CA1180592A - Label printing and dispensing - Google Patents
Label printing and dispensingInfo
- Publication number
- CA1180592A CA1180592A CA000392702A CA392702A CA1180592A CA 1180592 A CA1180592 A CA 1180592A CA 000392702 A CA000392702 A CA 000392702A CA 392702 A CA392702 A CA 392702A CA 1180592 A CA1180592 A CA 1180592A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- formations
- roll
- drive member
- strip material
- impression cylinder
- 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.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65C—LABELLING OR TAGGING MACHINES, APPARATUS, OR PROCESSES
- B65C11/00—Manually-controlled or manually-operable label dispensers, e.g. modified for the application of labels to articles
- B65C11/02—Manually-controlled or manually-operable label dispensers, e.g. modified for the application of labels to articles having printing equipment
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
- B41F13/00—Common details of rotary presses or machines
- B41F13/02—Conveying or guiding webs through presses or machines
- B41F13/04—Conveying or guiding webs through presses or machines intermittently
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65C—LABELLING OR TAGGING MACHINES, APPARATUS, OR PROCESSES
- B65C11/00—Manually-controlled or manually-operable label dispensers, e.g. modified for the application of labels to articles
- B65C11/02—Manually-controlled or manually-operable label dispensers, e.g. modified for the application of labels to articles having printing equipment
- B65C11/0289—Manually-controlled or manually-operable label dispensers, e.g. modified for the application of labels to articles having printing equipment using electrical or electro-mechanical means
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Labeling Devices (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An intermediate feed mechanism in a label printing device enables correct registry of a printing plate with successive labels on a strip material backing, and easy adjustment of the intermittent feed in accordance with the label size, in a very simple and inexpensive manner. A drive wheel releasably secured for rotation with a print cylinder is provided, around only a portion of its periphery, with radially projecting pins for successive driving engagement with radially projecting pins uniformly distributed around the entire periphery of a driven wheel secured for rotation with an impression cylinder, so that the latter is driven only while the pins on the driving wheel are driven into contact with those on the driven wheel. The intermittent drive mechanism may also be employed in a label dispenser.
An intermediate feed mechanism in a label printing device enables correct registry of a printing plate with successive labels on a strip material backing, and easy adjustment of the intermittent feed in accordance with the label size, in a very simple and inexpensive manner. A drive wheel releasably secured for rotation with a print cylinder is provided, around only a portion of its periphery, with radially projecting pins for successive driving engagement with radially projecting pins uniformly distributed around the entire periphery of a driven wheel secured for rotation with an impression cylinder, so that the latter is driven only while the pins on the driving wheel are driven into contact with those on the driven wheel. The intermittent drive mechanism may also be employed in a label dispenser.
Description
3'I.I'J~ J
F~EI,D Ol;''l~ XNVEN'rlO~
The present invelltion re~lates to :i.nterrrl:L~kent feed mechanisms and is useful in par~icular~ but not exclusively~ for effecting intermittent feedlng of label-bearing strip material in a label printing device or a label dispenser.
DESCRIPTIOM S:)E' THE PRIOR ART
_ In prior art roll feed label printing presses, one of the most troublesome and waste-causing problems is the difficulty involved in controlling the tension of the strip material webs passing through the presses during the printirlg cycles and the eventual winding up of the printed strip material web o~ a take-up roll.
More parti.cularly, label printiny is usually effected ~n such a press by passing a label-bearing strip material web around an impression cylinder, between the impression cylinder and a plate cylinder carrying a printing plate, which is inked.
For accurate printing of the labels, it is necessary to ensure correct registry of the printing plate and the successive labels, which ar~ spaced apart along the strip materialr during simultaneous passage of each successlve label and the printing plate through the nip between the impression cylinder and the printing plate cylinder.
The strip material is provided from a supply roll and, as the diameter of the roll of strip material on the supply roll decreases, and that on the take-up roll increases, it becomes .~
',~. d ,~ ,'D~P~."
very difEicul~ to m~l:i.ntcllrl l:he correcL re~J~ t:ry be~w~en th~
pr.inting plate and the :Labe:Ls.
I~ an effort to overcorne this difficulty, prior art presses have been provided with a very expensive air or electric clutches, throughout the presses, and, in cases where a very fine registry was required, photoelectric sensing devices have been provided in the pressesO
Even with such complicated and expensive equipment, StQpping and res~arting of the presses, after relaxation of the strip material, sauses many feet of the strip material to run out of registry, and thus to be wasted, un~il the tension in the strip material is restored to its required condi~ion.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved intermittent feeding mechanism which, in a simple and inexpensive manner, facilitates accurate registry of a printing plate with successive lahels in a label printing device.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a simple intermittent ~eed mechanism in a label dispensing device or au~omatically stripping successive labels from a backing strip.
B~IEE' SUMMARY OF TE~E INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided a label printing device comprising a supply roll means for ~ 3 --rotatably suppor~iny a rv:Ll oE strip ma~er:La~.; talce~up roll means for receiv:ing the strip material from the supply roLl means; an impression cylinder rotatable about a first axis;
means for gu.iding the strip material from the supply roll means around the impression cylinder to the take up roll means; a print cylinder co-operating with the impression cylinder, the print cylinder being rotatable about a second axis parallel to the first axis; means for rotating the print cylinder; a printing plate on the print cylinder for printing onto the strip material as the strip material passes around the impression cylinder; means for applying ink to the printing plate; and means for intermittently rotationally driving the impression cylinder from the print cylinder; the drive means comprising first formations rotatable with the impression cylinder and second formations rotatable with the print cylinder, and interengageable with the first formations; the first formations being uniformly distributed around the entire periphery of the impression cylinder and the second formations being similarly uniformly distributed around only a portion of the periphery of the print cylinder; and the second formations being successively engageable with the first formations for rotating the impression cylinder on rotation of the second formations past the impression cylinder, whereby the impression cylinder remains undriven during rotation oE the remainder of the periphery of the print cylinder past the impression cylinder.
~he formations may, Eor examp:le, compr:ise pins radi.l:l.ly projectlng from driving and driven wheels secure~, in a readily releasable manner, to the print cylinder and the impression cylinder, respectively.
Thus, by substituting for the driving wheel a different wheel, having a different number of teeth projecting therefrom, the device can be readily, quickly and inexpensively adapted to the printing of different label sizes.
The present invention fuxther provides a intermittent feed mechanism for advancing a label-bearing strip, comprising roll means for guiding the strip around the roll means; the roll means having a plurality of radially outwardly projecting first pins distributed around the periphery thereof for en~agement in holes spaced apart along the strip; a rotatable cylindrical drive member for imparting intermittent rotary motion to the roll means; means for rotating the drive member; the drive member having radially outwardly projecting second pins distributed around only a portion o the periphery of the drive member for successive engagement with successive ones of the first pins~ whereby the roll means ceases to be driven by the drive member during rotation of the remainder of the periphery of the drive membex past the roll means; means for rotatably supporting the drive member relative to the roll means î and means fox readily replaceably securing the drive member to the supporting means.
The :invention ~till Eu:rther comprises a label dispenser mechanism comprising a supply rol.l for supporting a supply of a label-bearing strip material; a take-up roll for receiving the strip material; means or advancing the strip material along a 5 path of travel from the supply roll to the take-up roll; means on the path of travel for guiding the strip material through a b~nd which is sufficiently sharp to cause the labels to be peeled from the strip material as the strip material passes through the bend; the advancing means comprising a driven roll rotatable about a irst axis for driving contact with the strip material and means for intermittently driving the drive roll;
and the intermittent drive means comprising a plurality of first formations rotatable about the first axis and uniformly distributed about the first axis, the first formations being secured for rotation with the driven roll, and a drive member rotatable about a second axis of rotation, the drive member having a plurality of second formations likewise uniformly distributed around only a portion of the periphery of the drive member and engageable in succession with the first formations on rotation of the drive member, whereby the driven roller remains stationary during passage of the remainder of the periphery of the drive member past the first formations, and means for rotating the drive member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be more readily understood from the Eollowing descr:iptiorl of preerred emboclilnen~s thereo~ g.ive~rl, by way of example only, with reference to the accomp~nyiny drawings, in which:-Figure 1 shows a view in perspective of a label 5 pr inting device;
Figure 2 shows a view in front elevation, partly brokenaway, of components of the label printing device of Figure l;
Figure 3 shows a view, taken partly in cross-section, of parts of an intermittent feeding device included in the label feeding device of Figure l;
Figure 4 shows a partly broken-away, in perspective, of components of the intermittent feed mechanism of Figure 3; and Figure 5 shows a view in perspective of a label dispensing Inechanism.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring firstly to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a label printing device indicated generally by reference numeral 10 in which a web, indicated generally by reference numeral 12 and comprising a strip of backing material 14 bearing, spaced apart along the length thereof 7 a plurality of labels 16 t iS fed from a supply roll indicated generally by r~ference numeral 18 to a take-up roll indicated generally by reference numeral 20.
The supply roll 18 and the take~up roll 20 are rotatably mounted on a back plate 22, on which are also rotatably mounted guide rolls 24 to 28 Eor guiding the web 12 from the supply roll 18 to the take-up roll 20.
Three inking rollers 30 to 32 are provided for applying ink from an ink reservoir 34 to a rubber printing plate 36, which is releasably secured to a printing roll or cylinder 38.
The printing cylinder 38 co-operates with an impression cylinder 40 to define a nip at which printing of the successive labels 16 occur 5 .
As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, it is important to ensure that the printing plate 36 is brought into accura~e registry with each successive one of the labels 16 as the latter pass through the nip be~ween the print cylinder 3~ and the impression cylinder 40.
For this purpose, a drive wheel 42 is secured to the shaft 44 of the print cylinder 3B and a driven wheel 46 is secured to the shaft 48 of the impression cylinder 40 by means of knurled nuts 50 for readily releasably SeGUring the wheels 42 and 46 to their respective shafts 44 and 48.
The nuts 50 can be replaced by any readily releasable 2n means, for example wing nuts, for retaining the wheels 42 and 46 on the shafts of their respective cylinders, and the cylinders 38 and 40 are provided with longitudinally projecting pins (not shown) engageable in recesses (not shown) in the wheels 42 and 46 for preve~ting rotation of the latter relative to the former.
As can be seen from Figure 2, the drive wheel 42 is provided with four radla:lly projectirly pi.ll.s 5~. ~rhe~,e plns S6 are equiangularly spaced around the axis of rotation o the driving wheel 42 and are distributed over only a portion of the periphery of the driving wheel 42.
The driven wheel 46 is provided with radially projecting pins 58 which are equiangularly distributed around the entire periphery of the drive wheel 46, the peripheral spacing of the pins 5~ around the driven wheel 46 being equa]. to the peripheral spacing of the pins 56 around the drive wheel 42.
When the drive wheel 42 is rotated, in the directio~
indica~ed by an arrow thereon in Figure 2, the leading one of the pins 56 will move into contact with and drive one of the pins 58, and the next following pin 56 will subsequently move into contact with and drive the next following pin 58, and so forth~ until the trailing pin 56 h2s driven and separated from the respective pin 58. Thus, the driven wheel 46 will be caused ~o rotate during such engagement of the pins 56 with the pins 58. However, as indicated above, the pins 56 are distributed only around a portion of the periphery of the driving wheel 42 and~ while the remainder of the periphery of the drivi.ng wheel 42 passes by the driven wheel 46, the latter will not be rotated by the driving wheel 42. In this way, intermittent rotation of the drive~ wheen 46 is effectedO
The distance through which the driven wheel 46 is rotated during each rotation of the driving wheel 42 corresponds _ 9 _ to the peripheral lellcJth of the port.ioll o~ the periphery of the ~riven wheel 42 over which the pins 56 are distrib~ted. r~'his distance is, of course, selected so as to correspond to the length of one label 16 and the spa~ing between successive labels 16, measured longitudinally of the web 12, so ~hat one label 16 is printed dur.ing each rotation of the driven wheel 42~
Also, the device can be readily adapted to different label lengths by replacing the drive wheel 42 by a different drive wheel, having a different number of similarly spaced drive pins 56, in order to effect a correspondinyly different rotary displacement of the driven wheel 46 during each rotation o the drive wheel 42 ~ he web 12 is provided, along one marginal edge portion thereof, with successive holes 60 for engagement by the pins 58 of the driven wheel 46, so that the web 12 is advanced by and in accordance with the rotation of the impression cylinder 40 and, thus, the rotation of the printing plate 36.
In this way, accurate registry of the printing plate 36 with the labels 16 is ensured~
The supply wheel 18 is provided with a brake 62 for maintaining a suitable tension .in the web 12 between the supply roll 18 and the impression cylinder 40, and the take-up roll 20 is driven through a slip clutch 64 to maintain a tension in the web 12 between the impression cylinder 40 and the take-up roll 20.
q ' ~ ..J ~,t [n order to ensure thclt, when the tr~:iliny one of the driving pins 56 disengages from its correspondiny pin 58 on the driven wheel 46, the driven wheel 46 immediately comes ~o rest and is not caused to continue to rotate by inertia, a click-stop or detent mechanism is provided for releasably retaining the driven wheel 46 against rotati.on.
As shown in Figures 3 and 4, this click-stop or detent mechanism comprises a pair of detents 66 which project from counterbores 68 in the shaft 48 of the impression cylinder 40 and which are resiliently biased radially outwardly of the counterbores 68 ~y means of a helical spring 70 accommodated in a bore 72 in the shaft 48.
The detents 66 slidably engage in detent recesses 74 distributed around the inner periphery o~ a sleeve 76, which is non-rotatably secured relative to the back plate 22.
The detent recess~s 74 are equiangularly spaced around the axis of rotation of the shaft 48 in accordance with the angular spacing of the pins 58 around the same axis, so that the driven wheel 42 is always arrested by the detent mechanism with one of the pins 58 in a correct position, ~or engagement by the leading one of the pins S6, to ensure correct registry of the printing plate 36 with one of the labels 16.
The label dispenslng mechanism illustrated in Figure 5 has a base plate 80, on which are mounted a supply roll indicated generally by reference numeral 82, a take-up roll indicated generally by re~erence numeral ~4 and a driven roll indicated generally by reference nllmeral 86.
The supply roll 82 is provided with a slip clutch 88 for providing a tension in a web 90 as the latter is unwound from the supply roll 82.
From the supply roll 82, the web 90 is guided along a path of travel extending around 2 first pressing roller 92, the driven roller 86, a stationary s~ripper bar 94 adjacent the periphery of ~he driven roll 86, from ~hich the web 90 returns to the periphery of ~he driving roll 86, and a second pressing roll 96 to the take-up roll 84. The pressing rollers 92 and 96 are spring-biased.towards the driven roller 86 and thus against the web 90.
The stripper bar 94 is of wedge-shaped cross-section to define~ in ~he path of travel of the web 90, a bend which is sufflciently sharp to cause labels 100 to become successively peeled from their backing sheet, which forms the web 90.
The driven roller 86 is rotated intermittently so as to peel each label 100 from the backing sheet in this way and so that, during each motion of the driving wheel 86, a corresponding one of the labels 100 i5 peeled almost entirely from the backing strip but remains adhering by its trailing edge portion to the backing strip, so that the label is supported projecting away from the backing strip and the stripper bar 94, as illustrated in Figure 5. The label is thus presented ready for adherence to ~n art.icle (not shown) travellin~ alorlcJ a different path of travel past the base plate 80.
The intermittent driving of the driving roller 86 is effected by means of a drive wheel 102, secured in a readily releasable manner by a nut 104 to a shaft 106, and having a plurality of drive pins 108 projecting radially from its periphery, over a portion of the periphery o~ the drive wheel 102, for engagement with pins 110 radially projecting from the driven roller 86 and distributed uniformly around ~he periphery of the driven roller 86.
As will be readily apparent from the above description of Figures 1 and 2, the drive wheel 102 is rotated at cons~ant speed by an electric motor (not shown~ to effect the intermittent drive of the drive roll 86 by the successive 15 enyagements of the pins 108 with the pins 110.
- 13 ~
F~EI,D Ol;''l~ XNVEN'rlO~
The present invelltion re~lates to :i.nterrrl:L~kent feed mechanisms and is useful in par~icular~ but not exclusively~ for effecting intermittent feedlng of label-bearing strip material in a label printing device or a label dispenser.
DESCRIPTIOM S:)E' THE PRIOR ART
_ In prior art roll feed label printing presses, one of the most troublesome and waste-causing problems is the difficulty involved in controlling the tension of the strip material webs passing through the presses during the printirlg cycles and the eventual winding up of the printed strip material web o~ a take-up roll.
More parti.cularly, label printiny is usually effected ~n such a press by passing a label-bearing strip material web around an impression cylinder, between the impression cylinder and a plate cylinder carrying a printing plate, which is inked.
For accurate printing of the labels, it is necessary to ensure correct registry of the printing plate and the successive labels, which ar~ spaced apart along the strip materialr during simultaneous passage of each successlve label and the printing plate through the nip between the impression cylinder and the printing plate cylinder.
The strip material is provided from a supply roll and, as the diameter of the roll of strip material on the supply roll decreases, and that on the take-up roll increases, it becomes .~
',~. d ,~ ,'D~P~."
very difEicul~ to m~l:i.ntcllrl l:he correcL re~J~ t:ry be~w~en th~
pr.inting plate and the :Labe:Ls.
I~ an effort to overcorne this difficulty, prior art presses have been provided with a very expensive air or electric clutches, throughout the presses, and, in cases where a very fine registry was required, photoelectric sensing devices have been provided in the pressesO
Even with such complicated and expensive equipment, StQpping and res~arting of the presses, after relaxation of the strip material, sauses many feet of the strip material to run out of registry, and thus to be wasted, un~il the tension in the strip material is restored to its required condi~ion.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved intermittent feeding mechanism which, in a simple and inexpensive manner, facilitates accurate registry of a printing plate with successive lahels in a label printing device.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a simple intermittent ~eed mechanism in a label dispensing device or au~omatically stripping successive labels from a backing strip.
B~IEE' SUMMARY OF TE~E INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided a label printing device comprising a supply roll means for ~ 3 --rotatably suppor~iny a rv:Ll oE strip ma~er:La~.; talce~up roll means for receiv:ing the strip material from the supply roLl means; an impression cylinder rotatable about a first axis;
means for gu.iding the strip material from the supply roll means around the impression cylinder to the take up roll means; a print cylinder co-operating with the impression cylinder, the print cylinder being rotatable about a second axis parallel to the first axis; means for rotating the print cylinder; a printing plate on the print cylinder for printing onto the strip material as the strip material passes around the impression cylinder; means for applying ink to the printing plate; and means for intermittently rotationally driving the impression cylinder from the print cylinder; the drive means comprising first formations rotatable with the impression cylinder and second formations rotatable with the print cylinder, and interengageable with the first formations; the first formations being uniformly distributed around the entire periphery of the impression cylinder and the second formations being similarly uniformly distributed around only a portion of the periphery of the print cylinder; and the second formations being successively engageable with the first formations for rotating the impression cylinder on rotation of the second formations past the impression cylinder, whereby the impression cylinder remains undriven during rotation oE the remainder of the periphery of the print cylinder past the impression cylinder.
~he formations may, Eor examp:le, compr:ise pins radi.l:l.ly projectlng from driving and driven wheels secure~, in a readily releasable manner, to the print cylinder and the impression cylinder, respectively.
Thus, by substituting for the driving wheel a different wheel, having a different number of teeth projecting therefrom, the device can be readily, quickly and inexpensively adapted to the printing of different label sizes.
The present invention fuxther provides a intermittent feed mechanism for advancing a label-bearing strip, comprising roll means for guiding the strip around the roll means; the roll means having a plurality of radially outwardly projecting first pins distributed around the periphery thereof for en~agement in holes spaced apart along the strip; a rotatable cylindrical drive member for imparting intermittent rotary motion to the roll means; means for rotating the drive member; the drive member having radially outwardly projecting second pins distributed around only a portion o the periphery of the drive member for successive engagement with successive ones of the first pins~ whereby the roll means ceases to be driven by the drive member during rotation of the remainder of the periphery of the drive membex past the roll means; means for rotatably supporting the drive member relative to the roll means î and means fox readily replaceably securing the drive member to the supporting means.
The :invention ~till Eu:rther comprises a label dispenser mechanism comprising a supply rol.l for supporting a supply of a label-bearing strip material; a take-up roll for receiving the strip material; means or advancing the strip material along a 5 path of travel from the supply roll to the take-up roll; means on the path of travel for guiding the strip material through a b~nd which is sufficiently sharp to cause the labels to be peeled from the strip material as the strip material passes through the bend; the advancing means comprising a driven roll rotatable about a irst axis for driving contact with the strip material and means for intermittently driving the drive roll;
and the intermittent drive means comprising a plurality of first formations rotatable about the first axis and uniformly distributed about the first axis, the first formations being secured for rotation with the driven roll, and a drive member rotatable about a second axis of rotation, the drive member having a plurality of second formations likewise uniformly distributed around only a portion of the periphery of the drive member and engageable in succession with the first formations on rotation of the drive member, whereby the driven roller remains stationary during passage of the remainder of the periphery of the drive member past the first formations, and means for rotating the drive member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be more readily understood from the Eollowing descr:iptiorl of preerred emboclilnen~s thereo~ g.ive~rl, by way of example only, with reference to the accomp~nyiny drawings, in which:-Figure 1 shows a view in perspective of a label 5 pr inting device;
Figure 2 shows a view in front elevation, partly brokenaway, of components of the label printing device of Figure l;
Figure 3 shows a view, taken partly in cross-section, of parts of an intermittent feeding device included in the label feeding device of Figure l;
Figure 4 shows a partly broken-away, in perspective, of components of the intermittent feed mechanism of Figure 3; and Figure 5 shows a view in perspective of a label dispensing Inechanism.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring firstly to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a label printing device indicated generally by reference numeral 10 in which a web, indicated generally by reference numeral 12 and comprising a strip of backing material 14 bearing, spaced apart along the length thereof 7 a plurality of labels 16 t iS fed from a supply roll indicated generally by r~ference numeral 18 to a take-up roll indicated generally by reference numeral 20.
The supply roll 18 and the take~up roll 20 are rotatably mounted on a back plate 22, on which are also rotatably mounted guide rolls 24 to 28 Eor guiding the web 12 from the supply roll 18 to the take-up roll 20.
Three inking rollers 30 to 32 are provided for applying ink from an ink reservoir 34 to a rubber printing plate 36, which is releasably secured to a printing roll or cylinder 38.
The printing cylinder 38 co-operates with an impression cylinder 40 to define a nip at which printing of the successive labels 16 occur 5 .
As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, it is important to ensure that the printing plate 36 is brought into accura~e registry with each successive one of the labels 16 as the latter pass through the nip be~ween the print cylinder 3~ and the impression cylinder 40.
For this purpose, a drive wheel 42 is secured to the shaft 44 of the print cylinder 3B and a driven wheel 46 is secured to the shaft 48 of the impression cylinder 40 by means of knurled nuts 50 for readily releasably SeGUring the wheels 42 and 46 to their respective shafts 44 and 48.
The nuts 50 can be replaced by any readily releasable 2n means, for example wing nuts, for retaining the wheels 42 and 46 on the shafts of their respective cylinders, and the cylinders 38 and 40 are provided with longitudinally projecting pins (not shown) engageable in recesses (not shown) in the wheels 42 and 46 for preve~ting rotation of the latter relative to the former.
As can be seen from Figure 2, the drive wheel 42 is provided with four radla:lly projectirly pi.ll.s 5~. ~rhe~,e plns S6 are equiangularly spaced around the axis of rotation o the driving wheel 42 and are distributed over only a portion of the periphery of the driving wheel 42.
The driven wheel 46 is provided with radially projecting pins 58 which are equiangularly distributed around the entire periphery of the drive wheel 46, the peripheral spacing of the pins 5~ around the driven wheel 46 being equa]. to the peripheral spacing of the pins 56 around the drive wheel 42.
When the drive wheel 42 is rotated, in the directio~
indica~ed by an arrow thereon in Figure 2, the leading one of the pins 56 will move into contact with and drive one of the pins 58, and the next following pin 56 will subsequently move into contact with and drive the next following pin 58, and so forth~ until the trailing pin 56 h2s driven and separated from the respective pin 58. Thus, the driven wheel 46 will be caused ~o rotate during such engagement of the pins 56 with the pins 58. However, as indicated above, the pins 56 are distributed only around a portion of the periphery of the driving wheel 42 and~ while the remainder of the periphery of the drivi.ng wheel 42 passes by the driven wheel 46, the latter will not be rotated by the driving wheel 42. In this way, intermittent rotation of the drive~ wheen 46 is effectedO
The distance through which the driven wheel 46 is rotated during each rotation of the driving wheel 42 corresponds _ 9 _ to the peripheral lellcJth of the port.ioll o~ the periphery of the ~riven wheel 42 over which the pins 56 are distrib~ted. r~'his distance is, of course, selected so as to correspond to the length of one label 16 and the spa~ing between successive labels 16, measured longitudinally of the web 12, so ~hat one label 16 is printed dur.ing each rotation of the driven wheel 42~
Also, the device can be readily adapted to different label lengths by replacing the drive wheel 42 by a different drive wheel, having a different number of similarly spaced drive pins 56, in order to effect a correspondinyly different rotary displacement of the driven wheel 46 during each rotation o the drive wheel 42 ~ he web 12 is provided, along one marginal edge portion thereof, with successive holes 60 for engagement by the pins 58 of the driven wheel 46, so that the web 12 is advanced by and in accordance with the rotation of the impression cylinder 40 and, thus, the rotation of the printing plate 36.
In this way, accurate registry of the printing plate 36 with the labels 16 is ensured~
The supply wheel 18 is provided with a brake 62 for maintaining a suitable tension .in the web 12 between the supply roll 18 and the impression cylinder 40, and the take-up roll 20 is driven through a slip clutch 64 to maintain a tension in the web 12 between the impression cylinder 40 and the take-up roll 20.
q ' ~ ..J ~,t [n order to ensure thclt, when the tr~:iliny one of the driving pins 56 disengages from its correspondiny pin 58 on the driven wheel 46, the driven wheel 46 immediately comes ~o rest and is not caused to continue to rotate by inertia, a click-stop or detent mechanism is provided for releasably retaining the driven wheel 46 against rotati.on.
As shown in Figures 3 and 4, this click-stop or detent mechanism comprises a pair of detents 66 which project from counterbores 68 in the shaft 48 of the impression cylinder 40 and which are resiliently biased radially outwardly of the counterbores 68 ~y means of a helical spring 70 accommodated in a bore 72 in the shaft 48.
The detents 66 slidably engage in detent recesses 74 distributed around the inner periphery o~ a sleeve 76, which is non-rotatably secured relative to the back plate 22.
The detent recess~s 74 are equiangularly spaced around the axis of rotation of the shaft 48 in accordance with the angular spacing of the pins 58 around the same axis, so that the driven wheel 42 is always arrested by the detent mechanism with one of the pins 58 in a correct position, ~or engagement by the leading one of the pins S6, to ensure correct registry of the printing plate 36 with one of the labels 16.
The label dispenslng mechanism illustrated in Figure 5 has a base plate 80, on which are mounted a supply roll indicated generally by reference numeral 82, a take-up roll indicated generally by re~erence numeral ~4 and a driven roll indicated generally by reference nllmeral 86.
The supply roll 82 is provided with a slip clutch 88 for providing a tension in a web 90 as the latter is unwound from the supply roll 82.
From the supply roll 82, the web 90 is guided along a path of travel extending around 2 first pressing roller 92, the driven roller 86, a stationary s~ripper bar 94 adjacent the periphery of ~he driven roll 86, from ~hich the web 90 returns to the periphery of ~he driving roll 86, and a second pressing roll 96 to the take-up roll 84. The pressing rollers 92 and 96 are spring-biased.towards the driven roller 86 and thus against the web 90.
The stripper bar 94 is of wedge-shaped cross-section to define~ in ~he path of travel of the web 90, a bend which is sufflciently sharp to cause labels 100 to become successively peeled from their backing sheet, which forms the web 90.
The driven roller 86 is rotated intermittently so as to peel each label 100 from the backing sheet in this way and so that, during each motion of the driving wheel 86, a corresponding one of the labels 100 i5 peeled almost entirely from the backing strip but remains adhering by its trailing edge portion to the backing strip, so that the label is supported projecting away from the backing strip and the stripper bar 94, as illustrated in Figure 5. The label is thus presented ready for adherence to ~n art.icle (not shown) travellin~ alorlcJ a different path of travel past the base plate 80.
The intermittent driving of the driving roller 86 is effected by means of a drive wheel 102, secured in a readily releasable manner by a nut 104 to a shaft 106, and having a plurality of drive pins 108 projecting radially from its periphery, over a portion of the periphery o~ the drive wheel 102, for engagement with pins 110 radially projecting from the driven roller 86 and distributed uniformly around ~he periphery of the driven roller 86.
As will be readily apparent from the above description of Figures 1 and 2, the drive wheel 102 is rotated at cons~ant speed by an electric motor (not shown~ to effect the intermittent drive of the drive roll 86 by the successive 15 enyagements of the pins 108 with the pins 110.
- 13 ~
Claims (10)
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A label printing device, comprising:
a supply roll means for rotatably supporting a roll of strip material;
take-up roll means for receiving said strip material from said supply roll means;
an impression cylinder rotatable about a first axis;
means for guiding said strip material from said supply roll means around said impression cylinder to said take-up roll means;
a print cylinder co-operating with said impression cylinder, said print cylinder being rotatable about a second axis parallel to said first axis;
means for rotating said print cylinder;
a printing plate on said print cylinder for printing onto said strip material as said strip material passes around said impression cylinder;
means for applying ink to said printing plate; and means for intermittently rotationally driving said impression cylinder from said print cylinder;
said drive means comprising first formations rotatable with said impression cylinder and second formations rotatable with said print cylinder, and interengageable with said first formations;
said formation being uniformly distributed around the entire periphery of said impression cylinder and said second formations being similarly uniformly distributed around only a portion of the periphery of said print cylinder; and said second formations being successively engageable with said first formations for rotating said impression cylinder on rotation of said second formations past said impression cylinder, whereby said impression cylinder remains undriven during rotation of the remainder of the periphery of said print cylinder past said impression cylinder.
a supply roll means for rotatably supporting a roll of strip material;
take-up roll means for receiving said strip material from said supply roll means;
an impression cylinder rotatable about a first axis;
means for guiding said strip material from said supply roll means around said impression cylinder to said take-up roll means;
a print cylinder co-operating with said impression cylinder, said print cylinder being rotatable about a second axis parallel to said first axis;
means for rotating said print cylinder;
a printing plate on said print cylinder for printing onto said strip material as said strip material passes around said impression cylinder;
means for applying ink to said printing plate; and means for intermittently rotationally driving said impression cylinder from said print cylinder;
said drive means comprising first formations rotatable with said impression cylinder and second formations rotatable with said print cylinder, and interengageable with said first formations;
said formation being uniformly distributed around the entire periphery of said impression cylinder and said second formations being similarly uniformly distributed around only a portion of the periphery of said print cylinder; and said second formations being successively engageable with said first formations for rotating said impression cylinder on rotation of said second formations past said impression cylinder, whereby said impression cylinder remains undriven during rotation of the remainder of the periphery of said print cylinder past said impression cylinder.
2. A label printing device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising click stop means for releasably arresting said impression cylinder in any one of a plurality of positions of rotation upon disengagement of said second formations from said first formations, said portions being angularly spaced around said first axis similarly to said first formations.
3. A label printing device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a drive member and means readily releaseably securing said drive member for rotation with said print cylinder, said second formation being provided on the periphery of said drive member.
4. A label printing device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second formations comprise pins projecting radially from said drive member.
5. A label printing device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said first and second formations comprise pins extending radially of said first and second axes, respectively.
6. A label printing device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising a driven member and means for releasably securing said driven member for rotation with said impression cylinder, said first formations comprising pins projecting radially of said driven member and equiangularly spaced around said first axis.
7. A label printing device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said first formations comprise pins projecting radially of said first axis and engaging in holes spaced apart along said strip material.
8. An intermediate feed mechanism for advancing a label-bearing strip, comprising:
roll means for guiding said strip around said roll means;
said roll means having a plurality of radially outwardly projecting first pins distributed around the periphery thereof for engagement in holes spaced apart along said strip;
a rotatable cylindrical drive member for imparting intermittent rotary motion to said roll means;
means for rotating said drive member;
said drive member having radially outwardly projecting second pins distributed around only a portion of the periphery of said drive member for successive engagement with successive ones of said first pins, whereby said roll means ceases to be driven by said drive member during rotation of the remainder of the periphery of said drive member past said roll means;
means for rotatably supporting said drive member relative to said roll means; and means for readily replaceably securing said drive member to said supporting means.
roll means for guiding said strip around said roll means;
said roll means having a plurality of radially outwardly projecting first pins distributed around the periphery thereof for engagement in holes spaced apart along said strip;
a rotatable cylindrical drive member for imparting intermittent rotary motion to said roll means;
means for rotating said drive member;
said drive member having radially outwardly projecting second pins distributed around only a portion of the periphery of said drive member for successive engagement with successive ones of said first pins, whereby said roll means ceases to be driven by said drive member during rotation of the remainder of the periphery of said drive member past said roll means;
means for rotatably supporting said drive member relative to said roll means; and means for readily replaceably securing said drive member to said supporting means.
9. A label dispenser mechansim, comprising:
a supply roll for supporting a supply of a label-bearing strip material;
a take-up roll for receiving the strip material;
means for advancing said strip material along a path of travel from said supply roll to said take-up roll;
means on said path of travel for guiding said strip material through a bend which is sufficiently sharp to cause the labels to be peeled from said strip material as said strip material passes through said bend;
said advancing means comprising a driven roll rotatable about a first axis for driving contact with said strip material and means for intermittently driving said driven roll; and said intermittently drive means comprising a plurality of first formations rotatable about said first axis and uniformly distributed about said first axis, said first formations being secured for rotation with said driven roll, a drive member rotatable about a second axis of rotation, said drive member having a plurality of second formations likewise uniformly distributed around only a portion of the periphery of said drive member and engageable in succession with said first formations on rotation of said drive member, whereby said driven roller remains stationary during passage of the remainder of the periphery of said drive member past said first formations, and means for rotating said drive member.
a supply roll for supporting a supply of a label-bearing strip material;
a take-up roll for receiving the strip material;
means for advancing said strip material along a path of travel from said supply roll to said take-up roll;
means on said path of travel for guiding said strip material through a bend which is sufficiently sharp to cause the labels to be peeled from said strip material as said strip material passes through said bend;
said advancing means comprising a driven roll rotatable about a first axis for driving contact with said strip material and means for intermittently driving said driven roll; and said intermittently drive means comprising a plurality of first formations rotatable about said first axis and uniformly distributed about said first axis, said first formations being secured for rotation with said driven roll, a drive member rotatable about a second axis of rotation, said drive member having a plurality of second formations likewise uniformly distributed around only a portion of the periphery of said drive member and engageable in succession with said first formations on rotation of said drive member, whereby said driven roller remains stationary during passage of the remainder of the periphery of said drive member past said first formations, and means for rotating said drive member.
10. A label dispenser mechanism as claimed in claim 9, further comprising means for resiliently pressing said strip material against said driven roll.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000392702A CA1180592A (en) | 1981-12-18 | 1981-12-18 | Label printing and dispensing |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000392702A CA1180592A (en) | 1981-12-18 | 1981-12-18 | Label printing and dispensing |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1180592A true CA1180592A (en) | 1985-01-08 |
Family
ID=4121658
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000392702A Expired CA1180592A (en) | 1981-12-18 | 1981-12-18 | Label printing and dispensing |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1180592A (en) |
-
1981
- 1981-12-18 CA CA000392702A patent/CA1180592A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |