~ a ~ubular portiorl 101 formed integrally ~ith the ~nd wall 91. ~n ord~ to di~engag~ the clu~ch 96, th~ user depr~es ~he memb~r 97 which ~n ~urn ~nov~s th~ clutch memb~r 94 right a~ 3hown ~n FIGURE 11 to the po~ition ~hown in FIGURE 14. ~t is prefe~red to d6~pre~ the member 97 wlth ~ coin r~ceived in a coin 810~ 102 ~o that when the ~ r 97 18 ~n the po~lt~on shown i~l FIGU~E 14, the coln can be u-~ed to rotate the fe~d wheel 84 $n either ~e forward or ~h~ rever~e dir~ction to ad~ t th~ po8ition to which a label L i3 brought into registry 30 with the pr~n~ head 57. Th~ for~e exerted upon the mem~er 97 by th~ user overeome~ the force o~ ~ compresYion ~pring 103.
When the memb~r 97 i~ relea~ed following adju~men~ o~ the feed wheel 84, the ~pring 1~3 returns t~e clu~ch membar 94 into clutching engag~m~nt w~ he ~ ch member 95. ~n so do~g it ~s not~d tha~ the ratc:het whe~l 83 i% s~hi~ted ax~ally wi~h re~pec~ ~o the feed ~rheel ~4. I~ i~ also noted that the sprin~
103 act3 aga~ ngt on~ end o~ ~h~ ~ubul r portion 86 and ~gain~ a ~lange 104 of ~ sle~ve 105 rec~3ived a~ut the hub portion 78, The ~lang~ 104 l~a~ th~ ~dditional funct~on3 o rotatably mount~ng ~ 'J

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:` ' ,ocket M- 4 o 3 7 tha feed wheel 84 and for preventing the ratchet wneel 83 from moving ths feed ~heel B4 axially aga.in$~ ~ubframe section 26.
I~a ord2r to prevent rotation o~ the feed wheel 84 while the clutch 96 i~ engaged, an anti-backup pawl member generally indicated at 106 having a pair o~ pawl~ 107 i~ pro~ided to engaqe the ratchet teeth 82. In order to prevent ~he ratchet wh~3el 83 from rs~ating when the member ~7 is ~h~ft3d to the po~ition shown ir~ PIGURE 14, ther~ i~3 pro~ided a clutch generally indicate~l at 108. The c~u~ch 108 include~ a ~erles oi~ fina lo teeth 109 formed integ:rally wl~h ~he pawl member 106 and a serie~ of ~nating ~in~ te~th 110 ~ormed integrally with t~e end s~all 90. The teeth 109 and 110 are axially aligned and are ~hown diseng2lged in FIGURE 11 and ~ngaged in FI ~;URE~ 14 .
With ref~renc~ to FIGURES 1 and 2, the appasatu~ 20 i3 shown to n~.ount a roll R o~ a compo~ita web C having the labels L
releasably carri~d on a web of ~upporting m~terial S. A-~ be~t ~hown in FIGURE 2~ the web S pas~e through an op~ning 111 bounded by converging port~.ong 112 of frame sections 2~ and 23 and a roll~r 113. From there the web S an~ the web L which lt 20 carr~ e~ pas~e between converging gu~de members 114 and 115 .
In t~s po~ition ~hown ~.n FIGlJRE 2, the brake 4 5 ~ pre~se~ t~a web C again3t the guide 114 to clamp the web C again~t movement in ~h~ down~tream directloIl. Fro~n th~re the web S passes between a pair o:E~ roller~ 116 and ~ eurved guid~ plate 117 ~olded int~grally with the plate~ 69. Ad~acent the pla~en 69 is a delam~na~or 118 for delaminating label~ L from th~ suppor~ing w~b S. The delamlnator 118 i8 ~hown to ~3k~ ~h2 form of a peel roll~r. The leading label L ic~ s3hown in ~I~R~ 2 ~co be i~ laLbel applying r21at$0nsh~p ~ith an app~ca~or 119 6hown to tak~ the fonn of a 30 roller., The appl~cator 119 is ~hown to bQ rotatably mounted on pi~ or po t 120 the end port~ on~ of whlch are received in axms 121 of a member 122. The memb~r 122 ha a ~hrough-bore 123 at it~ upper end opposite the applicator 119 for recelving a po5t 123 ~ . The member 122 ~erve~ to ~hield ~h~ print head 57 alld lnking mechani3m 124 fro~ damage when the app~ratu~ 20 t~ abu~ed a~d alao a~ a cover to 3ceep dus~ and the li~ce from enterlng ~e ~pace wi~htn the frame 21. ~he m~nber 122 ls pivot~l to an op~n position allowing ac:cess for c~ eaning the print head 5`~

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k~t M-403 -~-and for changing an inking n~mber 125 of the mechani~m 124, Themember 122 can be latched to ~e ~raml!s by ~ palr of oppo~ed latches 12Ç, only ons of which ~ 8h~wnO
After p~l89ing about the dela~nator 118 ~ th~ web S
pa~e~ par~ially around a roller 126 disposed below the plate 1170 Th~ roller 126 :Ls al30 mounted by the platen 6~. From ther~ . h~
web S pa~s~s between gu~des 127 ~nd 128. The guid~ 128 ex~end~
to a pos~tion oppo~lt~ a die rs:~ller 129 whls:h i~ contoured to allow clearam::~ for ~he teeth 85o The di6~ roller i~ moun~ced by 0 ~ hold~ 129 3 . ~h~ d~.~ roller 12~ i~ cooperHbl~ with the feed wheel 8~ to ~eed the web S. A ~tripper 130 ~trip~ ~he web S
from ths teeth 8S. ~rom ~here the web S pas~ee between guid~s 131 and 132. The gui~e 131 i~ part of the ~fra~e ~ec~ion 27 and the guide 132 i~ part of the subframe~ ~e~:tion 28. The exit end o~ th~2 gu$d~ 132 $~ pro~ided with a cuttin~ edge 133 for severing exc~3s a~ou~ts o~ the web S. The subfra~e ~e~ion~ 27 and 28 have bores ~34 ~or rE!ceiving tubul~r po~t~ 135. A po~t 136 secured ~o th~ ~rame ~ection 22 extend2~ ~hrouqh the tubular po~ts 135 . The sub~ra~ue sections 27 ~nd 28 ~re 3ul1:~b1y cormected 20 through post-~ 137 80 that th~ ram~ ~ction~ 27 and 28 can pivot a~ a unit ~bout the po~t 1316 . Th~ ubframe ~ect~ on~ have resili nt arm~ 138 which rotatably mount hub member~ 139. ~he hub me~ers 130 un~ the label roll R. The arm~ 138 have - latche~ 140 ~only one o~ which i~ ~hown) ~or latching th~
sub~rame ~es:t~on23 27 and 28 i~ normal po~ition of u~ a~
shown ~n ~ 2. ThEa s~fr~e sections 27 and 28 have projection~3 1 receiv~d in arcuat~ ~lot . 142 for l~it . ~lg the extent to which ~h~ section~ 27 ~nd 28 c~n b~ plvoted in~o an open positionO
q~h~ pivo~ing ~ ~ accomplished to expc ~e th~ de~ 131 and 132 30 a~d tl~ feed wheel 83 ~o~: cl~aning pur~os~.
The fra~e ~ection~ 22 and 23 have openir~s 143 which provide a wialdow for ol~erv~slg wh$ch pr$nting charac~er 57~ is a~
th~ prin~in~ position ~ print he~d 57 contai~3 a serie~ of axially al~gned pr~nting me~ers 57 ~ which are selectiYely settabla by a ~elector 144. Thg~ ~lector include~s a knob 145.
A ~cr~w 146 pa~e3 through the knob 145 ~nd a conneGtor 147 and : is received by a ~elector ~haft 144 ' . ~he connec~or 147 ~
guided for mov~mer~t ~n the ~ e direction as the print head 57.
The connec~o~ 147 tele~cope~ ~n~o a connector 148 formed in~egrally 40 W~tll an indicator 149. The indlcator 149 ha~ a E~ointer 150 for ~ ,' .
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Docket M- 4 0 3 --9~
indica~ing ~he prin~ing me~nber 57' with wh~ch ~he ~elector 144 i9 coupl6~d. The indicator 143 t.8 ~lidably mounte~ in oppo~d groove~ 151. The ~el~c:tor ~44 and lth2 indic~ator ~49 ~re movabl~
in th~ axial dlrec~ion, ~u~ In ~a~dltion ~ sel~c:tor 144 c~n be rotat~d . As th~ pri~t head 57 ~ve~ tow~rd and away from the platen, the telescoping cl~nnectors 147 and 148 malnta~n th~
lo~t~motion cor~nec~on between the selector 14~ and ~he lndicator 149~ A~3 ~che ~eles:tor lJ.~ hifted axiaily the~ conn~ctor~ 147 arad 148 cau e the ind~ca1:or 149 to ~l~;o ~e ~hlfted axially as a o unit with th~ ~elec~or 144.
Wi~h referenc~ to F~GURES 1 and 2, the inklng mechani~m 124 i3 shown to include a carr~er 151 h21ving a pair of a~n~ 152 ~oined by a ~ar 1~3. The a~m~ 15:2 have opposed follower~ 15~
rec~ived in ca~ track~ 155 on ~ide plat~ 156 o~ 'che prin~ hezld 57. The carrie~r 151 has a pair of aligne~d holes 157 ~or re~-eiving post~ 158 o~ the frame ~ec~on~ 22 and 23 ~. Thus, the caxrier 151 ~ pivotally mounted on the frame 21. The pivotal movement o~ th~ carrler 151 i9 con~oll~d by the cam ~ack~ 155 and th~
follow~r~ 154 to caus~ the inlcing member 125 to move from tho 20 initial po~it~on~ s~own irl PIGUR~S 2, 3 and 6, through the positions shown in ~IGURES 7 ~nd 8, and into the fully actua~ed position as ~hown in FIGURES 4, 5 and 9 a~ the print head S7 move~ from it:8 inltial po~i~ion ~o the print$ng po~ition shown in PIGURES 5 and 9 and vice ver32l . Ro~errtng to FIGU~E 6, for nple, ~he ano~ 152 have respectlv~ ali~ned hol~ 159 for receiving haft portion 160 o~ a holder 151. The holder 161 ha3 a pair o~ arm~ 162 receiv~d ~n op~3nlng~ 163 (FIGURE 6). The a~s 152 ha~e corlcav~ b~arin~ ~urfaceSI 16d and th~ arms 162 have ~earing sur~as:~ 165c A on~a pl2cs molded leaf spr~J~g lh6 ha~
30 ~rlt~grally ~orm~d b~aringa 167 cap~i~ely xeceived at re~pectlv~
beaxing sur~ac~s 164 and 165 . ~h~ sprlng~ 166 bias th~ holder ; 161 cl3c3cwi~e .~ vi~ in F~ 6 ~o a po~ition in which th~
ar~A are in a~utment w~th a . ~op face 168 ~or~d by the open~g~
:, 163~, A~ ~hown, the~ ink$ng m~mber 125 18 out of contact with the ' pr~ntlng member~ 57~ in ~1# in~tial po~itlon aB ~hown ln FIGllRE
6 D ~or ~xample. When th~3 print h~3ad 57 moves to the po~ition shown in F~GURE 7, th~ ~nlclng member 125 ir~cs ~he print~ng ~lemen~2~ 57P which are at th~3 printtng po~ition P and th-3 arm~

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Doc:ket M-403 ~10-162 ~re away ~ro~n th~ stop face 168 to the pof~ltion ~ho~m in F~GUPUE 7. A~ ~e prin~c head 57 continuec to n~ toward 'che platen 6g to th~ tion ~ho~ in ~IGURE 8, the ~pr~ng~ 167 caus2 the ink~ng member 125 to ~xert the prop~r pre3sure agail~st th~ printlng elest~n~3 57~ en ~he inking m~mber 125 ha~ movsd clear o~ the print head 57, the arm 162 arQ agaln In conta~t wlth the 9top ~alce~ 168~ The holder 161 indudes two palr3 of j~w me~b~rsl 16~ and 170. Each ~aw ~em~r 169 ha~ an ~rcua~e ~ur~ace 171 and each ~aw member 170 hag ~n arcuate ~urfa~ 2.
o The arcu~a ~ur~a~e~ 171 ~nd 172 of the re~pectivl3 ~aw me~ber~
11;9 and 170 pro~tide ~ ffocket for r~c~$v~ng a r~spes:tiv~ ~haft portlon 17 of the i~king member 12S. Th~ inking member 125 i~
~hown to tak~ the ~orm of a rotat~ble roll havlng a circular cylindr~c~l ection 174 of porous inlc rec:eptive ma~erial. The ~aw members 169 ar~ unyieldable 80 that the pressure contac~
between thc ink~ng member 125 and 1:he prlntlng elements 27~ is controlled by ~e~ ~pring~ 166 ~ i8 prefarred. ~ d~sired, how~fer~ armE~ 175 of re~p~ct$ve ~ rs 169 can b~ nud~ flexlbl~.
Th~ me~bers 169 hav~ pective cam ~urfac~ 177 and th~ member~
20 170 ha~r~ re3pectlv~ cam surfaces 178. The mov~ment of ~ch ~aw member~ 170 t~ward the re~pect~e ~aw member3 169 i~ ted by a pin 179 orl th~ ~aw ~lem~8~ 169. Th~ pin~ ~79 are contacted by the re~pQctive ~aw members 170 ~n ~he position shown ~n FIGURE
6. The inkirlg member 125 ~8 ~ecurely held irl the socket~ provid~
~y the oppo~ed pair~ o~ soncave ~ C~E~ 171 and 172. However, t~e i~king mem~r 125 can b~a r~ved by l~fting up on a handle 180 to ~eparate th~a ~aw ~mber~ 169 and 170 to open up the ~ocluat~ to ~lo~ the iJl)cing roller to b~ removed. A n~w ~nk roller can be ~n3e~eted by lining up ~che 3haft portion~ 173 wi~h 30 the~ pair8 of ~aw members 169 and 170 and pu3hing the ~h~ft ; portion~ 173 against t~o resp~ati~re cam sur~aces 177 and 178 ~co ~ov~ the j~w mem~r~.l70 relat~re to respe~t~ve ~aw m~mber~ 169 us~tll the sha~t portion~ 173 are in th2 position shown ln F~GIJRE
' 6. 2~ccord~ngly, it 1~ ea3y to remo~r~ a 3pent ~nk~ng me~ber 125 and to in~rt a n~w i~king member l~S.
.W~th reference especially to ~ RE 2~ ther~ how~
a ~uba~embly generally I ndicated a~ 181 di~po~;ed a~ and within the handle 31 bet:ween leg~ 182 and 1~3 of the actuating lev~ 30.

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3~3'~
Docket M- 4 0 3 ~11~
The suba~sembly 181 h~ a pair o~ tele~cop~ n~ membex~ 184 and 185 acted upon by the spring 1860 The member 184 ha~ a bearing 187 recelved ~gain~t a concave bearlng ~ur~ac:Q 188 o~ the lever - 30 between arm~ 182 and 183. The member 185 has a baarlng 1~9 rece~Yed i~l th~ concave bearing sur~ace 190 of the handle 31.. ~he 3ubaæsembly 181 i-~ ~hown in greate~ detail in FIG~JRE 15 in both solid line and phantom position The telescoping ~nember~ 184 and 185 have an internal open~ng for receiving the ~pr~ng 1~6,.
Th~ spring 186 i g a compre~ion pr~ng~ Th~ suba~embly 181 lo ~ncludes a pawl an~ ratchet mechan~ sm ganer~.lly indicate~ at 1~1 which ~nclude!3 a s~raight ratche~ 192 ~ormed on th~ ou~r ~urfaGe of tho ~ele~coping member 184 and a pawl 193 pivo~ally mounted 031 a p~n 194. The menber 185 hz~s a pair of depcnd~rlg arms 195 which xeceive th~ pin 194. ~h~ pawl ~93 i8 cooperable w~th 3ucceq~ive te~th of the ratche~ 132 a~ ~he ~ember 184 tele~cope~
i~to the mem~er 185 when the actuator 29 i mov~d out of it~
initial position toward it actuated p~tton. In the event the u~2r should r~lea~e the ac~uatox 29 before moving the actuator 2g to th~ actuated po~ition, khe p2wl 193 coopera~es with on~ o~
20 the ratchet te~th 192 to prevent re~urn m3~emen~ of the ~ctuator 29 and a~Rociated component part~ unttl ~u~h t~me a~ the actuator 29 i f~lly actuat~d. ~hen the actuator 29 r~aches it actuated po~tion, the ~nt~rpo~er 61 h~ moved clear of the ~top 59 a~d the prin~ head 57 1~ released ~o print on the label L and the pawl member 79 ha~ moved ~ar enough to engags ~ patr of teeth 82.
Upon movement o4 the actuator 29 to it~ ac~u~t~d po~i~ion, the lever 40 ha~ pivoted far enough ~o that the brake 45' no long~r applies braking forc~ to th~ web C~ al~o a trip membex or relea ; member 196 ~or~d in~e~ra11y with the memb~r 184 w~ll engage ~n arm 197 o~ t~s pawl 193 to pivot th~ pawl clo~kw~a as viewed in ~IGURE lS~ Th~ r~turn spr~ng 186 i8 thereupon ~ree to move the .~tele~coping membe~s 184 and 185 r~latl~ely apart to return the actua~Dr 29, the gear ~ec~ions 36 ~nd 37, th~ link 38~ ~he le~er 40, th~ ~pr~ng devi~e 55, th~ pri~t he~d 57 and the interpo3eE
61 to ~heir ini~ial po~i~io~. A1~o ~h~ paw1 member 79 driv~
th~ ratchat whe~1 83 ~o drive th~ feed wheel 84 to advance th~
web S. ~hen ~he actuator 29 i9 iA ~ts ~ni~1al po3ition, the cam 198 a¢~ing o~ an an~ 19~ o~ th~ pawl ~93 moves into the so1id llno poaitlo~ chown in PIGWRE 15 ~o pl~ot th~ p~wl 193 counter-aO,::k~t M-403 12~

clockwise thu~ initiatirlg movement of the pawl 193 to it.
initial po~ition. Th~ pawl 193 is controll~d by an ov~r~enter mechanism generally indlcated a~ 200 wh~ch include~ a 12af ~prialg 201 having integr~lly fo~m~d bearing~ 202 and 203. The~
be~ring 202 and ~he pin 194 are on ~che same ce~terline CL~ In the ~nitial posi~ion ~he ~earing member 2û3 which i8 rotatably r~ceived by the p~wl 1~3 in a. qo~ket 203 ' tend~ to hold the pawl 193 in the ~nitial po~it~on. When the member 196 ac:t~ on th~
arm 197 and the p~wl 193 i~ pivoted c~o~:kwise, the spring 2û1 i~
flex~d and a3 ~oon as the bearing 203 ex~rt~ an overcenter o~ec:e on th~ pawl 193, the pawl 193 i~ quickly moved to the phantorn line po~ition ~hown in F~GURE 15 .
In order ~o a sure that prin~ i ng is limited to ~he label L at the prlnting æone or po~;ition P t a mask 210 i~ pro~ided to co~rer the i~s~nediately adjacent up~tream label. The ma~k 210 ia thin and tapers to a fea~hered edge 211. A pair of ~paced ar~ll8 212 hold down marg~nal ~ide edge~ o~ th~ label at the print-ing po~ition~ ~h~ k 210 ha~ ~ later~l strengthening rib 213.
The platen 69 ha~ ~3paced ap~rt po~t3 214 cooperable w~ th ~utout~
215 in the ma~k 210 to locate the ma3k 21û and its hold down fingers 212 relative to éhe pla~en 69. The ma~k 210 has a p2llr of projectiorl~ 216 at the rib 213 . The pro~ec~on~ are re~eived and held ~rl pocke~3 217 in ~ubframe sec~ions 24 and 26.
~en g2~t$ng ready to operate th~ apparatu3 2 0, ~h~
var~ou~ printing member~ 57' ar~ first ~et by ~electively ~hifting and rotating tha ~elector 144 ~o that their pri~ting elemen~ 57P prin~ th~ desired dat~. ~h~ actu~tor 29, the print head 57 and the intermediate linkage 4 0 ', the interposer 61 , and the lrlking m~chan$s~ 24 ar~ $n their ir~itlal po~itions in E'IGURE 2. Th~ handle 31 i~ manually gra~ped a~d ~he us~r ~ingsr~ u~ed to operat~ the actuator 29. Upon operation o~
. the ac~uat4r 29, th~ g~ar s~2ctio3~ 36 move~ the gear ~action 37, th~ gear ection 37 moves the l~nk 38 which pivot~ the lQver 4 û .
The lever 40 nu~re~ the spring device 55 w~thout compress~ng the ~pring 67 and in ~urn thel ~pring device 55 move~ the prirlt head 57 ~oward the pla~en ~ During mo~rement of th~3 ac~uator 29, the pawl 193 cooperates wit~ ccesqive tee~:h of th~ ratchet 192 and the pawl me~ober 79 also moYeC~. Thu~, relea~e of ~he actuator 29 does no~ allow either the ac:tua~or 29, the g~ar s~Gtions 36 3~
Docke~ M- 4 0 3 --13--c:r 37, the linkage 40' or the print head 57 to return to ~heir initial po~ltioIls and does not allow the pawl member 79 to move the ~eed wheel 84 because th~ pawl 193 has not moved far enough.
When t~e stop 59 contac~s the ~n~ç~rpo~er 61 ~he~ 2novement of th~
print head 57 i8 arrested even though the u~er cont:Lnues to ~nove the actuator 29 ~oward it~s actuated po~ition. Thi3 cau~e~ the pln 65 to con~:act abutment ~ace 61' to mo~vs3 th~ interposer 61 out o~ the path of the ~z~op 59. When the interpo~er 61 has moved clear o~ 1:he ~top 59, th~3 3pring 67 fire~ the print head 0 57 into printing cooperation with ~he platen ~9. Slight addition-al movement o~ ~he actuator 29 w~.~ 1 cau~e the release member 196 to move the pawl 193 to it~ o~,7erc~nter po3ition ~o that the actuator 29 can return to it~ initial position. By ~he t~ne the relea~e member 1~6 actuates th~ pawl 193, ~he pawl member 79 ha~
moved 1:o a position in which the pawls 81 are in the path of the next adjac~nt tee~h 80 that r~lea~e o~ th~ actuator 29 will cause the ratch~t wheel 83 to drive the feed wheel 84 through th~ engag~d clutch 96. During movement of the ac~uator 29 toward ~he actuat@d po~ition, the ~nkin~ mechani m 124 move 20 through ~he po~ition ~hown ~ucc2s~ively i~ FIGURES 6 through 9 and ~he oppo.ite movemen~ occur~ when the actuator 29 is released.
The brake 45' ha~ mo~ed to it~ ineffective po~ition when th~
act~ator 29 i3 in it~ actuated po3ition and remain~ ~n lts ~neff~ctiv~ posi~ion until t~e actuator 2g h~ re~urned very clo~e to its initial po~ition ~hown ~n F~GURE 2. When the actuator 29 returns to it~ i~itial position, the cam 198 cause~ return o~
the pawl 193 into a ratcheting position in cooperation with the rakchet 192 and return of the print head 57, th~ linkage~ the gear ~ection~ 36 and 37 a~d ~he in~erposer 61 to the~r initial 30 po~ition~.
All part o~ the apparatu3 are preferably compo~2d ~f ,` molded plastic~ ma~erials e~ccept variou~3 connectirg scr~w3, ~pring~
67, 103 and 1~6, and ~he ink roller 125, thu3 making or a durablç, l~ghtweight low-cost appa~atus 20,.
Other embod~ents a~d modificatiQn~ of th~8 inY~n~:ion Will 3ugge8t themselve~ to those ~killed in the art, and all such of these as come within the ~pirit of thi~ invention a~e includ~d within i~g scopa as bes~ defined by th-3 appended claim~

. i

Claims (5)

Docket M-403-C-1 -14-The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Hand-held apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels releasably carried on a web of supporting material including a frame having a handle, an actuator disposed at the handle and movable between an initial position and an actuated position, means for printing on the labels, the printing means having an initial position and an actuated position, means for delaminating printed labels, means for applying printed labels, means engageable with the web to advance the web to effect label delamination at the delaminating means, moving means coupled to the actuator, to the printing means and to the web advancing means for printing on a label and thereafter advancing the printed label to the applying means, and return spring means for returning the printing means and the actuator to their initial positions and for operating the moving means to move the web advancing means, the improvement comprising an easy-to-handle subassembly including a pair of telescoping members having an internal opening, a compression spring captive in the opening for urging the members apart, means for preventing separational movement of the members and release of the spring, means coupled to the telescoping members for preventing return of the actuator to its initial position until the actuator has been moved from its initial position into its actuated position, wherein the return preventing means of the subassembly includes a ratchet on one telescoping member and a pawl mounted on the other telescoping member, the pawl having a ratcheting position in which the pawl cooperated with the ratchet and a reset position in which the pawl is out of contact with the ratchet, an overcenter mechanism including a spring for moving the pawl between its ratcheting and reset positions and for holding the pawl in either its ratcheting position or its reset position, and reset means carried by the one telescoping member for resetting the pawl to its reset position.

Docket M-403-C-1 -15-

2. Hand-held apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels releasably carried on a web of supporting material including a frame having a handle, an actuator disposed at the handle and movable between an initial position and an actuated position, means for printing on the labels, the printing means having an initial position and an actuated position, means for delaminating printed labels, means for applying printed labels, means engageable with the web to advance the web to effect label delamination at the delaminating means, moving means coupled to the actuator, to the printing means and to the web advancing means for printing on a label and thereafter advancing the printed label to the applying means, and return spring means for returning the printing means and the actuator to their initial positions and for operating the moving means to move the web advancing means, the improvement comprising an easy-to-handle subassembly including a pair of telescoping members having an internal opening, a compression spring captive in the opening for urging the members apart, means for preventing separational movement of the members and release of the spring, means including a pawl and a ratchet coupled to the telescoping members for preventing return of the actuator to its initial position until the actuator has been moved from its initial position into its actuated position, wherein the ratchet is formed on the outer surface of the one telescoping member, and wherein the actuator includes cam means for camming the pawl from a reset position to a ratcheting position when the actuator has returned to its initial position.

3. Hand-held apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels releasably carried on a web of supporting material including a frame having a handle, an actuator disposed at the handle and movable between an initial position and an actuated position, means for printing on the labels, the printing means having an initial position and an actuated position, means for delaminating printed labels, means for applying printed labels, means engageable with the web to advance the web to effect label delamination at the delaminating means, moving means coupled to the actuator, to the printing means and to the web advancing means for printing Docket M-403-C-1 -16-on a label and thereafter advancing the printed label to the applying means, and return spring means for returning the printing means and the actuator to their initial positions and for operating the moving means to move the web advancing means, the improvement comprising an easy-to-handle subassembly including a pair of telescoping members having an internal opening, a compression spring captive in the opening for urging the members apart, means for preventing separational movement of the members and release of the spring, means coupled to the telescoping members for preventing return of the actuator to its initial position until the actuator has been moved from its initial position into its actuated position, and wherein the return preventing means of the subassembly includes a ratchet on one of the telescoping members and a pawl mounted on the other telescoping member for cooperation with the ratchet.

4. Hand-held apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels releasably carried on a web of supporting material including a frame having a handle, an actuator disposed at the handle and movable between an initial position and an actuated position, means for printing on the labels, the printing means having an initial position and an actuated position, means for delaminating printed labels, means for applying printed labels, means engageable with the web to advance the web to effect label delamination at the delaminating means, moving means coupled to the actuator, to the printing means and to the web advancing means for printing on a label and thereafter advancing the printed label to the applying mean , and return spring means for returning the printing means and the actuator to their initial positions and for operating the moving means to move the web advancing means, the improvement comprising an easy-to-handle subassembly including a pair of telescoping members having an internal opening, a compression spring captive in the opening for urging the members apart, means for preventing separational movement of the members and release of the spring, means coupled to the telescoping members for preventing return of the actuator to its initial position until the actuator has been moved from its initial position into its actuated position, wherein the return preventing means of the subassembly includes a ratchet on one of the telescoping members and a pawl mounted Docket M-403-C-1 -17-on the other telescoping member, the pawl having a ratcheting position in which the pawl cooperates with the ratchet and a reset position in which the pawl is out of contact with the ratchet, and reset means for resetting the pawl to its reset position when the actuator has moved to its actuated position.

5. Hand-held apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels releasably carried on a web of supporting material including a frame having a handle, an actuator disposed at the handle and movable between an initial position and an actuated position, means for printing on the labels, the printing means having an initial position and an actuated position, means for delaminating printing labels, means for applying printed labels, means engageable with the web to advance the web to effect label delamination at the delaminating means, moving means coupled to the actuator, to the printing means and to the web advancing means for printing on a label and thereafter advancing the printed labels to the applying means, and return spring means for returning the printing means and the actuator to their initial positions and for operating the moving means to move the web advancing means, the improvement comprising an easy-to-handle subassembly including a pair of telescoping members having an internal opening, a compression spring captive in the opening for urging the members apart, means for preventing separational movement of the members and release of the spring, means coupled to the telescoping members for preventing return of the actuator to its initial position until the actuator has been moved from its initial position into its actuated position, wherein the return preventing means of the subassembly includes a ratchet on one of the telescoping members and a pawl mounted on the other telescoping member for cooperation with the ratchet, and means for moving the pawl out of cooperation with the ratchet when the actuator reaches its actuated position.