EP0119524B1

EP0119524B1 - Automatic label winding and charging device

Info

Publication number: EP0119524B1
Application number: EP19840102194
Authority: EP
Inventors: Yo Sato; Tadao Kashiwaba; Yasuhiko Matsuda; Tadahisa Oikawa; Akeshi Odajima
Original assignee: Sato Corp
Current assignee: Sato Corp
Priority date: 1983-03-02
Filing date: 1984-03-01
Publication date: 1989-07-12
Also published as: EP0119524A3; EP0119524A2; DE3478918D1; DE119524T1

Description

The present invention relates to a label printing and applying system according to the preamble part of claim 1.
Such a label printing and applying system is known from DE-A-3 227 106. After taking up the label web onto the cassette case of the known system, it is necessary to bend the trailing end of the label web backward around a peeling place to position it along the feeding direction, and to set the label web between a feeding roller and a driving roller when the cassette case is set onto the label applicator in the form of a manual labeller body.
Therefore, the known system suffers from the drawback that much troublesome work and operations are necessary for setting the cassette case onto the label applicator after having taken up the label web.
This is also true for the system known from FR-A-2 501 158, since a bottom cover of this known system and, in turn, a platen thereof have to be rotatably opened and a label-inserting process is necessary to set the label cassette onto the label applicator.
It is, therefore, an object underlying the present invention to provide a portable label printing and applying system according to the preamble part of claim 1 with which it is possible to reduce the troublesome operation of threading the label web along its feeding path after taking up the label web on the take-up core. ₄
The solution of this object is achieved by the features of claim 1.
In contrast to the prior art systems described above, according to the present invention the taking-up of the label web is directed from the backing paper holding mechanism toward the take-up core via the label guide means, the peel preventing means and the rotary member, so that when the label taking-up is finished and the trailing end thereof has been cut, the label web has already been positioned along the feeding path which will be formed when the take-up cassette is set on the label applicator.
Accordingly, it is very easy to set the take-up cassette on the label applicator because the label web has already been positioned along its feeding path, i.e., the operation for threading the label along the feeding path is much reduced from that of the known systems.
The dependent claims contain advantageous embodiments of the present invention.
The present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

In Figs. 1 to 25 showing a first embodiment of the present invention:
- Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a cassette;
- Fig. 2 is also a perspective view but shows a label applicator;
- Fig. 3 is a longitudinally sectional side elevation showing the cassette having its rotary member closed;
- Fig. 4 is a section taken along line IV-IV of Fig. 3.
- Fig. 5 is a longitudinally sectional side elevation showing the cassette in its mounted state;
- Fig. 6 is a top plan view showing the essential portions of a printer;
- Fig. 7 is a top plan view showing the cassette mounting mechanism of the printer;
- Fig. 8 is a front elevation showing the cassette mounting mechanism of Fig. 7;
- Fig. 9 is a side elevation showing the cassette mounting mechanism of Figs. 7 and 8;
- Fig. 10 is a top plan view showing the cassette mounting mechanism in which the cassette is mounted;
- Fig. 11 is a front elevation showing the cassette mounting mechanism in its cassette mounting state with its portions being omitted;
- Fig. 12 is a side elevation showing the cassette mounting mechanism of Fig. 11 in its cassette mounting state.
- Fig. 13 is a back elevation showing the cassette;
- Fig. 14 is a bottom view of the cassette;
- Fig. 15 is a longitudinally sectional side elevation showing a label applicator;
- Fig. 16 is a top plan view showing the label applicator of Fig. 15;
- Fig. 17 is a top plan view showing a continuous web of labels.
- Fig. 18 is a longitudinally sectional side elevation showing the label applicator which is charged with the cassette.
- Fig. 19 is an explanatory view showing the label applicator charged with the cassette but before a hand lever is actuated;
- Fig. 20 is a longitudinally sectional side elevation showing the essential portions of the label applicator in which the hand lever is slightly actuated;
- Fig. 21 is a section taken along line XXI-XXI of Fig. 20;
- Fig. 22 is a section taken along line XXII-XXII of Fig. 20;
- Fig 23 is a longitudinally sectional side elevation showing the essential portions of the label applicator in which the hand lever is fully squeezed;
- Fig. 24 is an explanatory view of the state in which the hand lever is fully squeezed; and
- Fig. 25 is a longitudinally sectional side elevation for explaining an operation to remove the cassette.
- In Figs. 26 to 28 showing a second embodiment of the present invention:
- Fig. 26 is a longitudinally sectional side elevation showing a cassette according to the second embodiment;
- Fig. 27 is a section taken along line XXVII-XXVII of Fig. 26; and
- Fig. 28 is a longitudinally sectional side elevation showing the cassette in its mounted state.
- Fig. 29 is an explanatory view showing a modification of the second embodiment.
- Fig. 30 is a longitudinally sectional side elevation for explaining a third embodiment of the present invention; and
- Fig. 31 is a longitudinally sectional front elevation showing the state in which the rotary member of Fig. 30 is closed.
- Fig. 32 is a longitudinally sectional side elevation for explaining a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and
- Fig. 33 is a section taken along line XXXIII-XXXIII of Fig. 32.
- Fig. 34 is a longitudinally sectional side elevation for explaining a fifth embodiment of the present invention; and
- Fig. 35 is a longitudinally sectional front elevation showing the state in which the rotary member of Fig. 34 is closed.
- In Figs. 36 to 38 showing a sixth embodiment of the present invention:
- Fig. 36 is a longitudinally sectional side elevation showing a cassette;
- Fig. 37 is a section taken along line XXXVII-XXXVII of Fig. 36; and
- Fig. 38 is a perspective view showing a guide member.
- Fig. 39 is a perspective view showing a modification of the guide member of Fig. 38.
- Fig. 40 is a longitudinally sectional side elevation showing a cassette according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention; and
- Fig. 41 is a perspective view showing a label web which can be applied to the embodiment of Fig. 40.
- Fig. 42 is a longitudinally sectional side elevation showing a cassette according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention; and
- Fig. 43 is a perspective view showing a take-up core and a guide member of Fig. 42.
- Fig. 44 is a perspective view showing a modification of the guide member of Fig. 43.
- In Figs. 45 to 48 showing a ninth embodiment of the present invention:
- Fig. 45 is a longitudinally sectional side elevation showing a cassette having its rotary member closed;
- Fig. 46 is a longitudinally sectional side elevation at the start of the cassette winding operation;
- Fig. 47 is a longitudinally sectional side elevation showing the cassette in the course of the winding operation; and
- Fig. 48 is a longitudinally sectional side elevation showing the end of the winding operation.

The present invention will be described in detail in the following in connection with the embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings.
An automatic label winding and charging device according to the present invention can be used with a portable label applying system. This system is constructed to include: a printer 3 for printing a continuous web of labels 4; a take-up cassette 1 which is made coactive, with the printer 3 for winding the label web 4 having its labels printed by the printer 3; and a label applicator 2 which is removably charged with the take-up cassette 1 and adapted to be manually actuated to feed the label web 4 and to peel the printed labels 6 from their backing paper 5 so that the labels 6 may be applied.
In the central portion of the frame 7 of the take-up cassette 1, there is rotatably borne a cylindrical take-up core 8. This take-up core 8 is composed of: two flanges 8a which are formed at both the longitudinal ends thereof; a straight core body 8b which extends longitudinally from the legs of the flanges 8a and has a length slightly smaller than the width of the label web 4; and a winding space 8c which is so defined by the flanges 8a and the core body 8b that it is expanded or counter-tapered in the radially outward direction. Moreover, the take-up core 8 is formed at its center with a boss 11 in which a later-described rotary shaft of of the printer 3 is to be fitted. In the embodiment shown in Fig 3,the boss 11 isformedto protrudeto the outside, as seen from Fig 4. However, it is quite natural that the boss 11 may protrude outwardly. Indicated at numeral 12 is a rotary member which is rotatably borne on a pair of annular lands 80 extending inwardly from the facing walls of the cassette frame 7 radially outside of the take-up core 8. The rotary member 12 has both its side plates formed at their rear portions into flanges 10 and at their front ends into a curved label holding portion 13 which merges into the two side plates. The rotary member 12 is equipped with a guide leaf spring 9 around the take-up core 8. This guide spring 9 has its one end fixed on the outer circumference edges between the flanges 10 and 10 at the side opposite to the label holding portion 13 of the rotary member 12 and its other end curved in an arcuate form to contact with the outer circumference of the take-up core 8. The position in which the guide spring 9 contacts with the take-up core 8 is located to substantially face the aforementioned label holding portion 13. The take-up cassette 1 has its bottom covered with a bottom plate 14 which is fored with a backing paper guide groove 15 extending longitudinally from the front end to the rear end thereof, as shown in Fig. 3. The bottom plate 14 is further formed with a pair of pawl guides 17 extending in the londitudinal direction, as shown in Fig. 4. Indicated at numeral 16 is a turning pin which is attached to the front of the bottom plate 14 so as to turn the advance of the backing paper 5. Indicated at numeral 18 is a backing paper holding mechanism which is disposed at the back of the bottom plate 14. This backing paper holding mechanism 18 is constructed of: a pressure member 20 which is vertically movably fitted in a hole 19 formed in the frame 7; and a receiving plate 21 which is fixed on the rear end of the aforementioned backing paper guide groove 15. The pressure member 20 is formed on its lower face, as better shown in Fig 13, with a pressure land 22 which has its lower face center protruding to form a needle 23, as shown in Fig. 5. The pressure member 20 is further formed at both its sides with integral knobs 24 which in turn are formed at the lower portions with semicircular engagement tongues 25, as shown in Fig. 1. Here, the pressure member 20 is biased downward at all times by the action of a coil spring 26 which is fitted in the aforementioned hole 19. As a result, the engagement tongues 25 usually protrude from the bottom face of the take-up cassette 1, and the pressure land 22 abuts against the upper face of the receiving plate 21. This receiving plate 21 is attached to the bottom plate 14 with a gap 27 sufficient to allow passage of the backing paper 5 therethrough. The receiving plate 14 is provided at its substantial center with a through hole 28 for receiving the needle 23 of the pressure member 20 and at its rear end with a backing paper cutter 29 (as better seen from Fig. 14). Turning to Fig. 1, the take-up cassette 1 is formed at the front ends of both its sides with semicircular engagement projections 30 and has both its sides slightly recessed at their lower portions to form mounting portions 31 at which the take-up cassette 1 is to be mounted in the printer 3 or the label applicator 2. Incidentally, reference numeral 32 indicates a display label fitting recess. The cassette 1 has both its side plates formed with cassette positioning holes 7a, in which the later-described positioning pins of the printer are to be fitted. The side plates of the cassette 1 are formed at their upper and lower ends with recesses 7b and 7c in which the positioning levers at the printer are to be fitted. Moreover, the leading ends of the cassette 1 are formed at their side edges with notches 7d for preventing the cassette 1 from being erroneously set with the rotary member 12 being left unraised.
Turning now to Figs. 2, 15 and 16, the label applicator 2 will be described in the following. In and above the frame 33 of the applicator 2, there is formed a space 34 for accommodating therein the take-up cassette 1. The frame 33 has its upper flat edges slightly extending inwardly to provide ledges 35. Inside of the front wall 36 of the frame 33, on the other hand, there are formed a pair of engagement notches 37 having a generally semicircular shape. In the front end of the frame 33, moreover, there is rotatably borne a label applying roller 39, below which is formed a label exit 38, as better seen from Fig. 15. The applicator frame 33 has its rear portion extending into a grip 40, below which a hand lever 41 has its front end hinged at 42 to the frame 33. Between the hand lever 41 and the grip 40, there is mounted a return spring 43 by which the hand lever 41 is always biased clockwise, as shown in Fig. 15. in the lower portion of the frame 33, there is disposed a feed mechanism 44 for feeding or advancing the backing paper 5. This mechanism 44 is consturcted of: a pawl member 46 which has its upper end formed with a pair of advancing pawls 45; a holding frame 47 holding the pawl member 46; and first, second and third links 48, 49 and 50 for moving the holding frame 47 back and forth. The first link 48 has its one end fixed to the aforementioned hand lever 41, and a roller 51 attached to the other end of the link 48 is fitted in a slot 52 which is formed in the second link 49. This link 49 has its lower end hingedly connected to a pin 53, which is mounted to extend across the frame 33, and its upper end hinged at 54 to the third link 50. This link 50 has its leading end fixed to the holding frame 47. This holding frame 47 is formed to have a generally C-shaped top view, as shown in Fig. 16. To both the sides of the holding frame 47, there are attached two pairs of rollers 55 and 56 which are fitted in guide grooves 57 formed in the respective inner walls of the frame 33. On the other hand, the pawl member 46 is made rotatable by means of a pin 58 which extends across the holding frame 47 and is always biased counter-clockwise of Fig. 15 by the action of a torsion spring 59. Indicated at numeral 60 is a push-up plate which is hinged to the holding frame 47 by means of a pin 61 mounted across the rear end of the frame 47. Indicated at numeral 62 is a supporting member which is hinged to the frame 33 by means of a pin 63 mounted across the frame 33. By the actions of torsion springs 64 and 65, respectively, the push-up plate 60 and the supporting member 62 are biased counter-clockwise and clockwise of Fig. 15, respectively. In the still state of Fig. 18, the upper face of the supporting member 62 abuts to support the lower face of the rear end of the push-up plate 60. Moreover, this push-up plate 60 is formed with a downhill portion 66 at the upper face of its rear end. At the back of the frame 33, there is disposed a lock mechanism 67 (as shown in Fig. 15) for locking the take-up cassette 1 to be charged. This lock mechanism 67 is constructed of: a lock member 69 which is hinged to the frame 33 and biased in the clockwise direction at all times by the action of a spring 68; and a demounting button 70 which is so attached to the upper end of the rear portion of the frame 33 as to slide back and forth and which has its portion abutting against the lock member 69. When the label applicator 2 is to be charged with the cassette 1, the lower end corner 71 of the lock member 69 comes into engagement with the engagement projections 73 of the lower end of the opening 72 formed in the rear face of the cassette 1 so that the cassette 1 is locked (as seen from Figs. 13, 16, 18). Incidentally, at the front of the pawl member 46, there is attached to the frame 33 a backing paper holding member 74 which is made of a leaf spring.
Turning now to Fig. 6, the printer 3 will be described in the following. In Fig. 6, the well-known portions such as a keyboard or a display are omitted, but the printing unit and the winding unit are shown in a top plan view. Reference numeral 90 appearing in Fig. 6 indicates the base frame of the printer 3. At one side of this base frame 90, i.e., at the lefthand side of the drawing, there is removably and rotatably mounted on a holding shaft 92 a reel 91 which is wound with a continuous label web 4 having its labels 6 unprinted. The label web 4 being unwound from that reel 91 is twisted at right angle through guides 93 and 94 so that it is in an upright position with respect to the base frame 90 when it is guided to above the frame 90. The label web 4 having passed over the guide 94 advances through a position detecting mechanism 95, in which the position of the label is detected by detecting means such as a photo-sensor. The label position having detected by the mechanism 95 advances between a thermal head 96 of heat transfer type and a platen 97, both of which construct together a thermal printer. The thermal head 96 is attached to the free end side of an arm 98 and is so constructed that it is urged toward the platen 97 by the action of a not-shown spring. On the other hand, reference numeral 99 indicates a let-off reel on which a heat transfer ink ribbon 100 is wound. This ink ribbon 100 unwound from the reel 99 is guided through guide rollers 101 and 102 to the thermal head 96, at which it is superposed upon the label web 4 before print so that predetermined bar codes are transferred onto the labels by the action of the thermal head 96. After this transfer, the ink ribbon is guided by guide pins 103 and 104 until it is taken up on a take-up reel 105 which is arranged in juxtaposition to the let-off reel 99. In this meanwhile, the label web 4 having its labels bearing the transferred bar codes is turned at the platen 97 until it is guided into the cassette 1 which is removably mourned on the base frame 90.
The mounting mechanism for mounting the cassette 1 will be described in detail with reference to Figs. 6 to 12. On the base frame 90 of the printer 3, specifically, there are anchored in the vicinity of the platen 97 two guide pins 106 and 107 which protrude upward. These guide pins 106 abd 107 are fitted in the holes 7a of the cassette 1 thereby to position the cassette 1. Generally at the middle of the guide pins 106 and 107, there is disposed the head 109 of a rotary shaft 108, which is to be fitted in the boss 11 of the take-up core 8 of the cassette 1. Across the head 109, there are arranged a group of lock levers 110 and 111 which are rotatably borne by means of pins 112 and 113, respectively. The one lock lever 110 has its one end hinged to a link 114 by means of a pin 115 and its other end formed into a bent portion 110a which is to be fitted in the recess 7b formed in the side plate of the cassette 1 in the vicinity of the upper end edge thereof. The other lock lever 111 has its one end hingedly connected to the link 114 by means of a pin 116. The bent portion 111 a of the lock lever 111, which is located at the side of the lock lever 110 across the connecting pin 116, is to be fitted in the recess 7c which is formed in the lower portion of the side plate of the cassette 1. On the other hand, the bent portion 111b of the lock lever 111, which is bent upward at the side opposite to the bent portion 111 a, is positioned to contact and press the leading end of the engagement tongue 25 of the cassette 1. Between the other end of the lock lever 111 and a pin 117 which is anchored at the base frame 90 in a position close to the lock lever 110, there is mounted a tension spring 118 which biases the lock lever 11 to turn clockwise of Fig. 7. Now, outside of the lock lever 110, there is arranged an actuating lever 119 which has its intermediate portion rotatably borne by a pin 120. The actuating lever 119 has its one end bent upward to form a bent portion 119a, to which a knob 121 is fixed. The upward bent portion 119a has its intermediate portion fitted in the cam hole 123 of a locking member 122. The cam hole 123 has its one side edge composed of a stepped cam portion 123a for regulating the lock position and a stepped cam portion 123b for regulating the release position, and the two cam portions 123a and 123b are joined through a sloped portion 123c. Outside of the other lock lever 111, moreover, there is arranged a label guide 124. This label guide 124 is formed, as shown in Fig. 12, by bending stepwise the intermediate portion of a metal plate, and its upper end portion 124a is fitted in the backing paper guide groove 15 so that it can provide such a slight gap between itself and the bottom plate 14 as can allow the continuous label web to pass therethrough. The label guide 124 has its lower end extending outside of the bent portion 111b of the lock lever 111 and below the lower side of the lock lever 111. In parallel with the link 114, on the other hand, there is placed a connecting bar 125 which extends between the link 114 and the guide pin 106. The connecting bar 125 has its one end hingedly connected through a ball joint 126 to the end portion of the actuating lever 119 opposite to the knob 121 and its other end fixed to the side of the label guide 124. The connecting bar 125 is so guided by two pairs of guide rollers 127, 128, 129 and 130 that it can conduct linear motions. At the side opposite to the connecting bar 125 with respect to the lock levers 111 and 112, there is arranged in parallel with the connecting bar 125 a guide bar 131 which has its one end fixed to the label guide 124. The guide bar 131 is also guided by guide rollers 132, 133, 134 and 135 that it can conduct linear motions. The guide rollers 127 to 130 and 132 to 135 thus far described are attached to a bracket 136 which is fixed on the base frame 90. Incidentally, the guide rollers 127 to 130 and 132 to 135 may be grooved or not or may be combined. At the leading end of the aforementioned label guide 124, on the other hand, there is arranged a guide member 137 which draws a large arcuate curve. This guide member 137 fixed to either the base frame 90 or the bracket 136 and has its leading end leading to the vicinity of the upper end of the opening of the leading end of the frame 7 of the cassette 1. Inside of the guide member 137, there is disposed a peel preventing member 138. This member 138 is such a block as has its side edge curved to profile the guide member 137 to define inbetween a guide groove 139. In order to clean this guide groove 139 or to prevent the same from being jammed with the label or labels, incidentally, it is preferred to make removable at least one of the guide member 137 and the peel preventing member 138. The other side edge of this peel preventing member 138 is shaped to complement the side edge of the leading end side of the cassette 1 and is formed in its midway with a projection 138a which is to be fitted in the notches 7d formed in the leading end of the cassette 1. The reason why the peel preventing member is so highly curved is intended to prevent the labels from being peeled off their backing paper if the label web is guided in an acutely bent shape.
The operations of the automatic label winding and charging device having the construction thus far described will be explained in the following. First of all, an empty cassette 1 is set on the frame 90 of the printer 3 by making use of the lock levers 110 and 111. At this time, the rotary member 12 of the cassette 1 is turned clockwise of Fig. 1 to its open position. In this state, the actuating lever 119 is turned clockwise of Fig. 7 around the pin 120, by manually pinching the knob 121, to move its bent portion 119a from the cam portion 123a to the cam portion 123b of the locking member 122. Then, the link 114 and the connecting bar 125 are pushed upward of Fig. 7 to push the label guide 124 and to turn the lock levers 110 and 111 clockwise around the pins 112 and 113, respectively. As a result, the bent portion 110a of the lock lever 110 and the bent portion 111 b of the lock lever 111 are respectively turned apart from the head 109 of the rotary shaft 108. At this stage, the cassette 1 can be mounted on the bracket 136 above the base frame 90. After this setting operation, the cassette 1 is brought onto the bracket 136 with its open rotary member 12 being positioned at the side of the actuating lever 119 and with its backing paper guide groove 15 being directed toward the label guide 124. Moreover, the guide pins 106 and 107 are fitted in the positioning holes 7a of the cassette 1. In this state, as shown in Fig. 10, the projection 138a of the peel preventing member 138 is fitted in the notches 7d formed in the side edges of the leading ends of the cassette 1. If, at this time, the cassette 1 should be erroneously set with the rotary member 12 being left unopened, this setting is impossible because the rotary member 12 has its label holding portion 13 closing the notches 7d. In the state in which the cassette 1 is mounted through the guide pins 106 and 107, the bent portions 11Ca and 111a a of the lock levers 110 and 111 are positioned apart from the recesses 7c and 7d of the cassette 1 so that they provide no obstruction to the mounting operation of the cassette 1.
After this, the actuating lever 119 is turned counter-clockwise around the pin 120 to have its bent portion 119a fitted on the stepped cam portion 123a. Then, the link 114 and the connecting lever 125 are pulled downwardly of Fig. 10 so that the label guide 124 is pulled toward the cassette 1 whereas the lock levers 110 and 111 are turned counter-clockwise. As a result, the upper end portion 124a of the label guide 124 comes into the backing paper guide groove 15 of the cassette 1, as shown in Fig. 12, to leave such a gap from the bottom plate 14 as to guide the continuous label web 4. By the counter-clockwise turn of the lock lever 110, moreover, the bent portion 110a is fitted in the notches 7d of the cassette 1. Likewise, the bent portion 111 a is fitted in the recess 7c of the cassette 1 by the counter-clockwise turn of the lock lever 111. At the same time, the engagement tongues 25 at the lower end of the knob 24 are pushed by the bent portion 111 b located at the outer side of the lock lever 111 so that the pressure member 20 enters against the elastic force of the spring 26 thereby to disengage its needle 23 from the backing paper guide groove 15. As a result, there is nothing to obstruct the passage of the continuous label web 4 between the label guide 124 and the bottom plate 14 of the cassette 1. Thus, the cassette 1 is reliably locked by the lock levers 110 and 111.
After the cassette 1 has been mounted in the predetermined position, the not-shown keyboard of the printer 3 is used to input the bar codes which are desired to be printed. The continuous label web 4 having the non printed labels is pulled out of the reel 91 along the guides 93 and 94 through the position detecting mechanism 95 acting as another label guide and is turned along the platen 97 until its leading end is guided into the gap between the label guide 124 and the bottom plate 14 of the cassette 1. Then, the heat transfer ink ribbon 100 is also pulled out of the reel 99 and is guided along the guide rollers 101 and 102 and between the thermal head 96 and the label web 4 until its leading end is taken up by the take-up reel 105 through the guide rollers 103 and 104. When the not-shown start button is depressed in this state, a not-shown motor is energized to turn the rotary shaft 108 so that the take-up core 8 starts its rotations through the boss 11 of the cassette 1, in which the head 109 of the shaft 108 is fitted. At the same time, the platen 97, the take-up reel 105 and so on are started to rotate so that the thermal head 96 is operated to start the printing operations of the bar codes in response to the set printing instructions. The continuous label web 4 having bar codes heat-transferred to its labels is advanced continuously or consecutively intermittently through the label guide 124. The label web having left the label guide 124 is advanced along the guide member 137 to the cassette 1 by way of the guide groove 139 extending between the guide member 137 and the peel preventing member 138. Since, at this time, the rotary member 12 of the cassette 1 is opened, as shown in Fig. 5, the label web 4 is guided along the lower side of the label holding portion 13 into the winding space 8c defined by the rotary member 12 and the take-up core 8. Since the winding space 8c is counter-tapered by the inner faces of the flanges 8a and 8a of the takeb up core 8, the label web 4 is guided for a while between the flanges 8a and 8a without being dragged by their inner faces. Before long, the label web 4 is guided along the guide spring 9 to the take-up core 8 until it is thrusted onto the take-up core 8 by the leading end of the guide plate 9. At this time, the label web 4 is in the state in which both its side edges contact with the straight core body 8b at the legs of the flanges 8a and 8a. Since the straight core body 8b has a width slightly smaller than that of the label web 4, this web 4 has both its side edges restricted, when it is pushed onto the take-up core 8 by the guide spring 9, by the core body 8b so that it is wound or taken up sequentially as the take-up core 8 is turned. When the take-up of the continuous label web in a predetermined quantity is ended in that state, the not-shown motor is stopped to interrupt the supply or let-off of the label web. After that, a cutter C interposed between the platen 97 and the label guide 124 may be operated to cut the label web.
The cassette 1 on which the label web having the bar codes printed is wound in the predetermined guantity is demounted from the printer. For this cassette demounting operation, the actuating lever 119 is turned clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 10, to unlock the cassette 1 from the lock levers 110 and 111, and the label guide 124 is disengaged from the cassette bottom plate 14 to release the cassette 1 from any restriction. Then, the cassette 1 can be easily removed if it is manually disengaged from the guide pins 106 and 107. Two or three sheets of the labels 6 are peeled from the bottom plate 14 of the removed cassette 1, and the rotary member 12 is returned to the locked state of Fig. 1, thus finishing the charging operations of the cassette 1 with the labels 6.
The cassette 1 thus having been charged with the printed labels is attached to the label applicator 2 in the following manners. Specifically, the mounting portions 31 of the cassette 1 are accommodated in the accommodating space 34 of the applicator 2 such that the engagement projections 30 at the leading end of the cassette 1 are held in engagement with the engagement notches 37 of the applicator 2. At this time, the pent-roofs 77, which are formed below the display label fitting recesses 32 of the cassette 1, are placed on the ledges 35 of the applicator 2 so that the cassette 1 is automatically locked by the lock mechanism 67. When the cassette 1 is to be inserted, more specifically, the aforementioned engagement projections 73 drop while turning the lock member 69 counter-clockwise against the biasing force of the spring 68. When those engagement projections 73 ride over the lower end corner 71 of the lock member 69, however, this lock member 69 is returned to its original position by the action of the aforementioned spring 68 so that its lower end corner 71 comes into engagement with and is locked by the engagement projections 73. If the hand lever 41 is then squeezed, the holding frame 47 is horizontally moved back along the guide grooves 57 through the first, second and third links 48, 49 and 50. During this horizontal movement, the advancing pawls 45 of the pawl member 46 engage with the cuts 78, which are formed at a predetermined interval in the backing paper 5, as shown in Fig. 17, to advance the backing paper 5, and the push-up plate 60 is also moved to push up the engagement tongues 25 of the pressure member 20. As a result, the backing paper 5 is released from being held by the pressure land 22 and the needle 23 of the pressure member 20 so that it is smoothly fed back until it is discharged to the outside of the label applicator 2. If the hand lever 41 is further squeezed, as shown in Fig. 24, the push-up plate 60 is retracted to disengage its lower face from the supporting member 62. As a result, the pressure member 20 is moved down to restore its original position, while pushing down the push-up plate 60 counter-clockwise, by the force of the spring 26, so that the backing paper 5 is held again by the coactions of the pressure land 22 and the needle 23. During this backing paper feeding operation, since the label web 4 has its advancing position regulated to a horizontal position, only the backing paper 5 is turned at an acute angle by the turning pin 16 at the front end of the cassette 1 so that the labels 6 are peeled from the backing paper 5 and allowed to advance until they are fed through the label exit 38 down to the label applying roller 39. The applications of the labels 6 thus peeled to the commodities are conducted by the actions of the roller 39 likewise the usual hand labeler if the lower (or adhesive) side of the label 6 just below the applying roller 39 is applied to and rubbed on a commodity. If the hand lever 41 is then released, it is returned to its original position by the action of the return spring 43, and the holding frame 47 is returned forward to the position of Fig. 18 through the first to third links 48 to 50. During this forward movement, incidentally, the lower face corner 79 (as shown in Fig. 23) of the push-up plate 60 abuts against the supporting member 62 to turn the same counter-clockwise because the force of the spring 26 to push down the push-up plate 60 is stronger than the summation of the forces of the springs 64 and 65. Then, the push-up plate 60 advances sliding on the lower faces of the tongues 25 but not raising the same. As a result, the backing paper 5 is fixed by the pressure member 20 and is not returned to the front by the forward motion of the pawl member 46. Then, this pawl member 46 has its advancing pawls 45 disengaged from a the cuts 78 of the backing paper 5 and is turned clockwise against the action of the spring 59 to slide on the lower side of the backing paper 5 until it restores its original position, in which it engages again with the cuts 78 of the backing paper 5.
In order to demount the take-up cassette 1 from the label applicator 2, the demounting button 70 is pushed foward, as shown in Fig. 25. Then, the lock member 69 is turned counter-clockwise to disengage its lower end corner 71 from the engagement projections 73 of the cassette 1, and the rear portion of the cassette 1 is slightly popped up by the spring action of the backing paper holding member 74, which presses the lower side of the backing paper 5 in front of the backing paper guide groove 15, so that the cassette 1 can be easily removed by the single action.
Since the present embodiment has the construction thus far described, the label web having its labels printed with the bar codes can be automatically wound over a predetermined length merely by charging the printer with the cassette so that the troublesome work of winding the labels upon the cassette can be eliminated to ensure efficient operations. Moreover, the operation of mounting the cassette in the printer can be conducted by the single action of actuating the actuating lever, but the labels are not peeled off while the label web is being taken up, because the printer is equipped with the peel preventing member. Since the take-up core 8 is formed integrally with the flanges 8a and 8a such that these flanges 8a rotate with the core 8, still moreover, there arises no relative velocity between the continuous label web and the flanges 8a. As a result, the adhesive having stolen to both the side edges of the label web is neither rubbed nor left alone by the flanges so that the winding and rewinding operations of the label web can be performed remarkably smoothly. Incidentally, if a small amount of adhesive is left on the straight core body 8b, it establishes slight adhesion of the label web being wound, thus providing an excellent effect that the label web is fixed at the initial stage of the winding operation.

Second Embodiment

Figs. 26 to 28 show another embodiment of the present invention, in which the take-up core is omitted but only the rotary member 12 is mounted in the cassette 1. The rotary member 12 is formed into such a hollow frame that it is rotatably borne on the cassette frame 7 through cylindrical lands 12a which are formed to protrude from its right and left side walls. The inner circumference of the rotary member 12 is formed with two parallel ridges 140 having a triangular section, which extend all over the circumference from the back of the label holding portion 13. There is further formed a slit 12b which extends from the rear end portion of the label holding portion 13 to the circumferentially central portion of the rotary member 12. The present second embodiment is not equipped with any take-up means but the rotary member 12.
When the label web 4 is to be wound or taken up in the present embodiment having the construction thus far described, it is supplied, as shown in Fig. 28, to pass through the guide groove 139 and then to advance from the opening of the raised rotary member 12 into the inside of the rotary member 12. In this rotary member 12, the label web 4 advances along the inner circumference of the rotary member 12, while contacting with the ridges 140, until it is curled in an arcuate shape and is gradually taken up. The advancing force of the label web 4 is generated by the rotating force of the platen 97, by which the label web 4 is gradually wound in a spiral shape in accordance with its own rigidity and elasticity. However, the present embodiment is not suitable for much winding of the label web 4 because the frictional force between the wound layers becomes stronger than the rigidity of the label web 4 as the winding increases. Despite of this fact, the label web 4 can be automatically wound or taken up by adopting the construction of the present embodiment so long as the printer is equipped with the peel preventing member 138 and the guide member 137.
Incidentally, in case dusts disadvantageously steal into the inside of the rotary member 12 through the slit 12b being left open, there is provided a cover 142 which is made of a transparent material and which has its one end rotatably borne on a pin 141 in the vicinity of the label holding portion 13, as shown in Fig. 29. This cover 142 is formed into such an arcuate shape that it can be fitted in the slit 12b, and is further formed at its free end with a hooking portion 142a which can be hooked by an engagement portion 142b formed at the rotary member 12. The ridges 140 are also formed on the inner circumference of the cover 142. If this modified construction is adopted, the inside of the rotary member 12 can be so accessed that the trouble of the label web 4 in the rotary member 12 can be remedied by opening the cover 142.

Third Embodiment

Figs. 30 and 31 show a third embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the rotary member 12 has its circumferential wall formed into about one spiral, as shown in Fig. 30, and a take-up core 143 is disposed in the rotary member 12 and made rotatable with respect to the cassette frame 7, as shown in Fig. 31. This take-up core 143 is composed of: two right and left flanges 143a; and straight portions 143b which form the outer circumferential edges of the inner faces of the flanges 143a and which are spaced at a distance slightly smaller than the width of the label web 4. A tapered space 143c is so defined by the flanges 143a that it is expanded or counter-tapered gradually in the radially inward direction. Moreover, the take-up core 143 is formed with the boss 11 which is to be fitted on the rotary shaft of the printer. Still moreover, the rotary member 12 is also formed on its inner circumference with the two parallel ridges 140 having the triangular section as in the foregoing embodiment.
Since the present embodiment has the construction thus far described, the leading end of the label web 4 having been guided through the guide groove 139 is first introduced into the rotary member 12 by the circumferential wall of the rotary member 12 and is then bitten between the straight portions of the flanges 143a of the take-up core 143. The flanges 143a are turned by the rotary shaft 108 of the printer so that the label web 4 is instantly taken up. Then, the label web 4 is gradually inwardly pulled in a spiral form, while contacting with the ridges 140 formed on the spiral circumferential wall, until it is consecutively forced out of contact with the straight portions 143b. With this construction being adopted, therefore, the label web can be automatically wound or taken up. By forming those straight portions 143b, moreover, the label web guided can be forcibly taken up to make unnecessary the spare parts such as the guide spring 9 employed in the first embodiment so that the resistance coming from the pressure of that spring can be accordingly eliminated.

Fourth Embodiment

Figs. 32 and 33 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which a take-up core 144 disposed in the rotary member 12 is not formed with any flange but has its outer circumference wound with a friction member 145 made of rubber or the like. There is further, provided a guide member 146 which is made of steel wire or the like and which extends from the inner side of the label holding portion 13 to make about one turn in the rotary member 12 while contacting with that friction member 145. The guide member 146 has its leading end providing a free end and its intermediate portion biased to contact with the friction member 145 at all times.
Thus, the label web 4 is guided from the entrance of the rotary member 12 along the guide member 146 and is clamped between the guide member 146 and the friction member 145 until it is automatically taken up on the take-up core 144. As the label web is wound, the guide member 146 has its contacting portion shifted gradually outward. In these ways, the label web can be automatically taken up.

Fifth Embodiment

Figs. 34 and 35 show a fifth embodiment of the present invention, which is different from the fourth embodiment only in that a leaf spring 147 is used as the guide member. Because of large width, the leaf spring 147 has a large contact area with the label web so that it can hold the label web without fail but by an increased frictional force. By this construction, the continuous label web can also be automatically taken up in a reliable manner.

Sixth Embodiment

Figs. 36 to 38 show a sixth embodiment of the present invention, in which the take-up core 147 is formed on its outer circumference with a plurality of needles 148 which are arranged to project from the widthwise central portion thereof and at a predetermined pitch in the circumferential direction. Moreover, there is provided a guide member 149 which has its one end fixed to the label holding portion 13 of the rotary member 12. The guide member 149 is curved about one turn within the rotary member 12 while contacting with the take-up core 147 at its midway. The guide member 149 thus formed is formed, as shown in Fig. 38, into the shape of a leaf spring, and its contacting portion with the take-up core 147 is formed with a slit 149a which extends a predetermined length for allowing the needles 148 to escape thereinto.
If the construction thus far described is adopted, the label web 4 introduced is guided along the guide member 149 to the take-up core 147 and is trapped between the guide member 149 and the take-up core 147, and the needles 148 bite into the backing paper of the label web 4 so that they begin to wind the label web 4 without fail. The guide member 149 goes apart from the center as the amount of the label web taken-up increases, because its one end is set free.
Incidentally, as shown in Fig. 39, the guide member 149 may be exemplified by two parallel guide members which are prepared by folding back a steel wire.

Seventh Embodiment

Figs. 40 and 41 show a seventh embodiment of the present invention, in which the take-up core 147 is formed on its outer circumference with pins 150 in place of the needles at a predetermined pitch and in which the guide member 149 used is exemplified by such a member as is similar to those shown in Figs. 38 and 39. In case the take-up core 147 used has the construction specified in the above, it is convenient to use the label web 4 which is formed between the adjacent labels with holes 4a or slits 4b at a pitch equal to the pitch P of the pins 150, as shown in Fig. 41. By adopting this construction, too, the label web can be automatically taken up like the sixth embodiment.

Eighth Embodiment

Figs. 42 and 43 show an eighth embodiment of the present invention, in which the rotary member 12 having the cover 142 like the second embodiment and the take-up core 144 formed on its circumference with the friction member shown in Fig. 32 are combined and in which a cantilever guide member 151 is provided as the guide member. This guide member 151 is formed, as shown in Fig. 43, into an arcuately curved leaf spring which has its one end fixed on the label holding portion 13 of the rotary member 12 and its other end contacting with the friction member 145. With the construction thus far described, the label web 4 guided from the guide groove 139 is introduced into the gap between the guide member 151 and the friction member 145 so that it can be taken up forcibly and automatically. Incidentally, the guide member 151 may be exemplified by a steel wire 152, as shown in Fig. 44.

Ninth Embodiment

Figs. 45 to 48 show a ninth embodiment of the Present invention, in which a take-up core 153 is made to have a shape different from those of the foregoing embodiments and in which the guide groove is devised in a different manner.
Specifically, the take-up core 153 is equipped at a predetermined spacing with a plurality of vanes 154, which have such sections as form radially arranged spiral curves, and is turned in the curved direction of the vanes 154, as indicated at arrow in Fig. 46.
On the other hand, the guide groove portion forming the peel preventing member has such a construction as will be described in the following. Specifically, the guide groove d is defined by both a stationary guide member 155, which is made separate but extend from the label guide 124, and a movable guide member 156. The stationary guide member 155 is formed as a whole into an arc of one-quarter circle having a C-shaped cross-section and at its portion with a curved portion 155a which is to be fitted in the notches 7d formed in the cassette frame 7 at the leading end portion of the cassette 1. On the other hand, the movable guide member 156 is formed into an arcuate gutter having a C-shaped cross-section so that it is slidably fitted on the outer sides of the stationary guide member 155. The movable guide member 156 rotatably supports a roller 157 at its leading end portion. Moreover, the movable guide member 156 is fixed on a supporting sector 158 which has its pivot rotatably borne on the base frame 90 orthe bracket 136. Still moreover, a coil spring 162 is mounted under tension between a pin 160, which is anchored in the vicinity of the pin 159 of the supporting sector 158, and a pin 161 which is anchored at the stationary guide member 155.
With the construction thus far described, at the start of the winding operation, as shown in Fig. 46, the movable guide member 156 is turned clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 46, on the pin 159 so that the guide roller 157 is brought into contact with the circumference of the take-up core 153. In this state, the spring 162 biases the supporting sector 158 to rotate clockwise because it is positioned over the pin 159 at the side of the cassette 1. As a result, the guide roller 157 is held in contact with the circumference of the take-up core 153. In this particular state, the label web 4 having been guided by the guide members 155 and 156 advances into the gap between the vanes 154 of the take-up core 153 so that its leading end is folded in the form of a letter "V" by the vanes 154 as the take-up core 153 rotates. As a result, the label web 4 is forcibly wound on the take-up core 153 by the frictional force which is established between its folded portion and the vane 154.
As the label web 4 is taken up, the movable guide member 156 is turned counter-clockwise of the drawing together with the supporting sector 158 through the guide roller 157 contacting with the label web 4. As shown in Figs. 47 and 48, moreover, when the spring 162 passes over the pin 159, i.e., the dead center, the movable guide member 156 is abruptly turned counter-clockwise by the tension of the spring 162. The turning limit of the supporting sector 158, i.e., the movable guide member 156 is regulated by both an arcuate guide groove 158a, which is formed in the supporting sector 158, and a guide pin 163 which is anchored at the printer to extend through the guide groove 158a.
By adopting the construction thus far described, the label web 4 can be automatically taken up. When the label web 4 is taken up in a predetermined amount, morever, this can be detected by means of a limit switch so that the winding operation can be promptly interrupted. Although not shown, however, if the construction is made such that the take-up core 153 cannot be turned before the leading end of the label web is detected by means of an optical sensor which is disposed at the center of the take-up core, the motor can be energized only when it is necessary so that the electric power consumption can be reduced.
As is now apparent from the description thus far made, according to the present invention, merely by mounting the cassette in the printer, the label web having its labels printed with the bar codes can be automatically wound while automating the setting of the backing paper in the bottom of the cassette. Thus, it is possible to completely automate the label winding and mounting operation which has bottlenecked the development of the portable label applying system.
Moreover, the cassette mounting and demounting mechanism can be operated by the single action of actuating the actuating lever so that the mounting and demounting operations are simplified to eliminate the troubles.
Thanks to the provision of the peel preventing member, still moreover, the labels are not peeled but can be taken up completely automatically when the label web is to be automatically wound.

Claims

1. Label printing and applying system including:

a base device (90) having

a printer (3) for printing a plurality of labels (6) which are adhered in longitudinal series to a web (4) of backing paper (5);

cassette mounting means (106, 107, 110, 111);

guide means (124) disposed adjacent to said cassette mounting means (106, 107, 110, 111) for guiding the label web (4);

a driving mechanism comprising a motor and a rotary shaft (108);

a cassette (1) for taking up the printed labels having

winding means for winding the label web (4) fed from the printer (3) and including a take-up core (8) which can be driven by said rotary shaft (108);

a backing paper holding mechanism (18) adapted to cooperate with a locking/unlocking mechanism (111,111 b), and

a hand-operable label applicator (2) adapted to be charged with said cassette (1) for dispensing and applying the printed labels (6) to commodities, characterised in that

the winding means includes a rotary member (12) having a label holding portion (13) being pivotable between an open position in which it opens a supply passage, and a closed position in which it guides the web (4) around a turning pin (16);

the printer (3) includes a peel preventing means (138), and

the label guide (124) of the printer (3) is adapted to cooperate with a backing paper guide groove (15) of the cassette (1) to form a gap for guiding the web (4).

2. Label printing and applying system according to claim 1, being characterised in that said peel preventing means (138) defines a guide groove (139) with a guide member (137).

3. Label printing and applying system according to claim 2, being characterised in that said winding means further includes a guide member (9) having its one end fixed to the rotary member (12) and its other portion urged to contact with a portion of the outer circumference of said take-up core (8) for forcing the label web (4) onto said outer circumference to wind the label web (4) on the take-up core (8).

4. Label printing and applying system according to claim 3, being characterised in that said guide member is made of a leaf spring (9).

5. Label printing and applying system according to claim 4, being characterised in that said leaf spring (9) has a longitudinal slit.

6. Label printing and applying system according to claim 3, being characterised in that said guide member is made of a steel wire (149, 152).

7. Label printing and applying system according to claim 6, being characterised in that said steel wire (149, 152) is folded back into parallel guide wires.

8. Label printing and applying system according to claim 1, being characterised in that the leading ends of the cassette (1) are formed at their side edges with notches (7d) for preventing the cassette (1) from being erroneously set with said rotary member (12) for winding the label web (4) being left unraised.