EP0153651B1 - Printing unit - Google Patents

Printing unit Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0153651B1
EP0153651B1 EP85101478A EP85101478A EP0153651B1 EP 0153651 B1 EP0153651 B1 EP 0153651B1 EP 85101478 A EP85101478 A EP 85101478A EP 85101478 A EP85101478 A EP 85101478A EP 0153651 B1 EP0153651 B1 EP 0153651B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
sleeve
setting
slot
printing
shaft
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP85101478A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0153651A3 (en
EP0153651A2 (en
Inventor
Heinrich Volk
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Esselte Pendaflex Corp
Original Assignee
Esselte Pendaflex Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Esselte Pendaflex Corp filed Critical Esselte Pendaflex Corp
Priority to AT85101478T priority Critical patent/ATE52219T1/en
Publication of EP0153651A2 publication Critical patent/EP0153651A2/en
Publication of EP0153651A3 publication Critical patent/EP0153651A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0153651B1 publication Critical patent/EP0153651B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41K—STAMPS; STAMPING OR NUMBERING APPARATUS OR DEVICES
    • B41K3/00—Apparatus for stamping articles having integral means for supporting the articles to be stamped
    • B41K3/02—Apparatus for stamping articles having integral means for supporting the articles to be stamped with stamping surface located above article-supporting surface
    • B41K3/04—Apparatus for stamping articles having integral means for supporting the articles to be stamped with stamping surface located above article-supporting surface and movable at right angles to the surface to be stamped
    • B41K3/06—Apparatus for stamping articles having integral means for supporting the articles to be stamped with stamping surface located above article-supporting surface and movable at right angles to the surface to be stamped having type-carrying bands or chains

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a printing unit according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • Such a printing unit is known from DE-U-1 961 550.
  • the slot provided in the sleeve of this printing unit extends over a distance along the sleeve which is equal to the length of the area on which setting wheels are mounted on the outside of the sleeve. At both ends, the slot is closed in the axial direction towards the face of the sleeve.
  • the tooth used to establish the drive connection between the axially displaceably mounted and rotatable adjusting shaft which projects through the slot in the sleeve and engages in recesses in the inner circumferential surfaces of the adjusting wheels, cannot be integrally connected to the adjusting shaft, otherwise it could not be inserted into the sleeve.
  • the tooth must therefore be inserted into a corresponding hole in the setting shaft after the setting shaft has been inserted into the sleeve.
  • the time required for assembling the assembly from the adjusting shaft, the sleeve and the tooth takes up an undesirably high proportion of the total assembly time of the printing unit.
  • the invention has for its object to design a printing unit of the type described so that it can be easily and quickly assembled, without the precision of the storage of the dials or the achievable print image are adversely affected.
  • the tooth serving to drive the setting wheels can be integrally formed on the setting shaft, for example an injection molded part, since the open slot in the sleeve enables the setting shaft to be inserted from one side despite the protruding tooth. This considerably reduces both the number of parts required and the assembly time, as well as the disassembly time required for the repair.
  • the expansion device which keeps the inner sleeve diameter constant, instability of the sleeve end on the open side of the slot is counteracted, and the same precision is achieved in the storage of the setting wheels as when using a slot closed on both sleeve ends in the axial direction .
  • the printing unit 10 shown in FIG. 1 contains a printing unit housing which is composed of two housing halves 12 and 14 and in which a plurality of printing bands 20 arranged parallel to one another and guided around setting wheels 16 and a deflection edge 18 are accommodated.
  • the printing tapes 20 carry printing types 22 on one half of their outer circumferential surface and display types 24 on the other half.
  • the assignment of the printing types 22 to the display types 24 is carried out in such a way that printing types 22 which are in the printing position at the deflection edge 18 as in FIG 2 and display types 24, which are visible through a window 26 arranged on the top of the housing, each represent the same number, the same letter or the like. This means that it can be seen on the top of the housing through the window 26 which character can be printed on the recording medium with the printing types 22 located at the bottom on the deflecting edge.
  • the pressure tapes 20 are guided around setting wheels 16 which are rotatably mounted on a sleeve 28.
  • the sectional view of FIG. 2 shows that in the sleeve 28 three slots 30, 32 and 34 are made, which are open at the right end of the sleeve in FIG. 1. Three teeth 36, 38 and 40, which are attached to an adjusting shaft 42, pass through these slots.
  • the setting shaft 42 is axially displaceably mounted in a bearing bushing 44 in the housing half 14. By displacing the setting shaft 42 in the axial direction, this shaft can be brought into a drive connection by engagement of the teeth 36, 38 and 40 in recesses 46 in the hub regions of the setting wheels 16. 2 shows the engagement of the teeth 36, 38 and 40 in the recesses 46 of an adjusting wheel 16.
  • an actuating button 48 is attached, with the aid of which the shaft is shifted axially on the one hand and on the other hand can be rotated.
  • the teeth 36, 38 and 40 attached to it are first brought into engagement with the recesses 46 of an adjusting wheel 16 to be adjusted, and by rotating the adjusting shaft 42 the pressure band 20 which is guided around its outer circumference is then moved for as long as until a desired print type 22 is in the print position below the deflection edge 18.
  • the respective position of the print types 22 can be checked through the window 26 attached to the top of the housing.
  • the pressure bands 20 have teeth 50 on their inner surface, which engage in recesses 52 in the outer peripheral surfaces of the setting wheels 16.
  • a latching mechanism is provided which ensures that the adjusting shaft engages in positions in a manner that is clearly perceptible to the operator when it is axially adjusted , in which a clear drive connection is made with an adjusting wheel 16 to be adjusted.
  • This locking mechanism contains a locking finger 54 integrally formed on the sleeve 28, which projects radially inward on the inner surface of the sleeve and engages in locking recesses 56 which are provided in a region of the outer peripheral surface of the adjusting shaft 42.
  • a locking recess 56 is provided for each of the setting wheels 16 mounted on the sleeve 28.
  • the setting shaft 42 in which the setting shaft 42 is engaged with the leftmost setting wheel 16, the setting shaft 42 is moved to the right so that it comes into engagement with the next setting wheel 16, for example first the latching force exerted by the latching finger 54 on the adjusting shaft 42 is overcome when it is moved upward out of the associated latching recess 56 in the illustration in FIG. 1; it can then fall into the next latching recess 56, which occurs precisely when the setting shaft 42 is in engagement with the second setting wheel 16 from the left.
  • the slotted sleeve 28 serves as a bearing axis for the adjusting wheels 16, special attention must be paid to their storage and attachment in the pressure mechanism.
  • the sleeve 28 must have an outer diameter that is as constant as possible for mounting the adjusting wheels 16, and on the other hand it must also have a precisely defined inner diameter so that the adjusting shaft 42 can be easily axially displaced without clamping.
  • the sleeve 28 is attached on one side, the left side in FIG. 1, in a circular cylindrical recess 58. Since the slots 30, 32 and 34 do not pass through on this side of the sleeve 28, the bearing of the sleeve 28 on its outside is sufficient at this point. On the other side, the right side in FIG.
  • the three sleeve segments formed due to the continuous slots 30, 32 and 34 sit on a hub 60 which is formed on the housing part 14.
  • the hub 60 ensures that the sleeve 28 has the necessary stability for the storage of the adjusting wheels 16 at the associated end despite the continuous slots.
  • the hub 60 keeps the slots spread apart so that the teeth 36, 38 and 40 can be easily moved along the slots without jamming.
  • the adjusting shaft 42 extends in the section immediately adjacent to the actuating button 48 through a passage 62 which is attached to a conical cap 64.
  • this cap has the task of ensuring a smooth covering of the upper part of the printing unit 10.
  • it also carries a frame 27 surrounding the window 26, which is slidably mounted on the top of the housing; the type of storage is clear from Fig. 2.
  • the frame 27 moves with the window 26, the end of the viewing window on the left in FIG. 1 being in the plane of the adjusting wheel 16 with which the adjusting shaft 42 is engaged and that consequently can be adjusted.
  • the operator knows in each axial position of the setting shaft 42 which print tape can be brought into the desired position.
  • This locking mechanism consists of a helical spring 66 which is arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the adjusting shaft 42 on the circumference of the adjusting wheels 16 so that it partially penetrates into the recesses 52 on the circumference of the adjusting wheels 16, which can be clearly seen in FIG. 2. So that the setting wheels 16 can be turned, although the coil spring 66 engages in its recesses according to FIG. 2, the coil spring 66 is mounted on an elastically flexible cushion 68.
  • the helical spring 66 can deflect in this way and press into the cushion 68.
  • the operator initially feels an increase in the torsional force to be applied, which then decreases again when the Coil spring penetrates into the next recess 52. The operator feels thus clear force peaks, and she knows that whenever she has overcome a force peak, a printing type 22 is in the exact printing position below the deflection edge 18.
  • the printing bands 20 are in one length section printing types 22 and in another length section display types 24.
  • the printing types are first inked before each printing process, whereupon the inked printing types are then mixed with the medium to be printed be brought into contact.
  • Through the window 26 can be read on the display types 24, which characters can be printed on the medium to be printed with the current setting of the printing tapes.
  • the display types 24 come into a position below the deflection edge 18 during the adjustment of the printing bands, in which position they could come into contact with the inking mechanism used for inking the printing types.
  • the readability of the display types 24 in the window 26 would be severely impaired by the undesired coloring.
  • the means for preventing the complete spinning of the Print ribbons 20 include teeth 50 attached to a portion of the inner peripheral surface of the print ribbons 20, which are also used to drive the print ribbons 20 by engaging the recesses 46 in the dials 16.
  • the housing in the area within the pressure bands 20 has a web 72 which runs parallel to the pressure bands 20 and which is attached at such a distance from the pressure bands that the teeth 50 run along it unhindered can move.
  • the web 72 has a stop shoulder 74 which is shaped such that the foremost tooth 50 in the direction of movement abuts against this stop shoulder 74 in its full height when it reaches the region of the deflecting edge 18.
  • This stop shoulder 74 prevents the area of the outer circumferential surface of the pressure tapes 20, which carries the display types 24, from reaching the printing position below the stop edge 18. 2 that the display types 24 are located in the area of the outer circumferential surface of the printing tapes 20 in which the teeth 50 are attached to the inner circumferential surface.
  • the web 72 and the stop shoulder 74 limit the twisting of the printing bands 20 in the view of FIG. 2 in a clockwise direction, with FIG. 2 depicting a limit position that the printing bands 20 can reach.
  • a second web 76 is attached to the housing and also has a stop shoulder 78 adjacent to the deflection edge 18. This stop shoulder 78 prevents the pressure tapes 20 from rotating beyond a limit position which is present when the tooth 50 which is at the front when rotated counterclockwise abuts the stop shoulder 78.
  • the pressure bands 20 and the teeth 50 attached to their inner surface are made of deformable material, the pressure bands 20 could possibly be twisted beyond the limit positions defined on both sides of the deflection edge 18 by applying an excessive force when rotating the adjusting shaft 42, while deforming the teeth 50, which would have the undesirable consequence that the display types come into contact with the printing ink.
  • the actuating button 48 is not positively connected to the adjusting shaft 42, but rather non-positively.
  • the non-positive connection arises from the fact that the actuating button 48 is press-fitted onto the end of the adjusting shaft 42 protruding from the housing, the press-fit being dimensioned such that the torque that can be transmitted from the actuating button 48 to the adjusting shaft 42 is sufficient, the pressure tapes 20 adjust, the actuating button 48 slips on the setting shaft 42, however, as soon as the just adjusted pressure band 20 reaches one of its limit positions, in which the tooth 50 lying in front in the adjustment direction comes into contact with the stop shoulder 74 or 78.
  • the desired press fit can be achieved most simply by manufacturing the actuating button 48 from a rubber-elastic material such as Vulkollan and by forming the bore in it for receiving the adjusting shaft 42 with an inner diameter which is smaller than the outer diameter of the end projecting from the housing the adjusting shaft 42. Due to the elasticity of the Vulkollan material, the actuation button 48 can be easily pushed onto the setting shaft 42, and can even be pressed over the extended shaft end 80 shown in FIG. 1, which prevents it from sliding off the shaft again after being pushed on.
  • a rubber-elastic material such as Vulkollan
  • connection between the actuation button 48 and the setting shaft 42 acts like a slip clutch, which slips as soon as the moment of resistance counteracting the twisting movement from a just adjusted pressure band 20 becomes greater than the torque that can be transmitted from the actuation button 48 to the setting shaft 42. This certainly occurs when the print ribbon 20 to be adjusted reaches one of its limit positions.
  • FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of a printing unit, which corresponds in most details to the printing unit of FIG. 1; the type of storage is different the slotted sleeve 29 in the printing unit housing.
  • the individual slots are designed as in the embodiment of FIG. 1, that is to say that they are closed at the sleeve end lying on the left in the drawing, while they are open at the right sleeve end.
  • the housing half 13 is provided with an opening 82 which merges into a bearing bushing 84 for the sleeve 29 towards the interior of the housing.
  • the end of the sleeve 29 has a collar 86 with a larger diameter, which prevents the sleeve 29 from being pushed through the bearing bushing 84.
  • the sleeve 29 is seated in a bearing bushing 88 mounted in the housing half 15.
  • the sleeve 29 has a reduced diameter at this end compared to its central part; the transition to the larger diameter in the central region takes place via a step 90, which acts as a stop when the sleeve 29 is inserted into the bearing bushing 88.
  • a groove 92 is formed in the sleeve end protruding from the bearing bushing 88, into which a retaining ring 94 is inserted.
  • the retaining ring 94 has a slot 96, which makes it possible to spread the retaining ring 94 for insertion into the groove 92.
  • the sleeve 29 helps to hold the two housing halves 13, 15 together in the upper part.
  • the end section of the sleeve 29 which extends through the bearing bushing 88 also has an inner diameter which is reduced compared to the rest of the sleeve and which is dimensioned such that it corresponds to the outer diameter of the adjusting shaft 42.
  • the setting shaft 42 is mounted in the sleeve 29 in this way.
  • the expansion pieces 98, 100 and 102 can be designed as individual parts, or they can also be integrally formed on the retaining ring 94.
  • these sleeves can be made of plastic without affecting the print image that can be achieved.
  • the spacing of the recesses 56 is equal to the width of the setting wheels 16, since if this rule is observed, the effect is achieved that each time the latching finger 54 engages in a recess 56, the teeth 36 attached to the setting shaft 42 , 38 and 40 engage in the recesses 46 of a dial 16. Since the width of the setting wheels 16 also determines the width of the printing tapes 20 guided around them, the spacing of the recesses 56 also determines the width of the characters to be printed with the printing tapes.
  • the described printing unit can also easily accommodate wider setting wheels and, accordingly, wider printing bands for printing wider characters.
  • the special embodiment of the adjusting shaft which is described in more detail below, serves to adapt the locking mechanism to adjusting wheels and pressure tapes of different widths.
  • This particular embodiment of the setting shaft is shown in FIG. 5 in a partial perspective view. This embodiment allows three different widths of type wheels and pressure tapes.
  • the setting shaft 42 has three circumferential areas for receiving the latching recesses, which lie between the positions of the teeth 36, 38, 40.
  • recesses are formed with different distances, of which the recesses 104 and 106 can be seen in FIG. 5.
  • the surface segments 107, 109 and 111 lie on a circular cylinder surface, so that the adjusting shaft 42 can be supported on these surface segments. If the setting shaft 42 is inserted into the sleeve 28 or 29 so that the locking finger 54 cooperates with the recesses 104, there are locking positions spaced apart from one another B1, which means that setting wheels 16 with the width BI can be used.
  • the adjusting shaft is inserted into the sleeve 28 or 29 in such a way that the recesses 106 interact with the latching finger 54, latching positions which are spaced apart from one another result at a distance B2, which enables cooperation with adjusting wheels of the width B2.
  • Recesses with a third width are provided on the rear surface of the adjusting shaft in FIG Allow collaboration with dials of this third width.
  • the printing unit becomes considerably more versatile with regard to the possible width of the characters to be printed.
  • three circumferential regions for receiving snap-in recesses are attached to the setting shaft 42. It is of course also possible to provide four circumferential areas on the adjusting shaft for receiving locking recesses; however, four slots must then be made in the sleeve 28 or 29, through which, for example, two teeth attached to diametrically opposite edges of the square extend for driving the setting wheels 16.
  • the adjusting shaft with four circumferential areas can be inserted into the sleeve 28 or 29 in four different positions, the recesses on a circumferential area interacting with the locking finger.
  • the printing unit described is suitable for installation in hand-held labeling devices, with the aid of which self-adhesive labels adhering to a carrier tape can be printed and attached to objects.
  • a hand labeling device is shown schematically in FIG. 6. It has a handle 108 that is attached to the rear end of a housing 110. At the top of the housing there is a shaft 112 which serves to hold a supply roll 114 of the carrier tape carrying the self-adhesive labels. The carrier tape is transported in the device from the supply roll 114 downwards and towards the front edge 115.
  • the handle 108 Underneath the handle 108 there is an operating lever 120 which is rotatably mounted about an axis 113 and with the aid of which all operations taking place in the device, such as transporting the carrier tape and printing, can be carried out.
  • the operating lever 120 To operate the device, the operating lever 120 is pulled against the force of a spring 121 against the handle 108 and then released again.
  • the printing unit 10 attached in the front area of the housing 110 to an extension of the operating lever 120 moves when the lever 120 is pulled in the direction of the arrow 122 against the printing table 118; At the same time, the printing types in the printing position are wetted with ink by means of a coloring device (not shown).
  • the self-adhesive label located on the printing table 118 is printed on by opening the printing unit.
  • the actuating button 48 projects laterally on the housing 110, and a cutout 124 is provided in the housing side wall visible in FIG. 6, which enables the movement of the printing unit 10 in the direction of the arrow 122 without the printing unit against the housing wall bumps.
  • the housing wall recognizable in FIG. 6 can be seen as housing wall 110a, while the housing wall lying at the rear in the illustration is identified by reference number 110b.
  • the setting shaft 42 is brought into engagement with the individual setting wheels 16 one after the other, the then with the Adjustment shaft 42 engaged adjusting wheel 16 can be rotated to adjust the pressure bands 20.
  • 7 and 8 show two different positions of the setting shaft 42, the second printing band 20 being able to be adjusted from the left in the position of FIG. 7 and the sixth printing band 20 from the left in the position of FIG. 8.
  • the setting shaft 42 must be pulled far out of the printing unit housing so that the actuating button 48 and the cap 64 protrude far from the housing wall 110a.
  • the setting shaft 42 with the cap 64 for adjusting the setting wheels 16 in the rest position of the printing unit 10 can be pulled out of the side of the housing 110 and that the printing unit 10 is in inserted state of the setting shaft 42 can lower the distance required for printing a self-adhesive label on the printing table 18 without the setting shaft 42 or the cap 64 coming into contact with the housing wall 110a. If the setting shaft 42 in the sleeve 28 in the view of FIG.
  • the inclined surface of the cap 64 abuts when the printing unit 10 is lowered the printing table 118 against the housing wall 110a, so that when the printing unit 10 is further lowered onto the adjusting shaft 42 a restoring force is exerted which shifts the adjusting shaft 42 into the position fully inserted into the sleeve 28.
  • the setting shaft 42 was not fully inserted at the start of the printing process, it is automatically reset by the interaction of the upper end 126 of the housing wall 110a and the cap 64.
  • the upper end 126 of the housing wall 110a can be designed so that the cap 64 is not damaged and the transfer of the restoring force is facilitated.
  • the labeling device can no longer be actuated, since one with the Cap 64 of fixedly connected pin 128 running parallel to the setting shaft 42 strikes the upper end 126 of the housing wall 110a when attempting to lower the printing unit 10 against the printing table 118. If the operator has forgotten to insert the setting shaft 42 again after pulling out and carrying out the setting operations, then he will be reminded immediately if he tries to actuate the labeling device by pulling the operating lever 120. Due to the abutment of the pin 128 on the housing wall 110a, the device is practically blocked and it can only be operated again after the setting shaft 42 has been inserted.
  • the pin 128 attached to the cap 64 moves when the adjusting shaft 42 is moved in a passage 130 in the housing half 14. Behind this passage 130, the helical spring 66 described in connection with FIG. 1 is attached, the inside diameter of which is so large that it can easily accommodate the pin 128 without the pin 128 hindering the deformation of the coil spring when adjusting the setting wheels 16.
  • the pin 128 is approximately T-shaped in cross section, which, in addition to saving material, results in an improved rigidity of the pin 128 in the direction in which it is stressed when it is attempted to pull the adjusting shaft out To operate the labeling device, against the end 126 of the housing wall 110a.
  • Other cross-sectional shapes that improve stability can also be used.
  • the configuration of the setting shaft 42 and the sleeve 28, 29 surrounding it, as described in connection with FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, as well as their mounting and the axial locking mechanism 54, 56 can also be used without any problems in printing units in which the printing types are not on pressure tapes 20, which are guided around the setting wheels 16 and around the deflection edge 18 spaced therefrom, but are attached directly to the circumference of the setting wheels, as is the case, for example, with the printing unit according to the aforementioned DE-U-1 961 550 .

Abstract

The invention relates to a printing mechanism comprising a plurality of setting wheels (16) which are mounted coaxially on a sleeve (28) and with which type carriers (20) carrying printing types (22) are in a drive connection. In the sleeve (20) a setting shaft (42) is disposed axially displaceably and rotatable therewith. Disposed on the setting shaft is at least one tooth (36, 38, 40) projecting through a slot (30, 32, 34) extending in the axial direction in the sleeve (42). This tooth (36, 38, 40) can be brought by axial displacement of the setting shaft (42) into engagement with radial recesses (46) in the setting wheels (16) disposed in the hub region of the setting shaft (42). The slot (30, 32, 34) formed in the sleeve (28) is open in the axial direction at one end of the sleeve (42) and closed at the other end and at the end of the sleeve (28) at which the slot (30, 32, 34 ) is open a spreading or expansion means (60) is disposed which keeps the sleeve internal diameter constant.

Description

Die Erfindung bezieht sich auf ein Druckwerk gemäß dem Oberbegriff des Patentanspruchs 1.The invention relates to a printing unit according to the preamble of claim 1.

Ein solches Druckwerk ist aus dem DE-U-1 961 550 bekannt. Der in der Hülse dieses Druckwerks angebrachte Schlitz erstreckt sich dabei über eine Strecke längs der Hülse, die gleich der Länge des Bereichs ist, auf dem Einstellräder auf der Hülsenaußenseite gelagert sind. An beiden Enden ist der Schlitz zur Hülsenstirnseite hin in axialer Richtung geschlossen. Der zur Herstellung der Antriebsverbindung zwischen der in der Hülse axial verschiebbar angebrachten und mit ihr drehbaren Einstellwelle verwendete Zahn, der durch den Schlitz in der Hülse nach außen ragt und in Ausnehmungen in den Innenumfangsflächen der Einstellräder eingreift, kann nicht einstückig mit der Einstellwelle verbunden sein, da diese sonst nicht in die Hülse eingeführt werden könnte. Der Zahn muß daher nach dem Einschieben der Einstellwelle in die Hülse nachträglich in ein entsprechendes Loch in der Einstellwelle eingefügt werden. Die für das Zusammenbauen der Baugruppe aus der Einstellwelle, der Hülse und dem Zahn erforderliche Zeit nimmt einen unerwünscht hohen Anteil der Gesamtmontagezeit des Druckwerks in Anspruch.Such a printing unit is known from DE-U-1 961 550. The slot provided in the sleeve of this printing unit extends over a distance along the sleeve which is equal to the length of the area on which setting wheels are mounted on the outside of the sleeve. At both ends, the slot is closed in the axial direction towards the face of the sleeve. The tooth used to establish the drive connection between the axially displaceably mounted and rotatable adjusting shaft, which projects through the slot in the sleeve and engages in recesses in the inner circumferential surfaces of the adjusting wheels, cannot be integrally connected to the adjusting shaft, otherwise it could not be inserted into the sleeve. The tooth must therefore be inserted into a corresponding hole in the setting shaft after the setting shaft has been inserted into the sleeve. The time required for assembling the assembly from the adjusting shaft, the sleeve and the tooth takes up an undesirably high proportion of the total assembly time of the printing unit.

Der Erfindung liegt die Aufgabe zugrunde, ein Druckwerk der eingangs geschilderten Art so auszugestalten, daß es sich einfach und schnell zusammenbauen läßt, ohne daß die Präzision der Lagerung der Einstellräder oder das erzielbare Druckbild nachteilig beeinflußt werden.The invention has for its object to design a printing unit of the type described so that it can be easily and quickly assembled, without the precision of the storage of the dials or the achievable print image are adversely affected.

Erfindungsgemäß wird diese Aufgabe mit den Merkmalen des kennzeichnenden Teils des patentanspruchs 1 gelöst.According to the invention, this object is achieved with the features of the characterizing part of patent claim 1.

Bei dem nach der Erfindung ausgebildeten Druckwerk kann der dem Antrieb der Einstellräder dienende Zahn einstückig an die beispielsweise als Spritzgußteil hergestellte Einstellwelle angeformt sein, da der offene Schlitz in der Hülse das Einschieben der Einstellwelle trotz des vorstehenden Zahns von einer Seite her ermöglicht. Dadurch werden sowohl die Anzahl der erforderlichen Teile als auch die Montagezeit sowie die bei der Reparatur aufzuwendende Demontagezeit beträchtlich herabgesetzt. Durch die Verwendung der Spreizvorrichtung, die den Hülseninnendurchmesser konstant hält, wird einer Instabilität des Hülsenendes an der offenen Seite des Schlitzes entgegengewirkt, und es wird die gleiche Präzision bei der Lagerung der Einstellräder erzielt, als bei Verwendung eines an beiden Hülsenenden in axialer Richtung geschlossenen Schlitzes. Durch das Konstanthalten des Innendurchmessers mittels der Spreizvorrichtung wird auch gewährleistet, daß die in der Hülse angebrachte Einstellwelle ohne Beeinträchtigung durch die Hülse leichtgängig gedreht und axial verschoben werden kann; außerdem wird durch die erzielte Stabilität der Hülse ein einwandfreies Druckbild erhalten.In the printing unit designed according to the invention, the tooth serving to drive the setting wheels can be integrally formed on the setting shaft, for example an injection molded part, since the open slot in the sleeve enables the setting shaft to be inserted from one side despite the protruding tooth. This considerably reduces both the number of parts required and the assembly time, as well as the disassembly time required for the repair. By using the expansion device, which keeps the inner sleeve diameter constant, instability of the sleeve end on the open side of the slot is counteracted, and the same precision is achieved in the storage of the setting wheels as when using a slot closed on both sleeve ends in the axial direction . By keeping the inner diameter constant by means of the expansion device, it is also ensured that the adjusting shaft mounted in the sleeve can be easily rotated and axially displaced without being affected by the sleeve; In addition, a perfect print image is obtained due to the stability of the sleeve.

Vorteilhafte Weiterbildungen der Erfindung sind in den Unteransprüchen gekennzeichnet.Advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims.

Ausführungsbeispiele der Erfindung werden nun unter Bezugnahme auf die Zeichnung beschrieben. In der Zeichnung zeigen:

  • Fig. 1 das erfindungsgemäße Druckwerk in einem Schnitt längs der Linie A-A von
  • Fig. 2, Fig. 2 das Druckwerk von Fig. 1 in einem Schnitt längs der Linie B-B von Fig. 1,
  • Fig. 3 eine zweite Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Druckwerks in einem ähnlichen Schnitt wie in Fig. 1,
  • Fig. 4 einen Schnitt längs der Linie C-C von Fig. 3,
  • Fig. 5 eine perspektivische Teilansicht einer Ausführungsform der Einstellwelle,
  • Fig. 6 eine schematische Seitenansicht eines Etikettiergeräts, in dem das erfindungsgemäße Druckwerk 10 verwendet werden kann,
  • Fig. 7 eine Schnittansicht längs der Linie D-D von Fig. 6 und
  • Fig. 8 eine ebensolche Schnittansicht wie in Fig. 7 bei weiter herausgezogener Einstellwelle.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows:
  • Fig. 1, the printing unit according to the invention in a section along the line AA of
  • 2, FIG. 2, the printing unit of FIG. 1 in a section along the line BB of FIG. 1,
  • 3 shows a second embodiment of the printing unit according to the invention in a section similar to that in FIG. 1,
  • 4 shows a section along the line CC of FIG. 3,
  • 5 is a partial perspective view of an embodiment of the adjusting shaft,
  • 6 shows a schematic side view of a labeling device in which the printing unit 10 according to the invention can be used,
  • Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along line DD of Fig. 6 and
  • Fig. 8 is the same sectional view as in Fig. 7 with the adjustment shaft pulled out.

Das in Fig. 1 dargestellte Druckwerk 10 enthält ein aus zwei Gehäusehälften 12 und 14 zusammengesetztes Druckwerksgehäuse, in dem mehrere parallel nebeneinander angeordnete, um Einstellräder 16 und eine Umlenkkante 18 herumgeführte Druckbänder 20 untergebracht sind. Die Druckbänder 20 tragen auf einer Hälfte ihrer Außenumfangsfläche Drucktypen 22 und auf der anderen Hälfte Anzeigetypen 24. Die Zuordnung der Drucktypen 22 zu den Anzeigetypen 24 ist so vorgenommen, daß jeweils Drucktypen 22, die sich gerade in der Druckstellung an der Umlenkkante 18 wie in Fig. 2 befinden, und Anzeigetypen 24, die durch ein an der Gehäuseoberseite angeordnetes Fenster 26 sichtbar sind, jeweils die gleiche Zahl, den gleichen Buchstaben oder dergleichen darstellen. Dies bedeutet, daß an der Gehäuseoberseite durch das Fenster 26 hindurch jeweils zu erkennen ist, welches Zeichen mit den unten an der Umlenkkante befindlichen Drucktypen 22 auf einen Aufzeichnungsträger gedruckt werden kann.The printing unit 10 shown in FIG. 1 contains a printing unit housing which is composed of two housing halves 12 and 14 and in which a plurality of printing bands 20 arranged parallel to one another and guided around setting wheels 16 and a deflection edge 18 are accommodated. The printing tapes 20 carry printing types 22 on one half of their outer circumferential surface and display types 24 on the other half. The assignment of the printing types 22 to the display types 24 is carried out in such a way that printing types 22 which are in the printing position at the deflection edge 18 as in FIG 2 and display types 24, which are visible through a window 26 arranged on the top of the housing, each represent the same number, the same letter or the like. This means that it can be seen on the top of the housing through the window 26 which character can be printed on the recording medium with the printing types 22 located at the bottom on the deflecting edge.

Wie bereits erwähnt wurde, sind die Druckbänder 20 um Einstellräder 16 herumgeführt, die auf einer Hülse 28 drehbar gelagert sind. Die Schnittansicht von Fig. 2 zeigt, daß in der Hülse 28 drei Schlitze 30, 32 und 34 angebracht sind, die an dem in Fig. 1 rechts liegenden Hülsenende offen sind. Durch diese Schlitze greifen drei Zähne 36, 38 und 40 hindurch, die an einer Einstellwelle 42 angebracht sind. Die Einstellwelle 42 ist in einer Lagerdurchführung 44 in der Gehäusehälfte 14 axial verschiebbar gelagert. Durch Verschieben der Einstellwelle 42 in axialer Richtung kann diese Welle durch Eingriff der Zähne 36, 38 und 40 in Ausnehmungen 46 in den Nabenbereichen der Einstellräder 16 mit diesen in eine Antriebsverbindung gebracht werden. In Fig. 2 ist der Eingriff der Zähne 36, 38 und 40 in die Ausnehmungen 46 eines Einstellrades 16 zu erkennen.As already mentioned, the pressure tapes 20 are guided around setting wheels 16 which are rotatably mounted on a sleeve 28. The sectional view of FIG. 2 shows that in the sleeve 28 three slots 30, 32 and 34 are made, which are open at the right end of the sleeve in FIG. 1. Three teeth 36, 38 and 40, which are attached to an adjusting shaft 42, pass through these slots. The setting shaft 42 is axially displaceably mounted in a bearing bushing 44 in the housing half 14. By displacing the setting shaft 42 in the axial direction, this shaft can be brought into a drive connection by engagement of the teeth 36, 38 and 40 in recesses 46 in the hub regions of the setting wheels 16. 2 shows the engagement of the teeth 36, 38 and 40 in the recesses 46 of an adjusting wheel 16.

An dem aus dem Gehäuse herausragenden Ende der Einstellwelle 42 ist ein Betätigungsknopf 48 angebracht, mit dessen Hilfe die Welle einerseits axial verschoben und andererseits gedreht werden kann. Durch die Axialverschiebung der Einstellwelle 42 werden die an ihr angebrachten Zähne 36, 38 und 40 zunächst mit den Ausnehmungen 46 eines zu verstellenden Einstellrades 16 in Eingriff gebracht, und durch Drehen der Einstellwelle 42 wird dann das um seinen Außenumfang herumgeführte Druckband 20 so lange bewegt, bis sich eine gewünschte Drucktype 22 in Druckposition unterhalb der Umlenkkante 18 befindet. Wie bereits erwähnt wurde, kann die jeweilige Position der Drucktypen 22 durch das oben am Gehäuse angebrachte Fenster 26 kontrolliert werden. Zur Erzielung einer Antriebsverbindung zwischen den Druckbändern 20 und den Einstellrädern 16 weisen die Druckbänder 20 an ihrer Innenfläche Zähne 50 auf, die in Ausnehmungen 52 in den Außenumfangsflächen der Einstellräder 16 eingreifen.At the end of the adjusting shaft 42 protruding from the housing, an actuating button 48 is attached, with the aid of which the shaft is shifted axially on the one hand and on the other hand can be rotated. By means of the axial displacement of the adjusting shaft 42, the teeth 36, 38 and 40 attached to it are first brought into engagement with the recesses 46 of an adjusting wheel 16 to be adjusted, and by rotating the adjusting shaft 42 the pressure band 20 which is guided around its outer circumference is then moved for as long as until a desired print type 22 is in the print position below the deflection edge 18. As already mentioned, the respective position of the print types 22 can be checked through the window 26 attached to the top of the housing. To achieve a drive connection between the pressure bands 20 and the setting wheels 16, the pressure bands 20 have teeth 50 on their inner surface, which engage in recesses 52 in the outer peripheral surfaces of the setting wheels 16.

Zur Erzielung einer genauen Ausrichtung der Ebene der Zähne 36, 38 und 40 auf die Ebene des jeweils zu verstellenden Einstellrades 16 ist ein Rastmechanismus vorgesehen, der dafür sorgt, daß die Einstellwelle bei ihrer Axialverstellung jeweils in einer für die Bedienungsperson deutlich spürbaren Weise in Positionen einrastet, in denen eine eindeutige Antriebsverbindung mit einem zu verstellenden Einstellrad 16 hergestellt ist. Dieser Rastmechanismus enthält einen an der Hülse 28 einstückig angeformten Rastfinger 54, der an der Hülseninnenfläche radial nach innen vorsteht und in Rastausnehmungen 56 eingreift, die in einem Bereich der Außenumfangsfläche der Einstellwelle 42 gebracht sind. Für jedes der auf der Hülse 28 gelagerten Einstellräder 16 ist eine Rastausnehmung 56 vorgesehen. Wenn in der in Fig. 1 dargestellten Anordnung der Einzelteile, in der die Einstellwelle 42 mit dem am weitesten links liegenden Einstellrad 16 in Eingriff steht, die Einstellwelle 42 nach rechts bewegt wird, damit sie beispielsweise mit dem nächsten Einstellrad 16 in Eingriff kommt, muß zunächst die vom Rastfinger 54 auf die Einstellwelle 42 ausgeübte Rastkraft überwunden werden, wenn er aus der zugehörigen Rastausnehmung 56 heraus in der Darstellung von Fig. 1 nach oben bewegt wird; anschließend kann er dann in die nächste Rastausnehmung 56 einfallen, was genau dann eintritt, wenn die Einstellwelle 42 mit dem zweiten Einstellrad 16 von links in Eingriff steht.To achieve a precise alignment of the plane of the teeth 36, 38 and 40 on the level of the respective adjusting wheel 16 to be adjusted, a latching mechanism is provided which ensures that the adjusting shaft engages in positions in a manner that is clearly perceptible to the operator when it is axially adjusted , in which a clear drive connection is made with an adjusting wheel 16 to be adjusted. This locking mechanism contains a locking finger 54 integrally formed on the sleeve 28, which projects radially inward on the inner surface of the sleeve and engages in locking recesses 56 which are provided in a region of the outer peripheral surface of the adjusting shaft 42. A locking recess 56 is provided for each of the setting wheels 16 mounted on the sleeve 28. In the arrangement of the parts shown in FIG. 1, in which the setting shaft 42 is engaged with the leftmost setting wheel 16, the setting shaft 42 is moved to the right so that it comes into engagement with the next setting wheel 16, for example first the latching force exerted by the latching finger 54 on the adjusting shaft 42 is overcome when it is moved upward out of the associated latching recess 56 in the illustration in FIG. 1; it can then fall into the next latching recess 56, which occurs precisely when the setting shaft 42 is in engagement with the second setting wheel 16 from the left.

Da die geschlitzte Hülse 28 als Lagerachse für die Einstellräder 16 dient, muß ihrer Lagerung und Anbringung im Durckwerk besondere Aufmerksamkeit entgegengebracht werden. Die Hülse 28 muß einerseits zur Lagerung der Einstellräder 16 einen möglichst konstanten Außendurchmesser haben, und sie muß andererseits auch einen genau definierten Innendurchmesser haben, damit die Einstellwelle 42 ohne Klemmung axial leicht verschoben werden kann. Die Hülse 28 ist an der einen Seite, der in Fig. 1 links liegenden Seite, in einer kreiszylindrischen Ausnehmung 58 angebracht. Da die Schlitze 30, 32 und 34 an dieser Seite der Hülse 28 nicht durchgehen, genügt an dieser Stelle die Lagerung der Hülse 28 an ihrer Außenseite. An der anderen Seite, der in Fig. 1 rechts liegenden Seite, sitzen die drei aufgrund der durchgehenden Schlitze 30, 32 und 34 gebildeten Hülsensegmente auf einer Nabe 60, die am Gehäuseteil 14 gebildet ist. Die Nabe 60 sorgt dafür, daß die Hülse 28 an dem zugehörigen Ende trotz der durchgehenden Schlitze die notwendige Stabilität für die Lagerung der Einstellräder 16 aufweist. Die Nabe 60 hält die Schlitze auseinandergespreizt, so daß die Zähne 36, 38 und 40 ohne Verklemmen leichtgängig längs der Schlitze bewegt werden können.Since the slotted sleeve 28 serves as a bearing axis for the adjusting wheels 16, special attention must be paid to their storage and attachment in the pressure mechanism. On the one hand, the sleeve 28 must have an outer diameter that is as constant as possible for mounting the adjusting wheels 16, and on the other hand it must also have a precisely defined inner diameter so that the adjusting shaft 42 can be easily axially displaced without clamping. The sleeve 28 is attached on one side, the left side in FIG. 1, in a circular cylindrical recess 58. Since the slots 30, 32 and 34 do not pass through on this side of the sleeve 28, the bearing of the sleeve 28 on its outside is sufficient at this point. On the other side, the right side in FIG. 1, the three sleeve segments formed due to the continuous slots 30, 32 and 34 sit on a hub 60 which is formed on the housing part 14. The hub 60 ensures that the sleeve 28 has the necessary stability for the storage of the adjusting wheels 16 at the associated end despite the continuous slots. The hub 60 keeps the slots spread apart so that the teeth 36, 38 and 40 can be easily moved along the slots without jamming.

Wie aus Fig. 1 hervorgeht, erstreckt sich die Einstellwelle 42 in dem unmittelbar an dem Betätigungsknopf 48 angrenzenden Abschnitt durch eine Durchführung 62, die an einer konischen Kappe 64 angebracht ist. Diese Kappe hat unter anderem die Aufgabe, für eine glatte Abdeckung des oberen Teils des Druckwerks 10 zu sorgen. Sie trägt aber auch einen das Fenster 26 umgebenden Rahmen 27, der oben am Gehäuse verschiebbar gelagert ist; die Art der Lagerung geht aus Fig. 2 deutlich hervor. Wenn die Einstellwelle 42 axial verschoben wird, bewegt sich der Rahmen 27 mit dem Fenster 26 mit, wobei das in Fig. 1 links liegende Ende des Sichtfensters jeweils gerade in der Ebene des Einstellrades 16 liegt, mit dem die Einstellwelle 42 in Eingriff steht und das demzufolge verstellt werden kann. Durch Beobachten des linken Endes des Fensters 26 weiß die Bedienungsperson somit in jeder Axialstellung der Einstellwelle 42, welches Druckband gerade in die gewünschte Stellung gebracht werden kann.As can be seen from FIG. 1, the adjusting shaft 42 extends in the section immediately adjacent to the actuating button 48 through a passage 62 which is attached to a conical cap 64. Among other things, this cap has the task of ensuring a smooth covering of the upper part of the printing unit 10. But it also carries a frame 27 surrounding the window 26, which is slidably mounted on the top of the housing; the type of storage is clear from Fig. 2. When the adjusting shaft 42 is axially displaced, the frame 27 moves with the window 26, the end of the viewing window on the left in FIG. 1 being in the plane of the adjusting wheel 16 with which the adjusting shaft 42 is engaged and that consequently can be adjusted. By observing the left end of the window 26, the operator knows in each axial position of the setting shaft 42 which print tape can be brought into the desired position.

Damit die Bedienungsperson beim Verdrehen der Einstellräder und bei dem damit vorgenommenen Stellen der Druckbänder die einzelnen Verstellvorgänge stets so weit durchführt, bis sich eine Drucktype 22 exakt in der Druckposition an der Umlenkkante 18 befindet, ist ein weiterer Rastmechanismus vorgesehen, der der Bedienungsperson das exakte Einstellen erleichtert. Dieser Rastmechanismus besteht aus einer Schraubenfeder 66, die parallel zur Längsachse der Einstellwelle 42 so am Umfang der Einstellräder 16 angeordnet ist, daß sie in die Ausnehmungen 52 am Umfang der Einstellräder 16 teilweise eindringt, was in Fig. 2 deutlich zu erkennen ist. Damit die Einstellräder 16 verdreht werden können, obwohl die Schraubenfeder 66 gemäß Fig. 2 in ihre Ausnehmungen eingreift, ist die Schraubenfeder 66 auf einem elastisch nachgiebigen Polster 68 gelagert. Beim Verdrehen der Einstellräder 16 kann die Schraubenfeder 66 auf diese Weise ausweichen und sich dabei in das Polster 68 hineindrücken. Die Bedienungsperson spürt dadurch beim Verdrehen der Einstellräder aus der in Fig. 2 dargestellten Position in die Position, in der ein Zahn 70 zwischen den Ausnehmungen 52 zur Schraubenfeder 66 hin bewegt wird, zunächst eine Zunahme der aufzuwendenden Verdrehkraft, die dann wieder abnimmt, wenn die Schraubenfeder in die nächste Ausnehmung 52 eindringt. Die Bedienungsperson spürt also deutliche Kraftspitzen, und sie weiß, daß immer dann, wenn sie eine Kraftspitze überwunden hat, eine Drucktype 22 sich in der exakten Druckposition unterhalb der Umlenkkante 18 befindet.To ensure that the operator always carries out the individual adjustment processes when turning the setting wheels and when the pressure tapes are set until a printing type 22 is exactly in the printing position on the deflection edge 18, a further latching mechanism is provided, which enables the operator to set the exact position facilitated. This locking mechanism consists of a helical spring 66 which is arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the adjusting shaft 42 on the circumference of the adjusting wheels 16 so that it partially penetrates into the recesses 52 on the circumference of the adjusting wheels 16, which can be clearly seen in FIG. 2. So that the setting wheels 16 can be turned, although the coil spring 66 engages in its recesses according to FIG. 2, the coil spring 66 is mounted on an elastically flexible cushion 68. When the setting wheels 16 are turned, the helical spring 66 can deflect in this way and press into the cushion 68. As a result, when the adjusting wheels are rotated from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position in which a tooth 70 is moved between the recesses 52 toward the coil spring 66, the operator initially feels an increase in the torsional force to be applied, which then decreases again when the Coil spring penetrates into the next recess 52. The operator feels thus clear force peaks, and she knows that whenever she has overcome a force peak, a printing type 22 is in the exact printing position below the deflection edge 18.

Wie bereits erwähnt wurde, befinden sich am Außenumfang, der Druckbänder 20 in einem Längenabschnitt Drucktypen 22 und in einem anderen Längenabschnitt Anzeigetypen 24. Bei der Anwendung des Druckwerks werden die Drucktypen vor jedem Druckvorgang zunächst eingefärbt, worauf die eingefärbten Drucktypen dann mit dem zu bedruckenden Medium in Kontakt gebracht werden. Durch das Fenster 26 hindurch kann an den Anzeigetypen 24 abgelesen werden, welche Zeichen bei der gerade vorliegenden Einstellung der Druckbänder auf das zu bedruckende Medium gedruckt werden können. Beim Betrieb des Druckwerks muß vermieden werden, daß die Anzeigetypen 24 während der Verstellung der Druckbänder in eine Lage unterhalb der Umlenkkante 18 kommen, in der sie mit dem zum Einfärben der Drucktypen verwendeten Einfärbemechanismus in Kontakt kommen könnten. Die Ablesbarkeit der Anzeigetypen 24 im Fenster 26 würde durch die unerwünschte Einfärbung stark beeinträchtigt werden. Es muß also dafür gesorgt werden, daß die Druckbänder 20 jeweils nur so weit bewegt werden können, daß zwar alle Drucktypen 22 in die Druckposition unterhalb der Umlenkkante 18 gelangen können, nicht dagegen die jeweils zugehörigen Anzeigetypen 24. Die Mittel zum Verhindern des vollständigen Durchdrehens der Druckbänder 20 enthalten die an einem Teil der Innenumfangsfläche der Druckbänder 20 angebrachten Zähne 50, die auch zum Antreiben der Druckbänder 20 durch Eingriff in die Ausnehmungen 46 in den Einstellrädern 16 verwendet werden. Wie aus der Schnittansicht von Fig. 2 hervorgeht, weist das Gehäuse im Bereich innerhalb der Druckbänder 20 einen parallel zu den Druckbändern 20 verlaufenden Steg 72 auf, der in einem solchen Abstand von den Druckbändern angebracht ist, daß sich die Zähne 50 ungehindert an ihm entlang bewegen können. An dem nahe der Umlenkkante 18 liegenden Ende weist der Steg 72 jedoch eine Anschlagschulter 74 auf, die so geformt ist, daß der in Bewegungsrichtung vorderste Zahn 50 in seiner vollen Höhe gegen diese Anschlagschulter 74 stößt, wenn er den Bereich der Umlenkkante 18 erreicht. Diese Anschlagschulter 74 verhindert, daß der Bereich der Außenumfangsfläche der Druckbänder 20, der die Anzeigetypen 24 trägt, in die Druckposition unterhalb der Anschlagkante 18 gelangt. Aus Fig. 2 geht hervor, daß sich die Anzeigetypen 24 in dem Bereich der Außenumfangsfläche der Druckbänder 20 befinden, in dem auf der Innenumfangsfläche die Zähne 50 angebracht sind. Der Steg 72 und die Anschlagschulter 74 begrenzen das Verdrehen des Druckbänder 20 in der Ansicht von Fig. 2 im Uhrzeigersinn, wobei in Fig. 2 die eine Grenzposition dargestellt ist, die die Druckbänder 20 erreichen können. Zur Begrenzung der Verdrehung, der Druckbänder 20 in der anderen Richtung, also in Fig. 2 entgegen dem Uhrzeigersinn, ist am Gehäuse ein zweiter Steg 76 angebracht, der angrenzend an die Umlenkkante 18 ebenfalls eine Anschlagschulter 78 aufweist. Diese Anschlagschulter 78 verhindert eine Verdrehung der Druckbänder 20 über eine Grenzposition hinaus, die dann vorliegt, wenn der beim Drehen entgegen dem Uhrzeigersinn vorderste Zahn 50 gegen die Anschlagschulter 78 stößt.As already mentioned, on the outer circumference, the printing bands 20 are in one length section printing types 22 and in another length section display types 24. When using the printing unit, the printing types are first inked before each printing process, whereupon the inked printing types are then mixed with the medium to be printed be brought into contact. Through the window 26 can be read on the display types 24, which characters can be printed on the medium to be printed with the current setting of the printing tapes. During the operation of the printing unit, it must be avoided that the display types 24 come into a position below the deflection edge 18 during the adjustment of the printing bands, in which position they could come into contact with the inking mechanism used for inking the printing types. The readability of the display types 24 in the window 26 would be severely impaired by the undesired coloring. It must therefore be ensured that the printing belts 20 can only be moved so far that all printing types 22 can reach the printing position below the deflecting edge 18, but not the associated display types 24. The means for preventing the complete spinning of the Print ribbons 20 include teeth 50 attached to a portion of the inner peripheral surface of the print ribbons 20, which are also used to drive the print ribbons 20 by engaging the recesses 46 in the dials 16. As can be seen from the sectional view of FIG. 2, the housing in the area within the pressure bands 20 has a web 72 which runs parallel to the pressure bands 20 and which is attached at such a distance from the pressure bands that the teeth 50 run along it unhindered can move. At the end near the deflecting edge 18, however, the web 72 has a stop shoulder 74 which is shaped such that the foremost tooth 50 in the direction of movement abuts against this stop shoulder 74 in its full height when it reaches the region of the deflecting edge 18. This stop shoulder 74 prevents the area of the outer circumferential surface of the pressure tapes 20, which carries the display types 24, from reaching the printing position below the stop edge 18. 2 that the display types 24 are located in the area of the outer circumferential surface of the printing tapes 20 in which the teeth 50 are attached to the inner circumferential surface. The web 72 and the stop shoulder 74 limit the twisting of the printing bands 20 in the view of FIG. 2 in a clockwise direction, with FIG. 2 depicting a limit position that the printing bands 20 can reach. In order to limit the rotation of the pressure tapes 20 in the other direction, that is to say counterclockwise in FIG. 2, a second web 76 is attached to the housing and also has a stop shoulder 78 adjacent to the deflection edge 18. This stop shoulder 78 prevents the pressure tapes 20 from rotating beyond a limit position which is present when the tooth 50 which is at the front when rotated counterclockwise abuts the stop shoulder 78.

Da die Druckbänder 20 und die an ihrer Innenfläche angebrachten Zähne 50 aus verformbarem Material hergestellt sind, könnten die Druckbänder 20 durch Aufwendung einer übermäßigen Kraft beim Drehen der Einstellwelle 42 möglicherweise unter Verformen der Zähne 50 über die beiderseits der Umlenkkante 18 festgelegten Grenzpositionen hinaus verdreht werden, was die unerwünschte Folge hätte, daß die Anzeigetypen mit der Druckfarbe in Kontakt kommen. Um dieses unerwünschte "Überlaufen" der Anschlagschultern 74 und 7ß zu vermeiden, ist der Betätigungsknopf 48 mit der Einstellwelle 42 nicht formschlüssig, sondern kraftschlüssig verbunden. Die kraftschlüssige Verbindung entsteht dadurch, daß der Betätigungsknopf 48 mit Preßsitz auf das aus dem Gehäuse herausragende Ende der Einstellwelle 42 angebracht wird, wobei der Preßsitz so bemessen ist, daß das vom Betätigungsknopf 48 auf die Einstellwelle 42 übertragbare Drehmoment zwar ausreicht, die Druckbänder 20 zu verstellen, der Betätigungsknopf 48 auf der Einstellwelle 42 jedoch durchrutscht, sobald das gerade verstellte Druckband 20 eine seiner Grenzpositionen erreicht, in der der in Verstellrichtung jeweils vorne liegende Zahn 50 in Anlage an die Anschlagschulter 74 oder 78 kommt. Der gewünschte Preßsitz läßt sich am einfachsten dadurch verwirklichen, daß der Betätigungsknopf 48 aus einem gummielastischen Material wie Vulkollan hergestellt wird und daß die in ihm angebrachte Bohrung zur Aufnahme der Einstellwelle 42 mit einem Innendurchmesser gebildet wird, der kleiner als der Außendurchmesser des am Gehäuse vorstehenden Endes der Einstellwelle 42 ist. Aufgrund der Elastizität des Materials Vulkollan kann der Betätigungsknopf 48 ohne weiteres auf die Einstellwelle 42 aufgeschoben werden, wobei er sogar über das in Fig. 1 erkennbare erweiterte Wellenende 80 gedrückt werden kann, das verhindert, daß er nach dem Aufschieben wieder von der Welle abgleitet. Die Verbindung zwischen dem Betätigungsknopf 48 und der Einstellwelle 42 wirkt wie eine Rutschkupplung, die durchrutscht, sobald das von einem gerade verstellten Druckband 20 der Verdrehbewegung entgegenwirkende Widerstandsmoment größer als das vom Betätigungsknopf 48 auf die Einstellwelle 42 übertragbare Drehmoment wird. Dies tritt mit Sicherheit ein, wenn das zu verstellende Druckband 20 eine ihrer Grenzpositionen erreicht.Since the pressure bands 20 and the teeth 50 attached to their inner surface are made of deformable material, the pressure bands 20 could possibly be twisted beyond the limit positions defined on both sides of the deflection edge 18 by applying an excessive force when rotating the adjusting shaft 42, while deforming the teeth 50, which would have the undesirable consequence that the display types come into contact with the printing ink. In order to avoid this undesired "overflow" of the stop shoulders 74 and 7ß, the actuating button 48 is not positively connected to the adjusting shaft 42, but rather non-positively. The non-positive connection arises from the fact that the actuating button 48 is press-fitted onto the end of the adjusting shaft 42 protruding from the housing, the press-fit being dimensioned such that the torque that can be transmitted from the actuating button 48 to the adjusting shaft 42 is sufficient, the pressure tapes 20 adjust, the actuating button 48 slips on the setting shaft 42, however, as soon as the just adjusted pressure band 20 reaches one of its limit positions, in which the tooth 50 lying in front in the adjustment direction comes into contact with the stop shoulder 74 or 78. The desired press fit can be achieved most simply by manufacturing the actuating button 48 from a rubber-elastic material such as Vulkollan and by forming the bore in it for receiving the adjusting shaft 42 with an inner diameter which is smaller than the outer diameter of the end projecting from the housing the adjusting shaft 42. Due to the elasticity of the Vulkollan material, the actuation button 48 can be easily pushed onto the setting shaft 42, and can even be pressed over the extended shaft end 80 shown in FIG. 1, which prevents it from sliding off the shaft again after being pushed on. The connection between the actuation button 48 and the setting shaft 42 acts like a slip clutch, which slips as soon as the moment of resistance counteracting the twisting movement from a just adjusted pressure band 20 becomes greater than the torque that can be transmitted from the actuation button 48 to the setting shaft 42. This certainly occurs when the print ribbon 20 to be adjusted reaches one of its limit positions.

In Fig. 3 ist eine weitere Ausführungsform eines Druckwerks dargestellt, das in den meisten Einzelheiten mit dem Druckwerk von Fig. 1 übereinstimmt; unterschiedlich ist die Art der Lagerung der geschlitzten Hülse 29 im Druckwerksgehäuse. Die einzelnen Schlitze sind so ausgeführt wie in der Ausführungsform von Fig. 1, d.h. daß sie an dem in der Zeichnungsdarstellung links liegenden Hülsenende geschlossen sind, während sie am rechten Hülsenende offen sind. Zum Halten der Hülse 29 ist die Gehäusehälfte 13 mit einer Öffnung 82 versehen, die zum Gehäuseinneren hin in eine Lagerdurchführung 84 für die Hülse 29 übergeht. Das Ende der Hülse 29 weist einen im Durchmesser erweiterten Bund 86 auf, der verhindert, daß die Hülse 29 durch die Lagerdurchführung 84 hindurchgeschoben werden kann. Am anderen Ende sitzt die Hülse 29 in einer in der Gehäusehälfte 15 angebrachten Lagerdurchführung 88. Die Hülse 29 hat an diesem Ende einen gegenüber ihrem Mittelteil reduzierten Durchmesser; der Übergang zu dem größeren Durchmesser im Mittelbereich erfolgt über eine Stufe 90, die beim Einschieben der Hülse 29 in die Lagerdurchführung 88 als Anschlag wirkt. Zum Festhalten der Hülse 29 ist in dem aus der Lagerdurchführung 88 herausstehenden Hülsenende eine Nut 92 gebildet, in die ein Haltering 94 eingelegt ist. Wie die Schnittansicht von Fig. 4 zeigt, weist der Haltering 94 einen Schlitz 96 auf, der es ermöglicht, den Haltering 94 zum Einlegen in die Nut 92 aufzuspreizen. Bei dieser Ausführung trägt die Hülse 29 dazu bei, beide Gehäusehälften 13,15 im oberen Teil zusammenzuhalten.FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of a printing unit, which corresponds in most details to the printing unit of FIG. 1; the type of storage is different the slotted sleeve 29 in the printing unit housing. The individual slots are designed as in the embodiment of FIG. 1, that is to say that they are closed at the sleeve end lying on the left in the drawing, while they are open at the right sleeve end. To hold the sleeve 29, the housing half 13 is provided with an opening 82 which merges into a bearing bushing 84 for the sleeve 29 towards the interior of the housing. The end of the sleeve 29 has a collar 86 with a larger diameter, which prevents the sleeve 29 from being pushed through the bearing bushing 84. At the other end, the sleeve 29 is seated in a bearing bushing 88 mounted in the housing half 15. The sleeve 29 has a reduced diameter at this end compared to its central part; the transition to the larger diameter in the central region takes place via a step 90, which acts as a stop when the sleeve 29 is inserted into the bearing bushing 88. To hold the sleeve 29, a groove 92 is formed in the sleeve end protruding from the bearing bushing 88, into which a retaining ring 94 is inserted. As the sectional view of FIG. 4 shows, the retaining ring 94 has a slot 96, which makes it possible to spread the retaining ring 94 for insertion into the groove 92. In this embodiment, the sleeve 29 helps to hold the two housing halves 13, 15 together in the upper part.

Der sich durch die Lagerdurchführung 88 erstreckende Endabschnitt der Hülse 29 weist auch einen gegenüber dem Rest der Hülse reduzierten Innendurchmesser auf, der so dimensioniert ist, daß er dem Außendurchmesser der Einstellwelle 42 entspricht. Die Einstellwelle 42 ist auf diese Weise in der Hülse 29 gelagert.The end section of the sleeve 29 which extends through the bearing bushing 88 also has an inner diameter which is reduced compared to the rest of the sleeve and which is dimensioned such that it corresponds to the outer diameter of the adjusting shaft 42. The setting shaft 42 is mounted in the sleeve 29 in this way.

In die in der Darstellung von Fig. 3 rechts liegenden offenen Enden der Schlitze 31, 33 und 35 sind Spreizstücke 98, 100 und 102 eingesetzt, die verhindern, daß sich die Breite der Schlitze 31, 33 und 35 während des Drehens der Einstellwelle 42 verändert. Zu einer solchen Veränderung könnte es kommen, wenn die am Umfang der Einstellwelle 42 aufliegenden Hülsensegmente aufgrund von Maßungenauigkeiten, die auf Fertigungstoleranzen zurückzuführen sind, mit zu starkem Druck auf die Einstellwelle 42 einwirken, so daß sie beim Drehen der Einstellwelle 42 aufgrund von Reibung in der jeweiligen Drehrichtung unterschiedlich weit mitgenommen werden. Ein Verändern der Schlitzbreiten muß aber verhindert werden, da sonst die Leichtgängigkeit der Axialverstellung der Einstellwelle 42 beeinträchtigt würde. Die durch die Schlitze ragenden Zähne an der Einstellwelle 42 könnten sich unter Umständen nicht mehr längs der Schlitze frei bewegen.Spreading pieces 98, 100 and 102 are inserted into the open ends of the slots 31, 33 and 35 on the right in the illustration of FIG. 3, which prevent the width of the slots 31, 33 and 35 from changing during the rotation of the adjusting shaft 42 . Such a change could occur if the sleeve segments resting on the circumference of the setting shaft 42 act on the setting shaft 42 with excessive pressure due to dimensional inaccuracies which are due to manufacturing tolerances, so that they rotate when the setting shaft 42 is rotated due to friction in the different directions of rotation. However, changing the slot widths must be prevented, since otherwise the smooth movement of the axial adjustment of the setting shaft 42 would be impaired. The teeth protruding through the slots on the adjusting shaft 42 could possibly no longer move freely along the slots.

Die Spreizstücke 98, 100 und 102 können als Einzelteile ausgebildet sein, oder sie können auch einstückig an den Haltering 94 angeformt sein.The expansion pieces 98, 100 and 102 can be designed as individual parts, or they can also be integrally formed on the retaining ring 94.

Wegen der besonderen Lagerung der geschlitzten Hülsen 28, 29 gemäß den Fig. 1 und 3 können diese Hülsen ohne Beeinträchtigung des erzielbaren Druckbildes, wie auch alle anderen Teile des Druckwerks (außer der Schraubenfeder 66), aus Kunststoff hergestellt werden.Because of the special mounting of the slotted sleeves 28, 29 according to FIGS. 1 and 3, these sleeves, like the other parts of the printing unit (except the coil spring 66), can be made of plastic without affecting the print image that can be achieved.

Wie bereits erwähnt wurde, stimmen alle übrigen Teile des in Fig. 3 dargestellten Druckwerks mit denen des Druckwerks von Fig. 1 überein, so daß sich eine erneute Beschreibung erübrigt.As already mentioned, all other parts of the printing unit shown in FIG. 3 correspond to those of the printing unit of FIG. 1, so that a new description is unnecessary.

Es wurde oben bereits ausführlich erläutert, wie der an der Hülse 29 angebrachte Rastfinger 54 mit den Ausnehmungen 56 in der Einstellwelle 42 zusammenwirkt. Insbesondere ergibt sich aus dieser Beschreibung, daß die Abstände der Ausnehmungen 56 gleich der Breite der Einstellräder 16 ist, da bei Einhaltung dieser Regel die Wirkung erreicht wird, daß bei jedem Einrasten des Rastfingers 54 in eine Ausnehmung 56 die an der Einstellwelle 42 angebrachten Zähne 36, 38 und 40 in die Ausnehmungen 46 eines Einstellrades 16 eingreifen. Da die Breite der Einstellräder 16 gleichzeitig auch die Breite der um sie herumgeführten Druckbänder 20 festlegt, wird durch die Abstände der Ausnehmungen 56 gleichzeitig die Breite der mit den Druckbändern zu druckenden Zeichen festgelegt.It has already been explained in detail above how the locking finger 54 attached to the sleeve 29 interacts with the recesses 56 in the setting shaft 42. In particular, it follows from this description that the spacing of the recesses 56 is equal to the width of the setting wheels 16, since if this rule is observed, the effect is achieved that each time the latching finger 54 engages in a recess 56, the teeth 36 attached to the setting shaft 42 , 38 and 40 engage in the recesses 46 of a dial 16. Since the width of the setting wheels 16 also determines the width of the printing tapes 20 guided around them, the spacing of the recesses 56 also determines the width of the characters to be printed with the printing tapes.

Abgesehen von dem beim Axialverschieben der Einstellwelle 42 wirksam werdenden Rastmechanismus aus dem Rastfinger 54 und den Ausnehmungen 56 kann das beschriebene Druckwerk ohne weiteres auch breitere Einstellräder und dementsprechend breitere Druckbänder zum Drucken breiterer Zeichen aufnehmen. Die anschließend näher beschriebene besondere Ausführungsform der Einstellwelle dient dazu, den Rastmechanismus an unterschiedlich breite Einstellräder und Druckbänder anzupassen. Diese besondere Ausführungsform der Einstellwelle ist in Fig. 5 in einer perspektivischen Teilansicht dargestellt. Diese Ausführungsform läßt drei unterschiedliche Breiten von Typenrädern und Druckbändern zu.Apart from the locking mechanism, which becomes effective when the setting shaft 42 is axially displaced, from the locking finger 54 and the recesses 56, the described printing unit can also easily accommodate wider setting wheels and, accordingly, wider printing bands for printing wider characters. The special embodiment of the adjusting shaft, which is described in more detail below, serves to adapt the locking mechanism to adjusting wheels and pressure tapes of different widths. This particular embodiment of the setting shaft is shown in FIG. 5 in a partial perspective view. This embodiment allows three different widths of type wheels and pressure tapes.

Wie Fig. 5 zeigt, weist die Einstellwelle 42 zur Aufnahme der Rastausnehmungen drei Umfangsbereiche auf, die zwischen den Positonen der Zähne 36, 38, 40 liegen. In jeder der drei Flächen des dadurch gebildeten Körpers sind Ausnehmungen mit unterschiedlichen Abständen gebildet, von denen in Fig. 5 die Ausnehmungen 104 und 106 zu erkennen sind. Die Flächensegmente 107, 109 und 111 liegen auf einer Kreiszylinderfläche, so daß die Einstellwelle 42 auf diesen Flächensegmenten gelagert werden kann. Wenn die Einstellwelle 42 so in die Hülse 28 oder 29 eingesetzt wird, daß der Rastfinger 54 mit den Ausnehmungen 104 zusammenwirkt, ergeben sich im Abstand B1 voneinander entfernt liegende Rastpositionen, was bedeutet, daß Einstellräder 16 mit der Breite BI verwendet werden können. Wird die Einstellwelle dagegen so in die Hülse 28 oder 29 eingesetzt, daß die Ausnehmungen 106 mit dem Rastfinger 54 zusammenwirken, ergeben sich im Abstand B2 voneinander entfernt liegende Rastpositionen, was ein Zusammenarbeiten mit Einstellrädern der Breite B2 ermöglicht. Auf der in Fig. 5 hinten liegenden Fläche der Einstellwelle sind Ausnehmungen mit einer dritten Breite angebracht, die in entsprechender Weise ein Zusammenarbeiten mit Einstellrädern dieser dritten Breite ermöglichen.As FIG. 5 shows, the setting shaft 42 has three circumferential areas for receiving the latching recesses, which lie between the positions of the teeth 36, 38, 40. In each of the three surfaces of the body formed thereby, recesses are formed with different distances, of which the recesses 104 and 106 can be seen in FIG. 5. The surface segments 107, 109 and 111 lie on a circular cylinder surface, so that the adjusting shaft 42 can be supported on these surface segments. If the setting shaft 42 is inserted into the sleeve 28 or 29 so that the locking finger 54 cooperates with the recesses 104, there are locking positions spaced apart from one another B1, which means that setting wheels 16 with the width BI can be used. If, on the other hand, the adjusting shaft is inserted into the sleeve 28 or 29 in such a way that the recesses 106 interact with the latching finger 54, latching positions which are spaced apart from one another result at a distance B2, which enables cooperation with adjusting wheels of the width B2. Recesses with a third width are provided on the rear surface of the adjusting shaft in FIG Allow collaboration with dials of this third width.

Bei Verwendung der in Fig. 5 dargestellten Einstellwelle 42 wird das Druckwerk wesentlich vielseitiger hinsichtlich der möglichen Breite der zu druckenden Schriftzeichen. In dem beschriebenen Ausführungsbeispiel sind an der Einstellwelle 42 drei Umfangsbereiche zur Aufnahme von Rastausnehmungen angebracht. Es ist natürlich auch möglich, an der Einstellwelle vier Umfangsbereiche zur Aufnahme von Rastausnehmungen vorzusehen; allerdings müssen dann in der Hülse 28 oder 29 vier Schlitze angebracht werden, durch die sich zum Beispiel zwei an diametral gegenüberliegenden Kanten des Vierkants angebrachte Zähne zum Antrieb der Einstellräder 16 erstrekken. Die Einstellwelle mit vier Umfangsbereichen kann in vier verschiedenen Positionen in die Hülse 28 oder 29 eingeschoben werden, wobei jeweils die an einem Umfangsbereich angebrachten Ausnehmungen mit dem Rastfinger zusammenwirken.When using the setting shaft 42 shown in FIG. 5, the printing unit becomes considerably more versatile with regard to the possible width of the characters to be printed. In the exemplary embodiment described, three circumferential regions for receiving snap-in recesses are attached to the setting shaft 42. It is of course also possible to provide four circumferential areas on the adjusting shaft for receiving locking recesses; however, four slots must then be made in the sleeve 28 or 29, through which, for example, two teeth attached to diametrically opposite edges of the square extend for driving the setting wheels 16. The adjusting shaft with four circumferential areas can be inserted into the sleeve 28 or 29 in four different positions, the recesses on a circumferential area interacting with the locking finger.

Das beschriebene Druckwerk eignet sich für den Einbau in Handetikettiergeräte, mit deren Hilfe auf einem Trägerband haftende Selbstklebeetiketten bedruckt und an Gegenständen angebracht werden können. In Fig. 6 ist ein solches Handetikettiergerät schematisch dargestellt. Es weist einen Griff 108 auf, der am Hinterende eines Gehäuses 110 angebracht ist. An der Oberseite des Gehäuses befindet sich ein Schacht 112, der der Aufnahme einer Vorratsrolle 114 des die Selbstklebeetiketten tragenden Trägerbandes dient. Das Trägerband wird im Gerät von der Vorratsrolle 114 aus nach unten und in Richtung zur Vorderkante 115 transportiert. Es wird dabei über einen Drucktisch 118 geführt, an dessen Vorderkante es in spitzem Winkel umgelenkt wird, damit sich die Selbstklebeetiketten vom Trägerband ablösen und in eine Stellung gelangen, in der sie dann an Gegenständen angebracht werden können. Ein solches Gerät und seine Anwendung sind beispielsweise in der DE-OS 30 17 843 beschrieben.The printing unit described is suitable for installation in hand-held labeling devices, with the aid of which self-adhesive labels adhering to a carrier tape can be printed and attached to objects. Such a hand labeling device is shown schematically in FIG. 6. It has a handle 108 that is attached to the rear end of a housing 110. At the top of the housing there is a shaft 112 which serves to hold a supply roll 114 of the carrier tape carrying the self-adhesive labels. The carrier tape is transported in the device from the supply roll 114 downwards and towards the front edge 115. It is guided over a printing table 118, at the front edge of which it is deflected at an acute angle so that the self-adhesive labels detach from the carrier tape and reach a position in which they can then be attached to objects. Such a device and its application are described for example in DE-OS 30 17 843.

Unterhalb des Griffs 108 befindet sich ein um eine Achse 113 drehbar gelagerter Bedienungshebel 120, mit dessen Hilfe alle im Gerät ablaufenden Vorgänge, wie das Transportieren des Trägerbandes und das Bedrucken durchgeführt werden können. Zur Betätigung des Geräts wird der Bedienungshebel 120 gegen die Kraft einer Feder 121 gegen den Griff 108 gezogen und anschließend wieder losgelassen. Das im Vorderbereich des Gehäuses 110 an einer Verlängerung des Bedienungshebels 120 angebrachte Druckwerk 10 bewegt sich beim Anziehen des Hebels 120 in Richtung des Pfeils 122 gegen den Drucktisch 118; gleichzeitig werden dabei die in der Druckposition befindlichen Drucktypen mittels einer nicht dargestellten Einfärbevorrichtung mit Farbe benetzt. Das auf dem Drucktisch 118 befindliche Selbstklebeetikett wird durch Aufschlagen des Druckwerks bedruckt.Underneath the handle 108 there is an operating lever 120 which is rotatably mounted about an axis 113 and with the aid of which all operations taking place in the device, such as transporting the carrier tape and printing, can be carried out. To operate the device, the operating lever 120 is pulled against the force of a spring 121 against the handle 108 and then released again. The printing unit 10 attached in the front area of the housing 110 to an extension of the operating lever 120 moves when the lever 120 is pulled in the direction of the arrow 122 against the printing table 118; At the same time, the printing types in the printing position are wetted with ink by means of a coloring device (not shown). The self-adhesive label located on the printing table 118 is printed on by opening the printing unit.

Wie aus Fig. 6 hervorgeht, steht der Betätigungsknopf 48 seitlich am Gehäuse 110 vor, und in der in Fig. 6 sichtbaren Gehäuseseitenwand ist ein Ausschnitt 124 angebracht, der die Bewegung des Druckwerks 10 in Richtung des Pfeils 122 ermöglicht, ohne daß das Druckwerk gegen die Gehäusewand stößt. In Fig. 7 ist die in Fig. 6 erkennbare Gehäusewand als Gehäusewand 110a zu erkennen, wärhend die in der Darstellung hinten liegende Gehäusewand mit dem Bezugszeichen 110b gekennzeichnet ist.As can be seen from FIG. 6, the actuating button 48 projects laterally on the housing 110, and a cutout 124 is provided in the housing side wall visible in FIG. 6, which enables the movement of the printing unit 10 in the direction of the arrow 122 without the printing unit against the housing wall bumps. In FIG. 7, the housing wall recognizable in FIG. 6 can be seen as housing wall 110a, while the housing wall lying at the rear in the illustration is identified by reference number 110b.

Wenn die Druckbänder 20 des Druckwerks 10 mit Hilfe des Betätigungsknopfs 48 so verstellt werden sollen, daß bestimmte Zeichen auf das auf dem Drucktisch 118 befindliche Selbstklebeetikett gedruckt werden, wird die Einstellwelle 42 nacheinander mit den einzelnen Einstellrädern 16 in Eingriff gebracht, wobei dann das mit der Einstellwelle 42 in Eingriff befindliche Einstellrad 16 zur Verstellung der Druckbänder 20 verdreht werden kann. In den Fig. 7 und 8 sind zwei verschiedene Positionen der Einstellwelle 42 dargestellt, wobei in der Position von Fig. 7 das zweite Druckband 20 von links und in der Position von Fig. 8 das sechste Druckband 20 von links verstellt werden kann. Zum Verstellen der am weitesten rechts liegenden Druckbänder 20 muß die Einstellwelle 42 weit aus dem Druckwerksgehäuse herausgezogen werden, so daß der Betätigungsknopf 48 und die Kappe 64 weit an der Gehäusewand 110a vorstehen. Bei der Anwendung des Handetikettiergeräts ist es aber unerwünscht, wenn am Gerät vorstehende Teile vorhanden sind, mit denen die Bedienungsperson an andere Gegenstände anstoßen oder daran hängen bleiben kann. Beschädigungen des Druckwerks könnten als Folge eines Anstoßens oder Hängenbleibens vorkommen. Die Bedienungsperson ist zwar angehalten, die Einstellwelle 42 durch Drücken auf den Betätigungsknopf wieder vollständig in die Hülse 28 einzuschieben, jedoch wird diese Anweisung nicht immer beachtet. In dem in den Fig. 6 bis 8 dargestellten Gerät sind Maßnahmen vorgesehen, die verhindern, daß das Druckwerk abgesenkt werden kann, solange die Einstellwelle 42 weit aus der Hülse 28 herausgezogen ist.If the printing tapes 20 of the printing unit 10 are to be adjusted with the aid of the actuating button 48 so that certain characters are printed on the self-adhesive label located on the printing table 118, the setting shaft 42 is brought into engagement with the individual setting wheels 16 one after the other, the then with the Adjustment shaft 42 engaged adjusting wheel 16 can be rotated to adjust the pressure bands 20. 7 and 8 show two different positions of the setting shaft 42, the second printing band 20 being able to be adjusted from the left in the position of FIG. 7 and the sixth printing band 20 from the left in the position of FIG. 8. To adjust the rightmost pressure bands 20, the setting shaft 42 must be pulled far out of the printing unit housing so that the actuating button 48 and the cap 64 protrude far from the housing wall 110a. When using the hand-held labeling device, however, it is undesirable if there are protruding parts on the device with which the operator can bump into other objects or get caught on them. Damage to the printing unit could occur as a result of bumping or getting caught. Although the operator is required to push the adjusting shaft 42 fully back into the sleeve 28 by pressing the actuating button, this instruction is not always followed. In the device shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, measures are provided which prevent the printing unit from being lowered as long as the setting shaft 42 is pulled far out of the sleeve 28.

Der in Fig. 6 zu erkennende Ausschnitt in der Gehäusewand 110a ist so dimensioniert, daß die Einstellwelle 42 mit der Kappe 64 zum Verstellen der Einstellräder 16 in der Ruhestellung des Druckwerks 10 seitlich aus dem Gehäuse 110 herausgezogen werden kann und daß sich das Druckwerk 10 im eingeschobenen Zustand der Einstellwelle 42 um die zum Bedrucken eines Selbklebeetiketts auf dem Drucktisch 18 erforderliche Strecke absenken kann, ohne daß die Einstellwelle 42 oder die Kappe 64 mit der Gehäusewand 110a in Kontakt kommt. Wenn die Einstellwelle 42 in der Hülse 28 in der Ansicht von Fig. 7 so weit nach rechts verschoben wird, daß ihre Zähne mit dem zweiten Einstellrad 16 von links in Eingriff kommen, stößt die schräg verlaufende Fläche der Kappe 64 beim Absenken des Druckwerks 10 gegen den Drucktisch 118 gegen die Gehäusewand 110a, so daß beim weiteren Absenken des Druckwerks 10 auf die Einstellwelle 42 eine Rückstellkraft ausgeübt wird, die die Einstellwelle 42 in die vollständig in die Hülse 28 eingeschobene Position verschiebt. War die Einstellwelle 42 somit bei Beginn des Druckvorgangs nicht vollständig eingeschoben, wird sie durch die Zusammenwirkung des oberen Endes 126 der Gehäusewand 110a und der Kappe 64 selbsttätig zurückgestellt. Wie in Fig. 7 zu erkennen ist, kann das obere Ende 126 der Gehäusewand 110a abgeschrägt ausgebildet sein, damit die Kappe 64 nicht beschädigt wird und das Übertragen der Rückstellkraft erleichtert wird.6 in the housing wall 110a is dimensioned such that the setting shaft 42 with the cap 64 for adjusting the setting wheels 16 in the rest position of the printing unit 10 can be pulled out of the side of the housing 110 and that the printing unit 10 is in inserted state of the setting shaft 42 can lower the distance required for printing a self-adhesive label on the printing table 18 without the setting shaft 42 or the cap 64 coming into contact with the housing wall 110a. If the setting shaft 42 in the sleeve 28 in the view of FIG. 7 is shifted so far to the right that its teeth engage the second setting wheel 16 from the left, the inclined surface of the cap 64 abuts when the printing unit 10 is lowered the printing table 118 against the housing wall 110a, so that when the printing unit 10 is further lowered onto the adjusting shaft 42 a restoring force is exerted which shifts the adjusting shaft 42 into the position fully inserted into the sleeve 28. If the setting shaft 42 was not fully inserted at the start of the printing process, it is automatically reset by the interaction of the upper end 126 of the housing wall 110a and the cap 64. As can be seen in FIG. 7, the upper end 126 of the housing wall 110a can be designed so that the cap 64 is not damaged and the transfer of the restoring force is facilitated.

Wird die Einstellwelle 42 weiter aus der Hülse 28 herausgezogen, wie dies in Fig. 8 dargestellt ist, wo die Zähne der Einstellwelle 42 mit dem sechsten Einstellrad 16 von rechts in Eingriff stehen, dann kann das Etikettiergerät nicht mehr betätigt werden, da ein mit der Kappe 64fest verbundener, parallel zur Einstellwelle 42 verlaufender Stift 128 bei dem Versuch, das Druckwerk 10 gegen den Drucktisch 118 abzusenken, gegen das obere Ende 126 der Gehäusewand 110a stößt. Hat die Bedienungsperson also vergessen, die Einstellwelle 42 nach dem Herausziehen und der Durchführung der Einstellvorgänge wieder einzuschieben, dann wird sie sofort daran erinnert, wenn sie versucht, das Etikettiergerät durch Anziehen des Bedienungshebels 120 zu betätigen. Aufgrund des Anstoßes des Stifts 128 an der Gehäusewand 110a ist das Gerät praktisch blockiert, und es kann erst wieder betätigt werden, nachdem die Einstellwelle 42 eingeschoben worden ist.If the setting shaft 42 is pulled further out of the sleeve 28, as shown in FIG. 8, where the teeth of the setting shaft 42 are in engagement with the sixth setting wheel 16 from the right, then the labeling device can no longer be actuated, since one with the Cap 64 of fixedly connected pin 128 running parallel to the setting shaft 42 strikes the upper end 126 of the housing wall 110a when attempting to lower the printing unit 10 against the printing table 118. If the operator has forgotten to insert the setting shaft 42 again after pulling out and carrying out the setting operations, then he will be reminded immediately if he tries to actuate the labeling device by pulling the operating lever 120. Due to the abutment of the pin 128 on the housing wall 110a, the device is practically blocked and it can only be operated again after the setting shaft 42 has been inserted.

Der an der Kappe 64 angebrachte Stift 128 verschiebt sich beim Verschieben der Einstellwelle 42 in einer Durchführung 130 in der Gehäusehälfte 14. Hinter dieser Durchführung 130 ist im Druckwerksgehäuse die im Zusammenhang mit Fig. 1 beschriebene Schraubenfeder 66 angebracht, deren Innendurchmesser so groß ist, daß sie den Stift 128 ohne weiteres aufnehmen kann, ohne daß der Stift 128 die Verformung der Schraubenfeder beim Verstellen der Einstellräder 16 behindert.The pin 128 attached to the cap 64 moves when the adjusting shaft 42 is moved in a passage 130 in the housing half 14. Behind this passage 130, the helical spring 66 described in connection with FIG. 1 is attached, the inside diameter of which is so large that it can easily accommodate the pin 128 without the pin 128 hindering the deformation of the coil spring when adjusting the setting wheels 16.

Wie aus Fig. 2 zu erkennen ist, ist der Stift 128 im Querschnitt angenähert T-förmig, was neben einer Materialeinsparung eine verbesserte Steifigkeit des Stifts 128 in der Richtung ergibt, in der er beansprucht wird, wenn er bei herausgezogener Einstellwelle beim Versuch, das Etikettiergerät zu betätigen, gegen das Ende 126 der Gehäusewand 110a stößt. Auch andere Querschnittsformen, die eine Verbesserung der Stabilität ergeben, können angewendet werden.As can be seen from Fig. 2, the pin 128 is approximately T-shaped in cross section, which, in addition to saving material, results in an improved rigidity of the pin 128 in the direction in which it is stressed when it is attempted to pull the adjusting shaft out To operate the labeling device, against the end 126 of the housing wall 110a. Other cross-sectional shapes that improve stability can also be used.

Die im Zusammenhang mit den Fig. 1, 2 und 3 beschriebene Ausgestaltung der Einstellwelle 42 und der sie umgebenden Hülse 28, 29, sowie deren Lagerung und der axiale Rastmechanismus 54, 56 können ohne weiteres auch bei Druckwerken angewendet werden, bei denen die Drucktypen nicht an Druckbändern 20, die um die Einstellräder 16 und um die davon im Abstand liegende Umlenkkante 18 geführt sind, sondern direkt am Umfang der Einstellräder angebracht sind, wie es beispielsweise bei dem Druckwerk nach dem eingangs erwähnten DE-U-1 961 550 der Fall ist.The configuration of the setting shaft 42 and the sleeve 28, 29 surrounding it, as described in connection with FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, as well as their mounting and the axial locking mechanism 54, 56 can also be used without any problems in printing units in which the printing types are not on pressure tapes 20, which are guided around the setting wheels 16 and around the deflection edge 18 spaced therefrom, but are attached directly to the circumference of the setting wheels, as is the case, for example, with the printing unit according to the aforementioned DE-U-1 961 550 .

Claims (5)

1. Printing mechanism comprising a plurality of setting wheels (16) which are mounted coaxially on a sleeve (28; 29) and with which type carriers (20) carrying printing types (22) are in a drive connection, a setting shaft (42) which is arranged axially displaceably in the sleeve (28; 29) and is rotatable therewith and on which is disposed at least one tooth (36) which projects through a slot (30, 32, 34) extending in the axial direction in the sleeve and which by axial displacement of the setting shaft (42) is adapted to be brought into engagement with radial recesses (46) in the setting wheels (16) which are disposed in the hub region of the setting shaft (42), the slot (30, 32, 34) disposed in the sleeve (28; 29) being open in the axial direction at one end of the sleeve (28; 29) and closed at the other end, characterized in that at the end of the sleeve (28; 29) at which the slot (30, 32, 34) is open a spreading means (60; 98, 100, 102) which is a separate element from the sleeve (28; 29) is disposed which keeps the sleeve internal diameter constant.
2. Printing mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the spreading means is formed by a hub (60) whose external diameter corresponds to the desired internal diameter of the sleeve (28) and on which the end of the sleeve (28) at which the slot (30, 32, 34) is open is rotatably mounted.
3. Printing mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that the hub (60) is hollow and surrounds a bearing passage (44) in a housing wall in which the setting shaft (42) is mounted.
4. Printing mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the end of the sleeve (29) at which the slot (30, 32, 34) is open is mounted in a bearing passage (88) in a housing wall and that the spreading means is a spreading member (98, 100, 102) the width of which corresponds to the width of the slot (30, 32, 34) and which is inserted into the axially open end of the slot.
5. Printing mechanism according to claim 4, characterized in that the sleeve (29) at the end at which the slot (30, 32, 34) is open projects from the bearing bore (88) in the housing wall outwardly, that in the projecting portion of the sleeve (29) a groove (92) is disposed into which for axial arresting of the sleeve (29) a securing ring (94) is inserted bearing against the housing wall and that the spreading member (98, 100, 102) is disposed on the securing ring (94).
EP85101478A 1984-02-24 1985-02-12 Printing unit Expired - Lifetime EP0153651B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT85101478T ATE52219T1 (en) 1984-02-24 1985-02-12 PRINT UNIT.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE3406822 1984-02-24
DE3406822A DE3406822C1 (en) 1984-02-24 1984-02-24 Printing unit

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0153651A2 EP0153651A2 (en) 1985-09-04
EP0153651A3 EP0153651A3 (en) 1987-06-03
EP0153651B1 true EP0153651B1 (en) 1990-04-25

Family

ID=6228779

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP85101478A Expired - Lifetime EP0153651B1 (en) 1984-02-24 1985-02-12 Printing unit

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (1) US4583457A (en)
EP (1) EP0153651B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS60204389A (en)
AT (1) ATE52219T1 (en)
AU (1) AU557391B2 (en)
BR (1) BR8500722A (en)
CA (1) CA1225278A (en)
DE (2) DE3406822C1 (en)
ES (1) ES8606132A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3605301A1 (en) * 1986-02-19 1987-08-20 Esselte Meto Int Gmbh PRINT WORK
DE3635733A1 (en) * 1986-10-21 1988-05-05 Esselte Meto Int Gmbh PRINT WORK
DE19845677A1 (en) * 1998-10-05 2000-04-06 Meto International Gmbh Printing unit
DE19845675A1 (en) * 1998-10-05 2000-04-06 Meto International Gmbh Printing unit
CN205019587U (en) * 2015-08-18 2016-02-10 杨剑桥 Physical therapy device

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1961550U (en) * 1967-02-18 1967-06-08 Meto Ges Oscar Kind M B H PRINTING UNIT, IN PARTICULAR FOR LABEL PRINTER AND DISPENSER.
US3682282A (en) * 1970-10-22 1972-08-08 Cons Foods Corp Clutch for printing device
US4269119A (en) * 1979-08-27 1981-05-26 Monarch Marking Systems, Inc. Setting knobs for selective print head
US4325302A (en) * 1979-10-29 1982-04-20 Esselte Pendaflex Corp. Apparatus for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ATE52219T1 (en) 1990-05-15
BR8500722A (en) 1985-10-08
DE3406822C1 (en) 1985-11-28
DE3577294D1 (en) 1990-05-31
CA1225278A (en) 1987-08-11
AU557391B2 (en) 1986-12-18
ES540532A0 (en) 1986-04-16
ES8606132A1 (en) 1986-04-16
EP0153651A3 (en) 1987-06-03
AU3827685A (en) 1985-09-05
JPH0230874B2 (en) 1990-07-10
EP0153651A2 (en) 1985-09-04
US4583457A (en) 1986-04-22
JPS60204389A (en) 1985-10-15

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