CA1192781A - Hand-held labeler - Google Patents

Abstract

HAND-HELD LABELER
Abstract of the Disclosure There is disclosed a labeler having a frame and a subframe, with a print head movably mounted on the subframe for cooperation with a platen. A label hold-down member is disposed in overlying relation to the platen. The subframe carries a label roll composed of labels releasably secured by pressure sensitive adhesive to a web of supporting material, and the subframe defines a path for the web. The label roll is mounted on improved mounting structure. A manually operable actuator drives a gear which in turn effects movement of the print head. The gear carries a pivotal pawl which drives a ratchet wheel. The ratchet wheel and a toothed feed wheel mounted in the subframe are adjustable with respect to each other. A die roller cooperable with the toothed wheel is spring-urged against the toothed wheel. The frame in-cludes a movable frame section mounted on a pivot to facilitate easy replacement of an ink roller. The pivot also mounts an applicator roll and a leaf spring of the inking mechanism.
The frame section is releasably latched in place.

Description

Docket M 340 7~3~
:ESackground of the Inv~n~ion Field of 1:h~ Invention Thi~ ven~iorl relates ~o ~h~ o lab~l~r~.
13ri~f Desoription of ~hQ Prior Art U.S~ patent to l~illiam A. Jer~k~n!~ Ns:~,. 3,968,745 grantf~ July 13, 1976 di~clo~ a ;lab~lar with a fram~a and a 3ubframe, a pla~ and a pri~ h~ad mounted oll ~h~ Yul:~rame;
an actuator having a pair Of gear 81~ iOn~ y~ar~ dri~n by ~h~ geax sec:~ion~, 2~d ~ paLl~ o~ ge3~ ~ec:~io3~; oz r~ck3 o~
the print hQ~d coop~ra~l~ with the gear~sO A othed ~eed whe~l and a ra~che~ whellel are ~ i ~po~ed b~. 5 ~n ~:h~ gear~ .
The ratch~t wheel ~ ~i adju ~abl~ r~lativ~ to the fsed wheel.
A r~movabl~ ~ec~ioll is pivotal~ m~ te!d O~ rame. The removabla ~e::tion c:arrie~ an inkjng r~c~h~ni.c~, Th2 ~ubframe ~I5 moun~s a di~ roll ~n mating ~Qop~ra~io3l ~ith the ~d whe~l.
The frame ~un~ a3~ applic:a~or in ~he or~ of a roll. In one:
' c~li - t, th~ ~ro~at end of th~ ~b~ has a pivotal frame sectio~ to ~nabl~ repl ~c~ r~t of the 1~ rol~ erO
U~So patent applicatioa Serial ~ao. 649,945~ filed Januaxy 19t 1976 o~ Paul ~ ch, J~ d Dorlald ~ Karn~
now pat~nt Noc, 4,035,225 granted July 12 , 1977, di~3P
clo~e~ a eurved leaf sprislg which ~ ~ in th~ gradu~l payinq ou1: of the compo~it~ lab~l wQb fXQ~n th~ lab~l roll and fur~er di clos~s in ~wo di~ t ~nh~l F~ U~
~5 for adjusting a ~ed wheel and a ra~ch~ wh~ol rel~iv~a to aach o~h~O
U~ S ~. pate~t applicatlon S~rial NoO 604 ,~ 389 9 fi~
August 13~ 1975 o~ Pauï ~ ami~chO Jr., n~w pat~3nt No~ 4,044,677 graa~t~d August 30 , 1977, di~lo~es int~rf~re~e~ x~mbQ~3 for e~bli~g a~ i~aker b~y or carr~,~r ~o be assembl~d onts: a Lel..o~dl~le I r h~r bu~ pr~ n~ h~ carri~r rom b~ i ng dis~
a~emble~ when ~h~ in3; roller o~a ~h~ carri~r a.~ s ope~atlve Dockek M-3 4 0 ~9~7~
position with respect to the print head. U. S . pat~rlt to Paul ~. Hamisch, SrO, No. 3,440,123, grallted April 22, 1969 discloses a cam controlled inker~
Su~anary o f the Invention Th~ in~rention provide~ an improved mech~ni Sr~ for adju~ting the relative positions o~ the ratchet whe~l and the eed wheeL t:o vary the r~gi~tration of the label~3 w.ith respec:t to th~ del Ami n~ting mea}ls and to the prin~ g means9 This ~ ni sm include~ a pair of c:lutch mem~ers which can be shifted apart and rotated r~lative to each other to c::hang~
tha ad~u~3tmç~nt between the feed a~d ratchet whPel ~ . The user can make the adjustment by ~nually driving the feed wheel wherl the clutc:h members have been shifted A~ l ly out of clutc:hing engagement with respect to eac:h other. ~lore p~3ciis:ally, there is a dxive connec:tion betwe~n one clutch mber and the feed wh~el which prevents relative rotatioll bet:w~3n that one clu~ch hP~r a~d ~h~ eed wheel but allows rel tive shifting l,.o~,~,..ent betweg~ that clutch membe:r and the feed wheel. A spring norr- 11 y holds that clutch m~mher ar~d the other clutch r~-h~r in clutching engagement with each otherr The oth2r cLutch m~r~hpr i coupled to the ratchet wheel. Th~ ratche~ wheel is mou~ted by one ~id~ o th~
~ubfram~ and th~ feed wheel i~ mou~ted by ~e other ~ide of th3 ~ubframeO The sllbxame i5 dispo~ed in the space within the frame. The frar:~e mo~s a ~hat and ~e ~haft mounts ~
m~vable section o:r cover whic::h is movable between closed and open pc)~itions, an applica tor roll, and a por~ion of an inking mechani~m~ The inking meçhanism i~ simpl~ constxuc~
tion and easy to assembl~, bu~ ~he i~king mlec:harlism will stay in it~ assembled position even ~hrollgh ~he labeler i~ dropped on the f loor. The inking mech~n i ,sr includ~:5 a pivotally ~ocket M~ 3 4 0 7~
molmted carrier ms:)unted on the c:ov~r and a leaf spring con-nec~ed to the shaft and to the carrier~ The carrier mount3 a roll.er whieh is urged again~t a c~m on th~ print head by the leaî ~prirlg. The print head preEexab1y h~ two lin~3~ of printing member~ or printir,g two 11nes of data., A hold-down devica i5 used ~o hold a label a~ad ~h~ und~rlying suppor~ing n~Lt~rial web down so that ~h~xe i5 no yap be~ween i;he web and 1:he platerl. This eature i~ cot~ ; ve to qtla1ity printing becau~e th~ print naed not IllOV8 the label and the w~b toward the plat~n and because if it can be a~~ured that the ueb lie~
again~t th platen, then the~ dista~ e be~ween the print head i~ the homa or rest po~ition a~d t~ plater~ ca~ }: e k~pt to a min~ is preferr~d tha~ a di~ ro11 be used ~o u~ge ~ne S;~ l Ling materi~1 web ~7~i n~t th~ toothed fe~d whee1., I~
lS additioxl, ~he di ro11 i~ ~pxi~g-urged agai~ 'che w~b ~o ~-c r~te ~or mznufacturing varia1:ior~; in t:h~ l~h~l~ro The die roll i~ carri~d by a ho1d~r which i ne~ i: d ln th~
~ubfram~ and which inc 1 udi3~ a pair of 1eaf ~pr~ g~0 Thu~, adequat~ mating cooperatioll b~e~n th~ and f ~d whe~1s i~ assured. A lea~ ~pri~ag i~ dispo~ed in ~s)op~a~ion with the web whe:re it is f irst paid out of th~ 1abe1 ro11~, The 1~af ~p~e:ing has a mo~tin~ porti~ eyed to the sub f ra~e .
The leaf ~priny is ~ontlucive to th~ gl:adual paying out of th~
web f rt~m th~3 label ro11. The 1~af sprirlg a~d it3 mou~ g ~25 por~ion ar~ com~?:eis~d of one~-pie~e m~lded pla8tic5 m~lteria10 There ~s a brak~ which acts c: n the compo~it~ lab~1 w~b bet~deen the place wher~ the ~ ite web i~ paid out o:E th~3 1ab~31 ro11 and tAe p1at~r2., The brake inc1udes a roll which is ~ 3--Docket M-340 ~ 7~

loos~ly mourlted in the subframe and the print head carrier leaf ~prings which contact a br2ke roll at ~paced apar~
locationsO The u~e of ~uch separate leaf springs is con-duciv~ tQ effec:tive braking action agaillst the composite we~
in spi te of manu~acturirlg variation~ O
Brie:E De~cription oE the Drawings FIt~URE 1 is an exploded per~p~ctive view o~ a haIldrheld lab~l prirlting and applying apparatus i~ acc:ordans:~
with th~ invention;
lû PIGURE 2 is a top plan view of a compo~ite web of labels capable of b~ing u~ed in the appara~us;
FIGURE 3 i~ a fragmentary ~ide elevational vi~w partly in sec tion:
FIGURE 4 is a side elevational vi~w of on~ of the subframe section~ of the sub~Erame;
FIGURE 5 is a sid eleva~ion~1 view of ~e other subframe section;
E 6 is a ~op plan view o i:h~a apparatu~ with th~ Go~r in the open po3i~ion;
FIGUÆ 7 is a fr2gm~s~tary vi~w of the cover;
FIGURE 8 is a sectl ~n~ 1 view taken alc)ng lin~
8~ 8 of FIGURE 7;
FXGU~3 9 is a . ectional view take~ alon~ line 9; ~9 o ~I GU~; 8;
FIGU~E: lO is a ~op pl~ view of aa iRlC roll3r arld it; carri~r;
PIGURE 11 is a s~ctional view taken ge~erally along li~e 11- ll of FIGUR~: L0;
FIGURE: 12 is a ~3ectional view ~aken along lir~
12~--12 of FI~URE 3;

Docket M 340 liL9;2 ~

FIGIJRE 13 i5 a partly ~ctional view taken along line 13~ 13 of FIGU~E 3;
FIGu~æ 14 i~ an enlarged 3ectio~al view sh~wing ragTnen~ary portions of the f rame, ~he subframe, drive g~axs, S the feed ~h~1, a ra~oh~ ~and a ~ rn Eo~ adju~tir~q ~he posi~ion of he ratchet wheel relativ~ to the ~ed wh~91;
~IGURE 15 i~ a ~ec~ional vlew ~aken along line 15--lS of FIGURE 14;
FI~IJRE 16 is a view of one o:~ th~ gear~ and a pawl which i1: carries, ~hs ra~ch~ ~eeth ~e~g ~ho m in pha~om line~;
FIGURE 17 is a sec:tional view taken along lines 17 ~17 of ~IGURE 1~, FIGUR3: 18 is a ~ectional vi~w ~ak~n alo~g line~
18----18 o~ FIGURE 16;
FIGURE 19 i~ a sectional view tak8n along lin~
19-- 19 o: FIGURE 3;
FIGURE 20 is a p~3rspectivQ view o~ a lab~1 hold-dow~
ar~d guiding devica and a portion <: f ~h~ ~ubfra~ne,o FIGURE 21 i~ a view ~how~g fragmeIl~a~ portir~ of th~ carrier and a leaf ~pri~g before ~h.y are c~n~ected to e ch o~er;
22 is a sec~ional vi~w showing th~ mo~ing struct:ure for one ~ide o:E a label roll; and PIGURE 23 is a view tak~rl g~ erally along a li~e 23 ~23 of PIGURE 2Z~
De~cription of the Preferred Enbodiment Rq~ferring ini~ially o p7I~ here is ~ho7.~m a labQl prin~ing and appLying apparatus or labeler gens~xalls~
indicated ~t 30 having a frame or body g~n~rally indicatecl ~t 31 whis::h i.nclude~; a frame se~ct:ion or ~ody s~3ction 32 and a fra~ se~tion or body s~:ction 33b The rame sectioll 32 is Doclcet M- 3 4 0 shown to have tubular po5t~; or shafts 34 ~, 35 , 36 , 37 and 38 and the body ection 3 3 is shown ~o have generally tubula.r ~ligned po~ts 34 , 35 ', 36 ~, 37 a and 38 ' ~ Screw3 39 are rec~ived in the po~ts 34' ,7 35, 36, 38 and 39 and are ~hreadai:)ly received in xespectiv~ post:8 34 , 35 ', 36 ' and 38 ' . The frame section~ 32 and 33 ar~ ma~e~ to eac:h other and are sub~tantially m~rror-~nage~ of eaeh o~er~
A ~ubfram~ yenerally in~ic~ted at 40 is sh~m to include ~frarne ~ections 4~ and 42. ?rhe ~ubfr~me section 41 is shown to ha~e male projection3 43 r~ceived in and held in a ~nap-fit Tn:~nn~ in aper~ ; 44,. Wi~h re:~erence also to FIGURE5 4 and 5, ~he subfxa~e ses:tlons 41 and 42 have res-pecti~a ball tracks 45 and 46 for rece!iving respective ro~ g-contact bearing rQembers spec.i~ically ball-bearing strips 47 and 48. The su}:~ram~ section~ 41 and 4~ have r~specl:ive guideways 4g and 50 and 49 t and S0 1 e~ The ~ubframe sec~ions 41 a~d 42 h v~ re~pective posts 51 and 52 a~d 51 ' a~ad 52 ' ~or receiving respectiv~ ~ubular rollsr~ 53 and ~4. Th~

posts 51 and 51 ' ro1:atabl y mount ~h~ tubular roll~3r 53 and ~he post 52 and 5~' rota~ably mourlt t~e tubular roller 54.

Th~ subfram~3 s~ctions 41 and 42 have respective round holes 55 and 5~ for rotatably mour~ting a e~3d wh~el a~em~ly generally indicated ak 57~ q~he subfra~ne ~ tiC3~15 41 and 42 hav~ re~

p~3ctive non-circular~ ~pecifically dove~tail, xe::esses 58 and sa ~ for receiving a holder 59 . The hoLde~ 59 is of one-piece molded plastics constructis~ and inc:ludes a paix of leaf sprlngs or spxing fingers 60 and 61 having a pa.ir s~ res~
pective soc:}cet3 62 and 53~ Tha sock~ts arQ preferc~ly open~ided ~d preferably ex~end for ~re than 180 bu~ sub~tantially .~ _ Docket ~-340 ~3~7~
less than 360 so as ~o receive respec~ive stub ends 64 and 65 of a die roller 66. The die roller 66 ha~ a pair of grooves 67 that correspond in contour and aligrLment to teet:h 68 of toothed feed whe~31 69 of ~e assembly 57. The ~2e~h 68 ar~ staqgered and are disposed in two annular rowsO ~ yuide plate 70 which is disps:)sed be~ween ~he row~ vf tee~h 68 has oppositely ex~endlng post~3 710 The po~ axe x0c~ived in holes 72 and 73 of the respective ~ubframe sec~iorl~ 41 a~d 42 to confine the ~uppoxJcing material web S of ~he composite web C in prox~nity to the surfa ::e of the feed wheel 69 . The subfr~e sections 41 and 42 ha~e respective non-circular reces~ 74 and 74 ' fox keying end portions of a non-circular post 75 of a latch 760 A bar 76'i is cosmected to the po91:
75 by a leaf ~pring 77. The bar 76i' has a paix of manually ~3ngageable projec:~ion~ 78 a~ad 79 which extend through res-pective ope~i~gs 80 a~d 80' in subframe ~ections 40 and 41 a~d through respec~ive openings 81 and 81 ' in the rame ~ecticsns 32 and 330 Shi~lds 82 and 83 are disposed inbound o the projections 78 and 7g. The shield 82 i~; cli~posed ~etwae

2 the f rame section 32 and the subrame section 41 and the shield 83 is disposed between ~he frame se~ion ~3 and the su}:~f~ ne section 420 Th~3 shields 82 and 83 se:~e to keep du~t out of the inside of the labeler 300 The sub:~rame sections 41 and 4~ have ~longated reG~s~es 84 and 84lo Marginal side por~ions of a plat~n a5 are received in the r~pec:tiv~ reces~ 4 and 84 ' and maxginal ends of~ a d~
l~min;3tc:r~ specifically a peel roller 86~ ar~ recei~ in th~
sam,e elonga~ed r2ce~es 84 and 84~o Th~ peel roller 86 i9 in direct con~ac~: with shou:Lder~ 87 a~c the E:nds of ~h3 marginal ~7--Docke t ~ 3 4 0 s.ides of the platen 85. The shoulders 87 define an end edge of the platen 85~ There i~ a minimum of friction between the shoulders 87 and the peel roller 86 because of r~ln;~1 con~ac~
In addition, ~ny non-lineaxity of the peel .roller 86 will hav~ l.ittle or no ~ff~ct b~oause only the ~nd por~io~ of the peel roll.er 86 ar~ con~acted by ~he 3houldex~ a7. It is apparent that bo~h ~he platen 85 a~d th~ peel roll~r 86 are oaptiv~ in the sama respective ~ecesses 84 and 84'~ The guideway~ 49 and 49' are formed in part by guides 88 and 89 5pac~d from ~he respectiv~ guides 88 and 89 are proj~ction3 90 and 91. ~ hold-down and guide m~mber generally indicat d at 92 is shown to have a hold-down or guid~ m~mber 93 which is di~posed in overlying relationship wi~h re~p~ot to the platen 85 and a direction-changing guide m~mber 94. A mounting me~b .r 91' is in~erlocked between guide 88 and projection gO

and between the guide 89 a~d th~ projection 91 as ~ho~n in FIGURES 1 and ~0. In addition, the subfra~e ~c~ions 41 and 42 have p~sts 95 and 95l received in a hole 96 ~n ~h~ memb~r 94~ The memher 94 h s a plurality of ridg~ 97 and i~ter~
~ vening groove~ 98 which extend in the direction o~ label travel sh3wn ~y phantom lines PL in FIGURE ~0~
The subframe sections 41 a~d 42 hav~ re~p~ctive retAini~g recesses 99 and 99' for recei~ing 5tub e~ds lO0 and 101 of a braXe roller 102 of a brak~ 103. The roller 102 is ~5 show~ to h~ve annular groove~ 104 for receiv ~g spaced~apart G~rings 104~.
A one-piece resilient device gen~rally i~dicated at 105 includes a leaf spring or spring finger 106 which is ~hown ~o ~e curved a~d which is in~egrally connec~ed ~o a mo-~nting por~ion 107. rrhe ~ubframe sec~ion~ 41 and ~L2 have ~ocke-t M~340 7~l respective recesses 108 and 108 3 .into which marginal sides of ~le mounting portion 107 are rec:eived~ The re3ilient d~vice 105 1s showr~ ~o be disposecl in overly.ing relation~hip with xespect to label roll R adjacent the plas::e where th~3 composite weib C is paid ou~:0 The compo~3it~ web C passes over the resilient de~ice 105 and rom there between ~che roll~r 102 and bxalse surfaces 10~ and 109 ' ., The brake 103 a1so includ~s a plurality of separate spa::ed~apart leaf springs 103', ~3pt3ci~ ally ~lo~ which are in con~a::~ with ~ ring~ 104 ' of the roller 102 at ~3pac:ed apar~ loca~ions. The U513 of a~
l~ast ~wo ~uch sprirlgs 103 ' facilikate~ relia~le braking in spite of manufac:turing variations The f rame 31 hae a handle generally indicated at 110 arld incLud~ handle portion~ 111 and 112~ The posts 37 ~nd 37 ' are d spo~,ed at the outer end portion of the handle 110 .
manlaally operable ac:tuator generally indicat~3d at 113 is shown to ~clude a lev~r 114 having a hols 1150 The po~ts 37 and 37 ' are received in opposi~ ands o the hole 115 to piYotally mount 'ch~ ac~uaLtor 113. ~he actua~or 113 i~ sho~t,m to include a pair of spaced-apar~ geaE sec~lons or segmer.tal gear3 116 and 117.. Th~ g~ar sections 116 and 117 mesh with r~p~ctive ~eaxs 118 and 119 ro~:a~ably mounted orl an axis A'.
P~ print h~ad g nerally i~dicat . d at 12 0 inc:lude~ ~L pair of raGkS
or g~ar sectioIls 121 and 122 which m~h with respective gear~
~5 118 and 119~ A re~ n~ d~vic~ ge~s~raïly indicated ~t 123 bears aya~n~t the handl~ 110 and 110 ~ and against the in~id~ of the actua.tcr 113 ~o u:rg~ the ac~ua~or 113 ' J ~he feed as~em331 57 and ~Da print h~ad 120 to ~hair ini ~ial or res~ poslt~ion~;
as ~ho~ in FIGURE 3. The re~3ilierl~ device 123 is sho~Am to incltlde a Cottlpre~;~3io~ pring 124 which urges sec~iorls 125 and 126 to e~tended posilti41rl~3 with respect to ea:::h othrdrD

_9 _.

Docket M ~ 4 0 ~ 7~

The print head 120 is shown to have two set3 of pri.ntirlg members 127 and 128 (FIGURES 1, 3 and 6) for printing two lines of data on a label L. The line~3 are printed ~n fields F and F' disposed on opposite sides of ~he hold~down S m~n~bex 93~ Each line of printing memberq 127 and 128 ha~
~electisrely manually ~ettable selectors 129 and 130 80 that ac:h line can pri.nt the selec~ed data on ~he label 1:. The print head 120 also has a pair of tracks 131 a~d 132 co-oE:erable with respec~ive tracks 45 and 46 o~ respective ~ubfxame sec~iorl~ 41 and ~12~ The ball bearing strip 47 i~ in rolli~ng contact with and between the ~racks 131 and 45 and th~ ball bearing strip 4 8 is in :rolliny c~ tact with and b~tween the tracks 46 and 132~ Accordingly~ the print head 120 is mounted for mov~ment into and out of coop~rati~ll wi~h the plat~n 85~ The racks or gear sections 121 and 122 ar~ ~hown to be st~aigh~ a~3 ar0 the ~racks 45, 46~ 131 and 13~ 50 `that:
th~3 print head 120 moves ln ~ straight line as is pr~::ferr~dO
With reference ~o FIGURES 14 and 15 ~ ~he fe~d a~sem~ly 57 is shown to include th2 feed wheel 63 and a drive wheel, ~p~eifically ratchet whe~l 133 haviny teeth 133 ' di ~posed in an annular arrangement . The f eed wheel 6 9 and the ratch~3t wheel 133 are shown to be selec~ively movable with re~pect 'co ea~h other ~. Th~ f eed wheel 69 i showll to have ~an annular rim 134 which is connected 1:o a l:.ublllar hu~
~5 ps::rti.on or projeo~ion :L35 by a w~3b 136. Th~ ~ubular poxtio3n 135 ha~; an open ~nd 137 and a closed end portion 138~ The tubular portion 13 5 is shown to 1:: ~ rotatably mo~ t~d ~n an annular hol~ 139 in the subframe sect~iorl 4l10 A proj~c:tiorl or retainer 1~0 joined ~o the erld portlon 138 ~3x~end~ in ~he ~xial dir~3c~ion. The ratche~: wheel 133 includes a pluxal:i~y, ~;pecifioally ~hree, spri ng ~inger.s 142 having r~pesr~ re ~o c k e t M- 3 4 0 ,~

projection~ or te~h 1430 The spring fingers 142 extend rough elongated 510ts or holes 144 ill the web 136. ',lhen the ratchet ~heel 133 is asse~led onto the feed wheel 69, the projections initially cam ~he spring ~inger~ 142 inwardl~,r and a the pro jec~ions 143 pas~s ~hrough kh~a hole~ 144 ~ they snap radially out;wardly ~o ~ha~ ~he ratchet wheel 133 is coupled i.n assembled relationship to the feed whe~1 69 ~or l~mite~ ro~ational movement~. The ratc:het wheel 133 is therefore adjustable to a limited exten~ as l~mited by the length of the holes 144., The ra'cchet wheel 133 has a elutch mamber 145 with an lnner surfac:~ beveled with re~p~c:t tG axis ~' which is provided wi~h a plurality of small close7 y spaced teeth 146. A clutch member generally indicatPd a~ 147 i~
shown to have a plurality of mating teeth 148 dispos~d on a bes~el for cooperation with the teeth 146 of the clutch member 145., The c:lutch member 147 ha~ tubular por~ions 149 anh 150 wh ch ~xteIld in opposi~e directions. The tubular portioQ 149 has a closed end portion 15û ' with a coin ~lot 151~, A
three-lobed seat 152 i~ joined to the end portion 150 ' ~ The ~ ou~er surface of ~he tubulax portion 150 i5 splined~ havirlg what is illus~rated as being three splines 153 which are received ' n a splined hole 154 in t:h~ tubular por~ion 135 The splirled hole has splirle grooves 155~ According~ r, the cluts::h mem~er 147 is keyed ag2Linst rotatio~ wi~h r~pect 'co ~e fee~ wheel 69 but i~ slidable axially with respect to the eed wheel 69. The corm!c~ion between ths~ clutch member 1~7 and the eed wh~el 69 is considered to be a splined c~ ction.
A c:om.pre.~siorl ~;prirlg 156, received wl~in the ~ubular portion~
135, 149 arld lS0~ bear~ a~ its opposite end~i against the end por~cion 138 and ~he sea~ 152. The projec~ion 1~0 ~erv~s to locate and re~airl th~ ~pring 1S6 approxima~ely ~xially clisposed wi.thirl ~he feed whe~l 69~ ~he posit:ic~n of ~he olu~::h ~r~mbers L45 an~ 147 relatl~e t.o eacil ot~ler cclrl be vari~d by ~he user ~ / / ~

Docket ~1~340 by simply ins2rting a coin into the ~lok 151 and exerting an inward f orc~ to ~:ompress the sprlng 156, and a~ soon a~
the tee~h 146 and 148 of thç~ re~pectiv~ clutch mel~r~ 145 and 147 are out of clu~chlng enyagement, the u~er can rotate the ~ubular pv:ction 14g and henc~3 ~h~ clutch member 147 and ~ 3ve .it to a differerlt selected po~i~ion wi~h :cespec~ ~o th~
clutch rr~e~ r 145.. Rotation o~ ~he c:lut:ch ~mber 147 cau~
~imultarleous :rotation of the feed wh~l 6g because of the splin~d connectiorl~ A~ soon a9 the u~er reL~a~es ~che orc~
lQ on the end portiorl 150', the spring lS6 r~turn~ 3 clu~ch ?~er 147 in~o clutching engagement wi~h the clu~ch memb~r 45 ~
The g~ar 11~ hawn to be rota~ably moun~ed on ~he proiec~iorl 135 betwe~n the ramè s~etion ~2 and the ~ubfra~n~ sPction 41~ The rame seGtion 32 has an an~ular bo~s 157 whis:h i~ show~ to b~ out of contact with the tubular poxtion 13 5 but ~n oon~ac:t with th~ gear 118 . Acc:ordingly, the gear 118 i5 captiv~ hetween th;~ s~ rame ~:ction 41 and the bos~ 157., The gear 119 ~nclud~ a~ annular rim 158 with teeth 159 at its peripheryO A web 16û i~ joined to one id*
of ~e rim 15~ and to a tubular hub portion 161~ The hub portion 161 i5 rota~ably m~u~ted on ~1@ ~u~ular portion 149., The web 16Q abu~s ~he tt~rTnin;~l ~nd 162 o~ he ra~chet whe~l 133 and the ~ubular portion lSl abll~s ~he end of ~ almular f lange 163 of the :raTne sec~ion 33O ~ei~her ~h~ fram~ ~ec~ion 33 nor its fl~g~ 163 corlt2lc:t~ ubulaE por~io~ 149~ Accordinyly~
the gear 119 i5 held capt:iv~ b~tween ~he ra~het wh~.el 133 and ~he :~lange 163~ It i5 appa:re~ hat ~he feed asse~ 7 57 is mo~red t~ ~h~ ~Jframe ~10 whi:::h i.n ~urn is moun~ed by th~
frame 31O Th~ adjlls~en~ mad~ from only one side o the ~ 1 2 i~ockek M 3 4 0 frame 31 without the n~.ed to ,shift the feed. or driv~3 wheels relative to each othe:r~ The gear 119 carri~s a pawl unit ge:nerally indicated at 164. The web 160 has a hole or ~perture 165. The pawl unit L64 has ~n integxally formed snap pro-S jection genexally indic:ated a~ 166 wh.ich include.~ a spl.jt pivot or post 167 and projections 168 with beveled cam face~
1690 In ~he posit ion ~hown in FIGU~E 17, the pivot 167 rotatably mounts the pawl unit 164 to the gear 119 ~ald ~h~
pxojections 168 prevent the pawl unit xom being 3eparaked from ~h~ geax 119~, The cam faces 169 facilital:e co~anecting the pawl unlt 164 to ~:he gear 119. Tn as~embling thE~ pawl ~it 164 OIltO l~he g~ar 1.19, th~ cam face~ 169 are 1~5erted into the hs:~le 165 ~ ar~d by pushing the pawl 164 furthex into th~ space within the rim 158, the pawl 164 is couplQd ~or E3ivotal movement a~ shown in FIG~JRE 17. The pawl u~it 164 inc:ludes a pawl 164 ' havizlg an integral pro jee~ion or post 17 0 which can mov~ to a limit~d ex~ent in a ~lot 171~ The pro~ction 170 can cooperate with a stop fac~3 172 to limit th~ trav~l of th~ pawl 164 ' D ~i1ithou1 a m~ans to l:Lmit the pivotal mc:v~3ment of t~e pawl 164 ' it would ba more difficult to a~s~nble the pawl ~Lnit 16d~ with the rakchet whe~l 133 b~cau~e the pawl unit 164 could assum~3 any of a wide variety of positions . Once the pawl unit 164 i~ a~; @;embled ~nto coop~ra~
tiv~ relatiQn~hip wikh resp~ct to 1:he ratc:het wheel 133 t the ratchet wheel 133 holds the pawl unit 164 isl a posit:io~ in wh~c:h ~he projec~iorl 170 i5 OU~:: of con~act: with ~ tr:~p face 17 2 o Elow~3ver~ if the gear i~3 di~assembl~d ss: that: the pawl 164 is moved out o~ co~ac:t with ~he ra~cha~: wheel 133 y th~
5top ~a::e 172 again coopera~e3 wi~h l~ pc~it 17U~ Formed i2ategrally wi~h the pawl 164 ~ i5 ~1. leaf spring or spr.i~g ~ing*r 173~ The leaf ~;pring 173 is conn~ctecl ~co the pawl 164 l adjacen~. 'che pawl ~oo'ch 174 and ~le o~hex end po.r~ion Docke t M--3 4 0 of ~he leaf spring 173 con-tac~s the underside of ~he rim 1580 The spring 173 urges the pawl tooth 174 into the pa~h o~ th~
teeth 133 ' O It is seen ~ha~ the pawl uni~ 164 i~ disposed almost ent:ir21y within the space defined by the rirn 158.

When the user actuakes the ac tuator 113, the gear segments 116 and 117 rok~te gears 118 and 119 which move ~he print head 120 into printing cooperation with ~he pla~en 85, and the pawl tooth 174 moveq into position to cooperate with the next tooth 133 ' on ~he ratchet wheel 133 . ~hers the u~er releases the actuator 113 the resilient devic 123 urges the actuator clockwise as viewed i.n F~GURE 3 tc: return the print head 120 to it~ itial position shown in FIGU~E 3 and to drive the pawl 164 ' to advance the ratchet wheel 113 and hence the feed whe~l 69.
- 15 With reference especially to FIGURES l; Z2 and 23 the label roll R is shown to b~ mounted for rotation on hu~
members 175 and 176. The hub members 175 and 176 are mounted on leaf springs 41' and 4~ ' fonned integrally with subframe sections 41 and 42. Th~3 hub m~mh~rs 175 and 176 are iden~ alO
Hence, only the hub mem~er 175 will ~e di~c:ussed in detail.

Thf hub member 175 is generally di~c-shaped and ha~ an amlul~r hole 177~ Th~ leaf springs ~1' has an annular flange 178 r~c~iv~3d in the hole 177 for rotatahly mounting the hub mernber 175. The h~ mem3:3er 175 is retaialed on ~h~ flang~ 178 by a ret:ain~3r yenerally indicated a~ 179. The retainer incl ud~ an ann~alar di~c-~;haped por~ion 180 and a spl.it sha~:

or po~t 181 haLving a pair o:~ proj~Gtions 182. The shaft 181 can b~ inserted t;hrollgh a hole 18 3 t~o th8 pO5 i ~ion shown in FIGURE: ~2 and the projection~ 132 hold the retain~r 179 in th~ a~3elr~led po~ition. A pair of iden~ical disc~ o~ sid~
plates 184 and 185 are used ~o suppor~ the ~iides of ~he roll Doc}cet M~3;~0 ~ 7~

R so ~lat the rol:l R does rlot telescoE~e. The di8cs la4 and 18 5 can be assembled onto the apparatu~ even af ter the retainers 179 ~re in place. T~e disc 185, for example, has a pair of hc:les 186 and 187 ~hich cormnunicate wi~h each other a'c a gap 188~ The gap 188 is defin2d by projections 189. The hole 18 6 exterlds through more than 18 0 but substantially less than 360. The hole 187 is at lea~it slightly larger in di~am~ter than ~,he outside diameter of the hub membar 1750 T}le hub rnember 175 oan be inserted ~hrough the hs:le 187 znd therauI?on ~che disc 1~4 can bP shif~ed until a boss 190 on the hub member 175 deflects the projec:tion 189 and is received in th~ hole 18~. The disc 184 is compos~d of a resilierlt material~ pr~fera~ly a thin shef~t of transparent plastics Ir~terial. The disc 184 can be a~sembled onto 'ch~ appara~us after the hub member 185 arld the retai~er 179 are in their assembl~d position, even though the outer periph~ry of the disG 18D~ is ~ ti~uous4 With reereIlce t:G FIGMRES 1~ 3 ~ and 6 through 3, ther~ is shown a movable body ~ction or cover gerl~rally indica~ed at 191 ~ox mounting an inking mechanism g~nerally ~ndicated at 192. Th~3 cover 191 i5 pi~ro~ally moun~ed on the po~ts or shats 34 and 34 ' . The post 34 togeth r wit:h 1:he post 34 ' can be con~id~red to ~e a post or shaft.. The ~5 cover 191 i5 a pair of ~;pac~d side wall~ 193 and 194 join~d by a pan~l 19 5 O The sec~ic)n 191 ha~ a pair of spaced apart a~ns 196 ancl 197 which are biurcat~d and which have ~nap socke~:s 198 and 199O ~he ~;nap socket:~; 198 aIld 199 have aligned sockets 200 which are amlula:r in configura~ion and which extend through m~re ~han 180" but sub~i tantially le~;~3 than 360~ as shown" The ~ockets 200 are axial1y align.ed and can receive the ~espec~i-ve ps~sts 34 and 34 1 ~ X'C

Docket M~ 3 al o is apparent that the cover 191 can move between a normall~
close~ position shown in FIGURE 3 and an open position shown in FIGURE 6. The section 191 can be easily as~embled onto th~3 posts 34 and 34' and the user can remove the entire cover 191 and replac~ ~he entire inking mechanisrn, if de~ired. The panel 195 has a pair of s:Lots or cutout~ 201 and 202 to enable the k~aobs 129 and 130 ~ which are part of the print head 120, to move as the print head 120 moves between the initia} or rest positiorl s~own in ~IGUR~: 3 and the prin~ing L~ position in which the print h~ad 120 cooperate~ with tha platen 85.. 'rhe co~er 191 can be readily latched in the clc:~s~d position by latch assembly 76. The assembly 76 is formed irl par~ by projec~tions 204 on the cover 191 which have resp~ctive cam faces 205 which ~e~n; n~e at shoulders 206 .
The assembly 76 is also formed :LA part by the latch 76'.
~hen the cover 1~1 is moved to the closed position " th~ cam faces 205 con~ac:t cam face 207 on the b r 761' thereby causing the lea~E ~pring 77 to bend as th~ bar 76i' mo~res generally to the right as showr~ in FIGURE 3. When the shoulders 206 have cleared the carn face 207 they move into underlying rela~ion-sh~p with respect to th~ bax 76N and the leaf spring 77 returns the bar 76n t:~o the po~ition shown in FIGURE 3. The cover 191 is now latch~d in the closed positionO To unla~ch the latch a~embly 76, the user manually engag~s th projection~
2~ 78 and 79 and moves them rearwardly away ~rom th~ front of the app~ratus 30. When ~he shoulders 206 are clear of the bar 76'~ ~he cover 191 can ~e pivG~ed to the open positlon~
The cover 191 has a pair of dove~tall s:lots 208 and 209. The slots 208 and 209 can slidably rec:eive mat:ing dove~tail bearing blocks 210 and 2110 The bearing blocks have re~pective ali~ed hol~3s 212 and 2130 ~hen the blocks 210 and 211 are slid into their respectiv~3 slots 208 and 209 shallow projections 214 and 215 :respectiveLy project sligh~ly - /G

Dock~t .~-340 ~ ~9 ~7~ ~

in~o the respective holes 212 and 213~ rrher~ i8 enough resiliency in the materials of which the cov~r 191 and the bearing block~ 210 and 211 are compos~d to let ~he beariny blocks 210 and 211 slide into plac~ to a position in which the projec~ions 214 and 215 ex~end in~o re~pec~ive holes 212 and 21.3. An inker body or carrler generally indica~ed a~ 216 and shown in considerable de~ail in FIGURE5 10 and 11 ha~ a pair of side members 217 and 218 and a p~ir of txansver3e members Zl9 and 220. Arms 221 and 222 are connec~ed to the rQspec~ive side memhers 217 and 218. The arm~ 221 and 222 have re pective aligned hol~s 223 a~d 224 for receiv.ing xespective stub ends 225 and 226 of i~k roller 227u The side memher~ are roughened as indicated at 228 and 229. ~h~n it is desired to remove the ink roller 227 the slde membexs 217 and 218 are grasped by and b~tween the thumb and index fingers at the roughening 228 and 229 a~d squee~ed so that the axm~
221 and 222 spread apart4 rrhe stub ends 2~5 and 226 will accordingly fall out of the re~pective hol~ 223 a~d 224 and a new ink roller 227 can be mounted to ~he anm~ 221 a~d 222 by simply squeezing the ide men~ers 217 and ~18 to spread the arms 221 and 222 to receive the stub ends 225 and 226 The side members 217 and 218 diverge outwardly and h~v~
ou~wardl~ extending aligne mo~n~ing portion~ 230 and 231 on arms 230' and 231', rec~ived in ~h~ holes 212 and 213.
The mo~nting por~ions 230 and 231 are r~ived ln the res~
pective holes 212 ~nd 213 of bearing blocks 210 and 211 while t~e bear~ng blocks 210 and 211 ar~ slid into ~10~3 208 and 2090 Thereaf-~er the oarrier 216 i~ ~wung into the po~ltion sho~m in FIGURE ~ ~n this po~ition ~h~ arm 230' 1~ disposed for movemen~ between th~ surface 208~ and interf~r~nce memb~r 201' orl the panel 195 and ~he arm 2319 i~ dispo~ed Eor movement b~we~n ~he ~urf~ce 20g' and in~erference member 202' on tne ~17--Docke t M- 3 4 0 ~ ~9;~ 7~

panel 195 so ~chat the ca.rriex 216 cannot be di~conn~cted from ~che cove.r sec~tion, as when th~ labeler 30 is drspped. With reference to FIGURES 1 and 3, a ~prillg member generally indicated at 232 lnc:ludes a leaf spring or spring ~ingex 233, a transverse connector or membe;r 234 dispos~d at on~3 end portion of the leaf ~pring 233, a mountin~ por~iorl 235 disposed at t~e other end portis~rl of ~he leaf 3pring 233, and ans:)the:r mounting portion 236. The mounting portion 236 is bi~urcated a~d receives an end por~ion of the panel 195. The moun'cing portion 235 has an elongated slot 237 which recf~ives he pos~
34 to pxo~ide a pin~and-slot corlIlection. The mountiIlg portion 235 i~ disposed between roll~ 238 and 239 of an applicator roll 2~0~. As best shown in E'IGURE 12, ~he rolls 238 and 239 Rtxaddle the mounting portion 235 aIld the arms 196 and 197 ~traddle the xolls 238 and 239 and the moun1ting portion 235D
The transverse member 234 is received ir~ aligned elongat2d holes 241 and 242 of a pin~and-slot conn~ctio~D Th~ transv~xse m~3~nber 234 has opposi~ely ea~t~nding tr~n~vers~ ps:rtion~ 243 and 244. The traLnsve:ese portion 243 ext~alds into the hole 241 and the txan~vers~? portion 244 extends into ~:he hole 242"
The ~ransverse por~iorl 243, for example, can be insert~d into the hole 241 while the trarassrers~3 member 234 is cant~d with respec~ to the a~cis O~e the holes 241 and 242 and ~ov~d into posi~ion and thareafter the o~her ~ran~v~3rse portion 234 i3 ~vecl into alignmen~ with the hole 24.20 When th~ ~ransverse por~ions 243 and 244 are ~eceived in re~;pective holes 2a81 and 2g2, ~he ~pring 232 ::a~ be broug~at ~o .it~ norrnal positiora in which the sid~3 o: ~he spring 232 ~rQ di~;pos~d be~w2en opposed shoulders 2~15 and 246 which limi~ th~3 late:ral moveman~ of the transv2rse mem~ber 2340 The transvexse portions 243 a~d ~44 -~ 8 7~;
Docket M~ 3 4 O

are long e~s~ugh to prevent them rom coming out of ~he respective hole~ 241 and 242 ~hen the ~houlder~ 245 and 246 cooperate wi~h the sid~s of the spring 232.
In the initial or r~t po~ition of th~ pr.int head 120, the spring mem~Qr 232 urge~ the carrier 216 to the ~olid line po~itiorl sh;~wn in ~Ir.U~E 3. The carri~r 216 ~s a paix of spaced-apart snap æoc3cets 247 and 248 tFIGURES 10 and 11) having align~d op(3ning3 249 and 250. Stub ends 251 and 252 ~FIGURE 1~ of a roller 253 ar~3 recelved in respec~ive op~nings 249 and 250,, The s:)Fsenings 249 and 250 extQnd thro~lgh more than 180 but substaIltially less than 360 so tha~ the 3tub ends 2 51 and 2 5 2 can b~ snapped ln~o them O Th~3 print: head 1~0 ::arries a eam gensrally indicated at 254 with a dwell portion 255~ a relatively ~teep ramp 256, and another dwell portior~ 257~ ~h~ inJc roll~r 227 i~3 ~hown to be spaced from the pr~t head 12n in FIGURE 3, when the roller 253 bear~
aga~ns~ ~e dw~311 portion 2550 ~en th~ print head 120 mc~ves toward th~ ink roller 227, the ~ndmos~ printing m4~ rs 127 and 128 contac~ the ink roller 227 7 ~boul: that time ~
wi~h continu~d mcivemen~ of the print head 120 ~ ~he roller 253 rolls in contas::~ W.Lt:h the ramp Z56 to pivo~ the carri~r 216 clockwise a~ viewg~d in FIGURE 3,, r~en the prin~ h~ad 12~ i5 in printing cooperation wil:h the label L on the plat~n 8~

the c~rrier 216 and the ink roll~r 227 which it carrias are 2 5 in the po~i~iorl i~dicat~d by phan ~om lin~ PL ~ O When the print hF~ad 120 i~ in pri~:ing cooperation with ~h~: Ia~el ~
the roller 253 is irl co3l~ack with t~he dwell portion 257" P,s the prin~ head 120 is returned ~o i~i rF~st or initial positlon the roller 253 IT~ve~3 sut of contac~ wi~h t.he dw211 portioll 257~ ~here;3.fter ~he roller 253 rolls along ~he ramp ~56, and therea:E~er ~he roller 253 rol.L~ onko ~le dwell portion 255 ~ . I fl .

Doc3cet M~3~L0 ~ ~s~ 7 untll the ca.rrier 216 and it3 roller 227 are retunled ~o ths~
initial positionO 3ecause ~he carrif~r 216 mov~ on ixed pivot~, a lo~ t-mo~ion connec~ion i~ pxovided by the elon~ated holes 241 a~d 242 and a 1QSt~mOtiOn connection i~ al~o provid~d by ~nlarged hole 237 in the moua~iny portion 235., In operation, a label roll R is loaded on~o ~h~ hub members 175 and 176 between the disc:s 184 ~d 1850 ThR roll R consists of ~he c:omposi~e w~b C composed o~ a web of supporting ma~erial S 1~ which the labels L ar~ releasably as:~hered by pressux~ ~ensitive adhesive Ao The leading margillal ~nd of ~he compo~ we}~ is pa~;~ed ovç!r the r~silient device 105 ~ and b~tween the brake roller 102 and the surfaces 109 and 109 ' . It is preferxed to squeez~ the actuator 113 ~ligh~ly while the leading mar~inal end i3 b2ing ~hreaded through the lab~ler so that the prin~ head 1~0 is mo~d away from the iniltial po5ition to relea~3 the brake L02 and so that th! brake roller 102 do~s no~ ~xert a ;bra~ing forc~ o~ tha ::ompo~ite web C. The leading end portion of the composi~e web C i~ pa~;~ed along the guideway providecl by ~ guides 49 nd 49'. The compo~i~e web C ~hen passe~ out o the ront of th2 apparatus adjacent th~3 roller 54 and th~reupon the user inse:rts the c:omposi~e web C b~tween the plater~ 8 5 and the hold down memb~r 930 Th~ guid~ portion 94 guide~ the c:omps~ite web out ~f ~h~ apparatus ~o a pO~itiOII whe:ee it can b~ grasped by ~he use~ who will pull OIi the composi~e web C
to draw sev~ral additional inche~ oPf th~ roll R~ Th~3 com-po ite web C ls thexeupon passed aro~ h~ roll~3r 53 0 and with the ac~ua~.or lL3 preferably in ~he fully sque~æed or fully operated po~itiorl, ~he leading ~nd of the compo~;ite web C

~2û

Dock~t M`340 ,7~l is insert~d betwee~ the die roller S7 and t.'le feed wh~el 69.
When the actautor 113 is released ~ the tee~h 68 breilk through a f rangible portiorl FS on ~he suppor~ing material web S
and the related frangible portion F~ of the labe L m~terlal L~
S Repez~ed actuation of the actua~or 11~ will cau.~e an~ ~lack to b~ takan out o f ~he web 5 and thereupon lab~ L will b~3 di~p~sed in~o label applyinq r~lation~3hip with the applicator 240 a~ ~hown in FIGURF. 3O ~n thi~3 poqi~ion th~ ~railing marginal end of ~he lea~ling label L is ~ Ll adhex~d to th web S. ~en the user applies the label L, the lab~l L being applied is pulled rom the web S. The brak~ 103 i~ ~ffective to prevent tha oomposite web C from baing paid out of ~e roll R during application of a :Label L and an a~ti backup p~wl 258 (~IGURE 1) which coopera~es wi~h he ra~ch2t whF~el 113 obviates los~ of tension in ~he web S.
When il: i~ d~3sired to replaca an ink roller 227, the u~f3r pulls on the ~ob.~ 78 and 79 t:o move the bar 76~
away :rom the shoulder~ 2 06 on the Gover sectiorl 191. ThQ
user c:an th~reupon pivo~ th~ co~r~r section 191 to l:he ope~
2~ p~sition shown in E'IGURE 6, By ~qu~aezirag the side m~mbers 228 and 229 " th~ spent ink roll~r falls ou~ of ~he hole~ 223 alld 224. ~ new ink roller can be ins@~ ed by squ~ezirlg l!:he sid2 me~[~er~ 228 and 229 so that ~he hole~ 223 a~d 224 can rec~i~r2 th~3 ~tub ends 225 and 226 of a fresh in:k rol:l~r., Th~reupon 2S the user return3 the cover section 191 ~o ~e po~ition ~hown in ~ICURE 13~ The cams or cam îace~ ~05 on the cover c:oop~:rate wi.th th~ cam face 207 of ~h~ ~ar 76'7 ~ there~ay deflec:~.ing th~
lea~f spriny 227 un~il he cosr~r sec:kioll 191 i~ :Lat;::hed n the position shc~wn in FXGURE: 3 .

~21--Docket M~ 3 4 0 3~

o~her embodiments and modifications of thi3 invention will suggest themselves to those skilled ~n the art, and all such of these as cone within th~ spirit of thi3 intrention are included within its 5cope as best d~fined by the appendad claims.

Claims (46)

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 labels, comprising: means including a platen and a cooperable print head for printing on pressure sensitive labels carried on a web of supporting material, means for delaminating printed labels from a web of supporting material, means disposed adjacent the printing means for applying delaminated labels, a feed wheel, a ratchet wheel disposed coaxially with respect to the feed wheel, means for releasably clutching the feed wheel and the ratchet wheel against relative movement with respect to each other, the releasable clutching means includes cooperable first and second teeth, the first teeth being connected to the ratchet wheel, a spline connection between the second teeth and the feed wheel, a pawl for driving the ratchet wheel, and means for moving the print head into printing cooperation with the platen and for thereafter moving the ratchet wheel, the moving means including a manually operable actuator, gear means driven by the actuator, and a pawl for driving the ratchet wheel only after the printing means has printed on a label to advance the just printed label into label applying relationship with respect to the label applying means.

2. Hand-held apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels, comprising: a frame having a handle, means for supporting a label roll composed of pressure sensitive labels releasably secured to a web of supporting material, a manually operable actuator disposed at the handle, a subframe disposed in the space within and connected to the frame, wherein the subframe includes a pair of opposed recesses, a platen and a cooperable print head mounted on the subframe, means for delaminating printed labels, means for applying labels, a toothed feed wheel disposed in the subframe, means responsive to movement of the actuator for moving the print head into and out of printing cooperation with the platen and for advancing the feed wheel, means providing a path for the web from the label roll to the platen, from there to the delaminator, and from there to the toothed feed wheel and partially around the feed wheel, and a leaf spring connected to the subframe for contacting with adjacent the place where the web is paid out of the roll to effect gradual paying out of the web, wherein the leaf spring comprises a one-piece member including a post having end portions keyed in the recesses.

3. Hand-held apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels releasably secured to a web of supporting material, comprising: a frame having a handle, a manually operable actuator disposed at the handle, a subframe disposed in the space within and connected to the frame, a platen mounted on the subframe, a print head mounted on the subframe and cooperable with the platen for printing on successive labels, means responsive to movement of the actuator for moving the print head into printing cooperation with the platen and for advancing the web, a shaft mounted on the frame, an applicator mounted on the shaft, the frame having a movable section pivotally mounted on the shaft and movable between a normally closed position and an open position, an inker for the print head disposed in the space within the frame, and means for releasably latching the movable section in the closed position.

4. Hand-held apparatus as defiend in claim 3, wherein the subframe has a pair of substantially mirror image side-by-side subframe sections, and the latching means includes a latch anchored to the subframe and accessible from outside the frame for releasably holding the movable section in the closed position.

5. Hand-held apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the latching means includes a latch anchored to the subframe and accessible from outside the frame for releasably holding the frame section in the closed position.

6. Hand-held apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels releasably secured to a web of supporting material, comprising: a frame having a handle, a manually operable actuator disposed at the handle, a subframe disposed in the space within and connected to the frame, a platen mounted on the subframe, a print head mounted on the subframe and cooperable with the platen for printing on successive labels, means responsive to movement of the actuator for moving the print head into printing cooperation with the platen, and means for delaminating printed labels, a shaft mounted by the frame, an applicator mounted on the shaft, the frame having a movable section pivotally mounted for movement between a normally closed position and an open position, an inker for the print head disposed in the space within the frame, the inker including a carrier pivotally mounted to the movable section, an ink roller carried by the carrier and cooperable with the print head, a spring member connected to the shaft and acting on the carrier for urging the carrier toward the print head to cause the ink roller to move into the path of movement of the print head, and means for releasably latching the movable section in the closed position.

7. Hand-held apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the subframe has a pair of substantially mirror-image side-by-side subframe sections, and the latching means includes a latch anchored to the subframe and accessible from outside the frame for releasably holding the movable section in the closed position.

8. Hand-held apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the latching means includes a latch anchored to the subframe and accessible from outside the frame for releasably holding the movable section in the closed position.

9. Hand-held apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels releasably secured to a web of supporting material, comprising: a frame having a handle, a manually operable actuator disposed at the handle, a subframe disposed in the space within and connected to the frame, a platen mounted on the subframe, a print head mounted on the subframe and cooperable with the platen for printing on successive labels, means responsive to movement of the actuator for moving the print head into printing cooperation with the platen and for advancing the web, an applicator for applying printed labels, a shaft mounted by the frame, the frame having a movable section pivotally mounted by the shaft and movable between a normally closed position and an open position, an inker for the print head disposed in the space within the frame, the inker including a carrier pivotally mounted to the movable section, an ink roller carried by the carrier and cooperable with the print head, a spring member connected to the shaft and acting on the carrier shaft and acting on the carrier for urging the carrier toward the print head to cause the ink roller to move into the path of movement of the print head, and means for releasably latching the movable section in the closed position.

10. Hand-held apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the subframe has a pair of substantially mirror-image side by-side subframe sections, and the latching means includes a latch anchored to the subframe and accessible from outside the frame for releasably holding the movable section in the closed position.

11. Hand-held apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the latching means includes a latch connected to the subframe and accessible from outside the frame for releasably holding the frame section in the closed position.

12. Hand-held apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels releasably secured to a web of supporting material, comprising: a frame having a handle, a manually operable actuator disposed at the handle, a subframe disposed in the space within and connected to the frame, a platen mounted on the subframe, a print head cooperable with the platen for printing on successive labels, rolling-contact bearing means movably mounting the print head to the subframe, means responsive to movement of the actuator for moving the print head into printing cooperation with the platen and for advancing the web, means for delaminating printed labels, means for applying the delaminated labels, a traveling inker including a carrier pivotally mounted to the frame, an ink roll carried by the carrier and cooperable with the print head, a spring member mounted to the frame and acting on and movable relative to the carrier, a roller mounted on the carrier, a cam on the print head cooperable with the cam, and the spring member causing the roller to follow the contour of the cam.

13. Hand-held apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels releasably secured to a web of supporting material, comprising: a frame having a handle, a manually operable actuator disposed at the handle, a subframe disposed in the space within and connected to the frame, a platen mounted on the subframe, a print head cooperable with the platen for printing on successive labels, means responsive to movement of the actuator for moving the print head into printing cooperation with the platen and for advancing the web, means for delaminating printed labels, means for applying the delaminated labels, a traveling inker including a carrier pivotally mounted on the frame, an ink roll carried by the carrier and cooperable with the print head, a spring member connected to the frame and movable relative to the carrier, and a pin-and-slot lost-motion connection between the spring member and the carrier.

14. Hand-held apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels releasably secured to a web of supporting material, comprising: a frame having a handle and a movable section, a manually operable actuator disposed at the handle, a subframe disposed in the space within and connected to the frame, a platen and a cooperable print head mounted on the subframe, means responsive to movement of the actuator for moving the print head into and out of printing cooperation and for advancing the web, an inker disposed in the space within the frame for inking the print head, the inker including a replaceable ink roller, means mounting the movable section for pivotal movement between a normally closed position and an open position to facilitate replacing a spent ink roller, means for delaminating printed labels from the web, means for applying the printed labels, a latch for releasably holding the movable section in the closed position, the latch including a flexible resilient member connected to the subframe, the movable section having means for engaging the flexible resilient member, and means accessible from outside the frame for flexing the flexible resilient member and unlatching the movable section.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the subframe is comprised of mating subframe halves having means providing a guideway for the web, wherein the subframe halves have opposed recesses, the flexible resilient member including a leaf spring, a post connected to one end portion of the leaf spring and received in the recesses, a bar connected to the other end portion of the leaf spring, the movable section having a pair of members each terminating at a latch face, the latch faces being engaged by the bar when the movable section is in the closed position, the members having respective cam faces adjacent the latch faces for camming the bar and flexing the leaf spring when the movable seciton is being moved to the closed position to enable the latch faces to be received in engagement with the bar when the body section is moved to the closed position, wherein the latch is of one-piece molded plastics construction.

16. Hand-held apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels releasably secured to a web of supporting material, comprising: a frame having a handle and a movable section; a subframe disposed in the space within and connected to the body, a platen and a cooperable print head mounted on the subframe, an inker disposed within the frame for inking the print head, the inker including a replaceable ink roller, means pivotally mounting the movable section for movement between a normally closed position and an open position to facilitate replacing a spent ink roller, means for delaminating printed labels from the web, means for applying the printed labels, the subframe having a pair of substantially mirror-image side-by-side subframe sections, the frame having a pair of holes and a latch mounted to the subframe and having means projecting through the holes and accessible from outside the frame for releasably holding the frame section in the closed position.

17. Hand-held apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels, comprising: a frame having a handle and a movable section, means mounted by the frame for supporting a label roll composed of labels releasably secured to a web of supporting material, a manually operable actuator disposed at the handle, a platen, a print head cooperable with the platen, means disposed adjacent the platen for delaminating printed labels, means disposed adjacent the delaminating means for applying printed labels, means responsive to movement of the actuator for moving the print head into and out of cooperation with the platen and for advancing the web to advance a printed label into printing cooperation with the label applying means, and means for inking the print head, the inking means including an ink roller, a carrier for the ink roller mounted to the movable section for pivotal movement between a first position in which the carrier can be connected to and disconnected from the frame section and a second position in which the ink roller can move into and out of inking cooperation with the print head, means for preventing the carrier from being disconnected from the movable section while the carrier is in the second position, a leaf spring connecting the frame and the carrier, means for coupling the leaf spring to the carrier when the carrier is in the first position, and interference means for preventing the coupling means from becoming uncoupled when the carrier is in the second position.

18. Hand-held apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein the coupling means includes a lost-motion connection between the carrier and the leaf spring.

19. Hand-held apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein the coupling means includes a pair of oppositely extending first and second projections connected to the leaf spring and means connected to the carrier providing a pair of spaced apart first and second apertures, the lateral distance between the apertures being less than the distance between the ends of the extensions but the ends of the projections being sufficiently close to each other to enable the first projection to be inserted into the first aperture and shifted into the first aperture to such an extent that the second projection can be brought into lateral alignment with the second aperture, and the interference means effective when the carrier is in the second position for preventing the first and second projections from moving out of the respective first and second apertures.

20. Hand-held apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels, comprising: a frame having a handle and a movable section, means mounted by the frame for supporting a label roll composed of labels releasably secured to a web of supporting material, a manually operable actuator disposed at the handle, a platen, a print head cooperable with the platen, means disposed adjacent the platen for delaminating printed labels, means disposed adjacent the delaminating means for applying printed labels, means responsive to movement of the actuator for moving the print head into and out of cooperation with the platen and for advancing the web to advance a printed label into printing cooperation with the label applying means, and means for inking the print head, the inking means including an ink roller cooperable with the print head, a carrier for the ink roller, means for pivotally mounting the carrier to the frame, post means connected to the frame, a leaf spring connected to the carrier and to the post means, and the label applying means including an applicator roll mounted for rotation about the post means.

21. Hand-held apparatus as defined in claim 20, including an extension on the leaf spring for anchoring the leaf spring to the movable section.

22. Hand-held apparatus as defined in claim 20, the leaf spring including a spring mounting section having an aperture for receiving the post, the aperture being sized to provide lost motion between the mounting section and the post, the mounting section further including an extension anchored to the frame.

23. Hand-held apparatus as defiend in claim 22, wherein the carrier is of one-piece molded plastics construction, and wherein the leaf spring is of one-piece molded plastics construction.

24. Hand-held apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels, comprising: a frame having a handle and a movable section, means mounted by the frame for supporting a label roll composed of labels releasably secured to a web of supporting material, a manually operable actuator disposed at the handle, a platen, a print head cooperable with the platen, means disposed adjacent the platen for delaminating printed labels, means disposed adjacent the delaminating means for applying printed labels, means responsive to movement of the actuator for moving the print head into and out of cooperation with the platen and for advancing the web to advance a printed label into printing cooperation with the label applying means, and means for inking the print head, the inking means including an ink roller cooperable with the print head, a carrier for the ink roller, means for pivotally mounting the carrier to the frame section, post means on the frame for pivotally mounting the movable section, and a leaf spring connected to the carier and to the post means.

25. Hand-held apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein the label applying means includes an applicator roll rotatably mounted on the post means.

26. Hand-held apparatus for printing and applying labels, and including a frame having a handle, a manually engageable actuator disposed at the handle, means for mounting a label roll comprised of labels releasably adhered by pressure sensitive adhesive to a web of supporting material, a platen mounted by the frame, a print head cooperable with the platen, means disposed adjacent the platen for delaminating printed labels, means disposed adjacent the delaminating means for applying printed labels, means for advancing the web, and means responsive to movement of the actuator for moving the print head into and out of cooperation with the platen and for moving the web advancing means, the moving means including a gear, ratchet teeth movable in an annular path and coupled to the web advancing means, and a pawl driven by the gear and having a tooth cooperable with the ratchet teeth, the improvement comprising pivot means for pivotally mounting the pawl to the gear, and a leaf spring bearing against the gear for biasing the pawl tooth into the path.

27. Hand-held apparatus as defined in claim 26, including means For limiting the movement of the pawl tooth into the path.

28. Hand-held apparatus for printing and applying labels, and including a frame having a handle, a manually engageable actuator disposed at the handle, means for mounting a label roll comprised of labels releasably adhered by pressure sensitive adhesive to a web of supporting material, a platen mounted by the frame, a print head cooperable with the platen, means disposed adjacent the platen for delaminating printed labels, means disposed adjacent the delaminating means for applying printed labels, means for advancing the web, and means responsive to movement of the actuator for moving the print head into and out of cooperation with the platen and for moving the web advancing means, the moving means including a gear, ratchet teeth movable in an annular path and coupled to the web advancing means, and a pawl driven by the gear and having a tooth cooperable with the ratchet teeth, the improvement comprising a snap-lock pivotal connection between the pawl and the gear, and spring means for urging the pawl into the path.

29. Hand-held apparatus for printing and applying labels, and including a frame having a handle, a manually engageable actuator disposed at the handle, means for mounting a label roll comprised of labels releasably adhered by pressure sensitive adhesive to a web of supporting material, a platen mounted by the frame, a print head cooperable with the platen, means disposed adjacent the platen for delaminating printed labels, means disposed adjacent the delaminating means for applying printed labels, means for advancing the web, and means responsive to movement of the actuator for moving the print head into and out of cooperation with the platen and for moving the web advancing means, the moving means including a gear, ratchet teeth movable in an annular path and coupled to the web advancing means, and a pawl driven by the gear and having a tooth cooperable with the ratchet teeth, the improvement comprising that the gear has an annular rim, gear teeth at the outer periphery of the rim, a web connected to one side of the rim, a first aperture in the web, a pawl having a split post rotatably received in the first aperture, a first projection on the post, the post being insertable into the first aperture and the first projection retaining the pawl coupled to the gear web, the first projection having a tapered portion to facilitate insertion of the post into the first aperture, the pawl having a tooth, a leaf spring connected to the pawl adjacent the tooth and bearing against the rim, a second aperture in the gear web, the second aperture having a stop face, a second projection disposed on the pawl and cooperable with the stop face for limiting the movement of the pawl tooth into the path, the pawl, the leaf spring, the post and the first and second projections being of one-piece molded plastics construction.

30. Hand-held apparatus for printing and applying labels, and including a frame having a handle, a manually engageable actuator disposed at the handle, means for mounting a label roll comprised of labels releasably adhered by pressure sensitive adhesive to a web of supporting material, a platen mounted by the frame, a print head cooperable with the platen, means disposed adjacent the platen for delaminating printed labels, means disposed adjacent the delaminating means for applying printed labels, means for advancing the web, and means responsive to movement of the actuator for moving the print head into and out of cooperation with the platen and for moving the web advancing means, the moving means including a gear, ratchet teeth movable in an annular path and coupled to the web advancing means, the improvement comprising a pawl unit driven by the gear, the pawl unit including a pawl having a tooth cooperable with the ratchet teeth and an integrally molded leaf spring for urging the pawl tooth into the path, means pivotally mounting the pawl unit on and relative to the gear, the pawl unit being composed of plastics material.

31. Hand-held apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels, comprising: a frame having a handle, a manually operable actuator disposed at the handle; a subframe disposed in and connected to the frame, the subframe having a pair of mating side-by-side first and second subframe sections, means for supporting a label roll composed of labels releasably secured by pressure sensitive adhesive to a supporting material web, and means defining a path for the web through the subframe, the first subframe section having a first recess and the second subframe section having a second recess opposite the first recess, a platen retained at opposite side portions in the respective recesses, the platen having an end edge, a print head cooperable with the platen, a peel roller rotatably mounted and captive at its end portions in the first and second recesses and in contact with the end edge of the platen, means disposed adjacent the peel roller for applying printed labels, and means responsive to movement of the actuator for moving the print head into printing cooperation with the platen and for advancing the web.

32. Hand-held apparatus as defined in claim 31, wherein the end edge is defined by two projections for contacting only the end portions of the peel roller.

33. Hand-held apparatus as defined in claim 32, wherein the subframe sections and the platen are composed of molded plastics material and the peel roller is composed of metal.

34. Hand-held apparatus for applying labels, comprising: a frame having a handle, means carried by the frame for mounting a label roll comprised of labels releasably secured by pressure sensitive adhesive to a web of supporting material, an actuator disposed at the handle, a platen mounted by the frame, a print head cooperable with the platen, means for delaminating printed labels from the supporting material web, means disposed adjacent the delaminating means for applying printed labels, means for advancing the web about the delaminating means, and means responsive to movement of the actuator for moving the print head into printing cooperation with the platen and for moving the web advancing means, wherein the label roll holding means includes a pair of spaced apart hub members mounted for rotation about a common axis and projecting into opposite ends of a central hole in the label roll, a disc adjacent at least one of the hub members, the disc having a continuous outer periphery, a first generally central hole and a second hole opening into the first hole and being larger in size than the exterior of the related hub member, the disc having a greater radial extent than the related hub member, and means received in the first hole for mounting the disc, a gap at the opening between the first and second holes being less than the outside dimension of the mounting means, the disc being capable of being installed by passing the hub member through the second hole and thereupon shifting the disc so that the disc is snapped onto the mounting means.

35. Hand-held apparatus as defined in claim 34, wherein the disc is composed of flexible plastics material.

36. Hand-held apparatus as defined in claim 34, wherein the mounting means is formed integrally with one of the hub members.

37. Hand-held apparatus as defined in claim 34, including shaft means for rotatably mounting the hub members.

38. Hand-held apparatus for applying labels, comprising: a frame having a handle, means carried by the frame for mounting a label roll comprised of labels releasably secured by pressure sensitive adhesive to a web of supporting material, an actuator disposed at the handle, a platen mounted by the frame, a print head cooperable with the platen, means for delaminating printed labels from the supporting material web, means disposed adjacent the delaminating means for applying printed labels, means for drawing the web about the delaminating means, and means responsive to movement of the actuator for moving the print head into printing cooperation with the platen and for moving the web advancing means, wherein the label roll holding means includes a pair of spaced apart hub members mounted for rotation about a common axle and adapted to project into opposite ends of a central hole in the opposite ends of a central hole in the label roll, a pair of discs adjacent the respective hub members, each disc having a continuous outer periphery, a first generally central hole and a larger second hole opening into the first hole, the second hole being larger in size than the exterior of the related hub member, each disc having a greater radial extent than the related hub member, means received in the first hole for mounting the respective disc, means defining a gap at the opening between the first and second holes of each disc which is less than the outside dimension of the related mounting means, each disc being capable of being installed by passing the hub member through the second hole and thereupon shifting the disc so that the first hole receives the mounting means.

39. A reel comprising a pair of spaced apart hub members mounted for rotation about a common axis and adapted to project into opposite ends of a central hole in a roll, a pair of discs adjacent the respective hub members, each disc having a continuous outer periphery, a first generally central hole and a larger second hole opening into the first hole, the second hole being larger in size than the exterior of the related hub member, each disc having a greater radial extent than the related hub member, means received in the first hole for mounting the respective disc, means defining a gap at the opening between the first and second holes of each which is less than the outside dimension of the related mounting means, the discs being capable of being installed by passing the hub member through the respective second hole and thereupon shifting the disc so that the disc is snapped onto the respective mounting means.

40. A reel comprising a pair of spaced apart hub members mounted for rotation about a common axis and adapted to project into opposite ends of a central hole in a roll, at least one disc adjacent one of the hub members, the disc having a continuous outer periphery, a first generally central hole and a larger second hole opening into the first hole, the second hole being larger in size than the exterior of the related hub member, the disc having a greater radial extent than the related hub member, means received in the first hole for mounting the disc, means defining a gap at the opening between the first and second holes of each disc which is less than the outside dimension of the related mounting means, the disc being capable of being installed by passing the hub member through the respective second hole and thereupon shifting the disc so that the disc is snapped onto the respective mounting means.

41. A reel as defined in claim 40, wherein the disc is composed of flexible transparent plastics material.

42. A reel as defined in claim 40, wherein the first hole is generally circular and extends for more than 180 degrees but substantially less than 360?, wherein there is a disc adjacent both hub members, wherein the discs are identical, wherein both discs are of uniform thickness.

43. Hand-held apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels releasably adhered to a web of supporting material, the web being wound into a roll comprising: a frame having a handle, a platen and a cooperable print head mounted by the frame, the print head being movable from an initial position to a printing position in cooperation with the platen, means disposed adjacent the platen for delaminating labels from the web, means for advancing the web, an actuator disposed at the handle, means responsive to movement of the actuator for moving the print head into printing cooperation with the platen and for moving the web advancing means, a brake including a roller mounted by the frame downstream of the place where the web is paid out of the label roll and upstream of the platen for applying a braking force to the web, the brake further including a plurality of leaf springs caried by the print head and in contact with the brake roller at spaced apart locations when the print head is in or near the initial position.

44. Hand-held apparatus as defined in claim 43, wherein there are two of said leaf springs.

45. Hand-held apparatus as defined in claim 43, wherein the roll has a pair of loosely mounted stub ends and a roller portion, the roller portion having a pair of annular grooves, a pair of resilient O-rings received in the grooves, the leaf springs being in frictional contact with the O-rings when the print head is in or near the initial position.

46. Hand-held apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels releasably adhered to a web of supporting material, the web being wound into a roll, comprising: a frame having a handle, a platen and a cooperable print head mounted by the frame, the print head being movable from an initial position to a printing position in cooperation with the platen, means disposed adjacent the platen for delaminating labels from the web, means for advancing the web, an actuator disposed at the handle, means responsive to movement of the actuator for moving the print head into printing cooperation with the platen and for moving the web advancing means, and a brake acting on the web downstream of the place where the web is paid out of the label roll and upstream of the platen for applying a braking force to the web, the brake including a plurality of spring fingers, a brake roller contacted by the spring fingers only when the print head is in or near the initial position, and a brake surface cooperable with the brake roller, the web extending between the brake roller and the brake surface.